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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The methods and systems described herein facilitate controlling a charging system. For example, the methods and systems described herein may control operation of a charging device included within the charging system and/or may control the application of power to the charging device included within the charging system. The charging device may be used to charge (i.e., provide power to) an energy storage device. The methods and systems described herein measure a movement of the charging device and discontinue charging performed by the charging device if the charging device moves more than a predefined amount. Charging devices are typically stationary devices affixed to a surface such as a parking lot, sidewalk, road, driveway, wall, and/or any other surface a vehicle may approach. Movement of the charging device is an indication that a situation has occurred that may prevent safe operation of the charging device. A situation that may cause the charging device to move is a vehicle, or other external force, striking the charging device and causing the charging device to tilt or translate with respect to the ground. After such an event, wires may be exposed and/or the charging device may be damaged in other ways that may prevent safe operation of the charging device. Other events, for example, natural events such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornadoes, may cause the charging device to move more than the predefined amount and are also situations where safe operation of the charging device may be compromised.
Technical effects of the methods and systems described herein include at least one of: (a) configuring a motion detection device to generate at least one signal corresponding to a movement of the charging device; and (b) configuring the charging device controller to receive the at least one signal, determine that the movement has exceeded a predefined limit, and discontinue the output of electrical power.
FIG. 1is a block diagram of an exemplary charging system10. In the exemplary embodiment, charging system10includes at least one charging device, for example, a first charging device20, a second charging device22, a third charging device24, and a fourth charging device26. In the exemplary embodiment, charging devices20,22,24, and26are electric vehicle charging stations electrically coupled to an electrical grid28and configured to provide power to energy storage devices (e.g., batteries) included within electric vehicles. For example, an electric vehicle may be coupled to an output30of first charging device20, an output32of second charging device22, an output34of third charging device24, and/or an output36of fourth charging device26.
In the exemplary embodiment, first charging device20includes a controller38. For example, controller38may include a processing device40and a memory device42. The term controller, as used herein, may refer to central processing units, microprocessors, microcontrollers, reduced instruction set circuits (RISC), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), logic circuits, and any other circuit or processor capable of executing the functions described herein.
In the exemplary embodiment, first charging device20also includes a motion detection device, for example, a motion sensor44. Motion sensor44may include an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a mercury switch, and/or any other suitable motion measuring device that allows first charging device20to function as described herein. Motion sensor44is communicatively coupled to controller38and provides a signal to controller38. For example, motion sensor44may continuously, periodically, or at random intervals provide controller38with a signal corresponding to a current level of motion of first charging device20. Controller38may filter the signals from motion sensor44and determine if motion of first charging device20exceeds a predefined limit. Alternatively, motion sensor44may only provide controller38with a signal when movement of first charging device20exceeds the predefined limit.
In an embodiment, first charging device20is an immobile object that is fixed to a substantially stationary surface. Therefore, first charging device20is not expected to move relative to a predetermined point beyond a predetermined limit. For example, first charging device20may be coupled to a surface of a parking lot. More specifically, first charging device20typically extends upward, substantially perpendicular to the surface. Motion sensor44is configured to measure motion of first charging device20. In one embodiment, motion sensor44measures whether the inclination of first charging device20has changed. As described herein, the inclination of first charging device20is an angle between device20and the stationary surface. Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment, motion sensor44measures one or more of the following: whether first charging device20has translated with respect to the stationary surface, an impact applied to first charging device20, and/or a level of vibration. Motion of first charging device20may exceed the predefined limit if a change in inclination of device20exceeds a predefined limit, if first charging device20translates with respect to stationary surface more than a predefined amount, if a level of impact applied to first charging device20exceeds a predefined level, and/or if a level of vibration measured at first charging device20exceeds a predefined level.
In the exemplary embodiment, first charging device20also includes a current controlling device48. For example, current controlling device48may include a contactor and/or any other suitable device that operates to prevent current flow between output30of first charging device20and electrical grid28. For example, contactor48selectively electrically couples output30of first charging device20to electrical grid28. In the exemplary embodiment, when contactor48is open (i.e., preventing current flow), output30does not receive power from electrical grid28. In the exemplary embodiment, controller38generates a motion signal corresponding to a determination that motion of first charging device20has exceeded the predefined limit and transmits the motion signal to contactor48. Contactor48is configured to open upon receipt of the motion signal from controller38. Opening contactor48discontinues charging of an electric vehicle coupled to output30and/or prevents charging of an electric vehicle using first charging device20. Contactor48is maintained in an open position until first charging device20is provided with a reset signal from, for example, an operator of first charging device20, or until motion sensor44indicates that first charging device20has been returned to its original orientation and is no longer moving.
In at least some embodiments, charging system10includes a central controller50communicatively coupled to charging devices20,22,24, and/or26. Central controller50provides centralized control of charging devices20,22,24, and/or26. Although illustrated as in wireless communication with charging devices20,22,24, and/or26, central controller50may communicate with charging devices20,22,24, and/or26in any manner that allows charging system10to function as described herein.
In one embodiment, central controller50is also communicatively coupled to at least one circuit protection device, for example, a first circuit protection device56, a second circuit protection device58, and a third circuit protection device60. Circuit protection devices56,58, and60may include, but are not limited to, disconnect switches, contactors, and/or circuit breakers that selectively couple charging devices20,22,24, and26to electrical grid28. More specifically, first circuit protection device56, when open, disconnects first charging device20and second charging device22from electrical grid28. Similarly, second circuit protection device58, when open, disconnects third charging device24from electrical grid28and third circuit protection device60, when open, disconnects fourth charging device26from electrical grid28. Controller38may transmit the motion signal to central controller50and central controller50may direct circuit protection device56to open. Alternatively, controller38may transmit a signal (e.g., the motion signal) directly to circuit protection device56that directs circuit protection device56to open.
In the exemplary embodiment, first charging device20also includes an output device70communicatively coupled to controller38. For example, output device70is in electrical communication with controller38and is configured to either wirelessly communicate with controller38, or communicate with controller38in any other manner that allows first charging device20to function as described herein. Controller38is configured to provide information to an operator of charging device20via output device70.
Output device70may include, but is not limited to including, a visual output device, an audio output device, and/or a communication device. In the exemplary embodiment, controller38transmits the motion signal to output device70. The visual output device may include, a light emitting diode (LED) bar, a vacuum fluorescent display (VFD), a liquid crystal display (LCD), an LED display, and/or any other device configured to provide a visual indication to a user that movement of first charging device20has exceeded the predefined limit.
In one embodiment, the motion signal is provided to an audio output device that generates an audio signal indicating to a user that motion has exceeded the predefined limit. Moreover, the motion signal may be provided to a communication device that transmits the motion signal to a remote device, wherein the remote device is configured to indicate to a user that motion of first charging device20has exceeded the predefined limit.
In an alternative embodiment, central controller50includes, or is communicatively coupled to, a central output device72. As described above with respect to output device70, central output device72may include, but is not limited to including, a visual output device, an audio output device, and/or a communication device. Central output device72is positioned remotely from first charging device20and configured to provide an indication that movement of first charging device20has exceeded a predefined limit.
For example, and in one embodiment, the communication device transmits the motion signal to at least one of a consumer device, a central computer, and a remote display device, each of which is able to provide an indication to a user that motion of first charging device20has exceeded a predefined level. Examples of consumer devices include, but are not limited to, cellular phones and/or personal computers. The communication device may be configured to transmit a short message service (SMS) text message and/or an electronic mail message to the consumer device. In an alternative embodiment, the communication device transmits the motion signal to an external server (e.g., a backend server), which either provides the consumer device with access to the information, or transmits the motion signal to the consumer device.
More specifically, the communication device may facilitate wireless communication using, for example, but not limited to, radio frequency (RF) communication and/or to use wireless standards including, but not limited to, 2G, 3G, and 4G cellular standards such as LTE, EDGE, and GPRS, IEEE 802.16 Wi-Max, IEEE 802.15 ZigBee®, Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11 standards including 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11d, 802.11e, 802.11g, 802.11h, 802.11i, 802.11j, and 802.11n, Wi-Fi®, and proprietary standards such as Z-Wave®. Wi-Fi® is a certification mark developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance, ZigBee® is a registered trademark of ZigBee Alliance, Inc. of San Ramon, Calif., and Z-Wave® is an identity mark of the Z-Wave Alliance of Milpitas, Calif.
In the exemplary embodiment, second charging device22includes a controller80, third charging device24includes a controller82, and fourth charging device26includes a controller84. Controllers80,82, and84operate in a substantially similar manner as described above with respect to controller38.
FIG. 2is a flow chart100of an exemplary method110for controlling operation of charging system10(shown inFIG. 1). As described above, charging system10includes at least one charging device, for example, charging device20(shown inFIG. 1) and provides electrical power received from an electrical grid, for example, electrical grid28(shown inFIG. 1), to a load, for example, an electric vehicle. In the exemplary embodiment, method110includes configuring118a motion detection device, for example, motion sensor44(shown inFIG. 1), to generate at least one signal corresponding to movement of charging device20. In the exemplary embodiment, method110also includes configuring120a charging device controller, for example, controller38(shown inFIG. 1) to receive the at least one signal corresponding to movement of charging device20.
In the exemplary embodiment, method110also includes determining122that the movement of charging device20has exceeded a predefined limit. For example, controller38may determine122that the movement of charging device20has exceeded a predefined limit based on the signal from motion sensor44. In the exemplary embodiment, method110also includes discontinuing124the output of electrical power by charging device20.
Method110may also include generating126a motion signal that corresponds to a determination that the movement of charging device20has exceeded the predefined limit. For example, controller38may generate126the motion signal. Method110may also include transmitting128the motion signal to a current controlling device and/or an output device, for example, contactor48(shown inFIG. 1) and/or output device70(shown inFIG. 1). As described above, upon receipt of the motion signal, contactor48prevents power from being output by charging device20. More specifically, controller38opens contactor48to prevent power from being output by charging device20when movement of charging device20has exceeded the predefined limit. Furthermore, output device70is configured to provide an indication that movement of charging device20has exceeded a predefined level and that charging device20is not providing output power.
In at least some embodiments, controller38transmits128the motion signal to a communication device that further transmits the motion signal to at least one user device. The user device is configured to provide an indication that movement of charging device20has exceeded the predefined limit. For example, the communication device may transmit the motion signal to at least one of a mobile phone, a central computer, and a remote display device. Moreover, the communication device may transmit the motion signal to a central controller, for example, central controller50(shown inFIG. 1). Central controller50may be included within an energy management system that coordinates operation of charging system10. Upon receipt of the motion signal, central controller50may instruct a circuit protection device, for example, protection device56(shown inFIG. 1), to open, which disconnects charging device20from electrical grid28(i.e., prevents power from reaching charging device20). Alternatively, controller38may directly instruct protection device56to open.
Although described herein with respect to a charging device and a charging system, the methods and systems described herein may also be applied to monitor the position and/or status of other equipment. For example, the methods and systems described herein may be applied to any type of “street furniture”, for example, but not limited to, parking meters, traffic signals, streetlamps, and/or bus stop shelters. A controller, a motion sensor, and an output device may be coupled to, or included within, such equipment and configured to operate as described above. The methods and systems described herein may be used only to alert a user that the equipment has moved more than a predefined amount and/or to discontinue power provided to the equipment, if the equipment is a consumer of power.
Described herein are exemplary methods and systems for controlling a charging system. For example, the methods and systems described herein may control operation of a charging device included within the charging system and/or may control the application of power to the charging device. In the exemplary embodiment, the charging device is used to charge (i.e., provide power to) an energy storage device. More specifically, the methods and systems described herein measure movement of the charging device and discontinue charging performed by the charging device if the charging device moves more than a predefined amount. Since charging devices are typically stationary devices affixed to a surface such as a parking lot, sidewalk, road, driveway, and/or any other surface a vehicle may approach, movement of the charging device is an indication that a situation has occurred wherein operating the charging device may be dangerous. A situation that may cause the charging device to move is a vehicle, or other external force, striking the charging device and causing the charging device to tilt or translate with respect to the ground. After such an event, wires may be exposed and/or the charging device may be damaged in other ways that may prevent safe operation of the charging device. Other events, for example, natural events such as earthquakes, hurricanes, or tornadoes, may cause the charging device to move more than the predefined amount and are also situations where safe operation of the charging device may be compromised.
The methods and systems described herein facilitate efficient and economical operation of a charging system. Exemplary embodiments of methods and systems are described and/or illustrated herein in detail. The methods and systems are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather, components of each system, as well as steps of each method, may be utilized independently and separately from other components and steps described herein. Each component, and each method step, can also be used in combination with other components and/or method steps.
Furthermore, unless defined otherwise, technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. The terms “first”, “second”, and the like, as used herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. Also, the terms “a” and “an” do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. The term “or” is meant to be inclusive and mean one, some, or all of the listed items. The use of “including,” “comprising” or “having” and variations thereof herein are meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. The terms “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings, and can include electrical connections or couplings, whether direct or indirect. Furthermore, the terms “circuit” and “circuitry” and “controller” may include either a single component or a plurality of components, which are either active and/or passive and are connected or otherwise coupled together to provide the described function.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present teaching provides a method of scheduling transmission of coded packets so as to significantly reduce the in-order packet delivery delay at a receiver.FIG. 2is a block diagram of a network architecture300comprising a transmitter node100and a receiver node200. Information packets uiare transmitted from the transmitter node100to the receiver node200across a network path400. Redundant coded packets eifor recovering lost information packets are interspersed among the information packets ui. The transmitter node100is configured to perform the methods of the present teaching.
In the context of the present teaching, a packet is assumed to have a fixed packet length, each packet encapsulating a plurality of data symbols. Corresponding symbols from packet to packet typically comprise parallel symbol streams, with all coding and decoding operations being performed symbol-wise on the whole packet. That is, an entire packet serves as the basic unit of data, i.e., as a single unknown, with the same operation being performed on each of a plurality of data symbols within the packet. Each data symbol may correspond, for example, to one byte or word. The main advantage of this view is that decoding matrix operations can be performed at the granularity of packets instead of individual symbols and so packet overhead can be distributed across a number of symbols.
In the presently described embodiments, information packets are sent in uncoded form and only redundant packets are sent in coded form. An uncoded information packet contains one or more data symbols. In the embodiments, a coded packet is created as a combination of previously transmitted information packets. If receiver feedback is available, the coded packet construction can be simplified by excluding information packets which are known to have arrived safely at the receiver node200. For example, a coded packet may be created by forming a random linear combination of previously sent but unacknowledged information packets. The header of a coded packet contains information that the receiver node200needs to make use of the coded packet. The header structure will now be discussed in more detail. A coding header1100of a coded packet is illustrated inFIG. 3. When using a random linear code the coding header1100may comprise at least the following information.n: The number of information packets combined in the packet.k: the index of the first information packet in the coded combinationC: The seed for a pseudo-random number generator that can be used by the receiver to generate the coefficients ciused in the random linear combination
Accordingly, by virtue of including the above information in the header, the identity of the specific combination of packets that make up a specific coded packet can be conveyed in the header.
FIG. 4illustrates the typical structure of a stream of information packets transmitted across a network path and temporally interspersed with redundant coded packets, according to an embodiment of the present teaching. The arrow shown inFIG. 4indicates temporal progression. Referring toFIG. 4, each information packet uimay comprise one or more data symbols s1ito sni. These data symbols may, for example, be bits or bytes and can be mapped to values in some agreed finite field e.g. GF(2) when symbols are bits and GF(256) when symbols are bytes. The information packets uiare transmitted in uncoded form. Redundant coded packets eiare temporally interspersed among the information packets ui. Each coded packet eicomprises coded symbols, with each coded symbol being a combination of the preceding data symbols. For example, when random linear coding is used then coded packet ekcomprises coded symbols eik=Σk=KK+NR-1cksik, i=1, 2, . . . , n where ckis a weighting coefficient drawn uniformly at random from the same finite field as the data symbols. Note that since in the embodiments each coded packet depends on preceding information packets, not limited to information packets in a specified block, this code construction is fundamentally different from simply concatenating conventional block codes. As mentioned above, if receiver feedback is available, data symbols from information packets which have been seen or decoded at the receiver node200may be omitted from coded symbol eik. Also as described above, each coded packet has a header informing the receiver of the values of the coefficients ci, i=1, 2, . . . , n etc.
In detail, suppose there are NR information packets indexed 1, 2, . . . , NR and a budget of N(1−R) additional redundant packets. In one embodiment of the present teaching, individual redundant packets are equidistantly interspersed amongst the information packets, i.e., a redundant packet is transmitted after each R/(1−R) information packets. This is illustrated inFIG. 5for N=6, R=2/3.
The following example is provided to explain a random linear coding scheme. Referring again toFIG. 5, suppose there are 4 information packets u1, u2, u3and u4, and 2 equidistantly interspersed coded packets e1and e2. Suppose packets u1and u2are lost, so that ei, u3, u4, and e2are received. From these the receiver node can construct the following linear equations:
[e1u3u4e2]=[c11c210000100001c12c22c32c42][u1u2u3u4]
(where here we use u1, u2etc to indicate respective data symbols from packets u1, u2etc) and the full set of information packets thus can be reconstructed Provided the matrix is full rank. Thus, uiand u2can be recovered by solving the linear equations.
In another example, suppose u1and u3are lost, and u2, e1, u4, and e2are received. From this Information, the receiver node can construct the following linear equations:
[u2e1u4e2]=[0100c11c21000001c12c22c32c42][u1u2u3u4]
In this manner, u1and u3can be recovered. In general, coded packet ejis a weighted sum of a number of preceding information packets, and particularly, where feedback from a receiver is available, all sent but unacknowledged information packets. For example, suppose a coded packet is transmitted after every second information packet so that the packet stream is un, un+1, ej, un+2, un+3, ej+1and information packets unand un+1are lost. Then the receiver node200can reconstruct unand un+1after receiving ejun+2un+3ej+1when it will have the following linear equations:
[ejun+2un+3ej+1]=[cnjcn+1j0000100001cnj+1cn+1j+1cn+2j+1cn+3j+1][unun+1un+2un+3]
Suppose now the packet stream u1, u2, e1, u3, u4, e2, u5, u6, e3, u7, u8, e4is transmitted. For a streaming code, e1is a weighted sum of u1and u2, e2a sum of u1-u4, e3a sum of u1-u6, and e4a sum of u1-u8. Thus, coded packets are not constructed over disjoint sets of information packets but are constructed over overlapping sets of information packets. This streaming code construction therefore differs fundamentally from conventional block code constructions.
Essentially, the above examples show that packets received jointly satisfy specified algebraic linear equations. If some of the packets are lost, the receiver node can solve the equations to derive the missing packet(s).
The transmitter node100may accept packets from a source and buffer the packets into a buffer, until they are ACKed by the receiver node200. The transmitter node100then generates and sends random linear combinations of the packets in the buffer. The coefficients used in the linear combination are also conveyed in the header of each of the coded packets.
Upon receiving a coded packet, the receiver node200first retrieves the coding coefficients from the header and appends the linear combination to the basis matrix of its knowledge space. Then, the receiver node200determines which packet is newly seen so that this packet can be ACKed. The receiver node200may also maintain a buffer of linear combinations of packets that have not been decoded yet. If some of the packets are lost, the receiver node200can solve the linear equations to derive the missing packet(s).
A preferred embodiment when no receiver feedback is available is as follows. Suppose a stream of information packets indexed k=0, 1, 2, . . . is to be transmitted across a lossy network path. Let p be the packet loss rate on the network path. Packet loss occurs when one or more data packets travelling across a network path fail to reach their destination. The packet loss rate is defined as the rate of packet loss across a network path, and has a value between 0 and 1. For example, a packet loss rate of 1 would indicate that every packet is lost. Transmission of coded packet j is scheduled after information packet j/p. Thus, it can be seen that the scheduling of the transmission of coded packet j is a function of the packet loss rate p, and not a block code size. Typically j/p is not an integer, in which case time-sharing can be used between the values floor(j/p) and ceil(j/p) such that the mean value is j/p. Coded packet j can be used to help reconstruct any information packets having an index less than j/p, as described above. Pseudo-code of this embodiment is as follows:
ALGORITHM 1Low delay coding1:Initialise uncoded_nxt2:p ← packet loss rate3:n ← floor(1/p)4:while all information packets not recv’d do5:Wait until a transmission opportunity occurs6:if n ≠ 0 then7:send uncoded packet uncoded_nxt8:uncoded_nxt ← uncoded_nxt + 19:n ← n − 110else11:send coded packet, coding over previously transmittedinformation packets12:ñ ← 1/p13:n={ceil(n~)withprobn~-floor(n~)floor(n~)otherwise14:end if
where uncoded_nxt is the index of the next information packet to be transmitted and line 13 implements the time sharing of coded and information packets.
Observe that there is no use of block coding in this method—coded packets are not constructed over disjoint sets of information packets but instead are constructed using overlapping sets of information packets. Observe also that the code is systematic. That is, information packets are sent uncoded and only redundant packets are sent in coded form, so providing for an efficient implementation. Lastly, observe that the key element of the present teaching is the decision as to when to transmit a redundant/coded packet within the information packet stream. Thus, the present teaching provides a method for determining when to schedule transmission of a redundant/coded packet. The key aspect of the present teaching is the scheduling of the transmission of the coded packets in relation to each other. In effect, a method is provided for determining the interspersion of the coded packets within information packets.
As mentioned above, random linear coding is merely one example of the mapping methods that can be used to construct coded packets from information packets.
Commonly receiver feedback is available e.g. via ACK packets. This feedback may include information on the information packets seen or decoded by the receiver node200, the degrees of freedom received and the indexes of the packets which have been lost from the transmitted packet stream. A new unit of information corresponds mathematically to a degree of freedom. Essentially, once n degrees of freedom have been obtained, a message that would have required n uncoded packets can be decoded. An appropriate interpretation of the degree of freedom allows one to order the receiver degrees of freedom in a manner consistent with the packet order of the source. Whenever the transmitter node100is allowed to transmit, it sends a random linear combination of all packets in the coding window. Second, the receiver node200acknowledges degrees of freedom and not original packets. The notion of seen packets defines an ordering of the degrees of freedom that is consistent with packet sequence numbers, and can therefore be used to acknowledge degrees of freedom.
In the present teaching, the method may be adapted to use the feedback information in three ways. Firstly, information may be used on seen/decoded packets at the receiver node200. There is no need to code over information packets which are known to have been seen or decoded by the receiver node200, thereby simplifying the construction of coded packets. The use of feedback information in this way is well known, as disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 8,526,451B2.
Secondly, information on degrees of freedom received and packets lost can be used to adapt the transmission scheduling of redundant/coded packets. Specifically, additional coded packets may be transmitted if there is a deficit in degrees of freedom due to excessive packet loss, or fewer coded packets may be transmitted if fewer than expected packet losses have occurred.
Thirdly, information on packets lost can be used to estimate the packet loss rate p, and adapt the spacing between coding packets if p changes.
Accordingly, the present teaching uses feedback information to adapt transmission scheduling or interspersion frequency of coded packets. Adaptation using feedback can be readily implemented, for example applying pseudo-code as follows:
ALGORITHM 2Low delay coding with receiver feedback1:initialise uncoded_nxt2:while all information packets not recv’d do3:Wait until a transmission opportunity occurs4:dofs ← received degrees of freedom reported by receiver5:dofs_inflight ← number of sent but unacknowledged data packets6:p ←packet loss rate7:ñ ←((uncoded_nxt dofs)/(1-p)) − dofs_inflight8:if ñ <= 0 then9:send uncoded packet uncoded_nxt10:uncoded_nxt ← uncoded_nxt+111else12.n={ceil(n~)withprobn~-floor(n~)floor(n~)otherwise13.if (n > 0) then14:send coded packet, coding over sent but unacknowledgedinformation packets15:end if16:end while
Line 13 of Algorithm 2 implements use of feedback on seen/decoded packets at the receiver node200when constructing coded packets. Line 7 implements use of feedback on degrees of freedom and lost packets to adapt the transmission scheduling or interspersion frequency of coded packets. Use of feedback on lost packets allows book-keeping of packets in flight to be carried out.
For a given budget of packets that can be transmitted (both coded and information packets), the method offers lower in-order delivery delay than any block code; see for exampleFIG. 6.FIG. 6illustrates mean delay vs overall number of packets transmitted for block coding (using blocks of various sizes) and low delay coding using Algorithm 2. Link rate: 25 Mbps, RTT: 60 ms, packet loss rate: 10%, receiver feedback.
When the transmitter node100and/or the receiver node200are computationally constrained, it can be beneficial to limit the number of information packets that each coded packet protects. For example, to construct coded packet j rather than coded symbols eij=Σk=0j/pcksik, i=1, 2, . . . , n. The sum could be modified to
eij=∑k=max(1p-N,0)j/pcksik,
i=1, 2, . . . , n where parameter N specifies the maximum number of information packets used to construct the coded packet. Alternatively, the stream of information packets is partitioned into chunks and the above streaming code is applied within each chunk. These are straightforward extensions to the method.
In another embodiment of the present teaching, coded packets may be positioned using the following randomised approach. Whenever a packet transmission opportunity arises, the transmitter node100tosses a weighted coin and with probability R transmits an information packet and with probability1-R transmits a coded packet. As before, the coded packets may be constructed in a number of ways, for example, as a random linear combination of preceding information packets.
The gains in delay performance possible are illustrated inFIGS. 7aand 7b.FIG. 7ashows measurements of the in-order packet delivery delay when using a conventional block code over an erasure channel with a packet loss rate of 0.01, N=10,000, and R=0.99.FIG. 7bshows the corresponding measured in-order delivery delay when using equidistant spacing of coded packets. It can be seen that with the conventional block code the delay is close to the block size of 10,000. In contrast, with the low delay scheme the maximum delay is a factor of 10 lower.
In a still further embodiment, the transmitter100is arranged to transmit packets across multiple network paths400to the receiver200. Such a transmitter would typically comprise a number of network interfaces, each using different technologies to access the Internet such as cellular networks or fixed access networks as well as wired or wireless local access networks. These technologies exhibit different quality characteristics in terms of coverage, capacity, power consumption, geographical availability and cost.
A number of schemes have been proposed for scheduling the transmission of information packets across such network paths including as described in PCT Publication No. WO2011/101425, U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,780,693, 8,036,226, 8,824,480, 7,230,921 and US Publication No. US2013/0077501. Indeed any suitable scheme for scheduling information packets across such network paths can be employed and one such improved scheme is disclosed in co-filed UK Application No. 1502257.7 (Attorney Ref: N18-619-06GB).
In one multi-path embodiment, the transmitter100determines a packet loss rate for each network path, for example, as described above. The transmitter then schedules the transmission of coded packets through the available network path with the highest loss rate. This is based on the observation that if information packets are less likely to be lost, coded packets can be lost as they are less likely to be needed.
As has been described above, the present teaching provides a method for interspersing redundant packets amongst information packets in a way which greatly reduces delay compared to the standard block code approach. The delay is not constrained to be proportional to disjoint blocks of size N packets. This substantial delay reduction does come at the cost of reduced error correction efficiency, so the resulting codes are no longer capacity achieving. Nevertheless, it can be favourable to trade capacity for lower delay in this way since capacity may be plentiful whereas delay is tightly constrained. This is commonly the case in modem communication networks.
The words comprises/comprising when used in this specification are to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.
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| 4 | L |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a security case of the present invention includes a
case 21 for holding merchandise such as a videotape or cassette and a lock
30 for latching the case closed. Preferably, the case 21 is of the type
shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,322, dated Feb. 4, 1992, the
entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. While the
preferred embodiment assumes that videotapes or even game cartridges will
be retained in the case 21, it should be readily apparent to those skilled
in the art that other types of merchandise can be retained, and the
present invention is not limited by the particular type of merchandise
which is held in the case.
The case 21 is generally in the shape of a rectangular box, with a top 23a,
bottom 23b, spine 25, open end 26a, and sidewalls 26b, 26c. In a preferred
embodiment, the open end 26a permits the entry and removal of a videotape.
In a preferred embodiment, the sidewall 26b may include a door pivotally
attached to the case 21 by a hinge, as shown and described in U.S. Pat.
No. 5,085,322. The purpose of a door would be to permit insertion of a
graphics sleeve, as shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,322.
Preferably, the case 21 includes molded tabs or hooks 28 projecting out of
opposite ends of sidewall 26c, FIGS. 4A and 4B. The tabs 28 secure the
case 21 to the lock 30 by interlocking with the slots 29, discussed below.
The case 21 may also include one or more tabs 27 that extend into the
enclosure, perpendicular to the top 23a of the case 21, and underlying a
videotape to help retain the tape in the case 21. The configuration of the
tab 27 is more fully shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,322.
The lock 30 is constructed as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. The lock 30
includes a housing 31 and an actuator 90 at one end of the housing. The
housing 31 is comprised of two portions 96 and 98 permanently connected to
each other, for example by sonic welding. The portions 96 and 98 are
substantially mirror images of each ocher, but portion 96 has a slot 53,
to be described later, formed on an inner wall 94.
The two portions 96 and 98 include parallel flanges 32 extending from a
cross-piece 33 of the housing 31. The flanges 32 are spaced apart from
each other by a distance slightly greater than the maximum width of the
case 21. These flanges overlie a portion of the top 23a and the bottom 23b
of the case when the case is positioned on the cross-piece 33 of the
housing 31. The two portions 96 and 98 also include portions 34 extending
towards one another to form a backwall 34.
The actuator 90 includes a movable latch 35. The latch 35 buttresses up
against the case 21 and/or the exposed end of a videotape that has been
inserted into the open end 26a of the case 21, to be described later, to
secure the videotape in the case 21.
Referring to FIG. 5, cross-piece 33 of the housing 31 has a recess 36
designed to provide a location for a security strip to be used with the
lock. When a security strip is placed in the recess 36 and the lock 30 is
fastened to the case 21, the security strip is inaccessible to the
customer and remains with the merchandise until the lock is removed. Thus,
if a customer attempts to exit the store concealing case 21 with lock 30
fastened, an external alarm (not shown) will sound.
Preferably, the slots 29 are formed in the cross-piece 33, and are arranged
in a "T" formation when both halves 96 and 98 of the lock housing 31 are
secured together, FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 11. The slots are constructed and
arranged to first receive the tabs 28 in the slots' wider portion, FIG.
4A, and then to slidingly interlock with the slots' narrow portion, FIG.
4B, so that case 21 will be securely fastened to the lock 30 and can not
be lifted out. Preferably, the slots are constructed and arranged so that
the tabs 28 will need to slide approximately one-half inch (1/2") within
the slots 29, before the tabs 28 are securely interlocked with the slots
29.
Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 11, the latch 35 includes an extension piece
48 that extends towards the backwall 34 of the lock housing 31. The
extension piece 48 is adapted and arranged so that it abuts one of the
tabs 28 when the lock 30 is in the locked or closed position, FIG. 4B.
This prevents the tabs 28 from moving to the larger portion of the slots
29, and consequently prevents the case 21 from separating from the lock
30. Even if someone breaks off the external portion 40 of the moveable
latch 35 and tries to remove the case 21, the case 21 would remain
securely fastened to the lock 30 because the extension piece 48 would
block movement of one of the tabs 28, and hence the case 21 remains secure
within the lock 30.
The videotape would also not be able to be removed from the case 21 if the
extension piece 40 were broken because of the tab portion 27 which
functions to secure the videotape in the case 21. The tab portion 27 could
not be defeated, i.e., moved out of the path of the videotape, because the
top and bottom portions, 23a and 23b of the case 21, are secured between
the parallel flanges 32 of the lock housing 31.
Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, to fasten the lock 30 to the case 21, and to
secure a videotape inserted into the open end 26a of the case 21 as shown
and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,322, the case 21 including the
inserted videotape is first placed on the cross-piece 33 of the lock
housing 31. The case 21 is positioned so that the tabs 28 first interlock
with the wider portion of the slots 29, FIG. 4A. The case 21 is then moved
towards the backwall 34 of the lock housing 31, approximately one-half
inch (1/2") until the tabs 21 are inserted into the narrow portion of the
slots 29 and the sidewall 26b of the case 21 abuts the backwall 34, FIG.
4B.
As shown in FIGS. 4B and 6, the actuator 90 is in the open position. In
this position, the movable latch 35 is spaced away from, and does not
abut, the case 21 nor the outer end of the videotape that rests in the
open end 26a of the case 21 when the videotape is inserted in the open end
26a. To completely secure the case 21 to the lock 30, and to secure the
videotape in the case 21, the actuator 90 is pressed so that the movable
latch 35 abuts up against at least a portion of the case 21 and/or the
outer end of the videotape that rests in the open end 26a of the case 21.
The case 21 is now caught between backwall 34 and the latch 35, and the
extension piece 48 abuts one of the tabs 28. This prevents removal of the
case 21 from the lock 30 and the videotape from the case 21. If the
sidewall 26b includes a door and hinge configuration as shown and
described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,322, the backwall 34 would prevent
removal of the videotape from that end of the case 21 as well.
When the actuator 90 reaches the closed position, i.e., the latch 35 abuts
up against the a portion of the case 21 and the end of the videotape, a
mechanism (to be described hereinafter) locks the actuator in position,
helping to secure the lock 30 to the case 21.
Referring to FIG. 10, the actuator 90 and mechanism for locking the
actuator in position is described. The actuator comprises the latch 35,
which includes an external portion 40, a portion 42 extending inward from
the external portion 40, and another portion 43 extending downward. The
external portion 40 abuts the end of the videotape resting in the open end
26a of the case 21. Preferably, the external portion 40 is sufficiently
flat so that it sits squarely on the end of the videotape, although it can
be any shape just so long as it secures the videotape in the case 21.
The portions 42 and 43 of the actuator 90 move longitudinally between the
ends of the lock 30 beneath the cross-piece 33 when the actuator is opened
or closed. Another cross-piece 44 formed beneath the actuator portion 42
has one end attached to actuator portion 43 with the other end extending a
prescribed distance towards the hook portion 40. A wall 50, parallel to
the portions 40 and 43, is formed at the other end of the cross-piece 44.
A protrusion 51 extending from the actuator portion 43 towards the backwall
34 of housing 31, is adapted to receive a spring 52. The spring 52 fits
over the protrusion 51 and has one end resting against the portion 43. The
other end of the spring rests against a back surface of the slot 53 formed
between the inner walls of the housing 31. The length of the portion 51 is
designed so that the free end of the protrusion does not strike the back
surface of the slot 53 when the actuator is in the closed position.
Sleeves 60 are formed on opposing sides of the inner walls 94 and 95 of the
housing 31. Each sleeve, adapted to receive a spring 61 and steel pin 62,
allows the steel pin under load from the spring to freely engage the
cross-piece 44. The length of each steel pin is such that the pin does not
extend beyond the outer edge of the sleeve when the spring 61 is fully
compressed.
The shape of the cross-piece 44 between the wall 50 and the portion 43 is
designed to facilitate latching of the actuator using the spring loaded
steel pins 62. In particular, each side of the cross-piece 44 has, in
succession, a flat segment 45, a curved segment 46, and another flat
segment 47. The curvature of the segment 46 is greater at the junction to
the flat segment 47 than at the junction to the flat segment 45. The wall
50, the flat segment 47, and the junction between the flat segment 47 and
the curved segment 46 form a seat an each side of the cross piece 44 for
the steel pins 62. When the actuator 90 is in the closed position, the
steel pins 62 are retained in the seats by the force exerted by the
springs 61.
Description will now be made of the operation of the mechanism for latching
the actuator closed with reference to FIGS. 7A-7C. As shown in FIG. 7A,
when the actuator 90 is open, the movable latch 35 extends beyond the ends
of the flanges 32, the spring 52 is almost fully decompressed and the
springs 61 are less than fully compressed. The load of the springs 61
forces the steel pins 62 to rest against the flat segments 45. When a
lateral force F is manually applied to the portion in the direction
indicated, the movable latch 35 is forced towards the backwall 34, further
compressing the spring 52. At the same time, the steel pins 62 move along
the curved segments 46, further compressing the springs 61 as shown in
FIG. 7B.
As the actuator 90 moves to the closed position, the spring 52 continues to
compress, and at the same time, the springs 61 decompress slightly,
rapidly forcing the steel pins 62 into the seats formed by the wall 50,
the flat segment 47, and the junction between the flat segment 47 and the
curved segment 46. The load exerted on the portion 43 by the compressed
spring 52 causes an outer edge of each of the steel pins 62 to rest
against the junction between the curved segment 46 and the flat segment
47. When the actuator 90 is closed, with the movable latch 35 engaging the
case 21 (not shown) and the outer end of a videotape that has been
inserted into the open end 26a of the case 21, and with the tabs 28 firmly
secured in the slots 29, the lock 30 cannot be removed from the case 21
and the videotape cannot be removed from the case 21 as the force exerted
on the steel pins 62 by the springs 61 lock the steel pins in their seats.
Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, 8 and 9, once the actuator 90 is engaged in
the closed position, it will only slide forward to the open position,
i.e., be released, in the presence of a decoupler 70. This allows the case
21 to separate from the lock 30.
The decoupler 70 has a U-shaped housing which is positioned near a counter
of a video store or any store that sells videotapes. Screws 81 (only one
is shown) are used to fasten the decoupler to the counter, although other
suitable means for fastening may be employed. The decoupler 70 has a base
71, outer surfaces 72, a flat surface 73, and inner surfaces 74 extending
from the flat surface 73. The inner surfaces 74 each have a first portion
75 and a second portion 76 perpendicular to the surface 73. The distance
between the first portions 75 is slightly greater than the width of the
housing 31 of the lock 30, and the distance between the second portions 76
is slightly greater than the width of the flanges 32. This arrangement
results in the formation of ledges 77. Because the flanges 32 of the lock
30 are wider than the base 73, the lower surfaces of the flanges 32 ride
on the ledges 77 during a release operation.
Magnets 78 are positioned in the decoupler between each outer surface 72
and the first portion 75 of each inner surface 74. It should be realized
that the magnets 78 should be sufficiently positioned within the decoupler
70 so that magnetic fields generated by the magnets 78 do not harm the
media stored on the videotape contained in the case 21.
A vertical cross rib structure 80 is attached to the flat surface 73. Both
the position of the magnets in the decoupler and the position of the
vertical cross rib structure 80 on the flat surface 73 are arranged so
that, during the release operation, the outer surface of the portion 40 of
the actuator engages the vertical cross rib structure as the steel pins 62
align approximately with the center of the magnets 78.
Referring to FIGS, 2, 3, 4, 8 and 9, the release operation for the actuator
using the decoupler 70 is described. The lock 30, fastened to the case 21,
is brought in contact with the decoupler 70 by placing the housing 31 on
the flat surface 73 with the outer surface of the portion 40 facing the
vertical cross rib structure 80. As noted above, the lower surfaces of the
flanges 32 will ride on ledges 77 during the release operation.
Next, the latched case is swiftly moved in a horizontal direction towards
the vertical cross rib structure 80. This swift movement results in sharp
contact between the outer surface of the portion 40 and the vertical cross
rib structure 80. The sharp contact further compresses the spring 52,
allowing the outer edges of the steel pins 62 to move away from the
junction between the flat portion 47 and the curved portion 46 in each of
the seats. This small movement is shown in FIGS. 7C and 8 as a slight
shift in position of the steel pins 62. With the position of the steel
pins 62 shifted, the force of each spring 61 on a corresponding steel pin
is isolated, allowing the magnets 78 to draw the pins toward the sleeves,
releasing the actuator 90. With the actuator 90 released, the force
exerted by the spring 52 on the portion 43 moves the actuator 90 to an
open position.
In the open position, the latch 35 no longer engages the case 21 and/or the
outer end of the videotape stored in the case 21, and the extension piece
48 no longer abuts the tabs 28. The case 21 can be removed from the lock
30 by sliding the case 21 about one-half inch (1/2") until the tabs 28
engage the larger portion of the slots 29. The case 21 can now be simply
lifted from the lock 30, or vice versa.
There accordingly has been described a security device for protecting
displayed merchandise from theft using a case to receive the merchandise
and a locking mechanism latching the case. The case and locking mechanism
provide protection for videotapes stored in bottom-loaded cases and the
like in a live merchandising format without increasing inventory space.
The locking mechanism has a cross-piece with a recessed surface for a
security strip and when the locking mechanism latches the case closed, the
case is positioned on the cross-piece, making the security strip
inaccessible to customers.
Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular
embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other
uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred,
therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific
disclosure herein, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and
equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. | 4E
| 05 | B |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
This description of the exemplary embodiments is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description.
The current method can be a further development in the family of alcoxysilane terminated polymers, which can have the benefit of the use of methyl dimethoxy gamma silane terminated polyurethanes by combining the secondary amino silane end capping process with an end cap of isocyanato propyl triethoxy silane. The resultant polymer has a low viscosity in the range of 10000 Mpas to 20000 Mpas. Additionally, the use of the methyl dimethoxy and triethoxy silanes can maintain the low moisture sensitivity needed to process the polymer with powders that contain some moisture and can be dried with moisture scavengers like vinyl trimethoxy silane. Curing speeds using this polymer can also be improved.
The present method can comprise a polyether chain with two different alkoxy end groups with some hydrogen bonding reduction molecules added, which can allow a formulator the ability to manufacture a sealant or adhesive using a simpler process with an open time from 15 minutes to 1.0 hours. The polymer can be used in sealants and adhesives that provide good UV resistance, good adhesion to various surfaces, and the advantage of lower methanol emission during curing.
The polymers can be composed of a backbone of polyurethane, polyether, polyester, polyacrylate and can be any polymer or polyether of linear or cross linked composition with free reactive hydroxyl groups available for reaction. The choice of the backbone can be made to give the required hardness, tensile and elongation properties when capping hydroxyl groups with a difunctional isocyanate and secondary amino silane in the first step, and an isocyanato triethoxy silane in the second step. The final part of the process can be to add several viscosity reducing molecules that also have secondary benefits in the composition.
In the DMC process, low monol polyether polyols can be the preferred option. These diol or triol polyols, or a combination of diols and triols with two or more hydroxyl groups at each chain end, are first changed to an NCO terminated prepolymer wherein 30 percent to 70 percent of the hydroxyl groups can be reacted with a diisocyanate, with isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) being the preferred molecule. The faster reacting NCO groups on the IPDI molecule attach to the hydroxyl groups of a polyether, and the second, slower reacting NCO groups can then be capped with a secondary amino silane with cyclohexyl amino propyl methyl dimethoxy silane being the preferred molecule. The final step can be to react the remaining 30 percent to 70 percent of the unreacted hydroxyl groups of the polyether with an isocyanato propyl triethoxy silane.
It has also been found that a small amount of vinyl trimethoxy silane, and methanol at about one percent, each inhibit the urea hydrogen bond formation across adjacent chains as normally found in polymers that contain these groups. The small methanol and vinyl trimethoxy silane molecules hydrogen attach to the carbamate and nitrogen groups using normal hydrogen bonding and block the hydrogen bonding between adjacent polymer chains resulting in a lower polymer viscosity. The methanol can also have the function of retarding the moisture reaction of the methoxy silane groups to the silanol molecule which is the first stage of methoxy cross linking. The methanol can be removed under vacuum in the sealant manufacturing process and can have the secondary effect of helping reduce moisture levels as water is very soluble in methanol. The methanol also very efficiently caps any residual NCO groups to ensure the final polymer is NCO free.
In the normal sealant manufacturing process, where residual moisture is reduced under vacuum, there is a need for additives to help reduce moisture levels before a catalyst is added. It is common in PU sealant formulation practice to use the very toxic paratoluenesulphonicisocyanate (PTSI), a fast moisture scavenger, to reduce moisture content as the reaction is faster than the NCO capped isocyanate polymers. The sealant formulation using methyl dimethoxy and triethoxy silane terminated polyether polymers can have the safer vinyl trimethoxy silane as the moisture scavenge, and some can be present in the polymer and thus, can have two functions. Using vinyl silane at about 50 degrees C. in the drying process, enables one of the ethoxy molecules on the triethoxy silane to be interchanged with one of the methoxy molecules on the vinyl silane. This interchange can speed up the curing rate of the triethoxy silane, which is known to be slow.
For the methyl dimethoxy silane polyurethane cap combined with the triethoxy isocyanato cap on the same polyether chain, it can be sufficient to use vinyl silane as the moisture scavenger combined with a process where a high shear step is included with high vacuum to eliminate residual moisture from calcium carbonate fillers. The methyl dimethoxy silane and triethoxy silanes are slower to react with moisture compared with trimethoxy vinyl silanes. Temperatures of about 50 degrees C. with high vacuum are sufficient to dry the sealant or adhesive before catalyst addition to form a one part RTV composition.
With these combinations of alkoxy terminated polyether chains and several small additions of commonly used chemicals, the sealant and adhesive formulators can be offered a new low viscosity polymer and a production method that has the advantage of lower methanol release on cure, the ability to control curing rates and adhesive strength, and they can use currently known tin containing catalysts and secondary amino silanes as the catalyst system. The triethoxy terminated silane forms the less poisonous methanol molecule upon the curing reaction. Paint applications can use the composition with polypropylene glycol triols for the higher crosslinking needed for harder paint coatings.
Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the present polymer and method to produce the polymer, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
FIG. 3is a flow chart showing an overview of the steps required to create a methyl dimethoxy silane and triethoxy capped polymer320, according to a method. A hydroxyl terminated polypropylene glycol polyether can be supplied321. The hydroxyl terminated polypropylene glycol polyether can be partially capped with diisocyanate322. The newly formed Polyurethane compound with free NCO groups can then be capped with a secondary amino silane323. This partially capped polymer, with some unreacted hydroxyl groups, can then be capped with isocyanato silane324. Finally, the viscosity of the product can be modified by adding vinyl silane and methanol325.
EXAMPLES
Methyl Dimethoxy Silane and Triethoxy Capped Hybrid Polymer A
FIG. 1is a flowchart showing the steps to create a methyl dimethoxy silane and triethoxy capped hybrid polymer100, according to a method.
In a standard five liter laboratory flask with good stirring, 4000 grams of low monol DMC catalyst based polyether blend of diol and triol can be loaded with an OH value of 10.0101. This mixture can be dried at 80 degrees C. for one hour under vacuum to eliminate moisture which can be approximately 0.05 percent102. The dry polyether can then be cooled and reacted under nitrogen at 40 degrees C., with 80.0 grams IPDI isocyanate to cap half the OH groups with approximately half the NCO groups of the diisocyanate103. The free NCO groups of the partially formed polyurethane chain can then be reacted in a second step at 40 degrees C. with approximately 83.0 grams of cyclohexyl amino methyl dimethoxy silane104until the reaction shows very little residual NCO by FTIR analysis. This can result in half the polyether ends being capped with a methyl dimethoxy silane molecule that can be reactive to moisture and crosslinking with other silanes.
The mixture can then be heated to approximately 70 degrees C. and an addition of 75.0 grams of isocyanato propyl triethoxy silane can be made. This mixture can be reacted for 3 hours105until the NCO of the polymer is very low and reaches the target as measured by FTIR. Nearly all of the original OH groups of the polyether can now be reacted and contain a reactive alcoxy silane group. This can be seen on the changed FTIR trace.
The above polymer can be cooled in the laboratory flask to 30 degree C. and an addition of 40 grams of Vinyl trimethoxy silane and 40 grams dry laboratory grade methanol and mixing can be continued for approximately ten minutes106and then packed into one liter metal cans107. The methanol addition can ensure that any residual NCO is reduced to near zero. A reduction in viscosity can develop over 24 hours. The resultant polymer can be cooled and viscosity the next day can be 16000 Mpas at 25 degrees C. Open time before skinning of this hybrid polymer when mixed with 1% TIB KAT 226 diketonate tin catalyst and 1% KBM603 silane can be approx. 20 minutes at 25 degrees C. and 50% humidity in a laboratory glass dish. Shore A hardness can be approx 35 after 5 days cure. The cured polymer can be very stable in a closed 1 liter metal container, with little change in viscosity for approximately 6 months.
Adhesive Formulation with Hybrid Polymer A
FIG. 2is a flowchart showing the steps to create an adhesive using methyl dimethoxy silane and triethoxy capped hybrid polymer200, according to a method.
A standard 5 liter laboratory planetary mixer, with nitrogen, vacuum and small press an adhesive can be produced using Hybrid polymer A201. Separate powder drying facilities are not needed and the fillers with some moisture content can be loaded with the polymer, heated to approximately 50 degrees C. under high shear and high vacuum to remove most of the powders moisture202, and then chemically dried at 50 degree C. for 1 hour with vinyl trimethoxy silane203. After drying with vinyl silane, the adhesive can be checked for moisture content using the Carl Fisher process204. When the moisture content is low enough for a stable adhesive formulation (0.001 percent), the final additions of secondary amino silane, UV inhibitor, tin catalyst and some vinyl silane for open time control can be added205. The adhesive can then be packed into aluminium/HDPE lined hermetic cardboard cartridges206and tested.
The base formulation is in grams and can be adjusted for the mixer used and include:
TABLE AHybrid polymer A1000gramsUltra-Pflex PCC1000gramsCarbon black50gramsVinyl silane50gramsAmino KBM60320gramsTIB KAT 226 catalyst20gramsTinuivin B7510gramsVinyl silane50grams
The mechanical properties of the above Black Industrial Adhesive using Hybrid Polymer A are listed below.
TABLE BTack free time15minutesViscosity Mpas1,500,000Slump resistancevery goodVOC1.20 percent lossSG g/cm31.45Tensile at break3.40n/mm2Elongation %245 at breakHardness Shore A60
This is a basic formula and can be adjusted in many ways to suit specific adhesive and sealant requirements. The addition of DIDP plasticizer in the formulation to replace some of the polymer results in a lower tensile strength with increased elongation.
While the major embodiments of the innovation are illustrated and described herein, it is not intended that these illustrate all possible uses of the innovation, rather the methods describe how the combined methyl dimethoxy amino silane and triethoxy silane hybrid polymers can be used to produce low viscosity, less toxic, and more commercially viable compositions suitable as an alternative to PU prepolymers. The examples show sealant properties close to commercial PU sealants based on the use of TDI and MDI isocyanate. The DMC polyether Polyol, which are preferred, are blended to achieve a target OH value and consistent tensile properties as the variation from manufacturers of polyether OH value is significant. Resins or polymers with mixtures of diols and triols can result in enhanced properties as is well known in polyurethane technology. Precipitated calcium carbonate usage allows the development of thicker adhesives and sealants at less cost. Processing of this polymer design is excellent and easy compared to polyurethane prepolymers.
The amounts of each of the compounds described in the methods above can be varied and still fall within the scope of the present methods. Examples having specific volumes and weights are provided to inform the reader and are not intended to be read as limitations to the present methods.
| 2C
| 09 | K |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purposes of illustrating an embodiment of the disclosure and not for the purposes of limiting same, the figures show a seal10applied on the bottom of a door12(FIG. 2). The door12is supported on one side by hinges attached to a door frame14. The door frame is in the shape of an inverted U with the open end of the U at the floor. A threshold16extends across the bottom of the door frame14.
The seal10is shown in more detail inFIG. 1. The seal10is an extrusion of polymeric material. More particularly, the seal10is a co-extrusion in which certain portions of the finished extrusion are more resilient than other portions. Thus, certain portions may have a different hardness than other portions.
The seal10has a uniform cross section with the following elements heading a substantially uniform and continuous shape over the entire length of the extrusion. Minor variations and surface flaws may result.
The seal10has a planar base20, a first upwardly extending member22and a second upwardly extending member24. The upwardly extending members extend upwardly from the edges of the planar base20. The upwardly extending members22,24extend upwardly and slightly toward one another from the two edges of the planar member20. Thus, the planar base20and the two upwardly extending members22,24form a U shape in which the bottom of the U is planar and the legs of the U extend upwardly and inwardly toward one another. The angle between the upwardly extending members22,24and the planar member is about 85°. Thus, if the planar member is considered horizontal, the upwardly extending members deviate from vertical by about 5°. These angles are “extruded”. The planar base20and the upwardly extending members22,24are extruded from a polymeric material having resilience. Thus, one can hold the tops of the upwardly extending members22,24away from each other or push them towards one another with simple finger pressure.
The planar base20and the upwardly extending members22,24are slightly less than 1/16 inch thick (less than 1.5 millimeters). This thickness is uniform and not critical.
The first upwardly extending member22extends about 1.5 inches (3.8 centimeters) above the planar base20. The second upwardly extending member24extends about 1.25 inches (3.1 centimeters) above the planar member20.
Upwardly is used herein to describe relative orientation and location of elements as seen in the figures and as one would mount the seal10upon the bottom of the door. However, upwardly is a relative term and a seal10applied vertically along a door or in a different orientation but having the same general configuration is also contemplated in this disclosure. “Inwardly” is used to describe an orientation or the direction in which something extends toward the center line of the planar base20. “Member” is used to identify portions of the seal10which are differentiable from other portions and serve different functions but are part of the same unitary extrusion or part.
As can be seen inFIG. 1, the U-shaped seal10defines an interior bottom with the bottom of the U further apart than the top of the U. In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom interior sides of the first and second upwardly extending members are about 1.79 inches apart. The top interior sides of the first and second upwardly extending members22,24may be offset from one another vertically but are about 1.6 inches apart. A first engagement member30extends inwardly and downwardly from the top of the first upwardly extending member22. The first engagement member30has a first planar portion32extending downwardly and inwardly from the top of the first upwardly extending member22; and an arcuate portion34extending from the edge of the first planar portion32remote from the first upwardly extending member22; and, a second planar portion36extending from the end of the arcuate portion34remote from the first planar portion32. The arcuate portion34is a portion of the circle which is not quite a half circle. The entire length of the first engagement member30(if flattened out) is about half the height of the first upwardly extending member22. The first engagement member30has uniform thickness about half the thickness of the first upwardly extending member22. The first engagement member30is extruded from a polymer having more resiliency, that is softer, than the polymer from which the planar base20and the first and second upwardly extending members22,24are extruded.
A second engagement member40extends inwardly and downwardly from the top of the second outwardly extending member24. The second engagement member40has a first planar portion42, an arcuate portion44, and a second planar portion46. The second engagement member40is the mirror image of the first engagement member30and is fabricated from the same softer material.
A first corner fin50extends downwardly and outwardly from the edge of the planar base20adjacent the first upwardly extending member22. The first corner fin50is about ⅜ inches in length and tapers to be less thick at its remote end52when compared to its base54adjacent the planar base20. A similar second corner fin60extends from the edge of the planar base20adjacent the second upwardly extending member24. The second corner fin60tapers from a thicker thin base64to a thinner remote end62.
A first semicircular tube70extends downwardly from the planar base20adjacent the first corner fin50. The first semicircular tube70has an “as extruded” radius somewhat greater than ⅛ of an inch. A rib72extends downwardly from the lowermost portion of the first semicircular tube70. A second semicircular tube80and rib82extends downwardly from the planar base20inwardly from the second corner fin60. Other than placement, the second semicircular tube80and rib82are completely identical to the first semicircular tube70and rib72.
Three central fins90,92,94are spaced from one another and extend downwardly from the central portion of the planar base20. The corner fins50,60, the semicircular tubes70,80and the central fins90,92,94are all extruded from a polymeric material which is softer than the material used for the base20and the upwardly extending members22,24. This material can be the same material used for the engagement members or material having different characteristics.
FIG. 3shows the seal10mounted on a door12at the bottom of the door. The first upwardly extending member22lies close along the bottom of one side of the door; the second upwardly extending member24lies close along the bottom of the other side of the door and the planar base20lies close along the bottom of the door. The engagement members30,40are deformed and pushed into very tight engagement against the sides of the door12. A significant surface area of each engagement member30,40is in contact with the surface of the door12and holds the seal10in place on the door12. The two upwardly extending members22,24can flex and change their relative orientation with respect to the base20. This allows the seal to be applied to doors having various widths. The illustrated embodiment can accommodate a door from about 1.5 inches thickness to about 1.75 inches thickness and still maintain an attractive and tight fit on the bottom of the door. Of course, other sizes can be accommodated by simply changing the dimensions of the planar base20or other elements.
The flexibility (softness) of the engagement members30,40allows the engagement members to closely engage the surfaces of the door and/or window frame and provides a substantially water tight seal. Moisture is not allowed to enter into the U-shaped interior of the seal10. Door rot is avoided. Weep holes (not shown) may be provided where desirable.
Assembly of the seal10to the bottom of a door requires no tools. An appropriate seal10is purchased. If the seal is the appropriate length for the width of the door, it is applied to the door without further alteration. If the seal10is too long for the width of the door, it is first cut to length. Thereafter, the door is opened and the seal can be applied by manually pulling the upwardly extending members22,24away from each other at one end and sliding the appliance onto the bottom of the door toward the hinge. The seal10is then urged upwardly into full engagement with the bottom of the door and is ready for use.
The action of the corner fins50,60, semicircular tubes70,80and central fins90,92,94are also seen inFIG. 3. Doors often close from one direction in a swinging motion. Thus, the fins under the door which engage the threshold will “sweep” as the door is closed to its final position. This results in a substantially uniform curved orientation for the fins as seen inFIG. 3. The bottoms of the fins are engaged with the threshold. The semicircular tubes70,80deform in a compressive manner rather than a sweep and the ribs72,82for a slight sweep at the bottom of the semicircular tubes. This combination of semicircular compression with the rib at the bottom acts in a slightly different manner in sealing against the threshold and promotes a good seal across the entire length of the threshold that is the entire width of the door.
When the door12is opened, the fins and tubes deform into sweeping in the opposite direction and disengage from the threshold. The materials chosen for the seal10and particularly for the fins and tubes are selected to provide good durability and repeated deformability as the door may be opened and closed many times over the lifetime of the seal. As there are multiple sealing elements, should one rib break or not fully engage a low spot in the threshold, the remaining elements may provide a seal at that point.
The seal10is shown inFIGS. 1,2and3in use at the bottom of a door. The seal10can be used on a window of the sash variety or of the vertically opening variety (casement) and provide a good seal in that environment. Other applications of the seal10to other interfaces will occur to those with need.
The disclosed has been described with reference to an illustrated embodiment. It will be appreciated that modifications or alterations could be made without deviating from the present disclosure. Such modifications and alterations will occur to others upon the reading and understanding of the specification. It is intended that all such modifications and alterations be included insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.
| 4E
| 06 | B |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Explained below with reference to the attached drawings is a zigzag sewing
machine embodying the present invention which selects a desired pattern
from a plurality of pattern and forms the selected pattern repeatedly.
Referring to FIG. 4 illustrating a perspective view of the zigzag sewing
machine of the present embodiment, a needle bar 3 is mounted on the end of
an arm 1a. A needle 2 is attached to the top of the needle bar 3. A feed
dog 4 is provided in a bed 1b opposed to the needle 2. Provided in the arm
1a are a needle vertical drive mechanism 5 for driving the needle bar 2
and a needle rock drive mechanism 6. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, a
feed dog vertical drive mechanism 7 and a feed dog horizontal drive
mechanism 8 for driving the feed dog 4 is provided in the bed 1b. The
needle bar vertical drive mechanism 5 and the feed dog vertical drive
mechanism 7 are driven by a sewing motor 9, while the needle rock drive
mechanism 6 is driven by a needle rock pulse motor 10. The feed dog
horizontal drive mechanism 8 is driven by the feed dog pulse motor 11. The
above motors and drive mechanisms compose a stitch forming mechanism 12.
The arm 1a is also provided with an on/off switch 13 for starting and
stopping sewing. A side 1c of the body 1 is provided with an operation
panel 14, which includes pattern selection switches (numerical pad) 15, a
sewing mode selection switch 17, and a speed control switch 17. An LCD
display 18 for displaying various sewing conditions is provided above the
operation panel 14.
The electrical construction housed in the body 1 is explained below.
A microcomputer 19 is provided with programs and functions as a read-out
unit, a control unit, a determination unit, and a switch-over unit, and
receives signals from the on/off switch 13. The microcomputer 19 sends
display signals to the display 18. A ROM 20 is provided with stitch data
corresponding to a variety of patterns while a RAM 21 temporarily stores
the stitch data. The ROM 20 and the RAM 21 are connected to the
microcomputer 19.
Stitch data for each pattern are composed of zigzag data representing the
rocking amount of the needle bar 2 and feed data representing the feed of
the feed dog 4 and is stored in a corresponding address. The sewing motor
9 receives control signals from the microcomputer 19 via a sewing motor
drive circuit 22. The needle rock pulse motor 10 and the feed dog pulse
motor 11 receive control signals from the microcomputer 19 via the pulse
motor drive circuit 23.
Two types of patterns, repeat pattern and normal patterns, are provided in
the ROM 20 and available to be selected by the selection switches 15. The
diamond-shaped pattern shown in FIG. 5 and other design patterns are the
repeat patterns while character patterns and drawings including the "A"
character pattern also shown in FIG. 5 are the normal patterns. The two
types of the patterns both contain many different patterns. Since the
repeat patterns are usually repeatedly sewn, a repeat sewing mode is
automatically set for sewing thereof. The stitch pattern data for the
repeat patterns are not coupled with fixing stitch data. Therefore, fixing
stitches are not formed at the beginning and the end of each repeat
pattern. On the other hand, because the normal patterns are usually sewn
individually, not repeatedly, an individual sewing mode is set for sewing
the normal patterns. Therefore, fixing stitches are formed at the
beginning and the end of each normal pattern. Because normal patterns are
separately placed between spaces when being repeatedly sewn, fixing
stitches need to be formed at the beginning and the end of each normal
pattern; thus, the pattern stitch data for the normal patterns stored in
the ROM 20 is accompanied by fixing stitch data.
The operation of the zigzag sewing machine of the present embodiment is
explained hereinafter.
The distinctive feature of the present embodiment is, as explained above,
to automatically form fixing stitches at the beginning and the end of a
single repeat pattern to be sewn in the single sewing mode or at the
beginning and the end of a plurality of repeated patterns to be sewn in a
repeat sewing mode. Therefore, fixing stitch forming in the sewing of
repeat patterns is mainly described below in reference to the flowcharts
of FIGS. 2 and 3, and an explanation of the process of normal pattern
forming is dispensed with.
When not executing a data output program, the microcomputer 19 carries out
a pattern selection program whose flowchart is shown in FIG. 3, to receive
and register signals sent from the pattern selection switches 15. As soon
as a desired repeat pattern is selected by the operation of the pattern
selection switch 15, the microcomputer 19 determines that a pattern
selection signal has been received at step S1. At step S2, the
microcomputer 19 determines and stores in a memory the first read-out
address in the ROM 20 where the stitch data of the selected repeat pattern
is stored. After a needle location counter p is reset (p.rarw.0) at step
S3, a starting point flag f, which indicates a starting point, is set
(f.rarw.1) at step S4. Because a repeat pattern has been selected, a
repeat sewing flag g (g.rarw.1) is set to make the initial sewing mode a
repeat sewing mode at step S5 and sends a display signal to the display 18
to display the repeat sewing mode thereon at step S6.
Then, the microcomputer 19 determines if the sewing mode selection switch
16 is pressed by the operator to change the sewing mode at step S7. If it
is determined YES at step S7, the process goes to step S8. If the sewing
mode setting is switched to a single sewing mode, the above repeat sewing
flag g is reset (g.rarw.0) at step S8. At step S9, the display signal sent
to the display 18 is accordingly changed to indicate that the single
sewing mode is on. If the pattern selection switch 15 is pressed to select
a normal pattern, the repeat sewing flag g is automatically reset
(g.rarw.0). Alternatively, if it is determined NO at step S1 because the
pattern selection switch is not used, the process goes to step S7. If the
sewing mode selection switch 16 is not pressed, it is determined NO at
step S7 and the program exits from the process.
If the on/off switch 13 is turned on with the repeat sewing mode being
selected, the microcomputer 19 executes the data output program whose
flowchart is shown in FIG. 2 in accordance with timing signals sent in
synchronization with the vertical motion of the needle bar 2 driven by the
rotation of sewing motor 9. Upon receiving a timing signal, the
microcomputer 19 determines whether the timing signal is the output timing
signal for a feed data (referred to as feed timing signal hereinafter) or
the output timing signal for a zigzag data (referred to as zigzag timing
signal hereinafter) at P1. Because it is the feed timing signal in this
case, it is determined YES at step P1. Next, the microcomputer 19
determines if a starting point flag f is set (f=1) at step P2. A starting
point flag f has been set in the pattern selection program. So it is
determined YES at step P2 and the process goes to step P3 at which a
fixing stitch counter q is set for "3" (q.rarw.3). The starting point flag
f is reset (f.rarw.0) at the next step P4. Because the value of the fixing
stitch counter q is not zero in this case, it is determined NO at step P5
and the feed data is set for zero at the following step P6. After the
value of the fixing stitch counter q is decremented by 1 (q.rarw.q-1) at
step P7, the feed data whose value its set for zero is sent to the pulse
motor drive circuit 23 at step P8.
As a result of the above, the feed dog 4 is not driven to operate. Then,
the microcomputer 19 determines if the value of the fixing stitch counter
q is zero at step P9. It is determined NO at step P9 and the program exits
from the process.
Next, because the timing signal provided at this point is not a feed timing
signal, the microcomputer 19 determines No at step P1 of the data output
program. Consequently, a zigzag data is generated at step P10 and program
exits from the process. Because a zigzag data is not yet read out, the
output value of the microcomputer 19 sent to the pulse motor drive circuit
23 is zero. Accordingly, the needle rock pulse motor 10 and the needle
rock drive mechanism 6 are not driven. The needle bar 2 is driven to make
a vertical reciprocating movement by the sewing motor 9 without rocking in
the lateral direction, hence forming a first stitch.
Because the starting point flag f has been set, the microcomputer 19
determines NO at step P2 and goes to step P5 skipping steps P3 and P4.
Then three stitches are formed by repeating the above process at the same
point to form fixing stitches at the starting point of the sewing
operation. When the third timing signal is sent, the value of the fixing
stitch counter q is zero (q=0). The microcomputer 19 accordingly
determines YES at a step 9 and goes on to step P11, at which it is
determined if a stop flag h is set, that is, if the present stitch is the
last stitch formed a the end point. It is determined NO in this case
because a stop flag h is not yet set and the program exits from the
process.
After fixing stitches are formed at the beginning of the first pattern of a
plurality of patterns to be sewn, the microcomputer 19 executes the data
output program upon receiving a feed timing signal. The microcomputer 19
goes to step P5 via steps P1 and P2. It is determined YES at step P5 and
the process goes to step P12 because the value of the fixing stitch
counter q is zero. At step P12, the microcomputer 19 reads out the pattern
data consisting of zigzag data and feed data based on the value of the
needle location counter p. The pattern data is stored in the first address
of the ROM 20 determined in the above-mentioned pattern selection program.
Because the above zigzag data and the feed data are not accompanied with
an end code, which is provided in the last address of each pattern data to
indicate the end of the pattern data, the process goes to step P14 at
which the needle location counter p is incremented by 1 (p.rarw.p+1). In
this case, the needle location counter p is incremented from 0 to 1. The
process now goes, to step P8 at which the read-out data is sent to the
pulse motor drive circuit 23 and the process goes on to step P9 and to
step P11 before termination of the program.
Accordingly, the pulse motor drive circuit 23 drives the feed dog pulse
motor 11 to operate the feed dog horizontal drive mechanism 8, hence
transferring the fabric corresponding to the feed data by the feed dog 4.
Upon receiving a data output timing signal, the microcomputer 19 goes, via
step P1, to step P10 at which zigzag data is sent to the pulse motor drive
circuit 23 to drive the needle rock pulse motor 10. The needle 2 is
transferred to a location corresponding to the next stitch and forms a
stitch at the location.
In this way, feed data and zigzag data corresponding to a pattern are
alternately generated to form a selected pattern. Each time a stitch is
formed, the needle location counter p is incremented by 1 at step P14 such
that the stitch data stored in the accordingly incremented address in the
ROM is read out to form a stitch corresponding to the pattern.
After the last stitch data is read out, the end code is read out at step
P12. The microcomputer 19 then determines at step P13 that an end code is
read out and goes to step P15 where it is determined if the repeat sewing
mode is set. It is determined YES at step P15 unless the initially
designated repeat sewing mode is not canceled. Then, the needle location
counter p is reset (p.rarw.0) at step P16 and the process goes to step
P12.
As explained above, because the needle location counter p is reset, the
microcomputer 19 again successively reads out all the pattern data
starting from the pattern data stored in the first address in the ROM 20.
Likewise, as long as the repeat sewing mode is on, the pattern is
repeatedly sewn.
When the operator presses the sewing mode selection switch 16, that is,
when the repeat sewing mode is switched to the single sewing mode, the
operation is carried out as follows.
As explained above, the pattern selection program can be executed when the
data output program is not executed. Therefore, even when pattern sewing
is in progress, the microcomputer 19 allows a mode change to the single
sewing mode and resets the repeat sewing flag g (g.rarw.0). On the other
hand, while the data output program is executed, stitches are formed until
the present pattern which is being formed is completed based on the stitch
data read out at step P12. When the sewing is completed and the end code
is read out at step P12, the process goes to step P13. It is determined
YES at step P13 and the process goes to step P17. The microcomputer 19
sets the value of the fixing stitch counter q for "3" (q.rarw.3) at step
P17, sets the stop flag (h.rarw.1) at step P18, and goes to step P6. Then,
the process for forming fixing stitches is repeated until the value of the
fixing stitch counter q is zero to form three fixing stitches at the end
of the sewing. When the value of the fixing stitch counter is zero, it is
determined YES at step P9. Then, it is determined YES at step P11, because
the stop flag h is set, and the process goes to step P19. The
microcomputer 19 sends a stop signal to the sewing motor drive circuit 22
to stop the sewing motor 9 and resets the stop flag h (h.rarw.0) at the
following step P20 (h.rarw.0). The program exits from the process.
If the single sewing mode is designated from the start, fixing stitches are
formed at the beginning to be followed by sewing of one repeat pattern.
Finally, fixing stitches are formed at the end of the only sewn pattern.
As explained above, in the present embodiment, the microcomputer 19 first
forms fixing stitches at the beginning of the first pattern of a plurality
of repeat patterns and repeatedly forms the plurality of repeat patterns.
Upon detecting that the sewing mode is switched to the single sewing mode,
fixing stitches are formed when the sewing of the present pattern is
finished forming.
Due to the above-explained feature of the present embodiment, fixing
stitches are formed only at the beginning and the end of a plurality of
repeat patterns, which frees the operator from the tedious manual fixing
stitch operation. Moreover, unlike the conventional system in which each
pattern data is paired with fixing stitch data, the present embodiment
does not form fixing stitches at either ends of each repeat pattern,
preventing two sets of fixing stitches from being formed between adjacent
repeat patterns. Therefore, neither the fabric nor the aesthetic value of
the sewn patterns are damaged.
While the described embodiment represents the preferred form of the present
invention, it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made
without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.
For instance, in the present embodiment, the sewing mode designation switch
16 is pressed to turn on the single mode sewing mode, which is detected at
step P15 of the data output program, in order to terminate the repeat
sewing mode. However, the mode change to the single sewing mode may be
effected by turning off the on/off switch 13. Likewise, the number of
repeat patterns to be sewn may be initially designated so that the mode
change to the single sewing mode is detected by reading out the last
pattern.
In the present embodiment, pattern data for each pattern is coupled with
fixing stitch data for sewing fixing stitches neither at the beginning nor
the and of each pattern. However, pattern data coupled with fixing stitch
data for the beginning of each pattern may be used. In this case, the
microcomputer would detect the end of the last repeat pattern to form
fixing stitches. Fixing stitches would be automatically formed at the
beginning of the sewing so that one set of fixing stitches is formed
between adjacent patterns. Since only one set of fixing stitches is
formed, it does not damage the fabric or the aesthetical value of the sewn
patterns.
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, fixing stitches consist of three
stitches formed at one point. However, each of the three stitches may be
very slightly displaced from one another. Also the number of fixing
stitches formed at one point is not necessarily three; any number of
stitches may be formed as long as threads do not become loose.
The present-embodiment zigzag sewing machine can sew both a variety of
repeat patterns and normal patterns. However, the present invention may be
applied to a zig zag sewing machine that sews only repeat patters.
As is clear from the foregoing explanation, in accordance with the present
invention, the determination unit determines if a given pattern whose
sewing is in progress is a predetermined last pattern or a pattern which
was not initially designated as a last pattern but was later redesignated
as a last pattern by mode switching. If the determination unit determines
that the pattern whose sewing is in progress is the last pattern, the
switch-over unit stops the read-out unit from reading out further pattern
stitch data and switches over the read-out unit to the fixing stitch
read-out mode after the sewing of the pattern is completed. Then, based on
the result of the determination, the control unit drives the stitch
forming mechanism to form fixing stitches after the last pattern is sewn.
Therefore, the present invention offers the advantage that the operator is
relieved from the tedious and troublesome manual fixing stitch forming. | 3D
| 05 | B |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Begin by illustrating the difficulties encountered when attempting to apply prior art concepts to large displacement spherical joints. FIG. 4 shows a spherical joint which allows access to large deflection angles, but not to large full cone angles. Spherical body 40 has a first shaft 41 radially affixed. Spherical body 40 rides on a bearing cup 42 , to which is radially affixed a second shaft 43 . (A joint base can be used in place of the second shaft.) Here, radially affixed means that the shaft axis intersects the center of the spherical body when the spherical body is placed on the bearing cup 42 . The bearing surface on which the spherical body rides on the bearing cup can take the form of a concave sphere, typically having a radius nearly equal to that of the spherical body. However, a conical bearing surface, or indeed any shape which, while the spherical body rests against the bearing cup, restricts the motion of the spherical body to simple rotations can be used.
A second bearing 44 is positioned so that the spherical body 40 rides on both the bearing cup and the second bearing, and so that the center of the spherical body is thereby constrained to reside at a single point. Note that this requires that the second bearing be located above the diameter of the spherical body 40 which is perpendicular to the axis of the second shaft 43 . A C-shaped bearing support structure 45 fixes the relative position of the bearing cup and the second bearing, thereby trapping the spherical body between them, and attaches to the second shaft (or the bearing cup, which attachment is functionally equivalent).
The resulting joint can reach extremely large deflection angles in most directions, the primary restriction being interference between the first shaft and the bearing cup. Unfortunately, this desirable behavior is not seen in all orientations. The first shaft can also interfere with the second bearing and the bearing support structure, thereby preventing function as a true spherical joint. A moment's contemplation will show that such interferences occur in any joint in which the spherical body is retained by the relative positioning of two or more bearings.
The present invention is of a spherical joint in which the spherical body is retained by the relative positioning of two or more bearings, but where additional structure guides and/or restricts the joint motion so as to avoid the resulting interferences.
One implementation of a large displacement spherical joint after the present invention appears in FIG. 5 . In this implementation of the present invention, called a camming spherical joint, spherical body 50 has first shaft 52 radially affixed, and rests in bearing cup 51 , thereby forming a first bearing surface. The bearing cup and the spherical body are enclosed within camming housing 53 . Camming housing 53 comprises a cam surface 54 and at least one mounting site for a bearing pad 55 . (As drawn, the joint of FIG. 5 has three bearing pads.) The bearing cup and the bearing pads are positioned so that a spherical bearing surface which matches the spherical body is thereby defined. The bearing cup can be fixed to the joint base 56 , or to the camming housing 53 . The bearing cup 51 can be spring-loaded with a spring 58 positioned between revolute joint 57 and the bearing cup 51 to maintain positive engagement of the bearing cup 51 with the spherical body 50 . Finally, the camming housing 53 is connected to the joint base 56 via revolute joint 57 , which allows free rotation of the housing about a vertical axis.
A camming spherical joint according to the present invention is capable of the full 3-axis freedom of a simple spherical joint. Unlike a conventional spherical joint, however, the shaft can rotate by more than 90 degrees about all axes perpendicular to the vertical axis.
To see this, imagine having the first shaft 52 oriented roughly vertically, and then pulling it down toward the joint base. The angle between the first shaft and the vertical is called the deflection angle. When the first shaft strikes the cam surface, the generic situation is that a force is generated perpendicular to the motion of the first shaft. A torque is thereby applied to the camming housing, causing said housing to rotate by means of revolute joint 57 about the vertical. In the process, the shaft is freed to move to still larger deflection angles. As shown in FIG. 5 , the lowest part of the cam surface can allow first shaft 52 to move to extremely large full cone angles ( 150 degrees).
The motion of the camming spherical joint is nominally free of singularities, owing to the automatic rotation of the camming housing to accommodate large deflection angles. However, given any real cam surface and first shaft, the joint will have a dead point at local extrema of the cam surface. The dead points associated with cam surface extrema which are also local minima are expected, and serve to define the largest possible deflection angles.
Other types of dead points, however, those associated with maxima and inflection points, interfere with the desired function of the joint. Even though such dead points can be made very small, they still reflect differences in function relative to a conventional spherical joint.
There are several ways to mitigate or eliminate the effects of these dead points. The simplest is to design the cam surface to have a sharp structure near the local maxima, and harden the surface of the first shaft. This is a brute force approach to minimizing the angular extent of the dead point, but is rather expensive in machining and heat treatment. Similar approaches which minimize but do not eliminate the effects of such dead points include adding a freely rotating collar 59 around the first shaft, or a bearing wheel or ball at the dead points, so that the first shaft rolls more easily away from the dead points. Those points, however, remain in such joints.
A second approach to avoiding the effects of dead points appears in FIG. 6 . This figure shows a camming spherical joint as in FIG. 5 , but also including a magnetized eccentric cam 60 which engages the cam surface and is free to rotate about the first shaft. If the surface of the eccentric cam hits a local maximum of the cam surface (which would otherwise be a dead point), eccentric cam 60 rotates, thereby presenting an oblique surface to the cam surface and sliding down the cam surface away from the potential dead point.
The eccentric cam, however, also has dead points when interacting with the cam surface. These can be avoided by arranging an appropriate magnetic interaction between the magnetized eccentric cam and the camming housing near the potential dead points. One way to accomplish this is to embed a first magnetic deflector 61 into the cam surface near a dead point, and embed a second magnetic deflector 62 of opposite polarity into the eccentric cam, again near a dead point. As the eccentric cam and the dead point approach, the repulsion of the magnetic deflectors causes the eccentric cam to rotate, thereby moving the dead point of the cam away from the cam surface.
Another approach toward avoiding the problem of dead points at local maxima of the cam surface is shown in FIG. 7 . Here again appears a camming spherical joint as in FIG. 5 , but now the regions of the camming housing near what would otherwise be dead points of the cam surface are replaced by a flapper 70 . This flapper is attached to the camming housing so that it is relatively free to move about the connection point, and is spring-loaded so it has an equilibrium position at some angular displacement away from the housing. This can be allowed by attaching the flapper by a spring loaded revolute joint (not shown). Alternately, the flapper can be an integral part of the camming housing, where flexure of the long axis of the flapper provides both the required rotary motion and the spring-loaded restoring force.
If the first shaft strikes what would have been a dead point, the flapper rotates. In doing so, the angle of its surface changes, thereby altering the perpendicular orientation of a dead point into an oblique contact that produced forces which torque the camming housing around its axis. As a result, no dead point is encountered.
A closely related group of large displacement spherical joints according to the present invention appears in FIG. 8 . These are the arching band spherical joints, which in some ways are the simplest of this new class of large displacement spherical joints.
A spherical body 80 , with a radially affixed first shaft 81 , rides on a bearing cup 82 attached to a joint base 83 . An arching band 84 is mounted to the joint base by means of a pair of revolute joints 85 and 86 . These revolute joints share a common axis of revolution, and that axis passes through the center of the spherical body when it rests on the bearing cup. The underside of the arching band 84 comprises a bearing surface that contacts the spherical body. Hence, the bearing cup and the underside of the arching band make up the two bearings that confine the spherical body and restrict it to rotary motion about its own center. The arching band 84 comprises an elongated aperture 87 , through which the first shaft penetrates.
The operation of an arching band spherical joint is straightforward. For motions of the first shaft along the arching band, the deflection angle is limited to about 75-80 degrees by the presence of the revolute joints 85 and 86 . Rotation of the first shaft in a perpendicular direction is limited only by material interference with the bearing cup of the joint base, and can be in excess of 150 degrees given proper design. The actual full cone angle accessible to such a joint is thus only about 160 degrees, even though in some directions cone angles as large as 300 degrees are possible.
Although the total amount of spherical motion allowed by the arching band spherical joints is generally less than that of the other implementations, this type of design is well-suited to integration with motors or other activators and/or motion encoders. As a result, arching band spherical joints can be a better choice for numerous robotic and machine tool applications than are the alternate implementations of the present invention.
It should be noted that when the arching band is tilted near or past the horizontal (with reference to FIG. 8 ), the degree of confinement is reduced, and the joint becomes susceptible to dislocation. This tendency can be countered by adding a shaft bearing 90 to the first shaft, positioned directly on top of the arching band, as shown in FIG. 9 , which also shows a motor 91 driving the motion of the joint in one axis of rotation. This cap pins the first shaft and the spherical body into location, so that dislocations of the joint will not occur.
In order to have a spherical joint such that the orientation of the first shaft can be completely controlled or measured, a second arching band 100 comprising an elongate aperture 103 mounted on revolute joints 101 and 102 can be added to the above joint (see FIG. 10 ). The second arching band is usually oriented perpendicular to the first, and the common axis of rotation of the revolute joints 101 and 102 intersects the center of the spherical body, but neither of these are requirements for proper function, as the spherical motion is already defined by the first arching band. In fact, depressing the common axis of rotation of the revolute joints 101 and 102 can relieve the interference between the first shaft and the second arching band so that adding the second arching band need not significantly limit the angular flexibility of the joint.
The examples and implementations described above are intended to illustrate various aspects of the present invention, not to limit the scope thereof. The scope of the invention is set by the claims interpreted in view of the specification.
| 5F
| 16 | C |
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The manner of carrying out the analysis is best implemented as follows: The
molten brass is poured into a casting crucible (A) which is insulated on
its inner surface so that the cooling rate before reaction is less that
3.degree. C. per second and the cooling time about 250 seconds. A
thermoelement (A1) placed in the thermal centre of the crucible, registers
the temperature which is transferred through the measuring unit (B) to the
microcomputer (C). The cooling curves are derived from mathematical
computation using the following standard formulas.
1. The time derivative of temperature (dT/dt) is calculated by the least
square method:
##EQU1##
T=temperature t=time
n=number of points
2. The second time derivative (d(dT/dt)) is calculated in similar way as
the first time derivative (eq. 1).
##EQU2##
3. The analysis of curves is explained using the flowchart for the analysis
subroutine.
The computer (C) implements the methods shown in FIG. 6 by first
registering the change in temperature as a function of time and derives
the thus obtained cooling curve two times during the measuring. After this
the computer (C) determines the appearing phase transformations, their
temperatures and reciprocal points in time, on the basis of which it
calculates the effective Cu percentage. The machine compares the Cu
percentage obtained from the analysis with the optimum percentage, and
writes out (E, F) the required alloying addition (Cu, Zn, Al). The whole
analysis takes about 8 minutes.
The microcomputer (C), upon receiving the registered temperature value,
performs the seven step algorithm set forth in FIG. 7 calculated by
formulas which are known in the art of metallurgical phase transformation.
See Savitzky et al. "Smoothing And Differentiation Of Data By Simplified
Least Squares Procedures" ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY Vol. 36, No. 8 July, 1964
pp. 1627-1639; Ekpoom et al. "Thermal Analysis By Differential Heat
Analysis (DHA) Of Cast Iron", AFS TRANSACTIONS 1981, page 27-38.
Step 1 requires the microcomputer (C) to search the cooling curve for the
maximum temperature Tmax and its equivalent time t(Tmax). This point on
the curve, t(Tmax), is used as a starting point for the analysis.
In step 2, the microcomputer (C) searches the (dT/dt) curve for its zero
points by locating the points where the slope of the curve changes its
sign.
In step 3, the microcomputer (C) searches and locates the local maximum and
minimum points on the (dT/dt) curve by locating the zero points of the
(dT/dt) curve.
In step 4, the phase transformation peaks of the (dT/dt) curve are selected
by comparing the difference between the minimum and maximum points located
beside each other.
In step 5, the microcomputer (C) assigns names to the reactions and
determine their temperature according to following specific criteria. The
solidus is named at the global minimum value of the (dT/dt) curve. If
three significant peaks are found before solidus, the reactions are
liquidus (alpha phase), peritectic and monotectic reaction. In such
reactions, the effective copper content is over C.sub.0 (refer to FIG. 1).
If two significant peaks are found before solidus, the reactions are
liquidus (beta phase) and monotectic reaction. In such reactions, the
effective copper content is under C.sub.0. If only one significant peak is
found after solidus, the reaction is an alpha/beta reaction. Similarly, in
this reaction, the effective copper content is under C.sub.0. By knowing
the location (index) of this peak, the temperature value T (alpha/beta)
can be picked from the cooling curve (Tcurve).
In step 6, the effective copper content is calculated using the following
equations:
EQU P1=(P-L)/(S-L)
EQU A1=(A-L)/(S-L),
where
t=time
p=t(peritectic reaction)
S=t(solidus)
L=t(liquidus)
A=t(alpha/beta reaction)
EQU K1=a+b.times.P1 (if peritectic reaction found)
EQU K2=c+d.times.A1 (if alpha/beta reaction found)
EQU K3=e+f.times.T(A) (if alpha/beta reaction found)
EQU K=(K1+K2+K3)/3,
where
K=effective copper content
T(A)=temperature of the alpha/beta reaction
______________________________________
a = 60.1 b = 8.81
c = 66.3 d = -3.61
e = 46.3 f = 0.0195
______________________________________
In step 7, instructions to correct the melt composition are calculated
using the following equations:
a) If K is over the limit K(max)=62.25%, Zn has to be added to reach the
target composition (a little bit under the optimum). Need of zinc,
Zn(need) expressed as the percentage of the charge is as follows:
EQU Zn(need)=-100.times.S/(S+Cu(ave)),
where
S=Const.times.(K(target)-K))
Const=1.05
Cu(ave)=64% (average copper content of brass)
K(target)=62.0% (optimum composition is 62.25%)
b) If K is under the limit K(max)=61.55%, Cu has to be added to reach the
target composition (a little bit under the optimum). Need of Copper,
Cu(need) expressed as the percentage of the charge is as follows:
EQU Cu(need)=-100.times.S/(S+Cu(ave)-100),
where the unknowns are as above
FIGS. 3a to 5c show examples of analysis results in cases where the
effective Cu percentage is at the right composition range, too small, or
too big. The corresponding microstructures and writing out of the computer
analysis for each case are also shown in the Figs. FIG. 3c is a
microstructure figure (enlargement 200.times.) of two-phase brass. The
microstructure is optimal from the viewpoint of cast properties and
dezincification. In said structure the average dezincification depth has
been only 70 m. FIG. 3a shows the curves of the derivative thermal
analysis - cooling curve T=f(t)(G) and its first derivative curve
dT/dt=f(t) (H). The first peak (1) in the cooling rate curve is a liquidus
peak (solidification of the metal alloy begins). After this a monotectic
reaction (3) between copper and lead (Pb 1.5%) occurs. To said brass a
little lead is added in order to improve machinability. At point (4) the
whole melt is solidified.
After this the reaction (5) still occurs in the solid phase. FIG. 3b shows
the writing out of the computer analysis. The effective Cu percentage is
in the range of C.sub.1 -C.sub.0 (FIG. 1).
The dezincification in the microstructure in FIG. 4c has proceeded to an
average depth of 180 m. FIG. 4a shows the same reactions as FIG. 3a. The
reaction (5) has occurred at a lower temperature than in the structure in
FIG. 3c. The computer recommends an analysis correction. The effective Cu
percentage is smaller than C.sub.1.
The microstructure in FIG. 5c is especially bad from the viewpoint of the
advancing dezincification: the depth of dezincification has been 380 m on
an average. Reaction does not show in FIG. 5a any more. On the other hand
a new "peak" (2) has appeared between "peaks" 1 and 3. This is caused by a
peritectic reaction (2). The computer has noted this fact and again
recommends an analysis correction. The effective Cu percentage is bigger
than C.sub.0.
The description and claims describe only some embodiments of the method
according to the invention. The adaptations of the method according to the
invention can vary even considerably within the scope of the claims. | 6G
| 06 | F |
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A connector housing A having a lock mechanism in accordance with the first
embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
FIGS. 1 through 3. The connector housing A consists of a pair of housing
portions (hereinafter referred to as first and second connector housings)
1 and 2 which form a connector when fitted to each other.
The first connector housing 1 is a male housing having a plurality of
internal terminal chambers 3. The first connector housing 1 has an upper
wall portion 1a and a flexible locking arm 4 provided on the upper portion
1a. The locking arm 4 has a support portion 4a connected to the upper wall
portion 1a of the connector housing 1. The locking arm 4 extends from the
support portion 4a in the direction of fitting into the second connector
housing 2 and has a free end portion 4b at a fitted end. An engagement
projection 5 is provided between the support portion 4a and the free end
portion 4b. An operating lever 6 is provided which extends from a position
at the rear of the engagement projection 5 in the direction opposite to
the direction of the free end portion 4b.
The second connector housing 2 is a female housing formed into a tubular
shape such as to accommodate the first connector housing 1. The second
connector housing 2 has an upper wall portion 2a and a frame portion,
i.e., an engagement frame 7, which opens in the direction of fitting to
the first connector housing 1. A flexible lock hook 8 is provided at the
rear of the engagement frame 7 so as to extend along a fitting axis. The
lock hook 8 has an engagement claw 8a engageable with the engagement
projection 5.
FIG. 2 shows a state of the first and second connector housings 1 and 2 in
which the housings 1 and 2 are fitted and locked to each other. The
locking arm 4 of the first connector housing 1 is fitted into the
engagement frame 7 of the second connector housing 2, and the engagement
projection 5 of the locking arm 4 is engaged with the engagement claw 8a
of the lock hook 8 to prevent the first connector housing 1 from coming
off the second connector housing 2.
FIG. 3 illustrates an operation of detaching the first connector housing 1
from the second connector housing 2. When the operating lever 6 is moved
upward by an operator's finger or the like in the direction of the arrow,
the operating lever 6 is brought into contact with an inner side 7a of a
bridge portion which forms a front upper frame portion of the engagement
frame 7. The inner side 7a serves as a fulcrum. As the operating lever 6
is further moved upward in the direction of the arrow, the free and
portion 4b of the locking arm 4 is moved downward, thereby disengaging the
engagement projection 5 of the locking arm 4 and the engagement claw 8a of
the lock hook 8. The first and second connector housings 1 and 2 can
easily be detached from each other by moving the first connector housing 1
apart from the second connector housing 2 while maintaining the engagement
projection 5 in the state of being disengaged from the lock hook 8.
A connector housing B having a lock mechanism in accordance with the second
embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
FIGS. 4 through 6.
The connector housing B consists of first and second connector housings 11
and 12 which form a connector when fitted to each other.
The first connector housing 11 is a male housing having a plurality of
internal terminal chambers 13, as in the case of the first embodiment. The
first connector housing 11 has an upper wall portion 11a, a flexible
locking arm 14 provided on the upper wall portion 11a, and a support frame
19 for supporting the locking arm 14. The locking arm 14 has a support
portion 14a connected to the upper wall portion 11a of the connector
housing 11. The locking arm 14 extends from the support portion 14a in the
direction of fitting into the second connector housing 12 and has a free
end portion 14b at a fitted end. An engagement projection 15 is provided
between the support portion 14a and the free end portion 14b. An operating
lever 16 is provided which extends from a position at the rear of the
engagement projection 15 in the direction opposite to the direction of the
free end portion 14b. The support frame 19 is formed on the upper wall
portion 11a of the first connector housing 11 so as to surround the
operating lever 16 of the locking arm 14.
The second connector housing 12 is a female housing formed into a tubular
shape such as to accommodate the first connector housing 11. The second
connector housing 12 has an upper wall portion 12a and a lock hook 18
formed on the upper wall portion 12a and having an engagement claw 18a in
the vicinity of a portion fitted to the first connector housing 11.
FIG. 5 shows a state of the first and second connector housings 11 and 12
in which the housings 11 and 12 are fitted and locked to each other. The
engagement projection 15 of the locking arm 14 is engaged with the
engagement claw 18a of the lock hook 18 to prevent the first connector
housing 11 from coming off the second connector housing 12.
FIG. 6 illustrates an operation of detaching the first connector housing 11
from the second connector housing 12. When the operating lever 16 is moved
upward by an operator's finger or the like as in the direction of the
arrow, the operating lever 6 is brought into contact with an inner side
19a of a bridge portion which forms a front upper frame portion of the
support frame 19. The inner side 19a serves as a fulcrum. As the operating
lever 16 is further moved upward in the direction of the arrow, the free
end portion 14b of the locking arm 14 is moved downward, thereby
disengaging the engagement projection 15 of the locking arm 14 and the
engagement claw 18a of the lock hook 18. The first and second connector
housings 11 and 12 can be easily detached from each other by moving the
first connector housing 11 apart from the second connector housing 12
while maintaining the engagement projection 15 in the state of being
disengaged from the lock hook 18. | 7H
| 01 | R |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to FIG. 1, a system 10 for purifying MG silicon has a ladle 12
for holding molten silicon 14. Ladle 12 has a container 16, an inner
lining 18, which is preferably a ceramic, such as high purity silica, and
a tightly fitting insulating cover 17 with an exhaust system 19. The ladle
can preferably hold about 1 to 2 metric tons at one time, and preferably
is provided near an arc furnace where MG silicon is produced, so that the
system of the present invention can be used to purify the MG silicon soon
after it is manufactured.
Extending downwardly into molten silicon 14 from above are a number of
immersion heaters, such as oxygen-hydrogen torches 20. Torches 20 provide
heat and generate turbulence in the molten silicon. Referring also to FIG.
2, torches 20 have an inner tube 22 with an oxygen-hydrogen flame 23 that
is surrounded by argon gas delivered through an outer tube annular 24 that
surrounds the flame from inner tube 22 to protect flame 23. Torch 20 is
thus similar in principle to torches used for underwater cutting. Outer
tube 24 is made of a ceramic material, such as fused silica or alumina,
and the pressure from the molten silicon is balanced by the gas. The inert
gas can also be a carrier for silica powder, an important known catalyst
for purification. The flame is hot is, for example, 2000.degree. C., which
is significantly higher than the melting point of silicon (1412.degree.
C.). The inert gas can also keep the touch cool, and for this purpose
helium could also be used.
The user can control a number of parameters as desired. The flame rate and
the oxygen/hydrogen ratio to the torches 20 can be controlled to control
the oxidation or reducing conditions and the turbulence and oxidation
conditions in the area of the flame and thus to expose more molten silicon
14 to the flame; the inert flow rate of the inert gas can be controlled to
control the area of water concentration exposed to the flame; the heat in
the ladle can be controlled by the size and number of torches, and also by
the flame rate; and the amount of silica being introduced is controllable.
With proper control, the silicon can thus be maintained in a molten state
as long as necessary for purification to occur, typically about one-half
day to one day.
The submerged torches are preferably the sole sources of heating for the
molten silicon. Alternatively, however, other heating sources can be used
in conjunction with the torches, such as the heating coil around the
outside of the container as is used with known crucibles.
Stirring of molten silicon with argon gas promotes a reaction between
silicon (Si) and silica (SiO.sub.2) to form silicon monoxide (SiO), which
itself is gaseous and promotes more stirring. The silica also reacts with
oxides and hydrides to trap impurities in slags, combines with SiC to
encourage reactions that incorporate the carbon into gaseous molecules
that can be exhausted, and may help with oxidation of boron. The moisture
and oxidizing condition oxidizes the phosphorous, boron, and other
impurities to form a slag and thereby to trap these impurities in the
slag. The resulting impurity compounds include FeO, Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, CaO,
TiO.sub.2, Ti.sub.2 O.sub.3, SiO, SiO.sub.2, P.sub.2 O.sub.3, P.sub.2
O.sub.5, and B.sub.2 O.sub.3. Volatile products can also be brought to the
surface of the melt and then evacuated with the exhaust system; such
volatile products include SiO, BH.sub.3, P.sub.2 O.sub.5, and TiO.
Reaction with the hydrogen in the water in reducing conditions reduces
impurities by forming PH.sub.3, BH.sub.3, SiH, and SiH.sub.3.
After heating for a sufficient period of time, the melt is directionally
solidified--directional solidification is a known effective method for
removing impurities that have low segregation coefficients, and thus are
incorporated in the last melt to solidify. A number of methods can be used
in the ladle itself or in a separate container. In one method and
apparatus for controlling such solidification, the container is mounted in
a tank with conduits having controllable valves. Container 16 rests on
pedestal supports 24 in a tank 26 that has one inlet 28 for bringing in a
fluid coolant 44, such as water, and multiple outlets 30-34 at separate
vertical heights. Inlet 28 and each outlet 30-34 has a respective valve
36-41 that can be controlled with a control system 42. Control system 42
can include an appropriately programmed general purpose computer or an
application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The water level in the
tank is raised and lowered by selectively closing the outlet valves. (In
FIG. 1, valves 36,40, and 41 are shown open while valves 37-39 are
closed.) Flowing water through tank 26 thus causes the silicon melt to
solidify directionally from bottom to top over the course of time. Valve
40 is closed when the solid liquid interface is approximately at that
position.
To further assist with such directional solidification, the torches 20 are
initially submerged deep into molten silicon 14 in the container,
preferably near the sides where heat is most easily lost. Torches 20 are
then raised until they are near the top of the container while the
solid-liquid interface moves upwardly due to the coolant. When this
interface nears the top of container 16, torches 20 are removed while
water continues to flow to cool the solidified silicon ingot rapidly to
the ambient temperature. A resulting cooled ingot of silicon is removed
from ladle 12, thus causing lining 18 to break up. Crucible 16 therefore
has to be relined for a next batch of silicon. Because impurities
segregate in the top of the ingot during the directional solidification
process, the top layer is removed and the purer silicon below the top
layer may be used as melt stock or further refined to EG silicon using a
known Siemens process, modified to require fewer distillation steps than
are typically used.
To provide the higher grade SG silicon at an early stage where MG silicon
is produced, this process can be implemented in an MG silicon
manufacturing plant. In this case, an arc furnace in which the MG silicon
is first manufactured is provided together with a ladle where the
additional purification is performed to effectively produce a two-step
process of manufacture and purification. In this case, the silicon can be
poured directly from the arc furnace to the ladle for large scale
purification, thereby upgrading the quality of the silicon at the source
of its manufacturer, and at a greatly reduced cost.
Having described embodiments of the present invention, it should be
apparent that modifications can be made without departing from the scope
of the invention as described by the appended claims. For example, the
molten silicon in the ladle can be poured into a separate mold where
directional solidification can be performed. Other methods can be used for
such directional solidification, including a heat exchanger method in
which a heat is extracted from a central portion of the bottom of a
crucible, e.g., with a helium-cooled molybdenum heat exchange. The
purification process could be carried out outside the MG silicon plant by
remelting the MG silicon; however, the approach of using molten silicon
directly from the arc furnace will not require additional energy to remelt
the MG silicon. | 2C
| 30 | B |
The circular stretchers 1 and 1 are situated in the running direction I of the tubular fabrics 7 in front and back of a ring-shaped die 9 in a vertical arrangement. The tubular fabrics 7 are stretched into a circular pattern by spreader rings 2 , 2 of the circular stretchers 1 and 1 . To this end, the spreader rings 2 , 2 have at least three rollers 3 , 3 offset on the inner periphery of the tubular fabrics 7 , which are interconnected in a star pattern. Two stretching rollers 5 , 5 a and 5 , 5 a are arranged at the outer ends of the roller carriers 3 , 3 spaced a distance apart, and used to stretch out the tubular fabrics 7 .
The stretching rollers 5 , 5 a and 5 , 5 a lie with the tubular fabrics 7 guided over them against outer rollers 8 , 8 , which are mounted between the stretching rollers 5 and 5 a as well as 5 and 5 a . In this way, the spreader rings 2 , 2 of the circular stretchers 1 and 1 are held within the tubular fabrics 7 completely free of attachment.
The outer rollers 8 , 8 are driven in the example. This greatly precludes tensile stresses in the tubular fabrics and reduces the frictional resistance.
The tubular fabrics 7 passed through between the stretching rollers 5 , 5 a and 5 , 5 a and the outer rollers 8 , 8 are stretched in a geometry predetermined by the star pattern of the stretching rollers 5 , 5 a and 5 , 5 a .
In order to create a geometry adapted to the ring-shaped die 9 , a centering ring 10 , 10 is connected to the roller carriers 3 , 3 of the circular stretchers 1 , 1 via locks 6 , 6 is positioned directly in front and back of this die, and has an outer diameter equal to or greater than the inner diameter of the ring-shaped die 9 .
The centering rings 10 , 10 have approximately the same shape as the ring-shaped die 9 .
This ensures that the tubular fabrics 7 will be transported on the die slit of the ring-shaped die 9 stretched out smoothly and without folds.
The roller carriers 3 , 3 of the spreader rings 2 , 2 are adjustable radially toward the tubular fabrics 7 , so that the stretching rollers 5 , 5 a and 5 , 5 a always come to lie against the driven outer rollers 8 , 8 with the stretched tubular fabrics 7 . The interaction between the stretching rollers 5 , 5 a and 5 , 5 a and driven outer rollers 8 , 8 thereby yields a slip-free transport of the tubular fabrics 7 .
The roller carriers are adjusted in a manner known in the art, either by hand, under a spring resistance, with pneumatics or through exposure to a magnetic force.
To further reduce the transportation forces acting on the tubular fabrics 7 , a conveyor belt also runs over the stretching rollers 5 , 5 a and 5 , 5 a of each roller carrier 3 , 3 .
Overstretching the tubular fabrics 7 in front and back of the ring-shaped die 9 via the centering rings 10 , 10 ensures that the tubular fabrics 7 come to lie against the ring-shaped die 9 over a wide range of body widths. In this case, a total overstretching of the tubular fabrics 7 of up to approx. 75% is here possible without any damage. The maximal permissible overstretching D makes it possible to determine which body widths (tubular fabric diameter) D SW can be used with a ring-shaped die diameter D D ( D D D /D SW ). This makes it possible to vacuum extract varying body widths of the tubular fabrics 7 within a wide range without replacing the spreader rings 2 , 2 of the circular stretcher 1 , 1 with a single inner diameter of the ring-shaped dies 9 .
As shown in the example, the tubular fabrics are overstretched not just starting at the centering rings 10 , 10 , but already by the spreader rings 2 , 2 , whose diameter is progressively adjustable. As a result, the frictional resistance at the centering rings 10 , 10 is minimized.
In another embodiment, a stretcher device 11 is connected by a lock 6 a to the spreader ring 2 in front of it in the running direction I of the tubular fabrics 7 , and has a smaller diameter than that of the spreader rings 2 , 2 . The stretcher device 11 is circular or plate-shaped in the drawing. However, it can have other shapes as well.
In this way, the tubular fabrics 7 are pre-stretched via the stretching device 11 . The tubular fabrics are then transported over the lower circular stretcher 1 with the stretching rollers 5 and 5 a , as well as the driven outer rollers 8 , wherein the tubular fabrics 7 become overstretched, and is then brought to lie tautly against the ring-shaped die 9 by the centering rings 10 , 10 positioned under and over the ring-shaped die 9 . The tubular fabrics 7 are then transported on via the upper circular stretcher 1 .
Situating the stretcher device 11 in front of the spreader ring 2 brings about an incremental overstretching of the tubular fabrics 7 , which further improves the stretching effect.
List of Reference Numbers
1 , 1 Circular Stretcher
2 , 2 Spreader rings
3 , 3 Roller carriers
4 , 4 Outer ends of roller carriers 3 , 3
5 , 5 a Stretching rollers of circular stretcher 1
5 , 5 a Stretching rollers of circular stretcher 1
6 , 6 a , Locks
6 Locks
7 Tubular fabrics
8 , 8 Outer rollers
9 Ring-shaped die
10 , 10 Centering ring
11 Stretcher device
I Running direction of tubular fabrics 7
| 3D
| 06 | C |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIGS. 3 to 7 , the preferred embodiment of a steam iron 100 according to the present invention is shown to comprise an iron unit 6 , a base unit 2 , an evaporating unit 3 , a water reservoir 4 , a pump unit 5 , and a connecting tube 7 .
The iron unit 6 includes a main body 63 , a soleplate 64 installed on a bottom portion of the main body 63 , a plurality of steam outlets 61 formed in the soleplate 64 , and a handle 65 . The handle 65 is provided with a water-filling switch 62 .
The base unit 2 is disposed in front of the water reservoir 4 , and has a stop unit 225 and a water port 224 that is in fluid communication with the pump unit 5 . The base unit 2 further has an upper base portion 211 , a lower base portion 212 that is connected removably to the upper base portion 211 and that cooperates with the upper base portion 211 so as to define a receiving space 214 therebetween, and a connecting piece 22 that includes a vertical plate 221 , a surrounding wall 222 , and an end wall 223 . The vertical plate 221 is fixed between the upper and lower base portions 211 , 212 . The surrounding wall 222 extends integrally and forwardly from the vertical plate 221 , and has a front end. The water port 224 is formed through the surrounding wall 222 . The end wall 223 has an outer periphery that is formed integrally with the front end of the surrounding wall 222 so as to close the front end of the surrounding wall 222 . The stop unit 225 , in this embodiment, is formed as a pair of spaced-apart upper and lower curved protrusions, and extends integrally and rearwardly from the end wall 223 , as best illustrated in FIG. 5 . The base unit 2 further has an upper wall 23 and a lower wall 24 that extend respectively, horizontally, and rearwardly from the upper and lower base portions 211 , 212 . The upper wall 23 is disposed over and is spaced apart from the lower wall 24 so as to define a receiving groove 25 therebetween (see FIG. 4 ), into which the water reservoir 4 is inserted. The lower wall 24 is formed with an integral retaining hook 241 that extends upward from a rear end thereof.
The base unit 2 is provided with an ironing switch 26 that is adapted to be electrically connected to a power plug 8 so as to heat the iron unit 6 in a known manner.
The evaporating unit 3 is fastened to outer top and bottom covers 34 , 35 by means of screws, and is concealed in the receiving space 214 in the base unit 2 (see FIGS. 3 and 4 ). The evaporating unit 3 includes a thermally conductive housing 32 that confines a steam generating chamber 31 , and a heating unit 33 for heating the housing 32 . The housing 32 is formed with a water inlet 321 and a steam port 322 that is in fluid communication with the steam generating chamber 31 .
The base unit 2 is further provided with an evaporating switch 27 that is adapted to be electrically connected to the power plug 8 so as to activate the heating unit 33 of the evaporating unit 3 and that is adjacent to the ironing switch 26 .
The water reservoir 4 is detachably connected to the base unit 2 , and includes a receptacle body consisting of upper and lower halves 41 , 46 , a cap 42 , an ion exchange resin unit 43 , a water valve 44 , and a retention unit 45 (see FIGS. 3 and 5 ). The upper and lower halves 41 , 46 are made of a transparent material such that water in the water reservoir 4 is visible via the transparent material so as to permit timely replenishing of water into the water reservoir 4 . The upper half 41 includes a water-implementing opening 411 . The lower half 46 includes a water outlet 412 . The cap 42 is connected removably to the upper receptacle body 41 for covering the water-implementing opening 411 . The ion exchange resin unit 43 is disposed between the upper and lower halves 41 , 46 , and is provided to purify water in the water reservoir 4 . The water valve 44 is disposed within the water outlet 412 so as to seal the water outlet 412 when the water reservoir 4 is detached from the base unit 2 , and is constructed as a poppet valve, which includes a tubular sleeve 441 , a valve rod 442 , a valve 445 , a front spring 447 , and an O-ring 443 .
The tubular sleeve 441 of the water valve 44 is connected removably to the base unit 2 so that the water outlet 412 in the water reservoir 4 is in fluid communication with the water port 224 in the base unit 2 . The sleeve 441 has a rear end valve hole 449 , a front end 4411 that is inserted in to a space 226 defined between the stop unit 225 and the surrounding wall 222 , and a rear end 4412 (see FIG. 6 ) that is formed with a radially and inwardly extending flange 444 for defining the valve hole 449 (see FIG. 5 ).
The valve rod 442 is disposed movably within the sleeve 441 , and has a front end 4421 that abuts against the stop unit 225 , a rear end 4422 , a diameter that is slightly smaller than that of the valve hole 449 in the sleeve 441 , a front end flange 446 that extends integrally, radially, and outwardly from the front end 4421 of the valve rod 442 , and an annular surface that is formed with a plurality of axially extending slots 448 , each of which has two closed ends.
The valve 445 , in this embodiment, includes a retaining ring 4451 that is sleeved fixedly around the rear end 4422 of the valve rod 442 , and is spaced apart from the valve hole 449 in the sleeve 441 so as to permit water flow from the water outlet 412 in the water reservoir 4 into the water port 224 in the base unit 2 via the sleeve 441 when the water reservoir 4 is connected removably to the base unit 2 , as best illustrated in FIG. 5 .
The front spring 447 is a coiled compression spring that is sleeved on the valve rod 442 between the front end flange 446 of the valve rod 442 and the flange 444 of the sleeve 441 and that is compressed when the water reservoir 4 is connected removably to the base unit 2 . Accordingly, when the water reservoir 4 is removed from the base unit 2 , the front spring 447 can bias the valve rod 442 forward within the sleeve 441 such that the retaining ring 4451 presses against the flange 444 at the sleeve 441 so as to engage the valve 445 with the valve hole 449 in the sleeve 441 , thereby preventing discharge of water from the water reservoir 4 via the water outlet 412 .
The O-ring 443 is disposed between the surrounding wall 222 of the connecting piece 22 and the sleeve 441 , and is behind the water port 224 in the surrounding wall 222 so as to establish a liquid-tight seal between the surrounding wall 222 and the sleeve 441 .
The water reservoir 4 further has a bottom surface 413 , and a rear end wall 419 (see FIG. 5 ). The bottom surface 413 includes a front slot 414 with a closed rear end, a rear slot 415 with a closed front end that is disposed over the rear end of the front slot 414 , and a partition 417 that is disposed between the front end of the rear slot 415 and the rear end of the front slot 414 and that is formed with a hole 418 therethrough that is communicated with the front and rear slots 414 , 415 . The rear end wall 419 defines the closed rear end of the front slot 414 .
The retention unit 45 retains the water reservoir 4 on the base unit 2 , and includes a pushbutton 451 that is mounted movably on the bottom surface 413 of the water reservoir 4 , and a rear spring 452 that is disposed between the pushbutton 451 and the bottom surface 413 of the reservoir 4 so as to bias the pushbutton 451 downward. The pushbutton 451 is formed with an integral positioning rod portion 453 that extends forward therefrom into the front end of the rear slot 415 and that has a front end, about which the positioning rod portion 453 is rotatable within the rear slot 415 , and an integral insert portion 454 that is disposed behind the positioning rod portion 453 , that is inserted into the hole 418 in the partition 417 , and that extends downward from the hole 418 in the partition 417 so as to confine the retaining hook 241 of the lower wall 24 between the insert portion 454 and the rear end wall 419 , thereby retaining the water reservoir 4 on the base unit 2 . When the pushbutton 451 is pressed upward so as to release the retaining hook 241 from the water reservoir 4 , the insert portion 454 is retracted into the hole 418 in the partition 417 , thereby permitting removal of the water reservoir 4 from the base unit 2 .
When the water reservoir 4 is installed on the base unit 2 , the water valve 44 is activated to open the water outlet 412 so as to permit water flow from the water outlet 412 into the pump unit 5 .
The pump unit 5 is disposed in the receiving space 214 in the base unit 2 , and is electrically connected to the water-filling switch 62 of the iron unit 6 so as to draw the water from the water reservoir 4 into the steam generating chamber 31 via the water inlet 321 when the water-filling switch 62 is activated.
The connecting tube 7 interconnects the evaporating unit 3 and the iron unit 6 so that the steam outlets 61 in the iron unit 6 are in fluid communication with the steam port 322 in the evaporating unit 3 , thereby permitting discharge of the steam from the steam outlets 61 in the iron unit 6 .
In use, after the water reservoir 4 is installed in the receiving groove 25 in the base unit 2 , the water valve 44 is coupled with the connecting piece 22 of the base unit 2 by inserting the tubular sleeve 441 into the space 226 between the stop unit 225 and the surrounding wall 222 of the connecting piece 22 . At this time, the valve rod 442 is pushed by the stop unit 225 to separate from the flange 444 of the sleeve 441 , thereby permitting water flow from the water outlet 412 into the water port 224 in the base unit 2 . The ironing switch 26 and the evaporating switch 27 are then switched on so as to activate the iron unit 6 and the heating unit 33 . When steam is desired, the water-filling switch 62 is pressed to activate the pump unit 5 . The water is drawn from the water reservoir 4 into the steam generating chamber 31 via the water inlet 321 for generation of steam. The generated steam then flows through the steam port 322 , the connecting tube 7 , and the iron unit 6 , and exits from the steam outlets 61 .
To detach the water reservoir 4 from the base unit 2 , the pushbutton 451 is pressed such that the insert portion 454 of the retention unit 45 retracts into the hole 418 in the partition 417 so as to release the retaining hook 241 of the base unit 2 from the water reservoir 4 , thereby permitting removal of the water reservoir 4 from the base unit 2 . When the water reservoir 4 is removed from the base unit 2 , the tubular sleeve 441 of the water valve 44 separates from the connecting piece 22 of the base unit 2 . At this time, the front spring 447 biases the valve rod 442 forward within the sleeve 441 so that the valve 445 engages the valve hole 449 in the sleeve 441 . As such, water from the water reservoir 4 is prevented from discharging via the water outlet 412 .
The advantages of the steam iron 100 of the present invention can be summarized as follows:
1. Since the water reservoir 4 can be detached from the base unit 2 , water can be refilled conveniently into the water reservoir 4 .
2. Water can be quickly evaporated to form steam since the volume of the evaporating unit 3 is comparatively small.
3. The steam iron 100 is safe to use since steam does not accumulate in the evaporating unit 3 but flows directly out of the steam iron 100 such that a relief valve is not required.
4. Timely replenishing of water into the water reservoir 4 is possible since the receptacle body of the water reservoir 4 is made of a transparent material. As such, burning of the evaporating unit 3 is not likely to occur. Thus, the steam iron 100 is safe and convenient to use.
5. Water ports are not easily blocked due to the presence of the ion exchange resin unit 43 within the water reservoir 4 .
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.
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BEST MODE
Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
Hereinafter, artificial leather according to the present invention and a method for manufacturing the same will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Artificial Leather
Artificial leather is manufactured by impregnating polymeric elastomer into non-woven fabric with micro-fibers.
The polymeric elastomer may use polyurethane or polysiloxane, and more particularly, may use polycarbonatediol-based polyurethane, polyesterdiol-based polyurethane, polyetherdiol-based polyurethane, or their compounds, but not necessarily.
The polymeric elastomer is included in the artifical leather in such a manner that the polymeric elastomer is 20 to 30% by weight with respect to the total weight of the artificial leather. If the polymeric elastomer is less than 20% by weight with respect to the total weight of the artificial leather, it is difficult to realize a desired elongation in the artificial leather. Meanwhile, if the polymeric elastomer is more than 30% by weight with respect to the total weight of the artificial leather, it may cause rough and hard touch of the artificial leather, discoloration of the artificial leather, and deteriorated elongation.
The non-woven fabric may be made of nylon or polyester micro-fibers, wherein the polyester micro-fibers may be polyethyleneterephthalate (PET), polytrimethyleneterephthalate (PTT), polybutyleneterephthalate (PBT), and so on.
Preferably, a density of the non-woven fabric is within the range of 0.160 to 0.250 g/cm3, but not necessarily. However, if the density of the non-woven fabric is less than 0.160 g/cm3, the non-woven fabric is insufficient to reinforcement of the polymeric elastomer. In this case, since the polymeric elastomer may irregularly exist in the non-woven fabric with many pores, it may be easily broken by elongation. Meanwhile, if the density of the non-woven fabric is more than 0.250 g/cm3, the density of the non-woven fabric is too large so that the elongation might be deteriorated. When the polymeric elastomer is 20 to 30% by weight with respect to the total weight of the artificial leather, it is preferable that the optimal density of the non-woven fabric be within the range of 0.180 to 0.230 g/cm3, but not necessarily.
In case that the polymeric elastomer is 20 to 30% by weight with respect to the total weight of the artificial leather; and the density of the non-woven fabric is within the range of 0.160 to 0.250 g/cm3, the optimal elongation is realized under the condition of 5 kg constant load in such a manner that the elongation at constant load at a length direction of the artificial leather is about 20 to 40, and the elongation at constant load at a width direction of the artificial leather is about 40 to 80%. Especially, if the density of the non-woven fabric for the artificial leather is within the range of 0.180 to 0.230 g/cm3, the elongation property can be more optimized.
Preferably, a fineness of the micro-fiber of the non-woven fabric is 0.3 deniers or less, so as to realize the soft and good touch of the artificial leather.
The artificial leather according to the present invention is obtained by preparing a sea-island type fiber through a conjugate spinning process; producing the non-woven fabric using the sea-island type fiber; and making the micro-fibers by impregnating the polymer elastomer into the produced non-woven fabric and removing a sea component therefrom. In this case, the artificial leather may be obtained through steps of making the micro-fibers by removing the sea component from the non-woven fabric before impregnating the polymeric elastomer into the non-woven fabric; and impregnating the polymeric elastomer into the non-woven fabric with the micro-fibers, but not necessarily. The artificial leather may be obtained by making the micro-fibers through a spinning process; producing the non-woven fabric using the micro-fibers; and impregnating the polymeric elastomer into the non-woven fabric.
The non-woven fabric may be produced by forming a web; and needle-punching or water-jet punching the web, wherein the web may be obtained by carding and cross-lapping staples, or by spun-bonded filaments. In the method for manufacturing the artificial leather using the sea-island type fiber, the sea-island type fiber comprises first and second polymers with the different solubility properties in solvent.
The first polymer is a sea component which is dissolved in and eluted from the solvent, which may be copolymer polyester, polystyrene or polyethylene. Preferably, the first polymer is the copolymer polyester having good solubility in alkali-solvent. The copolymer polyester may be prepared by copolymerizing polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) corresponding to a main component with at least one of polyethyleneglycol; polypropyleneglycol; 1-4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid; 1-4-cyclohexanedimethanol; 1-4-cyclohexane dicarboxylate; 2-2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol; 2-2-dimethyl-1,4-buthanediol; or 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-propanediol; adipic acid; or ester unit containing metal sulfonate, but not necessarily.
The second polymer is an island component which is insoluble in the solvent, wherein the second polymer may be nylon or polyester which remains in alkali-solvent. For example, the polyester may be polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) or polytrimethyleneterephthalate (PTT). Preferably, polytrimethyleneterephthalate (PTT) is suitable for the island component since the number of carbons in polytrimethyleneterephthalate (PTT) is between the number of carbons in polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) and the number of carbons in polybutyleneterephthalate (PBT); and polytrimethyleneterephthalate (PTT) is similar in elasticity recovery to polyamide, and also has excellent alkali-resistance.
The micro-fibers can be made from the sea-island type fiber in such a way that the first polymer corresponding to the sea component is dissolved in and eluted from the solvent, and only the second polymer corresponding to the island component remains in the solvent. Thus, in order to obtain the desired micro-fibers, it is necessary to properly adjust a concentration ratio of first polymer corresponding to the sea component to second polymer corresponding to the island component.
In more detail, the first and second polymers are included in the sea-island type fiber in such a manner that the first polymer corresponding to the sea component is about 10 to 60% by weight with respect to the total weight of the sea-island type fiber; and the second polymer corresponding to the island component is about 40 to 90% by weight with respect to the total weight of the sea-island type fiber, preferably. If the first polymer corresponding to the sea component is less than 10% by weight with respect to the total weight of the sea-island type fiber, the concentration of the second polymer corresponding to the island component is increased so that it is impossible to make the micro-fibers. Meanwhile, if the first polymer corresponding to the sea component is more than 60% by weight with respect to the total weight of the sea-island type fiber, the amount of first polymer to be eluted and removed is increased so that a production cost is increased. Also, 10 or more second polymers corresponding to the island components are separated and arranged on a cross section of the sea-island type fiber. Preferably, after eluting the first polymer corresponding to the sea component, the fineness of the second polymer corresponding to the island component is 0.3 deniers or less, thereby resulting in the soft and good touch of the micro-fibers.
A method for manufacturing the artificial leather according to one embodiment of the present invention will be explained as follows.
First, the sea-island type staple fiber is prepared.
The sea-island type staple fiber may be prepared by the staple type. In more detail, the staple can be obtained by preparing the filaments; and drawing, crimping, thermosetting and cutting the prepared filament. The filaments is obtained by preparing molten solutions of both the first polymer corresponding to the sea component and the second polymer corresponding to the island component; and applying the conjugate spinning process by extruding the prepared molten solutions from the a spinneret within the spinning block.
Preferably, the fineness of the staple fibers obtained is less than 10 deniers. If the fineness of the staple fibers is more than 10 deniers, it may cause difficulty in carrying out the carding process applied when producing the non-woven fabric using the sea-island type fiber so as to manufacture the artificial leather. More preferably, the fineness of the staple fibers is within the range of 2 to 5 deniers. Also, 10 or more second polymers corresponding to the island components are separated and arranged on a cross section of the filament. Preferably, the fineness of the second polymer corresponding to the island component is 0.3 deniers or less, so that the desired micro-fibers can be obtained after elution of the sea component, preferably.
Preferably, the length of the sea-island type staple fiber is more than 20 mm. If the length of the sea-island type staple fiber is less than 20 mm, it may cause difficulty in carrying out the carding process applied when producing the non-woven fabric to manufacture the artificial leather.
Then, the non-woven fabric is produced using the sea-island type fiber.
The non-woven fabric in the staple type is produced through steps of forming the web by carding and cross-lapping the staple fibers; and needle-punching the web. For the cross-lapping process, about 20 to 40 layers of carded staple fibers are bonded to form the web.
By controlling the steps of cross-lapping and needle-punching, the non-woven fabric is produced in such a manner that the non-woven fabric has 250 to 400 g/m2weight per unit, and 1.5 to 2.5 mm thickness. These conditions of the non-woven fabric enable to easily adjust the density of the non-woven fabric in the finally-manufacture artificial leather to the preferable range 0.180 to 0.230 g/cm3. That is, in order to adjust that the density of the non-woven fabric in the finally-manufactured artificial leather to the range of 0.180 to 0.230 g/cm3, a volume change of the non-woven fabric, might occur by a thermal deformation during the following processes, should be considered. Thus, it is preferable that the non-woven fabric manufactured by carding, cross-lapping, and needle-punching is within the aforementioned ranges of weight per unit and thickness.
Then, the polymeric elastomer is impregnated into the non-woven fabric.
This is to prepare a solution of the polymeric elastomer, and to dip the non-woven fabric into the prepared solution of the polymeric elastomer. This solution of the polymeric elastomer may be prepared by dissolving or dispersing polyurethane in a predetermined solvent. For example, the solution of the polymeric elastomer may be prepared by dissolving polyurethane in dimethylformamide (DMF), or dispersing polyurethane in water solvent. Instead of dissolving or dispersing the polymeric elastomer in the solvent, silicon polymeric elastomer may be directly used.
If needed for any purpose, there may be an addition to be added to the solution of the polymeric elastomer, that is, pigment, photostabilizer, antioxidant, flame retardant, softening agent, or coloring agent may be added to the solution of the polymeric elastomer.
Before dipping the non-woven fabric into the solution of the polymeric elastomer, the non-woven fabric may be padded and dried by aqueous polyvinylalcohol solution, thereby resulting in form stability.
Since the amount of polymeric elastomer to be impregnated into the non-woven fabric can be controlled by adjusting the concentration in the solution of the polymeric elastomer, and the concentration of the polymeric elastomer is 20 to 30% by weight of the finally-manufactured artificial leather, it is preferable that the concentration in the solution of the polymeric elastomer be adjusted to be within the range of 5 to 20% by weight. Under the conditions that the solution of the polymeric elastomer with the concentration of 5 to 20% by weight is maintained within the temperature range of 10 to 30° C., the non-woven fabric is dipped into the solution of the polymeric elastomer for 0.5 to 15 minutes, preferably.
After dipping the non-woven fabric into the solution of the polymeric elastomer, the solution of the polymeric elastomer into which the non-woven fabric is dipped is coagulated in a coagulating bath, and then is washed in a washing bath. At this time, if the solution of the polymeric elastomer is obtained by dissolving polyurethane in dimethylformamide (DMF) solvent, a mixture of water and a little dimethylformamide (DMF) is contained in the coagulating bath. Thus, dimethylformamide (DMF) contained in the non-woven fabric passes through the coagulating bath while the polymeric elastomer is coagulated in the coagulating bath; and polyvinylalcohol padded to the non-woven fabric and remaining dimethylformamide (DMF) are removed from the non-woven fabric by the washing process in the washing bath.
Then, the micro-fibers can be made by eluting the sea component from the non-woven fabric with the impregnated polymeric elastomer.
This process is to obtain the non-woven fabric with the micro-fibers by eluting the first polymer corresponding to the sea component through the use of alkali-solvent such as sodium hydroxide solution, and remaining only second polymer.
Then, the non-woven fabric with the micro-fibers and the impregnated polymeric elastomer is buffed and dyed through the following process, thereby manufacturing the artificial leather.
EMBODIMENTS AND COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES
Embodiment 1
A molten solution of a sea component is prepared by dissolving copolymer polyester copolymerized with a polyester unit containing 5% by mole of metal sulfonate in a main component of polyethyleneterephthalate (PET); and a molten solution of an island component is prepared by dissolving polyethyleneterephthalate (PET). A filament fibers are obtained by carrying out a conjugate spinning process using 50% by weight of the molten solution of the sea component and 50% by weight of the molten solution of the island component, wherein the filament has 3 deniers of fineness, and includes the 16 island components on its cross section. After the filament is drawn at 3.5 draw ratio, a crimping process is carried out so that the number of crimps becomes 15 per inch. After heat-setting at 130° C., the filament is cut to be 51 mm length, thereby preparing a sea-island type staple fiber.
A web is formed by carding and cross-lapping the prepared sea-island type staple fibers, and a non-woven fabric having 350 g/m2weight and 2.0 mm thickness is produced by needle-punching the formed web.
The non-woven fabric is padded with 5% by weight of aqueous polyvinylalcohol solution, and is then dried. Then, the dried non-woven fabric is submerged into a polyurethane solution with 10% by weight concentration at 25° C. for 3 minutes, wherein the polyurethane solution is obtained by dissolving polyurethane in dimethylformamide (DMF). Then, polyurethane is coagulated in 15% by weight of aqueous dimethylformamide (DMF) solution and is washed by water, and then is impregnated into the non-woven fabric.
Thereafter, the non-woven fabric with the impregnated polyurethane is treated with 5% by weight of aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, and the copolymer polyester corresponding to the sea component is eluted from the non-woven fabric, whereby the non-woven fabric with micro-fibers is made by remaining only polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) corresponding to the island component.
After the non-woven fabric with micro-fibers is buffed to have a final thickness of 0.6 mm by using #300 sand paper; the buffed non-woven fabric with micro-fibers is dyed in a high-temperature rapid dyeing machine, and is then washed and dried, and is also treated by softening and antistatic agents, thereby obtaining artificial leather.
Embodiment 2
Except that a non-woven fabric has 350 g/m2weight and 2.5 mm thickness, the second embodiment for obtaining artificial leather is identical to the aforementioned first embodiment.
Embodiment 3
Except that a non-woven fabric has 350 g/m2weight and 1.5 mm thickness, the third embodiment for obtaining artificial leather is identical to the aforementioned first embodiment.
Embodiment 4
Except that a non-woven fabric is dipped into a polyurethane solution with 13% by weight concentration at 25° C. for 5 minutes, the fourth embodiment for obtaining artificial leather is identical to the aforementioned first embodiment.
Embodiment 5
Except that a non-woven fabric is dipped into a polyurethane solution with 16% by weight concentration at 25° C. for 5 minutes, the fifth embodiment for obtaining artificial leather is identical to the aforementioned first embodiment.
Comparative Example 1
Except that a non-woven fabric is submerged into a polyurethane solution with 4% by weight concentration at 25° C. for 3 minutes, the first comparative example for obtaining artificial leather is identical to the aforementioned first embodiment.
Comparative Example 2
Except that a non-woven fabric having 200 g/m2weight and 1.5 mm thickness is dipped into a polyurethane solution with 8% by weight concentration at 25° C. for 3 minutes, the second comparative example for obtaining artificial leather is identical to the aforementioned first embodiment.
Comparative Example 3
Except that a non-woven fabric having 350 g/m2weight and 1.2 mm thickness is dipped into a polyurethane solution with 10% by weight concentration at 25° C. for 3 minutes, the second comparative example for obtaining artificial leather is identical to the aforementioned first embodiment.
Comparative Example 4
Except that a non-woven fabric is dipped into a polyurethane solution with 21% by weight concentration at 35° C. for 10 minutes, the second comparative example for obtaining artificial leather is identical to the aforementioned first embodiment.
The aforementioned embodiments and comparative examples are summarized in the following table 1.
TABLE 1Solution of polymeric elastomerConcen-Non-woven fabrictrationDippingWeightThickness(% byTemperaturetime(g/m2)(mm)weight)(° C.)minutes)Embodiment 13502.010253Embodiment 23502.510253Embodiment 33501.510253Embodiment 43502.013255Embodiment 53502.016255Comparative3502.04253example 1Comparative2001.58253example 2Comparative3501.210253example 3Comparative3502.0213510example 4
EXPERIMENTAL EXAMPLES
First, an artificial leather sample of 10 cm×10 cm size is prepared, and a weight and density of the artificial leather sample is measured.
The density of the artificial leather sample is measured by measuring a thickness at 5 points of the artificial leather sample through the use of PEACOCK dial thickness gauge; measuring an average value of the measured thickness values; measuring a weight per unit by using the measured weight and area size; and dividing the measured weight per unit by the average value of the measured thickness values.
The artificial leather sample is submerged into a beaker containing 1000 ml of dimethylformamide (DMF) solution with 100% by weight concentration at 70° C. for 2 hours, and is then squeezed through the use of mangle roll, whereby a polymeric elastomer is sufficiently removed from the artificial leather sample. This process is repetitively carried out three times so as to completely remove the polymeric elastomer from the artificial leather sample.
Then, the artificial leather sample is washed several times by flowing water, and is squeezed through the use of mangle roll, whereby only non-woven fabric sheet is extracted and dried, and then a weight of the extracted non-woven fabric sheet is measured.
1) Measuring Concentration of Polymeric Elastomer
The concentration of polymeric elastomer can be calculated by the following equation 1.
Concentrationofpolymericelastomer(%)=(weightofartificialleathersample-weightofextractednonwovenfabricsheet)weightofartificialleathersample×100[Equation1]
2) Measuring Density of Non-woven Fabric
The density of non-woven fabric is calculated by the following equation 2.
Densityofnon-wovenfabric(g/cm3)=densityofartificialleathersample(g/cm3)×weightofextractednonwovenfabricsheetweightofartificialleathersample[Equation2]
TABLE 2Concentration ofDensity ofpolymeric elastomernon-woven fabric(% by weight)(g/cm3)Embodiment 1210.200Embodiment 2230.170Embodiment 3200.240Embodiment 4250.205Embodiment 5300.196Comparative example 1180.180Comparative example 2170.160Comparative example 3180.263Comparative example 4320.191
Measuring Elongation at 5 kg Constant Load
Under the condition of 5 kg constant load, an elongation for the respective artificial leather according to the aforementioned embodiments and comparative examples is measured. The elongation at 5 kg constant load of artificial leather is measured by the following method, and the result will be shown in the following table 3.
A method for measuring the elongation at 5 kg constant load is explained below.
From the artificial leather with longitudinal and widthwise directions, six samples are prepared, wherein each sample has 50 mm width and 250 mm length. First, three samples are prepared in such a manner that their lengths (that is, 250 mm length of each sample) are parallel to the longitudinal direction of the artificial leather. Then, the other three samples are prepared in such a manner that their lengths (that is, 250 mm length of each sample) are parallel to the widthwise direction of the artificial leather.
Then, a marking line of 100 mm is made in each of the six samples. After holding both ends of each sample by using two cramps positioned at an interval of about 150 mm, it is mounted on Martens fatigue tester. After 49N load (5 kgf) including a load of lower cramp is applied to each sample mounted on Martens fatigue tester, and is maintained for 10 minutes, a total distance of the marking line is measured. The elongation at constant load is calculated by the following equation.
Elongation at 5 kg constant load (%)=l−100
wherein l indicates the total distance of the marking line measured after 10 minutes later from starting the application of constant load. The unit of l is millimeters
TABLE 3ElongationElongationat 5 kg constant loadat 5 kg constant loadat length directionat width direction(%)(%)Embodiment 12755Embodiment 23571Embodiment 32043Embodiment 42858Embodiment 52449Comparative example 14175Comparative example 24483Comparative example 31535Comparative example 51370
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is basically a device that takes the outside temperature
continuously and displays that temperature in fifteen minute intervals. In
the preferred embodiment the device displays the temperature in fifteen
minute intervals over the past six hours. In the preferred embodiment the
device also shows the high and low temperature over a given period of
time, plus the current temperature and the time. This display is a liquid
crystal display. The device uses a probe to measure the temperature and
send that information back to the display unit. The probe in one
embodiment is attached to the display unit by a wire. In another
embodiment the readings of the probe are sent to the display unit by radio
telemetry.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 shows the display portion of the invention. In FIG. 1 there are 2
large sections 12 and 14 that display temperatures and time. In the
preferred embodiment these two large areas of display are designed to
display twenty-four different temperatures and times. This would allow an
individual to show the times and temperature of the past six hours at
fifteen minute intervals. In the preferred embodiment there is also a
current temperature display 16 and a current time display 18. There is
also a display 20 for the high and low temperature over a certain period
of time. There are also buttons on the front of the temperature display 10
for setting the time. The display can be designed to have more or less
than twenty-four different temperatures. The display can also be designed
to display temperatures in half hour or hour intervals or interval of any
time length. In the preferred embodiment the display is a liquid crystal
display; however any type of display can be used.
FIG. 2 shows the temperature watcher display with a remote temperature
probe attached by a wire cord 22 to the display 10.
FIG. 3 shows a possible circuitry for the probe 24. In this probe 24 the
thyristor 30 is fed by a current source 38 derived from battery 36 in a
conventional manner. The output from the system is amplified by
operational amplifier 40 having an output terminal 42, and input node 44
and a feedback resistor 46. When these components are properly scaled or
conditioned the output voltage at its output terminal 42 corresponding to
the temperature measured by the probe. The probe 24 sends its output data
in analog form to the control unit 52 in the display module 10. The analog
data from probe is fed through an analog to digital converter 50 and the
digital data output is directed to the control unit 52.
FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the invention in which the temperature
probe is a substantial distance from the control unit. This embodiment
would be used by an orchard owner whose orchard was a considerable
distance from his home. In this case the temperature probe 24 is similar
to the one shown in FIG. 4. The output data from this probe 24 goes to a
radio telemetry system 54 and the radio telemetry system 54 would then
send out the information to the display unit 10. The display unit 10 would
have a radio receiver that receives the radio telemetry and decoded it
into digital data that could be used by the control unit 52. There are
other methods that could be used to send data from a remote location.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart diagram of the inner working of the display unit. In
FIG. 7 the display unit takes in information from the probe and runs it
through an analog to digital converter 50 to change it into information
that can be used by the control unit 50. The control unit 50 can be a
microprocessor as in the preferred embodiment or a hard wired unit. The
microprocessor instructions have been written in, in a read-only memory
70. These instructions instruct the microprocessor when to get data from
the probe and when to send data to the display unit. In the preferred
embodiment there is also a timer which tells the central processor when a
certain measurement of time has occurred. These timers are readily
available on the market. Also the device could be devised without a timer
and have the microprocessor through its software keep track of the time.
Programs like this are readily known in the art.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the instructions of the microprocessor. The
process is reasonably simple. The microprocessor first gets information as
to the time from the timer. Then the microprocessor gets data from the
temperature probe through the analog to digital converter as to the
temperature. The microprocessor at this time sends a signal to the timer
to reset for a certain length of time. The microprocessor then processes
the information as to time and temperature and sends that information to
the proper display item. It sends the information as to the time and
temperature to the display unit. The microprocessor then waits for the
timer to send it a signal that a certain unit of time has passed. When the
microprocessor receives this signal it begins the cycle again.
Changes and modifications in the specificity described embodiments can be
carried out without departing from the scope of the invention which is
intended to limited only by the scope of the appending claims. | 6G
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Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the figures are not intended to be drawn to any particular scale; nor are the figures intended to illustrate every embodiment of the invention. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments depicted in the figures or the shapes, relative sizes or proportions shown in the figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather, this embodiment is provided so that this application will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the true scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the figures.
The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of the various embodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a complete description of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systems that utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many other embodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from the disclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Additionally, the illustrations are merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions within the illustrations may be exaggerated, while other proportions may be minimized. Accordingly, the disclosure and the figures are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.
One or more embodiments of the disclosure may be referred to herein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “present invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any particular invention or inventive concept. Moreover, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any subsequent arrangement designed to achieve the same or similar purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all subsequent adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the description.
The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b) and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together or described in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter may be directed to less than all of the features of any of the disclosed embodiments. Thus, the following claims are incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as defining separately claimed subject matter.
The below disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments which fall within the true scope of the present invention. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present invention is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.
Referring generally toFIGS. 1-5, one embodiment of the present invention may include only a stand-alone temperature-operated water flow valve20. Another embodiment may include an assembly10preferably having a combined water hose11and temperature-operated water flow valve20may include a water hose11having a plurality of thermo-conductive heating elements12located therein for heating water inside the water hose11. A temperature-operating water flow valve20may be removably coupled to the water hose11.
Referring toFIGS. 1 and 1A, assembly10preferably includes a temperature-operated-operated water flow valve20having a threaded proximal end, which is essential for being attached onto a male end of a standard garden hose11. Such a valve20may include a hard and durable protective thermoplastic cover13. The male-threaded hose11connection, temperature-activated water flow valve mechanism50and valve20may be at least partially produced from thermally conductive metals, like brass or steel, and may be enclosed in a body21, onto which the protective cover13is fitted. The assembly10is compact in size and is cylindrically-shaped so that the assembly10is easily grasped within a user's fist. The thermoplastic cover13advantageously protects the temperature-operated water flow valve20from direct sunlight and soil to prevent user burns when gripped. Valve20also directs heated water15out of the hose11into a desired body of water14. Of course, the valve20may be rated to open at different temperatures depending on the user's needs, as is obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art.
Referring to theFIGS. 1-5, water in hose11is effectively heated by solar radiation, and is subsequently released from the hose11to the pool14once it reaches a threshold temperature, which opens valve20and lets the heated water15run through the hose11. The valve20includes a temperature-activated plunger release mechanism50therein that makes use of a wax pellet28inside the body21. Of course, the term wax pellet28may be construed as either a plurality of compact wax pellets or a single body of homogenous wax. Such a wax pellet28is solid at low temperatures but melts and expands when heated. When the wax pellet28expands, the change in volume within the shell27pushes the valve stem30, which opens the valve20, thus allowing the heated water15to pass through body21. The temperature at which this occurs is determined by the specific composition of the wax, so valves20of this type can advantageously open at different temperatures.
Referring toFIGS. 3-5in more detail, the temperature-operating water flow valve20may include a hollow body21preferably has axially offset proximal and distal open ends23,24respectively. The body21maintains an internal temperature. A temperature-activated plunger release mechanism50may be seated inside the body21and intermediately positioned between the proximal and distal open ends23,24respectively. The temperature-activated plunger release mechanism50may further be automatically reciprocated along a linear travel path90as the internal temperature rises above a threshold internal temperature and falls below the threshold internal temperature respectively. In this way, the temperature-activated plunger release mechanism50automatically opens and closes during reciprocation along the linear travel path90such that heated water15is respectively permitted and prohibited to egress the distal open end24of the body21. The energy of the sun may be utilized to heat the water contained within the hose11thereby selectively releasing heated water from the valve20at a predetermine temperature. Such an arrangement provides the unexpected and unpredicted advantage of using radiant heat of the sun to heat the cold water to a predetermined temperature within the hose11and further release the heated water15into a swimming pool, for example, thus saving energy costs for a user.
Referring toFIGS. 4,4B and5, the temperature-activated plunger release mechanism50may include a first retention plate25preferably having a plurality of apertures26formed therein for permitting water to flow downstream towards the distal open end24. The first retention plate25preferably has a shell27integrally formed therewith and axially extending towards the distal open end24. A wax pellet28may be located within the shell27. A first piston29may be dynamically interfitted within the shell27and directly abutted against the wax pellet28. A stem30may be connected to the first piston29. The hollow body21may further include a valve seat31inwardly protruding towards a center of the body21such that a maximum diameter of the valve seat31is less than a maximum diameter of the body21. A second piston32may be connected to the stem30and removably conjoined to the valve seat31.
A deformably resilient spring33may be fixedly attached to the second piston32. A second retention plate34may be engaged with the spring33and located at the distal open end24of the body21. The second retention plate34preferably has a plurality of openings35formed therein for permitting water to egress the body21. Such an arrangement provides the unexpected and unpredictable advantage of providing a small and compact configuration of internal components that are linearly arranged within the valve body21such that the body21can be fitted to hose11without the use of intervening elements.
Referring specifically toFIGS. 4 and 4B, the wax pellet28may be at a solid state when the internal temperature is below the threshold internal temperature. The wax pellet28may expand to a melted state when the internal temperature is above the threshold internal temperature. It is well known in the art that such wax pellets28may be utilized in automotive thermostats and hot water safety relief valves and can be applied to a wide range of applications that require specific, narrow temperature ranges safely and reliably. For example, “Astorstat” distilled waxes have successfully passed thousands of expansion-cycles without suffering any critical property degradation as referenced on the website http://igiwax.com/industries-applications/thermostat-and-distillation-products/.
The wax pellet28may be selectively designed to melt at a particular temperature or over a specific temperature range. In this way, the expansion of the wax pellet28increases surface area contact with an interior wall40of the shell27and thereby linearly urges the first piston29and the stem30axially away from the first retention plate25. The linear movement of the stem30causes the second piston32to disengage the valve seat31and thereby permit heated water15to flow downstream of the second retention plate34. Such an arrangement provides the unexpected and unpredicted advantage of automatically releasing the heated water15from hose11at a predetermined temperature or temperature range.
Again referring toFIGS. 4 and 4B, the spring33is compressed along the linear travel path90when the second piston32is disengaged from the valve seat31. Such a spring33automatically returns to equilibrium when the second piston32linearly retracts and engages the valve seat31and thereby prohibits water to flow downstream of the second piston32. One skilled in the art understands the spring33may be calibrated to have a desired frictional force that may be overcome by the force of the expanding wax pellet28so that spring33may be reciprocated a multiple of times without losing its resilience. Such an arrangement provides the unexpected and unpredictable advantage of repeatedly utilizing the temperature-operated water flow valve20without risking premature failure of mechanism50.
Referring toFIGS. 3-5, the second retention plate34may include a linear rod36protruding upstream therefrom such that the spring33may be concentrically wound thereabout. In this manner, the spring33preferably remains concentrically aligned about a central longitudinal axis91(FIG. 4) passing through the body21and thereby ensuring the second piston32is uniformly displaced along the linear travel path90.
The present invention may further include a method of utilizing a combined water hose and temperature-operated water flow valve10for selectively ejecting naturally heated water stored in the water hose11. Such a method preferably includes the chronological steps of: providing a water hose11including a plurality of thermo-conductive heating elements12located therein for heating water inside the water hose11; and providing and removably coupling a temperature-operating water flow valve20to the water hose11.
The method may further include the chronological steps of: providing a hollow body21preferably having axially offset proximal and distal open ends23,24respectively. Such a body21preferably has an internal temperature associated therewith. The step of providing body21preferably includes the chronological sub-step of: providing and seating a temperature-activated plunger release mechanism50inside the body21such that the temperature-activated plunger release mechanism50is intermediately positioned between the proximal and distal open ends23,24respectively.
The method may further include the chronological steps of: automatically reciprocating the temperature-activated plunger release mechanism50along a linear travel path90as the internal temperature rises above a threshold internal temperature and falls below the threshold internal temperature respectively; and automatically opening and closing the temperature-activated plunger release mechanism50during the reciprocation along the linear travel path90such that heat water15is respectively permitted and prohibited to egress the distal open end24of the body21.
The combination of such claimed elements provides an unpredictable and unexpected benefit of automatically discharging heating water15from a hose11into a swimming pool when an internal temperature of body21rises above a threshold temperature by making use of the sun's radiant heat in an outdoor environment. Such a benefit solves the problem of having to unnecessarily heat a swimming pool.
While the invention has been described with respect to a certain specific embodiment, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
In particular, with respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the present invention may include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation.
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| 05 | D |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 , a light transmitting member is shown, generally designated 10 , for transmitting light from a roof-mounted plastic transparent dome 12 to a ceiling-mounted diffuser plate 14 . As disclosed in detail below, the member 10 can be formed in a cylindrical configuration or in a slightly tapered, i.e., frusto-conical, configuration to establish a skylight tube.
As shown in FIG. 1 , the member 10 includes a metal sheet 16 that defines opposed axial edges 18 , 20 . When the sheet 16 is bent in the light transmitting configuration shown in FIG. 2 , the axial edges 18 , 20 are closely juxtaposed with each other and indeed overlap each other. In the light transmitting configuration, the sheet 16 defines a light transmitting channel 21 that is bounded by an inside surface on which is disposed a reflective coating 22 , to render the inside surface highly reflective.
In accordance with the present invention, to provide a means for holding the sheet 16 in the light transmitting configuration shown in FIG. 2 , fasteners are formed on the sheet 16 . More specifically, first and second sets 24 , 26 of tab elements, generally designated 28 , are formed integrally in the sheet 16 along respective axial edges 18 , 20 , as best shown in FIG. 1 . The tab elements 28 in a set accordingly are axially spaced from each other. More specifically, each set 24 , 26 of tab elements includes two upper elements 28 as shown, two lower elements 28 , and a single middle element 28 , although other element patterns can be established in accordance with present principles. In any case, as can be appreciated in reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 , the tab elements 28 in the first set 24 are juxtaposed with respective tab elements 28 in the second set 26 when the sheet 16 is in the light transmitting configuration, to establish plural tab element pairs for purposes to be shortly disclosed.
In the second set 26 of tab elements, the elements 28 are colinear with each other as shown in FIG. 1 . Also, in the second set 26 , the two upper and two lower tab elements 28 each include a respective tab 30 formed by a cut in the sheet 16 around three sides of the tab 30 , with a fourth side of the tab 30 being uncut and consequently establishing a living hinge 32 about which the tab 30 can be pivoted. The free end 34 of each tab 30 , i.e., the end opposite the respective living hinge 32 , can be rounded as shown for safety. When the tab 30 is pivoted away from the sheet 16 , a tab opening 36 is established as shown best in FIG. 1 . If desired, the tab of the middle tab element 28 M in the second set 26 can be removed, such that the middle element 28 M consists of a permanent aperture as shown in FIG. 1 .
The tab elements 28 in the first set 24 are essentially identical in construction and operation to the tab elements 28 in the second set 26 shown in FIG. 1 and described above, with the following exceptions. The top-most element 28 T, middle element 28 N, and bottom-most element 28 B are axially aligned with each other as shown. On the other hand, a second top element 28 TS that is closely spaced from the top-most element 28 T and second bottom element 28 BS that is closely spaced from the bottom-most element 28 B are axially aligned with other and are slightly axially and radially spaced from the top-most and bottom-most elements 28 T, 28 B, respectively. The middle element 28 N of the first set 24 of elements includes both a tab and a tab opening as shown.
With the above disclosure in mind, it may now be appreciated that the tab 30 of the top-most element 28 T in the first set 24 can be moved about its respective living hinge 32 to an engage configuration, wherein the tab 30 extends radially outwardly from the sheet 16 and the tab 30 can be received through the tab opening 36 of the corresponding tab element 28 in the opposite set 26 . Also, the tab 30 can be moved to a lock configuration, wherein the tab 30 is folded back away from the opening 36 in which it is received to overlap the sheet 16 , such that the tab 30 cannot be easily removed from the tab opening 36 (without bending the tab) to thereby hold the sheet 16 in the light transmitting configuration. Likewise, the tab 30 of the middle element 28 N in the first set 24 can be engaged with the middle element 28 M of the second set 26 , and the bottom-most element 28 B of the first set 24 can engage the corresponding element in the second set 26 of tab elements. It is to be understood that the tabs 30 in the second set 26 can be likewise interlocked with tab openings 36 in the first set 24 of tab elements. In the example above, the second top element 28 TS and second bottom element 28 BS are not used, and a skylight tube is provided that has a cylindrical configuration and a maximum diameter.
It is to be further appreciated that instead of using the top-most and bottom-most elements 28 T, 28 B, the second top element 28 TS and second bottom element 28 BS can be used in conjunction with the middle element 28 N of the first set 24 , thus providing a skylight tube with a cylindrical configuration and a minimum diameter. Still further, a skylight tube can be provided that has a slightly frusto-conical shape by using the top-most element 28 T, middle element 28 N, and second bottom element 28 BS of the first set 24 . Or, a skylight tube can be provided that has a slightly frusto-conical shape by using the second top element 28 TS, middle element 28 N, and bottom-most element 28 B of the first set 24 .
FIG. 3 shows a skylight dome fastener adaptor 40 that can be disposed in a hole 42 of a plastic transparent skylight dome 44 . The top lip portion of a metal flashing 46 can be juxtaposed with the dome 44 . The flashing 46 is formed with a hole 48 that is juxtaposed with the hole 42 of the dome 44 and that indeed is coaxial therewith. With this structure, the threaded shank 50 of a fastener 52 is advanced through the adaptor 40 and can be threadably engaged with the hole 48 of the flashing 46 (or with a nut opposite the hole 48 ) to hold the dome 44 against the flashing 46 .
As shown in FIG. 3 , the adaptor 40 includes a hollow hard plastic rigid body 54 that defines an outer surface 56 , and plural, preferably three, ribs 58 are formed on the outer surface 56 . The ribs 58 engage the hole 42 in the skylight dome 44 in an interference fit to impede rotation of the body 54 in the hole 42 when torque is applied to the fastener 52 .
In the preferred embodiment shown, each rib 58 includes an axially aligned outer edge 60 and opposed ramped sides 62 , 64 that extend from the edge 60 to the outer surface 56 of the body 54 . Thus, the ribs 58 have triangular cross-sections. As intended by the present invention, the ribs 58 are formed integrally with the body 54 .
In one preferred embodiment, the body 54 is formed with opposed chamfered ends 66 , 68 as shown. If desired, each rib 54 can include respective rib extensions 70 , 72 that are formed on respective ends 66 , 68 of the body 54 .
Now referring to FIG. 4 , a lower portion of a skylight assembly is shown, generally designated 80 . The assembly 80 includes a ring-shaped plastic skylight dress ring 82 that supports a disk-shaped diffuser plate 84 . In the preferred embodiment shown, the dress ring 82 is formed with a ring-shaped vertical flange 86 that in turn is formed with one or more clip holes 88 . Moreover, a metal or plastic ring-shaped skylight support ring 90 has a vertical flange 92 that is closely spaced from and parallel to the vertical flange 86 of the dress ring 82 . As shown in FIG. 4 , the vertical flange 92 of the support ring 90 terminates at its upper edge in a ring-shaped horizontal flange 94 that defines at least one ratchet aperture 96 therethrough. A ratchet tooth 97 extends into the ratchet aperture 96 . If desired, a resilient ring-shaped rubber or plastic seal 98 can be disposed between the vertical flange 86 of the dress ring 82 and a lower metal skylight tube segment 100 .
In accordance with present principles, a flexible plastic zip clip 102 holds the dress ring 82 and support ring 90 together. To facilitate this, the zip clip 102 has an elongated body as shown that defines opposed inner and outer elongated surfaces 104 , 106 . A small parallelepiped-shaped clip 108 protrudes from the inner surface 104 , and the clip 108 is closely received in the clip hole 88 of the dress ring 82 . Furthermore, the outer surface 106 of the zip clip 102 is formed with zip tie-like ratchet structure 110 that is configured to engage the ratchet tooth 97 of the support ring 90 and thereby hold the dress ring 82 onto the support ring 90 . Both the clip 108 and ratchet structure 110 are made integrally with the body of the zip clip 102 .
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the dress ring 82 is formed with a ramp 110 that terminates in an abutment 112 . As shown in FIG. 4 , the lower end of the zip clip 102 is sandwiched between the abutment 112 and the vertical flange 86 of the dress ring 82 , to support the zip clip 102 . If desired, a small piece of felt 114 can be glued into the ratchet aperture 96 , with the zip clip 102 being biased against the felt 114 as indicated by the arrow 116 in FIG. 4 .
FIG. 5 shows a flexible plastic zip tie 120 that includes an elongated body defining first and second ends 122 , 124 . A zip tie-like ratchet structure 125 is integrally formed on the zip tie 120 as shown. Furthermore, a rigid clip arm 126 is formed integrally with and extends perpendicularly away from the end 124 of the tie. In accordance with present principles, the clip arm 126 defines a channel 128 generally parallel to the body of the zip tie 120 and thus perpendicular to the clip arm 126 . It is to be appreciated in reference to FIG. 5 that the channel 128 receives a threaded fastener 130 , such as a dry wall screw, with the fastener 130 self-tapping in the channel 128 as it is engaged therewith.
With this structure, the zip tie 120 can be used to interconnect skylight assembly components such as a ceiling ring 132 and dress ring 134 holding a diffuser plate 136 with a portion of dry wall. More specifically, the zip tie 120 ratchetably engages the ceiling ring 132 and dress ring 134 in respective ratchet slots 138 , 140 , and then a structure such as a beam or ceiling or wall can be clamped between the arm 126 and ceiling ring 132 . Moreover, the fastener 130 can be manipulated to engage further wall or ceiling structure above the zip tie 120 . Completing the description of FIG. 5 , the ceiling ring 132 engages a lower portion 142 of a skylight tube, and a resilient seal ring 144 can be sandwiched between the dress ring 134 and lower portion 142 .
While the particular SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONNECTING SKYLIGHT COMPONENTS as herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the above-described objects of the invention, it is to be understood that it is the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention and is thus representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention, that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean one and only one unless explicitly so stated, but rather one or more . All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiment that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, it is not necessary for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be solved by the present invention, for it to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase means for .
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| 04 | B |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which integrates an identification device, for example a fingerprint identification device, with a computer, so as to perform power-on and power-off operations of the computer. As shown, a security control unit 40 is provided on a computer motherboard 70 for receiving signals from a feature input device 10 . The received signal is compared with the pre-stored fingerprint data in the security control unit 40 . If matched, the security unit 40 sends an enable signal, denoted by EN, to a power supply 60 of the computer, so as to command the power supply 60 to supply various powers to the motherboard 70 for starting up the computer. As such, a computer can be powered on with the use of fingerprint identification.
In order to operate the feature input device 10 and the security control unit 40 with only 5V, standby power 63 of the power supply 60 , an energy-saving control interface is provided, as shown in FIG. 2 , which includes the power supply 60 , the feature input device 10 having a sensing/scanning circuit 20 and an output interface 30 , the security control unit 40 and a control interface 50 . The power supply 60 has a main power circuit 61 and a standby power circuit 62 . The main power circuit 61 is connected to a manual-off switch SW 4 that can be turned on by the enable signal EN. The output terminals of the main power circuit provide the necessary power to operate the computer, while the power output terminal of the standby power circuit 62 is connected to the control interface 50 , so as to enable or disable the security control unit 40 , the output interface 30 and the sensing/scanning circuit 20 by controlling an electronic switch SW 3 in the control interface 50 and manual-on switches SW 1 and SW 2 in the feature input device 10 .
The control interface 50 is composed of a logic gate 52 , a flip-flop 51 and the electronic switch SW 3 . The security control unit 40 is composed of an interface buffer 41 , a data memory 42 , a digital signal processor 43 and a logic gate 44 . The output interface 30 of the feature input device 10 is composed of a data memory 31 , a timer 32 , an interface controller 33 , a clock generator 34 , a flip-flop 35 and a logic gate 36 . The switch SW 1 in the output interface 30 can be manually turned on by depressing, and locked in the on status by a signal from output Q of the flip-flop 35 . The switch SW 1 is used to determine whether the power is supplied to the output interface 30 or not. Its output is connected to the power terminal (VCC) of the sensing/scanning circuit 20 via the switch SW 2 , controlled by a timer 32 , so as to determine whether the power is supplied to the sensing/scanning circuit 20 . The switch SW 3 is controlled by the flip-flop 51 in the control interface 50 to determine whether the power is supplied to the security control unit 40 .
The data output from the output terminal (O/P) of the sensing/scanning is sent to the digital signal processor 43 , via the data memory 31 , the interface controller 33 and the interface buffer 41 of the security control unit 40 , for comparing with the data sent from the data memory 42 pre-stored with fingerprint data or other identification data. Thereafter, a correct (Y) or incorrect (N) confirmation signal is generated. The correct signal is provided as the enable (EN) signal for turning on the switch SW 4 in the power supply 60 , so as to achieve the purpose of activating the main power circuit 61 . The clock signals for the circuit are supplied by the clock generator 34 in the output interface 30 . In detail, the clock signals from the output of the clock generator are applied to the interface controller 33 , timer 32 and sensing/scanning circuit 20 , and also applied to the security control unit 40 and the flip-flop 51 in the control interface 50 via the logic gates 36 and 52 .
In order to perform fingerprint or other kinds of identification, the user may put his/her finger on a sensor corresponding to the sensing/scanning circuit 20 . Then, the switch SW 1 is turned on manually, so as to supply the standby power of the power supply 60 to the output interface 30 . At this moment, the clock generator 34 is triggered and the timer 32 starts to count. The output of the timer 32 is a step pulse with a duration of 1 2 seconds. Such a duration time can be adjusted based on the actual requirement. The step pulse is used to turn on the switch SW 2 and thus activate the sensing/scanning circuit 20 for 1 2 seconds, so as to perform the operations of fingerprint identification and data transfer. The step pulse is also applied to the flip-flop 35 for locking the switch SW 1 in the on status, thereby preventing a power failure.
After the above scanning process is completed, the sensed data is directly sent to the data memory 31 to be buffered. When the timer reaches its count, the sensing/scanning circuit 20 is automatically powered off by the switch SW 2 for saving energy. At this moment, the clock signal is sent to the control interface 50 via the logic gate 36 , and transferred to the security control unit 40 via another logic gate 52 . The clock signal also triggers the flip-flop 51 to turn on the switch SW 3 for supplying power to the security control unit 40 . Therefore, the security control unit 40 obtains its power and clock signal for receiving the fingerprint data sent from the output interface 30 . After the security control unit 40 has compared the received data with the pre-stored one, the confirmation signal, no matter correct or incorrect, is applied, via the logic OR gate 44 , to clear the two flip-flops 35 and 51 , so as to turn off the switch SW 1 and SW 3 , thereby most of the circuit elements being powered off. When another power-on identification process is initiated, the above process is repeated.
When the security control unit 40 determines that the received data is matched with a pre-stored one, it automatically turns on the switch SW 4 to activate the power supply 60 , so as to power on the computer as usual. If the computer is to be powered off, as well known to those skilled in the art, the computer may be automatically powered off by its operating system, one may be manually turned off by operating the switch SW 4 .
In view of the foregoing, it is appreciated that the energy-saving control interface is able to power off the unnecessary circuit elements at suitable times in performing fingerprint identification, so the entire power requirement can meet the specification of the standby power. Such an interface design can also be applied to the portable computer and battery device to have the same functions.
Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
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| 06 | F |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In FIG. 1, a sound source 10 produces a first sound wave 12 which is
detected by first hydrophone 14 where it is converted into an electrical
signal, and a second sound wave 16 which is detected by a second
hydrophone 18, which is generally of a construction identical to that of
the first hydrophone 14. The signal from the first hydrophone 14 is passed
through a delay apparatus 20 and thence to a first signal processor 22,
while the signal from the second hydrophone 18 is passed directly to a
second signal processor 24, which, again, is generally of identical
construction to the first signal processor 22. The first signal processor
22 produces a signal to be displayed on a first display (typically a
cathode ray tube) 26, where it is seen by a first eye 28 of a sonar
operator, while the second signal processor 24 produces a signal to be
displayed on a second display (likewise constructed) 30, where it is seen
by a second eye 32 of the sonar operator.
FIG. 2 shows the present invention when only a single hydrophone 14 is
available. Here the delay apparatus 20 causes the first sound wave 12 not
to be processed and displayed to first eye 28 until a second sound wave
16, received at the same hydrophone 14 but at a later time, is processed
and displayed to second eye 32. This version of the present invention is
suited to sounds which propagate fairly uniformly in space, but have later
temporal characteristics which follow fairly predictably from their
earlier characteristics.
In both FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the delay apparatus 20 is shown as delaying the
signal between the hydrophone 14 and signal processor 22. It is apparent
that the delay apparatus 20 could equally well delay the signal between
the processor 22 and the display 26, or could even be incorporated into
the first signal processor 22 (although not, of course, into the second
signal processor 24, which would otherwise remain identical to the first
signal processor 22).
FIG. 3 shows the present invention when both hydrophones 14 and 18 are
available, but the delay apparatus 20 is not. This version of the present
invention is suitable when the spatial variations of the sound waves 12
and 16 predominate over their temporal variations. Of course, to the
extent that (as shown) one hydrophone 14 is closer to the source 10 than
is the other hydrophone 18, the finite speed of sound in water causes
spatial variations to be detected as temporal variations.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The present invention is capable of exploitation in industry, and can be
used, whenever it is desired to separate a sonar signal from background
noise. It can be made from components which, taken in isolation from one
another, are entirely conventional, or it can be made from their
non-conventional counterparts.
While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been described
in detail herein, the invention is not limited thereto, but has a true
scope and spirit limited only by the following claims. | 6G
| 01 | S |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1depicts one of the problems seen by current methods of predicting future motion. More specifically, the illustration relates to motion models that rely on linear extrapolation of motion data.
The figure shows a bird's eye view of a four-way road intersection100. A first vehicle101is depicted approaching the intersection. The position of the first vehicle at a first time, t, is shown as101aand the position of the first vehicle ata second time, t+1, is shown as101b. The trajectory of the first vehicle is indicated as a straight path103.
A second vehicle102is also depicted in the figure. The second vehicle is seen mid-way through the intersection at the first time, t, shown as102a and the second time, t+1, shown as102b. Although in real-world scenarios, the position on the second vehicle is likely to be in the area indicated by106, using the linear motion model, the system assumes the second vehicle is traversing along a second straight path104. According to this interpretation, the linear model expects the two vehicles to collide at point105which is the point the first103and second104straight paths intersect.
However, anyone with an appreciation of traffic rules and/or a highway code will at a first glance disagree with the expected collision predicted by the linear motion model. Since linear motion models do not incorporate curved motions of real world scenarios the true nature of where the second vehicle is actually likely to be after passing through the intersection106is not accounted for. The use of these models therefore results in inaccurate and unreliable estimations of future positions of moving vehicles.
In a similar way, various methods have been proposed over years to understand and model vehicle motion dynamics, driver intent and vehicle interactions with the environment and neighbouring agents. In most cases, motion prediction involves relying fully or partly on a vehicle dynamics model. For example, some methods compare and evaluate several motion models for tracking vehicles. These methods conclude that constant turn rate and acceleration model (CTRA) perform the best. Other methods include constant turn rate and velocity (CTRV), constant steering angle and velocity (CSAV), constant curvature and acceleration (CCA) and purely linear motion models such as constant velocity (CV) or constant acceleration (CA), as previously described.
These models are usually combined with Kalman filtering or Bayesian filtering for path prediction. However, these approaches are only able to perform predictions for a very short window into the future. In order to address this, some models combine a constant yaw rate and acceleration model with a manoeuvre classifier to predict vehicle trajectories. But these methods are restricted to limited scenarios and are constrained by the number of manoeuvres.
As opposed to explicitly crafting vehicle dynamics, Dynamic Bayesian networks, Gaussian mixture models, Hidden Markov models, Neural networks or a combination of these techniques are used to provide data-driven approaches to vehicle dynamics. Although these approaches achieve better performance than pure vehicle dynamics-based approaches, they are either trained for specific limited scenarios (e.g., highways) or tend to learn a general model that does not utilise environment specific cues such as traffic pattern in the area, changes in the environment structure, etc.
In addition, the known methods of estimating future motion of vehicles are restricted to a small-time window and are not sufficiently able to continuously track a vehicle. Some currently adopted tracking methods use environmental cues for 3D tracking. These methods often rely on 3D scene analysis to augment tracking of an object. For example, by querying 3D scene layouts and object positions at urban intersections and performing 3D object tracking by enforcing scene geometry and showing 3D dynamics-based constraints.
Some methods make use of ground plane and 3D location priors to obtain 3D object detections. However, they do not perform 3D tracking and their ground plane assumption fails in real driving scenarios involving up-hill and down-hill slopes.
An example embodiment will now be described with reference toFIGS. 2ato6.
The embodiment presents an augmented end to end visual tracking pipeline system to continuously track positions of nearby vehicles around a camera equipped vehicle. This can be used as a situation-awareness module to predict and react to the motion of the other vehicles in the vicinity.
As illustrated inFIG. 2a, the pipeline comprises three main components. A high-accuracy localisation subsystem201, a convolutional neural network-based car detector202and a motion prediction subsystem203.
As depicted by204, the input of the pipeline is a live stream of images, I1,I2, . . . , It, that are captured at regular intervals, Δt. As an example, the stream of images may be provided to the pipeline by a visual sensor mounted on a vehicle. The stream of images is processed iteratively, frame by frame, and for each processing step a set of 3D positions and velocities of visible vehicles, st1,st2, . . . , stn, and their 2D observations, ct1,ct2, . . . , ctn, are produced.
For each new image received It, the exact pose, qt∈ SE (3), of the image is determined in the 3D space. This step is carried out using the high-accuracy localisation subsystem201. Although large-scale visual localisation is challenging, it can be carried out efficiently by performing a feature-based visual localisation using a structure-from-motion 3D map, such as those illustrated inFIGS. 3aand 3b. As described below, the structure-from-motion map can be the same 3D map that the prior motion data is extracted from. In that way, the image pose captured is accurately aligned with respect to the prior motion samples in the area necessary for 2D-3D association described later.
Once each image is processed through the localisation component, each image is then processed by a convolutional neural network202to detect and produce a list of vehicles observed in each image, ct1,ct2, . . . , ctn. The observed vehicles are depicted in the form of 2D bounding boxes around the vehicles and a confidence distribution rating over the object categories is also calculated. As an example of a convolutional neural network (CNN), a standard Faster-RCNN object detector may be implemented to only consider vehicles detected above a certain threshold.
In the third component203of the pipeline, the future motion of each observation is predicted. When considering the movement of a vehicle along a path there are two options to consider. Each observation can either be a part of an existing track (such that the vehicle was previously detected at time, t′>t−T, where T is a tracking window for the pipeline), or the observed vehicle is part of a new track.
Accordingly, for each detected vehicle, cti, and each previously detected vehicle, ctj, it is hypothesised that the system observes the same vehicle. In doing so, the system considers the vehicle's previous position, stj, and that the likelihood of the vehicle's future motion to be in line with the paths of previous vehicles traversing the same area. This can be achieved using motion priors or prior trajectory data, G. In the same way, it is also hypothesised that a new vehicle has been observed. The logic flow for the entire tracking pipeline is depicted inFIG. 2b.
After considering both scenarios, the most likely candidate hypothesis and the associated estimated pose, st1, for each detected vehicle, cti, is selected.
The use of prior vehicle trajectory data as mentioned above can be implemented and used as part of the pipeline as exemplified inFIGS. 3 to 8, which describes a single-shot motion prediction system.
The first step of the single-shot motion prediction systems is to capture data relating to the observed state of a moving vehicle. For an observed vehicle, the initial state (s0) of the car or vehicle includes position data (x0∈R3), rotation data (r0∈S0(3)) and velocity data (v0∈R). Mathematically this can be represented as:
s0=(x0,r0,v0)
The system then gathers trajectory data of vehicles that have previously traversed the area in which the new moving vehicle was detected. Although any traditional method may be implemented to obtain this data, the preferred option is to extract data from map data that was constructed using structure-from-motion techniques. This advantageously enables a large amount of crowd-sourced high-quality motion data to drive the motion prediction of this invention. As an example, this type of data can be collected by equipping a large fleet of vehicles with cameras and performing structure-from-motion at a city scale to accurately reconstruct their trajectories. As will be further elaborated below, this data can be used as a sample for the underlying motion distribution in the area and be used for future motion prediction of newly observed cars.
Structure from motion methods have the benefits of needing zero human annotation as it implicitly captures modelled and unmodelled aspects of the vehicle motion, scales to large city-scale scenarios and improves with time as the amount of data increases. This data is usually built up of sequential images over a period of time. Additionally, each image also includes pose information which can be used to vehicles position, rotation and velocity along its path.
Example city scale map datasets are depicted inFIGS. 3aand 3b. The datasets shown in these figures were compiled using over ten million images captured in San Francisco and New York using dash-cam mounted mobile phones. The images were used to perform large-scale structure-from-motion to reconstruct accurate vehicle trajectories in the cities over a period of several weeks. Although a monocular camera of a mobile phone was executed to derive the datasets shown in this figure, any type of visual sensor may be used to compile the initial sequential image data. As a result, prior trajectory data can be automatically extracted as a by-product of building a large-scale crowd-sourced30map of the environment.
FIG. 4aillustrates the trajectories400extracted from the San Francisco data set, as generated by a randomised fleet of vehicles, which is used by this invention as prior trajectory data.FIGS. 4b, 4cand 4dcorrespond to points410,420and430, respectively, inFIG. 4a. These figures illustrate a few paths taken by the fleet of vehicles (401,402,403,404) and their respective orientations. These figures illustrate the vehicles' motion along a curved road (FIG. 4b), an intersection (FIG. 4c) and a straight road (FIG. 4d).
In this way, the invention utilises location specific information for accurate future predictions. Instead of learning a global generic model or relying on limited variable models, the invention relies on historical vehicle trajectories in the locality of a newly detected vehicle to perform on-the-fly future position prediction, in substantially real time.
As aforementioned, the motion prior data comprises of a large set of individual trajectory samples that contain accurate 3D positions and rotations of vehicles driven through the area in the past. Mathematically, this is represented as G={G1,G2, . . . , GN}, where each trajectory Gi={s1i,s2i, . . . , smi} is a sequence of observed positions, rotations, and velocities of the car at regular time intervals t=1,2,3 . . . as the car had been driven around the city. Using this system, there is no requirement to use manual or semantic annotations of the environment or any knowledge of traffic rules. Instead it is assumed that each trajectory or path implicitly captures all relevant local and road information in the behaviour of the vehicle's motion.
Once prior trajectory information has been obtained, a number of future positions of the newly observed vehicle are estimated. In order to predict the future position of a vehicle at a time t, it is hypothesized that the newly observed vehicle is following the same path and trajectory pattern as one of the previous vehicles at the same location. Specifically, for each prior state sjiof a prior trajectory, it is assumed that the newly observed vehicle is going to follow the same motion pattern as the previous vehicle that generated the prior trajectory continuing from that state. Given this assumption, the pose of the vehicle in the future is likely to be:
st=sj+ti+∈
where sj+tiis the observed pose of the vehicle previously driven through the area t seconds after the queried state (when the new vehicle was first observed) and ∈ is random noise taking into account that the trajectory can slightly differ. Examples of estimated future positions or samples can be seen inFIGS. 5aand 5b, where501illustrates a newly observed vehicle at a first time, t, and502illustrates the estimated future positions of the vehicle and a second time, t+1.
Having estimated the likely future position for the newly observed vehicle based on prior positions and trajectories of each or any of the previous vehicles, in order to improve the estimation, the samples are constrained by assessing the likelihood of the observed vehicle following the path of the one or more samples.
Mathematically, the distribution of the future pose is a weighted sum of individual factors:
p(st|s0,G)=1ZΣK(sji,s0)p(st|sj+ti,ϵ)
where Z is a normalisation factor:
Z=ΣK(sji,s0),
and K(sji,s0) measures the similarity of a prior state to the current state of a newly observed vehicle, capturing the likelihood that it can indeed follow the exhibited prior motion pattern. This similarity is modelled as the sum of a number of individual factors:
K(sji,s0)=exp{-xji-x02σx2-rji-r02σr2-vji-v02σv2}
where ∥xj1−x0∥2is the Euclidean distance between the sample position and the observed position of the vehicle in the 3D space, ∥rji−r0∥2is the relative difference of heading angles between the sample and the observed vehicle and is the difference in linear speed. The parameters σx, σrand σvmodel the relevance of the individual factors.
By constraining the samples in this way, the most likely estimates for the future positions of the observed vehicles based on the prior vehicle data are produced.
Thus, the probability density function p(st|s0,G) can be evaluated explicitly in a closed form. Moreover, a sampling procedure can be implemented efficiently by first sampling the corresponding prior state sjiaccording to relevance factor K, performing table look-up for sj+tiand adding noise. This is depicted inFIG. 6.
An example of future vehicle motion prediction is illustrated inFIG. 7.701represents an observed vehicle at a query position and a velocity at time t. The groupings of702and703represent the distribution of predicted samples of the vehicle at a time of t+5. Notably, the road ahead of the vehicle is a one-way road in the opposite direction of the vehicle's motion. Without needing any manual input of road traffic signage, the method implicitly captures this information by using the paths of previous vehicles in the area. Thus, the only two potential options for the vehicle is taking a left or right at the intersection.
FIG. 5also illustrates samples drawn from prior data. As depicted, sampling follows the previously observed trajectories of prior motion in the area while parameters a model the relevance of the individual components to the state of the observed vehicle. For example, a small value of σv(FIG. 5a) results in predictions matching the current velocity of the newly observed vehicle while a larger σv(FIG. 5b) results in future predictions sampled using a wider variety of the previously observed initial velocities.
InFIG. 1, motion prediction using linear extrapolation was illustrated. In contrast,FIG. 8depicts how the method of this invention predicts the future movements of a vehicle in the same scenario. As opposed to relying on linear projections of the trajectories,801depicts a cluster of estimated future positions of the vehicle102using prior trajectory data.
Although the method above for implementing prior trajectory data is exemplified, any other implementation may also be used with the present invention.
Moving back to the end to end pipeline, as described above, for each detected car, cti, it is hypothesised, pji, that a new observation is the same a previously detected vehicle, ctj. This consideration requires frame to frame association and therefore, for each such hypothesis, the most probable 3D pose and velocity supporting this hypothesis, sti,j, is calculated:
stij=argmaxstip(sti,cti|ctj,stj,qt,G)
which can be factorised as:
p(st,ct|ct′,st′,qt,G)∝p(ct|ct′)p(st|ct′,qt)p(st|st′,G)
where:p(ct|ct′) is the similarity in visual appearances,p(st|ct) is the consistency of the observed vehicle in the 2D image and its position in 3D space, andp(st|st′,G) is the likelihood of the future motion predicted using the prior trajectory data, as exemplified throughFIGS. 3 to 8and the accompanying paragraphs above.
A solution which satisfies the appearance model but violates the prior motion model will have a low probability. Similarly, a low probability will also exist when the prior motion model is satisfied but not the appearance model. Thus, a good solution satisfies all of the models.
The consistency of the visual appearance p(ct|ct′) is modelled by the number of visually matching features on both detected vehicles. This is achieved by first extracting SIFT features for both images, It, It′, and then matching the descriptors between the frames. The probability is then calculated as the ratio of shared features between ctand ct′. The pipeline considers the shared features between the bounding boxes of detected objects or vehicles to determine their correspondence. The probability can be represented as:
p(ct|ct′)=fi,jfi
Importantly, the combination of a visual appearance probability and motion prior data produces a reliable and accurate results. As an example, relying on a visual appearance model alone would not accurately indicate the direction of travel or velocity estimates for observed vehicles.
Finally, to ensure that the estimated 3D position of the vehicle corresponds to its 2D detection a re-projection constraint is used, as illustrated inFIG. 9. The 2D to 3D consistency can be represented as:
p(st|ct)=(π(xt,pt),σc)
where π(xt,pt) is the projected position903of the 3D point, xt, into the camera image905, It, located at position, pt. The camera901will also be equipped to provide accurate position and orientation.902represents the actual 2D detection and904indicate the reprojection error (in pixels).
As the models for the 2D to 3D consistency of observed vehicle and the estimated future motion are continuous and differentiable, maximisation of the frame to frame association model can be performed using a classical Gauss-Newton optimisation method.
The method vastly improves the precision over traditional methods and also demonstrates continuously improving performance as the amount of prior data grows. The pipeline thus provides a data-driven non-parametric approach to predict the motion of vehicles at city-scale to effectively track vehicles from a moving car equipped with a monocular camera. This approach requires no form of annotation and is easy to scale to city sized data.
The camera equipped vehicle for the pipeline need not be restricted to a particular visual sensor configuration with this invention. Any method of capturing visual data of a vehicle's surroundings may be used (LIDAR, radar or stereo cameras). As an example, monocular cameras, known not only the most prevalent and cost-effective hardware platform but also the most difficult for implementation due to the missing depth perception of LIDARs or stereo cameras, were also successfully tested with this pipeline system. The results of the tests showed that the use of motion priors alleviated the problems associated with monocular cameras and helped predict the correct motion of surrounding vehicles with accuracy.
Any system features as described herein may also be provided as a method feature, and vice versa. As used herein, means plus function features may be expressed alternatively in terms of their corresponding structure.
Any feature in one aspect may be applied to other aspects, in any appropriate combination. In particular, method aspects may be applied to system aspects, and vice versa. Furthermore, any, some and/or all features in one aspect can be applied to any, some and/or all features in any other aspect, in any appropriate combination.
It should also be appreciated that particular combinations of the various features described and defined in any aspects of the invention can be implemented and/or supplied and/or used independently.
| 6G
| 1 | C |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A long nip press for dewatering a fibrous web being processed into a paper
product on a paper machine is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The press nip 10 is
defined by a smooth cylindrical press roll 12, an arcuate pressure shoe
14, and a belt 16 of the present invention arranged such that it bears
against the surface of the cylindrical press roll 12. The arcuate pressure
shoe 14 has about the same radius of curvature as the cylindrical press
roll 12. The distance between the cylindrical press roll 12 and the
arcuate pressure shoe 14 may be adjusted by means of conventional
hydraulic or mechanical apparatus, which is not shown, connected to rod 18
pivotally secured to arcuate pressure shoe 14. The rod 18 may also be
actuated to apply the desired pressure to the arcuate pressure shoe 14. It
will be appreciated that the cylindrical press roll 12 and the arcuate
pressure shoe 14 described above and shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are
conventional in the art.
A first papermaker's wet press fabric 20, a second papermaker's wet press
fabric 22, and a fibrous web 24 being processed into a paper sheet are
included in FIGS. 1 and 2. The motions of the belt 16, the first
papermaker's wet press fabric 20, the second papermaker's wet press fabric
22, and the fibrous web 24 through the press nip 10 are upward in FIG. 1.
Lubricating means 26 in FIG. 1 dispenses oil onto the side of belt 16
facing arcuate pressure shoe 14 to facilitate its sliding motion
thereagainst.
Belt 10 of the present invention includes a base comprising a plurality of
non-overlapping turns of a spirally wound prepared structure strip. FIG. 3
is a perspective view of an apparatus used for assembling the base. The
apparatus 28 comprises a first roll 30 and a second roll 32, which are
parallel to one another and which may be rotated in the directions
indicated by the arrows. A prepared structure strip 34 is wound from a
stock roll 36 and around first roll 30 and second roll 32 in a spiral. The
stock roll 36 must be translated at a suitable rate along second roll 32
as the prepared structure strip 34 is being wound around the rolls 30,32.
A top plan view of the apparatus 28 is provided in FIG. 4. The first roll
30 and the second roll 32 are separated by a distance D, which is
determined with reference to the total length required for the belt 16 to
be manufactured. Prepared structure strip 34, having a width w, is
spirally wound onto the first and second rolls 30,32 in a plurality of
non-overlapping turns from stock roll 36, which is translated along second
roll 32 in the course of the winding. Successive turns of the prepared
structure strip 34 are abutted against one another, and are joined to one
another by stitching or bonding along spirally continuous seam 38 to
produce a base 40 as shown in FIG. 5. When a sufficient number of turns of
the prepared structure strip 34 have been made to make a base 40 of
desired width W, the spiral winding is concluded. The base 40 so obtained
has an inner surface, an outer surface, a longitudinal direction, and a
transverse direction. The lateral edges of the base 40 will initially not
be parallel to the longitudinal direction thereof, and must be trimmed
along lines 42 to provide the base 40 with the desired width W, and with
two lateral edges parallel to the longitudinal direction of its
endless-loop form.
Prepared structure strip 34 may be a fabric strip woven from yarns of a
synthetic polymeric resin, such as polyester or polyamide, in the same
manner as other fabrics used in the papermaking industry are woven. After
weaving, it may be heat-set in a conventional manner prior to interim
storage on stock roll 36. Such a fabric strip may include lengthwise yarns
and crosswise yarns, and may be of a single- or multi-layer weave. Because
the fabric strip is spirally wound to assemble a woven base fabric, its
lengthwise and crosswise yarns do not align with the longitudinal and
transverse directions, respectively, of the woven base fabric. Rather, the
lengthwise yarns make a slight angle, .theta., whose magnitude is a
measure of the pitch of the spirally wound fabric strip, with respect to
the longitudinal direction of the woven base fabric, as suggested by the
top plan view of the base 40 shown in FIG. 5.
Where the prepared structure strip 34 is a woven fabric strip, and,
consequently, base 40 is a woven base fabric, the fabric strip is of a
weave sufficiently open to permit complete impregnation thereof by the
polymeric resin coating material. Complete impregnation eliminates the
possibility of undesirable voids forming in the finished belt 16. Voids
are particularly undesirable because they may allow the lubricating oil
used between the belt 16 and the arcuate pressure shoe 14 to pass through
the belt 16 and contaminate the press fabric 20, or press fabrics 20,22,
and fibrous web 24 being processed into paper.
Alternatively, prepared structure strip 34 may be a non-woven fabric strip,
a perforated synthetic strip, or a polymeric film strip.
A perspective view of belt 16 is provided in FIG. 6. The belt has an inner
surface 44 and an outer surface 46. On the outer surface 46, the base 40
and its spirally continuous seam 38 may be visible.
FIG. 7 is a cross-section taken as indicated by line 7--7 in FIG. 6 for the
case where prepared structure strip 34 is a fabric strip. The
cross-section is taken lengthwise with respect to the fabric strip. Fabric
strip 34 is woven from lengthwise yarns 48 and crosswise yarns 50 in a
multi-layer weave. Knuckles 52 appearing on the fabric strip 34 where
lengthwise yarns 48 weave over crosswise yarns 50 may be visible on the
outer surface 46 of the belt 16. The inner surface 44 of the belt 16 is
formed by a polymeric resin coating 54.
The polymeric resin coating 54 is applied to at least one surface of the
base 40, that surface being the one which will ultimately be the inner
surface 44 of the belt 16. As the inner surface 44 slides across the
lubricated arcuate pressure shoe 14, the polymeric resin coating 54
protects the base 40 from such sliding contact and the wear by abrasion
that would otherwise result. The polymeric resin also impregnates the base
40 and renders the belt 16 impervious to oil and water. The polymeric
resin coating 54 may be of polyurethane, and is preferably a 100% solids
composition thereof to avoid the formation of bubbles during the curing
process through which the polymeric resin proceeds following its
application onto the base 40. After curing, the polymeric resin coating 54
is ground and buffed to provide the belt 16 with a smooth surface and a
uniform thickness.
In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, both surfaces of the
woven base fabric 40 may be coated with a polymeric resin. Following the
curing of the polymeric resin material, both the inner surface 56 and the
outer surface 58 of belt 60, as shown in FIG. 8, may be ground and buffed
to provide the belt 60 with smooth surfaces and a uniform thickness.
Finally, the outer surface 58 may be provided, by cutting, scoring or
graving, with a plurality of grooves 62, for example, in the longitudinal
direction around the belt 60, for the temporary storage of water pressed
from fibrous web 24 in the press nip 10.
It will be recognized that modifications to the above would be obvious to
anyone of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the claims
appended hereinbelow. | 3D
| 21 | F |
EXAMPLES
Example 1 (Prior Art)
This Experiment is provided as a comparative example following a prior art
method using Irganox 1076/TNPP as the antioxidant system for production of
lithium-butadiene rubber. A polymerisation of 85 g of butadiene 1.3 in 415
g of dry n-hexane was started by the addition of a solution of 0.4 mmoles
of butyllithium in 5 g of n-hexane. The reaction was carried out in a 1.5
l gas tight reaction vessel under inert gas atmosphere for 3 h, 70.degree.
C. under permanent shaking.
The living polymer cement was shortstopped by the addition of 10 ml EtOH. A
mixture of Irganox 1076 and TNPP was mixed into the cement. A steam
coagulation was carried out for 1 hour at 100.degree. C. The wet and white
polymer was recovered and dried on a mill. The dry rubber shows a crystal
clear colour (colour 0). After aging for 7 days at 70.degree. C. in an
oven the product colour remains unchanged (colour 0). The materials and
results are shown in Table 1.
Example 2
A polymerisation of 85 g of butadiene 1.3 in 415 g of dry n-hexane was
started by the addition of a solution of 0.4 mmoles of butyllithium in 5 g
of n-hexane. The reaction was carried out in a 1.5 l gas tight reaction
vessel under inert gas atmosphere for 3 h, 70.degree. C. under permanent
shaking.
The living polymer cement was shortstopped by the addition of 0.6 mmoles of
neodecanoic acid followed by the addition of 0.2 mmoles citric acid. The
shortstopped polymer cement was poured into an open beaker containing 300
g of demineralised water and intensively agitated. The pH was measured
frequently and additional citric acid was added if the pH exceeded 7. The
water was drained off. A steam coagulation was carried out for about 1
hour at 100 C. During this process step, the pH was measured frequently
and citric acid was added if the pH exceeded 7. The wet polymer was
recovered and dried on a mill. Colour was measured on a relative scale in
comparison to desired colour properties for HIPS applications. Haake
stability was also measured. The materials and results are recorded in
Table 2.
As shown in Table 2, the experiments vary according to the antioxidant
system used. In Experiment 2-1, 2-2, and 2-3, Irganox 1520 D, Irganox 1520
L and Irganox 1520 LR were used, respectively. In Experiment 2-4 a mixture
of 10 g of the Irganox 1520 D and 0.4 g of epoxidised soya bean oil is
prereacted for 1 h at 120.degree. C. in an open vessel under frequent
shaking. 0.069 g (0.09 phr) of the nonpurified reaction product dissolved
in 10 ml of dry n-hexane is mixed into the washed cement. 300 ml of
deionised water is added to the stabilised polymer cement and a steam
coagulation is carried out for 1 h at 100.degree. C. The wet and pure
white polymer is then recovered and dried on a mill for 3 minutes at
100.degree. C. The dry rubber (<0.5% volatiles) shows a crystal clear
colour (colour 0). After aging for 7 days at 70.degree. C. in an oven the
product colour remains unchanged.
Experiment 2-5 was conducted in accordance with Experiment 2-4 procedure,
except that Irganox 1520 L was used in place of Irganox 1520 D.
In Experiment 2-6, 0.069 g of Irganox 1520 D was dissolved in 10 ml of
n-hexane and mixed into the washed cement, after which 140 mg epoxidised
soya bean oil was mixed into the washed cement. The remaining steps were
according to Experiment 2-1 procedure.
Experiment 2-7 was conducted in accordance with Experiment 2-6 procedure,
except that Irganox 1520 L was used in place of Irganox 1520 D.
The materials and results of the seven experiments in Example 2, including
colour measurements, are shown in Table 2. The results indicate that
product with good colour and stability was produced in Experiments 2-3 to
2-7. The polymer product of Experiments 2-1 and 2-2, which used low grades
of Irganox 1520 as anti-oxidant, without epoxidised soya bean oil in the
Irganox 1520 or added to the Irganox 1520 or added to the cement, had poor
colour characteristics. The colour measurements are shown in Table 2.
Example 3
The experiments in Example 3 followed the procedure of Experiment 4 of
Example 2. In Experiment 3-1 the catalyst wash step is skipped, and 0.4
mmole citric acid is added during the coagulation step to control pH.
Experiment 3-2 was conducted substantially in accordance with the
Experiment 2-4 procedure. The materials and results of the experiments,
including colour measurement, are shown in Table 3. The results of
Experiment 3-1 indicate that a process that eliminates the catalyst wash
step produces a product with colour after aging.
Example 4
This example illustrates the process without pH control. In Experiment 4-1,
the short stop step includes addition of 0.6 mmole neodecanoic acid, and
there is no use of citric acid in the catalyst wash or coagulation steps
to control pH. The antioxidant system used is Irganox 1520 D prereacted
with epoxidised soya bean oil, in accordance with the procedure used in
Experiment 2-4. In Experiment 4-2, water is used as a short stop, and
again there is no effort to control pH in the catalyst wash or coagulation
steps. The materials and results are shown in Table 4. Both processes
produce coloured product. In Experiment 4-1 the product is coloured after
aging, and in Experiment 4-2, the product is coloured initially and after
aging.
Example 5
This example illustrates the process without neodecanoic acid as the short
stop. The experiment followed the procedure of Experiment 2-4 with the
exception that citric acid was used as a short stop in place of
neodecanoic acid. The materials and results are shown in Table 5. The
process produced a product with good colour initially, but which coloured
after aging.
Example 6
This example illustrates the process without addition of anti-oxidant. The
experiment followed the procedure of Experiment 2, except that no
anti-oxidant was added. The materials and results are shown in Table 6.
The process produced a product that had good colour initially and after
aging.
Example 7
The experiment in Example 3 was conducted substantially in accordance with
the Experiment 2-4 procedure. The materials and results of the experiment,
including colour measurement, is shown in Table 7. The results of
Experiment 7 indicate that H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 is a suitable acid for use in
regulating pH in the catalyst wash step and that good product colour is
achieved when pH is in the range of 3.1
It will be understood that the specification and examples are illustrative
but not limitative of the present invention and that other embodiments
within the spirit and scope of the invention will suggest themselves to
those skilled in the art.
TABLE 1
Example 1
BuLi 1st addition 2nd H+ found CA
addition pH in coag col. 2 Haake Stab.
No. mmole mmole addition mmole pH 3rd addition AO % coag
mmole start end col. 1 aged rub. min.
CW/
SS NEU AO coag
1 0.4 10 ml EtOH -- -- -- -- 1076/TNP steam -- --
8.5 8.5 0 0 6
VA = neodecanoic acid
CA = citric
ESBO = epoxidised soya bean oil
TABLE 2
Example 2 (1 h md. 70.degree. C. after each addition, good cat. was, check
on different 1520 grades)
1st
col. 2 Haake
BuLi addition H+ found
CA addition pH in coag aged Stab.
No. mmole mmole 2nd addition mmole pH 3rd addition AO %
coag mmole start end col. 1 rub. min
SS CW/NEU AO coag
1 0.4 0.6 mmole 0.20 mmole >0.6 6-7 0.09 phr 1 1520 D 0.08
steam -- -- 6-7 1 2 7
VA CA
2 0.4 0.6 mmole 0.20 mmole >0.6 6-7 0.09 phr 1 1520 L 0.10
steam -- -- 6-7 0 1-2 8
VA CA
3 0.4 0.6 mmole 0.20 mmole >0.6 6-7 0.09 phr 1 1520 LR 0.10
steam -- -- 6-7 0 0 7
VA CA
4 0.4 0.6 mmole 0.20 mmole >0.6 6-7 0.09 phr 1520 D 0.08
steam -- -- 6-7 0 0 7
VA CA (preheat with
4% ESBO)
5 0.4 0.6 mmole 0.20 mmole >0.6 6-7 0.09 phr 1520 L 0.09
steam -- -- 6-7 0 0 8
VA CA (preheat with
4% ESBO)
6 0.4 0.6 mmole 0.20 mmole >0.6 6-7 0.09 phr 1520 D + 0.10
steam -- -- 6-7 0 0 9
VA CA 14 mg ESBO
(blend)
7 0.4 0.6 mmole 0.20 mmole >0.6 6-7 0.09 phr 1520 L + 0.07
steam -- -- 6-7 0 0 7
VA CA 140 mg ESBO
(blend)
VA = neodecanoic acid
CA = citric
ESBO = epoxidised soya bean oil
TABLE 3
Example 3 (good mixing for 0.5 h at 70.degree. C., separate steps, no cat.
wash)
CA
BuLi 1st addition H+ found
addition pH in coag col. 2 Haake Stab.
No. mmole mmole 2nd addition mmole pH 3rd addition AO %
coag mmole start end col. 1 aged rub. min
SS CW/NEU AO coag
1 0.4 0.6 mmole (skipped) >0.6 -- 0.09 phr 0.07 steam
0.04 CA 6.2 6.9 0 1 6
VA 1520 D
0.20 mmole (preheat with
CA 4% ESBO)
2 0.4 0.6 VA 0.20 mmole >0.6 6.1 0.09 phr 0.10
steam -- -- 6.1 6.5 0 0 7
CA 1520 D
(preheat with
4% ESBO)
VA = neodecanoic acid
CA = citric
ESBO = epoxidised soya bean oil
TABLE 4
Example 4 (good mbdng for 0.5 h at 70 C., separate steps, no pH control)
CA
BuLi 1st addition 2nd H+ found
addition pH in coag col. 2 Haake Stab.
No. mmole mmole addition mmole pH 3rd addition AO %
coag mmole start end col. 1 aged rub. min
SS CW/NEU AO coag
1 0.4 0.6 VA -- -- -- 7.7 0.09 phr 1520 D 0.08 steam
-- -- 7.7 8.2 0 1-2 6
(preheat with 4%
ESBO)
2 0.4 10 ml H.sub.2 O -- -- -- 8 0.09 phr 1520 D 0.07 steam
-- -- 8.1 8.2 1 2 5
(preheat with 4%
ESBO)
VA = neodecanoic acid
CA = citric
ESBO = epoxidised soya bean oil
TABLE 5
Example 5 (good mixing for 0.5 h at 70.degree. C., separate steps, ESBO
prereaction, no VA)
1st CA
BuLi addition H+ found
addition pH in coag col. 2 Haake Stab.
No. mmole mmole 2nd addition mmole pH AO % coag
mmole start end col. 1 aged rub. min
SS AO CW/NEU coag
1 0.4 0.4 CA 0.09 phr 1 1520 1.2 3.1 0.05
steam -- -- 3.1 3.5 0 1 11
D +
ESBO
prereacted
VA = neodecanoic acid
CA = citric
ESBO = epoxidised soya bean oil
TABLE 6
Example 6 (good mixing for 0.5 h at 70.degree. C., separate steps, no AO)
1st CA
BuLi addition H+ 3rd addition found
addition pH in coag col. 2 Haake Stab.
No. mmole mmole 2nd addition mmole pH mmole AO %
coag mmole start end col. 1 aged rub. min
SS CW/NEU AO coag
1 0.4 0.6 mmole 0.20 mmole >0.6 -- -- -- steam -- -- 6.2
6.5 0 0 7
VA CA
VA = neodecanoic acid
CA = citric
ESBO = epoxidised soya bean oil
TABLE 7
Example 7
CA
BuLi 1st addition H+ found
addition pH in coag col. 2 Haake Stab.
No. mmole mmole 2nd addition mmole pH 3rd addition AO %
coag mmole start end col. 1 aged rub. min
SS CW/NEU AO coag
1 0.4 0.6 VA 0.4 mmole >>0.6 3.1 0.09 phr 0.09
steam -- -- 3.1 3.1 0 0 8.0
H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 1520 D
(preheat with
4% ESBO)
VA = neodecanoic acid
CA = citric
ESBO = epoxidised soya bean oil | 2C
| 08 | C |
EXAMPLE
The following compositions were prepared:
Composition 1Concentration (g %)DISTEARDIMONIUM3HECTORITEOCTYLDODECANOL11.5GLYCOL DISTEARATE8LIQUID PETROLEUM JELLY64.5PROPYLENE CARBONATE1LAURETH-21POLYSORBATE 2111
Composition 2Concentration (g %)SEQUESTERING AGENT1SODIUM METABISULFITE0.7MONOETHANOLAMINE14.51-METHYL-2,5-DIAMINOBENZENE7.25N,N-BIS(2-HYDROXYETHYL)-P-0.58PHENYLENEDIAMINESULFATE. 1H2O1,3-DIHYDROXYBENZENE5.81-HYDROXY-3-AMINOBENZENE1.451-BETA-HYDROXYETHYLOXY-2,4-0.58DIAMINOBENZENEDIHYDROCHLORIDENATROSOL 250 HHR1.5(hydroxyethylcellulose)HEXYLENE GLYCOL3DIPROPYLENE GLYCOL3ETHYL ALCOHOL8.25PROPYLENE GLYCOL6.2ASCORBIC ACID0.25WATERQs 100g
Composition 3Concentration (g %)PENTASODIUM PENTETATE0.15HYDROGEN PEROXIDE IN12SOLUTION AT 50% (200 VOL.AQUEOUS HYDROGENPEROXIDE)SODIUM STANNATE0.04TETRASODIUM0.03PYROPHOSPHATELIQUID PETROLEUM JELLY20HEXADIMETHRINE CHLORIDE0.25(AM at 60% in water)POLYQUATERNIUM-6 (AM at0.540% in water)WATER54.1GLYCEROL0.5CETYLSTEARYL ALCOHOL8(C16/C18 30/70)OXYETHYLENATED (33 EO)3CETYLSTEARYL ALCOHOLPROTECTED1.3OXYETHYLENATED (4 EO)RAPESEED ACID AMIDE at92.3% in waterVITAMIN E0.1PHOSPHORIC ACIDQs pH 2.2
The three compositions were mixed at the time of use, in the following proportions: 10 g of composition 1 with 4 g of composition 2 and 16 g of composition 3. The mixture was applied to locks of natural grey hair containing 90% of white hairs, in a proportion of 10 g of mixture per 1 g of hair. After a leave-in time of 30 min, the hair was rinsed, washed with a standard shampoo and dried.
The hair coloring was evaluated visually.
Example 1Intense black
Example 2
The following compositions were prepared (quantity expressed in g)
A3A4(Comparative(InventiveComposition)Composition)Isopropyle Myristate5287Oleth-101010Disteardimonium hectorite2.252.25Propylene Carbonate0.750.75Water35—
Composition B′ (in grams)
N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl) p-4.524phenylenediamine sulfate hydrate6-hydroxy benzomorpholine2.1895Hydroxyethyl cellulose (NATROSOL 2501.5HHR)Dipropylene glycol3Hexylene glycol3Propylene glycol6.2Monoethanolamine15.92Ethanol8.25Reducing agents, sequestering agents,qswaterQs 100
Composition C (in grams)
Hydrogen peroxide6Cetearylic Alcohol2.28Ceteareth-250.57Trideceth-2 carboxamide MEA0.85Glycerine0.5Stabilizing agents, sequestering agentsQsPhosphoric AcidQs pH = 2waterQs 100
The compositions A3 and A4 were each mixed together with the compositions B and C at the time of use in the following proportions: 10 g of composition A3 or A4 with 4 g of composition B′ and 15 g of composition C.
The resulting mixtures were then applied on natural hair with 90% of white hair and on permed hair with 90% of white hair at the rate of 14.5 g of mixture for 1 g of hair. After a leave-on time of 30 minutes, the hair was rinsed, washed with a standard shampoo and dried.
The colour of the hair was determined by using the Datacolor SF600X spectraflash (illuminant D65, angle 10°, specular components included) in the L*a*b* system.
According to this system, L* indicates the lightness. The lowest is the value of L*, the most intense is the color of the hair. The chromaticity coordinates are expressed by the parameters a* and b*, a* indicating the axis of red/green shades and b the axis of yellow/blue shades.
Selectivity:
The selectivity of the color on hair was also evaluated.
The selectivity of the coloration is the variation of the color between natural colored hair and the highly sensitized colored hair. The selectivity ΔE is calculated from the following formula:
ΔE=√{square root over ((L*−Lo*)2+(a*−ao*)2+(b*−bo*)2)}{square root over ((L*−Lo*)2+(a*−ao*)2+(b*−bo*)2)}{square root over ((L*−Lo*)2+(a*−ao*)2+(b*−bo*)2)}
wherein L* indicates lightness and a* and b* are the chromaticity coordinates of the permed colored locks whereas L0* indicates the lightness and a0* and b0* are the chromaticity of the natural colored locks. The lower the value of ΔE, the weaker selectivity the coloration and the more uniform the color of the hair along the fiber from the roots to the hair.
MixtureHair TypeL*a*b*ΔEA3 + B′ + CBN29.7−0.64.811.1BP19.2−0.41.3A4 + B′ + CBN28.9−0.63.87.7(inventive)BP21.4−0.62.3
The mixture obtained with the composition A4 provided a color with a weaker selectivity, thus a better homogeneity of the color, than the one obtained from the mixture obtained with the composition A3.
| 0A
| 61 | Q |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now toFIG. 1, there is shown a cross section through a drum10covered by a lid12and containing solid nuclear waste14within a plastic vinyl liner16. In order to vent and sample head space gases which may have accumulated both within a liner head space18and within a head space20between the lid10and liner16, a probe22is inserted through both the lid10and liner16. If the drum10does not have a liner16, the probe will still work to filter, vent and allow sampling of head space gases between the solid waste14and lid. Preferably, the probe22is inserted by a drill bit24which grips and rotates the probe to drive the probe through the lid12and liner16when axial pressure is applied by the drill bit to the probe.
Referring now toFIG. 2where the probe22is shown in greater detail, it is seen that the probe22has a hollow shaft30having a longitudinal bore32, the hollow shaft having a first end34and a second end36. A penetrating tip38is positioned at the first end34of the hollow shaft30and a radially extending probe head40is positioned at the second end36of the hollow shaft.
The penetrating tip38is a single piece having a conical portion42which is connected by a first cylindrical portion44to a frustoconical portion46that is in turn connected to a second cylindrical portion48. The second cylindrical portion has a stud50of a smaller diameter than the cylindrical portion48projecting axially therefrom. The stud50is received within the longitudinal bore32of the hollow shaft30with a peripheral weld52securing the penetrating tip38to the hollow shaft.
An obtuse, longitudinally extending port56extends through the penetrating tip38from the conical portion42. The longitudinally extending port56provides a channel for head space gases and gases within the hazardous waste14to flow into the longitudinal bore32(see FIG.1).
Just above the penetrating tip38of the probe22extends a smooth punch portion60of the hollow shaft30. Proximate to the stud50of penetrating tip38, the smooth punch portion60has at least one, preferably four, first radial input ports62which pass through the wall of the hollow shaft30and communicate with the longitudinal bore32. The smooth punch portion60has a smooth exterior surface so that it will slide through the vinyl liner16within the drum10after being inserted through the lid12. As is seen inFIG. 1, the probe22is preferably inserted by drilling so that it rotates to cut its way through the drum lid12and then slides while rotating through the liner16without having the liner gripped and pulled upward by threads on the hollow shaft30.
The unthreaded punch portion60of the hollow shaft30terminates at a location which is preferably adjacent the head40. Above the punch portion60a threaded portion64begins with a helical thread66. The helical thread66stops just before the radial head40of the hollow shaft30where the hollow shaft continues with a short smooth cylindrical portion68. The helical thread66of the threaded portion64self-taps into the metal lid12as the probe22is rotated clockwise when driven by the rotating chuck24(see FIG.1).
At least one radially opening second port70extends through the wall of the hollow shaft30to communicate with the head space20between the vinyl liner16and the lid12. Consequently head space gas, which may escape from the vinyl liner into the head space20upon puncturing the liner with the probe22, is also allowed to vent and can be sampled. While two radially opening second ports70are illustrated, there may be more. In the illustrated embodiment, the radial ports70are through the threaded portion64of the hollow shaft30.
The smooth cylindrical portion68above the threaded portion64is surrounded by a gasket74. The gasket74is preferably made of neoprene so as to have an extended life. The gasket74seals between the top surface of the lid12and the bottom surface of the radially extending head40(see FIG.1).
The radially extending head40has a pocket80therein which receives a filter media86, which may be, for example but not limited to, carbon-to-carbon, sintered stainless steel, ceramic, polyfiber material(s) or HEPA filter media, these filter media materials being employed either singularly or in combination. The filter media86filters elements down to 0.3 microns and is secured behind a vent cap88that is welded to the top surface90of the head40. The vent cap88has holes94therethrough which allow filtered gas which has been vented from the drum10to vent to the atmosphere. While four holes94are illustrated, the number of holes may be more than or less than four.
On occasion, it is desirable to test the gases which are venting through the probe22from the interior of the container10. This is accomplished by a radial vent port100that extends through the radially extending head40at a location beneath the filter media86. The radial vent port100has threaded bore101which has therein a first septa retainer102and a second septa retainer104. Between the retainers102and104is disposed a septa seal106. A threaded plug108, with a threaded shank110and head112, which is slotted to receive a screwdriver, is threaded into the threaded bore101of the radial vent port100to close the vent port when not in use.
Samples are taken through the vent port100by a needle116of a syringe118. The needle116passes through bores in the septa retainers102and104and through the resilient, elastic material of the septa seal106to take a sample from the longitudinal bore32of the hollow shaft30. Upon withdrawing the needle116, the septa seal106closes so that whatever gaseous products remaining in the longitudinal bore32must pass through the filter element86before venting to the atmosphere.
While the probe22is especially useful for drums10containing nuclear waste products, it can be also useful for sampling the contents of drums containing other waste products, or any other solid or semi-solid material which needs to be vented and sampled.
From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention, and without departing form the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.
| 6G
| 01 | N |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A pressurisation system for addressing the aforementioned deficiencies of conventional high pressure pump-based systems is described in this section.
An embodiment of the invention, a pressurisation system20is described with reference toFIG. 1, which shows a front sectional view of the pressurisation system20. The pressurisation system20comprises of a vessel22with an internally disposed chamber24. The chamber24is preferably cylindrical with a longitudinal axis28. The vessel22is disposed generally upright on a support surface26with the longitudinal axis28of the chamber24generally parallel to the direction of gravitational acceleration and generally perpendicular to the support surface26. The chamber24has a base30and an opening32constituting two extremities of the chamber24, with the base30being proximal to the support surface26and the opening32being distal to the support surface26. The chamber24of the vessel22is preferably for containing water or the like fluids.
An inlet34is formed in the vessel22and adjacent to the opening32for receiving water into the chamber24. An inlet conduit36, preferably a pipe, connects a water source38to the inlet34of the vessel22with the water source38having a water level40. The inlet34of the vessel22is positioned below the water level40of the water source38to create a pressure gradient (not shown) between the water source38and the chamber24. This pressure gradient draws water from the water source38through the inlet conduit36and into the chamber24of the vessel22. Pressure equilibrium is achieved when water in the chamber24reaches an equalised level42.
The pressurisation system20is used with a desalination system44for water desalination, and is located within the proximity of an abundant water source, preferably the sea. The sea provides an abundance of seawater for the desalination system44. However, seawater contains impurities that are harmful to both the pressurisation system20and the desalination system44.
The pressurisation system20further comprises of a filtration assembly46and an inlet valve48. Both the filtration assembly46and the inlet valve48are disposed along the inlet conduit36with the filtration assembly46being adjacent to the inlet valve48. The filtration assembly46is for filtering particles of differing coarseness, for example silt, impurities and the like foreign bodies, from the seawater. The inlet valve48has two operating positions: an open position and a closed position (both not shown). When the inlet valve48is in the open position, seawater flows freely through the inlet34and into the chamber24. However, when the inlet valve48is in the closed position, the seawater is prevented from reaching the inlet34. The inlet conduit36is therefore in fluid communication with the chamber24when the inlet valve48is in the open position.
An outlet50is formed in the vessel22adjacent to the base30for discharging seawater from the chamber24therethrough. An outlet conduit52, preferably a pipe, connects the outlet50of the vessel22to the desalination system44. An outlet valve54is disposed along the outlet conduit52for controlling the supply of seawater from the vessel22to the desalination system44. The outlet valve54is positionable between an open position and a closed position to respectively permit or restrict the flow of seawater from the vessel22to the desalination system44. The outlet conduit52is in fluid communication with the vessel22and the desalination system44when the outlet valve54is in the open position.
The pressurisation system20further comprises a plunger56being slidably coupled to the vessel22. The plunger56is shaped and dimensioned for sliding within the chamber24along the longitudinal axis28. The opening32of the chamber24is shaped and sized for passage of the plunger56therethrough. The plunger56is disposed in the chamber24to form an enclosure58within the chamber24, the enclosure having a volume dependent on the position of the plunger56along the longitudinal axis88. A mechanical seal (not shown) is coupled to the plunger56and disposed along the circumference of the plunger56to seal the space between the periphery of the plunger56and the internal wall of the vessel22for creating a water-tight seal therebetween.
The plunger56is preferably made of concrete or any material with large mass and generally high density. The pressurisation system20further comprises a positioning device60attached to a support structure62. Both the positioning device60and the support structure62are disposed above the opening32of the vessel22. The positioning device60comprises a pulley assembly64having a hoisting attachment66for coupling the positioning device60to the plunger56.
The positioning device60further comprises an electric motor68being mounted onto the support structure62and for engagement with the pulley assembly64. The electric motor68interacts with the pulley assembly64for positioning the hoisting attachment66generally along the longitudinal axis28of the chamber24and thereby positioning the plunger56generally along the longitudinal axis28of the chamber24.
The electric motor68is electrically connected to a controller (not shown) for controlling the positioning of the plunger56along the longitudinal axis28thereby varying the volume of the enclosure58. Both the inlet valve48and the outlet valve52are electrically connected to the controller for positioning the inlet valve48and the outlet valve52between open and closed positions.
The desalination system44uses a reverse osmosis process that requires seawater to be supplied at a pressure of generally at least 80 atm (atmosphere). A pressurisation process100is described with reference toFIG. 2, which shows a process flowchart of the pressurisation process100.
The pressurisation process100starts with a preparatory stage102. The controller initially positions both the outlet valve52and the inlet valve48to the closed position. The controller further controls the positioning device60to position the plunger56towards the opening32of the chamber24.
The controller then initiates an intake stage104, by positioning the inlet valve48to the open position. The pressure gradient between the water source38and the chamber24influxes seawater from the water source38through the inlet conduit36and into the enclosure58of the chamber24. Seawater from the water source38continues to fill the enclosure58until the seawater within the enclosure58reaches an equalised level42. A level sensor (not shown) is disposed within the chamber24and is electrically connected to the controller for transmitting a level signal to the controller when the seawater within the enclosure58reaches the equalised level42. In response to the level signal received from the level sensor, the controller positions the inlet valve48to the closed position. The seawater within the enclosure58has a pressure of approximately 1 atm before a pressurisation process.
The controller initiates a pressurisation stage106, in response to the completion of the intake stage104, by communicating with the positioning device60to position the plunger56towards the base30of the chamber24and thereby reducing the volume of the enclosure58. The reduction of the volume of the enclosure58increases the pressure of the seawater within the enclosure58. The plunger56is preferably made from concrete and therefore is heavily weighted. The weight of the plunger56applies force on the seawater within the enclosure58by means of gravity. The mechanical seal prevents seawater from leaking through the interface between the plunger56and the chamber24.
The positioning device60further comprises a brake assembly (not shown) built into the electric motor68and being electrically connected to the controller. The brake assembly is for resisting the movement of the hoisting attachment66along the longitudinal axis28when a braking signal is received from the controller.
In the pressurisation stage106, gravity pulls the plunger56towards the base30of the chamber24, which can lead to over-pressurisation of the seawater within the enclosure58. The brake assembly of the electric motor68is actuable to impede movement of the plunger56towards the base30of the chamber24and thereby maintaining the seawater at a constant pressure. Additionally, a pressure relief valve (not shown) is disposed in the chamber24to prevent the over-pressurisation of the seawater. The pressure of the seawater within the enclosure58is reducable by the positioning device60positioning the plunger56towards the opening32and away from the seawater within the enclosure58.
The outlet valve54comprises a pressure sensor (not shown) disposed therein. The pressure sensor is electrically connected to the controller for transmitting a pressure signal to the controller, the pressure signal indicating an operating pressure being the pressure of the seawater measured at the pressure sensor. An interface70between the plunger56and the seawater within the enclosure58is generally planar. The operating pressure is dependent on the pressure of the seawater at the interface70and the mass of the seawater contained within the enclosure58, with the mass of the seawater being a function of the distance between the interface70and the base30of the chamber24, and the dimensions of the chamber24.
The controller registers a reference pressure pre-defined by a user. The reference pressure is the pressure required by the desalination system44and is generally at least 80 atm. During the pressurisation stage106, the controller controls the brake assembly to gradually increase the pressure of the seawater within the enclosure58and thereby increasing the operating pressure. Once the operating pressure reaches the reference pressure, the brake assembly is fully activated to prevent the plunger56from moving further towards the base30of the chamber24.
Upon completion of the pressurisation stage106, the controller proceeds with the supply stage108. The pressurised seawater is supplied to the desalination system44in the supply stage108by the controller positioning the outlet valve54to the open position. When the pressurised seawater is being provided from the vessel22to the desalination system44, the operating pressure of the seawater starts to decrease. During the supply stage108, the operating pressure is maintained at the reference pressure by controlling the rate at which the plunger56moves towards the base30of the chamber24, via operating the brake assembly of the electric motor68.
The supply stage108, is completed once the seawater within the enclosure58is substantially depleted. The controller responds to the completion of the supply stage108by re-initiating the preparatory stage102. In the preparatory stage102, both the inlet valve48and the outlet valve54are positioned to the closed position. The controller then moves the plunger56towards the opening32of the chamber24.
Once the preparatory stage102, is completed, the inlet valve48is positioned to the open position in the intake stage104. The pressure gradient between the water source38and the chamber24draws water from the water source38into the chamber24and thereby replenishing the enclosure58with seawater. The pressurisation process100is cyclically reiterated in accordance to requirements by the desalination system44for pressurised seawater.
The pressurisation system20further includes a generator (not shown) disposed along the outlet conduit52adjacent to the outlet valve54. The generator utilises a turbine array for converting the kinetic energy of the flowing pressurised seawater through the outlet conduit52towards the desalination system44during the supply stage108, into kinetic energy of the turbine array. The generator then converts this form of kinetic energy of the turbine array into electrical energy that is stored and reused by the pressurisation system, for example, the positioning device60.
A second embodiment of the invention, a pressurisation system20bas seen inFIG. 3, which shows a system representation of the pressurisation system20b, comprises of four main elements, each of which consists of a vessel22, a chamber24, a plunger56and a positioning device60. The descriptions in relation to the structural configurations of and positional relationships among the vessel22, the chamber24, the plunger56and the positioning device60with reference toFIG. 1are incorporated herein.
The pressurisation system20bcomprises a plurality of vessels22. An inlet conduit36extends from a water source38to an inlet34of each vessel22, with the plurality of vessels22drawing seawater from one water source38. An outlet conduit52extends from an outlet50of each vessel22to a desalination system44. Both the inlet conduit36and the outlet conduit52are in fluid communication with a chamber24of each vessel22. The positional relationship between the vessel22and the water source38ofFIG. 1is incorporated herein for each of the plurality of vessels22.
In accordance with the first embodiment, the pressurisation process100is also incorporated herein. However, the progress of the pressurisation process100for one vessel22lags the progress of the pressurisation process100for another vessel22. For example, when a first vessel22is in a preparatory stage102with reference toFIG. 2, a second vessel22will be in an intake stage104, a third vessel22will be in a pressurisation stage106, and a fourth vessel22will be in a supply stage108. This is to ensure that at any one time, one vessel22is in the supply stage108, for supplying pressurised seawater to the desalination system44.
An inlet valve48, an outlet valve54and a positioning device60of each vessel22is electrically connected to a controller to coordinate and control the pressurisation process100of each vessel and to ensure that the desalination system44is continuously supplied with pressurised seawater.
The pressurisation system20/20bdescribed in this section utilises two embodiments of the invention to illustrate how the disadvantages of conventional pressure pumps are addressed. Although only two embodiments of the invention are disclosed, numerous modifications can be made to the embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
| 5F
| 04 | B |
Referring now to FIGS. 1(a) to (f) and 2(a) to (c) and where the same
features are denoted by common reference numerals.
A metal powder pressing die 10 of 74 mm diameter was filled to a depth of
14 mm with 304L austenitic stainless steel powder 11 of 150 micrometers
sieve fraction (FIG. 1(a)). A copper disc 12 of 60 mm diameter and 1 mm
thickness was placed centrally on the powder 11 (FIG.1(b)). A second 14 mm
layer of 304L powder 13 was added (FIG.1(c)). The powder and disc were
then subjected to a load of 200 tonnes by a pressing ram 14 (FIG.1(d).
This produced a green component 15 of 15 mm thickness which was ejected
from the die (FIG.1(e)). The green component was then sintered in an
atmosphere of 75% N.sub.2 and 25% H.sub.2 at 1100.degree. C. for 20
minutes to produce a body 16 having a sealed disc shaped cavity 17. The
immediate vicinity 18 surrounding the cavity 17 was infiltrated with
copper whilst the outer surfaces 19 remained porous.
The body 16 was preheated in an oven to 400.degree. C. and placed in the
female part 20 of a 75 mm diameter, crown-down squeeze-casting piston die.
Molten LO-EX (Trade Mark) aluminum-silicon piston alloy 21 at 770.degree.
C. was poured into the die 20 (FIG.2(a)). A load of 25 tonnes was then
applied to the molten alloy with a male die punch 22, causing the alloy 21
to infiltrate the porous surface layers 19 of the body 16. The pressure
was maintained until solidification was complete. Sections through the
piston blank 23 taken subsequently revealed the cavity 17 to be free of
LO-EX and the surface regions 19 to be completely impregnated. FIGS. 3(a)
to 3(c) show three examples of alternative cavity geometries which could
be employed with a piston combustion bowl 30. FIG. 3(a) shows a cavity 32
formed in a body 34 from a ferrous powder having an asymmetric ring
contained therein. After sintering, the volume 36 adjacent the cavity 32
becomes sealed by infiltration. The body 34 is incorporated into the
piston crown by squeeze-casting of an aluminum alloy into the residual
porosity. FIG. 3(b) has cavities 40, 42 formed by a disc and an annular
element used simultaneously. FIG. 3 (c) has a cavity 44 formed from a
cylindrical element.
FIGS. 4 (a) to 4 (c) show portions of annular piston ring carrier inserts
50 made from stainless steel powder and having various alternative cavity
geometries 52. These are also incorporated into a piston by a pressure
casting technique. The site of the actual piston ring groove is denoted by
the dashed line 54.
Although the invention has been described with reference to pistons it will
be appreciated that the invention may be applied to many articles where a
cavity is required, even where it is not necessary for the cavity to be
completely enclosed. Examples of such articles may include heat
exchangers, components with integral lubrication systems, multiple nozzle
gas burners and manifolds for fluids, for example.
The steps of die pressing described above may be replaced with isostatic
pressing of powder around a shaped element.
The cavity containing body may of course be further processed by machining
prior to incorporation into a subsequent article. | 1B
| 22 | D |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIGS. 1 to 4show a formwork element designated as a whole with1for a formwork for curved surfaces, that is, such a formwork can be assembled from several such formwork elements1, wherein fastening webs3also acting as reinforcements for the formwork shell at the vertical edges2for mutual connection of such formwork elements1are provided. Here, the formwork shell4is curved according toFIG. 3and can be set or adjusted with reference to its curvature.
The formwork element1also has according toFIG. 4at least one, according toFIG. 3two—optionally also more—supports5, which support the formwork shell4in addition to the fastening webs3and which have in the embodiment according toFIGS. 3 and 4an approximately trapezoidal cross section, which is open towards the supported formwork shell4and in connection with the formwork shell4practically forms a hollow cross section.
The support or supports5have fastening flanges6on their edges facing the formwork shell4, wherein such a fastening flange6is shown especially clearly inFIG. 5. Here, one can see that the free edge of this flange6is bent away from the formwork shell4. These fastening flanges6are used in a way still to be described for connecting the support5to the formwork shell4.
For the already mentioned setting of the curvature of the formwork shell4and as additional reinforcement of the formwork element1, there is a girder7, in the embodiment according toFIGS. 1 and 2even three girders7, attached to the support or supports5at a distance to the formwork shell4and to the fastening webs3also acting as supports or reinforcements, wherein the effective length of this girder7is adjustable by means of one or more tensioning screws8thereof for changing the curvature of the formwork shell4, similar to a large-area formwork according to DE 24 26 708 C3 or EP 0 514 712 B1.
The formwork shell4is made from metal, especially steel, plastic, or wood and allows high loading due to its strength or optionally its thickness.
Nevertheless, so that the curvature can also be provided between the fastening flanges6and can be changed approximately in the same way as outside of a support cross section, intermediate pieces9are arranged between the fastening flanges6and the formwork shell4according toFIGS. 3 and 4and above all according toFIG. 5and the fastening flanges6of the support5are fixed to said intermediate pieces so as to be pivotable or tiltable relative thereto about the longitudinal direction thereof, so that the formwork shell4can perform together with the corresponding intermediate pieces9relative to the corresponding fastening flange6a corresponding relative motion for the change of its curvature.
According toFIG. 4, the intermediate pieces9have threaded holes10, in which the fastening screws11or fastening bolts passing through the flanges6of the support5can be screwed in, as one can see clearly inFIG. 4. Thus, the direct engagement of a corresponding fastening element to the formwork shell4is prevented, that is, the intermediate piece9obtains an additional function.
In a preferred embodiment, the intermediate pieces9are essentially as long as the associated support5and/or its flange6, so that the cross section shown inFIG. 5is given over the entire length of the support5. Here, according toFIG. 1the intermediate pieces9each have for a flange6of a support5several threaded holes10arranged in a row corresponding to the number of fastening screws11. However, it would also be conceivable for the intermediate pieces9of a fastening flange6to be interrupted and arranged only in the region of the fastening screws11. However, a continuous intermediate piece9, which is advantageously formed with a bar shape, improves the reinforcement and the transfer of forces between formwork shell4and support5.
The intermediate pieces9are connected to the back side of the formwork shell4according toFIG. 5and welded, if both are made from metal, preferably from iron or steel.
So that between the fastening flanges6and the formwork shell4or the intermediate pieces9the relative pivoting or tilting ability about an axis running in the longitudinal direction of the corresponding flange6is possible, the bottom side of the flange6is curved approximately convexly according toFIG. 4or provided with slopes61receding outwards from the middle relative to the intermediate piece9. With reference toFIG. 4, one can clearly see that the flange6can swing on the intermediate piece9due to these slopes61, that is, conversely, the intermediate piece9with the formwork shell4located thereon can perform corresponding movements if the curvature of the formwork shell4is changed, without the flange6and the support5impairing or even preventing these movements.
This relative mutual movement or pivoting is even further simplified in that the projection or screw head11aor in the embodiment an intermediate part12located between a screw head11aand flange6taking hold of the flange6on the side facing away from the formwork shell4has a cross section receding outwards from its middle region on the side facing the flange6, for example, it is rounded or beveled in opposite directions—as can be seen in the embodiment. Therefore, the slopes61of the flange6can move freely as much as possible between the intermediate piece9and this intermediate part12and can thus be pivoted or tilted correspondingly, that is, conversely, the formwork shell can perform a corresponding pivoting or tilting motion relative to the flange6when its curvature is changed. Thus it is prevented that between the two flanges6of a support5, the formwork shell4cannot follow a change of the curvature.
In the preferred embodiment, the intermediate pieces9are formed as bars and are symmetric to their longitudinal center, so that they can be attached in any orientation. Here, the cross section is rectangular, but it could also be curved convexly and beveled and formed with a sector or even semicircular shape on the side facing the flange6so as to enable the already described relative pivoting motion between the intermediate piece9and the flange6.
Thus, the formwork shell4can be changed with the help of the girder7and the tensioning screw8with reference to its curvature, without such a change of the curvature being stopped, especially between the flanges6of a corresponding support5due to the fixing thereon and therefore becoming irregular over the cross section of the formwork shell4. Despite the reinforcement of the formwork shell4with the supports5engaging by means of flanges6, the formwork shell4can be set or adjusted in its curvature, wherein this change also continues between the flanges6of a support5, because the formwork shell can perform tilting or pivoting motions relative to the flanges corresponding to their associated curvature despite the indirect connection of the shell to the flanges6. Here, it is useful that the curvature center points lie on an axis, which runs parallel to the longitudinal direction of the support.
The formwork element1can be built into a formwork with other such formwork elements1. Here, a formwork shell4, which has an adjustable curvature and which is supported by back-side supports5, is provided in order to create a stiff formwork element1that can withstand the concreting pressure. The supports5, which preferably have a trapezoidal cross section, have fastening flanges6at their edges and are provided at a distance to the formwork shell4with at least one girder7, whose length is adjustable for setting or changing the curvature of the formwork shell4. The formwork shell4is made preferably from steel or plastic or wood and there are intermediate pieces9between the fastening flanges6of the support5and the formwork shell4, wherein the fastening flanges6are fixed to said intermediate pieces so as to be pivotable or tiltable relative thereto about the longitudinal direction thereof; the cross section of the flanges6and/or the intermediate pieces9and/or12having a convex shape or being provided with slopes61.
| 4E
| 04 | G |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 illustrates generally a side sectional anatomical view of a
patient's eye. Shown in FIG. 1 is the ocular globe 10 and conjunctiva 11,
sulcus 12, front orbital space 13, orbital bone 14, and Tenon's capsule
15. Thus, FIG. 1 illustrates the orbit and its contents prior to surgery.
FIG. 2 illustrates the orbit after enucleation. In FIG. 2, the conjunctiva
11 and Tenon's 16 are shown, the globe having been removed.
In FIG. 3, a prior art type implant is illustrated having a conformer 17
and ocular implant 18. Suture 19 secures the conjunctiva and ocular muscle
tissue at 19 to the rear of the conformer 17 and to the front or anterior
surface of the implant 18.
In FIG. 4, the preferred embodiment of the total ocular implant of the
present invention is shown, designated generally by the numeral 20. Ocular
prosthesis 20 includes a spherically shaped portion 2 connected to
forwardly extending post 22 which can be cylindrical. The joint 23 between
post 22 and spherical portion 21 can be an integral connection. A
conformer 24 is positioned forwardly of the spherical portion 20.
Conformer 24 has a socket 25 on its rear concave surface receptive of post
22. The post 22 carries a magnetic member 26. Similarly, the conformer 24
has a magnetic member or a metallic member 27 so that a magnetic field
secures the post to the conformer with a removable connection.
The spherical portion 21, post 22, and conformer 24 are illustrated in
position in FIG. 5.
FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 illustrate muscle attachment sites and cell ingrowth
areas on the surface of the ocular prosthesis 20. A first annular cell
ingrowth patch 28 is supplied on the anterior surface of spherical portion
21 of the prosthesis 20. The cell ingrowth patch 28 can be, for example,
porous silicone. The base of post 22 is also provided with an annular cell
ingrowth patch 29. Annular cell ingrowth patch 29 extends from the joint
23 between post 22 and sphere 21 and forwardly portion of post 22. The
combination of annular cell ingrowth patches 28, 29 ensures that ocular
tissue will attach to both the anterior surface of the spherical portion
21 of ocular prosthesis 20, and the joint 23 between post 22 and spherical
portion 21 as well as a portion of post 22 adjacent joint 23.
Muscle attachment sites in the form of porous patches are provided as shown
in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8. In the superior or top view of FIG. 6, superior
rectus attachment site 30 and superior oblique attachment site 31 are
shown on the upper surface of the ocular prosthesis 20. Also shown in FIG.
6 are portions of medial rectus patch 32 and lateral rectus patch 33.
In the inferior or bottom view of prosthesis 20 as shown in FIG. 7, medial
rectus patch 32 and lateral rectus patch 33 are partially shown, i.e., the
remainder of the patch 32 and 33 respectively which are not seen in FIG.
6. Thus, the patches 32, 33 could be rectangularly shaped as with regard
to the superior rectus patch 30.
Also shown in the inferior or bottom view of FIG. 7 are inferior rectus
patch 34 and inferior oblique patch 35. Each of the patches 30-35 thus
defines muscle attachment sites on the outer surface 36 of spherical
portion 21. This outer surface 36 is preferably a surface that discourages
muscle attachment. In this fashion, the ocular muscle tissue will only
attach at a desired site rather than at locations all over the outer
surface 36 of spherical portion 21. In this fashion, the attachments of
particular ocular muscles to particular locations is controlled with
porous tissue ingrowth sites.
In the preferred embodiment, the implant spherical portion 21 is preferably
polymeric. The spherical implant portion 21 can be, for example, of a
silicone polymer material or like synthetic polymer material.
In the preferred embodiment, the annular cell ingrowth areas 28, 29 and the
muscle attachment sites 30-35 are of a porous or micropillared polymeric
material such as, for example, porous silicone and having a pore size of
at least 20 microns. If a micropillared polymer is used, such a polymer
patch would have a cubic array of micropillars of at least 20 microns. The
muscle attachment surfaces can be polyurethane, polyester,
polytetrafluoroethylene. The muscle attachment surfaces can be woven or
expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.
The orbital implant 20 as aforedescribed affords improved mobility and
decreases the likelihood of implant extrusion and the "dropped socket"
appearance. During use, the shaft 22 portion protrudes anteriorly from the
spherical implant portion 21 through the conjunctival sheath into the
front orbital space 13. The shaft 22 communicates the muscular movement of
the spherical implant portion 21 directly to the conformer 24. Since the
conformer 24 sits on the shaft 22, its weight is more evenly distributed
throughout the orbital socket and thus should not distend the patient's
eyelids. The cellular ingrowth areas 28, 29 cause a close apposition of
the tissues to the implant that prohibits implant migration and extrusion.
During surgical implantation, the conjunctiva 11 is incised away from the
patient's diseased natural eyeball 10 a full 360.degree.. The conjunctiva
11 and Tenon's capsule 15 are dissected completely away from the globe 10.
The extra ocular muscles are disinserted at the point of their insertion
on the sclera. The optic nerve is severed and the ocular globe 10 removed.
Once bleeding is controlled, the implant spherical portion 21 is inserted
into the cone formed by the ocular muscles. All of the ocular muscles are
then attached to the biocompatible muscle attachment sites 30, 35 and
corresponding to their correct anatomical positions using non-absorbable
suture. The position of the implant 20 is then checked with the patient's
other eye. The muscles can be repositioned upon the pads in any desired
direction in order to correct for any error. The Tenon's capsule 16 and
conjunctiva 11 are closed up around the shaft 22 and sutured with
resorbable suture to the cellular ingrowth areas 28, 29 around the base of
the shaft and on the shaft itself respectively. The orbit is allowed to
heal before a cosmetic conformer 24 is fitted. The mold of the
pre-conjunctival space is taken to ensure fit of the cosmetic conformer
onto the shaft 22. Any time post operatively, the conjunctiva 11 may be
opened and the muscles repositioned on the patches if the implant
spherical portion 21 becomes skewed or out of alignment with the patient's
other eye.
The following table lists the part numbers and part descriptions as used
herein and in the drawings attached hereto.
TABLE 1
______________________________________
TS LIST
Part Number Part Description
______________________________________
10 globe
11 conjunctiva
12 sulcus
13 orbital space
14 orbital bone
15 Tenon's capsule
16 Tenon's
17 conformer
18 ocular implant
19 suture
20 ocular prosthesis
21 sphere
22 post
23 joint
24 conformer
25 socket
26 magnet
27 magnet
28 annular cell ingrowth patch
29 annular cell ingrowth patch
30 superior rectus attachment site
31 superior oblique attachment site
32 medial rectus attachment site
33 lateral rectus attachment site
34 inferior rectus attachment site
35 inferior oblique attachment site
36 outer surface
______________________________________
Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope
of the inventive concept herein taught, and because many modifications may
be made in the embodiments herein detailed in accordance with the
descriptive requirement of the law, it is to be understood that the
details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting
sense. | 0A
| 61 | F |
It is known to use hydrodynamic needling alone to produce a compacted
endless fleece product. The fleece web coming from a fleece-laying machine
such as a card or together with a cross-layer is subjected immediately
thereafter to needling water jets to compact the fleece product. Then the
wet fleece must be dried. The idea of the invention is to process a
nonwoven by this method, said nonwoven consisting at least partially of
PVA fibers. Initially it would appear impossible to use this water
needling method alone as a compaction method for such a chemical fiber,
since the fibers come in contact with water for a prolonged period of time
during needling and therefore there is a risk of their dissolving. This
danger exists, if not during needling itself, then at least during the
drying of the wet fleece product immediately afterward, since drying is
not possible without heat.
It has now been found according to the invention that it is nevertheless
possible with several special parameters to compact a fleece product made
of these fibers using the hydrodynamic method. Thus for example it is
advantageous if the previously moistened nonwoven is subjected once on
both sides to the water jets and by several water jets in sequence in each
case with the energy of the jets of the next nozzle beam always being
higher, for example from 50 bar to 120 bar on the first side and from 120
bar to 160 bar on the second side. The last needling on each side should
be performed at about 80 bar and performed with a larger number of water
jets distributed across the width of the nonwoven in order to produce a
uniformly smooth surface. Under these conditions, a fleece weight of 40 to
150 g/m.sup.2 can be compacted. The transport speed of the nonwoven during
compaction is 70 m/min or more. The fleece-processing rate depends only on
the possible fleece-laying rate. The production rate is adjusted to the
respective fleece weight, but it is always lower at higher weights.
It is important how the drying parameters are defined. Initially the
needled fleece must be dewatered mechanically before it is dried, by
squeezing or by suction for example, in order to achieve a level of
moisture that is not more than 100%. Then the fleece must be dried by
drying air which is not heated to a temperature greater than 120.degree.
C. It is especially advantageous for the drying and the ventilation to be
performed at the same time, in this case on a rotating screen drum with
internal suction, and to increase the air speed in the fleece by a high
fan rpm, up to 4 m/second. Various tests have shown that with this method
there is no damage to the PVA fibers. Both during drying and also during
the hot final processing that follows, there were no visible disadvantages
like the brown spots that usually occur otherwise. Basically, drying is
also possible using a belt dryer, with ventilation also being produced, or
with an IR dryer, etc.
If the fleece is also to be given impregnation such as foam or liquid
impregnation that makes it water-repellent, it is advantageous to perform
this step after a first drying down to 30% moisture content unless
impregnation takes place wet-in-wet. Then after the first drying, the
second drying stage should be performed exactly like the first at a
temperature of up to 120.degree. C. and the fleece dried completely. It is
also possible to perform impregnation only after drying for example down
to 5% moisture content. Following complete drying of the needled fleece,
it is no problem to crosslink the fleece at temperatures up to 210.degree.
C.
It is known that a fleece made of these PVA fibers can be provided with an
additional layer of pulp or paper in order to increase the water-repellent
property of the nonwoven. Foam impregnation, liquid impregnation, and also
advantageously in the method according to the invention, application of a
layer of this kind in pulp form or as tissue paper, can be used, and then
bonding the layer to the needled fleece, with said layer being laid down
on the fleece prior to the second needling for needling on the back side
simultaneously with the fleece, said layer being bonded with the fleece
during the needling that then takes place.
The method according to the invention produces a novel product. The subject
of the application also extends to a fleece product made of PVA fibers
that is compacted by water needling on both sides for example and finally
is dried as well. | 3D
| 04 | H |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described below and illustrated in the attached Figures. The embodiments described are only for purposes of illustrating the present invention and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention, which, of course, is limited only by the claims below. Other embodiments of the invention, and certain modifications and improvements of the described embodiments, will occur to those skilled in the art, and all such alternate embodiments, modifications and improvements are within the scope of the present invention.
Definitions:
“Bursting Strength” refers to the force required in pounds to rupture a fabric when performed in accordance with a standard test method for the particular fabric construction.
“Dimensional Stability” refers to the ability of a textile material to maintain, or return to, its original geometric configuration.
“High Cotton Content” refers to fabric having a cotton content, by weight, of greater than about 50 percent.
“Hydroenhancement” refers to a process whereby woven or knitted fabrics are subjected to dynamic fluid jets to achieve certain physical properties.
“Hydroentanglement” refers to the process for forming a fabric by mechanically wrapping wrapping and knotting fibers in a web, typically non-woven, through the use of high velocity, high pressure jets or columns of water.
“Pilling” refers to the tendency of fibers in a textile to work loose from a fabric surface and form balls or matts of fiber that remain attached to the surface of the fabric.
“Residual Shrinkage” refers to the amount of shrinkage in the length and width directions, expressed in percent, which the finished fabric and/or article of apparel may still undergo when subjected to home laundering by the consumer and/or end user.
“Torque” in a tubular knitted fabric refers to the tendency of a fabric to skew or twist as a result of shifting of the courses and wales.
Hydroentanglement and hydroenhancement are generally known in the art. Hydroentanglement conventionally has been used non-woven fabrics where one or more layers or batts of loose fibers have been subjected to fluid jets to intermingle and permanently interlock the fibers into a more composite mass. Hydroenhancement, on the other hand, has typically been employed to create certain surface effects or patterns on the surfaces of single-ply fabrics.
The present invention is directed to a method for hydrodynamically treating tubular, or other multi-ply knitted fabric. More specifically, the method produces a tubular knitted fabric that is conditioned by hydrodynamic treatment without permanently entangling or permanently interlocking the knitted fabric layers together, while creating a knitted fabric having a low level of residual shrinkage. As defined above, residual shrinkage refers to the amount of shrinkage which a fabric or apparel will still undergo after being subjected to repeated home launderings. The lower the level of residual shrinkage, the more desirable is the finished fabric, or apparel formed therefrom. Additionally, the pressure of the jet nozzles does not skew or spiral the fabric. Further, the surface of the fabric is aesthetically pleasing, having a level and relatively smooth surface and a soft hand.
Turning now toFIG. 1, the one embodiment of the process of the present invention is illustrated in a flow diagram. The process begins with the formation of a tubular knitted fabric (Step110). In the embodiments described herein, the tubular knitted fabrics have a high cotton content. In one embodiment, the tubular knitted fabric comprises 100 percent open end spun cotton that is circular knitted; however, the present invention is not limited to yarns formed by any particular method. As is known in the art, circular knitting involves the production of fabric on a circular knitting machine to form a tube, with the yarns forming the tube running continuously around the fabric. The initially knitted, but untreated tubular knitted fabric is referred to as “greige,” or unbleached fabric.
Following formation of the tubular knitted fabric, rolls of the greige fabric are readied for hydrodynamic treatment. Referring also toFIG. 2, the hydrodynamic treatment (Step120) of the present process is shown in detail. Hydrodynamic treatment, or hydrotreatment, uses a mechanical action via fine, high-velocity fluid jets that are directed against the flat surfaces of a fabric. Conventionally, however, where multiple layers or loosely formed batts are involved, this treatment has the effect of permanently entangling the layers or batts into a single composite structure.FIG. 2is exemplary of one commercially available entangling machine. In particular, the machine employed in the current process is a Fleeissner, two-stage belt and drum entangler having five jet manifolds. While a Fleeissner entangler has been described herein, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other entanglers with similar operating capabilities may also be used to accomplish the method described herein. The machine may comprise a straightener/feeder121which typically aligns and feeds fabric to the downstream fluid treatment. The inventors were able to use the same straightener/feeder121to feed a tubular knitted fabric. A support member, or conveyor belt122, is provided to traverse the tubular fabric via a series of spaced rollers123beneath the first series of three jet manifolds125. The belt122used in the present process is a 103 Mesh PET type belt available from Albany International of Albany, N.Y. A jet strip available from Gozz Beckert of Germany is used in conjunction with the belt. The parallel spaced manifolds125each comprise high velocity jet nozzles (not shown), usually arranged in multiple rows, wherein the jets are each between about 0.005 and 0.007 inches in diameter and arranged at a density of between about 30 and 60 jets per square inch. The downstream manifolds127are similarly configured.
The manifolds125,127on the Fleeissner entangler are variably controllable for hydrodynamic jet pressures of between about 25 bar and 250 bar; however, the entangler is typically operated at the higher end of the pressure range for at least two reasons: (1) entanglers are conventionally designed for forming non-woven constructions of interlocked loose fibers, and (2) higher pressures conventionally are believed necessary to obtain maximum entanglement and optimal surface effects. The machine and belt122can operate at feed-through rates of up to about 350 meters per minute. As will be discussed in greater detail below, a range of speed and pressure combinations have been found to provide acceptable results in the method described and claimed herein.
After passing beneath the first series of jet manifolds125, the fabric advances around a cylindrical drum126wherein the opposite, or bottom, side of the tubular knitted fabric is subjected to similar hydrodynamic treatment. The drum126also comprises spaced fluid-permeable openings (not shown) that are configured like a mesh screen. While the number and arrangement of manifolds127may vary, the Fleeissner two-stage entangler comprises a series of two jet manifolds127.
Upon exiting the second series of jet manifolds127, the hydrodynamically treated fabric is next fed through a conventional dryer where excess moisture in the fabric is substantially removed. As will be described in greater detail below, the hydrodynamically treated fabric has physical properties that are substantially different from the griege fabric. For example, the hydrodynamic treatment has the effect of increasing the dyeable surface areas of the yarns such that dye uptake coverage is increased. Also, it is anticipated that the required dwell, or cycle, time in a conventional dye bath or bleach bath will be reduced since the fabric will have been pre-cleaned by the hydrodynamic treatment. Further, the inventors have unexpectedly found that at manifold pressures at between about 25 bar and 40 bar, the two layers of the tubular knitted fabric are not permanently entangled; rather, the hydrodynamically treated fabric may be subsequently finished, without the need for any manipulation to separate the two layers. Thus, any minimal entanglement which may be created will be removed during the conventional subsequent processing.
Turning again toFIG. 1, the hydrodynamically treated fabric is finished used conventional techniques known in the art. For instance, depending upon the desired application, the dried fabric may be dyed and/or bleached. As is also conventional in the art, griege fabric is batched for bleaching or dyeing. Where the treated fabric is 100 percent cotton or a derivative thereof, the knitted fabric is immersed in a dye bath (Step130) and dyed with reactive type dyestuffs. After dyeing, the fabric is padded (Step140) to remove excess dyestuff. If other fiber types are included, separate dye baths may be required. For the exemplary data shown inFIG. 4, all of the tested fabric was bleached, and not dyed.
The dyed and padded fabric is next dried (Step150) in a conventional manner at belt speeds and temperatures well known in the art. As also described in greater detail below, the dyeing or bleaching, and drying steps further enhance the desired properties of the hydrodynamically treated fabric. Following the drying step, the tubular knitted fabric is subjected to a conventional calendering operation (Step160), which further conditions and compacts the fabric, while improving the hand of the fabric.
Referring now toFIG. 3, the effects of the hydrodynamic treatment of the tubular knitted fabric and subsequent finishing are graphically illustrated. As shown inFIG. 3A, illustrative yarns312in two layers of the greige fabric show minimal signs of fiber breakage, or barbing, which tends to create hooks extending from the yarn surfaces. Further, and as shown in the Figure, gaps X, Y, which represent the overlap of the two loops in a knitted course, are present between the loops of each yarn312in the top A and bottom B layers of the fabric, respectively. As an example of the process of the present invention, prior to hydrodynamic treatment, the gaps X, Y, as would normally be expected, might be about ⅛ inches; however, this is exemplary of one of many possible dimensions depending upon the various knitting parameters as well as the yarn sizes, etc. The fabric has an initial weight basis of 2.15 ounces per square yard.
Referring toFIG. 3B, the effects of the hydrodynamic treatment are illustrated. Whereas conventional hydrodynamic treatment has the effect of permanently entangling the fibers of overlying layers, the inventors have found that at sufficiently low hydrodynamic pressures, the fibers comprising the yarns tend to fracture, creating a plurality of barbs312aover their entire surface areas, yet do not interlock the discrete layers A and B in any appreciable, measurable fashion. As shown inFIG. 3B, at pressures between about 25 bar and 40 bar (absolute), the barbs312aof yarns312tend to interlock the individual knitted loops of the fabric together. Further, following the hydrodynamic treatment process of the current invention, the gaps X, Y are reduced through both the compacting action of the hydrodynamic treatment and the interlocking of the barbs312ato between approximately ⅙ inches (top layer A) and approximately 1/16 inches (bottom layer B). The creation and initial interlocking of the barbs facilitates the reduction in the size of the gaps X, Y during the subsequent processing, as described below. The weight basis of the fabric has also increased to between 4.23 and 4.51 ounces per square yard.
Turning toFIG. 3C, following the dyeing and bleaching step (Step130), and padding of the dyed or bleached fabric (Step140), the average gap X, Y for the top A and bottom B layers of the knitted fabric is further reduced to between approximately ⅛ inches and 1/16 inches, respectively. Subsequent drying of the dyed or bleached fabric (Step150), the gap X, Y is further reduced through drying action to between approximately 1/32 inches, respectively, for the top A and bottom B layers. The weight basis of the fabric remains between 4.06 and 4.44 ounces per square yard.
Finally, and referring toFIG. 3D, following calendaring, the gaps X, Y are further reduced to between about 0.0 inches and less than 1/32 inches for the top A and bottom B layers, respectively. In effect, then, the combined processes of the hydrodynamic treatment, dyeing/bleaching, drying, and calendaring causes the tubular knitted fabric gaps to close, unexpectedly yielding a substantially more dimensionally stable tubular knitted fabric than has been heretofore produced.
Turning lastly toFIG. 4, detailed numerical measurements of the results for various pressures and line speed combinations of the current process are shown.FIG. 4comprises three separate data sections: Untreated Fabric (Greige), Hydrodynamically Treated Fabric, and Bleached and/or Dyed Fabric. By way of example, the Untreated Fabric comprises measured data for a 100 percent tubular knitted jersey fabric comprising, a 28/1 yarn and having an initial width (comprising two overlying layers) of 23.625 inches and a weight basis of 2.15 ounces per square yard. The weight basis is measured in accordance with Standard ASTM D-3776-96, “Standard Test Method for Mass Per Unit Area (Weight) of Fabric. As shown in the table, for one embodiment the initially formed greige fabric had a residual shrinkage after five home launderings of 15.2 percent in the length dimension and 12.3 percent in the width dimension, when laundered and measured in accordance with AATCC Test Method 135-1995, “Dimensional Changes in Automatic Home Laundering of Woven and Knit Fabrics.” Dimensional changes in the length and width are expressed as a percentage of the initial dimension of the specimen. As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, the greater the dimensional changes that result from home laundering, the less desirable and/or less predictable is the fabric, or apparel made therefrom, to the ultimate consumer. For tubular knitted fabric applications, maximum dimensional change, or shrinkage, of 5 percent or less in both the length and width directions is considered desirable.
As shown for the Hydrodynamically Treated Fabric inFIG. 4, various combinations of jet manifold pressures and line speeds were tested and measured. As will be understood, minor variations in handling of the fabric following hydrodynamic treatment, or hydrodynamic treatment followed by bleaching and/or dyeing, in combination with errors in measurements, result is minor variations in test results for similarly processed specimens. At one end of the spectrum of pressure/speed combinations, for example, a specimen was hydrodynamically treated at a pressure of 40 bar and a line speed of 120 meters per minute. The residual shrinkage was reduced by the hydrodynamic treatment to about 14 percent in the length dimension and 3.6 percent in the width dimension after five home launderings. This is approximately an 8 percent reduction in residual shrinkage in the length dimension and a 63 percent reduction in the width dimension. The weight basis of the treated fabric also increased about 97 percent to 4.23 ounces per square yard. When further subjected to bleaching/dyeing, drying, and calendaring, the residual shrinkage for the same specimen was further reduced in the width dimension to about 6.5 percent in the length dimension and increased to about 6 percent in the width dimension. The weight basis decreased slight to 4.06 ounces per square yard. The increase in the width dimension and slight decrease in the weight basis are the result of the mechanical action of the calendaring process.
At the opposite end of the pressure/speed spectrum, a specimen of the same fabric construction was treated at a pressure of 25 bar and a line speed of 30 meters per minute. The residual shrinkage was reduced by the hydrodynamic treatment to about 10.8 percent in the length dimension and 7 percent in the width dimension. This is approximately a 29 percent reduction in residual shrinkage in the length dimension and a 43 percent reduction in the width dimension. The weight basis increased to 4.25 ounces per square yard. When further subjected to bleaching/dyeing, drying, and calendaring, the residual shrinkage for the same specimen was further reduced to about 4.7 percent in the length dimension and decreased to 5.9 percent in the width dimension. The weight basis remained unchanged.
As shown inFIG. 4, at higher jet manifold pressures, higher line speeds may be used to obtain acceptable results. Conversely, at lower jet manifold pressures, lower line speeds are necessary to achieve similar results. Thus, any number of combinations of speeds of 120 meters per minute and pressures of between about 25 bar and 40 bar would provide results consistent with those described herein.
Additionally, as shown inFIG. 4, the bursting strength of the tested greige fabric is 77.5 pounds as measured in accordance with Standard ASTM D 3787-01, Standard Test Method for Bursting Strength of Textiles—Constant-Rate-of-Traverse (CRT) Ball Burst Test. After subjecting the knitted fabric to the hydrodynamic treatment described herein, the fabric had a bursting strength between about 77 and 80, with an average bursting strength of about 78. Thus, the bursting strength of the hydrodynamically treated fabric is relatively unchanged, demonstrating that the hydrodynamic treatment does not degrade or weaken the fabric.
Referring again toFIG. 4, the initial greige fabric has a measured resistance to pilling of 4/4 (front/back) after a first cycle and 3/3 after a second cycle when measured in accordance with Standard ASTM D 3512, Standard Test Method for Pilling Resistance and Other Related Surface Changes of Textile Fabrics: Random Tumble Pilling Tester. After subjecting the knitted fabric to the hydrodynamic treatment described herein, the measured resistance to pilling remains unchanged for the various combinations of pressure and line speed. Thus the hydrodynamically treated fabric is not more susceptible to pilling, and would not have a higher pill rate, as a result of the treatment, even though the hydrodynamic treatment has the effect of creating barbs, or hooks, on the surfaces of the yarns forming the fabric. Further, and as shown inFIG. 4, subsequent bleaching or dyeing of the hydrodynamically treated fabric does not decrease the resistance of the dyed or bleached fabric to pilling.
Lastly, garments (T-shirts) formed from the tubular knitted fabric were subjected to repeated laundering up to five home laundering cycles in accordance with AATCC Test Method 135. The following measured residual shrinkage values were obtained:
25 bar30 bar35 bar30 m/min30 m/min100 m/min1 WashLength3.3%3.45%5%Width5.3%5.1%5.9%3 WashingsLength5.8%4.25%5.8%Width5.3%5.1%5.9%5 WashingsLength6.7%5.3%7.5%Width5.3%5.1%5.9%
These results illustrate that garments formed from tubular knitted fabric that is treated and finished in accordance with the method described herein exhibit relatively low levels of residual shrinkage, a desired characteristic of finished retail apparel.
Although the present invention has been described with preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be utilized without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. It should also be understood that terms used herein should be given their ordinary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art, unless specifically defined or limited in the application itself or in the ensuing prosecution with the Patent Office.
| 3D
| 04 | H |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 4A is a section view of a wellbore 205 with an apparatus 200 of the present invention disposed therein on a run-in string of tubulars 225 having a reduced diameter portion 226 . The wellbore is typical of one drilled to access a hydrocarbon-bearing formation and the wellbore is lined with steel casing 210 . While the apparatus and wellbore disclosed and illustrated are for use with hydrocarbon wells like oil and gas wells, the methods and apparatus are useful in any wellbore, even those not lined with casing. The apparatus 200 includes an expandable sand screen 220 coaxially disposed around the reduced diameter portion 226 of the run-in string. The expandable sand screen utilized in the apparatus of the invention typically includes a perforated base pipe, a filtration medium disposed around the base pipe and an expandable protective shroud, all of which are expandable. At each end of the screen 220 is packer 230 , 235 . A perforating gun assembly 250 is temporarily attached at a lower end of the lower packer 235 and an expansion cone 240 is temporarily attached on a lower end of the run-in string 225 . The upper packer 230 is typically referred to as a production packer and includes an element to extend radially outward to contact the casing when the packer is remotely set. Packer 230 also includes a central bore to receive production string of tubulars and to seal the connection therewith. The upper packer 230 is typically set after the lower packer 235 and is set with pressure developed thereabove. The lower packer 235 is a dual grip, mechanically set packer which resists axial movement in both directions. The lower packer is typically set using rotation and weight to manipulate a slip assembly therearound.
The cone member 240 is temporarily connected at the bottom end of the run-in string 225 and includes a cone-shaped surface 242 sloped in the direction of the bottom end of the screen 220 . As illustrated in FIG. 4A , the cone member rests in a central bore of the lower packer. The purpose of the cone member 240 is to expand the inner and outer diameter of the expandable screen 220 as the cone is urged through the sand screen as will be described herein. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4A , the cone member is detachable from the run-in string after the expandable sand screen has been expanded. In one embodiment, a shearable connection between the cone member and the run-in string is caused to fail and the cone falls back to rest in the lower packer 235 .
The perforating gun assembly 250 is typical of tubing conveyed perforating assemblies that include shaped charges designed to penetrate steel casing and provide a fluid path between the formation and the wellbore. The assembly 250 includes a tubing release member (not shown) disposed between the gun and the run-in string. The operation of perforating gun assembly 250 is well known in the art and the assembly can be fired remotely either by electrical or physical methods. The tubing release is constructed and arranged to detach the perforating gun assembly from the run-in string as the gun fires and perforates the casing therearound. The gun assembly dislocates itself from the apparatus in order to avoid any interference with other components or any other perforated zones in the well.
FIGS. 4B-4H illustrate various steps involved in utilizing the apparatus 200 of the present invention in order to complete a well. FIG. 1B is a section view of the apparatus illustrating the lower packer 230 in a set position whereby axial movement of the apparatus 200 within the wellbore 205 is restricted. The lower packer 235 is mechanically set, typically by rotating the run-in string 225 and the apparatus 200 within the wellbore. In addition to fixing the apparatus 200 in the wellbore, the packer 235 is set in order to protect the upper portion of the apparatus from the discharging perforating gun assembly 250 therebelow. FIG. 4C is a section view of the apparatus 200 in the wellbore 205 illustrating the perforating gun assembly 250 having discharged to form a plurality of perforations 255 in the steel casing 250 and the formation therearound. Also illustrated in FIG. 4C is the detachable feature of the perforating gun assembly 250 whereby, after the assembly is discharged it is also mechanically disconnected from the apparatus 200 to fall from the lower packer 235 .
FIG. 4D is a section view of the apparatus 200 after the apparatus has been axially moved in the wellbore to place the newly formed perforations 255 between the upper 230 and lower 235 packers. In order to adjust the axial position of the apparatus 200 , the lower packer 235 is un-set after the perforations 255 are formed and the apparatus 200 and run-in string 225 is lowered in the wellbore to center the perforations 255 between the packers 230 , 235 . Thereafter, the lower packer 235 is re-set to again axially fix the apparatus in the wellbore 205 .
FIG. 4E is a section view showing the apparatus 200 in the wellbore with the expandable sand screen 220 being expanded to substantially the same outer diameter as the inner diameter of the wellbore casing 210 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4E , the run-in string 225 is pulled upwards in the wellbore and the cone member 240 is forced upward in the apparatus 200 while the expandable sand screen 220 is anchored in place by the lower packer 235 therebelow. In this manner, as the sloped surface 242 of the cone 240 moves upward through the apparatus 200 , the expandable sand screen 220 is expanded. In FIG. 4E the screen is shown as expanded to an inner diameter well past the outer diameter of the cone. The Figure intentionally exaggerates the relative expansion of the screen. However, use of the screen can be expanded to substantially eliminate the annular area between the screen 220 and the casing 210 .
FIG. 4F illustrates the apparatus 200 with the expandable sand screen 220 completely expanded along its length in the areas of the perforations 255 , thereby eliminating any annular area formed between the sand screen 220 and the wellbore casing 210 . After the expandable sand screen 220 is expanded, the upper packer 230 is hydraulically set. In one aspect, a ball 241 (visible in FIG. 4G ) is dropped through the run-in string and into a receiving seat in the cone member 240 after the screen 220 is completely expanded and the cone 240 is in the position shown in FIG. 3 F. Thereafter, with the fluid path through the upper packer 230 sealed, fluid pressure is increased to a predetermined level and the upper packer 230 is set. Thereafter, or simultaneously therewith, a shearing mechanism (not shown) between the cone member 240 and the run-in string 225 is caused to fail, permitting the cone member to fall down to the lower packer 235 where it is held therein. The shearing mechanism may be actuated with physical force by pulling the run-in string 225 upwards or simply by pressure. In one example, the upper packer is set with a pressure of 2,500 psi and the shearable connection between the packer and the cone fails at about 4,000 psi.
FIG. 4G is a section view of the wellbore 205 illustrating both packers 230 , 235 actuated with the expandable sand screen 220 expanded therebetween and the cone member 240 located in the center of the lower packer 235 . Finally, FIG. 4H illustrates another string of tubulars 260 having been attached to the upper packer 230 . The string of tubulars may serve as protection tubing forming a sealed arrangement with the center of the upper packer 230 .
FIG. 5A illustrates another embodiment of the invention illustrating an apparatus 300 on a string of tubulars 325 . In this embodiment, a cone member 340 is disposed on the run-in string at the upper end of a section of expandable sand screen 320 . A sloped surface 342 decreases the diameter of the cone member in the direction of the sand screen 320 , whereby the cone 340 is arranged to expand the expandable screen 320 in a top-down fashion. As with the apparatus described in FIGS. 4A-4H , the apparatus of FIG. 5A includes an upper, hydraulically set packer 230 , a lower, mechanically set packer 235 and a perforating gun assembly 250 disposed at a lower end of the lower packer 235 . The lower packer 235 can be set using rotation and thereafter, the perforating gun assembly 250 can be fired by remote means, thereby forming a plurality of perforations 255 around the casing 210 and into the formation therearound. The perforation gun assembly includes a release mechanism causing the assembly to drop from the apparatus after firing. Thereafter, the lower packer 235 is un-set and the apparatus 300 is moved axially in the wellbore 205 to center the newly formed perforations 255 between the upper and lower packers 230 , 235 . FIG. 5B illustrates the apparatus 300 in the wellbore 205 and specifically illustrates the expandable sand screen 220 partially expanded by the downward movement of the cone member 340 along the screen which is fixed in place by the bi-directional lower packer 235 which has been re-set. In this instance, as illustrated in FIG. 5C , the cone member 340 moves downward to completely expand the sand screen 220 in the area of the perforations 250 and thereafter, the cone member 240 , as illustrated in FIG. 5D latches into the lower packer 235 . After the screen is expanded, upper packer 230 is set hydraulically, typically with a source of fluid from the run-in string 225 which is placed in communication with the packer by the use of some selectively operable valving arrangement between the string and the packer. Thereafter, the run-in string may be removed by shearing the cone 340 from the string 225 and a string of production tubing (not shown) can be attached to the upper packer 230 and the well can be completed for production.
FIG. 6A is a section view illustrating another embodiment of the invention whereby an apparatus 400 includes the expander tool 100 as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 . As with foregoing embodiments, the apparatus 400 includes upper 230 and lower 235 packers with a section of expandable sand screen 420 disposed therebetween. The expander tool 100 is constructed and arranged to expand the expandable wellscreen through the use of roller members which are hydraulically actuated by fluid power provided in the tubular string 225 as discussed in connection with FIGS. 1-3 . A perforating gun assembly 250 is temporarily connected at a lower end of the bottom packer 235 . FIG. 6B illustrates the apparatus 400 with the lower packer 235 mechanically actuated in the wellbore 205 to fix the apparatus 400 therein. FIG. 6C illustrates the apparatus 400 after the perforating gun assembly 250 has been discharged to form perforations 255 through the wellbore casing 210 and into the formation. With its discharge, the gun assembly 250 has detached from the apparatus 400 to fall to the bottom of the wellbore 205 . Thereafter, the lower packer 235 is un-set and then re-set after the apparatus 400 is adjusted axially in the wellbore 210 to center the newly formed perforations 255 between the upper 230 and lower 235 packers as illustrated in FIG. 6 D.
FIG. 6E shows the apparatus 400 in the wellbore after the expanding tool 100 has been actuated by fluid power and the actuated expanding tool 100 is urged upward in the wellbore 205 thereby expanding the expandable sand screen 420 . Typically, the run-in string 425 bearing the expander tool 100 is pulled upwards and rotated as the rollers on the expander force the wall of the screen past its elastic limit. In this manner, substantially the entire length of the sand screen 420 can be expanded circumferentially. FIG. 6F is a section view of the wellbore 205 illustrating the sand screen 420 expanded in the area of the perforations 255 and the expanding tool 100 at the top of the sand screen 420 . At this point, the expanding tool 100 is de-actuated and the hydraulically actuated rollers thereon retreat into the housing of the tool, thereby permitting the tool 100 to be removed from the wellbore through the upper packer 230 as illustrated in FIG. 6 G. FIG. 6G also shows the upper packer 230 having been set hydraulically, typically by pressurized fluid in the run-in string passing into the packer 230 via a selectively operable valve member (not shown) and the alignment of apertures in the run-in string 425 and the packer 230 . Finally, FIG. 6H illustrates the apparatus 400 with the run-in string 225 and expanding tool 100 having been removed and production tubing 460 attached to the upper packer 230 and creating a seal therebetween.
While FIGS. 6A-6H illustrate the apparatus 400 with the expansion tool 100 arranged to increase the diameter of the expandable sand screen 420 in a bottom-up fashion, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the apparatus can also be used whereby the expansion tool 100 operates in a top-down fashion. Additionally, the expansion tool 100 can be run into the well on a string of coiled tubing with a mud motor disposed on the tubing adjacent the expansion tool in order to provide rotation thereto. As is well known in the art, mud motors operate with a flow of fluid and translate the flow into rotational force. Also, a fluid powered tractor can be used in the run-in string to urge the actuated expansion tool axially in the wellbore from a first to a second end of the expandable screen. Tractors, like the expansion tool 100 have a plurality of radially extendable members which can be actuated against the inner wall of a tubular around the tractor to impart axial movement to the tractor and other components mechanically attached thereto. The use of tractors is especially advantageous in a vertical with lateral wellbores. By properly sizing the body and extendable members of a tractor, the tractor can also provide axial movement in an area of a wellbore previously expanded.
FIG. 7A illustrates another embodiment of the invention showing an apparatus 500 disposed in a cased wellbore 205 . The apparatus includes a section of expandable sand screen 520 , upper and lower packers 230 , 235 , as well as a run-in string 525 with a cone member 242 disposed at a lower end thereof and a perforating gun assembly 250 with a temporary mechanical connection disposed on the lower packer 235 . Additionally, the apparatus 500 includes a cross-over tool 505 constructed and arranged to pass fluid from the inside of the tubular run-in string 525 to the annular area 510 created between the outside of the expandable sand screen 520 and the inside surface of the wellbore casing 210 . The cross-over tool 505 also provides a path for circulation of fluid back to the surface of the well. The cross-over tool 505 is illustrated between the upper 230 and lower 235 packers for clarity. Typically, however, the cross-over tool is integrally formed with the upper packer 230 . FIG. 7B is a section view of the apparatus 500 after the perforating gun assembly 250 has discharged and formed a plurality of perforations 255 through the wellbore casing and into the formation therearound. In FIG. 7B , the apparatus 500 has been axially re-positioned within the wellbore 205 whereby the newly formed perforations 255 are centered between the upper 230 and lower packers 235 which are set. In FIG. 7B , the perforating gun assembly 250 has fallen to the bottom of the wellbore and is not visible. FIG. 7C illustrates the apparatus 500 with arrows 501 added to depict the flow of fluid in an injection operation which is performed after the perforations 255 are formed in the casing 210 . Typically, chemicals or surfactants are injected through the run-in string 525 to exit and penetrate the formation via the perforations 255 between the upper 230 and lower 235 packers. As illustrated by arrows 501 , return fluid passes back up to the surface through the annular area 510 between the run-in string 525 and the casing 210 above the upper packer 230 .
FIG. 7D illustrates the apparatus 500 after the cone member 242 (not shown) has been urged upward, thereby expanding the expandable sand screen 520 in the area of the perforations 255 . In FIG. 7D , the cone member has been removed and the run-in string 525 has been replaced by a production string of tubulars 526 installed in a sealing relationship with an inner bore of upper packer 230 . In this manner, the wellbore is perforated, treated and the expandable sand screen 520 is expanded to substantially the diameter of the casing 210 in a single trip.
FIG. 8A illustrates another embodiment of the invention and includes a wellbore 205 having steel casing 210 therearound and an apparatus 600 disposed in the wellbore. The apparatus includes an upper 230 and lower 235 packer with a section of expandable wellscreen 620 disposed therebetween. The apparatus also includes a cone member 340 disposed at a lower end thereof and a perforating gun assembly 250 temporarily connected to a lower end of the lower packer 235 . As with the apparatus 500 of FIGS. 6A-6D , the upper packer 230 also operates as a cross-over tool 605 . In this embodiment, the cross-over tool is capable of passing a gravel containing slurry from the tubular run-in string 625 to an annular area 610 formed between the expandable sand screen 620 and the casing 210 . FIG. 8B illustrates the apparatus 600 in the wellbore after the perforating gun assembly 250 has been discharged to form a plurality of perforations 255 in the casing 210 and the formation therearound and after the apparatus 600 has been repositioned axially in the wellbore 205 to center the newly formed perforations 255 between the upper 230 and lower 235 packers. Also in FIG. 8B , the perforating gun assembly 250 has fallen away from the apparatus 600 . FIG. 8C illustrates sized gravel 621 having been disposed in the annulus 610 and in the perforations between the expandable sand screen 620 and the casing 210 . This type of gravel pack is well known to those skilled in the art and the gravel is typically injected in a slurry of fluid with the fluid thereafter being removed from the gravel through a return suction created in the run-in tubular 625 or the annulus between the run-in string and the wellbore. FIG. 8D is a section view of the apparatus 600 after the cone member 340 has been urged upwards to expand the expandable sand screen 620 which is fixed in the well by the lower, mechanical packer 235 . In FIG. 8D , the cone member 340 has been removed from the wellbore 205 and the run-in string 625 has been replaced by production tubing 626 which is installed in a sealing relationship with the inner bore of upper packer 230 . In this manner, the expandable sand screen 620 is used in conjunction with the gravel pack to complete a well after perforations have been formed. The entire aperture is performed in a single trip into the well. The method and apparatus can also be used to first chemically treat a well and then to perform the gravel pack prior to expanding the screen section.
As the forgoing illustrates, the invention permits various wellbore activities related to the completion to be completed in a single trip.
While the foregoing is directed to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.
| 4E
| 21 | B |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of a bidet attachment
according to the present invention is shown to comprise a looped bidet
housing 4 that is adapted to be installed on an upper horizontal rim
surface of a toilet bowl 3, such as with the use of bolts (not shown). The
bidet housing 4 confines an opening 40 for access into the toilet bowl 3,
and includes a base plate 41 to be mounted on the upper horizontal rim
surface of the toilet bowl 3, and a top cover 42 mounted on the base plate
41 and adapted for seating of a person thereon.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the base plate 41 has a bottom side formed with
a pipe recess 410, and an access hole 412 for access into the pipe recess
410. A curved heating element 5 is disposed inside the bidet housing 4 on
top of the base plate 41, and extends around a major part of the opening
40. The heating element 5 has two terminating end portions 51 mounted on
the base plate 41 by means of hollow first and second water coupling units
52, 53, respectively.
As shown in FIG. 2, a water supply valve 7 is mounted on the base plate 41
inside the bidet housing 4, and has an input side connected to an external
cold water supply line (not shown), and an output side with a water inlet
pipe 523 connected thereto. The supply valve 7 can be actuated
electrically to permit the flow of cold water to the water inlet pipe 523.
Referring to FIGS. 2, 3a and 3b, a flexible water tube 6 is sheathed on the
heating element 5, and confines a water passage 61 therewith. The first
water coupling unit 52 is in the form of a hollow box, and has a tubular
water port 521 and a tubular coupling port 522. The tubular water port 521
is connected to the water inlet pipe 523. One of the terminating end
portions 51 of the heating element 5 extends into the first water coupling
unit 52 via the tubular coupling port 522, and extends fittingly and
sealingly through the first water coupling unit 52 via a hole 524 in the
latter. One end of the flexible water tube 6 is sleeved fittingly and
sealingly on the tubular coupling port 522. The tubular coupling port 522
is wider than the cross-sectional size of the heating element 5 so that
water entering into the first water coupling unit 52 via the tubular water
port 521 can flow into the water passage 61 via the tubular coupling port
522. The first water coupling unit 52 further has an inlet temperature
sensor 54 mounted thereon to detect the water temperature therein.
The second water coupling unit 53 is also in the form of a hollow box, and
has a tubular water port 531 and a tubular coupling port 532. The other
terminating end portion 51 of the heating element 5 extends into the
second water coupling unit 53 via the tubular coupling port 532. The other
end of the flexible water tube 6 is sleeved fittingly and sealingly on the
tubular coupling port 532. As with the tubular coupling port 522, the
tubular coupling port 532 is wider than the cross-sectional size of the
heating element 5 so that water exiting the water passage 61 can flow into
the second water coupling unit 53 via the tubular coupling port 532. The
second water coupling unit 53 further has an outlet temperature sensor 55
mounted thereon to detect the water temperature therein.
A nozzle assembly 8 includes a water outlet pipe 533 disposed in the bidet
housing 4 and connected to the tubular water port 531 of the second water
coupling unit 53, and a curved spray pipe 81 disposed below the base plate
41. The spray pipe 81 has an inlet end that extends into the bidet housing
4 via the access hole 412 in the base plate 41 and that is coupled to the
water outlet pipe 533 such that the spray pipe 81 is rotatable relative to
the water outlet pipe 533 about a horizontal axis in a conventional
manner. The spray pipe 81 further has an outlet end provided with a spray
nozzle 82. The nozzle assembly 8 is movable between a retracted position,
where the spray pipe 81 is received in the pipe recess 410 and is adjacent
to the upper horizontal rim surface of the toilet bowl 3, as shown in FIG.
2, and an extended position generally transverse to the retracted
position, where the spray pipe 81 extends away from the bottom side of the
base plate 40 so as to extend into the toilet bowl 3, as shown in FIG. 1.
In the extended position, the nozzle assembly 8 is capable of directing a
stream of cleansing water, via the spray nozzle 82, against the underside
of the user who is seated on the top cover 42, thereby cleansing the
genital and anal skin areas on the underside of the user as is known in
the art.
In the preferred embodiment, there are two extended positions, e.g. forward
extended and rearward extended, for the nozzle assembly 8. In the forward
extended position, the stream of cleansing water from the nozzle assembly
8 can be used to clean the vaginal skin area of a female user, whereas in
the rearward extended position, the stream of cleansing water from the
nozzle assembly 8 can be used to clean the anal skin area of the user.
A drive unit 9 includes a motor 90 mounted on the base plate 40, and a
transmission unit 91 for coupling the motor 90 with the inlet end of the
spray pipe 81 to permit automated movement of the nozzle assembly 8
between the retracted and extended positions. In this embodiment, the
transmission unit 91 is a known crank mechanism capable of transmitting
rotation of one component to another component. Since the feature of the
present invention does not reside in the specific configuration of the
known transmission unit 91, a detailed description of the same will be
omitted herein.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, a controller 10 is mounted on the base plate
40, and includes a power supplying unit 11 and a processor-based control
unit 12. As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 12 is connected to the power
supplying unit 11, the heating element 5, the water supply valve 7, the
inlet and outlet temperature sensors 54, 55, and the motor 90, and is
operable to actuate the heating element 5, the water supply valve 7 and
the motor 90. The controller 10 further includes a remote control receiver
circuit 13 connected to the control unit 12. The bidet attachment further
includes a portable remote control device 2 for remote control operation
of the control unit 12. By operating the remote control device 2, the
water spraying operation, the seat warming operation, the nozzle position,
and the water temperature can be controlled as desired.
In use, the user operates the remote control device 2 to inform the control
unit 12 of the selected extended position, e.g. forward extended or
rearward extended, for the nozzle assembly 8. Initially, the control unit
12 actuates the water supply valve 7 so that water can flow through the
water passage 61. The control unit 12 then actuates the heating element 5
to heat the water flowing through the water passage 61. Upon detecting the
temperature of the water flowing through the first and second water
coupling units 52, 53, the control unit 12 calculates the required
electrical power for the heating element 5 to attain the desired water
temperature at the nozzle assembly 8, the desired water temperature being
preset beforehand with the use of the remote control device 2. The control
unit 12 disables the water supply valve 7, and adjusts the electrical
power to the heating element 5 to the calculated level. After actuating
the motor 90 to move the nozzle assembly 8 to the selected extended
position, the control unit 12 actuates the water supply valve 7 so that a
stream of cleansing water can be directed against the underside of the
user who is seated on the top cover 42 for cleansing purposes. At this
time, the control unit 12 monitors the water temperature at the first and
second water coupling units 52, 53 continuously so that the electrical
power supplied to the heating element 5 can be adjusted continuously to
maintain the desired water temperature at the nozzle assembly 8.
When the remote control device 2 is operated to terminate the cleansing
operation, the control unit 12 disables the water supply valve 7, and
actuates the motor 90 to move the nozzle assembly 8 back to the retracted
position. Once the nozzle assembly 8 has been retracted, the water supply
valve 7 is preferably operated for a short period of time to rinse the rim
of the toilet bowl 3.
By operating the remote control device 2, the user can set the control unit
12 to operate in a seat warming mode, where electrical power is supplied
continuously to the heating element 5 to maintain the top cover 42 at a
desired warm temperature, such as from 34 to 36 degrees Celsius.
It has thus been shown that the heating element 5 of the bidet attachment
of this invention can be actuated for warming up the bidet housing 4 and
for heating the water that flows through the water passage 61 from the
water supply valve 7 and that flows out of the nozzle assembly 8. In
addition, the remote control device 2 facilitates automatic control of the
water supplying, seat warming and water heating operations. The objects of
the present invention are thus met.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is
considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood
that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is
intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and
scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such
modifications and equivalent arrangements. | 4E
| 03 | D |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular toFIGS. 1 through 5thereof, a new dressing device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral10will be described.
As best illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 5, the pillow dressing system10generally comprises a pillow case12that has an open end14and a pillow16that is selectively positioned within the pillow case12. The pillow case12may be a pillow case12of any conventional design and the pillow16may be a pillow16of any conventional design. Moreover, each of the pillow case12and the pillow16may be positioned on a bed or the like for sleeping.
A panel18is provided and the panel18is selectively manipulated. The pillow16is selectively positioned on the panel18and the panel18is selectively urged into the open end14of the pillow case12. In this way the pillow16is positioned within the pillow case12. The panel18is comprised of a resiliently flexible material. Moreover, the panel18inhibits the pillow case12from deforming the pillow16when the pillow16is inserted into the pillow case12. In this way the panel18enhances positioning the pillow16in the pillow case12. The panel18is removed from the pillow case12when the pillow16is positioned within the pillow case12.
The panel18has a first surface20, a second surface22and a peripheral edge24extending therebetween. The peripheral edge24has a first lateral side26, a second lateral side28, a front side30and a back side32. The panel18has a first curl34extending between the front side30and the back side32and the first curl34is spaced from the first lateral side26. In this way the first lateral side26is directed downwardly toward the first surface20. The panel18has a second curl38extending between the front side30and the back side32and the second curl38is spaced from the second lateral side28. In this way the second lateral side28is directed downwardly toward the first surface20. The pillow16is selectively positioned on the first surface20such that each of the first curl34and the second curl38inhibits the pillow16from sliding laterally off of the panel18.
A first opening40extends through the first surface20and the second surface22of the panel18to define a first handle42and the first handle42is selectively gripped. The first handle42is positioned closer to the front side30than the back side32. A second opening46extends through the second surface22and the second surface22of the panel18to define a second handle48and the second handle48is selectively gripped. The second handle48is positioned closer to the back side32than the front side30.
In use, the pillow16is positioned on the top surface of the panel18. The panel18is manipulated to urge a selected one of the front side30and the back side32of the panel18into the open end14of the pillow case12. Moreover, the panel18is fully inserted into the pillow case12thereby facilitating the pillow16to be fully inserted into the pillow case12. Each of the first curl34and the second curl38engage opposite sides of the pillow case12when the panel18is inserted into the pillow case12. In this way the pillow case12is inhibited from deforming the pillow16when the pillow16is inserted into the pillow case12. The panel18is urged outwardly from the pillow case12and the pillow16is gripped to retain the pillow16in the pillow case12.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, system and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
| 0A
| 47 | G |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to the drawings, and firstFIG. 1, a system according to the present invention is designated generally by the numeral101. System101includes a call manager103. Call manager103is programmed according to the present invention to direct calls. Call manager103is coupled to a public switched telephone network (PSTN)105. Call manager13may also be coupled to an Internet protocol (IP) network, such as the Internet,107through a voice over IP (VoIP) gateway109. Call manager103is also coupled to a voicemail system111.
System101also includes an e-mail/calendar server113and an instant message server115. E-mail/calendar server113and instant message server115are coupled to call manager103through a network117.
System101includes a plurality of the sets of user devices119. A set119may include a personal computer121, a telephone123, and a mobile phone125. Personal computer121may be a desktop workstation, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or the like. Each personal computer121is coupled to network117. Telephones123and mobile phones125are coupled to call manager103. Those skilled in the art will recognize that wireless telephone infrastructure is omitted fromFIG. 1for purposes of simplicity of illustration.
As will be explained in detail hereinafter, when call manager103receives a call, either from outside system101from PSTN105or IP network107, and within system101from a telephone123or mobile phone125, call manager103may access e-mail/calendar server113and/or instant message server115to determine how to handle the call. In embodiments of the present invention, call filtering information may be stored in e-mail/calendar server113and/or instant message server115. E-mail/calendar server113contains electronic calendar and address book information for users of system101.
Referring toFIG. 2, there is illustrated a calendar entry201for a user of system101. Calendar entry201includes a date field, a time field205, an event field207, a subject field209, and a list of invitees211. calendar entry201thus identifies a meeting scheduled for Jul. 7, 2007, from 12:30 to 13:30. The subject of the meeting is ABC, Inc. The invitees to the meeting are Evans, E., Finn, F., as and Stevens, S.
Referring toFIG. 3, there is illustrated a prescient of an address book for a user, designated by the numeral301. Address book301includes fields that identify contacts and contact information. In address book301there is a name field303, an office phone field305, a mobile phone field307, a home phone field309, a company field311, and accounts field313, and the categories field315.
FIG. 4illustrates a meeting notice or scheduling dialogue401. Scheduling dialogue401includes a subject field403into which may be entered the subject of a proposed meeting. A “When” area405contains fields into which the date and time of the proposed meeting may be entered. An “Invitees” area407includes fields into which the required, optional, and information invitees to the proposed meeting may be entered. Scheduling dialogue401includes a “Chair” field409, which identifies the chair of the meeting. A “Where” field411includes fields into which location and resource information may be entered. Finally, a “Phone Settings” area contains radio buttons and checkboxes that allow a user to set up telephone filters for the meeting according to the present invention. In Phone Settings field413, the setting is “Public,” which allows all phone calls to bring through during the meeting. When the chair sends meeting notice401or an invitee accepts the meeting notice401, the meeting information, including the phone settings, is entered into the electronic calendar for the chair or invitee.
FIG. 5illustrates a scheduling dialogue501. Scheduling dialogue501differs from scheduling dialogue401in that in Phone Settings area503, the “Private” radio button is selected and exceptions check boxes Family and Upline are checked. According to the embodiment ofFIG. 5, Private phone settings allow phone calls only from callers invited to the meeting. Exceptions allow calls from identified individuals other than invitees to the meeting to be completed.
FIG. 6illustrates a scheduling dialogue601. Scheduling dialogue601differs from scheduling dialogue501in that in Phone Settings area603, the custom radio button is selected. Custom phone settings603enable a user to filter calls to the meeting with a high degree of granularity.
FIG. 7is a high-level flowchart of processing according to the present invention. In embodiments of the present invention, processing according toFIG. 7may be performed by call manager103(FIG. 1).FIG. 7processing may also be performed in an intelligent mobile phone that has a calendar.
Referring toFIG. 7, a call is received, as indicated at block701. The call manager accesses the electronic calendar of the called party, as indicated at block703. The call manager then determines, as indicated at decision block705, if an event is scheduled at the current time. If not, the call manager determines, as indicated at decision block707, if instant message (IM) status processing is set. IM status processing according to present invention provides a second layer of call filtration. If IM status processing is set, then the call manager performs IM status process, as indicated generally at block708and described in detail with reference toFIG. 12. If IM status processing is not set, the call manager completes the call, at block710, and processing ends.
Returning to decision block705, if an event scheduled at the current time, then the call manager determines, as indicated at decision block709, if the caller is identified. As is known to those skilled in the art, a caller may be identified in a Signaling System 7 (SS7) initial address message (IAM), or according to other call signaling protocols. If the caller is not identified, then the call manager performs unidentified caller processing, as indicated generally at block711and illustrated in detail inFIG. 8. If the caller is identified, then the call manager performs identified caller processing, as indicated generally at block713, details of which are illustrated with reference toFIG. 9or10.
Unidentified caller processing is illustrated inFIG. 8. The call manager prompts the caller to speak his or her name and waits for a response, at block801. In alternative embodiments, the call manager may prompt the caller to enter his or her telephone number using a telephone key pad. If, as determined at decision block803, the caller does not respond within a preset time limit, the call is sent to voice mail as indicated at block805. In an embodiment of the present invention in which the caller is prompted to enter digits, processing may return to block713ofFIG. 7. If, as determined at decision block803, a response is received within the time limit, the call manager sends a message to the called party with the caller's name and waits for a response, as indicated at block807. If, as determined at decision block809, a response is not received from the called party within a preset response time, then the call is sent to voice mail at block805. If, as determined at decision block811, the called party accepts the call, the call manager completes the call, as indicated at block813.
FIG. 9illustrates one embodiment of identified caller processing according to the present invention. The call manager may optionally send an instant message advising the called party that a call has been received and asking for instructions for handling the call. Accordingly, the call manager sends an instant message to the called party with the caller's identity and waits for a response, as indicated at block901. If, as determined at decision block903, the called party does not respond within a preset time limit, the call manager accesses the address book of the called party, as indicated at block905. If the called party does respond to the instant message, the call manager determines at decision block907if the called party's response is to accept the call. If so, the call manager completes the call, as indicated at block909, and processing ends. If the called party does not accept the call, the call manager determines at decision block911if the called party's response is to forward the call to another number. If so, the call manager forwards the call to that number and processing ends at block913. If the called party's response is not to forward the call, the call manager sends the call to voice mail and processing ends at block915.
Returning to block905, after the call manager has accessed the address book of the called party, the call manager determines if the caller is in the address book, at decision block917. If not, the call manager sends the call to voice mail, as indicated at block923, and processing ends. If the caller is in the address book, the call manager determines, at decision block919, if the caller is associated with the subject of the meeting. If not, the call manager determines, at decision block921, if the caller is on an exception list. If not, the call manager sends the call to voice mail, as indicated at block923, and processing ends. If, as determined at decision block919, the caller is associated with the subject of the meeting, or, as determined at decision block921, the caller is on an exception list, the call manager determines, at decision block925, if instant message status processing is set. If instant message status processing is not set, the call manager completes the call, as indicated at block927, and processing ends. If instant message status processing is set, the call manager performs instant message status processing, as indicated generally at block929and described in detail with respect toFIG. 12.
If, as determined at decision block919, the caller is not associated with the subject of the meeting, the call manager determines, at decision block921if the caller is on an exception list. In the embodiment ofFIG. 9, an exception list is a list of callers from whom the called party will always take calls. If the caller is on an exception list, then processing continues at decision block925. If the caller is not on an exception list, then the call manager sends the call to voice mail, at block923.
FIG. 10is a flow chart of an alternative embodiment of identified caller processing according to the present invention. The call manager determines, at decision block1001, if phone settings are selected for the event. If not, the call manager determines at decision block1003if IM status processing is set. If not, the call manager completes the call, as indicated at block1005. If instant message status processing is set, then the call manager performs instant message status processing, as indicated at block1007.
Returning to decision block1001, if phone settings are selected for the event, then the call manager determines, at decision block1009if the phone settings are public. A public phone setting means that all calls will be accepted. If so, processing continues at decision block1003. If not, the call manager determines at decision block1011if phone settings for the event are set to private. As shown inFIG. 5, private phone settings allow calls to be received from invitees to the event and designated exceptions. If the phone setting is private, then the call manager determines, at decision block1013if the caller is invited. If so, processing continues at decision block1003. If not, the call manager determines, at decision block1015if the caller is an exception. If not, the call manager sends the call to voice mail, as indicated at block1017. If, as determined at decision block1015, the caller is an exception, then the call manager completes the call, as indicated at block1005. Returning to decision block and11, if the phone setting is not private, then, by default, a phone setting is custom and the call manager performs custom processing, as indicated generally at block1019.
FIG. 11is a flow chart of custom phone setting processing according to an embodiment of the present invention. Custom phone settings are illustrated in area603FIG. 6. The call manager determines, at decision block1101, if the caller is a “to” recipient of the event notification. It will be recalled that a recipient is a required attendee of the event. If so, the call manager determines, at decision block1103if the phone setting is ring. If so, the call manager sends a ring signal to the called party, as indicated at block1105. If, as determined at decision block1103, a phone setting is not ring, the call manager determines, at decision block1107if the phone settings vibrate. The vibrate setting is most applicable in the mobile phone environment. However, more generally, the vibrate setting may be interpreted as a non-audible signal. If the phone setting is vibrate, then the call manager sends a vibrate signal to the called party, as indicated at block1109. If the phone setting is not vibrate, then the call manager determines, at decision block1111if a phone setting his voice mail. If so, the call manager sends the call to voice mail, as indicated at block1113. If, as determined at decision block1111, the setting is not voice mail, then the call manager ignores the call, as indicated at block1115. The call manager may ignore a call by simply allowing a ring tone to continue on the caller's line.
Returning to decision block1101, if the caller is not a recipient of the event notification, then the call manager determines if the caller is a CC recipient, at decision block1117. If so, processing continues at decision block1103. If not, the call manager determines, at decision block1119if the caller is associated with a company identifier. It if so, processing continues at decision block1103. If not, the call manager determines, at decision block1121, if the caller is associated with a keyword. If so, processing continues at decision block1103. If not, the call manager ignores the call, as indicated at decision block1115.
FIG. 12is a flow chart of instant message status processing according to an embodiment of the present invention. The call manager checks instant message status, as indicated at block1201. The call manager determines, at decision block1203, if a special status is set. If not, the call manager completes the call, as indicated at block1205. If, as determined at decision block1203, a special status is set, then the call manager determines, at decision block1207if the caller is associated with a special status. If so, the call manager completes the call, as indicated at block1205. If not, the call manager sends the call to voice mail, as indicated at block1209. It should be recognized that IM status processing may be performed before calendar filter. Additionally, additional filtering may be performed by a smart wireless phone after the call as been completed by the call manager.
Referring now toFIG. 13, there is illustrated a block diagram of a generic information handling system1300capable of performing the server and client operations described herein. Computer system1300includes processor1301which is coupled to host bus1303. Processor1301preferably includes an onboard cache memory. A level two (L2) cache memory1305is also coupled to host bus1303. A Host-to-PCI bridge1307is coupled to host bus1303. Host-to-PCI bridge1307, which is coupled to main memory1309, includes its own cache memory and main memory control functions. Host-to-PCI bridge1307provides bus control to handle transfers among a PCI bus1311, processor1301, L2 cache1305, main memory1309, and host bus1303. PCI bus1311provides an interface for a variety of devices including, for example, a local area network (LAN) card1313, a PCI-to-ISA bridge1315, which provides bus control to handle transfers between PCI bus1311and an ISA bus1317, a universal serial bus (USB)1319, and an IDE device1321. PCI-to-ISA bridge1315also includes onboard power management functionality. PCI-to-ISA bridge1315can include other functional elements not shown, such as a real-time clock (RTC), DMA control, interrupt support, and system management bus support.
Peripheral devices and input/output (I/O) devices can be attached to various interfaces or ports coupled to ISA bus1317. Such interfaces or ports may include a parallel port1323, a serial port1325, an infrared (IR) interface1327, a keyboard interface1329, a mouse interface1331, and a hard disk drive (HDD)1333.
A BIOS1335is coupled to ISA bus1317. BIOS1335incorporates the necessary processor executable code for a variety of low-level system functions and system boot functions. BIOS1335can be stored in any computer readable medium, including magnetic storage media, optical storage media, flash memory, random access memory, read only memory, and communications media conveying signals encoding the instructions (e.g., signals from a network). In order to couple computer system1300to another computer system to copy files or send and receive messages over a network, LAN card1313may be coupled to PCI bus1311. Similarly, a Fibre Channel card may be coupled to PCI bus1313. Additionally, a modem1339may be coupled to ISA bus1317through serial port1325to support dial-up connections.
While the computer system described inFIG. 5is capable of executing the invention described herein, the illustrated system is simply one example of a computer system. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many other computer system designs are capable of performing the invention described herein.
One of the preferred implementations of the invention is an application, namely, a set of instructions (program code) in a code module that may, for example, be in the random access memory of the computer. Until required by the computer, the set of instructions may be stored in another computer memory, for example, on a hard disk drive, or in removable storage such as an optical disk (for eventual use in a CD ROM) or floppy disk (for eventual use in a floppy disk drive), or downloaded via the Internet or other computer network. Thus, the present invention may be implemented as a computer program product for use in a computer. In addition, although the various methods described are conveniently implemented in a general purpose computer selectively activated or reconfigured by software, one of ordinary skill in the art would also recognize that such methods may be carried out in hardware, in firmware, or in more specialized apparatus constructed to perform the required method steps.
From the foregoing, it may be seen that processes and systems according to the present invention are well adapted to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art. Wile the present invention has been illustrated and described with reference to exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize alternate embodiments. Accordingly, the foregoing description is intended for purposes of illustration rather than limitation.
| 7H
| 04 | L |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, there is
illustrated a needle removal apparatus designated generally at 10,
constructed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention mounted on top of a disposable container 11. The apparatus
comprises a housing of a generally rectangular box like configuration 12.
The housing has an elongated slot 14 in the top thereof from which a
tubular guide sleeve 16 extends vertically for receiving a syringe collar
13 of a syringe 15 for holding it in a predetermined orientation. The
guide sleeve 16 is mounted on a moveable carriage within the housing 12
containing means for unthreading a needle hub 17 from the syringe body 15
when the collar is inserted therein and the syringe pulled along the
length of the slot 14, as will be explained.
Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings, an exploded assembly view of the
apparatus is illustrated. The illustrated embodiment comprises an
elongated generally rectangular open top lower housing support structure
18. The housing has a bottom 20 with upstanding parallel opposed side
walls 22 and 24 with end walls 26 and 28. The bottom 20 is provided with
an elongated slot 30 that connects between a throughbore 32 and a
throughbore 34. A needle guide 36 is mounted in the throughbore 32 for
receiving and guiding a needle into the slot 30. The needle guide 36 is
preferably a metal cylinder with an upper conical depression 38 with a
side opening or slot 40 that mates with the slot 30. This needle guide
marks the beginning end of the track of the device and guides a needle
into slot 30.
A slider or carriage 42 having a generally square or rectangular upper
portion has a pair of side walls or surfaces 44 and 46 which engage side
walls 22 and 24 and are guided thereby along the length of the housing 18.
Thus, the housing forms an elongated linear track for the carriage. The
upper surface of the carriage 42 is formed with an upper generally
cylindrical bore 48 which is concentric with a lower throughbore 50. The
upper bore 48 is formed with upper and lower scalloped cut-outs or
recesses 52 (FIG. 4) and 54 disposed on opposite sides and at different
levels (i.e. upper and lower) within the bore 48. A pair of slides or cam
followers 56 and 58 are adapted to mount in the bore 48 of the carriage
and are rotatably coupled to a driving gear 60. The followers 56 and 58
carry pins or teeth 62 and 64 directed inwardly at their inner ends for
engaging and coupling to the splines on the hub of a syringe needle. The
followers are biased apart by a pair of compression springs 66 and 68 and
are confined to an inner gripping position by the cylindrical wall of bore
48. The followers are biased into engagement with the wall of bore 48 and
into cutouts 52 and 54 at certain positions of rotation to withdraw pins
62 and 64 from their engaging or coupling position.
The followers 56 and 58 are coupled to the gear 60 by means of a pair of
slots 70 and 72 on follower 56 engaging a pair of bars 74 and 76 on the
bottom of gear 60, as can be seen in FIG. 3. The follower 58 is coupled by
slots 78 and 80 to bars 82 and 84 on the underside of the gear 60. The
gear 60 has an integral lower tubular extension 86 which is rotatably
mounted in the bore 50 in the center of carriage 42. Upon rotation of the
gear 60 the followers 56 and 58 rotate with the gear from the starting
point or end of the housing and when they reach a point where cutouts 52
and 54 are located, they retract into the cutouts withdrawing the needle
hub gripping the teeth or pins 62 and 64 from engagement with the flutes
of the needle hub, allowing the needle to fall downward through opening 34
at the end of slot 30. The upper tubular guide 16 is also an integral
coaxial extension of gear 60.
A rectangular cover panel member 88 fits down over the aforementioned
assembly and into the housing 18 and includes an elongated slot 90 aligned
over slot 30 and extending along the length thereof, through which the
tubular guide sleeve 16 extends. The cover member 88 is also provided with
an elongated rack or linear gear 92 (FIG. 3) along a lower side edge
thereof for meshing with gear teeth on the pinion gear 60 for forcing
rotation of the gear as the gear is carried along with the carriage in
movement from one end to the other of the housing. The gear functions to
rotate the needle hub gripping or engaging members and unthread a needle
from a syringe body as the carriage goes from one end to the other of the
housing.
A multi-plate seal 94 has an opening 96 through which the tubular guide 16
extends. The seal is of a general type well known in the automotive
industry to go around shifting levers, for example, and comprises a
plurality of plates stacked one on top of the other, each with a larger
slot such that the entire mass of plates are progressively engaged and
carried along with the movable member 16. A cover 98 includes an elongated
slot 100 and encloses the entire assembly within the housing.
In operation when it is desired to remove a needle from a holder, the
needle is extended down through the tubular guide 16 (FIG. 1) such that
the neck 13 of the syringe extends into and is closely held in vertical
alignment by the guide 16 while the needle extends down through and is
guided by the guide 36 into position for movement along the slot 30. The
splines on the hub of the needle are engaged by the pin or teeth 62 and 64
of the followers members 56 and 58 (FIGS. 4-6) and as the barrel of the
syringe is pulled along the housing along the slot, the gear 60 begins to
rotate carrying the followers and pins with it, and as it rotates it
rotates the hub and unthreads the needle, permitting it to drop from the
housing through opening 34 at the opposite end of the device.
Referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, a better understanding of operation of the
device can be seen. As shown in FIG. 4, the carriage with the gripping
mechanism is illustrated with the rotary gear 60 removed with only the
teeth of the pinion, shown in phantom to aid understanding of the
construction and operation. As shown in FIG. 4, the carriage is biased to
the left-most position by means of a suitable spring or springs 102 and
104 (FIG. 2), such as a coil compression or tension springs. The coupling
mechanism is rotatably adjusted to start from this position. When a needle
is inserted into the guide, the needle extends down through and its spline
is engaged by the two opposing pins or teeth on the opposing followers
which are biased inward as shown, to engage between the splines of the
needle hub. The gripping followers are shown in a position such that they
each rotate approximately or move through an angle of approximately 270
degrees before engaging or arriving at cutouts where they each pop into or
are biased outward into the recess or cutout, as shown in FIG. 6, thereby
pulling or retracting the needles from the guide. This also retracts the
pins from the splines of the hub so that the needle drops downward into a
suitable container. It is apparent that the unthreading followers can be
rotated in any number of ways, such as by a cord attached to the fixed
housing on one end and wrapped around a drum coupled to or formed on the
gear. Thus, movement of the slide along the track would result in rotation
of the entire guide and hub gripping assembly.
The needle unthreading device may be a portable unit adaptable to be
detachably attached to disposable containers or it may be built into the
containers and be a part of it. In the alternative, it may be built into a
holder to which disposable containers are mounted for receipt of the
needles as they are removed from the syringes. Most syringes employ what
is called a Luer lock for connection of the needle to the barrel of the
syringe. The Luer lock is similar to threads with a shallow pitch and
requires less than a full revolution for complete attachment and
detachment. Typically, it requires about one half to slightly more than
one half of a turn. Accordingly, the apparatus of the present invention
may be adjusted to accommodate the Luer lock type connectors or a threaded
connector as some needle holders employ. In the instant invention, the
gripper pins are in the innermost gripping position for approximately 270
degrees of rotation of the gripper mechanism. Upon about 270 degrees of
rotation, the followers are biased into the cutouts withdrawing the pins
from engagement with the needle hubs, thereby allowing the needle hub to
fall into the receptacle.
While we have illustrated and described our invention by means of specific
embodiments, it is to be understood that numerous changes and
modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention as defined by the claims. | 0A
| 61 | B |
Initially with reference to FIG. 1, a piston pump 1 for delivering a fluid
at low pressure and at a higher pressure is illustrated and described. The
piston pump 1 may be used in very many different ways. With simple,
manually actuated pumps, the high-pressure delivery piston can be actuated
by a hand lever and, with the motor-driven manual devices already
mentioned above, by a motor, such as an electric motor. The essential
factor is that firstly, without load, a rapid operation is required,
corresponding to a high delivery volume per stroke, and then higher
pressures have to be applied under loading (with a lower delivery volume
per stroke).
The piston pump 1 has a pump cylinder 2 in which a low-pressure delivery
piston 4 can be moved counter to the prestress exerted by a spring 3. The
low-pressure delivery piston 4 furthermore has a passage path 5 for the
hydraulic fluid which is being pumped here. The fluid passage path 5 is
closed by a valve 6 configured as a non-return valve. The valve 6 shuts
when the low-pressure delivery piston 4 moves in the delivery direction,
and can open when the low-pressure delivery piston 4 moves counter to it &
delivery direction.
The low-pressure delivery piston 4 operates on a pressure chamber 7. The
valve 6 correspondingly opens only when the pressure in the pressure
chamber 7 is lower than on the inlet side in an inflow chamber 8 of the
low-pressure delivery piston 4.
Furthermore, the piston pump 1 has an inlet valve 9 and an outlet valve 10.
The inlet valve 9 is arranged in a line connection to a fluid supply
chamber. The outlet valve 10 is arranged in a line connection to a working
space not illustrated in FIG. 1 (cf. also fluid supply chamber 26 and
working space 27 in FIG. 5).
Also operating in the pressure chamber 7 is a high-pressure delivery piston
11 which can basically be driven in different ways which are not
illustrated in detail in FIG. 1; for example, by means of an eccentric
drive connected to an electric motor, by means of a manual drive, or
another kind of drive which generates reciprocating motion. The range of
movement of the high-pressure delivery piston 11 is indicated by the
dashed illustration.
The high-pressure delivery piston 11 has a smaller active cross-section
than the low-pressure delivery piston 4. The ratio here is about 4:1
(low-pressure delivery piston to high-pressure delivery piston).
The functioning of the piston pump 1 is explained in greater detail with
reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2a illustrates the delivery end position
of the low-pressure delivery piston 4 in low-pressure operation, i.e. at
low pressure in the working space. The spring 3 still exerts a prestress
which, in the exemplary embodiment, for example, corresponds to a value of
10 bar. The high-pressure delivery piston 11 is in its position which is
retracted to the furthest extent; in the exemplary embodiment, it
terminates at the end face approximately flush with a (lower) cylinder
wall 12 (of the pressure chamber 7).
FIG. 2b illustrates the fact that the high-pressure delivery piston 11 is
in--end face--contact with the low-pressure delivery piston 4 and is
moving the latter back counter to the effect of the helical spring 3.
While it is moving back, the valve 6 is open. Fluid is flowing from the
inflow chamber 8, at the back in relation to the low-pressure delivery
piston 4, through the fluid delivery path 5 into the pressure chamber 7.
Since the volume of the pump (inflow chamber 8 and pressure chamber 7) is
constantly being reduced at the same time by the retracting high-pressure
delivery piston 11, the outlet valve 10 is also open and fluid is flowing
into the working space.
FIG. 2c illustrates the delivery stroke of the low-pressure delivery piston
4. On account of the effect of the helical spring 3, the low-pressure
delivery piston 4 moves in the direction of its delivery end position
according to FIG. 2a after the high-pressure delivery piston 11 has begun
its retraction movement. In this case, the valve 6 is closed and, on the
inflow side, fluid is sucked into the inflow chamber from the supply
container via the opening inlet valve 9 on account of the resulting
vacuum. At the same time, fluid is displaced from the pressure chamber 7
via the open outlet valve 10 in the working space. It can be seen that the
volume of fluid displaced in the process is dependent on the
cross-sectional ratio of the low-pressure delivery piston 4 to the
high-pressure delivery piston 11. The greater
the--effective--cross-sectional ratio of the two pistons is, the more
fluid is delivered into the working space via the outlet valve 10 in the
low-pressure stage.
Referring to FIGS. 3a to 3c, a corresponding delivery cycle is illustrated,
in which it is assumed that the pressure in the working space is higher
than the prestress of the low-pressure delivery piston 4 in its delivery
end position. The pressure should be substantially higher than the
pressure of about 10 bar as first mentioned. The deciding factor is that
the pressure in the working space is higher than that due to the helical
spring (compression spring 3) in the upper position of maximum prestress
of the low-pressure delivery piston 4.
FIG. 3a illustrates the delivery end position of the high-pressure piston
11. The high-pressure delivery piston 11 is retracted into the pressure
chamber 7 to its maximum extent.
FIG. 3b illustrates a condition in which the high-pressure delivery piston
11 is on the path of its return stroke. The outlet valve 10 is closed,
because the pressure in the pressure chamber 7 is now only determined by
the spring 3. This may be, for example, a pressure of between 10 and 20
bar. This pressure is thus substantially lower than the pressure to be
assumed as high in this state in the working space. The reducing pressure
or the compensation of the volume enlargement resulting due to the
extending high-pressure delivery piston 11 leads to a trailing movement of
the low-pressure delivery piston 4. As a result and at the same time,
fluid is sucked into the inflow 8 from the supply container through the
opening inlet valve 9. During the process, the low-pressure delivery
piston 4 does not reach the delivery end position according to FIG. 2a,
but a position which is ahead of it in the delivery direction until
compensation of the volume proportion of the extending part of the
high-pressure delivery piston 11 has been reached.
FIG. 3c illustrates a point in time during the delivery stroke of the
high-pressure delivery piston 11. The high-pressure delivery piston 11 is
not (yet) in contact with the low-pressure delivery piston 4. As a result
of the nevertheless prevailing pressure increase, the inlet valve 9 is
closed. In contrast, the outlet valve 10 is open, since the pressure in
the pressure chamber 7 has increased on account of the retracted
high-pressure delivery piston 11 to the extent that it exceeds the
pressure in the working space.
A further embodiment of the piston pump 1 is illustrated with reference to
FIG. 4. The position represented corresponds to that of FIG. 3a, although
this position here can relate both to a low-pressure and to a
high-pressure cycle.
The inlet valve 9, the outlet valve 10 and the high-pressure delivery
piston 11 are essentially unchanged.
Here, however, the low-pressure delivery piston 4 has a stem-like
projection 13 at the rear end, this being the case at least in terms of
function.
In fact, the stem-like projection 13 is provided on a plate 14 which is
part of the valve 6 in this case. The valve 6, or in the specific
embodiment the plate 14, furthermore has an actuating projection 15 on its
front side.
The stem-like projection 13 results in a minimum fluid volume in the inflow
chamber 8. This is required in order to achieve specific flow speeds
there; moreover also, in order to achieve the least possible deflection on
account of resilience due to the hydraulic liquid during the
(high-pressure) delivery stroke. In general, however, the essential factor
is that a fluid is used for the pump, which fluid is essentially
incompressible.
Customary--oil-like--hydraulic liquids are appropriate here.
In a further detail, the helical spring 3 is arranged, in the embodiment of
FIG. 4, surrounding the cylinder-like projection 13.
Provided in the piston head 17 of the low-pressure delivery piston 4 are
throughflow openings 18 which, in this embodiment, form the fluid delivery
path 5. As can be seem, opening of the valve 6 is achieved by surface
contact between an end face 19 of the high-pressure delivery piston 11 and
the actuating projection 15 of the valve 6, so that fluid flows into the
pressure chamber 11 from the inflow chamber 8 through the openings 18 in
the piston head 17 of the low-pressure delivery piston 4. The valve 6 of
the embodiment according to FIG. 4 is thus not pressure-actuated, but
under enforced control.
In a further detail, it is a significant factor that, in the embodiment of
FIG. 4, the piston head 31 is configured as a screw-in part. On the side
wall, it has an external thread 33 which interacts with a corresponding
internal thread on the pump housing 32. This permits simple exchange and
provides ease of maintenance.
The fact that both the piston guide for the high-pressure delivery piston
11 and the piston head for the low-pressure delivery piston 4 are
configured for screwing in is illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 6. It
is preferable for only the piston guide for the high-pressure delivery
piston 11 to be configured to be screwed in.
It is furthermore a significant factor that, in this embodiment, a
throughflow path is formed in the low-pressure delivery piston 4, namely
the cylinder-like projection. It is thus possible, on the one hand, to
continue to keep the volume still provided in the compressed position of
the spring 3 as small as possible but, on the other hand, in particular
also to form such a flow path that relatively high flow speeds are always
assured. It is also essential that the design is configured in such a way
that there are few or no dead spaces.
A manually operated motor-powered tool with a piston pump according to the
embodiment of FIG. 4 explained above is illustrated with reference to FIG.
5.
Arranged in the manually operated motor-powered tool 20 is an electric
motor 21 which has a reducing gear 22. The reducing gear 22 acts via a
shaft 23 on an eccentric 24 which, in turn, acts via a rolling bearing 25
on the high-pressure delivery piston 11.
In the manner explained above, for this purpose fluid is pumped into the
working space 27 from the fluid supply chamber 26 and, as a result, an
operating piston 28 is moved into its operating end position counter to
the effect of a restoring spring 29. The return movement of the operating
piston 28 takes place via the restoring spring 29 if--which is not
illustrated in detail here--a drainage valve in the working space 27 is
open, via which the fluid can then flow back into the supply chamber 26.
The drive of the electric motor 21 is effected in further detail by means
of a battery or an accumulator 30.
In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the high-pressure delivery piston 11 is
actuated directly by means of a hand lever 34. For this purpose, the
high-pressure piston 11 is connected specifically to a coaxially aligned
connection piece 35 which is coupled by means of a hook shape 36 to a
carrier pin 37 of the hand lever 34. The hand lever is mounted on the
housing 39 by means of a rotary pin 38 which is independent thereof.
Otherwise the piston pump 1 in the embodiment of FIG. 7 behaves in the same
manner as the piston pump 1 of the embodiments described above, reference
thus being made thereto.
All the features disclosed are essential to the invention. In the
disclosure of the application, the disclosure content of the
associated/attached priority documents (copy of the preliminary
application) is hereby also included to its full extent, also for the
purpose of including features of these documents in claims of the present
application. | 5F
| 04 | B |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.
There is illustrated inFIG. 1a vehicle which incorporates a fuel pump module in accordance with the present invention and which is designated generally by reference numeral10. Some vehicles, and more specifically sports cars and sport sedans, are rear wheel drive vehicles that have a propeller shaft running between an engine located in the front of the vehicle and a transmission located in the rear of the vehicle or between a transmission located in the front of the vehicle and a differential located in the rear of the vehicle. When positioning the fuel tank in the rear of the vehicle, accommodations must be made to provide room for the propeller shaft. Typically this is accomplished by utilizing a saddle type fuel tank having a first section located on one side of the propeller shaft, a second section located on an opposite side of the propeller shaft and a bridge section connecting the first and second sections. This allows for the propeller shaft to be located between the two side sections of the fuel tank and under the bridge section of the fuel tank. With this saddle type of fuel tank, fuel needs to be drawn from each side section of the fuel tank or fuel needs to be transferred from one side section to the other side section typically through the bridge section.
Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, vehicle10includes a body12, a set of wheels14, an engine16, a fuel tank18and a fuel line20extending between fuel tank18and engine16to supply fuel to engine16using a fuel pump module22disposed within fuel tank18. Fuel tank18is a saddle type fuel tank which includes a fuel tank main side30, a fuel tank sub side32and a bridge section34. Fuel tank main side30houses a fuel pump36which is a part of fuel pump module22. Fuel pump36pumps fuel from fuel tank main side30to engine16through an outlet38which is connected to fuel line20. Fuel tank main side30communicates with fuel tank sub side32through bridge section34and a transfer line40which extends from fuel tank sub side32to fuel tank main side30though bridge section34.
Referring now toFIGS. 3 and 4, a sub side transfer module42which is a part of fuel pump module22is illustrated. Sub side transfer module42includes an upper housing44which is connected to a lower sub side module stay46. Lower sub side module stay46is disposed at the bottom of fuel tank sub side32and upper housing44extends upward from lower sub side module stay46to engage a sub side cap48which is secured to fuel tank sub side32. Upper housing44supports various components of fuel pump module22such as fuel level sensors as is known well in the art.
Lower sub side module stay46comprises an outer housing50, an umbrella valve plate52and an umbrella valve54. Outer housing50rests on the bottom of fuel tank sub side32and it includes a fuel inlet56formed by a plurality of ribs58and fuel outlet60which is in communication with transfer line40. Umbrella valve plate52is a cup shaped component which is disposed within outer housing50to form a fluid chamber62. Umbrella valve plate52includes a plurality of ribs64which prevent sagging of umbrella valve plate52and which form a plurality of stays or hooks66which secure umbrella valve plate52to outer housing50. A seal68, such as an O-ring, seals the connection between umbrella valve plate52and outer housing50to seal chamber62whose lower portion acts as a water reservoir to trap condensation or water present in the fuel. Fuel outlet60opens into fluid chamber62and it can be positioned to overlap the lower portion of fluid chamber62which is the water reservoir such that any trapped water in the fluid reservoir will be sucked out of the reservoir when the jet pump operates.
Umbrella valve plate52defines a plurality of fuel passages70and a central aperture72. Umbrella valve54comprises a central shaft74and an umbrella seal76. Central shaft74is disposed within central aperture72and which includes an enlarged section78which retains umbrella valve54within central aperture72. Umbrella valve54is an elastomeric component and umbrella valve54is assembled within central aperture72by applying pressure to central shaft74such that enlarged section78is distorted and forced through central aperture72. Once enlarged section78passes through central aperture72it springs back to its original shape to retain umbrella valve54within central aperture72. Umbrella seal76extends radially out from central shaft74to cover and thus close the plurality of fuel passages70. The outer circumferential edge of umbrella seal76sealingly engages umbrella valve plate52.
When umbrella valve54is in its closed position as illustrated inFIG. 4, communication between fuel inlet56and fuel outlet60is prohibited. Thus, fuel flow from fuel outlet60, to fuel inlet56through chamber62is prohibited. Thus, fuel flow through transfer line40from fuel tank main side30to fuel tank sub side32is prohibited. When fuel pressure at fuel inlet56exceeds the fuel pressure at fuel outlet60, umbrella seal76of umbrella valve54will deflect to allow fuel flow through passages70from fuel inlet56to fuel outlet60. Thus, fuel flow through transfer line40from fuel tank sub side32to fuel tank main side30is permitted. Umbrella valve54acts as a one-way valve to allow fuel flow from fuel tank sub side32to fuel tank main side30but to prohibit fuel flow from fuel tank main side30to fuel tank sub side32.
FIGS. 5-8depict various fuel transfer scenarios that typically occur in fuel tank18.FIG. 5illustrates fuel tank18in which fuel levels92and94are generally equal in fuel tank main side30and fuel tank sub side32. Typically fuel levels92and94illustrated inFIG. 5are the fuel levels experienced by vehicle10during steady state running of vehicle10. In fuel tank18with fuel levels92and94illustrated inFIG. 5, the fuel in fuel tank main side30is pumped to engine16through outlet38and fuel line20. Excess fuel pumped by fuel pump module22creates a jet pump, as is known in the art, to draw fuel from fuel tank sub side32to fuel tank main side30through transfer line40. Umbrella valve54will open to allow fuel flow through transfer line40when the fuel pressure at fuel outlet60is less than the fuel pressure at fuel inlet56.
As fuel is pumped from fuel tank main side30, the jet pump may not sufficiently move fuel from fuel tank sub side32to fuel tank main side30and the scenario inFIG. 6can occur. The scenario inFIG. 6can also occur if vehicle10experiences quick, hard cornering. During quick, hard cornering, fuel in fuel tank main side30may slosh or transfer to fuel tank sub side32through bridge section34due to lateral forces experienced during the cornering maneuver. With fuel level92in fuel tank main side30being low, the jet pump of fuel pump module22may not be submerged in fuel and the pumping action of the jet pump will cease. At this point, transferring of fuel between fuel tank sub side32and fuel tank main side30via siphoning becomes necessary in order to transfer fuel back to fuel tank main side30. In order for this siphoning action to occur, transfer line40must be filled with fuel. Umbrella valve54prohibits fuel flow through transfer line40from fuel tank main side30to fuel tank sub side32and thus umbrella valve54will ensure that transfer line40remains filled with fuel.
With fuel level94in fuel tank sub side32being higher than fuel level92in fuel tank main side30as illustrated inFIG. 6and transfer line40being filled with fuel, a siphoning action will occur to move fuel from fuel tank sub side32to fuel tank main side30. The difference in fuel levels92and94will create a pressure differential across umbrella valve54to open umbrella valve54and allow the siphoning action to occur. Fuel will continue to be siphoned from fuel tank sub side32to fuel tank main side30until the jet pump is again primed and will continue with the jet pump action until fuel levels92and94reach the levels illustrated inFIG. 7.
FIG. 8illustrates the scenario where fuel level92in fuel tank main side30is higher than fuel level94in fuel tank sub side32. This can occur when the jet pump transfers more fuel than that used by engine16or when, due to cornering of vehicle10, lateral forces slosh or transfer fuel from fuel tank sub side32to fuel tank main side30. The higher level of fuel level92in comparison with fuel level94will create a higher pressure at fluid outlet60than the fuel pressure at fuel inlet56. Umbrella valve54will be urged against umbrella valve plate52to close fuel passages68and prohibit fuel transfer from fuel tank main side30to fuel tank sub side32through transfer line40. Thus, the fuel levels92and94illustrated inFIG. 8will remain.
The advantage of fuel levels92and94illustrated inFIG. 8are that fuel within fuel tank main side30remains ready to be pumped by fuel pump module22to engine16. Fuel from fuel tank main side30to fuel tank sub side32can only occur through bridge section34due to lateral forces being imposed upon vehicle10by cornering or by other means. Should this occur and fuel levels92and94reach the levels depicted inFIG. 6, transfer of fuel from fuel tank sub side32to fuel tank main side30will again occur as described above.
| 5F
| 02 | M |
The following Examples are being supplied to further define various species
of the present invention, it being noted that these Examples are intended
to illustrate and not limit the scope of the present invention. Parts and
percentages are by weight unless otherwise indicated. Comparative Examples
are also provided.
EXAMPLES
The polymerization reactions of the following Examples were conducted in a
stirred 300 milliliter autoclave equipped with a sight glass. The agitator
was a helical coil design and was turned at 78 rpm by gear reduction of an
electric motor. Heating was provided by a modified Glascol mantle
controlled by a Parr temperature controller. The carbon dioxide used was
chromatography grade with a helium headspace and was pressurized by a
Suprex syringe pump. Monomer addition was made by an Enerpac hand pump.
Removal of the CO.sub.2 and SO.sub.2 was preferably accomplished via a
micrometering valve to maintain system back pressure, followed by passing
through a separator vessel and coalescing filters to remove any entrained
liquids, such as monomers, and then passing through a flow metering device
followed by processing in a small water tower for scrubbing the SO.sub.2
out of the gas stream.
Example I
The autoclave was prepared and heated to 125.degree. C. and was pressure
tested with carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide was removed by
depressurization followed by application of vacuum from a small diaphragm.
To the evacuated autoclave was added sulfur dioxide as a gas at the
equilibrium tank pressure at room temperature of about 34 psi. Thus, 300
milliliters of SO.sub.2 gas were added at 125.degree. C. and about 43 psi.
An ideal gas calculation (PV=nRT) estimated the amount of SO.sub.2 added
by this method to be about 1.8 grams, which was in substantial agreement
with a loss of weight measurement of the SO.sub.2 supply cylinder using
the same SO.sub.2 transfer procedure on another occasion with the reactor
at 22.degree. C. that showed a transfer of about 2.6 grams, slightly
higher since the cooler gas was denser. The autoclave was pressurized with
carbon dioxide to a pressure of 3,880 psi. A solution of 0.211 gram of
2,2'-azobis-(2-methylbutyronitrile) and 0.211 gram of TEMPO
(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy, free radical) in 30 grams of
styrene (available from Fluka) was added to the autoclave via the hand
pump. The valve connecting the hand pump to the autoclave was then closed,
and about 3 or 4 grams of the solution were retained by the inner volume
of the pump after addition.
The reaction was maintained at about 125.degree. C. overnight, about 18 to
20 hours, during which time the pressure did not drop. After 18 hours,
heating of the autoclave was terminated and the autoclave was slowly
cooled as the carbon dioxide was vented off. The autoclave was opened and
the polystyrene product was sampled. GPC analysis showed that the polymer
polystyrene product has a M.sub.n =29,890 and M.sub.w =48,899 with a
polydispersity of 1.63.
Example II
The process of Example I was repeated except that the polymerization time
was about 15 hours. GPC analysis of the polystyrene product showed a
M.sub.n =24,080 and M.sub.w =35,914 with a polydispersity of 1.49. The
lower molecular weights obtained with a shorter reaction period were
consistent with a living polymerization mechanism.
Example III
The process of Example II was repeated except that the initiator was
2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) recrystallized twice from methanol and
about 0.181 gram was used. GPC analysis of the polystyrene product showed
a M.sub.n =45,917 and M.sub.w =65,640 with a polydispersity of 1.43. TGA
analysis of the polymer product indicated about 91 percent conversion.
Example IV
The process of Example III was repeated except that the helical coil
agitator stirring at 78 rpm was replaced by two turbine impellors, one
situated near the bottom of the reactor and one about two inches from the
top. The stirring speed was about 600 rpm. GPC analysis of the polystyrene
product showed a M.sub.n =61,409 and M.sub.w =81,304 with a polydispersity
of 1.32.
Example V
The process of Example I was repeated except that the initiator was benzoyl
peroxide (BPO) and was used at about the 0.2771 gram level, and the
SO.sub.2 was added after the initiation step. To primarily avoid the
catalytic promotion of BPO by the nitroxide TEMPO, the TEMPO was added in
about 10 grams of styrene via the hand pump followed by the BPO in 10
grams of styrene, followed by a final 10 grams of styrene wash to the
reactor at 1,280 psi pressure of CO.sub.2. After about 40 minutes, the
sulfur dioxide, about 2 grams, that had already been added to a second 300
milliliter sample cylinder by the same technique as used in Example I was
added to the reactor containing the monomer by a further overpressure of
carbon dioxide, first to 1,860 psi, then a second flush to 2,500 psi, and
thereafter, the reactor was further pressurized directly by CO.sub.2 to
3,810 psi. Heating continued for a further 15 hours after the addition of
the SO.sub.2. GPC analysis of the polystyrene product showed a M.sub.n
=46,538 and M.sub.w =60,825 with a polydispersity of 1.31.
Example VI
The process of Example I was repeated except that the monomer was
2-ethylhexyl acrylate (30 grams), the initiator was AIBN (0.0691 gram),
and the stable free radical was 4-oxo-TEMPO
(4-oxo-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy, free radical) (0.1187 gram).
The reaction temperature was 155.degree. C. and the reaction time was 19
hours. GPC analysis of the polystyrene (2-ethylhexylacrylate) product
showed a M.sub.n =3,690 and M.sub.w =7,699 with a polydispersity of 2.09.
COMATIVE EXAMPLE 1
The process of Example II was repeated except that there was no addition of
sulfur dioxide. GPC analysis of the polystyrene product showed a M.sub.n
=1,638 and M.sub.w =4,223 with a polydispersity of 2.53.
COMATIVE EXAMPLE 2
The process of Example V was repeated except that the addition of sulfur
dioxide was carried out before the addition and decomposition of the
benzoyl peroxide initiator. GPC analysis of the polystyrene product showed
a bimodal peak distribution resulting in a M.sub.n =7,983 and M.sub.w
=44,795 with a polydispersity of 5.61. It was believed that the SO.sub.2
was promoting the decomposition of benzoyl peroxide leading to this
bimodal molecular weight distribution. Addition of the SO.sub.2 after the
BPO as in Example V avoids this problem. The azo initiators are not
susceptible to such reactions.
Images may be developed in a xerographic imaging test fixture with a
negatively charged layered imaging member comprised of a supporting
substrate of aluminum, a photogenerating layer of trigonal selenium, and a
charge transport layer of the aryl amine
N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis(3-methylphenyl)1,1'-biphenyl-4,4'-diamine, 45
weight percent, dispersed in 55 weight percent of the polycarbonate
MAKROLON.RTM., as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,990, the disclosure of
which is totally incorporated herein by reference. Images with toner
compositions prepared from the polymers derived from, for example, Example
II were expected to be of excellent quality with no background deposits
and of high resolution over an extended number of imaging cycles
exceeding, it was believed, about 75,000 imaging cycles.
Toner compositions may be readily prepared by conventional means from the
polymer and copolymer resins of the present invention including colored
toners, single component toners, multi-component toners, toners containing
special performance additives, and the like.
The aforementioned stable free radical agent moderated polymerization
process may be applied to a wide range of organic monomers to provide
novel toner resin materials with desirable electrophotographic properties.
For example, the block copolymers have application as dispersants for
photoreceptor pigments. The multimodal resins have application to low melt
resins and certain monomodal resins may be used to modify the surface of
carbon black and pigment particles to make the pigment particles more
miscible with a host polymer or dispersing medium. Narrow molecular weight
resins, such as poly(styrene-butadiene), find application as improved
toner resins for general application.
Other modifications of the present invention may occur to those skilled in
the art based upon a review of the present application and these
modifications, including equivalents thereof, are intended to be included
within the scope of the present invention. | 2C
| 08 | F |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
The present disclosure provides Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) systems and methods which employ dynamic switching of Lombard Effect acoustic models (“acoustic models”) to improve speech recognition performance. The ASR systems and methods make use of data collected on the Lombard Effect being leveraged to relate noise type with changes in spectral content to properly accommodate for both clean and noisy speech.
As indicated above in the Background section, a problem is for a robust acoustic model to perform equally well for both neutral (non-Lombard) speech and noisy (Lombard) speech, despite the change in speech spectra. To solve this problem, the ASR systems and methods provided by the present disclosure for a vehicle employ an architecture that estimates the impact of the Lombard Effect by taking into account various inputs from the cabin noise in the vehicle. In this manner, the ASR systems and methods can actually dynamically switch to the acoustic model, selected from a library of pre-established acoustic models, best trained for that situation to best accommodate the various types of noisy speech in addition to neutral speech.
As embedded platforms now include graphics processing units (GPUs) with large amounts of random access memory (RAM) for massive parallelization capabilities, it is possible to put multiple acoustic models into a single vehicle system. The ASR systems and methods of the present disclosure dynamically select an appropriate acoustic model, from a library of pre-trained acoustic models put into the vehicle system, as a function of vehicle parameters and ambient noise.
The ASR systems and methods provided by the present disclosure involve a handful of acoustic models being trained in a laboratory setting where the resources are available to capture the important use cases. A function is then made to correlate a given noise to the best represented acoustic model. The noise is quantified by several different means including, but not limited to: information indicative of vehicle parameters such as information from the controller area network (CAN) bus of the vehicle on vehicle speed, engine rpm, and HVAC settings; information indicative of vehicle cabin noise such as information from cabin noise microphones doing passive noise analysis; and/or contextual information provided by wearables.
As an example, the ASR systems and methods of the present disclosure in a vehicle use cabin noise dB level/spectral analysis to prescreen the selection of acoustic models from a library of pre-trained acoustic models. The ASR systems and methods then use vehicle parameters such as engine rpm and HVAC setting to further pare down the selection since the acoustic model for engine noise may be different than the acoustic model for HVAC noise due to the spectral nature of the noises. Once the most representative acoustic model is identified, the ASR systems and methods simply use that one to complete the speech recognition. This dynamic switching can also be used to account for different speakers.
Referring now toFIG. 1, a block diagram of an Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) system10for use in a vehicle is shown. ASR system10includes a controller12. Controller12is in communication with a user microphone14within the cabin of the vehicle. User microphone14is configured to detect speech (e.g., commands) spoken by a user in the cabin of the vehicle. User microphone14provides an electronic signal indicative of the speech to controller12. Under ordinary real-world operating conditions of the vehicle, some amount of noise is in the cabin. Thus, the speech detected by user microphone14is noisy speech. User microphone14thereby provides, as indicated inFIG. 1, an electronic signal16indicative of the noisy speech to controller12.
Controller12is further in communication with one or more cabin noise microphones18. Cabin noise microphones18are in various places within the cabin and are configured to detect the noise in the cabin. Cabin noise microphones18provide an electronic signal20indicative of the cabin noise to controller12.
Controller12is further in communication with CAN bus22of the vehicle. Electronic signals indicative of vehicle parameters are communicated on CAN bus22. Controller12receives an electronic signal24indicative of vehicle parameters such as vehicle speed, engine rpm, and HVAC settings from CAN bus22.
Controller12is further in communication with wearables26worn by the user. Controller12receives an electronic signal28indicative of contextual information from wearables26.
Controller12includes a processor stage30(labeled with the phrase “Noise Quantification”) for performing a noise quantification operation. Processor stage30receives electronic signal20indicative of the cabin noise from cabin noise microphones18, electronic signal24indicative of the vehicle parameters from CAN bus22, and electronic signal28indicative of the contextual information from wearables26. Processor stage30processes electronic signals20,24, and28to quantify the noise present in the vehicle cabin. Processor stage30generates an electronic signal32indicative of the quantified noise.
In this way, processor stage30quantifies the noise by several different means including information indicative of vehicle cabin noise from cabin noise microphones18doing passive noise analysis, information from CAN bus22indicative of vehicle parameters such as vehicle speed, engine rpm, and HVAC settings, and/or contextual information from wearables26. The quantified noise represents the impact of the Lombard Effect. As such, processor stage30estimates the impact of the Lombard Effect by taking into account various inputs (i.e., detected cabin noise, vehicle parameters, and contextual information) regarding the cabin noise in a vehicle.
Controller12further includes a processor stage34(labeled with the phrase “Optimal Acoustic Model Selected”) for performing an optimal acoustic model selection operation. Processor stage34has access to a library36(shown inFIG. 3) of pre-established acoustic models. Library36embodies multiple acoustic models put into a single vehicle system. The acoustic models of library36are pre-established by being trained in a laboratory setting to capture the important use cases. As such, each acoustic model in library36corresponds to a respective one of the use cases.
Processor stage34receives electronic signal32indicative of the quantified noise from processor stage30. Processor stage34selects one of the acoustic models from library36as a function of the quantified noise. The function correlates the given noise to the best represented acoustic model. That is, processor stage34selects from library36the acoustic model which corresponds best, relative to the other acoustic models in library36, to the quantified noise. The acoustic model selected by processor stage34is the acoustic model best trained to accommodate the noisy speech that is noisy due to the noise which is quantified. In this way, processor stage34dynamically selects an appropriate acoustic model, from library36of acoustic models, as a function of vehicle parameters and ambient noise. Processor stage34outputs an electronic signal38indicative of the selected acoustic model.
Controller12further includes a processor stage40(labeled with the phrase “Selected Acoustic Model Application to Noisy Speech”) for processing the noisy speech with the selected acoustic model. Processor stage40receives electronic signal16indicative of the noisy speech from user microphone14and receives electronic signal38indicative of the selected acoustic model from processor stage34. Processor stage40applies the selected acoustic model to the noisy speech to improve recognition of the speech and outputs an electronic signal42indicative of the speech.
A receiver44(labeled with the phrase “Speech Recognized”) of ASR system10receives electronic signal42indicative of the speech. Receiver44compares the speech to a list of commands or the like in order to recognize the speech and then acts on the recognized speech accordingly.
As described, controller12in conjunction with user microphone14, cabin noise microphones18, CAN bus22, and wearables26provide a dynamic switching acoustic model system. Controller12quantifies noise based on various inputs, selects an acoustic model based on the quantified noise, and applies the selected acoustic model to the noisy speech to improve recognition of the speech. Controller12performs this operation continuously such that as the noise changes the controller selects some other acoustic model most appropriate for the different noise and then applies this selected acoustic model to the noisy speech to improve recognition of the speech. In this way, controller12employs dynamic switching of acoustic models to improve speech recognition performance.
In a variation, user microphone14detects ambient noise in the cabin and communicates information indicative of the detected ambient noise to controller12. In this manner, in addition to detecting speech spoken by a user in the cabin, user microphone14also functions as a cabin noise microphone configured to detect ambient noise in the cabin. As such, user microphone14can be used capture ambient noise in the cabin when no cabin microphone is available to do so.
Referring now toFIG. 2, with continual reference toFIG. 1, a block diagram depicting noise quantification and acoustic model identification operations of ASR system10is shown. As described above, processor stage30of controller12of ASR system10is for performing a noise quantification operation. As shown inFIG. 2, processor stage30includes a first processor sub-stage30aand a second processor sub-stage30b. First processor sub-stage30areceives electronic signal24indicative of the vehicle parameters from CAN bus22and second processor sub-stage30breceives electronic signal20indicative of the cabin noise from cabin noise microphones18.
First processor sub-stage30a(labeled with the phrase “Noise Estimation Function”) is for estimating the Lombard Effect based on the vehicle parameters. First processor sub-stage30agenerates an electronic signal32aindicative of the estimated Lombard Effect based on the vehicle parameters. Second processor sub-stage30b(labeled with the phrase “Cabin Noise Spectral Analysis”) generates an electronic signal32bindicative of the estimated Lombard Effect based on the cabin noise. Electronic signals32aand32bin conjunction with one another are indicative of the quantified noise environment, which is the overall output of the noise quantification operation of processor stage30.
Processor stage34(labeled inFIG. 2with the phrase “Identification of Optimal Acoustic Model”) of controller12receives electronic signals32aand32bindicative of the estimated Lombard Effect based on vehicle parameters and cabin noise, respectively. Processor stage34selects one of the acoustic models from library36(shown inFIG. 3) as a function of the estimated Lombard Effect based on vehicle parameters and cabin noise. More generally, processor stage34selects one of the acoustic models from library36based on the quantified noise. In this way, processor stage34selects from library36the acoustic model which corresponds best to the quantified noise.
Processor stage34outputs an electronic calibration signal46that is indicative of which acoustic model processor stage34has selected. With reference toFIG. 3, processor stage34supplies electronic calibration signal46to library36for processor stage40of controller12to access the selected acoustic model. Processor stage40then applies the selected acoustic model to the noisy speech.
In a variation, the operation of processor stage34in selecting an acoustic model from library36includes processor stage34prescreening the acoustic models according to the estimated Lombard Effect based on the cabin noise to obtain a sub-set of candidate acoustic models and then further paring down the sub-set of candidate acoustic models according to the estimated Lombard Effect based on the vehicle parameters to select the most appropriate acoustic model from the sub-set of candidate acoustic models. As an example, processor stage34uses cabin noise dB level/spectral analysis information according to electronic signal32bto prescreen the selection of acoustic models from library36. Processor stage34then uses vehicle parameter information such as engine rpm and HVAC setting according to electronic signal32ato further pare down the selection. Processor stage34further pares down the selection in this manner as an acoustic model for engine noise may be different than an acoustic model for HVAC noise due to the spectral nature of the noises.
As described,FIG. 2in conjunction withFIG. 3shows ASR system10initially quantifying the noise and then using a look-up table type function to identify the optimal acoustic model in library36.
The acoustic models in library36illustrated inFIG. 3are labeled with the general reference numeral48. Acoustic models48are denoted with the phrase AM ‘x’, where ‘x’ is a unique identification number. As an example, acoustic model “AM 5”48ais the acoustic model identified by electronic calibration signal46as being the acoustic model selected by processor stage34of controller12.
The block diagram ofFIG. 3depicts acoustic model selection and selected acoustic model usage for speech recognition operations of ASR system10. In operation, processor stage34outputs electronic calibration signal46indicative of the selected acoustic model to library36. In turn, processor stage40accesses and applies the selected acoustic model to the noisy speech in order to recognize the speech.
FIG. 3shows ASR system10having library36of N acoustic models available in a vehicle and how the ASR system selects one of the acoustic models (e.g., acoustic model48a) as specified by electronic calibration signal46and applies the selected acoustic model to the noisy speech. As described herein, the selected acoustic model depends entirely on the noise analysis.
While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.
| 6G
| 10 | L |
The following examples are intended to describe preferred embodiments of
the present invention and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope
of the invention defined in the accompanying claims. Unless otherwise
indicated all parts and percentages specified in the examples are by
weight and viscosities were measured at 25 degrees C.
EXAMPLE 1
This example describes one embodiment of the present method for preparing
PVA tubing and the effect of extrusion conditions on the dimensions and
physical properties of the final article.
A 15 weight percent solution of a polyvinyl alcohol exhibiting a number
average molecular weight of 89,000 was prepared by adding the required
amount of the polymer to 4:1 weight ratio mixture of dimethyl sulfoxide
and water and heating the resultant mixture at 100.degree. C. for about 30
minutes with stirring, at which time the polymer was completely dissolved.
This solution was maintained at a temperature of 80.degree. C. while being
extruded under a number of predetermined pressures listed in the following
Table 1 through the annular passage of a die assembly consisting of a
substantially circular inner passage exhibiting a diameter of 3.7 mm.
surrounded by a concentric annular outer passage exhibiting an inside
diameter of 5.9 mm. and an outside diameter of 10 mm. A liquid
polydimethylsiloxane exhibiting a viscosity of 0.1 Pa.s and maintained at
a temperature of 20.degree. C. was allowed to flow under its own weight
through the inner passage from a reservoir concurrently with extrusion of
the polyvinyl alcohol solution.
The outlet orifice of the die assembly was located from 1to 2 cm. above a
coagulation bath consisting essentially of a mixture of methanol and dry
ice having an equilibrium temperature of -75.degree. C. The distance
traveled by the extruded article while immersed in the coagulation bath
was 244 cm. The extruded article was pulled through the coagulation bath
using a 8.4 cm. diameter take-up spool rotating at a speed of from 8 to 66
rpm. The effect of the speed of this spool on the inner and outer
diameters of tubing extruded using a pressure of 76 kilopascals on the PVA
solution is demonstrated by the data in Table 2.
From the take-up spool of the extruded article was passed into a bath of
methanol to extract the dimethyl sulfoxide and water. The tubing remained
in the methanol bath for 16 hours, at which time a portion of the tubing
was transferred to a container of water in which it remained for 16 hours
to form a hydrogel.
Following removal from the methanol bath a second portion of the tubing was
allowed to dry for 24 hours under ambient conditions. The dried tubing was
then passed through a 5 cm.-long zone of air heated to a temperature of
145.degree. C. and would on a take-up spool. The ratio of the surface
speeds of the take-up and supply spools was 6:1. The outside diameter of
the final fiber was 300 micrometers.
The tensile strength of the fiber was 90,000 p.s.i. (630 MPa) and the
elongation at break was 20%.
The surface speed of the coagulation bath take-up spool used to obtain the
data in Table 1 was 12.3 meters per minute.
TABLE 1
______________________________________
Effect of Extrusion Pressure of
PVA Solution on Tubing Diameter
______________________________________
Pressure (kPa)
69 104 138 173 207
Outside Diameter (mm)
1.98 2.98 3.45 3.85 3.95
Inside Diameter (mm)
0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5
______________________________________
TABLE 2
______________________________________
Effect of Take-Up Spool Speed On Tubing Diameter
______________________________________
Speed (rpm) 8 16.4 25 38 66
Outside Diameter (mm)
4.9 3.8 3.2 2.6 2.2
Inside Diameter (mm)
1.1 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4
______________________________________
Extrusion Pressure Applied To PVA Solution Was 76 kPa. | 3D
| 01 | F |
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently
throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention relates to a support apparatus for scaling and
working on an inclined roof. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the support
apparatus 10 is shown assembled in place on a pitched roof, made up of at
least one ladder 12 having a pair of ridge hooks be, a support frame 14,
and a platform 16 for support of workers and materials.
The ladder 12 in the preferred embodiment has a pair of rails 32. Hollow
rungs 34 are affixed between each of the two rails 32 defining an opening
36, thereby forming a tubular passage. A ridge hook 18 is attached to the
end of each of the pair of rails 32. The ridge hook 18 is adapted to
frictionally engage the ridge of the roof by any conventional means so
that the ladder rests on the inclined surface and extends downward from
the ridge of the roof.
The support frame 14 includes a pair of horizontal members 26, a pair of
vertical legs 28, and a cross brace assembly 30.
As is more readily appreciated from FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, each of the legs 28,
having a first end 31 and a second end 29, has a tube 38 horizontally
attached to each first end 31 and second end 29. The opening of the tube
38 can be aligned with the openings 36 on either end of the ladder rung
34. As can be best appreciated from FIG. 3, a rod 40 can be passed through
both the rung 34 and tubes 38. Each end of the rod 40 acts as a spindle
upon which the legs 28 rest to the outbound sides of the ladder 12. The
rod 40 is in turn secured from lateral movement by any suitable means, but
preferably by removable pins 42 passing through an aperture 44 in the end
of the rod which extends beyond the tubes 38.
Each of the horizontal members 26, having a proximate end 25 and a distal
end 27, support the platform 16 by having the distal end 27 extending
horizontally from a rung 34 and rotatably joining with the cross brace
assembly 30 at the proximate end 25. As described above, a passage formed
in the distal end 27 is used to removably attach the rod and pin system as
described above to the rung 34. The platform 16 is pivotally mounted to
each of the horizontal members 26 by a trunnion 22. Access to the rungs 34
of the ladder 12 is thus easily allowed by raising the platform
The cross brace assembly 30 acts to securely, yet rotatably, connect the
horizontal members 26 and legs 28. As is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the
cross brace assembly 30 is a generally Z-shaped configuration made of a
pair of cross braces 46 rigidly connected to one another by a connecting
member 48. Each cross brace 46 is further made up of a pair of slidable
members 50 connected to one another by an elongated rigid member 52. Each
sliding member 50 is adapted to closely grasp a leg 28 so that the leg
rides vertically within a channel defined by the sliding member 50. The
sliding member 50 further defines at least one aperture 56. The leg 28
defines a plurality of apertures 54 of which one may be brought into
registry with the at least one aperture 56. Once so aligned, the leg 28
may be secured to the sliding member 50 by a removable pin 58 passing
through each of apertures in registry.
Each of the legs 28 are attached to the horizontal members 26 by a means
adapted to allow rotation of the legs of at least 180 degrees around the
outside of the platform from an axle formed by the cross brace 46. As
shown in FIG. 3, an annular passage 33 is integrally defined by the
proximate end 25 of the horizontal member 26 through which the elongated
rigid member 52 of the cross brace 46 passes. However, modifications of
the passage may be made to allow removable attachment of the horizontal
member 26 to the elongated rigid member
As shown in FIG. 2, the axle is not directly centered on the midpoint of
the length of each of the legs 28. Each leg 28 is thus divided into a long
portion and a short portion resulting in an offset axle position. The
plurality of apertures 54 in each of the legs 28 can be predetermined so
that the short portion and long portion of the legs correspond to two
commonly found roof pitches. Once the sliding member is set in this
position, the legs simply can be rotated 180 degrees on the axle to
correspond to two roof pitches without requiring any disassembly of the
support frame.
Referring now to FIG. 4, a chimney-arm 60 attachment rests in a valley V
formed between the chimney and the roof ridge while a representation of
the ladder 12 and support apparatus 10 rests on an inclined roof next to
one face of the chimney. In an identical manner as having been shown in
FIG. 3, the chimney-arm 60 is adapted to pass through an opening 36 on
either end of the ladder rung 34. The chimney-arm 60 is secured from
lateral movement by any suitable means, but preferably by removable pins
42 passing through a apertures 44 in the chimney-arm defined in positions
comparable those shown in the rod 40 in FIG. 3. However, the chimney-arm
is effectively an extension of such rod 40 which extends beyond the tubes
38 of the legs 28. Referring again to FIG. 4, the chimney-arm 60 is a
predetermined length sufficient to cross the chimney face in part forming
the valley. The preferred embodiment of the chimney-arm 60 has
perpendicularly bent or hooked end 62 to partially encircle the chimney
for added or sole support of the support apparatus from an existing
chimney.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the
embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments
within the scope of the following claims. | 4E
| 04 | G |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Although the principles of the present invention are described below in connection with a portable compact disk player, the present invention can be applied to all optical disk reading devices, including but not limited to compact disk (CD) player systems, DVD drives, CD/DVD drives, DVD/RW combo drives, car audio drives, etc.
In order to achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a device for the latching and release of the lid of a portable compact disk player where there is no continuous restoring force applied against the closed lid.
Referring toFIG. 3, the latching and release device for the lid of a portable compact disk player of the present invention includes an upper cover1, a lid2, a solenoid housing3, a solenoid4, a push rod5and a movable locking element6, among other components.
The upper cover1has a holding surface10that is used to define a holding space for a compact disk. The holding surface is provided with a notch11of a suitable size at its front end. The upper cover1is also provided with a plurality of attachment parts on its bottom side for use in an integrated assembly with a lower cover (not shown in the drawings). A main axial motor7is covered and mounted within the upper cover1and the lower cover. A spin tray70for the compact disk is provided on top of the main axial motor7and extends into the interior space of the holding space, so that the spin tray70can carry the compact disk such that the compact disk can be suspended above the holding space.
The middle part of the lid2is provided with a holding device base20and a holding device21that is located in the holding device base20and that can project out of the holding device base20. The holding device21applies a strong magnetic force to attract the spin tray70so that the compact disk can be securely fixed between the holding device21and the spin tray70. The front end of the lid2extends downward to form a latching part22, with a latching hole23provided in the latching part22. The lid2is also provided with a pivoting hinge part24at its rear end, with the pivoting hinge part24pivotably connected at a preset location to the rear end of the upper cover1. The lid2pivots about the pivoting hinge part24to open and close the lid2onto the upper cover1.
The solenoid housing3is secured to the bottom side of the upper cover1by a plurality of threaded screws that extend through a connecting portion331in the solenoid housing3which is adjacent to the above-mentioned notch11. The solenoid housing3is provided with a holding cavity30, a pivot part receiver31, and a vertical guide tube32that is aligned with the notch11on one end. Referring also toFIGS. 4 and 5, the guide tube32is provided with an inclined guide track33along its side edge as well as a vertical guide track34located on the side opposite to the inclined guide track33. The inclined guide track33defines a stop edge35at a bottom end while the vertical guide track34defines a capture point36at its bottom end. The vertical elevation of the capture point36is approximately the same as the vertical elevation of the stop edge35(i.e.,35and36are at approximately the same level). In addition, the solenoid4is installed inside the holding cavity30of the solenoid housing3. The solenoid4has an extension plunger40that projects outwardly, and the extension plunger40can be suitably excited to extend forward or retract backwards.
The push rod5is inserted into the interior bore defined by a matching compression spring51. One end of the spring51pushes against the bottom edge of the top surface of the push rod5, while the other end of the spring51pushes against the top surface of the guide tube32, so that the push rod5can be moved inside the guide tube32in a spring-like manner, and to be appropriately projected out above the notch11. The lower end of the push rod5is provided with a first positioning tab52, and a second positioning tab53that is located on the side opposite to the first positioning tab52. The first positioning tab52can be positioned at the stop edge35along the inclined guide track33, while at the same time, the second positioning tab53can be positioned at the capture point36along the vertical guide track34.
The locking element6is provided with a pivot part60, a hook-shaped catch part61extending from a first end of the pivot part60, an L-shaped holding part62extending from the first end of the pivot part60in a direction opposite to that of the catch part61, a push rod directing part63extending parallel to the holding part62, and an eject bar64provided at a second end of the pivot part60. As best shown inFIG. 3, the pivot part60is pivotably connected inside a curved channel of the pivot part receiver31of the solenoid housing3, and the catch part61can be appropriately hooked into the latching hole23of the lid2. The holding part62is held by the extension plunger40of the solenoid4, and extension plunger40can be appropriately moved forward and backward so that the locking element6can pivot in a corresponding manner with the pivot part60as the pivoting center of rotation. The rod directing part63can be used to appropriately direct the first positioning tab52that is positioned at the stop edge35.
Next, reference is made toFIGS. 6–8,9–11and12–14, which respectively illustrate the state of the lid2when the lid2is to be closed, the state of the lid2when the lid2is locked, and the state of the lid2when the lid2is popped open.
Referring to FIGS.4and6–8, when the lid2is to be closed, the bottom edge of latching part22of the lid2moves downward and presses against the top surface of the push rod5, while at the same time the catch part61of the locking element6moves upward along the wall below the latching hole23, and the first positioning tab52of the push rod5moves downward along the inclined guide track33, such that the spring51is tensioned. In addition, when the bottom edge of the latching part22of the lid2pushes downward to a certain point, the catch part61of the locking element6will instantly hook into the latching hole23of the latching part22, but at this time there is still a short distance between the first positioning tab52of the push rod5and the stop edge35. For this reason, the push rod5, under the action of the predetermined torque force provided by the spring51, will force the first positioning tab52to rotate and move downward to travel along the above-mentioned short distance along the inclined guide track33to the stop edge35. Thus, in this manner, the top surface of the push rod5can be prevented from coming into contact with the lid2.
As shown in FIGS.5and9–11, when the lid2is in a latched state, the first positioning tab52is positioned at the stop edge35while at the same time the second positioning tab53is positioned at the capture point36, so that there is a small distance (i.e., gap25) between the push rod5(or spring51) and the lid2. In other words, the spring restoring force of the spring51does not act upon the lid2. As a result, deformation of the lid2caused by an excessive spring restoring force can be prevented. In addition, the magnetic connection force between the holding device21and disk spin tray70maintains the lid2in a closed position.
Referring now toFIGS. 12–14, when the lid2is to be popped open, the solenoid4is energized to cause its extension plunger40to retract backwards, so that the catch part61of the locking element6is moved outward to disengage from the latching hole23. At the same time, the rod directing part63of the locking element6is directed against the first positioning tab52that is positioned at the stop edge35(seeFIG. 5) to cause the first positioning tab52and the second positioning tab53to rotate simultaneously so as to disengage from the stop edge35and the capture point36, respectively, of the guide track tube32. The restoring force (i.e., the normal bias) of the spring51will cause the push rod5to move upwardly to push the lid2to detach from the magnetic connection force between the holding device21and disk spin tray70, thereby opening the lid2. As the push rod5moves up, the first positioning tab52and the second positioning tab53will travel upwardly along the guide tracks33and33, respectively, as shown inFIG. 4.
The present invention further provides an emergency eject mechanism8which is rotatably coupled to the solenoid housing3. The emergency eject mechanism8has a channel81that receives a projection65on the eject bar64. If the solenoid4is not working, the user can manually tilt the eject mechanism8in a clockwise direction (as viewed from the orientation ofFIG. 3) to cause the locking element6to rotate, which in turn causes the rod directing part63to be directed against the first positioning tab52in the manner described above to open the lid2.
While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.
| 4E
| 05 | C |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The invention will be illustrated in more detail, with specific regard to an embodiment in which it is employed to rejuvenate the catalyst particles in a slurry Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis reactor, that is producing hydrocarbons from a synthesis gas feed. As is known, in a slurry Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis process, a synthesis gas feed comprising a mixture of H 2 and CO is bubbled up into a slurry in which the H 2 and CO react in the presence of a suitable catalyst, under reaction conditions effective to form hydrocarbons, and preferably liquid hydrocarbons. Slurry hydrocarbon synthesis process conditions vary somewhat depending on the catalyst and desired products. Typical conditions effective to form hydrocarbons comprising mostly C 5 paraffins, (e.g., C 5 -C 200 ) and preferably C 10 paraffins, in a slurry hydrocarbon synthesis process employing a catalyst comprising a supported cobalt component include, for example, temperatures, pressures and hourly gas space velocities in the range of from about 320-600 F., 80-600 psi and 100-40,000 V/hr/V, expressed as standard volumes of the gaseous CO and H 2 mixture (60 F., 1 atm) per hour per volume of catalyst, respectively. A catalyst comprising a catalytic cobalt component is known to produce mostly hydrocarbons that are liquid and solid at room temperature, but liquid at the reaction conditions. While the mole ratio of the hydrogen to the carbon monoxide in the gas may broadly range from about 0.5 to 4, the stoichiometric consumption mole ratio for a slurry Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis reaction is typically about 2.1 in a slurry hydrocarbon synthesis process conducted under non-shifting conditions. A synthesis gas having other than a stoichiometric H 2 to CO mole ratio may also be used, as is known, a discussion of which is beyond the scope of the present invention. Synthesis gas may be formed by various means from coke, coal, bitumen, hydrocarbons and other hydrocarbonaceous materials. U.S. Pat. No. 5,993,138 gives a good review of various processes used to produce synthesis gas and their relative merits. A feed comprising methane, as in natural gas, is preferred for convenience, cleanliness and because it doesn't leave large quantities of ash to be handled and disposed of. Irrespective of the hydrocarbonaceous source used to produce the synthesis gas, they all typically contain nitrogen or nitrogen containing compounds that result in the presence NH 3 and HCN in the synthesis gas. These will deactivate a Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst, particularly one comprising Co as the catalytic metal. Oxygenates are formed during hydrocarbon synthesis and can also deactivate the catalyst. Further, water can oxidize the surface of the catalytic metal component. It has been found that deactivation by these species is reversible and the catalyst can be rejuvenated by contacting it with hydrogen. This restoration of the catalytic activity of a reversibly deactivated catalyst is referred to as catalyst rejuvenation. However, while preferred and possible, complete restoration of the catalytic activity for all of the catalyst particles in the slurry passing through the rejuvenation means may not always be achieved. It's for this reason the expression at least partially rejuvenates the catalyst and the like, are used herein. The rejuvenation process also produces a rejuvenation product gas, which is referred to herein as a rejuvenation offgas, and this offgas contains some of the same catalyst deactivating species present in the synthesis gas that resulted in the catalyst deactivation in the first place (e.g., NH 3 and HCN). Therefore it is also desirable to remove this offgas from the rejuvenated slurry, before it passes back into the slurry body in the hydrocarbon synthesis reactor, to avoid recontaminating the slurry with the catalyst deactivating species removed by the rejuvenation. The rejuvenation will typically occur at the synthesis conditions when the process of the invention takes place in the synthesis reactor or reactor vessel, as opposed to a vessel exterior of the reactor. While it may be conducted in an exterior vessel, it is preferred that it be conducted in the synthesis reactor itself.
During rejuvenation, the presence of CO in the rejuvenation zone hinders catalyst rejuvenation until the CO is consumed. Thus, removing at least a portion of the gas bubbles which contain unreacted synthesis gas from the slurry before it is passed into the rejuvenation zone, substantially reduces the amount of CO present during rejuvenation. This reduces the amount of rejuvenation hydrogen needed and also results in a greater degree of rejuvenation. Further, the hydrogen or hydrogen containing rejuvenation gas passed into the rejuvenation zone raises the H 2 to CO mole ratio to greater than the stoichiometric. This results in conversion of the CO in the rejuvenation zone primarily to methane, and also tends to promote hydrogenolysis and cracking of the hydrocarbon liquid to lighter products (such as methane). For these reasons, it is beneficial to remove as much of the gas bubbles as is possible from the slurry before it is rejuvenated. The invention will be further understood with respect to the embodiments illustrated in the Figures.
FIG. 1 shows a slurry hydrocarbon synthesis reactor 10 , briefly illustrated in schematic cross-section, as comprising a cylindrical vessel 12 containing a rejuvenation means of the invention 14 within. A feed gas line 16 feeds the synthesis gas feed up into the bottom of the reactor via a gas distribution grid or tray briefly illustrated as dashed line 18 . Grid 18 is located over plenum space 20 and at the bottom of the three-phase slurry body 22 in the reactor. Except for gas distributors arrayed across its surface and extending through it, grid 18 is impervious to gas and liquids. Unreacted synthesis gas and gas products of the hydrocarbon synthesis reaction rise up out of the slurry, collect in gas space 24 at the top of the vessel and are removed by a gas product line 26 . The slurry comprises a hydrocarbon liquid in which catalyst particles and gas bubbles are dispersed. The circles and dots respectively represent the gas bubbles and solid catalyst particles. The slurry hydrocarbon liquid comprises hydrocarbon products of the synthesis reaction that are liquid at the reaction conditions. The gas bubbles comprise the uprising synthesis gas, along with gas products of the synthesis reaction, a significant amount of which comprises steam or water vapor. A hydrocarbon liquid product withdrawal means 28 , such as a filter, is located within the slurry body 22 for withdrawing the liquid hydrocarbon products from the reactor, via line 30 . Catalyst rejuvenation means 14 , shown enlarged in FIG. 2 , comprises a cylindrical vessel 32 , having conical upper 34 and lower 36 portions, joined by a vertical cylindrical center wall portion 38 . If desired or necessary due to space limitations in the reactor, part of the upper conical portion 34 of vessel 32 may extend up out of the slurry. A downcomer 40 , having respective upper and lower portions 42 and 44 , comprises a hollow, vertical conduit, such as a pipe, in fluid communication with the interior of the rejuvenation vessel 32 , via connecting fluid conduit 52 . The lower portion 44 of the downcomer comprises the slurry transfer means, for passing rejuvenated slurry that has been reduced in gas bubbles down to the bottom portion of the slurry body. Portion 44 is wholly immersed in the slurry body, as shown. However, if the rejuvenation means 14 is in a vessel external of vessel 12 , then at least a portion of the rejuvenated slurry transfer means will be located in the slurry body. A simple conical-shaped baffle 46 , located just below the rejuvenated slurry exit at the bottom of the downcomer, prevents the uprising synthesis gas bubbles from entering up into the downcomer. If desired or necessary, an optional rejuvenation gas line 48 may be used to inject small amounts of a hydrogen-containing rejuvenation gas up into the downcomer, to maintain catalytic activity of the rejuvenated catalyst in the downflowing rejuvenated slurry. Also associated with the rejuvenating means 14 is a gas line 54 , for passing a rejuvenating gas into the bottom of the interior of the vessel 32 , and up through a gas distribution means 56 , indicated by the dashed line. First and second gas bubble disengaging zones are respectively shown as 55 and 62 . Zone 62 comprises the interior of the conduit 52 connecting the vessel 32 to the downcomer 40 . A simple baffle plate 58 , shown extending transversely across the interior of rejuvenation vessel 32 , divides most of the interior of the vessel into two different fluid flow zones. This prevents the incoming, gas-bubble reduced slurry entering 32 from the slurry body, from flowing transversely across the interior of vessel 32 and then out and down through the downcomer, without having had sufficient contact with the hydrogen to rejuvenate the catalyst particles in the slurry. Thus, the three-phase slurry from the slurry body 22 in reactor 10 disengages gas bubbles in zone 55 , to form a slurry reduced in gas bubbles. This increases the density of the gas-reduced slurry, which then flows down, via slurry conduit 66 , into the interior of the rejuvenating vessel 32 and forms a rejuvenating slurry body 60 . The slurry flow through the vessel 32 , due to the presence of the flow-dividing baffle 58 , is shown by the arrows. The uprising rejuvenating gas, in this case bubbles of hydrogen or a suitable hydrogen-containing gas indicated by the circles, contacts the deactivated catalyst particles in the slurry as it flows down, across and up through the interior of the vessel, and then out through conduit 52 into downcomer 40 . As the slurry flows through the conduit 52 , gas bubbles comprising the rejuvenating gas and gaseous rejuvenation products rise up and out of the rejuvenated slurry. This increases the density of the slurry to greater than that of the surrounding slurry body, enabling the now gas-reduced and rejuvenated slurry to flow into downcomer 40 , and down through lower portion 44 , due to the density difference. As the hydrogen in the rejuvenating gas contacts the catalyst particles in the slurry flowing through the rejuvenating vessel it reacts with them, thereby rejuvenating them and restoring at least a portion of their catalytic activity. This forms a rejuvenating offgas comprising unreacted hydrogen and gaseous products of the rejuvenation reaction. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , this offgas rises up into the upper portion 42 of the downcomer conduit, which carries it out of the synthesis reactor as shown in FIG. 1 .
Returning to vessel 32 , FIGS. 1 , 2 and 3 show the first gas disengaging zone 55 as comprising an arcuate cavity in the shape of a sector of an annulus, in fluid communication with the surrounding slurry. This is formed by an inner wall 68 extending vertically down from the conical top 34 of vessel 32 to form part of conduit 66 . Wall 68 is curved, with its perimeter parallel to that of the vertical outer wall 38 of the vessel. A downwardly sloping bottom wall 70 extends radially inward from the upper edge 72 of vertical wall 38 , and terminates at its bottom in a curved vertical wall 74 which, together with wall 68 , forms slurry conduit 66 . As shown in FIGS. 1 , 2 and 4 , wall 74 extends vertically downward from the bottom edge of 70 . The perimeter of both 70 and 74 are also parallel to that of 38 . Wall 70 slopes down at an angle greater than the angle of friction (angle of repose) of the catalyst particles in the slurry, to prevent build-up of slurry particles in the first gas disengaging zone 55 . FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional schematic view illustrating another embodiment of the first gas disengaging zone, section A. In this embodiment, instead of forming edge 72 , a portion 39 , of vertical wall 38 of vessel 32 extends vertically up as high as the intersection of 68 and 34 . This wall extension provides a larger and deeper gas bubble disengaging zone. Thus, providing the extending vertical wall extension 39 provides a larger quiescent zone, in which the slurry within has more time to disengage gas bubbles, and with substantially less disturbance from the surrounding slurry 22 . This is a preferred embodiment over that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 . FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a partial cross-section of slurry conduit 52 , illustrating a detail of one embodiment of the shape of the conduit, which also functions in this embodiment as the second gas bubble disengaging zone 62 . Referring to both FIGS. 2 and 5 , in this embodiment the upper and lower walls 76 and 78 of the conduit 52 , are respectively sloped upward and downward, as they extend radially outward from the vessel wall 38 . The downward slope of 78 enables the intersection 80 , of the upper portion of 78 with the vertical, outer wall of vessel 32 , to act as a weir. It also increases the size of gas disengaging zone 62 , as well as the gas and slurry entrance area into downcomer 40 . The side walls 82 and 84 provide a fluid opening to downcomer 40 substantially larger than if they were parallel and laterally spaced apart the same distance as the inside diameter of 40 . This all maximizes gas disengagement in 62 and minimizes slurry flow reduction into 40 by the outflowing rejuvenation offgas.
It is understood that various other embodiments and modifications in the practice of the invention will be apparent to, and can be readily made by, those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention described above. Accordingly, it is not intended that the scope of the claims appended hereto be limited to the exact description set forth above, but rather that the claims be construed as encompassing all of the features of patentable novelty which reside in the present invention, including all the features and embodiments which would be treated as equivalents thereof by those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.
| 2C
| 07 | C |
EXAMPLES
Example 1
Iron(III) chloride (270 g) and iron(II) chloride (119 g) are dissolved in one liter of distilled water while stirring and heated to 100 C. in the absence of oxygen. By adding a mixture of ammonia water and 35 g citric acid, the pH of the solution is adjusted to 10 while stirring and the mixture is boiled for ten minutes. Then the dispersion is cooled to approx. 20 C., adjusted to a pH of 7.0 with hydrochloric acid and dialyzed with distilled water until the dialysate has an electric conductivity of <10 S/cm, and then dispersed for twenty minutes with ultrasound and 300 W power. To remove larger particles or weakly aggregated super-paramagnetic particles, the dispersion is centrifuged for ten minutes at 10,000 rpm. The very small super-paramagnetic particles can be mixed with physiological saline solution for use as a positive i.v. contrast medium for NMR diagnostics.
Example 2
100 mL of the dispersion of very small super-paramagnetic single-domain particles from Example 1, with a magnetic saturation induction of 10 mT, are mixed with a solution consisting of 4 g methoxy polyethylene glycol phosphate (molecular weight 1000), 1 g rutin and 50 mL methanol, and the methanol is distilled off in vacuo. Water is added to the dispersion to yield 100 mL, sodium hydroxide is added to adjust the pH to 7.0; the mixture is then dispersed for ten minutes ultrasonically at a power of 100 W, and then centrifuged for ten minutes at 10,000 rpm to remove larger particles or weakly aggregated super-paramagnetic single-domain particles. The very small super-paramagnetic particles can be used as a positive i.v. contrast medium for angiography in NMR diagnostics.
Example 3
20 mL of the dispersion of very small super-paramagnetic single-domain particles from Example 2, with a magnetic saturation induction of 1 mT are mixed with a solution of 10 mg doxorubicin in 10 mL physiological saline solution. These very small super-paramagnetic particles are suitable for accumulating in tumors and attacking said tumors.
Example 4
Iron(III) chloride (50.3 g) and iron(II) sulfate (139 g) are dissolved in one liter of distilled water while stirring and heated to 85 C. in the absence of oxygen. While adding 25% ammonium hydroxide solution by drops, a pH of 10.5 is established. Immediately after precipitation, the dispersion is mixed with a solution of 5 g L-aspartic acid and 25 g tartaric acid in 500 mL water and stirred for twenty minutes at 85 C. Then the dispersion is cooled to approx. 20 C., adjusted to a pH of 7.0 with hydrochloric acid, mixed with 20 mL 30% hydrogen peroxide and stirred until there is no more evolution of gas. The dispersion is next dispersed ultrasonically for twenty minutes at a power of 300 W and then dialyzed until the dialysate has an electrical conductivity of <10 S/cm. To remove larger particles or weakly aggregated super-paramagnetic particles, the dispersion is centrifuged for ten minutes at 10,000 rpm. The very small super-paramagnetic particles can be used as a positive i.v. contrast medium for angiography in NMR diagnostics.
Example 5
100 mL of the dispersion of the very small super-paramagnetic single-domain particles from Example 4, with a magnetic saturation induction of 5 mT, mixed with a solution of 4 g methoxypolyethylene glycol phosphate (molecular weight 2000) and 0.4 g lauryloxypolyethylene glycol (molecular weight 1000) in 50 mL water. The very small super-paramagnetic particles can be mixed with physiological saline solution for use as a contrast medium for lymphography and for tumor diagnostics in NMR diagnostics.
Example 6
100 mL of the dispersion of the very small super-paramagnetic single-domain particles from Example 4, with a magnetic saturation induction of 5 mT, are mixed with a solution of 1 g oxygelatin in 50 mL water. The very small super-paramagnetic particles can be mixed with physiological oxygelatin solution for use as a contrast medium for lymphography and for tumor diagnostics in NMR diagnostics.
Example 7
Iron(III) chloride (50.3 g) and iron(II) sulfate (139 g) are dissolved in one liter of distilled water while stirring and heated to 100 C. in the absence of oxygen. During dropwise addition of 25% ammonium hydroxide solution, a pH of 10.5 is established. Immediately after precipitating, the dispersion is mixed with a solution of 40 g malic acid in 500 mL water and stirred for ten minutes at 100 C. Then the dispersion is cooled to approx. 20 C., its pH is adjusted to 7.0 with hydrochloric acid, and it is mixed with 20 mL 30% hydrogen peroxide and stirred until there is no more evolution of gas. The dispersion is next dispersed ultrasonically for twenty minutes at a power of 300 W and then dialyzed until the dialysate has an electrical conductivity of <10 S/cm. To remove larger particles and weakly aggregated super-paramagnetic particles, the dispersion is centrifuged for ten minutes at 10,000 rpm. The very small, super-paramagnetic particles can be used as a positive i.v. contrast medium for angiography in NMR diagnostics.
Example 8
100 mL of the dispersion of very small super-paramagnetic single-domain particles from Example 7, with a magnetic saturation induction of 5 mT, are mixed with a solution of 4 g spermidine in 50 mL water. The very small super-paramagnetic particles can be mixed with solutions of nucleotides containing phosphate groups, oligomers thereof or polymers thereof for the purpose of gene transfer.
Typical analytical data on the very small super-paramagnetic single-domain particles of example 1-8 include:
particle diameter d 50 : 4 nm
total diameter with stabilizer: 8 nm
iron(II) content: 6%
T1 relaxivity: 30 L/mmol s
T2 relaxivity: 56 L/mmol s
R 2 /R 1 relaxivity ratio: 1.87
Example 9
10 ml of a dispersion of superparamagnetic single-domain particles from example 1 with a particle diameter d 50 of 4 nm with an iron content of 0.5 mmol Fe/10 kg body weight are mixed with 10 ml of blood. After a time of 20 min. this mixture is intravenously splashed into the body. The mixture accumulates the very small superparamagnetic particles in tumors and in inflamed tissue. The NMR contrast can be observed after 5-120 min.
Example 10
10 ml of a dispersion of superparamagnetic single-domain particles from example 2 with a particle diameter d 50 of 4 nm and with an iron content of 0.5 mmol Fe/10 kg body weight are mixed with 1 ml lysate of 0.1 g tumor cells. The lysate of tumor cells is produced by an ultrasonic treatment of 50 W power for 10 min. This mixture is used for the incorporation of surface proteins and gene fragments of the tumor cells through the reticuloendothelial system into the body. The answer of the body is an immunological reaction to the components of the tumor.
Example 11
10 ml of a dispersion of superparamagnetic single-domain particles from example 1 with a particle diameter d 50 of 4 nm and with an iron content of 0.5 mmol Fe/10 kg body weight are mixed with 1 ml 10% Na-salt of tannin (pH value 7). After 20 min. the not bound part of tannin is removed by dialysis with a physiological acceptable solution. This mixture is used for accumulating superparamagnetic particles in the lymphatic node and in the bone marrow by i.v. injection. The NMR contrast effect is observed after 12-24 hrs in T1-weighted or T2-weighted NMR tomography.
Example 12
10 ml of a dispersion of superparamagnetic single-domain particles from example 2 with a particle diameter d 50 of 4 nm and with an iron content of 0.5 mmol Fe/10 kg body weight are mixed with 1 g polyethylene glycol (MW 2000). The excess part of PEG is removed by a dialysis trough a 5000 k Dalton filter. A surplus of the mixture of superparamagnetic particles with the further stabilizer substance polyethylene glycol is mixed with 10 g genes of adenosine deaminase cDNA which are to transport by invasion into the cells of peripheral blood lymphocytes. After 20 min. the not bound part of polyethylene glycol is removed by dialysis with a physiologically acceptable salt solution. The magnetized genes are added to the cells of said lymphocytes.
The cell content turns dark by the dark colored magnetized genes. The cells with the magnetized genes are injected intramuscular in the body. Now the changed cells will be involved in the usual regeneration process and will express the newly included genes.
The main areas for use of the very small super-paramagnetic particles according to the present invention is in the fields of NMR contrast media for angiography, lymphography, diagnosis of thrombi and tumors, destroying tumors, dissolving thrombi, boosting immunity, mediating cell fusion or gene transfer, where the efficacy of the tumor treatment, thrombolysis, cell fusion and gene transfer can be determined with NMR diagnostics.
The very small super-paramagnetic single-domain particles can be used for tumor diagnostics because when they are injected into the blood stream, an accumulation can be observed, especially of the very small super-paramagnetic single-domain particles stabilized with methoxy polyethylene glycol phosphate or phosphonate, in the tumors.
By coupling pharmacologically effective substances to the very small super-paramagnetic single-domain particles, the concentration of these particles at the site of action can be increased, especially with the very small super-paramagnetic single-domain particles stabilized with methoxy polyethylene glycol phosphate or phosphonate or when using tumor-specific antibodies. This circumstance is important in cancer therapy, because the substances used for chemotherapy of tumors have very strong side effects on the entire body, and the rest of the patient's body is not stressed so greatly with cytostatics when the latter are concentrated at the site of action.
In animal experiments, good effects have been obtained with these particles as parenteral positive contrast media in T1-weighted NMR tomography, such as that used for blood circulation, for diagnosis of thrombi and tumors, for imaging the gastrointestinal tract, and as antibody-specific contrast media. The high blood half-life has a positive effect here because the reticuloendothelial system absorbs the particles slowly, and especially when the particles are coupled to anti-bodies, they are mobile in the blood stream for a long period of time and thus can accumulate in an increased concentration at the binding site.
In T2-weighted NMR tomography, the very small super-paramagnetic single-domain particles yield a good negative contrast for liver, spleen, bone marrow and lymph nodes.
The quantities of very small super-paramagnetic single-domain particles used are approx. 5 to 20 mM Fe/kg body weight when used as parenteral contrast media for NMR and approx. 10 mM Fe/kg body weight when used as an oral contrast medium.
| 0A
| 61 | B |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1illustrates a hand tool in the form of a combination tool20including a jaw mechanism22with two jaws24pivotably connected by a jaw pivot26. Two handles28are deployably connected to the jaws24by handle pivot pins30. The handles28are channel sections. In the view ofFIG. 1, one of the handles28ais in a deployed position and the other of the handles28bis in a nested position. A number of different combination tools of various configurations are known, see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,238,862; 4,744,272; 5,142,721; 5,212,844; 5,267,366; and 5,062,173, whose disclosures are incorporated by reference, and several types are available commercially.
In the combination tool20, those described in the referenced patents, and those available commercially, it is common practice to affix a plurality of blade tools32in each of the handles28to increase the utility of the combination tool. The blade tools32are pivotably connected by a tool pivot axle34to the handles28at the ends remote from the pivot pins30. Each of the blade tools32can be closed to lie within the channel sections of the handles28or opened to extend from the handle28to perform their function or positioned at an intermediate position, as shown in the three positional indications inFIG. 1. When the term “blade” or “blade tool” is used herein in reference to deployable tools received into the handle of the combination tool or other type of tool, it refers to any relatively thin tool that is folded into the handle, regardless of the utilization of the tool. Such a “blade” therefore includes, but is not limited to, a sharpened knife blade, a serrated blade, a screwdriver, an awl, a bottle opener, a can opener, a saw, a file, etc. This terminology is used to distinguish the tool folded into the handle from the overall hand tool, in this case of the combination tool20.
The combination tool20has at least two, and more typically 3–4 or more, of the blade tools32arranged on the axle34of each handle28, as seen inFIG. 2for the case of four blade tools32a,32b,32c, and32d, all of which open in the same rotational direction.FIG. 2also shows the channel-shaped section of the handle28, having two sides36aand36band a web38connecting the two sides36aand36b. The tool pivot axle34extends between the two sides36aand36b.
In the preferred approach, one of the sides36ahas a cut-down region40to permit easy manual access to the blade tools32when they are to be opened. (The cut-down region40is generally configured to follow the profile of one of the jaws24so that the jaw mechanism22can be nested between and within the handles28a,28bwhen the combination tool20is nested for storage.) The blade tools32are arranged so that the longest of the blades32dis adjacent to the side36bwhich is not cut down, and the shortest of the blades32ais adjacent to the side36ahaving the cut-down region40.
Two convenience features are provided on the combination tool to aid in the locating and opening of the selected blade tool32, as illustrated inFIG. 2. Experience with Swiss Army knives and commercial combination tools has shown that the identifying and opening the desired one of the blade tools can be difficult, particularly under adverse conditions of darkness, wet surfaces, etc.
To aid in locating a specific blade tool of interest, icons98are positioned on the externally facing surfaces of the sides36of the handles28. The icons98are standardized pictorial identifiers of the types of blade tools in the handle and their order of positioning in the handle. As an example shown inFIG. 2, an icon98ain the form of a “+” sign identifies a conventional four-armed Phillips head screwdriver, an icon98bin the form of a “−” identifies a flat blade screwdriver, an icon98cin the form of a blade identifies a sharpened blade, and an icon98din the form of a blade with serrations identifies a serrated blade. Larger icons are used to identify larger tools, such as larger screwdrivers. With some familiarizing practice, the user of the combination tool quickly becomes adept at locating a desired blade tool by either sight or finger touch.
To aid in the opening of the selected blade tool32, at least some of the blade tools include an integral lifting lever100extending upwardly from the implement so as to be accessible from the open side of the channel-shaped section and also from the cut-down side36a. The lifting levers100are graduated in length so that the lifting lever100aclosest to the cut-down side36ais short, and the lifting levers100band100cfurther from the cut-down side are progressively longer. The lifting levers100aid the user of the combination tool in readily opening the selected blade tool against the biasing force that tends to hold the selected blade tool in its closed position. As illustrated inFIG. 2, the longest of the blade tools32dcan often be made without a lifting lever, because it may be readily grasped without any such lever.
FIG. 3illustrates the handle28in a view inverted from that ofFIG. 2, and with one of the blade tools32dopened by rotating it on the pivot axle34. In normal use, only one of the blade tools32is opened at a time, with the others remaining closed and within the handle28. If the generally flat blade tools32were positioned too closely adjacent to each other in a touching contact, as is the case in some commercially available combination tools, the friction between the touching surfaces of adjacent blade tools would tend to cause a blade tool to be unintentionally dragged open as one of the other blade tools was intentionally opened. In the present approach, illustrated inFIG. 4, a washer42is placed between each pair of blade tools32and between the last blade tool on the axle and the interior of the side36of the handle28. (InFIG. 4, the spacings between the blade tools32, into which the washers42are received, are exaggerated as a viewing aid.) Because the width dimension W of the handle28is typically small, on the order of about ½ inch, conventional thick metal washers are preferably not used. Instead, the washer42is preferably made of a polymeric material, most preferably polypropylene, polyethylene; or polytetrafluoroethylene (teflon), about 0.010 thick. Such washers can be prepared economically by a cutting or stamping process on a sheet of teflon adhered to a substrate carrier with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, to produce annular washer shapes. The individual washers are peeled off the substrate carrier and affixed to the opposite sides of the blade tools32overlying a bore44through which the tool pivot axle34passes. The washer may also be obtained as a separate article and assembled with the blade tools32and the axle. In another approach, the washer may be formed as a raised annular area of the blade tool surrounding the bore44.
FIG. 5shows a preferred form of the locking and biasing mechanism. The blade tool32includes a blade base46and an implement48extending outwardly from the blade base46. The implement may be any generally flat, operable type of implement such as a sharpened knife blade (as illustrated), a serrated blade, a screwdriver, an awl, a bottle opener, a can opener, a saw, a file, etc. The implement48is preferably integral with the blade base46, although it can be made detachable.
The blade base46, shown in greater detail inFIG. 6, is generally flat and thin, on the order of about 0.05 to about 0.20 inches thick, and includes the bore44extending therethrough and the washer42around the bore. (The blade bases of the various blade tools need not be of the same thicknesses.) The tool pivot axle34extends through the bore44. The blade base46is laterally bounded generally on three sides by a peripheral surface50, and contiguous with the implement48on the fourth side. The peripheral surface50includes a generally straight-sided, flat-bottomed notch52. Immediately adjacent to the notch52, on the side remote from the implement48, is a first cam surface54. More remote from the notch52is a second cam surface56. The first cam surface54is characterized by a first cam maximum surface height measured as a maximum distance to the peripheral surface50along a radius from the center of the bore44of C1and passing through the first cam surface54. The second cam surface56is characterized by a second cam maximum surface height measured as a maximum distance to the peripheral surface50along a radius from the center of the bore44of C2. In the preferred approach, C2is greater than C1, preferably by about 0.005 inches in a typical case. In a prototype combination tool prepared by the inventors, C1is about 0.220 inches and C2is about 0.225 inches. The height of the peripheral surface is reduced between the first cam surface54and the second cam surface56. In a preferred embodiment, the first cam maximum surface height of the first cam surface54is positioned about 6 degrees away from the adjacent edge of the notch52. The second cam maximum surface height of the second cam surface56is positioned about 118.5 degrees from the first cam maximum surface height.
Referring toFIG. 5, a single rocker58is a planar piece of spring steel lying generally parallel to the long axis of the handle28. The rocker58is pivotably supported on a rocker axle60that extends between the sides36aand36b. Only one rocker58is provided for two or more blade tools32. At a first end of the rocker58a locking finger62extends from one face of the rocker58toward the blade base46. The locking finger62is positioned and dimensioned to contact the peripheral surface50. The locking finger62has a straight-sided, flat-topped configuration that is received into the notch52in a locking engagement, when the locking finger62and the notch52are placed into a facing relationship with the locking finger62biased toward the notch52. The rocker58is biased so that the locking finger62is forced toward the peripheral surface50by a spring. The spring may be of any form, but, as seen inFIG. 7, it is preferably a leaf64formed by slitting the rocker58parallel to its sides and one end, and bending the leaf portion within the slits away from the plane of the rocker58. The rocker58is assembled with the leaf64contacting the web38portion of the handle28. The leaf64is compressed when the rocker axle60is assembled into place, so that the rocker58and thence the locking finger62is biased toward the peripheral surface50of the blade base46. Equivalently, the spring that biases the rocker may be a leaf extending from the web38as an integral element or an attachment to the web, or a cantilevered spring extending from the handle.
At the end of the rocker58remote from the locking finger62, and on the opposite side of the rocker58, is a pad66. A window68is formed through the web38of the handle28, and the pad66faces the window68(see alsoFIG. 3). The blade tool32is positively locked into position against motion in either rotational direction when the blade tool32is fully opened to the position shown inFIG. 5, and the locking finger62engages the notch52. The locking finger62is lifted out of the notch52by manually pressing inwardly on the pad66, to achieving unlocking of the blade tool32. All of the blade tools32have a structure of the type described above, but there is a single locking finger62that achieves the locking of all of the blade tools32.
Additionally, as can best be seen inFIG. 6, there is desirably a shoulder70on the implement48that is in facing relation to a rounded end72of the web38. This engagement of the shoulder70to the end72provides an additional interference restraint of the blade tool32that resists rotation of the implement48in the clockwise direction ofFIGS. 5 and 6. This additional restraint is particularly valuable where the implement48is of a type where it is forced in the clockwise direction during service, such as a blade having a sharpened edge74that is forced downwardly during cutting operations. The blade tool is preferably dimensioned so that there is a gap of about 0.005 inches between the shoulder70and the end72of the web38when no load is applied to the blade tool. When a sufficient load is applied to produce a 0.005 inch deflection, the shoulder70contacts the end72to stop any further movement.
FIG. 8depict the operation of the locking/biasing mechanism in a series of views as a single blade tool32is moved from the open and positively locked position (FIG. 8A) to the closed and biased closed position (FIG. 8E). InFIG. 8A, the blade tool32is open, and the locking finger62is received into the notch52, forming a positive lock of the blade tool32into the open position. The notch52and the locking finger62are cooperatively dimensioned so that the locking finger62rests against the sides of the notch along a locking distance102aand102bof about 0.030 to about 0.060 inches, most preferably about 0.040 inches, and does not bottom out in the notch. If the locking distance is significantly greater than about 0.060 inches, the blade tool will not lock securely. If the locking distance is significantly less than about 0.030 inches, the locking finger62may pop out of the notch52to unintentionally release the lock under moderate applied loads.
InFIG. 8B, the pad66has been depressed to lift the locking finger62out of the notch52(as previously described in relation toFIGS. 3,5, and6), and the user of the tool has manually rotated the blade in a counterclockwise direction by about 10 degrees. The blade tool32remains biased toward the open position, because the locking finger62rests against the sloping cam surface54athat slopes back toward the notch52.
After only a slight additional rotation of the blade tool32in the counterclockwise direction,FIG. 8C, the locking finger62has passed the first cam maximum surface height location54band is contacting the portion of the first cam surface54cthat slopes away from the notch52. If the blade tool32is released at this point, it tends to move toward the closed position rather than the open position.
Further counterclockwise rotation of the blade tool32brings the locking finger62into contact with the second cam surface56,FIG. 8D. An additional counterclockwise rotation of the blade tool32brings the locking finger62into contact with the portion56aof the second cam surface56that slopes toward the closed position and thereby biases the blade32toward the closed position,FIG. 8E. The blade32is thereby forced toward the closed position and retained there. To move the blade32away from the closed position ofFIG. 8Eand back toward the orientation ofFIG. 8Drequires that the user manually overcome the bias force resulting from the reaction of the rocker58and its locking finger62against the cam surface56a.
A comparison of the effects on the blade tool32of the reaction between the locking finger62and the peripheral surface of the blade base46inFIGS. 8A and 8Eillustrates the difference between “positive locking” of the blade tool and “biasing” of the blade tool. InFIG. 8A, the reception of the locking finger62into the notch52provides a positive lock from which the blade tool32cannot be moved by the application of any ordinary manual force to the blade tool32. Intentional release of the positive lock by manually pressing the pad66is required in order to move the blade tool32from its positively locked position. On the other hand, the biasing of the blade tool32toward a position, illustrated for the biasing toward the closed position inFIG. 8E, is produced in the preferred embodiment by a cam action which can be readily overcome with ordinary manual force on the blade tool. This distinction between positive locking and biasing is important. Biasing is readily achieved for blade tools32in a confined space, but positive locking is difficult to achieve in a confined space such as that available in a typical combination tool wherein 3–4 or more blade tools are supported in a narrowly confined space in each handle. For example, the multiple blade tools of Swiss Army knives are typically biased toward both the open and closed positions, but they are not typically provided with a positive lock in the open position.
An important feature of the present approach is that the blade tool selected for opening and use is positively locked into the open position, while the remaining blade tools that have not been selected remain biased toward their closed position. The origin of this feature is illustrated inFIG. 9, which superimposes views of an open and positively locked blade tool32and a closed and biased closed blade tool32′. At the same time that the locking finger62is received into the notch52of the positively locked blade tool32, the locking finger62rests against the slope56′aof the second cam surface56′ of the biased closed blade tool32′. The locking finger62both positively locks the blade tool32open and biases the blade tool32′, closed. The same bias-closed effect is operable for all of the blade tools which are not open and in use. In a typical case wherein there are four blade tools such as shown inFIGS. 2–4, there is a single blade tool32which is open and positively locked and three blade tools32′ which are biased closed.
A further important feature is that the blade tool32′ remains biased toward the closed position as the blade tool32is opened and closed. As shown inFIG. 10, at an intermediate stage of rotation of the blade tool32between its closed and open positions, the locking finger62continues to rest against the slope56′aof the second cam surface,56′ of the closed blade tools32′, biasing them toward the closed position. The closed blade tools32′ therefore do not unintentionally open as the intentionally opened blade tool32is rotated. With this camming approach, there is an unavoidable small range of the rotation of the blade tool32(as the locking finger62passes over the top of the second cam56) where the locking finger62is raised off the slope56′ato release the biasing of the blade tools32′ toward the closed position. This small range of release of biasing is not noticeable to most users of the combination tool as they close or open the blade tool32in a smooth motion, and for most orientations of the tool.
Most of the discussion of the rotation of the blade tools in relation toFIGS. 8-10has been in regard to the closing of the previously opened blade tool32. The present approach provides an important advantage when the selected blade tool32is being opened as well. IfFIG. 10is viewed as one moment during the opening of the selected blade tool32(i.e., clockwise rotation of the blade tool32), the biasing force of the locking finger62on the cam surfaces56′ tends to retain the other blade tools32′ in the closed position. Tests with prototype combination tools have shown that the cooperation of this biasing action on the blade tools32′ and the use of the washers42to reduce the frictional forces between the blade tool32that is being manually rotated and the blade tools32′ which are to remain closed causes the blade tools32′ to either remain in the fully closed position or to rotate back to the fully closed position after a small rotation away from the fully closed position. Thus, the user of the tool is afforded the convenience of opening, positively locking, later manually unlocking, and closing any of the selected blade tools while the others of the blade tools are automatically retained in the closed position.
The locking/biasing mechanism has been discussed in relation to the blade tools of the combination tool20, but it is equally applicable to other hand tools which have openable blade tools.FIG. 11depicts a knife80having two blade tools82, a blade tool82aillustrated in the open and positively locked position and a blade tool82billustrated in the closed and biased closed position. The knife80has a tool body84and a locking/biasing mechanism for the two blade tools82that is within the tool body and is the same as that discussed previously. The locking/biasing mechanism is not visible inFIG. 10except for an unlocking pad86visible through a window88, which are analogous to the pad66and window68discussed previously. In the knife and the combination tool and other embodiments, the locking/biasing mechanism need not control all of the blade tools that open from a handle—only two or more. Thus, there could be two locking/biasing mechanisms in a single handle, each controlling two blade tools, and there would be two unlocking pads.
As discussed previously, size constraints are important considerations in the design of a combination tool. Two modifications in the design of specific implements and one modification in the design of the pliers jaw mechanism have been developed to achieve a desired performance or even improved performance in a reduced available space.
In the first modification, illustrated inFIGS. 12A and 12B, the design of a Phillips screwdriver head200is modified. A conventional Phillips screwdriver head200ofFIG. 12Ahas four arms202to engage the corresponding recesses in the head of a Phillips screw. In building a prototype combination tool, it was found that such a large Phillips screwdriver could not be readily accommodated within the available space envelope along with the nested pliers head and the other blade tools. As an alternative, a modified Phillips screwdriver head204ofFIG. 12Bwas prepared having only three arms206. Tests of the three-armed modified Phillips screwdriver head204showed that its performance is comparable with that of the standard four-armed Phillips screwdriver head200in most instances. In some cases, as where the recesses in the head of the Phillips screw have been deformed or damaged, the performance of the modified three-armed Phillips screwdriver head204may be superior to that of the conventional Phillips screwdriver head200.
In the second modification illustrated inFIG. 13A, the shape of the blade of the blade tool32is provided with a stop recess210for the transversely extending rocker axle60. If the stop recess210were not present, it would be necessary to make the blade tool32narrower to fit within the available height constraint H, as shown inFIG. 13B. The stop recess210also acts as a stop against the blade tool32being forced too far in a clockwise direction as shown inFIG. 13Aduring closing of the blade tool32.
In the third modification illustrated inFIGS. 14A–D, an internally recessed and serrated portion220of the pliers head is modified so that its serrated region can accurately grasp a variety of sizes of articles, in this case illustrated as a bolt head222. The serrated portion220is not semicircular or other regular shape. Instead, it is structured so that a forwardmost portion220agrasps a large, I-inch bolt head222a,FIG. 14A. An intermediate portion220bgrasps a ¾-inch bolt head222b,FIG. 14B. A central portion220cgrasps a ½-inch bolt head222c,FIG. 14C. The gap between the opposing sides of the serrated portion220is dimensioned to be large enough to grasp a ¼-inch bolt head222d,FIG. 14D.
Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
| 1B
| 25 | B |
In the appended figures, similar components and/or features may have the same numerical reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by one or more letters which distinguishes among the similar components and/or features. If only the first numerical reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components and/or features having the same first numerical reference label irrespective of the lettered suffix.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The ensuing description provides exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the disclosure. Rather, the ensuing description of the exemplary embodiments will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing one or more exemplary embodiments. It being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
Specific details are given in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. For example, systems, structures, and other components may be shown as components in block diagram form in order not to obscure the embodiments in unnecessary detail. In other instances, well-known processes, procedures and techniques may be shown without unnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring the embodiments.
Also, it is noted that individual embodiments may be described as a process which is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchart may describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may be re-arranged. A process may be terminated when its operations are completed, but could have additional steps not included in a figure. A process may correspond to a method, a process, a procedure, a technique, etc. Furthermore, embodiments may be implemented by manual techniques, automatic techniques, or any combination thereof.
In one embodiment, a system for supporting a floor structure from a central structure is provided. The floor structure and the central structure may be of any construction. In an exemplary embodiment, the floor structure may be constructed of structural steel members and concrete, and the central structure may be a building core constructed of rebar reinforced concrete, poured and formed in place. Though in many embodiments the central structure may be polygonal in cross section, in some embodiments the central structure may have a perimeter that is for some portion curved, or even entirely curved. In curved embodiments, different “sides” of the central structure may be assumed to include any appreciably different angular location about the curved surface of the central structure.
In some embodiments, the central structure and/or the floor structure may be part of a larger building. Some possible buildings in which systems and methods of the invention may be employed are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/746,834, filed May 10, 2007 and entitled “Multi-Story Building,” the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. Though floor structures are discussed throughout this description, it will become appreciable that the systems and methods of the invention may also be employed to support roof structures from central structures as well.
In some embodiments, the system may include a plurality of receptacles and a plurality of support members. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of receptacles may be located within the central structure and possibly at a corner of an exterior perimeter of the central structure. In these or other embodiments, each of the plurality of receptacles may also at least partially define a cavity, and the cavity may open to two different sides of the central structure. In some embodiments, one or more receptacles may include a buttressing member configured to at least assist in maintaining the shape of the cavity. In some of these embodiments, the buttressing member may be at least generally aligned with a vertical edged corner of the central structure.
In some embodiments, each of the plurality of support members may be configured to pass through the cavity of at least one of the plurality of receptacles. In these or other embodiments, the support members may also be configured to be supported by at least one of the plurality of receptacles, and possibly extend outward from two different sides of the central structure. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of support members may also be configured to support the floor structure on two different sides of the central structure.
In some embodiments, the floor structure surround at least some portion of the central structure and may be configured to move up and/or down some portion of the height of the central structure. In these or other embodiments, the support members may be movably coupled with the underside of the floor structure. As such, the support members may initially be in a first position which allows the floor structure to move up and/or down the central structure without interference by the support member.
When the floor structure is finally located at a desired elevation, the support members may be moved from the first position to a second position where each support member passes through a cavity of a receptacle, possibly extending outward from two different sides of the central structure. The floor may then be lowered slightly such that the support members are supported by the receptacle and the floor structure is supported by the support members. Therefore, in some embodiments, the support member may support the floor structure on two different sides of the central structure. Note that in some embodiments, the floor may be supported as such from more than one central structure.
In some embodiments, the system for supporting the floor structure from a central structure may also include a means for moving a support member between the first position to the second position described above. In some embodiments, the means for moving the support member may be actuated from a topside of the supported floor structure. Such means may be installed at any point during construction, and possibly when the floor is at an elevation in proximity to the working ground level of the building site.
In one embodiment having a means for moving the support member, the means may include the support member being slidably coupled with the underside of the floor structure. A reversibly coupled vertical extension may be coupled to the support member in proximity to the end of the support member furthest from the central structure. A slotted breach in the floor structure may allow the vertical extension to penetrate the floor structure and protrude from the topside of the floor structure.
This vertical extension may be used by a person or automated device on the topside of the floor structure to move the support member between the first position and the second position. The vertical extension's maximum travel may be determined by the length of the slotted breach, which may therefore assist in determining how far the support member may be moved. Once in the second position, the vertical extension may be decoupled (possibly via a threaded coupling), and the slotted breach may be filled to make the topside of the floor structure continuous.
In another embodiment having a means for moving the support member, the means may also include the support member being slidably coupled with the underside of the floor structure. A flexible member, such a cabling or rope, may be coupled with the support member in proximity to the end of the support member furthest from the central structure. A breach in the floor structure may allow the flexible member to penetrate the floor structure and protrude from the topside of the floor structure.
The flexible member may be pulled by a person or automated device on the topside of the floor structure to move the support member from the first position to the second position. In some embodiments, a pulley or other pivot point may assist in directing the force of pulling on the flexible member to more appropriately align with the location of the cavity with respect to the support member. The flexible member may also have a stop-member coupled with the flexible member in a location which assists in determining how far the flexible member may be pulled through the breach, and hence how far the support member may be moved.
Once in the second position, the flexible member may be pushed back through the breach, cut, or otherwise removed, and the breach may be filled to make the topside of the floor structure continuous. In yet other embodiments, the support member may be spring loaded, or compressed gas and/or magnets may be used to move the support member into position remotely from the topside of the floor structure.
In some embodiments, one or more receptacles may include at least one vertical member, possible coupled with the top and/or bottom of the receptacle. In an exemplary embodiment, two vertical members may be included with each receptacle. Vertical members may, in some embodiments, at least assist in locating the receptacle in vertical relation to the ground or another receptacle. Additionally, vertical members may assist in transferring load from thee receptacle to the central structure in which the receptacle may be encased or coupled to. In one embodiment, the length of the vertical member may be related to the height of the floor-to-ceiling space below or above the receptacle. In some embodiments, where the central structure is made from a poured in place hardenable substance, such as concrete, the vertical members may be coupled with a collar coupled with either the ground, or another receptacle, before or during pouring to ensure proper elevation locating of the receptacle. In some embodiments, each receptacle positioned to assist in supporting a particular floor may have a vertical element of the same length as others supporting the particular floor.
In some embodiments, the vertical members of the receptacles, or any other portion of the receptacle, may be coupled with reinforcement members within the central structure. Merely by way of example, in embodiments where the central structure is rebar reinforced poured in place concrete, rebar within the concrete may be coupled with the vertical members of the receptacles.
In other embodiments, methods for supporting a floor structure from a central structure are provided, some of which may utilize the one or more of the systems described above. The method may include providing a plurality of receptacles within the central structure. In embodiments where the central structure is poured from a hardenable substance, the method may possibly include inserting the receptacles into the central structure during pouring of the hardenable substance. In some embodiments, and as discussed above, the receptacles may also be coupled with reinforcement members in the central structure. As described above, the receptacles may also include attached, or separate, vertical members which may at least assist in locating the receptacles vertically with respect to other receptacles or the ground.
The method may further include moving the floor structure to an elevation at or above the plurality of receptacles. The method may then include providing a plurality of support members and supporting the plurality of support members with the plurality of receptacles, and then supporting the floor structure with the plurality of support members, where each support member may support the floor structure on two different sides of the central structure. The floor structure may be lowered some distance so that the weight of the floor structure causes the support members to be supported by the receptacles, and the floor structure by the support members.
In some embodiments, the method may also include activating means for moving support members from their first or initial positions, underneath the floor structure, to their final or second positions, supported by the receptacles. In some embodiments, systems mentioned above may be activated, either from the topside of the floor structure or otherwise, to cause the support members to be moved.
FIG. 1is an axonometric view of a receptacle100of the invention. Receptacle100may include a body110which defines a cavity120. The cavity may have a support surface130which will allow a support member (not shown) to be supported by receptacle100. A buttressing member140may at least assist in maintaining the shape of cavity120when receptacle100is put under either dynamic or static loading. Receptacle100may also include vertical members150A,150AA. Vertical members150may mate with collars on another receptacle or at ground level, possibly similar to collars160A,160AA shown on receptacle100.
FIG. 2is an axonometric view200of two receptacles100A,100B of the invention embedded in a portion of a central structure210. In this embodiment, cavities120A,120B of each receptacle100A,100B open to different, and adjacent, sides of structure210. In this embodiment, rebar220is shown coupled with the vertical member150A (shown broken because of the large distance between receptacles100A,100B). Multiple numbers and type of rebar220or other reinforcement members may be coupled with vertical members150A,150AA in any number of fashions, including welding and/or rebar tie wire. Even though not shown inFIG. 2, rebar220may also be coupled with other vertical members such as vertical members150B,150BB and vertical members150C,150CC.
In some embodiments, corners220of central structure210may be reinforced and/or thicker than walls of central structure210. This may allow for room and proper structural support of receptacles100.
Vertical members150A,150AA of receptacle100A may mate with collars160B,160BB of receptacle100B during construction of central structure210to at least assist in properly locating the receptacles100, and consequently the final locations of floor structures placed about central structure210. Note that in some embodiments, vertical members150could be configured differently than shown inFIG. 2. In some embodiments, vertical members150may be separate from bodies110, while in other embodiments, vertical members150may be coupled with the top of bodies110, rather than the bottom of bodies110as shown inFIG. 2.
Also shown inFIG. 2are buttressing members140. Buttressing members140may at least assist in cavities120maintaining their shape under the static and dynamic loading during and after construction of central structure. By maintaining the shape of cavities120, it is more likely that support members will be able to be inserted into receptacles100. Buttressing members140may have any shape, and merely by way of example may have square, triangular, polygonal, or round cross sections.
FIG. 3is an axonometric view300of a support member310supported by receptacle100A as previously shown inFIG. 2. As shown, support member310has been inserted into cavity120A. Though support member310is shown as tubular, it may take any shape, and may in some embodiments be structural shapes such as I-beams.
FIG. 4is an axonometric view400of a portion of a floor structure410supported by support member310. Floor structure410may include a primary structural member420and a secondary structural member430. Primary structural member420and secondary structural member430may be coupled at joint440. Once located in their final, resting positions, support member310may be supported by receptacle100A, and floor structure410may be supported by support member310.
If central structure210is square or rectangular in shape, the system shown inFIG. 4, or other embodiments of the invention, may be placed at one or more other corners of central structure to at least assist in supporting floor structure410. In some embodiments, multiple central structures210may be used, possibly with one or more corners of each central structure210employing systems of the invention to support a floor structure410.
Because secondary structural member430is shorter in height than primary structural member420, a spacer element may be placed between support member310and secondary structural member430(not shown inFIG. 4). This may allow support member310to support secondary structural member430as well as primary structural member420regardless of a height difference between the two structural members420,430.
FIG. 5is a side view500ofFIG. 4showing a spacer element510between secondary structural member430and support member310. In some embodiments, spacer element510may be pre-coupled with support member310. In other embodiments, space element may be pre-coupled with secondary structural member430.
In some embodiments, spacer element510may include two components, one coupled with secondary structural member430, and one coupled with support member310. In these embodiments, each component of spacer element510may be wedge shaped or otherwise mate-able so that in a final position further movement of support member in relation to floor structure410is prohibited once in a final position. In other embodiments, the bottom of floor structure may be planar about the area to be supported by support member310, and no spacer element510may be included in the system.
FIG. 6is a plan view600ofFIG. 4andFIG. 5.FIG. 7is a plan view of a system700of the invention for moving support member310into place from a topside of floor structure410. System700includes guide members710, pull axle or pulley720, and flexible member730. System700may be coupled with the underside of floor structure410. At least some of guide members710may include brackets to movably couple support member310to floor structure410. A breach740in floor structure410may allow flexible member730to pass through floor structure410so a person or mechanism may operate system700.
Once floor structure410is at least near in its final elevation, a person or mechanism on top of floor structure410may pull flexible member730. Flexible member730, being coupled with support member310, may pull support member310about pull axle or pulley720toward and into receptacle100A. Guided by guide members710, support member310may therefore be pulled into position from above the floor structure410.
The invention has now been described in detail for the purposes of clarity and understanding. However, it will be appreciated that certain changes and to the exemplary embodiments discussed herein may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims.
| 4E
| 04 | H |
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring firstly to FIG. 12, an electrical connector system 100 according
to the present invention is depicted in which a preferably plastic first
connector half 10 mates with a preferably plastic second connector half 11
for the purposes of electrically connecting discretely arranged male and
female electrical terminals matably to each other, the nature of which
will be detailed hereinbelow. The genders of the electrical terminals as
these pertain to the first and second connector halves will be described
herein by preferred example, it being understood that the genders can be
reversed.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 11 the first connector half 10 will be
described, wherein the first connector half is structured carrying, in a
predetermined pattern, a plurality of electrical terminals in the
preferred form of female terminals 13 (see FIGS. 2, 3 and 8).
The first connector half 10 includes a female terminal retainer 12 as a
primary support and alignment feature for the female terminals 13.
As can be understood by reference to an exploded view at FIG. 1, the female
terminal retainer 12 is received into a female housing 14, and is backed
therein by an elastomeric (silicone) cable seal 16 and a cable strain
relief member 18, as will be described hereinafter. The female connector
housing 14 includes a main body portion 20 having a plurality of cavities
22 extending therethrough for receiving, respectively, a portion of a
female terminal and a portion of (male) terminals 15 of the second
connector half 11 (see FIG. 13). The main body portion 20 is surrounded by
a channel 24 formed in the female housing 14 and partially defined by a
first shroud 26 extending forwardly therefrom in the mating direction of
the first and second connector halves 10, 11. An elastomeric (silicone)
connector seal 28 is received at the base 25 of the channel 24 between the
main body portion 20 and the first shroud 26.
The female connector housing 14 has left and right passages 30L, 30R formed
in opposite sides of the first shroud 26, constructed and arranged so that
each of the left and right passages may slidably receive therein a
respective slide assist member 32L, 32R, which are mirror images of each
other. Each slide assist 32L, 32R is slid into its respective left or
right passage 30L, 30R and snap fits to prevent backing out via locking
features 36 which interact with corresponding slot features 37 on the
female housing 14. Each slide assist member 32L, 32R is in the form of an
elongated planar body having a pair of like shaped front and rear grooves
34, each having a perpendicular entry portion 34' and an acutely angled
main portion 34", wherein the angular orientations are measured in
relation to the slide axis A of the slide assist member. The front and
rear grooves 34 of each slide assist member 32L, 32R is constructed and
arranged to receive a respective boss 27 of the second connector half 11
(see FIG. 13) so as to assist the coupling together of the two connector
halves.
The outer portion of the female connector housing 14 includes a V-shaped
pocket 40 formed on opposite sides of the first shroud 26 which
respectively communicate with the left and right passages 30L, 30R. Each
of the pockets 40 receives a respective free end 42a of an arm 42 of a
slide assist lever 44 which operably interconnects with the slide assist
member 32L, 32R respectively thereat.
A secondary lock passage 50 is provided in the first shroud 26 for
receiving a secondary lock member 52 that cooperates with the female
terminal retainer 12, as will be described hereafter. A wire dress cover
46 is snap fitted to the female housing 14 for directing and protecting a
plurality of electrical cables 98 (see FIGS. 6 through 11) electrically
connected with respective female terminals 13 received in the female
terminal retainer 12.
The female terminal retainer 12 has a body 54 that is generally of an
elongated block configuration. The body 54 includes a rear face 56 and an
opposite front face 58. A plurality of terminal cavities 60 extend
therethrough from the rear face 56 to the front face 58, each being
dimensioned for receiving a portion of a respective female terminal 13.
The terminal cavities are arranged in a rectilinear pattern (of rows and
columns discussed hereinbelow). The cable seal 16 and the cable strain
relief member 18 have cable passages 62, 64 for passage therethrough of
the cables 98 associated with each of the female terminals 13. In this
regard, as can be seen with reference again to FIG. 1, the cavities 22 of
the main body 20, the terminal cavities 60 of the female terminal retainer
12, and the cable passages 62, 64 of the cable seal 16 and the cable
strain relief member 18 are all mutually aligned when the first connector
half 10 is assembled. The cable seal 16 is elastomeric and is received
into the cable strain relief member 18, wherein the cable seal abuts the
rear face 56 of the female terminal retainer 12.
At least a portion of the female terminal retainer 12 is received into a
second shroud 66 of the female housing 14 (see FIG. 4), wherein the second
shroud extends from the main body portion 20 oppositely to the first
shroud 26 (see FIG. 1), that is, in a direction opposite the mating
direction of the first and second connector halves 10, 11. The second
shroud 66 receives the female terminal retainer 12 such that the terminal
cavities 60 are aligned with the cavities 22 of the main body portion 20.
The female terminal retainer 12 is able to insert only in one orientation
with respect to the second shroud 66 via interference of beads 29, 31 when
it is in the wrong orientation (see FIG. 4). The cable strain relief
member 18 includes flexible snap locking features 68 lockable to ramp
features 70 of the second shroud 66 so that when snapped thereto the cable
seal 28 is compressed and the female terminal retainer 12 is firmly held
to the female housing 14.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 though 8, a primary terminal lock system and a
secondary terminal lock system of the electrical connector system 100 will
each be detailed.
With regard firstly to the primary terminal lock system 19 (see FIG. 2) to
retain the female terminals 13 in their respective terminal cavities 60,
flexible locking fingers 72 are provided which extend from the front face
58 of the female terminal retainer 12 in the mating direction of the
connector halves. Each flexible locking finger 72 straddles two mutually
adjacent terminal cavities 60, and includes a pair of spaced apart locking
shoulders 74 at the terminal (ie., free end) portion thereof. Each locking
shoulder 74 has an intrusive surface 75 which is disposed into a portion
of a respective female terminal cavity and which includes a shoulder
terminus 77 (see FIG. 5). Preferably, the flexible locking finger 72 has
an arcuate shape, wherein a locking shoulder 74 is located at each of the
two ends of the arc.
As can be seen at FIGS. 2 and 8, each female terminal 13 is tangless, is
configured to insert into a respective terminal cavity 60, and is
characterized by a first portion 47 having a cylindrical sidewall 48 of a
first cross-section, wherein the cylindrical sidewall defines a
cylindrical cavity 49 for receiving therein a male terminal 15 (see FIG.
13) at its forward, open end. The female terminal is further characterized
by a second portion 51 having a reduced cross-section as compared to the
first portion 47 located distally with respect to the forward end, wherein
an annular terminal abutment 76 is formed at the interface between the two
dissimilar cross-sections of the first and second portions.
As shown best at FIG. 4, in the preferred embodiment the plurality of rows
and columns of terminal cavities are arranged in a rectilinear pattern
composed of a first row R1, a second row R2, a third row R3, and a fourth
row R4, wherein each row has a plurality of columns C (as for example
sixteen columnar locations for each row).
As shown best at FIG. 5, the female terminal retainer 12 has three sets of
flexible locking fingers 72, a first set 78, a second set 80 and a third
set 82. The first set 78 of flexible locking fingers 72 is characterized
by each locking finger thereof straddling a pair of mutually adjacent
terminal cavities 60 at every columnar position pair CP1, CP2, CP3, etc.
of the first row R1. The second set 80 of flexible locking fingers 72 is
characterized by each locking finger thereof straddling a pair of terminal
cavities 60 of the second and third rows R2, R3 having the same columnar
position C1, C2, C3, C4, etc. The third set 82 of flexible locking fingers
72 is characterized, by each locking finger thereof straddling a pair of
mutually adjacent terminal cavities 60 of every columnar position pair
CP1, CP2, CP3, etc. of the fourth row R4.
Accordingly, when a female terminal 13 is inserted into its respective
terminal cavity 60 commencing at the rear face 56, the cylindrical
sidewall 48 pushes upon the intrusive surface 75 with attendant resilient
deformation of the flexible locking finger 72 until the reduced
cross-section portion 51 is reached, whereupon the locking finger
resiliently relaxes and the shoulder terminus 77 now interferingly engages
the terminal abutment 76, thereby preventing rearward withdrawal of the
female terminal through the rear face of the female terminal retainer 12
(see FIG. 8).
Turning attention now to the secondary lock system 21 (see FIG. 3)
additional retention assurance is provided so that the female terminals 13
may not be withdrawn from the female terminal retainer 12. The secondary
lock system 21 utilizes a secondary lock member 52 having a plurality of
elongated, somewhat flexible lock arms 84 connected together at one end by
a bridge 86 having a lip 88 extending perpendicularly with respect to the
lock arms 88. Each of the lock arms 84 includes a lock nub 108 near the
free end (opposite the bridge 86) for engaging an edge 89 of the female
terminal retainer 12, as will be discussed momentarily. Each lock arm 84
is slid into grooves 90 formed above the front face 58 of the female
terminal retainer 12. Each lock arm 84 engages the terminal abutment 76 of
each of the female terminals 13 at a location different from that of the
shoulder terminus 77 of the flexible locking fingers 72 of the retainer,
as can best be appreciated from FIG. 3.
Referring now to FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, once the female terminal retainer 12,
cable seal 16, and cable strain relief member 18 are coupled to the female
housing 14 and the wire dress cover 46 is connected to the female housing,
the secondary lock member 52 is inserted through the secondary lock
passage 50 formed in the female housing so that the free end of the lock
arms 84 are each received into a respective groove 90. The secondary lock
member 52 is sufficiently flexible so that once the bridge 86 is fully
inserted through the secondary lock passage 50 the lock nubs 108
interferingly engage an edge 89 of the female terminal retainer 12 (see
FIG. 7), so that the lock nubs and lip 88 are trapped on opposing sides of
the main body, thereby affixing the secondary lock member 52 to the main
body and to the female terminal retainer 12.
Referring now to FIG. 8, it can be seen that the flexible arms 84 of the
secondary lock member 52 engage the terminal abutment 76 provided on the
female terminals 13. Further, it will be seen that the cavities 22 of the
main body 20 have a ledge 23 which traps the forward end of the female
terminals 13. As can further be seen at FIG. 8, the cables 98 are in
sealing engagement with the cable seal 16.
Referring now to FIGS. 1, and 9 through 11, each of the two arms 42 of the
slide assist lever 44 has a hole 87 formed therethrough near the free end
42a thereof to receive a pivot boss 91 (see FIG. 6) formed on the female
housing 14 inside the pocket 40. A slide assist push boss 102 is formed on
the inside surface of each arm 42 of the slide assist lever 44 to be
received, respectively, in a concave notch 104 formed in each slide assist
member 32L, 32R for moving the slide assist members from a first
(pre-staged) position of the slide assist lever (see FIG. 14) to a second
(engaged) position of the slide assist lever (see FIG. 17) wherein the
connector halves 10, 11 are mutually coupled together.
As shown at FIG. 11, in order to slidingly place the slide assist members
32L, 32R into their respective left and right passages 30L, 30R with the
slide assist lever 44 already mounted on the pivot bosses 91, an inclined
surface 35 is provided on each the slide assist members so as to slidably
engage the slide assist push boss 102 and allow it to enter the concave
notch 104 without interference in the increasing inclination direction, as
shown.
The wire dress cover 46 and the slide assist lever 44 include mutually
engaging locking elements for retaining the slide assist lever 44 in each
of the first and second positions. In this regard, a convex nub 112 is
provided on the inside surface of each of the arms 42 of the slide assist
lever for fractional engagement with a concavely shaped shoulder 116
formed in the wire dress cover 46 (see FIG. 16) so as to lightly retain
the slide assist lever at the first position, as shown at FIG. 14, and at
the second position, as shown at FIG. 17.
As shown at FIGS. 9, 10, 12 and 14 through 17, in order to firmly retain
the slide assist lever 44 at the second (engaged) position, the bar 45
which connects the two arms 42 is provided with a lip 43 which engages a
resiliently mounted boss 41 of the wire dress cover 46. A ridged finger
grip 39 is provided on the bar 45 for facilitating hand-operated
engagement of the lip 43 onto the boss 41 when the slide assist lever 44
is finally brought to the second position.
Referring now to FIGS. 14 through 17, the operation of the slide assist
system of the electrical connector system 100 will be detailed.
As indicated earlier with reference to FIG. 1, the slide assist members
32L, 32R each have front and rear grooves 34 having a perpendicular entry
portion 34' and an angled main portion 34", wherein the angular
orientation, as mentioned, is defined by the slide axis A of the slide
assist members. When the slide assist lever 44 is at the first
(pre-staged) position of FIG. 14, the entry portion 34' of each groove 34
is aligned with a respective primary slot 110 formed in the first shroud
26 of the female housing 14 (see FIG. 6). Each primary slot 110 is
constructed and arranged so that its respective boss 27 on the second
connector half 11 is received thereinto as the second connector half is
received into the first connector half 10. The female housing 14 further
as a pair of secondary slots 111 at one end of the first shroud 26 (see
FIG. 6) which respectively receive tabs 113 of the second connector half
11 (see FIG. 13) so as to thereby ensure proper alignment of the second
connector half with respect to the first connector half 10.
Now, as shown at FIG. 15, with the slide assist lever moved to the first
(pre-staged) position, a third shroud 120 of the second connector half 11
is brought up to the first shroud 26 of the first connector half 10 in the
mating direction, wherein the tabs 113 are aligned with the secondary
slots 111 and the bosses 27 are aligned with the primary slots 110. The
third shroud 120 is inserted into the channel 24 so that the bosses 27
pass through the primary slots 110 and enter into the entry portion 34' of
the grooves 34 and stop at the main portion 34". At this point of the
connection process, front and rear nibs 115 engage lips 117 of the female
housing 14 so as to hold the second connector half 11 at this pre-staged
position relative to the first connector half 10.
As shown at FIG. 16, the slide assist lever 44 is moved from the first
position toward the second position, whereupon the slide assist members
32L, 32R slide therewith, thereby causing the bosses 27 are forced to
slide guidably along the angled main portion 34" of the grooves 34,
thereby causing the second connector half 11 to further seat into the
first connector half 10 and cause the male terminals 15 to enter into the
cavity 49 of respective female terminals 13.
As shown at FIG. 17, the slide assist lever 44 is now at the second
(engaged) position, whereupon the boss 41 of the wire dress cover 46 is
snapped onto the lip 43 of the slide assist lever and the second connector
half 11 is fully engaged with the first connector half 10. At this
position, the male and female terminals 15, 13 are properly electrically
engaged with each other.
From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that the use of a
dual lock design as described above allows a single flexible locking
finger to lock around a pair of tangless female terminals having no
required preorientation, which are mutually spaced on very close center
lines (as for example 2.54 mm.) for increased electrical density. Given
this tight center line, the dual lock design allows the flexible locking
finger to be much stronger than would be smaller locking fingers
independently assigned for each female terminal. Thus, the dual lock
arrangement is strong enough to allow the use of existing, reliable, and
cost-effective harness manufacturing processes in the conjunction with a
round non-oriented tangless female terminal package on numerous rows of
2.54 mm by 2.54 mm center lines. Also, the locking fingers provide enough
surface between each adjacent pair of terminals for an elongated, thin
shafted repair tool to deflect the tip of a locking finger to release the
female terminals held thereby when desired (two smaller locking fingers
independently for two female terminals on 2.54 mm center lines would not
have enough room to accomplish this repair method). Further, the dual lock
design allows numerous rows of terminals to be spaced on 2.54 mm center
lines, yet still leave space for the secondary lock member 52.
To those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, the above
described preferred embodiment may be subject to change or modification.
Such change or modification can be carried out without departing from the
scope of the invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope
of the appended claims. | 7H
| 01 | R |
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In FIG. 1 a brushless AC servo motor 10 is vertically mounted with the
shaft 12 extending upwardly to support a disc and semiconductor wafer 14
for rotation. The three phase power 16 for the motor 10 is connected to a
motion controller 18. A sine, cosine encoder 20 is mounted beneath and to
the motor 10 with the motor shaft 12 extending therethrough. The eight
sine and cosine outputs 22 of the encoder 20 are inputs to the motion
controller 18.
Referring to FIG. 2, the encoder 18 provides outputs proportional to the
sine 24 and cosine 26 of the rotational position of the encoder and motor
shaft 12 and outputs proportional to the sine 28 and cosine 30 of 1024
times the position of the encoder and motor shaft 12. These outputs are
connected to differential amplifiers 32 which in turn are connected to an
Analog to Digital converter 34. The differential amplifiers 32 which
amplify the sine 28 and cosine 30 of 1024 times the position of the
encoder and motor shaft 12 are also connected to a Quadrature Up-Down
counter 36 which counts the number of sine and cosine cycles.
As shown in FIG. 2 the Analog to Digital converter 34 and Quadrature
counter 36 are connected to a Digital Signal Processor 38 with ROM 40 and
random access memory (RAM) 42. The output from the signal processing
further described below is supplied to the three current controllers 44
for the R, S and T phases of the motor 10.
The Digital Signal Processor 38 operating under control of the program
illustrated by the flow diagram of FIG. 3 and stored in ROM 40, calculates
the initial position of the motor shaft 12 by computing the inverse
tangent of the sine of the encoder shaft position divided by the cosine of
the encoder shaft position at block 46. This initial determination of the
motor shaft 12 position from the single cycle sine and cosine encoder
tracks allows the initial value of the motor current to be correct.
As the motor shaft 12 rotates, the Digital Signal Processor 38 measures the
motor shaft 12 position by computing the inverse tangent of the sine of
1024 times the position of the encoder shaft divided by the cosine of 1024
times the position of the encoder shaft at 48 and adds this result to the
value stored in the Up-Down counter 36. With this configuration and
program the instantaneous position of the encoder shaft and motor shaft 12
is measured each 0.000122 seconds to a resolution of 1/65536 revolution.
The Digital Signal Processor 38 also calculates the desired position of the
motor shaft 12 for a constant velocity each 0.000122 seconds to a
resolution of 1/65536 revolution at 50 and computes an error term at 52
which is the difference between the motor shaft 12 position required for a
constant velocity and the measured motor shaft position. This difference
is the input to an algorithm at 54, 56 and 58 which calculates the
magnitude of each of three command currents at 60 produced by the motion
controller 18 and fed to the motor 10 field windings. These command
currents at 44 produce adjusted magnetic fields in the motor which react
with the field of the permanent magnet motor rotor on shaft 12 to produce
the torque required to rotate the motor at a constant velocity. By this
almost continuous correction, any deviations between the actual
instantaneous velocity and the desired constant velocity are minimized.
The current controllers 44 may be those disclosed in U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 08/645,901, FIG. 2 without the output filter
components R10, S10 and T10, and incorporated by reference in this
application.
Motors with large inherent torque ripple may require torque ripple feed
forward to attain an acceptable level of instantaneous velocity variation.
Torque ripple is defined as the variation in torque produced by the motor
as a function of the rotor position when the motor is driven by a constant
current. One method to compensate for torque ripple is to provide a
correcting term to the magnitude of the current vector where the
correction is of the form A* sine ((# poles/2* motor shaft position)+a)
where A and a are determined empirically for each individual motor.
Experience has shown that while this technique provides sufficient
improvement to allow motors with high values of torque ripple to be used
in this application, it requires determining the constants A and a for
each individual motor. Thus, the preferred configuration for practicing
the invention utilizes motors with sufficiently low values of torque
ripple that this motor by motor empirical technique is not required.
FIG. 4 illustrates a motor 10 modified for the semiconductor wafer
manufacturing step discussed above. The motor 10 is mounted vertically as
shown with a vacuum disc 62 attached to the upper end of the shaft 12. A
semiconductor wafer 64 is drawn by a vacuum into tight attachment to the
disc 62. An axial hole 66 is formed in the shaft 12 and extends to the
lower end of the shaft to provide a vacuum conduit for the disc 62.
The lower end of the motor 10 is formed with a cavity 68 to permit
insertion of an encoder 70 as shown in FIG. 5. The encoder 70 is fitted
with a split rotatable sleeve 72 and the sleeve is fastened to the shaft
12 upon assembly of the encoder 70 into the cavity 68 of the motor 10. A
suitable motor 10 adapted for this application is Model No.
R32HSNC-NP-NS-NV-02 available from Pacific Scientific Corporation of
Rockford, Ill. and a suitable encoder 70 is Model No. 88-Z833 available
from Dynamics Research Corporation, Wilmington, Mass. Although this
combination of motor, encoder, program and electric components has been
found well suited for the wafer manufacturing process, other motor,
encoder, electric components and programming may be substituted and the
invention is not limited to the particular components described above. | 7H
| 02 | P |
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.
FIG. 1 depicts a clean room A which includes a filter grid B comprised of
a plurality of high efficiency particulate air filters C supported by a
modular support system D. The modular support system D is suspended from a
ceiling E by suspension rods F, as shown in FIG. 2. The manner in which
the modular support system D is suspended from ceiling E will be more
fully described below in conjunction with FIGS. 7 and 8. The modular
support system D, as illustrated in FIG. 3, includes a plurality of
cross-shaped connectors 2 (only one of which is shown), T-shaped
connectors 4, L-shaped connectors 6 (only one of which is shown), support
members 10, adjustable support members 92, filter receptacle 104 and wall
runner 112. These components will now be described in detail. Referring to
FIG. 3, the L-shaped connectors 6 are employed in the corners of the clean
room A and the T-shaped connectors are used along the side walls 8 removed
from the corners thereof. Further, the cross-shaped connectors 2 are
located at positions removed from the side walls 8 of the clean room A.
The L-shaped connectors 6 join two adjacent support members 10 while the
T-shaped connectors 4 and the cross-shaped connectors 2 join three and
four adjacent support members 10, respectively. Although only one L-shaped
connector 6 is illustrated in FIG. 3, generally four L-shaped connectors 6
are used in a rectangular shaped clean room A, i.e. a clean room having
four corners. The number of T-shaped connectors 4 and cross-shaped
connectors 2 will depend upon the size of the clean room A and the desired
spacing between the intersections of the support members 10 and the
connectors 2, 4 and 6.
The connectors 2, 4 and 6 will now be described in greater detail with
reference to FIGS. 3 to 6. The cross-shaped connector 2 depicted in FIG. 4
includes four arms 12 extending radially an equal distance from a
substantially square center section 14 (shown in FIG. 3). Adjacent arms 12
form right angles with each other. Each of the arms 12 includes a left
side wall 16, a right side wall 18 and a bottom wall 20. Left and right
side walls 16 and 18 extend perpendicular to the bottom wall 20. Further,
the left and right side walls 16 and 18, where they are joined to the
bottom wall 20 each have a L-shaped recess 22 formed therein which extends
the length of the arms 12.
The bottom wall 20 has a substantially U-shaped outer recess 24 formed in
the center thereof. The recess 24 extends from the open end of the arms 12
to the center section 14. A center plate 26 extends along the recess 24
and the center section 14. The center plate 26 extends parallel to left
and right side walls 16 and 18. Further, the top surface of the center
plate 26 is offset inwardly from the top surface of the side walls 16 and
18. Conical element 28 joins the center plates 26 of the four arms 12. The
side walls 16 and 18 each include teeth 30 extending from the outer
surface thereof. Although FIG. 4 depicts three teeth 30, it will be
readily appreciated that the number of teeth may be varied. The center
section 14 extends parallel to and is offset downwardly from the bottom
walls 20 and the arms 12.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the T-shaped connector 4 includes three arms 32
extending radially an equal distance from a center section 34 (shown in
FIG. 3). Each of the arms 32 includes a left side wall 36, a right side
wall 38 and a bottom wall 40. The side walls 36 and 38 extend
perpendicular to the bottom wall 40. Further, a L-shaped recess 42 is
formed in each of the side walls 36 and 38 and extends along the bottom
wall 40. A substantially U-shaped outer recess 44 is formed in the center
of the bottom wall 40 and extends from the open end of arms 32 to the
center section 34. A center plate 46 extends along the recess 44 and a
portion of the center section 34. The center plate 46 extends parallel to
left and right side walls 36 and 38. Further, the top surface of the
center plate 46 is offset inwardly from the top surface of side walls 36
and 38. The three center plates 46 are joined by conical element 48. A
wall 50 extends from the center section 34 and parallel to the side walls
36 and 38 of arms 32. The wall 50 is offset outwardly from the adjacent
side walls 36 and 38. Each of the side walls 36 and 38 of the arms 32
include teeth 52. The center section 34 is offset downwardly from the
bottom walls 40 and extends parallel thereto.
The connector 4 is provided with a stepped surface 51 extending between
adjacent arms 32. The stepped surface 51 prevents misalignment of the ends
of adjacent support members 10. Although the surface 51 is shown in
connection with the T-shaped connector 4, it will be readily appreciated
that connectors 2 and 6 could be similarly modified.
The L-shaped connector 6, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, includes a pair of
arms 54 extending radially an equal distance from center section 56 (see
FIG. 3). Each of the arms 54 has a left side wall 58, a right side wall 60
and a bottom wall 62. The side walls 58 and 60 extend perpendicular to
bottom wall 62 and have L-shaped recesses 64 formed therein which extend
along the bottom wall 62. A substantially U-shaped recess 66 is formed in
the center of bottom walls 60 and extends from the open end of arms 54 to
the center section 56. A center plate 68 extends inwardly along the recess
66 and a portion of the center section 56. The pair of plates 68 are
joined by a conical element 70. The conical element 70 is positioned in
the center of the center section 56. Walls 72 and 74 extend from the
center section 56 and form a right angle. The walls 72 and 74 are offset
outwardly from adjacent side walls 58 and 60, respectively. Further, the
center section 56 extends parallel to and is offset downwardly from the
bottom wall 62 of each of the arms 54. The side walls 58 and 60 have teeth
76 formed on the outer surface thereof.
Referring to FIGS. 3, 7 and 8, the support members 10 will now be
described. The support members 10 include a left side wall 78, a right
side wall 80, and a bottom wall 82. The side walls 78 and 80 extend
perpendicular to the bottom wall 82 and thus, the three walls form a
substantially U-shaped channel. Side walls 78 and 80 each have a
rectangularly shaped protrusion 84 positioned adjacent the bottom wall 82.
The protrusions 84 extend along the length of the side walls 78 and 80 and
form grooves 86 with the bottom wall 82. The side walls 78 and 80 further
include a triangular lip 88 extending along the top edge thereof. A raised
element 90 extends along the center of the bottom wall 82. The support
members 10 are open at each end and the top thereof. Referring to FIG. 9,
a threaded bore 91 can be formed in element 90 for receiving, for example,
a teardrop light. The bore 91 extends through the bottom wall 82
positioned directly under the raised element 90. Further, the bore 91
extends into only a portion of the raised element 90.
An adjustable support 92, as seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, includes a center
portion 94 and a pair of legs 96. The center portion 94 is comprised of a
vertical plate 98, a U-shaped channel 100 and a C-shaped channel 102. The
channels 102 and 100 are positioned on the top and bottom surfaces of the
vertical plate 98, respectively.
Referring to FIG. 2, a filter receptacle 104 includes a U-shaped clamp
portion 106 and a runner 108. The ends of the clamp portion 106 have a
triangular lip 110 for securing the corresponding HEPA filter C to the
receptacle 104. A receptacle 104 is associated with each side of the
filter C. A wall runner 112 includes a substantially planar section 114,
an inclined section 115 and a leg 116.
ASSEMBLY OF THE MODULAR SUPPORT SYSTEM
Hereinafter the interrelationship of the foregoing components of the
modular support system D will be described. A corner section of the
modular support system D, partially assembled, is depicted in FIG. 3. A
L-shaped connector 6, a pair of T-shaped connectors 4, and a cross-shaped
connector 2 join four support members 10 to form a rectangularly shaped
opening 118. The connection between the support members 10 and the
connectors 2, 4 and 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.
Although FIGS. 7 and 8 specifically illustrate the connection between a
pair of support members 10 and a L-shaped connector 6, the support members
10 are secured to connectors 2 and 4 in a similar manner.
The support members 10 can either be positioned below the arms 54 and
vertically displaced relative thereto to cause them to snap onto the
connector, or they can be positioned in longitudinal alignment therewith
and moved in a horizontal plane relative thereto to cause them to slide
into an assembled state. The former assembly step is preferred where the
working area is confined to a small area. As seen in FIG. 8, the support
arms 54 are located on the inside the support members 10 such that element
90 is received in recess 60. Further, the protrusions 84 are received in
the corresponding L-shaped recesses 64. The bottom wall 62 of the L-shaped
connector 6 rests on the bottom wall 82 of the support member 10. The left
and right side walls 58 and 60 abut the outer surfaces of the left and
right side walls 78 and 80 of the support member 10, respectively. The
triangular lips 88 of the left and right side walls 78 and 80 rest on the
top surfaces of the left and right side walls 58 and 60, respectively. The
triangular lips 88 provide a snap connection between the support members
10 and the L-shaped connector 6. Further, the teeth 76 prevent relative
movement in the longitudinal direction between the side walls of the
support member 10 and the side walls of the corresponding connector 52. As
previously stated the center section 56 of the L-shaped connector 52
extends parallel to and is offset downwardly from the bottom walls 62 of
the arms 54. This offset is equal to the thickness of the bottom wall 82
of support members 10. Accordingly, the outer faces of the pair of bottom
walls 82 of the support members 10 and the outer face of center section 56
of the corresponding L-shaped connector 6 lie in the same horizontal
plane. Also, walls 72 and 74 are outwardly offset from side walls 58 and
60, respectively a distance equal to the thickness of the corresponding
side walls 78 and 80. Accordingly, the exterior surface of the side walls
78 and 80 lie in the same vertical plane as the exterior surfaces of walls
72 and 74, respectively.
Support members 10 are secured to T-shaped connectors 4 and cross-shaped
connectors 2 in a similar manner. Regarding the T-shaped connectors 4, the
wall 50 extending from the center section 34 is offset outwardly from left
and right side walls 36 and 38 of the corresponding arms 34, a distance
equal to the thickness of the side walls 78 and 80 of the corresponding
support members 10. Also, the center sections 14 of the connector 2 and 4
are offset from the bottom walls 20 and 40, respectively a distance equal
to the thickness of the bottom walls 82 of the corresponding support
members 10. The conical elements 28, 48 and 70 of the connectors 2, 4 and
6, respectively are threaded bores (not shown) on the upper faces thereof
for securing the corresponding connectors to suspension rods F. In this
manner, the modular support system is suspended from ceiling E.
Alternatively or in addition thereto the adjustable support 92 can be
positioned in the U-shaped channel of the support members 10 for receiving
the suspension rod F. More specifically, legs 94 and 96 are inserted into
grooves 86 while substantially U-shaped recess 100 receives element 90.
The C-shaped channel 102 receives the suspension rod F, as shown in FIG.
8. The adjustable member 92 is adapted to slide in the substantially
U-shaped channel of support members 10 so that the point at which the
support members 10 are connected to the suspension rods F can be readily
varied.
The horizontal portion of the runners 108 of the filter receptacles 104, as
shown in FIG. 2, rest on the upper surface of the triangular lips 88 while
the vertical portion extends into the corresponding U-shaped channel of
the support members 10. In this manner, the filters C are supported by the
modular support system D.
Wall runners 112 are secured at one longitudinal edge to a corresponding
side wall 8 of the clean room A by a rivet or other conventional fastening
devices and the other edge thereof extends into the corresponding U-shaped
channel of the support members 10.
A silicone dielectric gel G is provided in the U-shaped channels of the
support members 10 and the connectors 2, 4 and 6. The depth of the gel G,
as shown in FIG. 2, rises above the lower portions of the runners 104 and
108. Further, the gel G is also applied between an upwardly inclined
portion 115 of the wall runner 112 and the side wall 8 of the clean room
A. Accordingly, an air-tight seal is achieved between the filters F and
the modular support system D. Furthermore, an airtight seal is formed
between the side walls 8 of the clean room A and the modular support
system D.
In the preferred embodiment, the support members 10 are formed by extrusion
and the connectors 2, 4 and 6 are formed by casting.
While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described
above, it will be readily appreciated by the artisan that the scope of the
appended claims are not limited thereto. | 1B
| 01 | D |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a MEMS microrelay according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The microrelay 10 is shown in an OFF state. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the microrelay shown in FIG. 1 in an ON state. The microrelay 10 includes a substrate 12 , a movable beam 14 , contacts 16 , a contact cross-bar 18 and an insulating layer 20 separating the contacts 6 from the substrate 12 . Also included are an upper electrode (not shown) in the movable beam 14 and a lower electrode (not shown) located on the substrate 12 . The upper and lower electrodes will be discussed in greater detail with reference to the views in FIGS. 4 and 5 . The contacts 16 are isolated, conductive lines that are built in a trench 22 formed in the substrate 12 . One of the contacts 16 is an input and the other is an output.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the MEMS relay shown in FIG. 1 in an ON state. The relay 10 is switched on by electrically connecting the input and output lines, i.e., contacts 16 , with a movable, conductive, contact member, namely contact cross-bar 18 . The contact cross-bar 18 hangs directly over contacts 16 and is suspended on the movable beam 14 . The movable beam 14 is fixed at each end by two spaced apart supports 24 formed on each side of trench 22 .
FIG. 3 is a top view of a substrate having a microrelay formed thereon according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The movable beam 14 includes a diaphragm 30 on which the contact cross-bar (not shown) is located so that it is facing the substrate 12 and folded spring arms 32 extending from the diaphragm 30 and coupling the diaphragm to the spaced apart supports 24 . In this preferred embodiment, the diaphragm 30 is shown as a square but it may have other shapes such as a rectangle or triangle. If the diaphragm is triangular in shape, as shown in FIG. 6 , three folded spring arms are needed as will be described hereinafter. The microrelay 10 is placed between the north and south poles, 34 , 36 of a permanent magnet. The movable beam 14 in the diaphragm region 30 has current coils 38 running on the top surface of the beam. The current coils are coupled to a source of current (not shown).
Relay transition from the OFF state to the ON state is accomplished using a two-stage actuation technique. In the first stage, the movable beam 14 is deflected to bring the contact cross-bar 18 closer to the contacts 16 . In order to do this, an electromagnetic or Lorentz force is used. The electromagnetic force is generated by placing the entire device in an external magnetic field as shown in FIG. 3 and passing current through current coils 38 fabricated on the movable beam 14 . Once the contact cross-bar 18 is brought close to contacts 16 , the second stage of actuation is used, more particularly electrostatic actuation. Using electrostatic actuation, the contact cross-bar 18 is brought into physical contact with contacts 16 . It is important to have a high contact force so that a stable ON state with low contact resistance is achieved. The electrostatic force is generated by two electrodes, one fabricated on the movable beam 14 and the other built within trench 22 , where the electrodes are held at different potentials.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the microrelay shown in FIG. 1 taken along lines 4 4 . The movable beam 14 is made up of the following five layers, starting with the layer closest to the substrate, a first conductive layer 18 , a first insulative layer 40 , a second conductive layer 42 , a second insulative layer 44 , and a third conductive layer 38 . The first conductive layer 18 forms the contact cross-bar, the second conductive layer 42 forms the upper electrode and the third conductive layer 38 forms the current coil. The first and second insulative layers 40 , 44 isolate the contact crossbar 18 , electrode 42 and current coils 38 from one another.
FIG. 5 is a top view of the lower electrode and contacts of the relay shown in FIG. 1 (the movable beam not shown). The lower electrode 50 is located around the contacts 16 and the electrode as well as the contacts are built within trench 22 on top of insulating film 20 .
FIG. 6 is a top planar view of a movable beam according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The movable beam 14 has an overall length L 0 of about 3 mm and an overall width W 0 of about 0.8 mm. Parameter a is about 0.215 mm, parameter b is about 0.215 mm and parameter L is about 0.8 mm. Of course, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other dimensions may be used and the claimed invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments illustrated.
FIG. 7 is a top planar view of a microrelay 100 according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. The microrelay has a triangular diaphragm region 110 and three spring arms. In both microrelays shown in FIGS. 1 and 7 the shape and dimensions of the springs are optimized to provide the deflection required to bring the contact cross-bar closer to the contacts with smaller electromagnetic forces. Another interesting characteristic of this design is that the bending of the movable beam in the diaphragm region is minimal. This keeps the upper electrode parallel to the lower electrode even at large beam deflections, thereby increasing electrostatic force. Also, making the lower electrode surround the contacts results in a more effective and uniform transmission of the electrostatic force onto the contacts.
FIGS. 8-22 illustrate the microfabrication processing steps used to create a microrelay according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention. In FIG. 8 , which is a cross-sectional view, the substrate 12 which in a preferred embodiment is silicon has a layer of nitride 200 deposited thereon using low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) techniques. Preferably layer 200 is deposited to a thickness of about 1000 . Next, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 9 , a reactive ion etch (RIE) is performed on the nitride layer 200 to form an opening 202 for the trench (see FIG. 1 ). FIG. 10 shows a top plan view of the wafer shown in FIG. 9 . Next, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 11 an anisotropic KOH etch is formed to create the trench. In a preferred embodiment the trench is about 12 microns deep. In the cross-sectional view of FIG. 12 a layer of nitride 204 is deposited using LPCVD to a thickness of about 1000 . Nitride layer 204 forms an insulation layer.
Next the lower electrode and contacts are created in the nitride layer 204 . FIGS. 13 and 14 are cross-sectional and top plan views respectively of this processing step. About 1 micron of gold is sputtered and then patterned to form the contacts 16 and lower electrode 206 . It can be seen that contacts pads 208 extend to a side of the wafer where the electrode 206 can be electrically coupled to a voltage source and contacts 16 can be coupled to in and out terminals. Next, in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 15 polyimide 210 is spun-on, cured, polished and etched back using an oxygen plasma etch so that the polyimide 210 fills the trench.
Now the movable beam can be created. As shown in the top plan view FIG. 16 , the contact cross-bar 18 is created by electroplating gold onto the polyimide 210 . Preferably the contact cross-bar 18 is about 1 micron thick. As shown in the top view of FIG. 17 , a layer of nitride is then sputtered and etched using RIE to define the diaphragm and folded spring arms of the movable beam. Then, as shown in the cross-sectional and top views of FIGS. 18 and 19 , gold is electroplated over the nitride layer 212 to form the upper electrode 214 . Preferably the upper electrode has a thickness of about 5 microns. A layer of nitride 216 , shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 , is then sputtered and etched using an RIE over the upper electrode. Then, as shown in the top plan view of FIG. 22 , gold is electroplated on the nitride layer to form the current coils 218 . Preferably the current coils have a thickness of about 1 micron. Finally, a wet chemical etch with a solution of sulphuric acid hydrogen peroxide is performed to selectively remove the sacrificial polyimide and release portions of the beam.
The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.
| 1B
| 81 | B |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Hereinafter, a pulsator assembly for a washing machine according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention is described referring to
the attached drawings.
FIG. 1 is a brief schematic sectional view of a washing machine for showing
a pulsator assembly installed in a conventional washing machine, and FIG.
2 is an exploded perspective view of a pulsator assembly according to an
embodiment of the present invention. In describing the pulsator assembly
according to the embodiment of the present invention, reference numerals
as shown in FIG. 1 are used for indicating general constitutional members
of a washing machine. As shown in the drawings, a pulsator assembly for a
washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention
comprises a shaft pulley 13, a shaft 10, a connecting member 30, a
confining part 39, a engaging part 50 and a pulsator 20. Shaft pulley 13
is connected to a driving pulley 9 of a driving motor 1 by means of a
pulley belt 15. Accordingly, driving force for a forward or reverse
rotation which is generated when driving motor 1 is rotated forwards or in
reverse is transmitted to shaft pulley 13 through pulley belt 15. One end
of shaft 10 is fixed to shaft pulley 13. Shaft 10 rotates forwards or in
reverse depending on the forward or reverse driving force transmitted to
shaft pulley 13. The other end of shaft 10 is engaged with the lower end
of connecting member 30. At the upper center of connecting member 30, an
inserting hole 32a is formed due to engagement with shaft 10. Along the
outer periphery of connecting member 30 a plurality of fixed projecting
portions, for example, four fixed projecting portions 31 are provided at a
certain distance therebetween. Connecting member 30 rotates forwards or in
reverse according to the forward or reverse rotation of shaft 10. A
plurality of fixed projecting portions are engaged with pulsator 20. The
upper portion of connecting member 30 is engaged with pulsator 20.
Pulsator 20 includes a plurality of grooves, for example, four grooves 23,
on the lower surface of pulsator 20, a protuberance portion 20b is formed
on the center of the lower surface thereof, and a sphere-shaped ball
portion 24 is formed on the lower end of protuberance portion 20b.
Pulsator 20 rocks in right, left, up and down directions while rotating
forwards or in reverse according to the forward or reverse rotation of
connecting member 30. A plurality of fixed projecting portions 31 of
connecting member 30 are inserted into a plurality of grooves 23 of
pulsator 20 in a one to one manner and ball portion 24 of pulsator 20 is
inserted into inserting hole 32a of connecting member 30. The size of a
groove 23 is larger than that of fixed projecting portion 31 so that
pulsator 20 can freely move without being fixed to fixed projecting
portion 31. The diameter of inserting hole 32a is larger than that of ball
portion 24 in order for ball portion 24 to be freely rotated inside
inserting hole 32a. Further, the pulsator assembly according to the
embodiment of the present invention includes confining part 39. Confining
part 39 is provided between pulsator 20 and connecting member 30 in order
for ball portion 24 of pulsator 20 not to separate from inserting hole 32a
of connecting member 30. Engaging part 50 fixes confining part 39 at
connecting member 30. FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the shaft of FIG. 2.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, shaft 10 includes a shaft body portion 10a, a
first cylinder portion 10b and a second cylinder portion 10c. Shaft body
portion 10a is cylinder-shaped and one end thereof is fixed to shaft
pulley 13. On the other end of shaft body portion 10a, first cylinder
portion 10b is formed. First cylinder portion 10b is in the shape of a
cylinder with a little smaller diameter than that of shaft body portion
10a. On the outer periphery surface of first cylinder portion 10b a screw
thread 12 is formed. On first cylinder portion 10b second cylinder portion
10c is placed. Second cylinder portion 10c is also formed in a cylinder
with smaller diameter than that of first cylinder portion 10b. On the
upper surface of second cylinder portion 10c, an arc-shaped recess 11 is
formed. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the connecting member of FIG. 2. As
shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, connecting member 30 includes a connecting member
body portion 30a and fixed projecting portion 31. Connecting member body
portion 30a has the same size of diameter as that of shaft 10, and a
through hole 30b is formed at the center of connecting member body portion
30a. On the upper end of connecting member body portion 30a, a plurality
of fixed projecting portions 31 are provided along the outer periphery of
connecting member body portion 30a with a certain distance therebetween.
Through hole 30b has a female screw portion 30d, a ball-receiving hole
portion 30f and a communicating hole portion 30e. A screw thread is formed
along the inner periphery surface of female screw portion 30d. The
diameter of female screw portion 30d is the same as that of first cylinder
portion 10b. Ball-receiving hole portion 30f has a ball-shaped space
portion for receiving the ball portion. Communicating hole portion 30e
allows female screw portion 30d and ball-receiving hole portion 30f to be
communicated. The diameter of communicating hole portion 30e is the same
as that of second cylinder portion 10c. Also, connecting member body
portion 30a further includes a first engaging hole 51a and a second
engaging hole 51b. First and second engaging holes 51a and 51b are
disposed respectively in parallel with communicating hole portion 30e and
pass through from female screw portion 30d to the upper end of connecting
member 30 respectively. On each of the inner periphery surfaces of first
and second engaging holes 51a and 51b, a screw thread is formed. FIG. 5 is
a sectional view of the pulsator assembly for a washing machine of FIG. 2.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, pulsator 20 includes a disc-shaped pulsator
body portion 20a, a protuberance portion 20b and a ball portion 24.
Pulsator body portion 20a includes a round base plate 22 and a wing piece
21 of a predetermined shape. Wing piece 21 is disposed on round base plate
22. On the lower surface of round base plate 22 a plurality of grooves 23
are formed with a certain distance therebetween. On the center of the
lower surface of round base plate 22, protuberance portion 20b is formed.
On the lower end of protuberance portion 20b sphere-shaped ball portion 24
is formed. The predetermined shape of wing piece 21 may be a wave form and
the wing piece is integrally formed with round base plate 22. Confining
part 39 includes a first confining piece 40 and a second confining piece
40'. First confining piece 40 has a first engaging hole 41 and a first
confining recess 42 and second confining piece 40' has a second engaging
hole 41' and a second confining recess 42' First confining piece 40 and
second confining piece 40' are respectively disposed inside a plurality of
fixed projecting portions 31. First confining recess 42 of first confining
piece 40 and second confining recess 42' of second confining piece 40' are
opposedly disposed to form a confining hole. The confining hole receives
projecting portion 20b of pulsator 20 and prevents pulsator 20 from
separating from connecting member 30. Each of first confining piece 40 and
second confining piece 40' has the shape of a semicircle. Engagement part
50 includes a first bolt 50a and a second bolt 50b. First bolt 50a and
second bolt 50b pass through first engaging through hole 51a and second
engaging through hole 51b respectively and are engaged with first engaging
hole 41 and second engaging hole 41' of first confining piece 40 and
second confining piece 40' respectively. By doing so, first confining
piece 40 and second confining piece 40' are fixed to connecting member 30.
In the pulsator assembly for a washing machine according to the embodiment
of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1, pulsator 20 is rotatably
installed at the inner bottom of washing tub 4 placed within water
reservoir 5. Connecting member 30 engaged with pulsator 20 and shaft 10 is
installed outside water reservoir 5, passing through the center portions
of water reservoir 5 and washing tub 4. Shaft 10 can be installed by shaft
housing 8 to be rotated, and shaft housing 8 is situated at the center of
the outer bottom of water reservoir 5. Shaft pulley 13 engaged with one
end of shaft 10 is connected to driving pulley 9 of driving motor 1 by
means of pulley belt 15.
The pulsator assembly for a washing machine with such a construction as
above according to the embodiment of the present invention operates in the
following manner.
Water is supplied into water reservoir 5 of a washing machine. Washing tub
4 is provided in water reservoir 5. A laundry article is put into washing
tub 4. When driving motor 1 works at the washing step, a rotating force of
driving motor 1 is transmitted to shaft pulley 13 by way of pulley belt 15
and driving pulley 9 to thereby rotate shaft pulley 13. Shaft pulley 13
rotates in a forward or reverse direction according to the rotating
direction of driving motor 1. The rotation of shaft pulley 13 causes shaft
10, connecting member 30 and pulsator 20 to be rotated. The rotation of
pulsator 20 agitates the water and laundry articles. By this agitating of
the water and laundry articles, pulsator 20 becomes loaded. At this time,
as the load carried by pulsator 20 varies due to a change of a rotating
speed or direction of pulsator 20 or due to the laundry article striking
with pulsator 20, pulsator 20 moves in right, left, up and down directions
while rotating. This, as stated in the foregoing, is possible because
grooves 23 of pulsator 20 and fixed projecting portions 31 of connecting
member 30 are movably engaged with each other and ball portion 24 of
pulsator 20 is rotatably engaged with inserting hole 32a of connecting
member 30 by means of confining part 39. Such irregular movements of
pulsator 20 prevent pulsator 20 from being overloaded due to the weight of
laundry articles. Additionally, the rocking of pulsator 20 generates a
vortex water current of laundry water, and accordingly, a washing
efficiency is increased and tangling of the laundry articles is reduced.
Although the pulsator assembly for a washing machine has been described
through a preferred embodiment of the present invention, variations and
changes may be made without departing from the scope and the spirit of the
invention. | 3D
| 06 | F |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 is a largely schematic view of a generic fluid system 20 which is
modified to perform various functions. Co-pending application Ser. No.
07/698,545 describes system 20 being used to clean vessels. Fluid vessel
22 is disposed within circuit 20, and may be any one of a number of types
of fluid vessels. In the present invention, fluid vessel 22 is used to
generate heat.
Pump 24 delivers pressurized fluid to downstream locations. Bypass valve 26
and pressure regulator valve 28 are disposed upstream of pump 24. Flow
member 30 monitors the amount of fluid flowing from pump 24 into line 31,
downstream of flow meter 30. Fluid from line 31 is directed into a
cyclically operating control valve 32, which opens and closes to allow
fluid pulses to move from line 31 to line 33. A controller 35, shown
schematically, operates to open and close valve 32.
When valve 32 is closed, a pressure hammer may be directed back upstream
along line 31. "Cellular plastic cushions" 34 absorb these hammers. In one
preferred embodiment, cushions 34 consisting of a steel pipe (cylinder)
enclosed at one end and filled with rigid plastic, remote from line 31,
put opening into line 31. The foam is tightly received within the closed
end of the pipe (cylinder) such that the pressure hammer moves into
cushion 34 and compresses the foam, which absorbs the hammer.
When valve 32 is open a pressure pulse is directed into line 33. A pressure
wave sensor 36 monitors the frequency and intensity of these pulses.
Pressure sensor 38 and vacuum sensor 40 monitor the position of a piston,
disclosed below, within pressure wave sensor 36 and give an indication to
controller 35 for valve 32 of the actual intensity and frequency of the
pulses in line 33.
Pulses in line 33 are directed into fluid vessel 22. Fluid vessel 22 is
preferably flooded prior to the application of these pulses. Preferably,
the intensity frequency and pressure of the fluid pulses directed into
vessel 22 are controlled such that the pulses cavitate upon being exposed
to the relatively large volume vessel 22. Cavitation may occur when a
fluid is exposed to an environment at which it moves to the vapor pressure
for its temperature. As an example, a highly pressurized fluid suddenly
being exposed to a larger area creates cavitation, if conditions are
closely controlled. Further the rapid changes between the high pressure
and vacuum as valve 32 opens and closes may cause cavitation. The
cavitation of the fluid within vessel 22 generates heat, heating the
fluid. That heated fluid is used beneficially under the teachings of this
application.
Pressure indicator 42 is disposed on a line communicating with pressure
vessel 22. Thermal wall 44 taps heat from the interior of vessel 22, which
may be used for beneficial purposes. Thermal well 44 need not be utilized
if vessel 22 is used to generate heat for a heat exchange system. Drain
line 46 may communicate to fluid vessel 22, and may allow draining of
fluid when cleaning vessel 22. Outlet lines 48 and 50 lead from vessel 22.
Line 50 may be utilized to vent entrapped gas from vessel 22. Line 48
includes a selectively open valve while line 50 includes a relief valve. A
selectively open valve 52 is on the line leading to pressure indicator 42.
A selectively open valve 54 is disposed between line 33 and vessel 22. By
closing valves 52, 54 and the valve on line 48, one isolates vessel 22
from the remainder of the system 20. This is done when it is desired to
disconnect vessel 22 from system 20. Member 56 mounted downstream of
outlet line 48 may include a filter or heat exchange structure, as will be
explained below. A line from member 56 leads into sump 58 which returns
the fluid back to pump 24.
FIG. 2 discloses hydraulic control circuit 60 for valve 32. Line 62 leads
from a source of pressurized fluid. Lock circuit portion 64 includes lock
cylinder 66 receiving piston 68. Sensors 70 detect the position of piston
68. Valve 72 directs fluid to opposed ends of cylinder 66 to retract or
extend piston 68. Piston 68 may lock valve 32 in either an open or closed
position. The lock circuit is typically left open during operation of
system 20.
Cyclic circuit portion 74 is utilized for the cyclic operation of valve 32.
Cylinder 76 receives piston 78 and sensors 80 detect the position of
piston 78. Valve 82 directs fluid to the opposed end of piston 78 to move
it between open and closed positions, as will be explained below.
Controller 35 controls the operation of valve 82.
FIG. 3A shows test rig 84 for determining a preferred cyclic frequency and
pressures for the fluid pulse flow through valve 32. Rig 84 includes
experimental vessel 86 which is modeled to approximate a vessel to be used
with system 20. Vessel 86 receives fluid from pump 88. Fluid from pump 88
passes through the cyclical control valve 90 which is connected to a
computer control. Outlet lines 92 and 94 return fluid back to a sump for
pump 88. Control 96 is used to vary frequency and pressure of the fluid
pulses passing into vessel 86 to experimentally determine optimized cyclic
frequencies and pressures for the fluid. The frequency and pressure are
selected to achieve optimum cavitation and heat generation. The data
generated by utilizing experimental test rig 84 may be incorporated into a
dedicated controller 35 for an actual circuit 20.
FIG. 3B is a top view of test rig 84. Vessel 86 is mounted downstream of
valve 90 which is downstream of pump 88.
Valve 32 will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4A
illustrates valve 32 including cylinder 72 which receives piston 78, which
is preferably formed of stainless steel, although other materials may be
used. Piston 78 is shown in an open position allowing fluid from line 31
to pass through opening 102 to line 33. Opening 102 is preferably the same
diameter as both lines 31 and 33 to eliminate any restrictions on the flow
line. Pressurized fluid is directed through lines 100 into pressure
chambers on opposed sides of piston 78 to move it between the open
position illustrated in FIG. 4A, and a closed position illustrated in FIG.
4B. A teflon sleeve 103 is mounted on piston 78 where it contacts the
interior of cylinder 72 to prevent fluid leakage, wear and to facilitate
sliding movement of piston 78. Cushions 106 are mounted at locations
spaced from the pressure chambers receiving fluid 100, to absorb the shock
from rapid movement of piston 78 between open and closed positions.
Electromagnetic detents 107 detect the position of a piston within cushion
106.
As shown in FIG. 4B, piston 78 has been moved to the closed position.
Shield 103 now blocks fluid flow between line 31 and 33.
FIG. 5A illustrates the side of piston 78. Line 102 passes through valve
72. Guide slot 114 is formed in the side of valve 78 and receives a
spring-biases ball, not shown, mounted within cylinder 72, to ensure that
the movement of piston 78 relative to 72 is along an intended direction.
FIG. 5B shows locking holes 110 and 112 at spaced axial locations on piston
78. Line 102 passes directly through piston 78. Teflon shield 103
surrounds the area of fluid lien 102.
FIG. 5C is a top view of piston 78. Line 102 passes through its entire
extent.
FIG. 5D shows locking piston 68 in hole 110. This locks piston 78 at a
position where line 102 is open and allows fluid flow between line 31 and
33. During normal cyclic movement of valve 32, piston 78 would not be
locked. There may be occasion when it is desired to lock piston 78 at a
particular location, however, and cylinder 116 can lock piston 78 at
either the opened or closed positions. The controller for valve 32
receives a feedback signal from locking piston 118.
FIG. 6 shows details of pressure wave sensor 36. Spring 119 biases piston
118 and piston end 120 away from sensors 38 and 40. Closure member 122 is
mounted on an end of pressure wave senor 36 which faces line 33. Openings
124 pass through closure member 122. When valve 32 is closed a vacuum is
drawn on line 33, and spring 120 forces piston 120 to the left as shown in
this figure. Sensor 38 identifies that a vacuum exists on line 33. When a
pressure pulse is directed on line 33, the pulse will force piston 120 to
compress prig 118 and move towards the positions illustrated in FIG. 6.
Sensor 40 then determines that a pressure pulse is applied on line 33.
Sensors 38 and 40 send this information to controller 35 for valve 32.
FIG. 7 is an end view of closure 122. A plurality of fluid ports 124 pass
through closure 122.
FIG. 8 is a partially schematic view of a heat exchange system 125
according to the present invention. Pump 24 directs fluid past cushion 34
to valve 32. Pressure wave sensor 36 is disposed on line 33 between valve
32 and vessel 126 where heat is generated. Line 128 leads outwardly of
vessel 126 and vent line 130 communicates to line 128. Drain line 132 may
be utilized for cleaning vessel 126. Line 134 leads to heat exchange
structure 136. Fan 138 directs air to be heated over heat exchange
structure 136. Fluid moves from heat exchange structure 136 to sump 140,
where it is recycled back to pump 74. Although a particular heat exchange
structure is illustrated, it should be understood that others would come
within the scope of this invention.
When it is desired to generate heat, vessel 126 is flooded. Fluid is then
directed from pump 24, through valve 32 and into vessel 126. The cyclic
pulses of fluid moving into vessel 126 cause cavitation within the vessel,
and heat is generated in the fluid. That heated fluid is directed into
line 134 and heat exchange structure 136. Air from fan 138 is passed over
heat exchange structure 136 and is heated. Vessel 126 may include a
feedback line leading back to controller 35 for valve 32.
With the inventive system, a relatively small amount of energy is necessary
to generate heat within vessel 126. Further, the fluid pulsing into vessel
126 self-cleans vessel 126 during operation. The inventive heat exchange
system is relatively efficient to operate and maintain.
The pulsed fluid is preferably water. In a preferred embodiment of the
present invention vessel 136 is lined with a styrene-butadiene copolymer,
in-situ cured and bonded. This provides a surface in the vessel that is
resistant to damage from the cavitating fluid. Cavitating fluid would
still clean the tank interior. Valve 32 may take approximately 1 second to
open or close. It may preferably remain closed 2 seconds and open 2-3
seconds. These times are approximate and not limiting on this invention.
The exact times should be determined experimentally for a particular
application. Cylinders 106 and 116 may be a air cylinder manufactured by
Bimba Manufacturing Company of Monee, Ill., preferably Model No. MRS-09-DZ
is utilized. The approximate pressure for the fluid leading from pump 24
on the order of zero p.s.i. to 1600 p.s.i. and is determined
experimentally. Flow volumes are on the order of 3 cubic feet per second.
Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been
disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that
certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For
that reason, the following claims should be studied in order to determine
the true scope and content of this invention. | 5F
| 22 | B |
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Turning now to the figures, FIGS. 1 through 8 are simplified sectional
views illustrating various steps in a process for fabricating a field
effect transistor (FET) 10 in accordance with the present invention.
Referring specifically to FIG. 1, The fabrication of FET 10 begins with
the provision of a substrate structure 11, which includes a supporting
substrate and may contain one or more epitaxial layers, e.g. buffer and/or
gradient layers, depending upon the specific material utilized and the
specific application. Generally, in this specific embodiment, the
supporting substrate includes gallium arsenide (GaAs), aluminum arsenide
(AlAs), or their alloys.
An electrically conductive shielding region 15 is positioned adjacent to a
surface of substrate structure 11 and is generally referred to herein as
being a portion of substrate structure 11. Shielding region 15 can be
formed in a variety of ways, including but not limited to epitaxially
growing a doped layer on substrate structure 11, implanting and annealing
to form a doped layer, etc. In this embodiment, shielding region 15 is
lightly doped with a P-type impurity to produce a P.sup.- doped layer. It
will be understood from the following text and drawings that shielding
region 15 extends at least between the source and drain of FET 10.
A channel region 20 is positioned on shielding region 15 by any convenient
means. In this embodiment, channel region 20 includes a plurality of
epitaxial layers grown on the surface of substrate structure 11 in
overlying relationship to shielding region 15. As will be understood by
those skilled in the art, channel region 20 may include a single channel
layer of semiconductor material or a plurality of layers including, for
example, a channel layer having barrier or buffer layers on the lower and
upper sides thereof. Also, in this specific embodiment, channel region 20
is lightly doped with N-type impurity to produce an N.sup.- doped layer
or layers.
A source and a drain are then formed on channel region 20 in any of a
variety of processes. In this preferred fabrication process, a cap layer
21 is positioned on the surface of channel region 20. Cap layer 21 is, for
example, a layer of N.sup.+ GaAs approximately 1000.ANG. thick and is
epitaxially grown on the surface of channel region 20. A layer 22 of hard
mask material is positioned on the surface of cap layer 21. In this
preferred process, layer 22 is formed of approximately 500.ANG. of silicon
nitride (SIN) deposited by some convenient method, such as PECVD or the
like. Photoresist and reactive ion etch (RIE) or the like is then used to
pattern layer 22, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The patterning of layer 22 is
performed to define a source area and a drain area for FET 10.
Using patterned layer 22 as a mask, cap layer 21 is etched to form a source
25 and a drain 30 on channel region 20 overlying shielding region 15, as
illustrated in FIG. 2. Further, source 25 and drain 30 are positioned in
spaced apart relationship to define a gate area therebetween. The
remainder of layer 22 is optionally removed either before or during the
following processing or, in some applications, may be simply left in
place. A gate metal deposition is then performed to form a gate contact 32
between source 25 and drain 30 on channel region 20 overlying shielding
region 15, as illustrated in FIG. 3. As will be understood, after
deposition of a layer of gate metal standard patterning techniques are
utilized to define gate contact 32. A typical gate metal utilized in this
process is titanium-tungsten-nitride (TiWN) which is deposited and etched
by any of the well known processes. A conformal layer 33 of dielectric
material is then deposited over the entire structure, as illustrated in
FIG. 3. An anneal process may be performed on the structure, such as a
rapid temperature anneal, to cure any crystalline damage that may have
occurred during the processing and to form a Shottky contact between gate
contact 32 and channel region 20.
Utilizing photoresist or the like as an implant mask (not shown),
externally accessible electrical contact regions 35 are implanted so as to
extend through channel region 20 and into contact with shielding region
15, as illustrated in FIG. 4. In this specific embodiment the implants are
heavily p-doped regions which are formed by co-implanting, for example,
fluorine and beryllium and activating the implant with an anneal at
approximately 700.degree. C. This process yields P.sup.+ externally
accessible electrical contact regions 35 with a doping concentration of
approximately 2E19 cm.sup.-3. Also, two contact regions 35 are provided,
one adjacent source 25 and one adjacent drain 30 (near the outer edges) to
provide a good electrical path with shielding region 15.
Isolation of FET 10 is accomplished by implanting oxygen regions 37, or the
like, adjacent the outer extremities of contact regions 35 in a well known
manner. A dielectric or insulating layer 40 (e.g. SiO.sub.2 or the like)
is then deposited over the entire structure, as illustrated in FIG. 5.
Layer 40 is then patterned, by standard photoresist techniques or the
like, to define openings therethrough in communication with cap layer 21
at source region 25 and drain region 30. In this embodiment, openings are
also formed in communication with contact regions 35. As is illustrated in
FIG. 6, contact metal is positioned in the openings and patterned in any
of the well known techniques to form an external source contact 41, an
external drain contact 42, and external shielding contacts 43 and 44
coupled to shielding region 15 through contact regions 35. The contact
metal is any convenient material, such as sputter deposited Ni/Ge/W or the
like, that will form a good ohmic contact with the underlying surface in
both the P+ and N+ contact regions.
A relatively thick passivation/insulation layer 46 is deposited over the
entire structure and patterned by any convenient technique to define
openings to contacts 41, 42, 43 and 44, as illustrated in FIG. 7. Any
annealing or other processes utilized to complete the formation of FET 10
are performed at this time or at any appropriate times during the
fabrication process. To complete FET 10, a final metal deposition is
performed to form external source, drain, and gate terminals. The final
metal deposition is performed in accordance with standard procedures and,
in this embodiment, includes the deposition of TiW/AlCu material (Au and
other metals may be included or used instead of) and the patterning
thereof to define a source terminal 47 in contact with source contact 41
and external shielding contact 43. Thus, in a single process, shielding
region 15 is connected to source 25 and, in normal operation, further
connected to ground or other common potential. Also, a gate terminal 48, a
drain terminal 49, and a second shielding terminal 50 are provided, as
illustrated in FIG. 8.
Turning now to FIGS. 9 through 11, various steps in another fabrication
process and a FET 10' embodiment are illustrated. In this process the
steps leading to the structure illustrated in FIG. 9 are substantially the
same as described in conjunction with FIGS. 1-3, similar components being
designated with similar numbers and all numbers having a prime add to
indicate a different embodiment. Referring specifically to FIG. 9, the
portion of cap layer 21' defining source 25' is originally formed with a
central opening therethrough.
Utilizing photoresist or the like as an implant mask (not shown),
externally accessible electrical contact region 35' is implanted in the
central opening through cap layer 21' so as to extend through channel
region 20' and into contact with shielding region 15', as illustrated in
FIG. 9. In this specific embodiment the implant is a heavily p-doped
region which is formed by co-implanting, for example, fluorine and
beryllium and activating the implant with an anneal at approximately
700.degree. C. This process yields P.sup.+ externally accessible
electrical contact region 35' with a doping concentration of 2E19
cm.sup.-3. Also, a second contact regions 35' (not shown for convenience)
may be provided adjacent drain 30' (near the outer edges) to provide an
additional electrical path to shielding region 15'.
Isolation of FET 10' (not shown for convenience) can be accomplished by
implanting oxygen regions, or the like, adjacent the outer extremities of
source 25' and drain 30' in a well known manner. A dielectric or
insulating layer 40' (e.g. SiO.sub.2 or the like) is deposited over the
entire structure, as illustrated in FIG. 10. Layer 40' is then patterned,
by standard photoresist techniques or the like, to define a single opening
therethrough in communication with cap layer 21' and contact region 35' at
source region 25' and openings therethrough in communication with gate
contact 32' and drain region 30'. As is illustrated in FIG. 11, contact
metal is positioned in the openings and patterned in any of the well known
techniques to form a combined external source and shielding region contact
41' and an external drain contact 42'. The contact metal is any convenient
material, such as sputter deposited Ni/Ge/W or the like, that will form a
good ohmic contact with the underlying surface in N+ and P+ regions
simultaneously.
Therefore, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9 through 11, the
connection of shielding region 15' to source 25' is accomplished with
fewer process steps and utilizing less area of substrate 11'. Passivation
and external terminals for FET 10' are provided essentially as described
in conjunction with FIGS. 7 and 8 above.
Thus, exemplary embodiments of a stable FET have been disclosed, along with
fabrication processes. The stable FETs include an electrically conductive
shielding region positioned in the substrate structure so as to extend
between the source and drain. The shielding region alone will reduce the
oscillation and transient effects discussed above. However, providing an
external electrical path for the charges (holes) generated in the device
during pinch-off will substantially eliminate the oscillation and
transient effects. The external connection or connections to the shielding
region, for example, provide a path for holes generated at high fields
from impact ionization to be extracted from the device, these holes would
otherwise be stored close to the source portions of the device. These
stored holes produce the transient effects mentioned above, which
transient effects are eliminated with the removal of the holes.
While we have shown and described specific embodiments of the present
invention, further modifications and improvements will occur to those
skilled in the art. We desire it to be understood, therefore, that this
invention is not limited to the particular forms shown and we intend in
the appended claims to cover all modifications that do not depart from the
spirit and scope of this invention. | 7H
| 01 | L |
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, which are for purposes of illustrating a
preferred embodiment of the invention only, and not for purposes of
limiting the same, FIG. 1 shows an assembled pipe 10. The pipe 10 consists
of a V-shaped upper section 16 and a lower section 22.
In the preferred orientation, the upper section 16 is arranged as indicated
in FIG. 1, where the "V" is inverted. The upper section 16 is includes
first and second legs 18,20 and an included angle .alpha. therebetween.
.alpha. is between 30 degrees and 75 degrees, but is preferably equal to
60 degrees.
The lower section 22 has turn-up sections 28,29 that are turned upwardly
and inwardly. The turn-up sections 28,29 make and angles .beta.1 and
.beta.2, respectively, with a bottom surface 32 of the lower section 22.
.beta.1 and .beta.2 are between 30 degrees and 75 degrees, but are
preferably equal to 60 degrees. As such, along with .alpha., .beta.1 and
.beta.2 are preferably equal to 60 degrees, making the cross-sectional
shape of the assembled pipe 10 to be an equilateral triangle.
When the pipe 10 is assembled, the turn-ups 28,29 hold the V-shaped upper
section 16 in place. The pipe 10 is assembled by resiliently deforming
first and second legs 18,20 of the V-shaped upper section 16 inwardly so
that the legs 18,20 of the V-shaped upper section 16 fit between the
turn-ups 28,29 of the lower section 22. The resilient deformation is
caused by manually-generated forces, for example by the hands of the
installer of the pipe. The legs 18,20 are resiliently deformed inwardly
until a distance D1 between edges 90,92 of the legs 18,20 is less than a
distance D2 between edges 96,98 of the first and second turn-ups 28,29.
When the legs 18,20 of the upper section 16 clear the turn-ups 28,29, the
manually generated pressure is released and the turn-ups 28, 29 hold the
V-shaped upper section 16 against the lower section 22.
The drainage pipe 10 has a series of apertures 40 that are lined up along
the lower end of the inverted V-shaped upper section 16. The apertures 40
are preferably circular, located between 1.0 inches and 12.0 inches apart,
and have a diameter between 0.25 inches and 2.0 inches. The preferred
embodiment has apertures with diameters of 1 inch and are which are spaced
about three inches apart. Water flows into the drainage pipe 10 through
the apertures 40 and passes through the pipe 10 on a bottom surface 32 of
the lower section 22, and eventually to a desired location. The bottom
surface 32 is between 2.0 inches and 12.0 inches wide, but is preferably
about 4.0 inches wide.
The pipe 10 is preferably used with a wall and foundation drainage system,
such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,590,722 to Bevelacqua, which is
incorporated herein by reference. FIG. 2 shows the drainage pipe 10 as
used in a basement waterproofing system 50 applied to a conventional wall
and foundation assembly. Although the invention is being described with
reference a block wall, the invention can be successfully practiced with
any kind of wall, including but not limited to block, tile, cement, etc.
The foundation has a footer 56 and building blocks 62 that make up the
wall in a conventional manner. The blocks 62 can have open centers
vertically aligned in the wall whereby any moisture coming into the center
portion of the wall will flow down therethrough and can be drained from
the wall through a plurality of openings or slots 68 that are formed in an
inner wall surface 74 so these portions in the inner wall surfaces 74 of
the blocks 62 communicate from the interior of the building blocks 62 to
form drainage openings adjacent an excavation 80 which is formed in any
suitable manner adjacent the inner wall of the wall footer 56. Thus, water
can flow out through the slot 68 over the upper surface of the footer 56
and down into this excavation 80.
The drainage pipe 10 is laid in the excavation 80 and serves to drain the
area 80 of water. Water entering the excavation 80 enters the drainage
pipe 10 through the apertures 40 (see FIG. 1) and flows from the basement
in a conventional manner.
The configuration of the inventive drainage pipe 10, namely its triangular
nature, makes it is stronger than other conventional similar types of
pipe, and it requires less room in the excavation 80. The inventive
drainage pipe 10 is particularly well-suited for use in crawl spaces where
room is limited and vertically directed weight loads are increased. Such
vertically directed loads in crawl spaces are often due to heavy objects
placed in such crawl spaces, such as tractors, tools, mechanized
equipment, and the like.
The area of excavation 80 around the drainage pipe 10 is filled in with
gravel 86 or any other suitable substance that water is free to pass
through to reach the drainage pipe 10.
The preferred embodiments have been described, hereinabove. It will be
apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods may
incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general
scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications
and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended
claims or the equivalents thereof. | 4E
| 02 | D |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to the annexed drawings the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be herein described for indicative purpose and by no means as of limitation with like numerals of reference being employed for like parts in differing embodiments of the invention or its details.
Referring first toFIG. 1there is shown in perspective a front elevation of a feeding apparatus1mounted within a housing2, to be described in greater detail infra, which is cut away for the sake of clarity to reveal the apparatus.
The apparatus1includes a hopper4providing an inlet (not shown) and an outlet region6distal from the inlet, the outlet region6in this example being of rectilinear shape, in particular of rectangular cross section. An outlet8as such is provided for the outlet region6and is comprised of an adjustable trough-like assembly10. The assembly10is essentially telescopic with interleaving elements12which slide one within the other through the agency of a pin and slot arrangement13,14or the like and are lockable in a chosen position by the tightening of wing-nuts15or the like in known manner. The telescoping of the elements12may conveniently be in a horizontal plane, as shown by arrows H inFIGS. 3 and 4.
The outlet8is also vertically adjustable in a substantially vertical plane, as shown by arrows V, again through the agency of suitable similar pin and slot arrangement17,18in mutual engagement with the outlet region6as can be seen fromFIGS. 2 and 4.
A drive motor20is mounted to the outlet region6on the opposite side thereof to the outlet8per se and is coupled via suitable gearing21to a rotor (not shown) which may be a feed screw or an auger for rotational movement such as in use to carry pelletted or other discrete feed through the outlet8for discharge as hereinafter described. A programmable controller (not shown) is provided for the control of the motor20to govern the timing, duration and frequency of its operation on a daily basis or otherwise and therefore that of the feeding of food through the feeder1.
The housing2encases the feeder1and has at its relatively upper end a lid50which is openable to gain access to the hopper4. The housing2is so shaped at its relatively lower end to provide a chute52beneath the feeder1such that the discharge of feed through the outlet8falls into the chute for discharge through an opening54into a feeding or manger area56therebeneath. It will be seen that the manger area56is open at the front of the housing2and is provided at its rear margin with an upright wall58, the combination of the wall and the manger constituting a plinth for the housing2which may be suitably affixed to the wall of a stable (not shown) for access by for example a horse or other animal accommodated therewithin.
In use, the feeder1mounted within the housing is charged through its hopper4with pellets, nuts or cubes of feed for feeding the animal, the feed descending in the hopper4into the outlet8whence it is dischargeable by actuation of the motor20. The amount of feed is determined by the size of the outlet8which may be adjusted vertically and horizontally as indicated supra and accordingly the volume of feed delivered into the chute52of the housing and ultimately into the manger area56is defined in combination with the duration of the operation of the motor. As will be appreciated by the skilled artisan, the feeder is calibrated in accordance with the feeding regime of the animal concerned to ensure accurate feeding at appropriate times during the day.
As shown more particularly inFIG. 5, the minimal distance L or space between the feed screw60and the top wall62just above the screw is typically at least the average size X of a particle (pellet, nut, cube or the like) of the feeding substance F or food, and preferably at least one and a half (1.5 times) the average size X, such that the food will never block the proper operation of the screw60.
It will be understood that whilst the specific embodiment of feeder relies on manual adjustment of the outlet configuration for the variation in the feed volume, automatic means may be provided.
Although the present invention of an automated feeding apparatus has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the disclosure has been made by way of example only and that the present invention is not limited to the features of the embodiment described and illustrated herein, but includes all variations and modifications within the scope and spirit of the invention as herein after claimed.
| 0A
| 01 | K |
EXAMPLES
The present invention will hereinafter be described based on Examples and Comparative Examples. The present invention is however not limited by the following Examples. All designations of “part” or “parts” and “%” mean part or parts by mass and % by mass, respectively, unless otherwise particularly specified. The specific numerical values in mixing ratio (content ratio), property value, and parameter used in the following description will be replaced with upper limits (numerical values defined as “or less” or “below”) or lower limits (numerical values defined as “or more” or “above”) of corresponding numerical values in mixing ratio (content ratio), property value, and parameter described in the above-described
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Example 1
As a part of a polymerization component, 15 mol % of the total charged amount of the polymerization component described in Table 1 was prepared and diluted with tap water so that the concentration thereof was 10 mass %.
Next, the obtained solution was charged in a 500-mL separable flask.
Next, sulfuric acid was added to the solution and the pH thereof was adjusted to about 2.5.
Thereafter, while nitrogen was continued being blown into the solution, ammonium persulphate (APS), as a polymerization initiator, was added dropwise at 90° C. to initiate polymerization and next, the remaining portion (85 mol %) of the polymerization component was added dropwise.
After the completion of the dropping of the remaining portion of the above-described polymerization component, the ammonium persulphate (APS), as a polymerization initiator, was added until the appropriate viscosity (about 5000 to 10000 mpa·s) and the reaction was continued around 90° C.
Thereafter, sodium sulfite (Na2SO3), as a polymerization terminator, and dilution water were added to be cooled, thereby obtaining an aqueous solution of a polyacrylamide resin.
The aqueous solution had the solid content concentration of 20.1 mass %.
Also, the viscosity at 25° C. of the aqueous solution and the weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the polyacrylamide resin were measured by the following method. The results are shown in Table 1.
<Measurement of Viscosity at 25° C.>
The viscosity at 25° C. was measured in accordance with JIS K 7117-1 (in 1999) using a B-type viscometer (rotor No. 3, 12 rpm) (TVB-10 viscometer, manufactured by TOKI SANGYO CO., LTD.).
<Measurement of Weight Average Molecular Weight (Mw) with Gel Permeation Chromatography>
A sample was dissolved in a phosphate buffer having a pH of 7 and the concentration of the sample was adjusted to 1.0 g/L to be measured with gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the sample was calculated from the obtained chromatogram (chart). The measurement device and the measurement conditions are shown below.
Device: part number TDA-302 (manufactured by Viscotek)
Column: part number TSKgel GMPWXL(manufactured by Tosoh Corporation)
Moving Phase: phosphate buffer
Column Flow Rate: 0.8 mL/min
Concentration of Sample: 1.0 g/L
Injection Rate: 500 !IL
Examples 2 to 8 and Comparative Examples 1 to 6
Each of the aqueous solutions of the polyacrylamide resin was obtained in the same manner as that in Example 1 except that the mixing formulation shown in Tables 1 to 2 was used. Also, the viscosity at 25° C. of each of the aqueous solutions and the weight average molecular weight (Mw) of each of the polyacrylamide resins were measured in the same manner as that in Example 1. The results are shown in Tables 1 to 2.
Examples 9 to 10
As a part of the polymerization component, 15 mol % of the total charged amount of the polymerization component described in Table 1 was prepared and diluted with tap water so that the concentration thereof was 10 mass %.
Next, the obtained solution was charged in a 500 -mL separable flask.
Next, the sulfuric acid was added to the solution and the pH thereof was adjusted to about 2.5.
Thereafter, while the nitrogen was continued being blown into the solution, the ammonium persulphate (APS), as the polymerization initiator, was added dropwise at 90° C. to initiate the polymerization and next, a mixed solution of the remaining portion (85 mol %) of the polymerization component and glyoxylic acid that was 3.6 mol % with respect to the polymerization component was added dropwise.
After the completion of the dropping of the remaining portion of the above-described polymerization component, the ammonium persulphate (APS), as the polymerization initiator, was added until the appropriate viscosity (about 5000 to 10000 mPa·s) and the reaction was continued around 90° C.
Thereafter, the sodium sulfite (Na2SO3), as the polymerization terminator, and the dilution water were added to be cooled, thereby obtaining the aqueous solution of the polyacrylamide resin.
Each of the aqueous solutions had the solid content concentration of 20.5 mass %. Also, the viscosity at 25° C. of each of the aqueous solutions and the weight average molecular weight (Mw) of each of the polyacrylamide resins were measured in the same manner as that in Example 1. The results are shown in Table 1.
Example 11
As a part of the polymerization component, 15 mol % of the total charged amount of the polymerization component described in Table 1 was prepared and diluted with tap water so that the concentration thereof was 10 mass %.
Next, the obtained solution was charged in a 500-mL separable flask.
Next, the sulfuric acid was added to the solution and the pH thereof was adjusted to about 2.5.
Thereafter, while the nitrogen was continued being blown into the solution, the ammonium persulphate (APS), as the polymerization initiator, was added dropwise at 90° C. to initiate polymerization and next, the remaining portion (85 mol %) of the polymerization component was added dropwise.
After the completion of the dropping of the remaining portion of the above-described polymerization component, the ammonium persulphate (APS), as the polymerization initiator, was added until the appropriate viscosity (about 5000 to 10000 mpa·s) and the reaction was continued around 90° C.
Thereafter, the sodium sulfite (Na2SO3), as the polymerization terminator, and the dilution water were added and next, glyoxylic acid that was 1.8 mol % with respect to the polymerization component was added to continue the reaction at 90° C. for one hour.
Thereafter, the obtained solution was cooled, thereby obtaining an aqueous solution of the polyacrylamide resin.
The aqueous solution had the solid content concentration of 20.9 mass %. Also, the viscosity at 25° C. of the aqueous solution and the weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the polyacrylamide resin were measured in the same manner as that in Example 1. The results are shown in Table 1.
TABLE 1No.Ex. 1Ex. 2Ex. 3Ex. 4Ex. 5Ex. 6MixingPolymerizationAM90.490.289.989.789.489.9FormulationComponentAcrylic Acid——————[mol %]Itaconic Acid——————AmGlyA3.63.63.63.63.63.6DM——————N-methyldiallylamine—————5.5DADMAC5.55.55.55.55.5—Sodium Methallylsulfonate0.50.71.01.21.51.0Addition Amount of Glyoxylic Acid [mol %]——————PropertyWeight Average Molecular150000040000004500000600000075000004500000WeightSolid Content20.120.320.320.220.620.8Concentration (%)Viscosity (mPa · s)680072005800650073006400EvaluationInternal Bond [mJ]169171186193184179Water Filtering Property530540555560555520No.Ex. 7Ex. 8Ex. 9Ex. 10Ex. 11MixingPolymerizationAM90.290.293.591.791.7FormulationComponentAcrylic Acid1.8————[mol %]Itaconic Acid—1.8—1.81.8AmGlyA1.81.8———DM—————N-methyldiallylamine—————DADMAC5.55.55.55.55.5Sodium Methallylsulfonate0.70.71.01.01.0Addition Amount of Glyoxylic Acid [mol %]——3.61.81.8PropertyWeight Average Molecular Weight45000004500000450000045000004500000Solid Content Concentration (%)20.420.520.520.720.9Viscosity (mPa · s)60006900630056007100EvaluationInternal Bond [mJ]198209195212207Water Filtering Property540550560555555
TABLE 2No.Comp. Ex. 1Comp. Ex. 2Comp. Ex. 3Comp. Ex. 4Comp. Ex. 5Comp. Ex. 6MixingPolymerizationAM90.690.490.590.390.289.9FormulationComponentAcrylic Acid3.63.63.63.6——[mol %]Itaconic Acid——————AmGlyA————3.63.6DM5.55.5——5.55.5N-methyldiallylamine——5.55.5——DADMAC——————Sodium0.30.50.40.60.71.0MethallylsulfonateAddition Amount of Glyoxylic Acid——————[mol %]PropertyWeight Average200000045000002000000450000020000004500000Molecular WeightSolid Content20.420.720.920.520.820.9Concentration (%)Viscosity (mPa · s)520059006800620063007000EvaluationInternal Bond [mJ]139141144146150150Water Filtering Property485490480480485495
The abbreviations in the Tables are shown below.
AM: acrylamide
DM: dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate
DADMAC: diallyldimethylammonium chloride
AmGlyA: acrylamide-N-glycolic acid
<Evaluation>
(1) Internal Bond
By using each of the aqueous solution of the polyacrylamide resin obtained in Examples and Comparative Examples, paper was produced by the following method.
That is, first, a pulp material (bleached kraft pulp (BKP) (hardwood pulp (LBKP)/softwood pulp (NBKP) =50/50, Canadian Standard Freeness (CSF: water filtering property) =380 mL) was added to a 1 L-stainless tube so as to obtain 6.25 g in an absolute dry condition and diluted with tap water so that the concentration of the pulp slurry was 3.0 mass %.
Next, the obtained pulp slurry was stirred at 400 rpm and an aqueous solution of the polyacrylamide resin that was diluted to 1.2 mass % was added thereto one minute after the start of the stirring. The addition amount of the aqueous solution was adjusted so that the solid content thereof was 1.5 mass % with respect to the absolute dry pulp mass.
Two minutes later, the obtained solution was diluted with tap water (pH of 6.5, total hardness of 135 ppm) so that the concentration of the pulp slurry was 1.0 mass %, and three minutes later, the stirring was terminated and papermaking was performed, thereby obtaining wet paper (100 g/m2).
Thereafter, the obtained wet paper was pressed at room temperature and then, dried at 110° C. for three minutes with a drum dryer. In this manner, handmade paper (100 g/m2) was obtained.
By using the obtained paper, the paper strength (internal bond [mJ]) was evaluated by the following method.
That is, in accordance with the standard No. 18-2 “Paper and paperboard-internal bond strength test method-Part 2: Internal Bond Tester method” described in the 2000 edition of JAPAN TAPPI paper pulp test method, the internal bond (IB) of the paper was measured.
The results are shown in Table 1.
(2) Water Filtering Property
The water filtering property in the production step of the paper was evaluated in the following steps.
That is, the pulp slurry to which the above-described aqueous solution of the polyacrylamide resin was added was diluted with tap water in which the pH thereof was adjusted to 7 so that the concentration of the pulp slurry was 0.3%. By using 1000 mL thereof, CSF (ml) was measured in accordance with JIS P 8121-2 (in 2012).
The results are shown in Table 1.
<Consideration>
A presence or absence of the first polymerizable compound and the second polymerizable compound in each of the polymerization components in Comparative Examples 2, 4, and 6 and Example 6 in which the polyacrylamide resin having a weight average molecular weight of 4500000 was produced, and the evaluation results thereof are shown in Table 3.
TABLE 3First PolymerizableSecondWaterCompoundPolymerizableIBFilteringNo.(N-methyldiallylamine)Compound (AmGlyA)[mJ]PropertyComp. Ex. 2AbsenceAbsence141490Comp. Ex. 4PresenceAbsence146480Comp. Ex. 6AbsencePresence150495Ex. 6PresencePresence179520Comp. Ex. 4-Comp. Ex. 2Presence-AbsenceAbsence-Absence5−10Comp. Ex. 6-Comp. Ex. 2Absence-AbsencePresence-Absence95Ex. 6-Comp. Ex. 4Presence-AbsencePresence-Absence3340Ex. 6-Comp. Ex. 6Presence-AbsencePresence-Absence2925
As is clear from Table 3, in contrast to Comparative Example 2 in which the polymerization component did not contain both of the first polymerizable compound and the second polymerizable compound, in Comparative Example 4 in which the first polymerizable compound was added to the polymerization component, the value of the internal bond was increased by 5 and the value of the water filtering property was decreased by 10.
Meanwhile, in contrast to Comparative Example 2 in which the polymerization component did not contain both of the first polymerizable compound and the second polymerizable compound, in Comparative Example 6 in which the second polymerizable compound was added to the polymerization component, the value of the internal bond was increased by 9 and the value of the water filtering property was increased by 5.
On the other hand, in contrast to Comparative Example 4 in which the polymerization component contained the first polymerizable compound and did not contain the second polymerizable compound, in Example 6 in which the second polymerizable compound was added to the polymerization component, the value of the internal bond was increased by 33 and the value of the water filtering property was increased by 40.
In contrast to Comparative Example 6 in which the polymerization component contained the second polymerizable compound and did not contain the first polymerizable compound, in Example 6 in which the first polymerizable compound was added to the polymerization component, the value of the internal bond was increased by 29 and the value of the water filtering property was increased by 25.
In this way, a difference between Comparative Example 4 and Example 6 (internal bond of +33, water filtering property of +40) and a difference between Comparative Example 6 and Example 6 (internal bond of +29, water filtering property of +25) are larger than the total value of a difference between Comparative Example 2 and Comparative Example 4 (internal bond of +5, water filtering property of −10) and a difference between Comparative Example 2 and Comparative Example 6 (internal bond of +9, water filtering property of +5).
That is, from the above-described results, the synergistic effect was confirmed in the first polymerizable compound and the second polymerizable compound.
While the illustrative embodiments of the present invention are provided in the above description, such is for illustrative purpose only and it is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. Modification and variation of the present invention that will be obvious to those skilled in the art is to be covered by the following claims.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The polyacrylamide resin, the papermaking additive, and the paper of the present invention are preferably used in news print paper, ink jet paper, thermal recording body paper, pressure-sensitive recording body paper, wood free paper, paperboard, coated paper, household paper, and the like.
| 2C
| 08 | F |
It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the present invention as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that the present description is not intended to limit the invention(s) to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the invention(s) is/are intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
The coating method for clad steel according to various embodiments of the present invention is a method for forming a coating layer that provides corrosion resistance to the clad steel in which stainless sheets are combined on both surfaces of an aluminum sheet.
Specifically, the coating method may include preparing the clad steel, preparing a coating solution in which an epoxy resin and titanium dioxide (TiO2) powder are added in an acrylic resin, etching the clad steel so as to improve adhesion property between the coating solution and the clad steel, heating the clad steel, and performing electrodeposition by immersing the clad steel in the coating solution.
Further, the coating method may further include degreasing the clad steel, between the preparing of the clad steel and the etching of the clad steel, and drying at 80 to 100° C. for 10 to 20 minutes after the performing of the electrodeposition.
The preparing of the clad steel is a step of preparing the clad steel by attaching stainless steel clad materials on both surfaces of an aluminum base material, in which the base material may be an A3003 aluminum alloy, and the clad steel may be SUS 304 stainless steel.
Accordingly, it is possible to manufacture a more lightweight component as compared to a case only using the SUS 304 stainless steel.
However, a bonding interface of the clad material in which different materials are combined is exposed to a side surface, which is relatively vulnerable to corrosion, and when a general roll-coating method is used for coating, a problem that only the clad material is coated, but an exposed surface of the base material in the center is not coated may occur.
Accordingly, it is required to perform coating in an immersion electrodeposition manner capable of coating entire surfaces of the clad steel, and a detailed description thereof is provided below.
Meanwhile, in the preparing of the coating solution, the coating solution is prepared, the coating solution may include in percentage by weight (wt %), acrylic resin of 40 to 50%, TiO2of 10 to 15%, epoxy resin of 10 to 15%, melamine curing agent of 10 to 20%, aromatic solvent of 5 to 10%, and cyclohexanone of 10 to 15%.
The acrylic resin is a component functioning as a core of the coating solution. When a content of the acrylic resin is insufficient, dispersibility of other components is deteriorated, such that coating hardness is deteriorated. On the contrary, when the content of the acrylic resin is excessively large, an effect of improving corrosion resistance and hardness which is exhibited by the epoxy resin and TiO2is deteriorated. Therefore, it is exemplary to limit the weight content of the acrylic resin to 40 to 50%.
The cyclohexanone and the aromatic solvent are solvents for assisting well-mixing with other components, wherein when contents of the cyclohexanone and the aromatic solvent are less than the lowest limit, the solvents may not be acted as a solvent. On the contrary, when the contents thereof are more than the upper limit, a viscosity of the coating solution is deteriorated, and coating quality is reduced due to a kind of water drop forming phenomenon. Therefore, the weight content of the cyclohexanone is preferably 10 to 15%, and the weight content of the aromatic solvent is preferably 5 to 10%, respectively.
The melamine curing agent functions as a bridge between the respective components. When an addition amount of melamine is insufficient, curing degree and crosslinking degree are not sufficient, and when the addition amount thereof is excessive, it is brittle for the entire coating. Therefore, it is exemplary to limit the weight content of the melamine to 10 to 20%.
TiO2is a material added to secure scratch resistance. When an addition amount thereof is insufficient, target hardness is not capable of being achieved, and when the addition amount thereof is excessive, the coating is excessively strong, such that attachment property and formability are reduced. Therefore, it is exemplary to limit the weight content of TiO2to 10 to 15%.
The epoxy resin is a material added to disperse TiO2. When an addition amount thereof is insufficient, dispersibility of TiO2is deteriorated, it is not possible to achieve coating in uniform quality. On the contrary, when the addition amount thereof is excessive, attachment property and formability are reduced. Therefore, it is exemplary to limit the weight content of the epoxy resin to 10 to 15%.
In addition to these components, the coating solution may further include dye for expressing colors and various additives for improving workability, in total weight percentage of 1 to 5%.
Coating hardness which is changed depending on the content of TiO2is shown in Table 1 below.
TABLE 1TIO2ContentPencil(wt %)Hardness Rating5 or lessB5~10HB10~152H15~202H20~254H
Accordingly, it may be appreciated that when the weight content of TIO2is 10 to 15% which is a range of various embodiments of the present invention, a pencil hardness rating is 2H, exhibiting sufficient hardness.
In the related art, SiC, etc., are added to an acrylic resin to improve scratch resistance. However, when TiO2is added, there is a disadvantage in that TiO2is agglomerated, which makes the coating solution opaque. In the present invention, the epoxy resin is added to the acrylic resin to improve degree of dispersion of TiO2, such that a transparent coating solution may be maintained.
FIGS. 3A-3Dillustrates results of a viscosity test depending on the addition amount of the epoxy resin. In the test, time for completely leaving the coating solution full in a cup by 100% is measured several times by DIN4 viscosity measurement, and when a variation in the measured time is within 5 seconds, it is determined that TiO2is well dispersed.
FIGS. 3A and 3Dillustrate viscosity measurement results obtained by controlling the content of the epoxy resin while fixing the weight content of TiO2to 10 wt %.FIG. 3Aillustrates a case where epoxy of 0 wt % is added,FIG. 3Billustrates a case where the epoxy of 5 wt % is added,FIG. 3Cillustrates a case where the epoxy of 10 wt % is added, andFIG. 3Dillustrates a case where the epoxy of 15 wt % is added.
Here, for remaining components except for the contents of TiO2and the epoxy resin, on the basis that acrylic resin: 45%, melamine curing agent: 15%, aromatic solvent: 7%, cyclohexanone: 12%, the contents of the acrylic resin and the melamine curing agent are changed depending on a change in content of the epoxy resin.
FIG. 3Aillustrates a case where epoxy is not added at all, and it may be appreciated that when measuring viscosity, time deviation is the maximum of 20 seconds, such that the degree of dispersion is significantly low.
As illustrated inFIG. 3B, it may be appreciated that as the content of epoxy is increased, the degree of dispersion is improved, and the time deviation is reduced, and when measuring the viscosity, the time deviation is still more than 5 seconds, such that the degree of dispersion is not good.
FIGS. 3C and 3Cillustrate examples of various embodiments of the present invention, and it may be appreciated that since the content of the epoxy satisfies the limitation range of the present invention, the degree of dispersion is improved, such that when measuring the viscosity, the time deviation is within 5 seconds.
As described above, various embodiments of the present invention provide a transparent coating solution capable of exhibiting high hardness and scratch resistance by the acrylic resin and TiO2, and improving dispersibility of TiO2by adding the epoxy resin.
In the degreasing, it is exemplary that the clad steel is cathodically degreased in 25 to 35 g/l of trisodium phosphate (Na3PO4) aqueous solution for 30 seconds to 3 minutes under conditions in which a current density is 1 to 4 A/dm and a voltage is 4 to 6V.
The electrolytic degreasing may reduce time for degreasing as compared to general alkaline degreasing, and may degrease even fine oil.
When time for degreasing, the current density, and the voltage are less than the limitation range of the present invention, degreasing may not be sufficient, and when the time for degreasing, the current density, and the voltage are more than the limitation range of the present invention, corrosion of the clad steel beyond the greasing may occur.
In the etching, it is exemplary that the clad steel is immersed in an aqueous solution including 100 to 200 g/l of ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) and 50 to 200 g/l of potassium hydrogen phthalate (KHP) for 3 to 5 minutes to be etched, and a temperature at the time of the etching is 20 to 30° C.
An etching solution used for this step is alkalescent (pH 8 to 9), and has a property in which aluminum and stainless steel are simultaneously capable of being etched.
Generally, an alkaline etching solution is used for aluminum and an acid etching solution is used for the stainless steel. The alkalescence etching solution is used to etch the clad steel including aluminum and stainless steel at a time.
The stainless steel is favorably etched in an acidic environment, but is etched even in an alkaline environment, and aluminum is etched only in the alkaline environment. Therefore, it is required to perform an etching process in the alkaline environment so as to simultaneously etch both materials, stainless steel and aluminum.
When etching in the acidic environment, aluminum is hardly etched, but the stainless steel is only etched regardless whether it is pH of a weak acid or pH of a strong acid.
In addition, despite the alkaline environment, when the etching is performed in strong alkaline environment, aluminum is excessively etched as compared to the stainless steel.
Therefore, in order to simultaneously etch the stainless steel-aluminum clad material, it is required to use the alkalescence etching solution.
If the etching is performed in the acidic environment, such that only the stainless steel is etched, the attachment property between the stainless steel and the coating solution is deteriorated. Accordingly, moisture and other foreign materials are permeated between the stainless steel and the coating layer, such that red rust occurs, etc., which deteriorates corrosion resistance.
In the heating, it is exemplary that the clad steel is heated at 100 to 200° C. for 2 to 3 minutes by using high frequency heating.
Through the heating, attachment property between the coating solution and the clad steel may be improved in a subsequent coating process.
In the performing of the electrodeposition, it is exemplary that the clad steel is immersed in the coating solution, and then, a voltage of 10 to 20V is applied at 40 to 50° C. for 1 to 5 minutes to electrodeposit the coating solution on the clad steel.
As compared to roll-coating according to the related art, when the coating method in the immersion electrodeposition manner is used, there is advantage in that the coating layer is capable of being uniformly formed on entire surfaces of the clad steel. In the clad steel, particularly, a biomaterial bonding part is exposed, which may be vulnerable to corrosion, such that it is preferable to minimize an exposed part of the metal, thereby preventing corrosion. Therefore, it is exemplary to use the coating method in the immersion electrodeposition manner rather than the roll-coating manner.
When an electrodeposition temperature and voltage are low, attachment force of the coating solution is weak or an amount of the coating solution to be attached is reduced, such that scratch resistance and corrosion resistance may be deteriorated.
On the contrary, when the electrodeposition temperature and voltage are high, the thickness of the coating layer may be excessively thick, and the coating solution may be vaporized and scattered due to explosive reaction caused by high voltage.
Therefore, when the electrodeposition temperature and voltage are limited to the above-described range, and the electrodeposition coating is performed under these temperature and voltage conditions for 1 to 5 minutes, the coating layer may be formed with the most exemplary thickness and appearance.
The coating solution applied for the coating method for a clad steel as described above is a solution including in percent by weight (wt %), acrylic resin of 40 to 50%, TiO2of 10 to 15%, epoxy resin of 10 to 15%, melamine curing agent of 10 to 20%, aromatic solvent of 5 to 10%, and cyclohexanone of 10 to 15%. Since the coating solution is described in detail in the above-described coating method, details thereof are omitted herein.
The coating method for a clad steel and the coating solution for coating the clad steel according to various embodiments of the present invention have advantageous effects as follows.
First, scratch resistance may be improved by using the coating solution based on an acrylic resin having high durability. Second, corrosion resistance may be improved by preventing exposure of the bimaterial interface of the clad steel. Third, the coating solution may be maintained transparently by evenly dispersing TiO2powder using an epoxy resin. Fourth, a bonding force in which the coating solution is attached onto the stainless steel-aluminum may be improved through alkalescence etching.
The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of the invention and their practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.
| 2C
| 8 | K |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
AsFIG. 1shows, the work machine can be configured, for example, as a dump truck1which comprises a dump body2supported on a chassis3for the transport of bulk material such as excavated material from mines, earth from construction sites, gravel or the like. The named dump body2can be rocked up and down or tilted about a horizontal axis21relative to the chassis3in order to be able to unload the transport material loaded in the dump body2by rocking up the dump body2. The tilting mechanism22provided for tilting the dump body2can comprise an adjustment actuator not shown in more detail, for example in the form of a hydraulic cylinder which is fed from a pressure source or pump.
AsFIG. 1shows, the dump truck1can comprise a chassis4having a plurality of chassis axles at which wheels5are respectively supported. For example, the dump truck1can comprise a front axle6and a rear axle7at which wheels5aand5bare respectively provided.
The wheels5of the chassis4can be driven via a drive apparatus8, with the drive apparatus8being able to drive only one chassis axle or also a plurality of chassis axles, in particular both the front axle6and the rear axle7. In this respect, a one-wheel drive can be provided for each wheel5with which a single electric motor and a hydraulic motor are provided for each wheel. Alternatively, an axial drive can also be provided by means of which the wheels of one axle or also of a plurality of axles can be driven together, optionally via a differential.
AsFIG. 2shows, the drive train9of the chive apparatus8for a wheel5can comprise an electric motor10which is connected to the named wheel5via a transmission11so that the torque of the drive of the electric motor10can be transmitted to the wheel5.
The drive apparatus8furthermore comprises a hydraulic motor12which can be coupled via a clutch13to the named drive train9and can be decoupled therefrom. AsFIG. 2shows, the named hydraulic motor12can be directly connected to the electric motor10via the clutch13so that the hydraulic motor12and the clutch13are connected in series, i.e. the torque of the hydraulic motor12is conducted via the electric motor10to the output of the drive train9with a closed clutch13.
The named coupling13can be a dog clutch or also a multi-disk clutch, with the advantage of a dog clutch being that it works without loss in the open state, while the hydraulic motor12can be simply switched in with a multi-disk clutch, even with a rolling dump truck1.
The switching in of the hydraulic motor12can in this respect be controlled via a control apparatus14which can control the coupling13in order to selectively close or open it, with the control apparatus14being able to be manually actuated or activated by means of a control or adjustment element15in the operator's cabin20. Alternatively or additionally to such a manual actuation, the control apparatus14can, however, also comprise control means for an automatic or semiautomatic switching in or switching off of the hydraulic motor12and can for this purpose take account of different operating parameters of the dump truck1, in particular the travel speed, for example in the form of the speed of the wheel5to be driven and/or the speed of the electric motor10which is detected via a suitable sensor16and which can be reported to the control apparatus14. Alternatively or additionally, on the switching off or switching in of the hydraulic motor12, the control apparatus14can take account of the drive torque which is required by the wheel5, with here, for example, the power take-up or the torque of the electric motor10being able to be detected as an indicator via a suitable power take-up sensor17or by a torque sensor and being able to be reported to the control apparatus14.
The additional drive torque of the hydraulic motor12is typically only required on starting and this in turn only when an extremely high starting torque is required, for example when the dump truck1has to start in the loaded state on an incline with poor ground. For this purpose, the hydraulic motor12can be coupled in via the clutch13on a standstill of the vehicle. This can be triggered via the named control apparatus14, for example by the driver pressing a button in the operator's cabin24, or it can also be done automatically by the control apparatus14when a travel speed still in the region of zero is detected via the sensors16and17and it is determined that the electric motor10reaches its maximum torque without the vehicle starting.
On reaching a predefined speed, for example a speed of approximately 5 k.p.h., the control apparatus14can switch off the hydraulic motor12again in that the clutch13is released since the drive torque of the electric motor10alone is sufficient from this point onward. The switching off or decoupling of the electric motor10can take place either automatically during travel or can be triggered manually by the machine operator. Provision can alternatively be made that the vehicle first has to be brought to a standstill on a better ground on which the vehicle can then start again without the support of the hydraulic motor12. When the vehicle is stationary, the decoupling can be triggered, for example, by a manual actuation of the control element15in the operator's cabin24. The control apparatus14can in this respect, for example, be configured such that inadmissibly high speeds of the hydraulic motor12are suppressed by a corresponding control of the electric motor10and/or of the hydraulic motor12as long as the hydraulic motor12is coupled to the drive train9.
AsFIG. 3shows, the hydraulic motor12can in particular be switched in with the electric motor10in a range of low speed and the tractive force of the electric motor10can be harmoniously increased beyond its maximum torque limit. The solid line inFIG. 3in this respect shows the tractive force curve of the electric motor10alone, while the dashed line shows the tractive force curve supplemented by the hydraulic motor12, i.e. the tractive force which can be generated by switching the electric motor10and the hydraulic motor12together. AsFIG. 3shows, the switching in of the hydraulic motor12can take place, for example, in a speed range of the drive apparatus8which starts at the speed zero, i.e. on the starting, and extends over less than 25%, optionally also less than 10%, of the total possible speed range.
If the hydraulic motor12is required and switched in, the hydraulic motor12can advantageously be fed by the pump which feeds and actuates the tilting mechanism22of the dump body2since the tilting mechanism22is typically not required in drive operation and thus also at the starting of the dump truck1.
In particular the following advantages can be utilized in the electric motor10by means of the shown mechatronic system:The electric motor10can be dimensioned smaller since it can have a smaller maximum torque. The electric motor10hereby becomes less expensive.Weight can be saved at the electric motor10.
| 1B
| 60 | W |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
With reference toFIG. 1, an apparatus for degassing a molten metal, for example, molten steel, comprises a degassing chamber10for receiving a receptacle, or “ladle”12, containing molten metal14and a layer of slag16overlying the molten metal14. The chamber10is closed by a lid18, on which is mounted a gauge20for monitoring the level of the upper surface22of the slag16within the ladle12. In the illustrated example, the gauge20is in the form of a radar transceiver. The gauge20is connected to a controller24for controlling a vacuum pumping arrangement26connected to an outlet28of the chamber10.
With reference now toFIG. 2, an example of the vacuum pumping arrangement26comprises a plurality of similar booster pumps30connected in parallel, and a backing pump32. Each booster pump30has an inlet connected to a respective outlet34from an inlet manifold36, and an outlet connected to a respective inlet38of an exhaust manifold40. The inlet42of the inlet manifold36is connected to the outlet28from the chamber10, and the outlet44of the exhaust manifold40is connected to an inlet of the backing pump32. Whilst in the illustrated pumping system there are three booster pumps connected in parallel, any number of booster pumps may be provided depending on the pumping requirements of the enclosure. Similarly, where a relatively high number of booster pumps are provided, two or more backing pumps may be provided in parallel. An additional row or rows of booster pumps similarly connected in parallel may be provided as required between the first row of booster pumps and the backing pumps.
With reference toFIG. 3, each booster pump30comprises a pumping mechanism46driven by a variable speed motor48. Booster pumps typically include an essentially dry (or oil free) pumping mechanism46, but generally also include some components, such as bearings and transmission gears, for driving the pumping mechanism46that require lubrication in order to be effective. Examples of dry pumps include Roots, Northey (or “claw”) and screw pumps. Dry pumps incorporating Roots and/or Northey mechanisms are commonly multi-stage positive displacement pumps employing intermeshing rotors in each pumping chamber. The rotors are located on contra-rotating shafts, and may have the same type of profile in each chamber or the profile may change from chamber to chamber. The backing pump32may have either a similar pumping mechanism to the booster pumps30, or a different pumping mechanism. For example, the backing pump32may be a rotary vane pump, a rotary piston pump, a Northey, or “claw”, pump, or a screw pump.
The motor48of the booster pump30may be any suitable motor for driving the pumping mechanism46. In the preferred embodiment, the motor48comprises a three phase AC motor, although another technology could be used (for example, a single phase AC motor, a DC motor, permanent magnet brushless motor, or a switched reluctance motor).
A pump controller50drives the motor48. In this embodiment, the pump controller50comprises an inverter52for varying the frequency of the power supplied to the AC motor48. The frequency is varied by the inverter52in response to commands received from an inverter controller54. By varying the frequency of the power supplied to the motor, the rotational speed of the pumping mechanism46, hereafter referred to as the speed of the pump, or pump speed, can be varied. A power supply unit56supplies power to the inverter52and inverter controller54. An interface58is also provided to enable the pump controller50to receive signals from an external source for use in controlling the pump30, and to output signals relating to the current state of the pump30, for example, the current pump speed, the power consumption of the pump, and the temperature of the pump.
In the embodiment shown inFIG. 4, the pump controllers50of each of the booster pumps30are connected to the controller24. As illustrated, cables60may be provided for connecting the interfaces58of the pump controllers50to an interface of the controller24. Alternatively, the pump controllers50may be connected to the controller24over a local area network.
In use, the vacuum pumping arrangement26is operated to evacuate the degassing chamber10to degas the molten metal14contained within the ladle12. Gas is drawn from the chamber10into the inlet manifold36, from which the gas passes through the booster pumps30into the exhaust conduit40. The gas is drawn from the exhaust conduit40by the backing pump32, which exhausts the gas drawn from the chamber10at or around atmospheric pressure. During evacuation of the chamber10, the level of the surface22of the slag16is monitored using the gauge20. The gauge outputs a radar beam towards the slag16. The beam is first reflected from the surface22of the slag16, and then from the interface62between the molten metal14and the slag16. As a result, the gauge20receives a first, relatively weak echo of the radar signal after a first time period, due to the reflection of the radar beam by the surface22of the slag16, and a second, relatively strong echo after a second time period, due to the reflection of the radar beam from the interface62between the molten metal14and the slag16. The distance d1between the gauge20and the surface22of the slag16is proportional to the duration of the first time period. As the distance d2between the gauge20and the top of the ladle12is a constant, the distance d3between the top of the ladle12and the surface22of the slag16is thus also proportional to the duration of the first time period.
The gauge20outputs to the controller24a signal including, inter alia, the length, or an indication of the length, of the first time period. The controller24uses the data contained within the signals to monitor both the current level of the surface22of the slag16and the rate of change of the level of the surface22, for example, due to foaming of the slag16during degassing. These parameters are used by the controller24to control the rate of evacuation of the chamber10, which in turn controls the rate of degassing of the molten metal14, and thus the degree of foaming of the slag16. In this embodiment, the controller24varies the speeds of the booster pumps30to control the evacuation rate of the chamber10by issuing a command to the pump controllers50to vary the speeds of the booster pumps30. For example, a target speed for the booster pumps30can be provided to the pump controllers50in the form of a target frequency for the inverters52. In response to the command received from the controller24, each pump controller50controls the frequency of the power supplied to its motor32according to the target frequency provided by the controller24. This target frequency may be zero, so that the booster pumps30are effectively switched off. Alternatively, the target frequency may be progressively decreased towards zero depending on the data contained within the signals received from the gauge20.
As a result, a rapid increase in the level of the surface22of the slag16due to foaming can be rapidly detected and combated by a corresponding automatic prompt reduction in the rate of evacuation of the chamber10, thereby reducing the rate at which gas is generated at the interface62between the molten metal14and the slag16and hence preventing the slag16from overflowing from the ladle12. Once the level of the slag surface22has receded, the evacuation rate of the chamber10can be increased again by issuing an appropriate command to the pump controllers50to increase the speeds of the booster pumps30.
In the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 to 4, a system controller24determines a target speed for the booster pumps30, and advises the booster pumps30of the target speed. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 5, the gauge20is connected directly to the pumping arrangement26. In this embodiment, the signals output from the gauge20are received directly by the pump controllers50, each of which has stored therein the functionality of the controller24of the first embodiment for controlling the speed of its respective pumping mechanism.
| 2C
| 21 | C |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawings, a quadrifilar antenna in accordance with the
invention has an antenna element structure with four longitudinally
extending antenna elements 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D formed as metallic
conductor tracks on the cylindrical outer surface of a ceramic core 12.
The core has an axial passage 14 with an inner metallic lining 16, and the
passage houses an axial feeder conductor 18. The inner conductor 18 and
the lining 16 in this case form a feeder structure for connecting a feed
line to the antenna elements 10A-10D. The antenna element structure also
includes corresponding radial antenna elements 10AR, 10BR, 10CR, 10DR
formed as metallic tracks on a distal end face 12D of the core 12
connecting ends of the respective longitudinally extending elements
10A-10D to the feeder structure. The other ends of the antenna elements
10A-10D are connected to a common grounding conductor 20 in the form of a
plated sleeve surrounding a proximal end portion of the core 12. This
sleeve 20 is in turn connected to the lining 16 of the axial passage 14 by
plating 22 on the proximal end face 12P of the core 12.
As will be seen from FIG. 1, the four longitudinally extending elements
10A-10D are of different lengths, two of the elements 10B, 10D being
longer than the other two 10A, 10C by virtue of following a meandering
course. In this embodiment, intended for circularly polarised signals, the
shorter longitudinally extending elements 10A, 10C are simple helices,
each executing a half turn around the axis of the core 12. On the other
hand, the longer elements 10B, 10D each follow a respective meandering
course which is sinusoidal in shape, deviating on either side of a helical
centre line. Each pair of longitudinally extending and corresponding
radial elements (for example 10A, 10AR) constitutes a conductor having a
predetermined electrical length. In the present embodiment, it is arranged
that the total length of each of the element pairs 10A, 10AR; 10C, 10CR
having the shorter length corresponds to a transmission delay of
approximately 135.degree. at the operating wavelength, whereas each of the
element pairs 10B, 10BR; 10D, 10DR produce a longer delay, corresponding
to substantially 225.degree.. Thus, the average transmission delay is
180.degree., equivalent to an electrical length of .lambda./2 at the
operating wavelength. The differing lengths produce the required phase
shift conditions for a quadrifilar helix antenna for circularly polarised
signals specified in Kilgus, "Resonant Quadrifilar Helix Design", The
Microwave Journal, December 1970, pages 49-54. Two of the element pairs
10C, 10CR; 10D, 10DR (i.e. one long element pair and one short element
pair) are connected at the inner ends of the radial elements 10CR, 10DR to
the inner conductor 18 of the feeder structure at the distal end of the
core 12, while the radial elements of the other two element pairs 10A,
10AR; 10B, 10BR are connected to the feeder screen formed by metallic
lining 16. At the distal end of the feeder structure, the signals present
on the inner conductor 18 and the feeder screen 16 are approximately
balanced so that the antenna elements are connected to an approximately
balanced source or load, as will be explained below.
The effect of the meandering of the elements 10B, 10D is that propagation
of a circularly polarised signal along the elements is slowed in the
helical direction compared with the speed of propagation in the plain
helices. 10A, 10C. The scaling factor by which the path length is extended
by the meandering can be estimated using the following equation:
##EQU1##
where: .phi. is the distance along the centre line of the meandered track,
expressed in radians;
a is the amplitude of the meandered path, also in radians; and
n is the number of cycles of meandering.
With the left handed sense of the helical paths of the longitudinally
extending elements 10A-10D, the antenna has its highest gain for right
hand circularly polarised signals.
If the antenna is to be used instead for left hand circularly polarised
signals, the direction of the helices is reversed and the pattern of
connection of the radial elements is rotated through 90.degree.. In the
case of an antenna suitable for receiving both left hand and right hand
circularly polarised signals, albeit with less gain, the longitudinally
extending elements can be arranged to follow paths which are generally
parallel to the axis. Such an antenna is also suitable for use with
vertically and horizontally polarised signals.
In the preferred embodiment, the conductive sleeve 20 covers a proximal
portion of the antenna core 12, thereby surrounding the feeder structure
16, 18, with the material of the core 12 filling the whole of the space
between the sleeve 20 and the metallic lining 16 of the axial passage 14.
The sleeve 20 forms a cylinder having an axial length 1, as show in FIG. 2
and is connected to the lining 16 by the plating 22 of the proximal end
face 12P of the core 12. The combination of the sleeve 20 and plating 22
forms a balun so that signals in the transmission line formed by the
feeder structure 16, 18 are converted between an unbalanced state at the
proximal end of the antenna to a balanced state at the axial position
corresponding to the upper edge 20U of the sleeve 20. To achieve this
effect, the length 1.sub.B is such that, in the presence of an underlying
core material of relatively high relative dielectric constant, the balun
has an electrical length of .lambda./4 at the operating frequency of the
antenna. Since the remainder of the feeder structure 16, 18, i.e. distally
of the upper edge 20U of the sleeve 20, is embedded in the core material
12 and, to a lesser extent, since the annular space surrounding the inner
conductor 18 is filled with an insulating dielectric material 17 having a
relative dielectric constant greater than that of air, the feeder
structure distally of the sleeve 20 has a short electrical length.
Consequently, signals at the distal end of the feeder structure 16, 18 are
at least approximately balanced.
The antenna has a main resonant frequency of 500 MHz or greater, the
resonant frequency being determined by the effective electrical lengths of
the antenna elements and, to a lesser degree, by their width. The lengths
of the elements, for a given frequency of resonance, is also dependent on
the relative dielectric constant of the core material, the dimensions of
the antenna being substantially reduced with respect to an air-cored
similarly constructed antenna.
The preferred material for the core 12 is zirconium-titanate-based
material. This material has the above-mentioned relative dielectric
constant of 36 and is noted also for its dimensional and electrical
stability with varying temperature. Dielectric loss is negligible. The
core may be produced by extrusion or pressing.
The antenna elements 10A-10D, 10AR-10DR are metallic conductor tracks
bonded to the outer cylindrical and end surfaces of the core 12, each
track being of a width at least four times its thickness over its
operative length. The tracks may be formed by initially plating the
surfaces of the core 12 with a metallic layer and then selectively etching
away the layer to expose the core according to a pattern applied in a
photographic layer similar to that used for etching printed circuit
boards. Alternatively, the metallic material may be applied by selective
deposition or by printing techniques. In all cases, the formation of the
tracks as an integral layer on the outside of a dimensionally stable core
leads to an antenna having dimensionally stable antenna elements.
With a core material having a substantially higher relative dielectric
constant than that of air, e.g. .di-elect cons..sub.r =36, an antenna as
described above for L-band GPS reception at 1575 MHz typically has a core
diameter of about 5 mm and the longitudinally extending antenna elements
10A-10D have a longitudinal extent (i.e. parallel to the central axis) of
about 8 mm. The width of the elements 10A-10D is about 0.3 mm and the
meandered elements 10B, 10D deviate from a helical mean path by about 0.9
mm on each side of the mean path, measured to the centre of the meandered
track. Typically, there are five complete sinusoidal cycles of meander in
each element 10B, 10D to produce the required 90.degree. phase difference
between the longer and shorter of the elements 10A-10D. At 1575 MHz, the
length of the balun sleeve 22 is typically in the region of 8 mm or less.
Expressed in terms of the operating wavelength .lambda. in air, these
dimensions are, for the longitudinal (axial) extent of the elements
10A-10D: 0.042.lambda., for the core diameter: 0.0261.lambda., for the
balun sleeve: 0.042.lambda. or less, for the track width: 0.002.lambda.,
and for the deviation of the meandered tracks: 0.005.lambda.. Precise
dimensions of the antenna elements 10A-10D can be determined in the design
stage on a trial and error basis by undertaking eigenvalue delay
measurements until the required phase difference is obtained.
In general, however, the longitudinal extent of elements 10A-10D is between
0.03.lambda. and 0.06.lambda., the core diameter between 0.02.lambda. to
0.03.lambda., the balun sleeve between 0.03.lambda. to 0.06.lambda., the
track width between 0.0015.lambda. to 0.0025.lambda., and the deviation of
the meandered tracks between 0.0035.lambda. to 0.0065.lambda..
As a result of the very small size of the antenna, manufacturing tolerances
may be such that the precision with which the resonant frequency of the
antenna can be maintained is insufficient for certain applications. In
these circumstances, adjustment of the resonant frequency can be brought
about by removing plated metallic material from the core, e.g. by laser
erosion of part of the balun sleeve 20 where it meets one or more of the
antenna elements 10A-10D as shown in FIG. 3. Here, the sleeve 20 has been
eroded to produce notches 28 on either side of the junction with the
antenna element 10A to lengthen the element thereby reducing its resonant
frequency.
A significant source of production variations in resonant frequency is the
variability of the relative dielectric constant of the core material from
batch to batch. In a preferred method of manufacturing the antenna
described above, a small sample of test resonators is produced from each
new batch of ceramic material, these sample resonators preferably each
having an antenna core dimensioned to correspond to the nominal dimension
of the core of the antenna and plated only with the balun, as shown in
FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 4, the test core 12T, in addition to having a
plated balun sleeve 20T, also has a plated proximal face 12PT. The inner
passageway 14T of the core 12T may be plated between the proximal face
12PT and the level of the upper edge 20UT of the balun sleeve 12T or, as
is shown in FIG. 4, it may be plated over its whole length with a metallic
lining 16T. The external surfaces of the core 12T distally of the balun
sleeve 20T are preferably left unplated.
The core 12T is pressed or extruded from the ceramic material batch to
nominal dimensions, and the balun sleeve is plated with a nominal axial
length. This structure forms a quarter-wave resonator, resonating at a
wavelength .lambda. corresponding approximately to four times the
electrical length of the sleeve 20T when fed at the proximal end of the
passage 14T where it meets the proximal end face 12PT of the core.
Next, the resonant frequency of the test resonator is measured. This can be
performed as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 5 by taking a network analyzer
30 and coupling its swept frequency source 30S to the resonator, here
shown by the reference numeral 32T, using, for example, a coaxial cable 34
with the outer screen removed over the length of a short end portion 34E.
End portion 34E is inserted in the proximal end of the passage 14T (see
FIG. 4) with the outer screen of cable 34 connected to the metallised
layer 16T adjacent the proximal face 12PT of the core 12T, and with the
inner conductor of the cable 34 lying approximately centrally in the
passage 14T to provide capacitive coupling of the swept frequency source
inside the passage 14T. Another cable 36, with its end portion 36E having
the outer screen similarly cut back, is connected to the signal return 30R
of the network analyzer 30 and is inserted in the distal end of the
passage 14T of the core 12T. The network analyzer 30 is set to measure
signal transmission between source 30S and return 30R and a characteristic
discontinuity is observed at the quarter-wave resonant frequency.
Alternatively, the network analyzer can be set to measure the reflected
signal at the swept frequency source 30S using the single cable
arrangement shown in FIG. 6. Again, a resonant frequency can be observed.
The actual frequency of resonance of the test resonator depends on the
relative dielectric constant of the ceramic material forming the core 12T.
An experimentally derived or calculated relationship between a dimension
of the balun sleeve 20T, for example, its axial length, on the one hand
and resonant frequency on the other hand, can be used to determine how
that dimension should be altered for any given batch of ceramic material
in order to achieve the required resonant frequency. Thus, the measured
frequency can be used to calculate the required balun sleeve dimension for
all antennas to be made from that batch.
This same measured frequency, obtained from the simple test resonator, can
be used to adjust the dimensions of the radiating element structure of the
antenna, in particular the axial length of the antenna elements 10A-10D
plated on the cylindrical outer surface of the core distally of the sleeve
20 (using reference numerals from FIGS. 1 and 2). Such compensation for
variations in relative dielectric constant from batch to batch may be
achieved by adjusting the overall length of the core as a function of the
resonant frequency obtained from the test resonator.
Using the above-described method, it may be possible, depending on the
accuracy with which the frequency characteristics of the antenna are to be
set, to dispense with the laser trimming process described above with
reference to FIG. 3. Although it is possible to use a complete antenna as
a test sample, the advantage of using a resonator as described above with
reference to FIG. 4, i.e. without a radiating element structure, is that a
simple resonance can be identified and measured in the absence of
interfering resonances associated with the radiating structure.
The above-described balun arrangement of the antenna, being plated on the
same core as the antenna elements, is formed simultaneously with the
antenna elements, and being integral with the remainder of the antenna,
shares its robustness and electrical stability. Since it forms a plated
external shell for the proximal portion of the core 12, it can be used for
direct mounting of the antenna on a printed circuit board, as shown in
FIG. 2. For example, if the antenna is to be end-mounted, the proximal end
face 12P can be directly soldered to a ground plane on the upper face of a
printed circuit board 24 (shown in chain lines in FIG. 2). With the inner
feed conductor 18 passing directly through a plated hole 26 in the board
for soldering to a conductor track on the lower surface. Since the
conductor sleeve 20 is formed on a solid core of material having a high
relative dielectric constant, the dimensions of the sleeve to- achieve the
required 90.degree. phase shift are much smaller than those of an
equivalent balun section in air. The sleeve 20 also has the effect of
extending the ground up to the level of the upper edge 20U where it is
used for grounding the antenna elements 10A-10D, without intervening
connecting elements.
It is possible within the scope of the invention to use alternative balun
and feeder structures. For example, the feeder structure may have
associated with it a balun mounted at least partly externally of the
antenna core 12. Thus, a balun can be effected by dividing a coaxial
feeder cable into two coaxial transmission lines acting in parallel, one
being longer than the other by an electrical length of .lambda./2, the
other ends of these parallel-connected coaxial transmission lines having
their inner conductors connected to a pair of inner conductors passing
through the passageway 14 of the core 12 to be connected to respective
pairs of the radial antenna elements 10AR, 10DR; 10BR, 10CR.
As another alternative, the antenna elements 10A-10D can be grounded
directly to an annular conductor at the proximal edge of the cylindrical
surface of the core 12, a balun being formed by an extension of the feeder
structure having a coaxial cable formed into, for example, a spiral on the
proximal end face 12P of the core, so that the cable spirals outwardly
from the inner passage 14 of the core to meet the annular conductor at the
outer edge of the end face 12P where the screen of the cable is connected
to the annular conductor. The length of the cable between the inner
passageway 14 of the core 12 and the connection to the annular ring is
arranged to be .lambda./4 (electrical length) at the operating frequency.
All of these arrangements configure the antenna for circularly polarised
signals. Such an antenna is also sensitive to both vertically and
horizontally polarised signals, but unless the antenna is specifically
intended for circularly polarised signals, the balun arrangement can be
omitted. The antenna may be connected directly to a simple coaxial feeder,
the inner conductor of the feeder being connected to all four radial
antenna elements 10AR-10DR at the upper face of the core 12, and the
coaxial feeder screen being coupled to all four longitudinally extending
elements 10A-10D via radial conductors on the proximal face 12P of the
core 12. Indeed, in less critical applications, the elements 10A-10D need
not be helical in their configuration, but it is merely sufficient that
the antenna element structure as a whole, comprising the elements and
their connections to the feeder structure, should be a three-dimensional
structure so as to be responsive to both vertically and horizontally
polarised signals. It is possible, for example, to have an antenna element
structure comprising two or more antenna elements each with an upper
radial connecting portion as in the illustrated embodiment, but also with
a similar lower radial connecting portion and with a straight portion
connecting the radial portions, parallel to the central axis. Other
configurations are possible. This simplified structure is particularly
applicable for cellular mobile telephony. A notable advantage of the
antenna for handheld mobile telephones is that the dielectric core largely
avoids detuning when the antenna is brought close to the head of the user.
This is in addition to the advantages of small size and robustness.
As for the feeder structure within the core 12, in some circumstances it
may be convenient to use a pre-formed coaxial cable inserted inside the
passage 14, with the cable emerging at the end of the core opposite to the
radial elements 10AR to 10DR to make a connection with receiver circuitry,
for example, in a manner other than by the direct connection to a printed
circuit board described above with reference to FIG. 2. In this case the
outer screen of the cable should be connected to the passage lining 16 at
two, preferably more, spaced apart locations.
In most applications the antenna is enclosed in a protective envelope which
is typically a thin plastics cover surrounding the antenna either with or
without an intervening space. | 7H
| 01 | Q |
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1a shows a first roll 1a which includes a cylindrical or grooved main
portion 2 with two journals 3 (one shown) at the ends, and a steel shaft 4
which is coaxial with and extends through the main portion 2 and journals
3. The shaft 4 has an axial bore or hole 5a (hereinafter called hole) for
several measuring instruments which will be described hereinafter.
FIG. 1b shows a modified roll 1b having a grooved or cylindrical main
portion 2, two journals 3 (one shown), a shaft 4, and four equidistant
holes 5b which are eccentric to the axis of the shaft 4 and are provided
in the roll 1b in the region of the peripheral surfaces of the journals 3.
Each of the holes 5b can receive a measuring instrument or the overall
number of measuring instruments can be less than the number of holes 5b.
The measuring instruments in the hole 5a or in the holes 5b can constitute
commercially available wire (resistance) strain gauges, semiconductor type
deformation (expansion) measuring gauges, optically operated gauges and/or
others. All that counts is to provide at least two measuring instruments
which can convert values denoting stretching, flexing, bending and similar
deformation of the roll 1a or 1b into signals for use in regulating the
operation of the rolling mill in which the roll is put to use.
FIGS. 2a and 2b show a roll 1c which includes a main portion 2 and two
journals 3 and has an axial hole 5c for several suitably distributed
measuring instruments 6 which are affixed (e.g., bonded) to the surface 7
surrounding the hole 5c. The main portion 2 of the roll 1c is a cylinder;
however, it is equally possible to employ a grooved roll.
The roll 1c of FIGS. 3a and 3b is identical with the roll of FIGS. 2a and
2b. The measuring instruments 6 are replaced with two discrete measuring
instruments 106 which are introduced (e.g., pushed) into the hole 5c and
each of which constitutes or includes a separate circuit. The main portion
2 of the roll 1c is a cylinder; however, it is equally possible to install
the instruments 106 in a grooved roll.
The roll 1c of FIG. 4 (shown in a state of deformation greatly exceeding
that anticipated in a rolling mill) is identical with the roll 1c of FIGS.
2a-2b or 3a-3b. The measuring means in the hole 5c includes a radiation
source 206a and a single optoelectronic transducer 206b, two discrete
optoelectronic transducers or a flat screen. If the measuring means
employs two transducers, such transducers are or can be disposed at an
angle of 90 degrees relative to each other. When the roll 1c of FIG. 4 is
in undeformed condition, the beam of radiation issuing from the source
206a is coaxial with the hole 5c. The angle alpha denotes the extent of
deviation of the beam from the axis of the hole 5c in the region of the
transducer 106b.
Referring again to FIG. 1b, each such hole 5b of the roll 1b can receive a
discrete fiber optic gauge which extends in parallelism with the axis of
the shaft 4 when the roll 1b is in undeformed condition. When the roll 1b
is deformed, one of the gauges is stretched and the extent of such
stretching in comparison with that of the gauge which is located
diametrically opposite the stretched gauge is indicative of deformation of
the roll 1b and hence of the magnitude of the rolling force.
The means for transmitting electric signals from the rotating or orbiting
transducers of the measuring means to a receiver in the frame of the
respective roll stand can include slip rings. If contact-free transmission
of signals is desired, the roll and/or the stand can be equipped with
means for effecting optical or electromagnetic transmission of signals
from the rotating transducers to a stationary receiver in the stand.
The exact nature of monitoring or measuring means and of the means for
transmitting signals from the rotating roll to a stationary receiver is of
no particular importance. All that counts is to ensure that a
determination of deformation of the roll (and hence of the magnitude of
force or forces acting upon the roll) can be carried out in or on the roll
proper and preferably as close to the locus or loci of application of one
or more forces as possible. The same holds true for the nature of means
for evaluating the signals which are generated by the measuring means and
are transmitted from the rotating or orbiting transducers to a stationary
receiver.
If one takes a selected point on the internal surface of a rotating roll,
e.g., a point on the internal surface 7 of the roll 1c which is shown in
FIGS. 3a and 3b, signals denoting the magnitude of forces acting upon the
roll (i.e., the extent of deformation of the corresponding portion of the
roll 1c) can be represented by sinusoidal curves of the type shown in
FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c. The amplitude of signals is measured along the
ordinate, and the frequency of signals is measured along the abscissa.
FIG. 5a shows that the amplitude and frequency of signals are constant if
the roll is driven at a constant RPM and the magnitude of applied forces
also remains constant. The monitored portion of the roll undergoes
repeated alternating expansion and contraction or compression, depending
on the relative position of the locus of application of the force. FIG. 5b
shows that the amplitude of signals remains constant but their frequency
changes if the magnitude of applied load remains constant but the RPM of
the roll varies. FIG. 5c shows that the frequency of signals remains
unchanged but the amplitude of signals changes if the RPM of the roll
remains constant but the magnitude of the forces changes. Thus, the
frequency of signal changes is proportional to the RPM of the roll, and
the amplitude of signals is a function of the magnitude of applied forces
as well as of the position of the instrument relative to the direction of
application of such forces.
The diagram of FIG. 6 shows two curves which represent signals furnished by
two measuring instruments which are angularly offset by 90 degrees. A
characteristic of such mode of ascertaining the magnitude of applied
forces is that the amplitude of signal which is transmitted by one of the
instruments is zero when the amplitude of the signal which is transmitted
by the other instrument reaches a maximum value.
The following considerations apply when two measuring instruments are
angularly offset by 90 degrees (FIG. 6). However, the situation is clearly
analogous when the number of instruments is increased to three or more
and/or when the angular offset of the instruments is greater or less than
90 degrees. All that counts in connection with the explanations that
follow is that the monitoring means comprise at least two measuring
instruments and that deformation of the roll is measured at several
locations which are angularly offset relative to each other.
Referring to FIG. 7, there are shown two identical rolls 1d which act upon
a metallic stock 8 moving in the direction of arrow 9. The directions x
and y of measurement make an angle of 90 degrees. The momentary angular
position with reference to the vertical S is denoted by the angle phi. The
rolling force FN, whose magnitude is to be ascertained, has two components
FNx and FNy. The component FNx acts in the direction of the x-axis and the
component FNy acts in the direction of the y-axis of the rectangular
coordinate system which is shown in FIG. 7. The angle beta between the
direction of action of the force FN and the abscissa of the coordinate
system can be calculated in accordance with the equation
##EQU1##
The angle phi (i.e., the angle between the abscissa x and the vertical S
can be ascertained by resorting to any conventional angle measuring
instrument, for example, a commercially available incremental transmitter.
Once the angles beta and phi are known, the direction of the rolling force
FN can be ascertained with the equation gamma=180.degree. minus phi minus
beta. In this manner, one can always determine the orientation (angle
gamma) of the applied force with reference to the vertical S.
Basically, the force FN represents a rectified signal, the absolute
magnitude (value of FN) of which is indicative of the absolute value of
load and the orientation of which with reference to the vertical S is
denoted by the angle gamma.
FIG. 8 shows a portion of an upper roll 1d, the stock 8 and the direction
(arrow 9) of advancement of stock 8 past the roll 1d. FIG. 8 further shows
how the force FN can be vectorially split into a horizontal component FH
and a vertical component FS. In the case of a satisfactory rolling force
measurement, the vertical component FS denotes the magnitude of the
vertical force acting upon the bearing of the roll 1d. The horizontal
component FH is a function of deformation conditions and of friction in
the rolling gap. Furthermore, the horizontal component FH can further
include tensional forces which are transmitted by the stock 8.
The manner of ascertaining the sought-after values of FN, FN and gamma,
which were discussed in the description of FIGS. 7 and 8, on the basis of
discrete signals from two measuring instruments or sensors 206,206A which
denote forces acting in the x- and y-directions of the rotating roll and
on the basis of measurements of the angle phi, as well as the manner of
splitting the rolling force FN into its horizontal and vertical components
FH and FS is shown in the diagram of FIG. 9. The angle measuring
instrument is shown at 10, the box 11 denotes a summing circuit, the box
12 denotes a subtracting circuit, and the box 13 denotes a dividing
circuit. The outputs of the circuit 13 transmit signals denoting the
magnitude of components FH and FS.
In the course of a continuous rolling operation, the stock 8 which requires
treatment can simultaneously extend through several consecutive roll
stands 14a, 14b, 14c . . . 14n (see FIG. 10). In order to achieve
reproducible results, it is important to ascertain the magnitude of
tensional forces which are transmitted by the advancing stock 8 between
neighboring roll stands. By ascertaining the magnitude of such forces, it
is possible to properly influence the RPM of the roll stands and the
adjustment of roll stands in order to maintain the tensional forces at a
desired level. The characters a, b, c . . . n denote the serial numbers of
successive roll stands 14, FH denotes the measured horizontal component of
the rolling force, FHO denotes the horizontal component of the rolling
force when no pull is exerted by the stock, FHR denotes the rearward pull
of the stock counter to the direction of arrow 9 (i.e., the pull which is
exerted by a preceding stand, such as the stand 14a, upon the
next-following stand e.g., the stand 14b), and FHV denotes the forward
pull upon the stock 8 by a next-following stand (14b, 14c . . . 14n).
The horizontal component FH of the rolling force at any stage of a rolling
operation is obtained by vectorial addition of FHO+FHR-FHV. The following
considerations apply for calculations of the magnitude of FHO, FHR and FHV
on the basis of the only available value, namely that of FH:
(1) No rearward pull is exerted upon the stock 8 during entry into the
foremost roll stand (14a) of a rolling mill or a portion of a rolling
mill. Moreover, and before the head of stock 8 reaches the next-following
stand (14b), the stock is not subjected to any forward pull, i.e., at such
time FHRa=0, FHVa=0 and FH=FHO. Thus, the measured horizontal component FH
corresponds to FHO and is not influenced by the pull. This magnitude of
FHO for the roll stand 14a can be memorized as (FHO)a.
(2) When the head of the stock 8 enters the second roll stand 14b, the
measured value of FH at the first roll stand 14a changes by the amount
FHV. Thus,
EQU (FH)a=(FHO)a-(FHV)a.
The pull between the roll stands 14a and 14b, namely the value (FHV)a, can
be expressed in terms of a difference between the memorized value (FHO)a
for the pull-free rolling operation and the momentary value (FH)a as
follows:
EQU (FHV)a=(FHO)a-(FH)a.
The forward pull upon the first roll stand 14a equals the rearward pull
upon the roll stand 14b so that (FHR)b=(FHV)a. If the momentary value of
horizontal component at the roll stand 14b is interpreted on the basis of
assumption that the head of the stock 8 has not as yet reached the roll
stand 14c, the magnitude of horizontal component (FHO)b which is to be
expected to act upon the stock 8 at the discharge end of the second roll
stand 14b can be expressed as follows:
EQU (FHO)b=(FH)b-(FHR)b.ps
This furnishes information as to the magnitude of horizontal component
acting upon the second roll stand 14b while disregarding the influence of
the pull, and such information can be memorized. (FHV)b will be zero as
long as the head of the stock 8 is still located upstream of the third
roll stand 14c.
(3) When the head of the stock 8 enters the third roll stand 14c, there
exists the possibility of development of a pull between the stands 14b and
14c. If a pull develops, it can be said that (FHV)b=(FHR)c. As soon as a
pull between the stands 14b and 14c actually develops, the momentary
measurement value (FH)b is changed exactly by the amount of such
difference and
EQU (FHV)b=(FHO)b-(FH)b+(FHR)b.
This completes the determination of all horizontal forces pertaining to the
second roll stand 14b. The same considerations apply for determination of
horizontal forces pertaining to the next-following roll stands 14c . . .
14n.
Once the horizontal forces for the roll stands are known, it is possible to
regulate the tensional forces by varying the RPM ratio of the roll stands
and/or the adjustment of roll stands. The tensional force can be varied
until it matches the predetermined reference value.
In order to avoid or forestall breaking of the rolls, such as could result
from short-lasting excessive stressing and could entail extensive damage
to the mill, one relies upon the measured value FN. The maximum
permissible force (FN)max can be ascertained empirically or on the basis
of calculations, and the thus determined force can be continuously
compared with the actual rolling force FN. As soon as the value of FN
matches or exceeds (FN)max, a comparator circuit 15 (FI. 11) transmits a
signal to trigger an optical or acoustical alarm system 16. In addition,
the signal at the output of the comparator circuit 15 is transmitted to
the controls 17 of the rolling mill wherein an automatic device of known
design influences the drive for the rolls to avoid a break.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the possibilities of evaluating and utilizing
the results of the monitoring or measuring operation.
The section (a) of the diagram shows that the angle gamma denoting the
inclination of the force FN, which angle is ascertained by measuring the
angle phi, is used with stretching to ascertain the pull upon the roll
stand and to facilitate a regulation of the pull.
The section (b) of the diagram shows that the ascertained stretching is
compared at 15 with the maximum permissible stretching in the hole of the
roll and, when the comparison indicates that actual stretching matches or
exceeds the maximum permissible stretching, the controls 17 receive a
signal for the purposes as set forth above in connection with FIG. 11. For
example, the signal which is transmitted to the controls 17 can entail
rapid changes of roll adjustment.
The section (c) of the diagram shows that, by taking into consideration the
locus of application of the force (in the axial direction of the roll) and
by further taking into consideration the characteristic curve of the roll,
the extent of stretching and the direction (angle gamma) of the rolling
force FN can be relied upon to calculate the momentary magnitude of the
force acting upon the roll.
In accordance with a feature of the invention, it is not necessary to cool
the surfaces of the rolls. This can be achieved by employing rolls which
are made of a highly temperature-resistant material and have a long
service life. Such absence of cooling is in contrast to prevailing
practice according to which the rolls are cooled by water. As a rule, the
cooling action is unpredictable so that heating of the roll cannot be used
as a parameter for determination of deforming work and of the rolling
force.
The material of the roll is preferably a stable austenitic steel,
preferably one listed in the Steel-Iron-Catalogue as X5 NiCrTi 25 15 with
the material No. 1.4980 or 1.4944 and known in the aircraft industry under
the international trade name A 286. Such alloys contain on the average
0.05% C, 0.50% Si, 1.80% Mn, 15.00% Cr, 1.35% Mo, 25.00% Ni, 0.20% V,
2.10% Ti and 0.0005% B and are presently used for the making of propulsion
plants, rockets, gas turbine rotors and internal sleeves of recipients.
An important advantage of the improved method and roll, as well as of the
combination of improved roll with measuring means, in connection with the
assembly and operation of rolling mills is that it is not necessary to
cool the surfaces of the rolls. The highly heat-resistant material of the
rolls is unlikely to develop surface cracks in the course of the rolling
operation. The service life of the rolls (as expressed in terms of the
number of hours of actual use or in terms of tons of rolled stock) is so
long that the frequency of stoppages for the purposes of replacing the
rolls and/or for inspection of the rolls is greatly reduced with attendant
increases of output and reduction of maintenance cost. Thermal
conductivity of the improved roll is superior to that of conventional
rolls. Still further, it is possible to achieve substantial savings in
expensive high-quality material of the rolls because the rolls can be
constructed in a manner as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, i.e., wherein only
the hollow main portion 2 and the integral hollow journals 3 are made of a
high-quality material, and these parts are simply shrunk onto a
high-quality steel shaft 4. Such types of rolls can be used in roll stands
wherein the stock does not undergo excessive deformation per pass.
The utilization of several measuring instruments per roll, combined with
the feature that the measurements are carried out in several angular
positions with reference to the axis of the monitored roll, renders it
possible to "rectify" the sinusoidal progress of individual signals while
the monitored roll rotates and to thus ensure that the composite signal is
devoid of zero values (where the curve denoting the signal from a
particular instrument crosses the x-axis). In addition, this renders it
possible to ascertain the direction of resultant force and to divide such
force into its horizontal and vertical components. This, in turn, renders
it possible to ascertain the forward or rearward pull between neighboring
roll stands and to utilize the corresponding signals for a regulation of
operation of the rolling mill.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of
the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,
readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that,
from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential
characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of our contribution to
the art and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be
comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the appended
claims. | 1B
| 21 | B |
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of the shoe construction of
the invention is shown. It should be understood that the illustrated
embodiment is simply one example of a suitable overall shoe construction
and the basic elements and principles of the invention, which are
described more generally in connection with FIGS. 2(a) to 2(e), have
general application. In this regard, the invention can, for example, be
incorporated in a more conventional looking running shoe if desired.
In the illustrated embodiment, the shoe construction or shoe, which is
generally denoted 10, includes a base member 12 including a raised, rigid
front or sole support portion 12a, and an integral rigid subsole portion
12b stepped down from the front portion 12a and extending rearwardly
therefrom. Base member 12 is preferably made of a rigid carbon graphite
with an aluminum rod support, or of a like material and construction. A
bowed, flexible spring member 14 is disposed beneath, and secured to,
front portion 12a of base member 12. In a preferred embodiment, a small
lip 12c (e.g., of 1/4" extent) is provided at the toe of base member 12.
As illustrated, spring member 14 is disposed substantially directly under
the ball of the foot and extends between the front of front portion 12a to
a rear part of front portion 12a adjacent to a curved portion 12d of
subsole 12b. The curvature of curved portion 12d is such as to enhance
shifting of the weight of a wearer to the ball of the foot during running
or walking as described in more detail below. The spring member 14 is
preferably made of spring steel, flexible carbon graphite or the like.
In a preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, spring member 14 is of a two
piece construction comprising a support shell or support housing 14a of an
inverted, squared off U-shape and a spring 14b of a bowed or shallow
generally U-shape. The ends of support shell 14a form two longitudinally
spaced, transversely extending rails and support shell 14a is preferably
constructed, e.g., of aluminum. As illustrated, the free ends of spring
14b engage against, but are not secured to, the respective rails formed by
shell support 14a. With this construction, spring 14b can be slid in and
out of shell 14a to enable replacement or substitution. Spring 14
preferably extends across the full width of the shoe 10 although the
spring 14 can be more narrow if desired.
Secured to the front portion 12a of base member 12 is a sole spring element
16. Sole spring element 16 includes a front portion 16a which is
preferably comprised of a non-flexible graphite composite, which is
affixed to the front portion at 12a of base member 12 and on which rest
the toes and ball of the feet of a wearer. Sole spring element 16 further
includes a rear portion 16b which is preferably comprised of a flexible
graphite material that resists side to side torsion, and which extends
rearwardly of front portion 16a at an acute, non-zero angle with respect
to subsole 12b. In a specific, non-limiting example, rear portion 16b
forms an angle between about 20.degree. and 25.degree., and preferably of
about 22.degree., with subsole 12b, and the distal end of rear portion 16b
is located about 3 to 3.5 inches above the plane of the ground. Although
this height is advantageous, other heights can be used and, in general, a
height of between about 1 and 6 inches could be workable. As illustrated,
the distal end portion of sole spring element 16 extends a substantial
distance beyond subsole 12b.
A supplementary, and optional, reinforcement member 18 is located between
sole spring element 16 and subsole 14b, and, in the illustrated
embodiment, is supported beneath sole spring element 16 by a series of
spaced support straps or loops 20 secured to the undersurface of element
16. Alternatively, reinforcement member 18 can be received and held in a
longitudinal groove or channel (not shown) formed in the bottom surface of
rear portion 12b or can be affixed, at the front end thereof, to the front
portion 12a of base member 12, e.g., by being secured in place in a slot
or recess in front end portion 12a in a cantilever fashion. Reinforcement
member 18 is preferably made of spring steel, flexible carbon graphite or
the like. Reinforcement member 18 is preferably removable and can be
replaced with a similar member having different characteristics, e.g., one
providing additional spring force or one providing variable spring action
because of the shape or construction thereof.
In the illustrated embodiment, an overlay, indicated 22 and made of rubber
or the like, is provided on the upper surface of sole spring element 16,
and a cushion element 24 of rubber or the like is provided at the distal
end or heel portion of sole spring member 16.
In a preferred embodiment indicated schematically in FIG. 1, the subsole
26, which is made of a rigid, light material, is of a perforated or
grate-like construction including a plurality of perforations or holes 26a
therein and is covered by a porous rubber bottom member or underlayer 26b.
This enables water, and air, to rise up through the underlayer 26b into
the holes 26a when the wearer is running on a wet surface to thereby
prevent hydroplaning and increase the aerodynamics of the shoe.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, an open strap assembly 28, comprising a
pair of transverse, U-shaped straps 28a interconnected by longitudinally
extending connector straps 28b made of Nylon or the like, is affixed to
the front portion 12a of base member 12 for gripping the front of the foot
of a wearer. A further, single elongate strap 30, including a buckle
fastener 30a, is adapted to fit around the wearer's foot just in front of
the ankle.
The spring action provided by shoe 10 can perhaps be best appreciated by
reference to FIGS. 2(a) to 2(e) wherein the basic elements of the shoe
construction, viz., base member 12, spring 14, sole spring element or
member 16, and optional reinforcement member 18, are shown. FIG. 2(a)
illustrates the relative positions of these members when the foot F of a
wearer is lifted above the ground G and, in this instance, is about to
land on the ground (the movement of the foot F being indicated by arrow
A).
As shown in FIG. 2(b), as the shoe 10 hits the ground and the full weight
of the wearer is received by, i.e., is brought to bear on, the shoe 10,
the weight is first received by curved portion 12d and subsole 12b.
Further, the rear portion 16b of spring element 16 begins bending backward
to form an arch as indicated in FIG. 2(b). As a consequence, a whipping
action is created as the weight of the wearer is shifted to the ball of
the foot. Spring portion 16b thus accelerates lifting of the heel from the
ground and propels the weight of the wearer forward to the ball of the
foot where curved portion 12c acts as a pivot or fulcrum about which the
weight is shifted to the front spring 14 and thus accelerates the movement
of the foot in leaving the ground.
In general, spring 14 is not involved until the weight of a wearer shifts
or rolls forward. Spring 14 is designed and constructed such that
compression thereof begins only when more than one half of the body weight
of the wearer is transferred thereto. As shown in FIG. 2(c), as the weight
of wearer shifts forward to the ball of the foot as indicated by arrow F1,
spring 14 is compressed and subsole 12b tips off of the ground G. As
discussed above, as the force on the spring element 16 is released, the
weight of the wearer is shifted to the front of the shoe 10 and the shoe
10 rolls forward on curved portion 12d and on spring member 14 until
sufficient weight is transferred to cause spring member 14 to collapse or
compress. At this point, both the heel of the foot and the subsole 12b are
off of the ground because of the rolling or pivoting action around curved
portion 12d.
Before the wearer begins to lift his or her foot, the weight of the wearer
compresses spring 14. As the foot is lifted and weight is removed from
spring 14, this spring provides a lifting force, indicated by arrow S2, on
the ball area of the foot.
Finally, as shown in FIG. 2(e), all spring forces return to the initial
states thereof, i.e., the states of FIG. 2a, when the shoe 10 is fully
lifted from the ground G.
In a further alternative embodiment, a coil spring or another additional
spring element (not shown) could be added in the space created within
spring 14, i.e., between spring 14 and the lower surface of front portion
12a, to provide further spring force as needed.
Although the present invention has been described to specific exemplary
embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art
that variations and modifications can be effected in these exemplary
embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. | 0A
| 43 | B |
The present invention is further illustrated by the following examples.
These examples however, should not be construed as in any way limiting the
present invention. All parts and percentages in the Examples in the
remainder of the specification are by weight unless otherwise specified.
EXAMPLE 1
A 5% dispersion of commercial CI disperse blue 27 is metered onto a 265
denier PET POY threadline using a gear pump and a ceramic applicator
immediately prior to a set off feed rolls. The wet filament is passed onto
a set of ambient rolls at 25 mpm. From there it passes to a set of
annealing rolls at 180.degree. C.-240.degree. C. as shown in Table 1. The
speed of the annealing roll set is 50 mpm so that the POY is drawn 2:1.
The residence time on the annealing rolls is from about 5.5 to about 8.25
seconds. A dark denim colored dyed fiber is wound up. Upon casual
examination the dye appeared to be well fixed. However careful examination
of the dyed yarn shows that it is ring dyed with a substantial quantity of
"loose" dye still on the fiber surface. The loose dye could be removed
mechanically or by rinsing with cold water.
TABLE 1
______________________________________
ANNEALING DYE HEATING
EXPERI- Time % of Time DYE
MENT T.degree.C.
(Sec.) Fibers
T.degree.C.
(Min.)
Character
______________________________________
1 (Control)
210 5.5 6.6 100 15 Ring
2 (Control)
210 5.5 6.6 100 60 Ring
3 (Control)
210 5.5 6.6 100 420 Ring
4 (Control)
210 5.5 6.6 130 15 Ring
5 (Control)
210 5.5 6.6 160 15 Partial
6 210 8.25 6.6 160 60 Full
Cross
Section
7 210 8.25 3.3 160 420 Full
Cross
Section
______________________________________
The surface dyed yarn is then placed in a hot air oven for various periods
of time and at various temperatures. It is observed that as the both time
and temperature in the oven increase the fibers become progressively more
uniform in cross section. After a period of 1 hour at 160.degree.C. air
temperature, the filaments have uniform cross sectional dyeing. Control
experiments 1-5 were subjected to annealing plus insufficient heat drying
resulting in ring dye. Experiments 6 and 7 were subjected to annealing
plus heating temperatures for at least 1 hour in full cross section
drying.
EXAMPLE 2
Commercial CI disperse blue 27 is applied by immersing a 90,000 filament
300,000 denier spun PET tow into a 3.5% dye dispersion at about 70.degree.
C. The saturated tow is then passed in a serpentine fashion through a set
of 7 feed rolls heated to about 70.degree. C. It is then drawn either
2.351:1 or 2.585:1 and passed through a nip onto another set of 14 rolls
at 120 fpm. Tow moisture level after the nip is .about.25%, giving a dye
level of 0.88% dye on wt of fiber. The first 11 of the 14 draw rolls were
heated to 75.degree. C. and 200.degree. C. to anneal the filaments as
shown in Table 2. The last 3 were chilled. The residence time on the hot
rolls is about 9.6 seconds.
The tow is then washed to remove loose surface dye and passed through a
stuffer box crimper. A significant quantity of dye is washed off the
fibers when the rolls are operated at 75.degree. C. However when the rolls
are run at 200.degree. C. there is no visible dye wash off.
Following the crimping operation the tow is forwarded to a hot air drying
oven. Residence time in the oven is 15 minutes. The oven is operated
alternately at 60.degree. C. and 175.degree. C. When the dryer is at
60.degree. C. the fibers are essentially ring dyed. However the
175.degree. C. dried fibers show a full cross section dye. Surprisingly,
changes in draw ratio had minimal effect on the depth of shade.
TABLE 2
______________________________________
AN-
NEAL- HEAT-
EXPERI- DRAW ING ING DYE
MENT RATIO T.degree.C.
T.degree.C.
Character
______________________________________
1 2.35 75 175 Full Cross Section
2 2.585 75 175 Full Cross Section
3 (Control)
2.585 200 60 Ring
4 (Control)
2.35 200 60 Ring
5 2.585 200 175 Full Cross Section
______________________________________
EXAMPLE 3
A dispersion of commercial disperse dyes containing 0.044% CI Disperse
yellow 64, 0.016% CI disperse red 60, and 0.001% CI Disperse Blue 56, is
applied by super saturating a 750,000 filament 3,000,000 denier spun PET
tow on a staple draw frame. The tow is fed to a set of 7 feed rolls
operating at 115.7 fpm. The tow passes around the 7 rolls where a
plurality of hydraulic sprays saturate it with dye liquor at 70.degree. C.
The tow is passed through a hip and around a series of draw and annealing
rolls. The first of the draw rolls, equipped with a nip, is not heated. No
measurable dyeing has occurred up to this point and the excess dye liquor
from the nip can be returned to the spray system for recycling. Fifteen
(15) subsequent rolls are heated to 196.degree. C. All of the draw and
annealing rollers operate at a speed of 450 fpm. Total residence time
through the rollers is 6.9 seconds. The draw ratio is about 4:1.
Tow moisture level after the nip is about 25%, giving a dye level of 0.013%
dye of weight of fiber. Total residence time on the hot rolls is
approximately 7 seconds. After passing through the hot rolls moisture
level is essentially zero and all of dye has been affixed to the surface
of the fibers. The tow band is washed in a hydraulic spray but no dye is
removed.
The tow is then passed through a steam crimper box to impart a three
dimensional character to the fiber. No free dye is observed at the
crimper. Since the overall level of dye and therefore dispersing agent
were low, no processing problems were encountered.
After the crimping operation the tow is dried in a hot air oven at about
110.degree. C. for about 15 minutes. The tow band then passes to a cutting
and baling operation. A peach colored staple is produced with negligible
extraneous surface deposition.
EXAMPLE 4
The process in example 3 is used to dye a PET tow using a 0.05% dispersion
of pure CI disperse blue 165 formulated to contain a minimum of extraneous
extra components. The dye formulation is:
______________________________________
Dianix Blue GSL FW-F8
25.00%
Ethal NP-10f 5.00%
HOE-S-3169 0.50%
Surfynol 104E 1.00%
Proxel GXL 0.25%
Kelzan S 0.20%
Water 68.05%
______________________________________
Dianix is a trademark of Hoechst Celanese Corporation. Dianix Blue GSL
FW-F8 dye and HOE-S-3169 dispersant are commercially available from
Hoechst Celanese Corporation. Ethal is a trademark of Ethox Chemical and
Ethal NP-10f dispersant is commercially available from Ethox Chemical.
Surfynol is a trademark of Air Products and Surfynol 104E defoamer is
commercially available from Air Products. Proxel is a trademark of ICI
Americas and Proxel GXL biocide is commercially available therefrom.
Kelzan is a trademark of Merch & Co. and Kelzan S thickener is available
therefrom.
With this formulation, dye components account for 78% of the total solids
addition while non-dye components account for only 22%. Neither the dye
nor dispersants have a detectable impact on fiber down stream processing
performance. Fibers of an attractive blue are obtained. No dye could be
extracted by saline or methanol washes.
EXAMPLE 5
PET fibers are dyed with CI disperse red 364 using the same process as
example 3. The dye, formulated to contain a minimum of extraneous extra
components, is added to the drawing finish of a commercial staple
drawframe at 0.01% pure dye on weight of fibers. The dye formulation is:
______________________________________
Hostasol Red 5B 15.00%
Ethal NP-10F 3.75%
HOE-S-3169 0.95%
Surfynol 104E 1.00%
Proxel GXL 0.25%
Kelzan S 0.20%
Propylene Glycol 0.93%
Water 78.05%
______________________________________
Hostasol is a trademark of Hoechst Celanese Corporation and Hostasol red 5b
dye is commercially available therefrom. The other names have been
discussed in Example 4.
With this formulation, dye components account for 68% of the total solids
addition while non dye components account for only 32%. Furthermore the
additives are of low molecular weight, highly soluble and easily removed
from the fibers. The yarn is drawn by the same process as example 3 onto
heated rolls at 200.degree. C. for about 6.5 seconds and reaches a mean
temperature of 196.degree. C. The tow band is washed in a hydraulic spray
and then passed to a stuffer box crimping operation. No dye is removed by
the sprays or in the crimping operation. The crimped fibers are then
passed to a dryer where the fibers are subjected to temperatures of
approximately 120.degree. C. for about 15 minutes. Fibers of an attractive
pink are obtained. The total dye process effluent from the production of
8000 lbs of dyed fiber was 180 gals with containing 0.14 lbs of pink dye.
Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the
invention, a process for dyeing melt spun synthetic filaments that fully
satisfies the objects, aims and advantages as set forth above. While the
invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments
thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and
variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the
foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such
alternatives, modifications and variations that fall with the sphere and
scope of the invention. | 3D
| 06 | D |
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In FIG. 1 there is shown a portion of a highway 50 comprising an approach
road 51 allowing vehicles 52 traveling in a particular direction along the
highway to leave the latter. In the triangular zone 53 formed by the
island separating the approach road 51 from the highway there are placed
elements 54 intended to warn off drivers from penetrating into that zone
with their vehicles, these elements further serving, should a vehicle
penetrate, to dampen the shock on the safety barrier 55 bordering the
highway and the approach road.
It has been observed in practice that such a region of the highway is
hazardous and occasionally a scene of incidents such as the penetration
into zone 53 by a vehicle whose driver engaged on the wrong lane, or even
accidents in extreme cases due e.g. to excessive speeds. In the latter
case, the signifant event is either the accident itself or the numerous
dangerous manoeuvres of the vehicles whose sequences can be analyzed to
help in remedying the hazards of the site. These events are all
characterized by the passage of vehicles into zone 53. However, it is
always difficult to reconstitute the sequence of events after it has taken
place when trying to understand and research into methods for preventing
its renewal.
Therefore, the apparatus according to the invention can be installed on the
site shown to provide automatic surveillance and produce a recording of
abnormal scenes regarding traffic at that site.
The apparatus essentially comprises a video camera 3, whose field of view
covers the part 56 of the site considered to be hazardous, and a housing 6
containing an image recorder and a control device to which is connected an
event detector 33 comprising e.g. a pneumatic tube surrounding the zone 53
and triggering an electrical contact when a vehicle makes an unwarranted
penetration into that zone.
The FIG. 2 shows the above-mentioned recorder, in this case video
tape-recorder 1, whose video recording input 2 is connected to a camera 3.
The video tape-recorder 1 is further fitted with control means for
recording the video signal from the camera 3 on its recording medium
(magnetic tape), a control input 5 for rewinding the recording medium, and
an output 7 from which is delivered at any time an indexing signal for the
position of the magnetic tape, the signal being produced by the tape
counter associated with the recorder.
The operation of the recorder 1 is governed by the control device 8 which
essentially comprises an electronic circuit. The latter has a bistable
flip-flop 9 whose outputs 10, 11 are respectively connected to the inputs
4 and 5 of the recorder. When a pulse Di is applied to the input 12 of the
flip-flop 9 its output 10 goes to logic "1" and thereby commands the
playing of the magnetic tape with recording of the video information from
camera 3 and erasure of any information previously recorded on the tape.
When a pulse F'i is applied to the other input 13 of the flip-flop 9, its
other output 11 goes to logic state "1", thereby causing the tape to stop
and rewind.
To set the apparatus in operation (it is here assumed that the magnetic
tape in the recorder is rewound), switch 14 is actuated to cause a pulse
D1 (FIGS. 3-a, d) to be applied at the input 12 of flip-flop 9 via an
OR-gate 15, 16. The playing of the tape with recording of the video signal
delivered by the camera 3 then starts and continues until there is applied
a pulse F1 (FIG. 3-e) to both the input 13 of flip-flop 9, via an OR-gate
17, and a switching circuit 18. The pulse F1 is delivered by a monostable
19 at the end of the section's playing time (FIG. 3-b), the latter also
being triggerable by a pushbutton 14 via OR-gate 15. This time defines the
duration of the first recording section I on the magnetic tape (e.g. 5
minutes). Rewinding the tape brings this section to its beginning. The
pulse delivered by monostable 19 after a time interval T also opens a gate
20 allowing the tape index signal from output 7 of the recorder to be
applied to a memory 21. Likewise, the trigger pulse of monostable 19 opens
a gate 22 which allows the tape index signal from output 7 to be applied
to memory 23. The thus-stored index signals in memories 23 and 21
respectively identify the start and end of the section I.
The rewind phase of the tape ends when the latter has returned to its
start, this condition being detected by a comparator 24 receiving the
index signal from the output 7 and the contents of memory 23, which was
initially at zero. The comparator then produces a pulse D2 (FIG. 3-d)
which is applied to the input 12 of flip-flop 9 via OR-gate 16, causing
the flip-flop 9 to change state once again. This causes the restart of the
normal running of the tape, with erasure of previously recorded
information, on the section I in question, and the recording of subsequent
information on this same section, until a comparator 25 determines that
the index signal at the output 7 is identical to the contents of memory 21
which identify the end of the section on the medium. The comparator then
delivers a pulse F2 which is applied to the input 13 of flip-flop 9 via
circuits 17 and 18.
The recording procedure is thus repeated on section I of the magnetic tape,
with interspersed rewind phases (indicated by hatched portions in FIG.
3-f), the start and end of recording instants being determined by
comparators 24, 25 receiving on the one hand the index signal supplied by
the comparator while the tape is driven forward or backward, and on the
other the contents of memories 23 and 21 which correspond to the index
signal supplied by the counter, respectively at the start and end of the
section.
In this way, the recording of the video signal delivered by the camera 3 is
carried out in successive sequences repeatedly on the same first section I
of the magnetic tape, each new recorded sequence taking the place of the
previously recorded sequence.
Considering that the number of re-recordings possible on a magnetic tape
can be very great (on the order of 10,000 to 15,000) without any
noticeable loss of signal quality during play-back, it can be realized
that the autonomy of the tape becomes vastly increased, being multiplied
by that number. Thus, a magnetic tape having a nominal playing time of one
hour will have its maximum autonomy (in the absence of events) raised to
10,000 or 15,000 hours, in other words one year or more.
For reasons of reliability, it is recommended to limit the number I of
repetitions on each section to the maximum value permitted by the tape
used. To that end, the section start pulses Di, applied to the input 12 of
flip-flop 9, are also applied to a counter 26 which sums the number of
repetitions on a same section (for instance section I). When this counter
receives a pulse Dn corresponding to the maximum number n of permitted
repetitions (FIG. 3-d), its output 27 changes state (FIG. 3-g) and
activates a bistable flip-flop 28 whose output 29 (FIG. 3-j) controls
switching circuits 18 so that the latter transfers the following end of
section pulse Fn (FIG. 3-c) delivered by OR-gate 17, not to its first
output 30 connected to the flip-flop 9, but instead to the second output
31. The pulse Fn is thus eliminated from the end of section pulse sequence
F'i (FIG. 3-e) produced at the output 30 of circuit 18. Accordingly,
flip-flop 9 does not change state at the moment when pulse Fn appears and
the recording therefore continues on the magnetic tape beyond the section
I, i.e. on the flowing section (section II), delimited by new pulses D1,
F1 for the start and end of the section. These pulses are produced at the
start and end of the time period T of monostable 19, as for the first
section I. To that end, the pulse Fn produced at the output 31 of circuit
18 (FIG. 3-h) is applied to monostable 19 via OR-gate 15 and another
monostable flip-flop 32 serving to introduce a small time margin between
the end of section I and the beginning of section II (FIG. 3-i). The
control pulse for monostable 19 is also applied to gate 22 so that the
position index signal of the tape produced at the output 7 of the recorder
1 at the start of section 2 is written into the memory 23. Likewise, the
index signal corresponding to the end of section II is written into memory
21 via gate 20. Accordingly, the recording of a video signal continues
onto section II, with re-recordings, as for section I (FIG. 3-f), the
flip-flop 28 being returned to its initial state by the drive pulses from
monostable 19 to bring the switching circuit 18 into the configuration
where it directs the input pulses Fi to its first output 30.
If the detector 33 connected to flip-flop 28 detects an awaited incidental
event--which, in FIG. 3, is supposed to have happened shortly after the
second pulse D2 for the start of section II (FIG. 3-k)--the flip-flop
changes state, just as with the nth start of section pulse Dn (FIG. 3-j).
Accordingly the following end of section pulse Fe, in this case F2, is
eliminated from the signal F'i applied to the input 13 of flip-flop (FIG.
3-e) in order to be switched over to the monostables 32, 19 (FIG. 3-h) so
that there is no rewinding of the magnetic tape at the end of section II,
but a continuation of the recording into the next section, i.e. section
III (FIG. 3-f) the information recorded on section II at the time of the
incidental event thereby being saved.
Written into the memories 23, 21 are the successive position index signals
of the magnetic tape produced by the tape counters of the recorder 1
during the first recording on each section whose beginning and end of
section are defined by the monostable 19. Thus, as shown in FIG. 3-1, m,
memory 23 successively contains index signals N1D, N2D, N3D, . . . for the
beginning of sections I, II, III, . . . , and memory 21 likewise contains
index signals N1F, N2F, N3F, . . . for the end of sections I, II, III, . .
. , the signals being written into the memories at the start and end of
the time period T produced by the monostable 19. These stored start and
end of section signals define the start and end instants for rewinding of
the magnetictape, so that the starting and end points of each section are
defined in terms of the running of the tape itself, as measured by the
recorder's tape counter. This arrangement prevents the risk of a drift
from occurring in the course of successive re-recordings on a same section
of the tape, as would otherwise occur if there were no position references
made on the tape itself to define the recording sections provided
successively throughout its length. A drift in the starting point of each
section tending towards the beginning of the tape would risk the gradual
erasure of the preceding section, that would normally contain a recording
produced at the moment of an incidental event.
In a variation, the recording of the pulses coinciding with the start and
end of the first recording on a section can be made on the sound track of
the magnetic tape. These instances would be defined by the time period T
of the generator (monostable 19), the indexes for subsequent recordings on
the sections being determined by reading the corresponding pulses written
into the sound channel of the tape.
Furthermore, to guarantee an accurate repositioning of the tape at the
beginning of a section, the rewind stage can be divided into a fast rewind
followed by a slow rewind, the latter starting shortly before reaching the
start of the section on which must be repeated the recording process.
In the case where the event occurs at an instant close to the end of the
recording on a section, the information relative to that event--in this
case images of the incident or road accident sensed by the camera 3--would
be recorded over too short a time period to allow adequate later analysis
into the circumstances of that event. Advantageously, therefore, a time
extension of the recording on the section in question can be provided e.g.
simply by delaying by a predetermined time lapse the end of section pulse
Fi that immediately follow the event. | 7H
| 04 | N |
In the way that can be seen in FIG. 1, present scraping device 1
essentially exhibits a bucket-shaped part that consists of a lower wall 2,
a rear wall 4, side walls 5, 6 and preferably an upper wall 3. Here said
walls 2 to 6 are fastened to one another so that they enclose a space that
open toward the unworked subgrade or subcrust 7. The sand that accumulates
during the operation and that is stripped off from the subgrade by front
edge 8 of lower wall 2 is held in the space enclosed by walls 2 to 6.
During the operation the scraping device is pulled in the direction
indicated by arrow 9 by suitable propelling equipment. The space enclosed
by the bucket-shaped part preferably has a carrying capacity of 0.3-1
m.sup.3.
On each of side walls 5 and 6 there are provided sliding devices with which
scraping device 1 is set on supporting bars 10, 11, shown diagrammatically
in FIG. 1, which are laid parallel to one another in the subcrust. The
height of these supporting bars defines the height of the subgrade to be
made. Preferably, the sliding devices each consist of rollers at a
distance from one another. For example, on side wall 6, in the way shown,
rollers 12 and 13 are rotatably mounted at a distance from one another in
suitable holding devices 16, while on side wall 5 rollers 14 are mounted
in a similar way, of which only one roller can be seen in FIG. 1. Rollers
12, 13, and 14 can each be attached to side walls 6 or 5 so that between
the plane of the upper sides of supporting, bars 10 and 11 and the lower
surface of lower wall 2 an acute angle exists or so that said surface and
said plane run parallel to one another.
Instead of the rollers described, in a way known in the art there can also
be provided, as sliding surfaces, on the outer surfaces of side walls 5, 6
angular elements whose first legs are attached to be vertically adjustable
on the outer surfaces and whose other legs, which extend perpendicular to
the first legs, are supported on the lateral raised verges adjacent to the
subgrade and are pulled over these raised verges.
Preferably, walls 2 to 6 for the formation of said bucket shape are welded
to one another. The space enclosed by walls 2 to 6 is so large that the
sand that accumulates during an operation in which scraping device 1 is
pulled in direction 9 over the subcrust 7 can be held in it.
With present scraping device 1 work is done so that on the surface to be
worked basically somewhat more sand or gravel material is applied than is
actually needed. During the entire operation material is thus stripped off
by edge 8 of lower wall 2 and held in the space enclosed by walls 2 to 6.
In the way seen in FIG. 1, sliding devices or rollers 12 to 14 and their
corresponding holding devices 16 can each be attached to elements 17 in
which the one threaded end of a spindle 18 is rotatably mounted in a fixed
spindle nut. Here spindles 18 extend in a vertical direction when rollers
12 to 14 are set on supporting bars 10, 11. Above each element 17 a
further element 19 each is placed which is fastened, preferably screwed,
onto corresponding side wall 6 or 5. Each element 19 exhibits a borehole
through which corresponding spindle 18 is guided and fixed in an axial
direction. The opposite free end of spindle 18 in element 17 projects
beyond corresponding further element 19 and is provided with a crank 20.
Therefore by turning cranks 20 the height of the scraping device or the
height of edge 8 of lower wall 2 can be adjusted relative to the surface
of supporting bars 10 and 11. In addition, by turning cranks 20,
optionally also the acute angle between the plane of the upper side of
supporting bars 10; 11 or raised verges and the surface of lower wall 2
can be adjusted.
On scraping device 1 there are attached, in the way seen in FIG. 1,
preferably about equidistant from the middle of the longitudinal extension
of scraping device 1, two receiving pockets 21 which exhibit the form of
rectangular tubes and which extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis
of scraping device 1. In these receiving devices the palette forks of
propelling equipment or of a wheel loader (not shown) can be inserted.
This scraping device can then be transported by the wheel loader, for
example to set it on supporting bars 10 and 11 or to lift this device 1
during the operation, remove it from its existing position and to empty
the sand or gravel in it at another place. After it is emptied, this
scraping device can then be set again on supporting bars 10 and 11. After
retracting the palette forks from receiving pockets 21 (driving the wheel
loader in the direction of arrow 9), this scraping device, which is
connected to the wheel loader by chains or wire cables 22, shown
diagrammatically, is pulled further over supporting bars 10 and 11 by
driving the wheel loader in the direction of arrow 9.
Preferably, receiving pockets 21 are attached in a suitable way to scraping
device 1. For example, they are attached to a plate 40, suitably welded,
which is attached to rear wall 4 of the scraping bar, preferably welded.
To be able to move scraping device 1 also by using a shovel of propelling
equipment or a wheel loader, in addition to receiving pockets 21 already
mentioned, angular parts 23 are preferably attached to scraping device 1
on said plate 40 in such a way, preferably welded, that their first legs
extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of scraping device 1 and
that they are approximately equidistant from the middle of the
longitudinal extension of scraping device 1. The other legs of angular
parts 23 are attached or welded in a suitable way to scraping device 1,
for example on said plate 40. To lift and move scraping device 1 the
shovel of a wheel loader can be brought to rest against the edges of the
first legs of angular parts 23, 23 that face subcrust 7 and the shovel
bottom engages in the space that is preferably formed between the upper
sides of receiving pockets 21 and the lower edges of the first legs so
that the required moment of tilt can be applied to manipulate the scraping
bar.
Emptying of the scraping device can occur preferably from the propelling
equipment by the control hydraulics provided there for a normal shovel so
that no additional expense and no additional handles are necessary.
A further development of the invention is explained below in more detail in
connection with FIGS. 2 and 3. Details of FIGS. 2 and 3, which were
already explained in connection with FIG. 1, are designated in the
corresponding way. The difference between the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3
and the embodiment of FIG. 1 lies in the fact that the embodiment in FIGS.
2 and 3 is assembled from several segments 1', 1", 1"'. For example, the
scraping device of FIG. 2 consists of three segments, specifically of two
edge segments 1', 1"' and a middle segment 1". But to construct the
scraping device and to adapt it to a desired working width, two or more
than three segments can be connected to one another. Each segment 1' or 1"
or 1"' exhibits a lower wall 2', 2", 2"' and preferably an upper wall 3',
3", 3"', and after assembling segments 1', 1" and 1"' lower walls 2', 2"
and 2"' are in a plane or each segment represents an extension of the
respective adjacent lower walls. The same also applies optionally to upper
walls 3', 3", 3"'. To middle segment 1" there are attached, in the way
described already in connection with FIG. 1, receiving pockets 21 and/or
angular parts 23. Holding devices 16, rollers 12, 13, 14, elements 17,
further elements 19, spindles 18 and handles 20 or the described angular
elements are attached detachably on the outer surface of outer side wall
5"' or 6' of edge segments 1"' or 1'. The attachment of edge segments 1'
and 1"' to middle segment 1" occurs in that side walls 5' and 6" facing
one another and side walls 5" and 6' facing one another are screwed to one
another detachably in a suitable way. In this case, these walls that face
one another and are attached to one another are preferably configured so
that they make possible passage of sand or gravel in the longitudinal
direction of the scraping device. According to FIG. 2a the said walls are
preferably configured so that there is a passage 41 between one of the
openings of the space of the scraping device or front wall part 42 forming
the segments and a rear wall corner part 43 that is attached to rear wall
4', 4", 4"' and bottom wall 2', 2", 2"'. By these passages 41, in an
advantageous way a distribution or shifting of sand or gravel in the
longitudinal direction of the scraping device can occur during a scraping
operation. In FIG. 2a the clamping bolts that run through front wall parts
42 and rear wall corner parts 43 are designated by 44.
It is also possible to configure middle segment 1", in the direction of
insertion pockets 21, 21 or relative to the first legs of angular parts
23, higher than edge segments 1' and 1"', so that the larger sand or
gravel portion that accumulates in the middle of the subgrade can be held.
Rollers 12, 13, 14, holding devices 16, elements 17, further elements 19
etc. can be attached detachably to corresponding side walls 6' or 5"' of
edge segments 1' and 1"'. In this case segments 1', 1" and 1"' can be
configured and dimensioned so that in the disassembled state of the
scraping device they can be inserted into one another and stacked to save
space. More precisely, in this case lower walls 2', 2", 2"' and upper
walls 3', 3", 3"' of respective segments 1', 1" and 1"' run slanted
relative to one another and have individual segments 1', 1" and 1"' of
differing lengths so that they can be placed into one another "like paper
bags."
FIG. 3 shows the state in which, in intermediate segment 1", which exhibits
the longest longitudinal extension, edge segments 1' and 1"', whose
lengths are smaller than the length of intermediate segment 1" and which
exhibit differing lengths, are inserted. | 4E
| 01 | C |
EXPLANATION ON THE REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS
Midsole (100), toe portion (110), metatarsal bone portion (120), midfoot portion (130), rearfoot portion (140), bridge groove (190), midfoot support (200), bridge part (300), first buffering member (310), second buffering (and slipping-preventing) member (320), underside center-protruding portion (321), bridge body (330), underside center-protruding portion through hole (331), outer sole (500), outer sole through hole (510), and heel (600)
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
So as to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention relates to a midsole for dispersing the pressure applied to a midfoot and metatarsal bones of a foot, and a shoe having the same, wherein the midsole includes a midfoot support disposed protruding upwardly from the tops of a metatarsal bone portion and a midfoot portion formed on the center thereof to support the midfoot of the foot; and a bridge groove formed on the underside of the metatarsal bone portion to insertedly mount a bridge part thereinto.
The bridge part consists of three components so as to support the metatarsal bones and the joints between the metatarsal bones and phalanges of the foot.
According to the present invention, the midfoot support is disposed protruding upwardly from the top of the center of the midsole in such a manner as to accommodatedly receive the inner sole thereonto and support the midfoot of the foot, and when seen from a plane view thereof, the midfoot support has a shape of generally reversed trapezoid in which a front end side and a rear end side are convex forward like an arch and the front end side is longer than the rear end side when viewed in plane of the midsole.
Further, the bridge groove is formed on one side of the center of the underside of the midsole, and the bridge part is insertedly mounted into the bridge groove in such a manner as to pass through an outer sole through hole formed at the center of an outer sole.
The bridge part consists of three components so as to support the metatarsal bones and the joints between the metatarsal bones and the phalanges of the foot.
The three components of the bridge part are a first buffering member having a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped in such a manner as to be partially inserted into the bridge groove; a second buffering member, which is capable of providing buffering and slipping-preventing functions and located on the underside of the first buffering member and having a flat rectangular upper portion and a square pillar portion extending downwardly from the flat upper portion so as to have a shape of “T” when viewed from the front portion of the midsole; and a bridge body having a groove as to accommodate the first buffering member and the second buffering member and an through hole formed at a bottom of the groove in such a manner as to receive the square pillar portion through the through hole.
In more detail, the first buffering plate310has a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped having a thickness of 1 to 10 mm, and the second buffering and slipping-preventing member320is located on the underside of the first buffering member and has a thickness of 20 to 35 mm. Further, the bridge body330has an underside center-protruding portion through hole having a depth of 0.2 to 30 mm formed at the bottom of the groove in such a manner as to pass an underside center-protruding portion therethrough.
The midfoot support may have four shapes. In accordance with the shapes of a user's foot, upwardly protruding angles of the midfoot support can be classified. When viewed from the front thereof, the midfoot support may be a flat type shown inFIG. 7Ahaving a flat top side (flat top plane in a three dimensional view), a mid-high convex type shown inFIG. 7Bhaving a convex top side whose uppermost portion is at the center thereof, a front-high convex type shown inFIG. 7Chaving a convex top side whose uppermost portion is at the front portion thereof, and rear-high convex type shown inFIG. 7Dhaving a convex top side whose uppermost portion is at the rear portion thereof.
The bridge part may have three types in accordance with the shapes of the user's foot. For example, the bridge part may be a medial portion protruding type shown inFIG. 5Aprotruding from the center of the bridge part, a front portion protruding type shown inFIG. 5Bprotruding from the front side (front portion) of the bridge part, and a rear portion protruding type shown inFIG. 5Cprotruding from the rear side of the bridge part
In a point of view, the bridge part includes a buffering portion, a through hole portion and a bridge body.
A shoe having the midsole according to the present invention is provided with an outer sole having an outer sole through hole formed at the center thereof to pass the bridge part of the midsole therethrough, and the position of the outer sole through hole corresponds to the metatarsal bone portion of the outer sole.
According to the present invention, in case of a women's high-heeled shoe, the bridge part is extended to a midfoot portion located behind the metatarsal bone portion, and when the bridge part is viewed in the state of being cut along a longitudinal axis of a foot, the rear side of the bridge part is thicker than the front side thereof. Further, there is a heel located on the rearfoot portion corresponding to the heel of the foot, and the heel, which is brought into contact with the ground, has a width of 3 cm or less in medial and lateral directions. Further, stability columns, which protrude at medial side and at lateral side, may be formed on the extended portion of the bridge part to the midfoot portion.
According to the present invention, the bridge part is made of an elastic material being soft and having strong restitutive force. The elastic material is selected from rubber, EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) foam, polyurethane resin, or the like only if the pressed portion may be contracted much more than the neighboring portions when pressed, so that the metatarsal bone portion can be surrounded with the elastic material.
Further, the elastic material may be capable of performing shape memory. The bridge part is made of the elastic material, and when a given pressure is applied to a point of the bridge part, accordingly, the given pressure is dispersed evenly to the place at which the elastic material is located, while being not concentrated on the specific point of the metatarsal bone portion, thus performing the buffering action against the given pressure.
Hereinafter, an explanation on the midsole for dispersing the pressure applied to the midfoot and metatarsal bones of the foot according to the present invention will be in detail given with reference to the attached drawings.
FIG. 1is a bottom view showing a midsole according to the present invention.
Anatomically, a foot is divided into three portions like a forefoot, a midfoot, and a rearfoot (hindfoot) by Chopart joint and Lisfranc joint. In case of the midsole of a shoe, however, the forefoot is divided into a toe portion and a metatarsal bone portion by means of metatarsophalangeal joint (MP joint), and accordingly, the midsole is conveniently divided into four portions like a rearfoot portion140, a midfoot portion130, a metatarsal bone portion120of the forefoot, and a toe portion110of the forefoot.
According to the present invention, for the sake of convenience, the midsole is divided into four portions from the front side thereof to the rear side thereof by means of vertical lines to the longitudinal axis of the foot.
As shown inFIG. 2, the midsole according to the present invention has the bridge groove formed on the center of the underside thereof and the bridge part mounted into the bridge groove. The bridge part consists of three components. Each of the components is attached to the body of the midsole by means of an adhesive. The bridge part is generally made of a different material from the body of the midsole.
That is, the material and shape of the bridge part can be different from those of the body of the midsole.
Since the metatarsal bone portion has a portion on which a pressure is concentrated at the third walking step, the bridge part is desirably made of a tough material so that it is not easily worn out even if the pressure is applied thereto. However, the bridge part is made to be bent easily with a relatively smaller force than that applied to the body of the midsole to be bent, so that it is easy to raise the heel of the foot at the third walking step. Further, the bridge part has a protrusion formed at a portion coming into contact with the ground.
FIG. 8is a perspective view showing a shoe according to the present invention.
Referring toFIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 8, the midsole100is located on top of the outer sole500, and a heel600is located on the rear side of the outer sole500. The outer sole500has an outer sole through hole510formed at the center thereof.
The midsole100includes a midfoot support200located on top thereof, a bridge groove190formed on the underside of the center thereof, and a bridge part300located on the bridge groove190in such a manner as to pass through the outer sole through hole510of the outer sole500.
The bridge part300includes a first buffering member310having a thickness of 1 to 10 mm in such a manner as to be partially inserted into the bridge groove190, a second buffering member320(capable of buffering and slipping-preventing function) having a planar portion and a downward protruding portion to form a generally “T” shape and having a thickness of 20 to 35 mm in such a manner as to be located on the underside of the first buffering member310, and a bridge body330adapted to accommodate the first buffering plate310and the second buffering member320thereinto and having a through hole formed on the center thereof in such a manner as to receive the downward protruding portion of the second buffering member therethrough, the underside center-protruding portion through hole331having a thickness of 0.2 to 30 mm.
The midfoot support200is made of a buffering material or an elastic material, like rubber, EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) foam, polyurethane resin, etc. and situated around the metatarsal head of the metatarsal bone portion.
When the bridge part300is viewed in the state of being cut along the longitudinal axis of a foot, the rear side of the bridge part300is thicker than the front side thereof, and the high thickness is maintained up to the end portion of the rear side of the bridge part300. A general portion of the bridge part300is convexed downwardly like a streamlined shape seen in the cut-off surface of the wing of an aircraft. Accordingly, the bridge part300forms the curved underside of the metatarsal bone portion of the forefoot, which can be called forefoot rocker.
The heel600is located on the outer sole500corresponding to the rearfoot portion140at which the heel of the foot is placed. The heel600may be a Thomas heel, and the formation of the heel600may allow the foot to perform supination after the heel of the foot comes into contact with the ground at the first step of walking.
In case that the medial side of the heel600is more extended to the front side thereof than the lateral side thereof to form an extension portion, so that as the whole portion of the foot comes into contact with the ground at the second step of walking after the heel of the foot comes into contact with the ground, the foot on the midfoot portion130is naturally inclined to the lateral side of the midfoot portion130having no heel, thus naturally conducting the supination.
Now, an explanation on the actions taken while a wearer who wears the shoe having the midsole according to the present invention as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2is walking will be given.
Referring first to natural working patterns by a bare foot, the foot walking is conducted in a flapping way so that the foot moves from the lateral side to the medial side. Accordingly, the consumption of energy upon walking is reduced, thus making it possible to keep the walking for a long period of time.
In the flapping walking, the lateral edge of the foot first comes into contact with the ground, and next, the whole sole of the foot is contacted with the ground. After that, the heel of the foot is separated from the ground, and then, a walker's weight is applied to the toes of the foot to allow the toes of the foot to push the ground. That is, until the whole sole of the foot comes into contact with the ground after the heel of the foot has been brought into contact with the ground, the movement from the supination (the medial side of the sole of the foot is raised up and rotated outward from the walker's body) to the pronation (the lateral side of the sole of the foot is raised up and rotated inward from the walker's body)is conducted, and contrarily, until the toes of the foot push the ground after the whole sole of the foot has been brought into contact with the ground, the movement from the pronation to the supination is conducted.
By the way, the conventional shoe outer sole has a horizontal underside surface, and when the whole sole of the foot comes into contact with the ground after the heel of the foot has been brought into contact with the ground, it may frequently come into contact with the ground, without having any lateral edge being contacted with the ground, so that the supination movement, through which the lateral edge of the foot is first contacted with the ground before the medial side of the foot, cannot be gently conducted, and accordingly, natural walking by the bare foot cannot be obtained, thus undesirably increasing the fatigue of the foot and lowering the walking efficiencies.
If the shoe outer sole according to the present invention is adopted, at the first step of walking the heel of the foot comes into contact with the ground in the state where the foot forms dorsiflexion. Further, a buffering material (not shown) is located with a shape of a wedge at the rear end of the rearfoot portion140corresponding to the heel of the foot, thus releasing the impacts generated at the grounding step.
Next, at the second step of walking the ankle of the foot is stretched out from the dorsiflexion of the foot so that the foot forms plantar flexion to allow the whole portion of the foot to come into contact with the ground. At this time, the outer sole of the shoe is not just flat, but has the heel600located on the rearfoot portion140. Especially, the heel600is formed of a Thomas heel so that the medial side of the heel600is extended by 1 to 1.5 cm to the front side thereof. Accordingly, at the step where the whole portion of the foot comes into contact with the ground, the thickness on the medial side of the midfoot portion of the outer sole becomes high and the thickness on the lateral side thereof becomes low by means of the Thomas heel.
Accordingly, the foot is inclined laterally to allow the lateral side of the foot to be brought into contact with the ground, thus providing the supination movement.
So as to conduct the forward walking, without being turned laterally, however, it is not desirable that the supination movement is too developed.
The development of the supination movement applies a lot of loads to the muscles of the sole of the foot suppressing the height of the medial longitudinal arch of the foot from being too decreased upon the change to the pronation movement.
According to the present invention, therefore, if the foot coming into contact with the ground reaches the front end of the midfoot portion130or the metatarsal bone portion120after the supination movement, the rear side of the bridge part300is high in thickness and the lateral side of the bridge part300is extended toward the rear side on the midsole, so that at the initial process of the third step of walking the foot is inclined to the medial side on which the midsole is low in thickness to allow the supination state to be naturally changed to the pronation state through the thickening of the midsole by the rear end portion of the lateral side of the bridge part300.
Next, at the third step of walking the heel of the foot is raised up to allow the walker's weight to be concentrated on the metatarsal bone portion, especially, the metatarsal head, thus increasing the angles between the metatarsal bones and the phalanges of toes connected to the metatarsal bones. At this time, a portion of the metatarsal bone portion of the midsole being generally hard and difficult to be bent is removed, and the easily bendable bridge part300is located at the portion of the metatarsal bone portion of the midsole, so that as the heel of the foot is raised up, the midsole increases the angles between the metatarsal bones and the phalanges of toes, thus reducing a resistance generated from the shoe.
Moreover, the soft and elastic midfoot support is located on top of the midsole to disperse and release the pressure applied to the metatarsal head. The midfoot support serves to allow the metatarsal head to move more downward at the step of raising up the heel of the foot, thus increasing the angles between the metatarsal bones and the phalanges of toes. Further, the development of the plantar flexion for next step is more easily conducted to increase the walking efficiencies.
Next, at the step of forefoot pushing as the fourth step of walking, the toes form a small arch, and then, the metatarsal bones and the phalanges of toes having the given angles therebetween at the third step of walking are stretched out, so that the toes push backward from the ground. After that, while the movement to the first step of walking is being ready, the foot forms the dorsiflexion so that it is separated from the ground.
Since the plantar flexion is developed, the forefoot can push up from the ground more efficiently through the elasticity of the muscles accumulated on the foot.
Further, the metatarsal bones of the foot is push up by the restoring force of the elastic energy accumulated on the compressed elastic material, so that at the step wherein the toes push the ground, the shape of the foot is formed to be easily pushed up by the forefoot under the principle of the lever, and on the other hand, the foot easily forms the dorsiflexion to conduct the first step of walking as a next step.
At this time, since the pronation movement is conducted at the third step of walking, the medial side (great toe) of the foot generally pushes the ground at the fourth step of walking, so that the foot is changed from the pronation state to the supination state according to the action of the midsole dispersing the pressure applied to the midfoot and the metatarsal bones of the foot.
According to the present invention, through the four steps of walking, through the process from the grounding to the kicking the ground, the change from the supination to the pronation and the change from the pronation to the supination are performed, which is similar to the natural walking of the bare foot.
According to the present invention, however, the change from the pronation to the supination and the change from the supination to the pronation are conducted through the structure of the midsole of the shoe, so that the load in the change can be reduced when compared with the change by the foot itself, and especially, load applied to the foot can be decreased while a walker having weak foot muscles is walking.
FIGS. 5A to 5Cshow various examples of the bridge part formed in the midsole according to the present invention.FIG. 5Ashows the bridge part protruding from the center thereof,FIG. 5Bshows that protruding from the front side thereof, andFIG. 5Cshows that protruding from the rear side thereof.
FIGS. 7A to 7Dshow various examples of the midfoot support according to the present invention.
FIG. 7Ashows a flat type midfoot support,FIG. 7Bshows a midfoot support whose uppermost portion is at the center thereof,FIG. 7Cshows a midfoot support whose uppermost portion is at the front side thereof, andFIG. 7Dshows a midfoot support whose uppermost portion is at the rear side thereof.
They are selectively adopted in accordance with the shapes of the walker's foot, and at this time, the adoption is conducted through the accurate prescription of a doctor.
FIGS. 6A and 6Bare plan view and front view showing a midfoot support of the midsole according to the present invention.
The midfoot support200disposed in the midfoot portion and metatarsal bones portion at the center of the top portion thereof and having a shape of reversed trapezoid in which a front end side and a rear end side are convex forward like an arch and the front end side is longer than the rear end side, the width between the two lateral side increase along the longitudinal direction to the front end when viewed in plane of the midsole and having a convex top side whose uppermost portion is at the center thereof when viewed from the front portion of the midsole.
The bridge part and the midfoot support may be used optionally or selectively in accordance with the shapes of the user's foot, and at this time, the usage is conducted through the accurate prescription of a doctor.
While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
| 0A
| 43 | B |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the figures there is provided architectural moulding apparatus 10
including a supporting frame assembly 11 and a paper roll assembly 12. The
paper roll assembly 12 delivers a continuous paper web 13 to tension and
drive rollers 14.
A core feed assembly 15 is adapted to receive lengths of shaped polystyrene
core 16. The core 16 is provided in lengths fed to the apparatus in
abutting relation. The abutted lengths of shaped polystyrene core 16 are
aligned in the architectural moulding apparatus 10 by means of an aligning
roller assembly 17, illustrated in FIG. 3. The aligning roller assembly
comprises an upper roller 20 conforming in shape to the profile of the
back of the shaped polystyrene core 16 and a lower roller 21 conforming to
the shape of the profiled face of the shaped polystyrene core 16.
The continuous paper web 13 passes from the last of the tension and drive
rollers 14 and through a glue applicator 22 adapted to receive hot melt
pressure sensitive adhesive under pneumatic pressure from glue supply and
control apparatus 23. The glue coated paper web passes over nylon aligning
roller 24 to meet the shaped polystyrene core 16 at a set-up roller
assembly 25. The set-up roller assembly receives the shaped polystyrene
core through an antisag assembly 26. The set-up roller assembly, best
illustrated in FIG. 4, comprises an upper roller 27 conforming to the
shape of the back of the shaped polystyrene core 16 and a lower roller 30
adapted to urge the paper web 13 glue side first into a selected
longitudinal groove 31 of the shaped polystyrene core 16 to form the
moulding assembly 32.
The moulding assembly 32 then passes to a laminating roller assembly 33
having a lower laminating roller 34 adapted to urge the glue covered
continuous paper web 13 into intimate contact with the profile face of the
shaped polystyrene core 16 and having a pair of lateral rollers 35 adapted
to fold and urge the glue covered continuous paper web 13 to side surfaces
of the shaped polystyrene core 16. The lower laminating roller 34 and the
lateral rollers 35 urge the continuous paper web against the respective
surfaces of the shaped polystyrene core 16 against the reaction of a
restraining roller 36.
The moulding assembly 32 then passes to a series of rollers 38 illustrated
in FIGS. 6-14 which are adapted to progressively fold and roll the
continuous paper web 13 to completely wrap the shaped polystyrene core 16.
The moulding assembly 32 then passes to a finishing roller assembly 37
adapted to roll all surfaces of the moulding assembly 32 to ensure bonding
integrity between the continuous paper web 13 and the shaped polystyrene
core 16. Folds in the assembly are particularly consolidated by a
consolidating roller assembly 40 best illustrated in FIG. 16 before
passing to a final finishing roller 41 best illustrated in FIG. 17.
The finished moulding assembly 32 passes to a flying shear assembly 42
adapted to cut the continuous moulding assembly 32 into convenient
lengths.
FIG. 2 illustrates the plan view of typical drive arrangements of the
apparatus of FIG. 1. The apparatus is powered by electric motor and
gearbox assembly 50 adapted to drive the roller stations (collectively
numbered 51 in this figure) via drive chains 52. Where necessary, the
horizontal path is maintained by means of a lateral guide assembly 53.
The core members 16 are formed from a polystyrene block 5 m.times.1.2
m.times.0.6 m, as illustrated in FIG. 18, of the required shape 2.5 m in
length by a Wintec Hot Wire Shaping Machine. The design of the shapes are
such to allow one pass of the hot wire to create two formed surfaces,
hence halving the cutting time. The interlocking feature of shape also
reduces waste.
Several wires are used, stretched horizontally across the cutting platform
and fixed at even spacings to the vertical uprights each side of the
cutting platform. The Wintec Shaping machine is controlled by computer and
once the required shape is programmed, the wires move into the block of
polystyrene moving simultaneously to clone the shaping process through the
block.
The glue applicator 22 which the paper web 13 is drawn past is a "slot
nozzle" device. The slot nozzle is fitted with a shim and by changing the
shape of the shim, various glue patterns can be formed. Once the required
glue pattern is created, the slot nozzle will, via heated feeder lines and
under air pressure, apply hot melt pressure sensitive glue in an even flow
to the paper surface. The glue is fed from a hot melt glue machine 23
comprised of a melt down reservoir and glue pump and the necessary
controls to create the correct pressure and temperature.
Polystyrene sections are fed in and butted tight at joins. Once wrapped and
glued, a continuous section is formed. Any required size may be cut from
continuous product.
FIG. 19 illustrates three preferred sections of continuous moulding
assembly 32, disposed in pairs and illustrating that the sections may be
maintained in face to face contact.
The strength in paper covered plaster cornice is derived only from the
paper outer surface. The plaster has no tensile strength at all without
the paper. In the product produced in accordance with the present
invention, the tensile strength is increased dramatically due the greatly
reduced weight of the expanded polystyrene core as opposed to plaster,
together with the superior tensile properties of the foam material. The
expanded polystyrene cornice also offers the resilience required for
movement in cornice attached to ceilings where roof truss method is used.
It will of course be realised that while the above has been given by way of
illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications
and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art
are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as
defined in the claims appended hereto. | 1B
| 65 | H |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Directing attention to the Drawing, the invention will be described in
further detail.
FIG. 1 illustrates a means for carrying out the method of this invention.
(For simplicity, the various tensioning rolls schematically used to define
the several fabric runs are shown but not numbered. It will be appreciated
that variations from the apparatus and method illustrated in FIG. 1 can be
made without departing from the scope of the invention.) Shown is a twin
wire former having a layered papermaking headbox 10 which injects or
deposits a stream 11 of an aqueous suspension of papermaking fibers onto
the forming fabric 13 which serves to support and carry the newly-formed
wet web downstream in the process as the web is partially dewatered to a
consistency of about 10 dry weight percent. Additional dewatering of the
wet web can be carried out, such as by vacuum suction, while the wet web
is supported by the forming fabric.
The wet web is then transferred from the forming fabric to a transfer
fabric 17 traveling at a slower speed than the forming fabric in order to
impart increased stretch into the web. Transfer is preferably carried out
with the assistance of a vacuum shoe 18 and a fixed gap or space between
the forming fabric and the transfer fabric or a kiss transfer to avoid
compression of the wet web.
The web is then transferred from the transfer fabric to the throughdrying
fabric 19 with the aid of a vacuum transfer roll 20 or a vacuum transfer
shoe, optionally again using a fixed gap transfer as previously described.
The throughdrying fabric can be traveling at about the same speed or a
different speed relative to the transfer fabric. If desired, the
throughdrying fabric can be run at a slower speed to further enhance
stretch. Transfer is preferably carried out with vacuum assistance to
ensure deformation of the sheet to conform to the throughdrying fabric,
thus yielding desired Bulk and appearance.
The level of vacuum used for the web transfers can be from about 3 to about
15 inches of mercury (75 to about 380 millimeters of mercury), preferably
about 5 inches (125 millimeters) of mercury. The vacuum shoe (negative
pressure) can be supplemented or replaced by the use of positive pressure
from the opposite side of the web to blow the web onto the next fabric in
addition to or as a replacement for sucking it onto the next fabric with
vacuum. Also, a vacuum roll or rolls can be used to replace the vacuum
shoe(s).
While supported by the throughdrying fabric, the web is final dried to a
consistency of about 94 percent or greater by the throughdryer 21 and
thereafter transferred to a carrier fabric 22. The dried basesheet 23 is
transported to the reel 24 using carrier fabric 22 and an optional carrier
fabric 25. An optional pressurized turning roll 26 can be used to
facilitate transfer of the web from carrier fabric 22 to fabric 25.
Suitable carrier fabrics for this purpose are Albany International 84M or
94M and Asten 959 or 937, all of which are relatively smooth fabrics
having a fine pattern. Although not shown, reel calendering or subsequent
off-line calendering can be used to improve the smoothness and softness of
the basesheet.
FIG. 2 is a block flow diagram illustrating overall process steps for
treating secondary papermaking fibers in preparation for dispersing. (For
virgin fibers, the fibers can be slurried with water to the desired
consistency and introduced directly into the disperser). Shown is the
paper furnish 40 to be treated being fed to a high consistency pulper 41
(Model ST6C-W, Bird Escher Wyss, Mansfield, Mass.) with the addition of
dilution water 42 to reach a consistency of about 15 percent. Prior to
being pumped out of the pulper, the stock is diluted to a consistency of
about 6 percent. The pulped fibers are fed to a scalping screen 43
(Fiberizer Model FT-E, Bird Escher Wyss) with additional dilution water in
order to remove large contaminants. The input consistency to the scalping
screen is about 4 percent. The rejects from the scalping screen are
directed to waste disposal 44. The accepts from the scalping screen are
fed to a high density cleaner 45 (Cyclone Model 7 inch size, Bird Escher
Wyss) in order to remove heavy contaminants which have escaped the
scalping screen. The rejects from the high density cleaner are directed to
waste disposal. The accepts from the high density cleaner are fed to a
fine screen 46A (Centrisorter Model 200, Bird Escher Wyss) to further
remove smaller contaminants. Dilution water is added to the fine screen
feed stream to achieve a feed consistency of about 2 percent. Rejects from
the fine screen are directed to a second fine screen 46B (Axiguard, Model
1, Bird Escher Wyss) to remove additional contaminants. The accepts are
recycled to the feed stream to the fine screen 46A and the rejects are
directed to waste disposal. The accepts from the fine screen, with the
addition of dilution water to reach a consistency of about 1 percent, are
then passed to a series of four flotation cells 47, 48, 49 and 50 (Aerator
Model CF1, Bird Escher Wyss) to remove ink particles and stickies. Rejects
from each of the flotation cells are directed to waste disposal. The
accepts from the last flotation cell are fed to a washer 51 (Double Nip
Thickener Model 100, Black Clawson Co., Middletown, Ohio) to remove very
small ink particles and increase the consistency to about 10 percent.
Rejects from the washer are directed to waste disposal. The accepts from
the washer are fed to a belt press 52 (Arus-Andritz Belt Filter Press
Model CPF 20 inches, Andritz-Ruthner Inc., Arlington, Tex.) to reduce the
water content to about 30 percent. Rejects from the belt press are
directed to waste disposal. The resulting partially dewatered fibrous
material is then fed to a shaft disperser 53 (GR 11, Ing. S. Maule & C.
S.p.A., Torino, Italy), described in detail in FIG. 4, in order to work
the fibers to improve their properties in accordance with this invention.
Steam 54 is added to the disperser feed stream to elevate the temperature
of the feed material. The resulting treated fibers 55 can be directly used
as feedstock for papermaking or otherwise further treated as desired.
FIG. 3 is a cut-away perspective view of a preferred apparatus for treating
fibers in accordance with this invention as illustrated in FIG. 2. The
particular apparatus is a shaft disperser, Type GR II, manufactured by
Ing. S. Maule & C. S.p.A., Torino, Italy. Shown are an upper cylindrical
housing 61 and a lower cylindrical housing 62 which, when closed, enclose
a rotating shaft 63 having a multiplicity of arms 64. The upper housing
contains two rows of knurled fingers 65 and three inspection ports 66. At
one end of the upper housing is an inlet port 67. At the inlet end of the
rotating shaft is driver motor 68 for turning the shaft. At the outlet end
of the rotating shaft is a bearing housing 69 which supports the rotating
shaft. The inlet end of the rotating shaft contains a screw feed section
70 which is positioned directly below the inlet and serves to urge the
feed material through the disperser. The outlet 71 of the disperser
comprises a hinged flap 72 having a lever 73 which, when the disperser is
closed up, is engaged by hydraulic air bags 74 mounted on the upper
housing. The air bags provide controllable resistance to the rotation of
the hinged flap and hence provide a means of controlling the back pressure
within the disperser. Increasing the back pressure increases the degree to
which the fibers are worked. During operation, the knurled fingers
interdigitate with the arms of the rotating shaft to work the feed
material therebetween.
FIG. 4 is a block flow diagram of an alternative process of this invention
utilizing a pair of twin shaft dispersers (Bivis machines). As
illustrated, papermaking pulp, at a consistency of about 50 percent, is
fed to a screw feeder. The screw feeder meters the feedstock to the first
of two Bivis machines in series. Each Bivis machine has three
compression/expansion zones. Steam is injected into the first Bivis
machine to raise the temperature of the fibers to about 212.degree. F.
(100.degree. C.). The worked pulp is transferred to the second Bivis
machine operating at the same conditions as the first Bivis machine. The
worked pulp from the second machine can be quenched by dropping it into a
cold water bath and thereafter dewatering to a suitable consistency.
FIGS. 5-10 will be discussed below in connection with the Examples.
EXAMPLES
Examples 1-20. To illustrate the invention, a number of uncreped
throughdried tissues were produced using the method substantially as
illustrated in FIG. 1. More specifically, Examples 1-19 were all
three-layered, single-ply bath tissues in which the outer layers comprised
dispersed, debonded eucalyptus fibers and the center layer comprised
refined northern softwood kraft fibers. Example 20 was a two-ply bath
tissue, each ply being layered as described for the previous examples.
Cenebra eucalyptus fibers were pulped for 15 minutes at 10% consistency
and dewatered to 30% consistency. The pulp was then fed to a Maule shaft
disperser as illustrated in FIG. 3. The disperser was operated at
160.degree. F. (70.degree. C.) with a power input of 2.2 HPD/T (1.8
kilowatt-days per tonne). Subsequent to dispersing, a softening agent
(Berocell 584) was added to the pulp in the amount of 10 lb. Berocell per
ton dry fiber (0.5 weight percent).
Prior to formation, the softwood fibers were pulped for 30 minutes at 2.5
percent consistency, while the dispersed, debonded eucalyptus fibers were
diluted to 2 percent consistency. The overall layered sheet weight was
split 37.5%/25%/37.5% among the dispersed eucalyptus/refined
softwood/dispersed eucalyptus layers. The center layer was refined to
levels required to achieve target strength values, while the outer layers
provided softness and bulk.
These examples employed a four-layer Beloit Concept III headbox. The
refined northern softwood kraft stock was used in the two center layers of
the headbox to produce a single center layer for the three-layered product
described. Turbulence generating inserts recessed about three inches (75
millimeters) from the slice and layer dividers extending about six inches
(150 millimeters) beyond the slice were employed. Flexible lip extensions
extending about six inches (150 millimeters) beyond the slice were also
used, as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,988 issued Jul. 14, 1992 to
Farrington, Jr. entitled "Extended Flexible Headbox Slice With Parallel
Flexible Lip Extensions and Extended Internal Dividers", which is herein
incorporated by reference. The net slice opening was about 0.9 inch (23
millimeters) and water flows in all four headbox layers were comparable.
The consistency of the stock fed to the headbox was about 0.09 weight
percent.
The resulting three-layered sheet was formed on a twin-wire, suction form
roll, former with forming fabrics (12 and 13 in FIG. 1) being Asten 866
and Asten 856A fabrics respectively of about 64.5% and 61% void volume
respectively. Speed of the forming fabric was 12.1 meters per second. The
newly-formed web was then dewatered to a consistency of about 20-27% using
vacuum suction from below the forming fabric before being transferred to
the transfer fabric which was traveling at 9.7 meters per second (25% rush
transfer). Transfer fabrics employed included an Asten 934 and an Albany
94M. A vacuum shoe pulling about 6-15 inches (150-380 millimeters) of
mercury vacuum was used to transfer the web to the transfer fabric.
The web was then transferred to a throughdrying fabric traveling at a speed
of about 9.7 meters per second. Velostar 800 and Asten 934 throughdrying
fabrics were used. The web was carried over a Honeycomb throughdryer
operating at a temperature of about 350.degree. F. (175.degree. C.) and
dried to a final dryness of about 94-98% consistency.
Table 1 gives more detailed descriptions of the process condition as well
as resulting tissue properties for examples 1-20, illustrating this
invention. As used in Tables 1 and 2 below, the column headings have the
following meanings: "TAD Fabric" means throughdrying fabric (the
designation "W" or "S" for the throughdrying fabric refers to which side
of the fabric is presented to the web. "W" denotes the side dominated by
warp knuckles and "S" denotes the side dominated by shute knuckles.); "#1
Trans Vac" is the vacuum used to transfer the web from the forming fabric
to the transfer fabric, expressed in millimeters of mercury; "#2 Trans
Vac" is the vacuum used to transfer the web from the transfer fabric to
the throughdrying fabric, expressed in millimeters of mercury; "Cons @#1
Trans" is the consistency of the web at the point of transfer from the
forming fabric to the transfer fabric, expressed as percent solids; "Cons
@#2 Trans" is the consistency of the web at the point of transfer from the
transfer fabric to the throughdrying fabric, expressed as percent solids;
"MD Tensile Strength" is the machine direction tensile strength, expressed
in grams per 3 inches (7.62 centimeters) of sample width; "MD Tensile
Stretch" is the machine direction stretch, expressed as percent elongation
at sample failure; "MD Max Slope" is as defined above, expressed as
kilograms per 3 inches (7.62 centimeters) of sample width; "CD Tensile
Strength" is the cross-machine tensile strength, expressed as grams per 3
inches (7.62 centimeters) of sample width; "CD Tensile Stretch" is the
cross-machine direction stretch, expressed as percent elongation at sample
failure; "GMT" is the geometric mean tensile strength, expressed as grams
per 3 inches (7.62 centimeters) of sample width; "Basis Wt" is the
finished basis weight, expressed as grams per square meter; "Caliper" is
the 10 sheet caliper, divided by ten, as previously described, expressed
in microns; "Bulk" is the Bulk as defined above, expressed in cubic
centimeters per gram; "Panel Stiff" is the stiffness of the sheet as
determined by a trained sensory panel feeling for the relative sharpness
of the folds when a sheet is taken up into the hand, expressed as a number
on a scale of from 1 to 14, with higher numbers meaning greater stiffness
(commercial bath tissues typically range from about 3 to about 8); and "MD
Stiff Factor" is the Machine Direction Stiffness Factor as defined above,
expressed as (kilograms per 3 inches)-microns.sup.0.5.
TABLE 1
__________________________________________________________________________
#1 #2 CONS
CONS
MD MD MD
TRANSFER TAD TRANS
TRANS
.differential.#1
.differential.#2
TENSILE
TENSILE
MAX
EXAMPLE
FABRIC FABRIC
VAC VAC TRANS
TRANS
STRENGTH
STRETCH
SLOPE
__________________________________________________________________________
1 ALBANY 94M W
VELOSTAR
380 200 20-22
22-24
775 19.2 5.087
2 ASTEN 934 W
ASTEN 934
380 100 20-22
27-29
721 19.3 4.636
3 ASTEN 934 W
ASTEN 934
150 100 20-22
22-24
712 18.9 4.815
4 ALBANY 94M S
VELOSTAR
150 200 20-22
27-29
799 19.2 5.149
5 ALBANY 94M S
VELOSTAR
380 100 20-22
27-29
834 22.0 5.223
6 ALBANY 94M S
ASTEN 934
380 100 20-22
27-29
897 20.2 5.621
7 ALBANY 94M S
VELOSTAR
150 100 20-22
22-24
815 19.1 5.543
8 ALBANY 94M W
VELOSTAR
150 100 25-27
27-29
843 21.7 5.698
9 ALBANY 94M W
VELOSTAR
380 100 20-22
27-29
867 20.0 5.696
10 ASTEN 934 W
ASTEN 934
380 200 20-22
22-24
721 20.6 4.709
11 ALBANY 94M S
VELOSTAR
380 200 25-27
27-29
819 20.2 5.441
12 ASTEN 934 W
ASTEN 934
150 200 20-22
27-29
709 20.2 4.913
13 ALBANY 94M W
VELOSTAR
380 200 25-27
27-29
531 20.1 3.496
14 ASTEN 934 W
ASTEN 934
380 200 25-27
27-29
472 19.5 3.244
15 ALBANY 94M S
VELOSTAR
380 200 25-27
27-29
631 21.4 4.036
16 ASTEN 937 S
ASTEN 934
380 200 25-27
27-29
535 20.9 3.933
17 VELOSTAR 800W
ASTEN 934
380 200 25-27
27-29
427 16.3 3.901
18 ASTEN 934 S
ASTEN 934
380 200 25-27
27-29
530 21.3 4.206
19 ALBANY 94M S
VELOSTAR
380 200 25-27
27-29
600 20.8 4.754
20 ALBANY 94M S
VELOSTAR
380 200 25-27
27-29
708 18.7 5.970
__________________________________________________________________________
CD CD MD
TENSILE
TENSILE BASIS PANEL
STIFF
EXAMPLE
STRENGTH
STRETCH
GMT
WT CALIPER
BULK
STIFF
FACTOR
__________________________________________________________________________
1 557 8.5 657
29.2
287 9.8 4.1 86
2 529 5.4 618
28.7
323 11.2
4.0 83
3 563 5.0 633
28.8
323 11.2
4.1 86
4 534 8.2 654
28.9
305 10.5
4.6 90
5 629 6.9 725
30.2
305 10.1
4.7 91
6 632 3.9 753
29.3
287 9.8 4.5 95
7 571 6.9 682
28.9
297 10.3
4.5 96
8 623 6.4 724
28.7
292 10.2
4.7 97
9 638 7.2 744
29.7
297 10.0
4.6 98
10 511 5.3 607
28.3
361 12.7
3.5 89
11 577 7.9 687
29.1
312 10.7
4.2 96
12 503 5.2 598
28.9
348 12.0
4.0 92
13 428 8.3 477
20.7
249 12.0
3.5 55
14 324 6.0 391
19.6
315 16.0
3.4 58
15 356 11.2 474
19.8
269 13.5
3.4 66
16 383 5.8 453
20.1
325 16.1
3.8 71
17 306 14.8 362
19.6
330 16.8
3.4 71
18 299 9.4 398
19.9
335 16.8
3.2 77
19 415 4.5 499
20.0
287 14.3
3.8 81
20 494 8.6 591
38.0
388 10.1
3.2 83
__________________________________________________________________________
Referring now to FIGS. 5-10, various aspects of the invention will be
described in further detail.
FIG. 5 is a generalized load/elongation curve for a tissue sheet,
illustrating the determination of the MD Max Slope. As shown, two points
P1 and P2, the distance between which is exaggerated for purposes of
illustration, are selected that lie along the load/elongation curve. The
tensile tester is programmed (GAP General Applications Program!, version
2.5, Systems Integration Technology Inc., Stoughton, Mass.; a division of
MTS Systems Corporation, Research Triangle Park, N.C.) such that it
calculates a linear regression for the points that are sampled from P1 to
P2. This calculation is done repeatedly over the curve by adjusting the
points P1 and P2 in a regular fashion along the curve (hereinafter
described). The highest value of these calculations is the Max Slope and,
when performed on the machine direction of the specimen, is called the MD
Max Slope.
The tensile tester program should be set up such that five hundred points
such as P1 and P2 are taken over a two and one-half inch (63.5 mm) span of
elongation. This provides a sufficient number of points to exceed
essentially any practical elongation of the specimen. With a ten inch per
minute (254 mm/min) crosshead speed, this translates into a point every
0.030 seconds. The program calculates slopes among these points by setting
the 10th point as the initial point (for example P1), counting thirty
points to the 40th point (for example, P2) and performing a linear
regression on those thirty points. It stores the slope from this
regression in an array. The program then counts up ten points to the 20th
point (which becomes P1) and repeats the procedure again (counting thirty
points to what would be the 50th point (which becomes P2), calculating
that slope and also storing it in the array). This process continues for
the entire elongation of the sheet. The Max Slope is then chosen as the
highest value from this array. The units of Max Slope are kg per
three-inch specimen width. (Strain is, of course, dimensionless since the
length of elongation is divided by the length of the jaw span. This
calculation is taken into account by the testing machine program.)
FIG. 6 is a plot of Bulk versus Panel Stiffness for bath tissues made in
accordance with this invention (Examples 1-20 plotted as points a-t,
respectively) and for a number of commercially available creped bath
tissues plotted as either a "1" representing a single-ply product, a "2"
representing a two-ply product and a "3" representing a three-ply product.
This plot illustrates the unique combination of high Bulk and low
stiffness possessed by the products of this invention.
FIG. 7 is a plot of Panel Stiffness versus MD Max Slope for the same
products, illustrating the correlation of MD Max Slope with stiffness as
measured by a trained sensory panel. This plot shows that MD Max Slope is
an objective measure of panel stiffness.
FIG. 8 is a plot of Bulk versus MD Max Slope for the same products,
illustrating the combination of high Bulk and low stiffness (as measured
by the MD Max Slope) exhibited by the products of this invention.
FIG. 9 is a plot similar to the plot of FIG. 7, but Panel Stiffness is
plotted against the MD Stiffness Factor instead of MD Max Slope,
illustrating that the MD Stiffness Factor is also a valid measure of
stiffness.
FIG. 10 is a plot similar to the plot of FIG. 8 with Bulk plotted versus
the MD Stiffness Factor, illustrating the combination of high Bulk and low
stiffness (as measured by the MD Stiffness Factor) exhibited by the
products of this invention.
It will be appreciated that the foregoing examples, given for purposes of
illustration, are not to be construed as limiting the scope of this
invention, which is defined by the following claims and all equivalents
thereto. | 3D
| 21 | H |
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings and more particularly FIG. 1, it can be seen
that the vehicle transmission and retarder system according to the
invention is designated generally by the numeral 10. As a part of the
system 10, a transmission 12 is provided with an input shaft 14 and an
output shaft 16, with the transmission 12 comprising a plurality of gear
sets to accommodate various power transmission ratios from the power input
on the shaft 14 to the power output on the shaft 16.
A hydrodynamic retarder 18 is interconnected with the output shaft 16 to
provide a braking function to the vehicle in somewhat standard fashion. A
control unit 20, such as a dedicated microprocessor or the like, is
interconnected with the transmission 12 and retarder 18 by respective data
and control buses 22, 24. It will be appreciated that the control unit 20
receives, for example, data respecting the temperature of the transmission
and retarder oil, and instantaneous vehicle speed from the buses 22, 24,
along with other data respecting desired vehicle parameters and
transmission operation. The control unit 20 controls the shifting of the
transmission 12 through the control lines of the bus 22 and, as will
become apparent below, controls the duty cycle and other operations of the
retarder 18 over the control lines of the bus 24. Those skilled in the art
will, of course, readily appreciate that the instantaneous speed signal
derived from the transmission 12 may be readily differentiated to develop
a deceleration/acceleration signal respecting the vehicle in general.
The retarder 18 may typically be as generally known in the art, with the
regulating valve thereof being modified as shown in FIG. 2. The regulating
valve assembly 26 of the retarder 18 includes a pulse width modulated
solenoid 28 which is connected to and controlled by the control unit 20
and which is operative to drive the spool 30 against the biasing of the
spring 32. Those skilled in the art will understand that the spool 30
moves at the duty cycle under which the solenoid 28 is operated as
regulated by the control unit 20. This duty cycle controls the amount of
transmission fluid passing through the conduit of the regulating valve
assembly 26 and to the retarder, thereby controlling the amount of braking
torque generated thereby.
As shown in FIG. 2, the spool 30 is operative among the main pressure
conduit 34, control main conduit 36, exhaust conduits 38, and retarder
conduit 40 to achieve the desired pulse width modulated control of
hydraulic pressure to the retarder 18. It will be appreciated that the
retarder 18 is connected to the retarder conduit 40 and receives the
differential pressure generated between the main pressure conduit 34 and
the exhaust conduit 38, the same being regulated as a function of the
applied duty cycle. While in the prior art the valve spool or piston 30
has been a 1:1 ratio valve, in the instant invention the ratio is changed
to preferably 1.7:1 such that the spool 30, in combination with the
biasing spring 32, allows for achievement of the adaptive feature of the
invention which will be discussed below. Those skilled in the art will
understand that the differential area on the regulating valve provides a
feature which allows for the operation of the retarder 18 at a known
maximum pressure in a specified speed range when the solenoid 28 is
operated at 100 percent duty cycle (full on). The biasing spring 32
assures a repeatable reference pressure at a full 100 percent duty cycle
such that predictions can then be made from that reference signal as to
the amount of retarder activity that could be achieved at lower operating
pressures as regulated at lesser duty cycles. Such a feature allows the
retarder 18 to be adaptive, with periodic adjustments being made through
the control unit 20 to compensate for wear and the like.
As mentioned above, prior art retarders have typically operated in an open
loop mode, without the benefit of real time adjustments as achieved from a
closed loop control system. According to the instant invention, the
control unit 20, receiving speed, deceleration, and temperature signals
from the transmission 12 and retarder 18, is operative to regulate the
capacity of the retarder 18 through regulation of the duty cycle of the
regulating valve assembly 26 to optimize the efficiency and effectiveness
of the operation of the retarder. As shown in FIG. 3, an algorithm for
retarder control as a function of vehicle deceleration and transmission
oil temperature is designated generally by the numeral 42. With the
retarder activated at 44, a monitoring of temperature of the transmission
oil is undertaken at 46. If the temperature of the oil is found to exceed
a particular level as at 48, a determination is made at 50 as to whether
the vehicle speed is increasing. If the vehicle speed is increasing,
suggesting a "runaway" vehicle or the like, no modification or reduction
in the retarder duty cycle is undertaken, assuring that maximum retarder
activity is available to correct the runaway situation. However, if the
vehicle speed is not increasing, the duty cycle of the control signal to
the solenoid valve 28 is reduced as at 52, reducing the capacity of the
retarder 18. The reduction in duty cycle is typically inversely
proportional to the excessive heat noted in the transmission and may
either be effected as a continuous function of such temperature excess, or
as a step function decrease, as desired.
After the adjustment for temperature has been undertaken as discussed
directly above, a determination is made at 54 as to whether the
deceleration of the vehicle exceeds a desired level. If it does, a
determination is made as to whether the brakes of the vehicle have been
applied. Where actual braking activity of the vehicle wheels is being
undertaken by the operator, the duty cycle applied to the solenoid valve
28 is reduced by a set predetermined percentage as at 60. In the event
that the operator has not applied the brakes to the vehicle wheels, a
determination is made at 58 to reduce the duty cycle applied to the
solenoid valve 28 proportionally to the amount of excessive deceleration
being experienced. Such proportionate reduction will tend to smoothly
bring the deceleration rate into acceptable limits, it being understood
that the only braking torque on the vehicle in such a situation is the
torque of the retarder.
After the temperature and deceleration adjustments have been made as just
discussed, a return is made at 62 to begin the monitoring and adjustment
anew.
With reference now to FIG. 4, it can be seen that the control unit 20 is
also adapted to control the retarder 18 to assure smooth downshifts during
retarder activity. The requisite algorithm 64 is shown in FIG. 4. Those
skilled in the art will appreciate that when a transmission downshift
takes place concurrent with retarder activity, the total effective braking
torque on the output shaft 16 may be excessive for passenger comfort and
smooth transmission operation. Accordingly, it is desirable to reduce the
retarder activity during a downshift operation until the shift is
complete. To that end, the algorithm 64 provides that when a transmission
downshift occurs as at 66 and a determination is made as at 68 that the
retarder is active, a reduction in retarder activity is engaged. A
determination is made as at 70 whether the clutch plates of the
transmission are in contact. When they contact, the duty cycle applied
from the control unit 20 to the solenoid 28 is reduced as at 72. The
reduction in duty cycle decreases the capacity of the retarder 18 such
that the braking torque applied to the output shaft 16 is correspondingly
reduced. Such reduction continues until a determination is made at 74 that
the new transmission speed range has been reached. When that determination
is made, indicating that the shift is complete, a return is made at 76 to
the requested duty cycle for the solenoid valve 28, such that the
requested operation of the retarder can be experienced. The system then
continues as at 78. It should thus be apparent that smooth downshifts may
be achieved concurrently with retarder activity.
Other problems arise when a downshift of the transmission occurs at the
same time as a request for increased retarder capacity. Both actions make
demands for increased oil volume. In the absence of sufficient oil volume,
erratic and transient torques may be experienced in the transmission or
retarder. To overcome these problems, it has previously been thought
necessary to significantly increase the transmission oil reservoir and/or
pump capabilities. However, the instant invention, by unique retarder
control, eliminates the problem without the necessity of increased cost or
complexity. The algorithm for such control is designated by the numeral 80
in FIG. 5.
When a transmission downshift is requested as at 82 and a request for
increased retarder capacity is concurrently requested as at 84, the
control unit 20 regulates the duty cycle of the solenoid valve 28 to delay
the increased retarder request for a sufficient time to assure that the
shift has been completed. As shown at 86, when the clutch piston begins
its stroke, the request for increased retarder capacity is delayed as at
88. This delay may be achieved by simply maintaining the status of the
duty cycle applied to the solenoid valve 28 at the duty cycle being
experienced at the time the downshift was commenced. Once the transmission
has reached its new speed range as at 90, the control unit 20 determines
that the downshift has been completed and, at 92, returns to increasing
the duty cycle of the solenoid valve 28 to reach the requested duty cycle.
The control unit 20 then continues in its normal course of operation as at
94. Of course, if the determination is made at 84 that no request for
increased retarder capacity was made concurrently with transmission
downshift, the delay just described is not employed.
As presented above, the adaptive feature of the retarder 18 is an important
feature of the instant invention. That adaptive feature is accommodated by
the implementation of the regulating valve assembly as shown in FIG. 2 and
described above. The adaptive nature of the retarder allows the retarder
to compensate for age and wear such that the operation of the retarder is
reliable and repeatable. By utilizing the adaptive feature, the real time
control of the retarder through regulation of the duty cycle of the
regulating valve assembly 26 will require less adjustment or "hunting"
during the regulation of the control duty cycle than if no adaptive
feature were present. The algorithm for the adaptive feature is designated
by the numeral 96 and shown in FIG. 6.
As illustrated, when the speed of the transmission reaches a first known
speed S1 as at 98, the retarder 18 is applied at 100 percent capacity as
at 100. It will be appreciated that as the retarder 18 is operated at 100
percent duty cycle, the solenoid valve 28 urges the spool 30 full open
against the biasing of the spring 32. At this point, the deceleration rate
of the transmission is measured as at 102 and designated as Deceleration 1
as at 102. With this value measured and stored, when the transmission
reaches a second known speed S2 as at 104, where S2 is greater than S1,
the retarder is again applied as at 106. However, the application of the
retarder 18 at the higher speed S2 is at a lesser target duty cycle than
the 100 percent (full on) duty cycle at which the retarder was applied at
the speed S1. During this application, a measurement is made at 108 of the
deceleration rate of the transmission, designated Deceleration 2. Next, a
ratio R is determined at 110 establishing the relationship between
Deceleration 1 and Deceleration 2.
With the ratio R having been calculated, determinations are made as to the
relationship of the ratio with known values, such relationship determining
the need for adjustment of the retarder capacity to compensate for age,
wear, and the like. At 112, a determination is made as to whether the
ratio R is greater than a first fixed value X. If the ratio exceeds the
value X, then the retarder capacity is increased as at 114. If, however,
the ratio is less than X, then a determination is made at 116 as to
whether the ratio R is less than a second set value Y, where Y is less
than X. If the ratio R is less than Y, as determined at 116, then the
retarder capacity is decreased by a set amount as at 118. The adaptive
operation then terminates as at 120.
It should be appreciated that, with the adaptive feature just discussed
having been undertaken, and with the control unit 20 having correlated the
adjustment necessary from a 100 percent duty cycle to a lesser target
percent duty cycle, the control unit 20 may extrapolate the adjustment
necessary for achieving other desired retarder levels which might be
selected by the operator. Accordingly, if a desired deceleration rate is
requested by the operator, the retarder 18 will, under direction of the
control unit 20, approach the deceleration level in a reliable and
repeatable manner. Real time changes and modifications in the duty cycle
applied to the solenoid valve will necessarily be reduced.
Those skilled in the art will further understand that the process 96 may be
undertaken for various transmission speeds to develop an extended data
base for more accurate extrapolation. The adaptive feature of the
invention may thus be further enhanced.
Thus it can be seen that the objects of the invention have been satisfied
by the structure presented above. While in accordance with the patent
statutes only the best mode and preferred embodiment of the invention has
been presented and described in detail, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited thereto or thereby. Accordingly, for an
appreciation of the true scope and breadth of the invention reference
should be made to the following claims. | 1B
| 60 | T |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for purposes of
illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention only and not for
purposes of limiting same, FIG. 1 shows an office machine A which can
employ an ink jet printhead having an ink regulation system according to
the present invention. While the office machine is illustrated to be an
electrophotographic printing apparatus in the form of a particular type of
photocopier, it should be appreciated by those of average skill in the art
that the ink regulation system disclosed herein could also be utilized for
ink jet printheads employed in numerous other types of printing
operations.
With reference now also to FIG. 2, the office machine A can comprise a
first housing 10 containing a first sheet tray 12, a second sheet tray 14
and a third sheet tray 16 in spaced relationship to each other. Usually,
these trays contain different sized sheets so that a sheet from a desired
one of the trays can be fed along a first sheet path 18. The office
machine can, if desired, also comprise a second housing 20 having a fourth
sheet tray 22 contained therein. Sheets from the fourth sheet tray 22 can
be transported via a second sheet path 24 into the first housing 10. The
two sheet paths 18 and 24 merge to create a third sheet path 30. The third
sheet path carries the sheets past a first printer 34. The sheets then
continue to travel along the third sheet path 30 to an output station 38
which can, if desired, be located in the second housing 20.
With reference now also to FIG. 3, the first printer 34 can comprise an
endless belt 42 of an electrostatographic printing apparatus. Sheets
travel along the third sheet path 30 to an image transfer station 44 which
transfers an image from the belt 42 to the sheet. After having been
processed at the image transfer station 44, the sheets then travel to a
vacuum transport station 46 and then to a fuser station 48. Located at the
vacuum transport station 46 is a carriage assembly 52 containing an
auxiliary printer cartridge 54.
The printer cartridge 54 can be a plug-in cartridge which can be
selectively attached to and detached from the carriage assembly 52. It is
noted that the carriage assembly 52 reciprocates across the width of the
sheet transport station 46. This enables the printing of a desired piece
of information onto the sheet at a desired location across the width of
the sheet. In addition, as the sheet is moved longitudinally past the
printer cartridge 54 by the sheet transport 46, the location of the
printed image along the length of the sheet can also be controlled.
With reference now to FIG. 4, an ink regulation system for such a printer
can include a cartridge frame 60 to which an ink container 62 can be
selectively secured. The ink container includes a threaded mouth 64 which
can be selectively secured in a threaded opening 66 in the frame 60. A
gasket 68 is preferably trapped between the cartridge frame and the ink
container in order to seal between these two elements and prevent the
leakage of ink.
A threaded first end 69 of an ink transmission fitting 70 extends through a
bore 71 in the cartridge frame 60. The threaded first end 69 of the
fitting 70 cooperates with a nut 72 to secure the first end in place in
the opening 66 of the frame 60. A gasket 73 is preferably trapped between
the frame 60 and the nut 72 in order to seal the fitting against leakage.
A second end 74 of the fitting 70 is secured to a valve housing 76. In the
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the fitting 70 is shown as being
integral with the valve housing 76. It should be appreciated, however,
that these two elements could be separate members which are merely secured
to each other by any conventional means. A bore 78 extends longitudinally
through the fitting 72 and communicates with an ink chamber 80 defined in
the valve housing 76. Secured in the ink chamber is a flexible diaphragm
82. As can perhaps be best seen in FIG. 5, a base plate 84 is selectively
removable from the housing 76 to afford access to the diaphragm 82.
The bore 78 in the fitting 72 includes a large diameter section 90 in which
a needle valve 92 is adapted to reciprocate. The needle valve has a
conically tapered valve end 94 as is best seen in FIG. 5. The valve end 94
is selectively seated on a valve seat 96 defined in the fitting 70. A
first end 97 of a pivotable link means 98 can be selectively secured to a
base end of the needle valve 92. A second end 99 of the link means is
secured to a diaphragm stud 100. The link means 98 is pivotable on a pin
101 mounted in the valve housing 76. A spring 102 biases the link in a
first direction. This arrangement allows for movement of the needle valve
92 as the diaphragm 82 moves up and down in the ink chamber 80. A prime
button 104 is secured to the housing 76 in order to prime the valve at the
beginning of the operation of the ink jet printhead. The movement of the
needle valve 92, i.e. its reciprocation in the bore 78 of the fitting 72,
can be set by changing the spring ratio of the spring 102 as well as the
particular geometry of the link means 98. This allows the valve to open at
the desired negative pressure.
One advantage of a diaphragm is that it will operate in any orientation.
Therefore, it would be conceivable to replace the ink container 62, which
is illustrated to be a plastic jar, with, e.g. a collapsible bag which
could be secured to the housing by conventional means and could be
positively pressurized by any conventional means and still employ the same
diaphragm arrangement as is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.
In other words, this system can be used with the ink supply below the
diaphragm valve and with the ink pressurized or pumped into the ink
chamber 80. However, in the version illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, a
gravity feed is employed because the ink container 62 is located at a
higher elevation than is the valve housing 76 so that ink can be supplied
by gravity induced flow into the valve housing as regulated by the needle
valve 92.
A diaphragm valve is advantageous in this construction because diaphragm
valves are particularly suited for use in environments which require high
purity and which must remain free from contamination. The body of the
valve housing 76 can be made of a metallic material, as is illustrated in
FIG. 4, or a plastic material. The diaphragm is generally made of an
elastomeric material which can be either some form of natural or
artificial rubber or a suitable conventional plastic. In addition, the
diaphragm can, if desired, have a metallic section.
Extending from the valve housing 76 is an outlet 106 which communicates
with a conduit 108. The conduit preferably has a shut-off valve 110
therein to selectively prevent ink flow out of the ink chamber 80. As
shown in FIG. 4, a second end of the ink conduit is secured to a head
assembly 112.
The valving system illustrated responds to reduced ink pressure in the
valve housing ink chamber 80 upon ejection of ink therefrom by the head
assembly 112 to open and admit ink into the ink chamber by flow from the
reservoir 62 through the fitting 70. The valve member 92 has an opening
pressure greater than the hydrostatic pressure of ink held in the chamber
62. The valve member responds to reduced ink pressure in the ink chamber
80 such that the diaphragm is raised and the link 98 pulls the valve 92
downwardly as the link pivots around pin 101 thereby opening the valve and
allowing ink to flow through the bore 78 and into the ink chamber 80. As
the diaphragm is distended downwardly, the lever again pivots around pin
101 and pushes the valve member 92 upwardly thereby seating the valve end
94 against the valve seat 96 cutting off further ink flow.
It should be noted that the head assembly 112 in FIG. 4 is illustrated as
being located at a higher elevation than is the ink chamber. This provides
a "chicken feeder" style ink delivery system so that if the valve 92
failed, the ink would only flow to a given height and not continue to run
out of the system and flood. In contrast, FIG. 5 illustrates a head
assembly 112' which is merely secured to the housing 60.
With reference now to FIG. 6, a second preferred embodiment of an ink jet
printhead according to the present invention is there illustrated. In this
embodiment, a cartridge frame 130 can selectively accommodate an ink
container 132 such that a first threaded mouth 134 of the ink container is
selectively held in a threaded opening 136 defined in the cartridge frame
130. A gasket 138 is preferably positioned between the ink container and
the cartridge frame in order to seal these two elements against each
other.
In this embodiment, the cartridge frame 130 also comprises a second
threaded mouth 142. This second mouth can be coaxial with the first
threaded mouth 134 so that the apertures defined by the two mouths
communicate with each other. Selectively secured in the second mouth 142
is a fitting 144. Extending axially through the fitting is a bore 146. The
bore includes a large diameter section 148 in which a needle valve 150 can
reciprocate. The needle valve preferably has a conically tapered valve end
152 which can be selectively seated on a valve seat 154 defined in the
fitting 144.
A base end of the needle valve 150 is supported on a float 160 which is
pivotally mounted in a float bowl 162. As shown in FIG. 7, the bowl is, in
turn, mounted by fasteners 164 to the cartridge frame 130 with a gasket
165 trapped therebetween in order to provide a seal. An ear 166 extends
away from the float 160. The ear is mounted on a pivot 168 in order to
allow the float 160 to ride up and down on the liquid held in the bowl
162. To this end, a pair of pivot supports 170 are defined on opposed
sides of the float bowl 162.
As illustrated in FIG. 6, an outlet 172 of the float bowl can communicate
with an ink conduit 174 in order to direct ink to a head assembly of the
type illustrated previously. A shut-off valve 176 is preferably provided
in the conduit 174. Also provided is a vent 180 in order to vent the float
bowl to the atmosphere. Whereas the ink regulation system disclosed in the
embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 is vented to the atmosphere, it should be
appreciated that the system in the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 requires no
vent as it does not communicate with the atmosphere.
The float bowl regulates the level of ink and that level is selected to be
of the proper height relative to the printhead. Ink flows into the bowl
162 past the needle valve 150 whenever the float 160 drops enough in the
bowl to let the needle come off the seat 154. As the ink flows into the
bowl 162, the level of ink rises in the bowl thereby lifting the float
160. This pushes the needle valve 150 upwardly in the fitting 144 such
that the valve end tip 152 thereof mates with the valve seat 154 defined
in the fitting thereby shutting off any further flow of ink. In order for
this system to function correctly, the bowl 162 must always be located
below the ink container 132. Adjustment of the desired ink level in the
bowl 162 can be accomplished by provision of a suitably configured arm 166
for the float 160.
Both of the embodiments of FIGS. 4-5 and 6-7 provide an improved pressure
regulation capability over the currently known foam and felt ink supply
systems used for ink jet printheads. They also avoid the possible
contamination of the ink supply by foreign matter in the foams and felts
presently used.
The embodiments of ink regulation systems illustrated in FIGS. 4-7 are
capable of handling large volumes of ink on the order of 400 cubic
centimeters of ink which may be held in the containers 62 or 132. This
volume is ten times the volume of ink which is held in conventional
containers mounted next to the currently known felt and foam ink delivery
systems. With such a large volume of ink, the ink cannot be stored
immediately next to the ink jet printhead. Since the ink needs to be
stored away from the ink jet printhead, felt and foam systems become
impractical because felt and foam systems need to be located next to the
ink supply and also located next to the ink jet printhead. Therefore, new
types of valving systems needed to be developed and such systems are
illustrated in FIGS. 4-7. In addition, the ink jet regulation systems
disclosed herein are able to generate the negative pressure necessary to
supply ink to printheads which are spaced away from the ink containers.
The volumes of ink held in the containers 62 or 132, i.e. 400 cubic
centimeters, would be adequate for approximately a month of printing when
employing the printheads disclosed herein in the office machines disclosed
herein.
The information to be printed by the printheads 112 and 112' illustrated in
FIGS. 4 and 5 and by the printhead 182 illustrated in FIG. 7 can be
controlled by a suitable computer, such as the computer 190 illustrated in
FIG. 1. In this way, the desired information can be printed on a sheet by
the printhead as may be programmed for a particular job.
The invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments.
Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon the
reading and understanding of this specification. It is intended to include
all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the
scope of the appended claims or any equivalents thereof. | 6G
| 01 | D |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present invention utilizes the unique birefringent properties of certain materials such as cellophane and, in some embodiments, the surface-adhering water-proof properties of certain materials such as plasticized vinyl. By combining the birefringent film with the self-stick properties of the vinyl or low-tack adhesive, we have been able to create a device and method for making easily changeable colorful displays for such uses, without limitation, as signs, games, toys, décor and the like.
FIG. 1depicts the structure and process of making the lamination100of the present invention. Birefringent film104is laminated between two sheets of surface-adherent vinyl108using a non-water soluble adhesive112calendared between pressure rollers114. The birefringent film is preferably comprised of cellophane, but may also be made of a wide variety of materials including, but not limited to biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP), polycarbonate, polystyrene, stressed acrylic, polyethylene, polyester, copolymers of polyethylene terephthalate (e.g. PETG) and polyvinylchloride (PVC or “Saran”). The birefringent film104may, itself comprise one or more layers of birefringent film laminated to each other to achieve the desired colors in polarized light. Such laminations of birefringent film may use similar non-water-soluble adhesive or heat-sealing polymers such are widely known in the packaging industry and widely used for sealing cellophane packaging. The use of non-water-soluble adhesive112for all parts of the lamination100assures the lamination will not come apart if it gets wet such as when cleaning. The adhesive112may be liquid applied to the components or may be a solid adhesive such as MACtac Permaprint Mounting Film stock number IP 2002. The more impervious to water the adhesive112is, and the more complete it coats and seals the birefringent material104the better. This is especially true if cellophane is used as the birefringent material104as cellophane is hygroscopic. We tested a lamination of cellophane and surface-adherent vinyl using MACtac Permaprint mounting film by boiling it for 5 minutes with no sign of delamination or deterioration. An alternative adhesive for adhering the birefringent material104to the surface-adherent vinyl108is a heat sealable polymer discussed above and widely used in cellophane manufacturer. However, the minimum sealing temperature must be lower than will cause damage or distortion to the vinyl which can interfere with its adhesion to smooth surfaces or cause optical changes. For this reason, a pressure-sensitive adhesive such as the mounting film disclosed above is preferred.
FIG. 2illustrates the use of the present invention as a toy200in which the participant210peels shapes212of the lamination100described above and adheres them to a sheet of polarizing material213. The polarizing material214is preferably laminated between two sheets of the same kind of self-adhering vinyl but may also be used directly as the substrate upon which the shapes are adhered. The polarizer shown inFIG. 2is the transmissive type, so it requires back-light. Here, the participant has placed the polarizer on a window pane216. Alternatively a light box, flat screen display or other light source may be used. The participant can look through a polarizing analyzer such as polarized spectacles218or a polarizing sheet viewer222to view the assembly of shapes226. Once the participant completes the design, a second piece of polarizer (the analyzer)230can be adhered over the surface of the design to create a finished artwork that is viewable without the need to look through a separate analyzer such as polarized spectacles or other viewer. Preferably the second polarizer is also made as a lamination of polarizing filter213between two pieces of self-stick vinyl214forming a lamination215. Alternatively, the analyzer can be held in place with tape, hung from a suction cup hook or otherwise held over the completed work. The analyzer can also be omitted and viewers can look at the completed work through any of a number of types of polarizing filters such as polarized spectacles218, hand-held polarizers222or rotating polarizers234, either hand-turned (as shown here) or motorized (not shown). Additional details and variations are depicted and described herein in relation toFIGS. 8a,8band9.
FIG. 3illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the polarizer is reflective304and the source of light308is from the front of the display312. Reflective polarizer can be manufactured using an aluminized reflector or may be made using a transmissive polarizer in front of a retroreflective surface. If a retroreflective surface is utilized, the light source must be located in close proximity to the eyes of the viewer such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,762 issued to Soll. Alternatively, a head lamp340such is well known can be used such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,115,382 issued to Smith. In an alternate embodiment, a polarizer344can be placed over the headlamp to illuminate the reflective display, thereby making its colors visible.
FIG. 4illustrates the use of the present invention as an educational device400to teach elementary subjects such as letter formation, word identification and the like. Here, components of letters such as straight lines404, curves406and circles408are provided as shapes formed from the birefringent-vinyl lamination described above and adhered to a release sheet410. Pictures of objects412can also be provided. The pupil416wears polarized spectacles418to see the various shapes404,406,408magically appear and, when rotated422and/or overlapped426, dramatically change color when adhered to a polarizer430.
FIG. 5shows the use of the present invention as a changeable sign504. Here, words506are formed from letters508cut from the birefringent-vinyl lamination510described above and adhered to a back-lit glass plate512having a polarizer514adhered thereto. The polarizer514is preferably laminated between two sheets of self-adhering vinyl as described above. The letter-shaped laminations508are adhered to a smooth release sheet516for easy removal and placement on the sign504. In this embodiment, once the words and/or symbols are placed on the sign, a lamination518of polarizer between two sheets of self-adhering vinyl is adhered over the sign504making it visible. Alternatively, to add a “magical touch,” the front polarizer can be omitted and the sign made only visible through a separate polarizer522. In this way, the sign can be “discovered” by passerbys who glimpse it as they move past.
FIG. 6illustrates the use of “transflective” polarizer604behind the display. Transfective polarizer is made with a partly reflective backing such that light can pass through from the rear or be reflected from the front. This allows the display to be seen either in window or on a wall, for example. Here, the transflective polarizer604is shown laminated between two sheets of self-adhering vinyl as described above, and adhered to a window608. In the daytime, daylight612illuminates the display from the rear. At night, a room light616illuminates the display from the front. Because of the inefficiency of both reflection and transmission of transflective polarizer, such a device requires significantly more light than a purely reflective or purely transmissive type. This is not to teach away from using transflective material, but to point out the need for special consideration (adequate lighting) when using it.
FIG. 7illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the birefringent material702is not laminated between vinyl, but instead coated on at least one side with clear-drying low-tack adhesive704(classified as “peelable or ultra-peelable” in the label industry). Such adhesive is similar to that used in the well-known 3M Company Corporation product “Post-It® Notes.” This embodiment allows repositioning of the birefringent shapes702but, while significantly less expensive to manufacture, it is much less resilient than the vinyl laminated embodiment. If non-water-soluble and non-hygroscopic Ultra-low-tack adhesive is placed on BOPP, dirt can be rinsed from the adhesive to increase its useful life. Shown here is a tableau705of miscellaneous shapes adhered to a release backing706. Further, in this embodiment, the plane polarizer708on which the shapes are adhered need not be enclosed in vinyl but can be standard polarizer, preferably protected on both sides, typically with triacetate, during manufacture. Polarizer which is not protected on one side is not as resilient as that protected on both sides and is highly susceptible to moisture attack, but is somewhat less costly. This type of apparatus would be less expensive to manufacture then the vinyl-laminated birefringent material described above, but is not nearly as resilient and not washable, although, if the right adhesive is used on a birefringent non-hygroscopic plastic film such as BOPP, can be gently rinsed. Nevertheless, such a design is advantageous where numerous re-uses of the same cut shapes are not needed or where the initial cost of manufacture is to be minimized.
FIGS. 8aand8billustrate the present invention configured as a toy. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 8a, two nesting round polarizing filters808aand808bare manufactured by adhering round linear transmissive polarizing filters812aand812bto plastic rings814aand814b. One ring is smaller than the other allowing them to nest. Thus, it is convenient to rotate one or both rings in relation to each other. Also provided is a simple light table818created with cardboard sides820and a transmissive (clear or diffuse) plastic822work surface and a white reflective surface824disposed behind it. By reflecting light823off the white surface824, the transmissive plastic surface822becomes a convenient light table work surface to create images. A window825may substitute for the light table. In addition, a variety of thicknesses of clear, colorless birefringent materials830are prepared with non-water-soluble, non-hygroscopic low-tack or ultra-low-tack adhesive832on at least one side and adhered to a release backing834which may be transparent or opaque. Preparing birefringent material such as BOPP with low-tack or, preferably, ultra-low-tack adhesive is well known in the film and tape industry. A variety of shapes836are steel rule die kiss-cut to create birefringent removable “stickers”838. It is noted that the embodiment described inFIGS. 8aand8bdiffers from that described inFIG. 2primarily in the composition of the birefringent shapes. Also provided is one or more pairs of polarizing spectacles840, although any polarizing sunglasses are well suited to use with this toy embodiment. Optionally, one or more clear, non-birefringent sheets of plastic841may be provided, with or without decorative design842pre-printed thereon, providing a Separable Art Assembly Surface.
An alternative embodiment can be made by adhering low tack adhesive to at least one side of at least one of the polarizing filters instead of on the birefringent shapes. In all other ways this embodiment is used in the same way as that with low-tack adhesive adhered to the birefringent shapes. This embodiment is considered less desirable because the shapes cannot be conveniently overlapped without falling apart, but may have cost advantages.
To use this toy embodiment, the user, wearing polarizing spectacles840, places the first of the nesting polarizing circles810aon the light table work surface822and provides a light source823to reflect off the white surface824. Preferably the polarizing circle would be “crossed” with the user's polarizing spectacles840such that it appears dark. If provided, the user would place one of the clear sheets841, with or without a decorative design pre-printed thereon, over the first polarizer forming the a separable art assembly surface. The clear sheet is sized and shaped to fit conveniently with the first polarizer. Then the user selects a shape838afrom the “stickers”838and places it on the clear plastic Art Assembly Surface841or directly on the first polarizing filter810awhich is on the light table work surface822and is back-lit by light reflected from the white reflective surface824. By looking through polarized spectacles840, the user will see a color in the birefringent sticker838when held in front of the polarizing circle810. By rotating the sticker838in relation to the polarizing filter810the user will see the sticker change color. When the user is satisfied with the color and orientation of the sticker, she can adhere it to the art assembly work surface or directly on the polarizing filter on the work surface. The user may then select another sticker838band repeat the foregoing steps. However, when the second sicker is placed between the original sticker and the user's eyes, yet a different set of colors will be visible in the overlapping area842. The process is repeated until the user is satisfied with their complete artwork creation843. At that point she my remove her polarizing spectacles840, take the second nesting polarizing filter812band place it over the first nesting polarizing filter812a. The second nesting polarizing filter812bcan then be rotated in relation to the first polarizing filter812acausing the colors of the birefringent stickers to change. The assembly can be conveniently hung in front of a window or other light source for display. If a separable Art Assembly Surface841is used, the entire creation may be removed from the polarizing filter and a new creation may be made using the same polarizing filter without the need to remove all the sticker shapes838.
Owing to the use of low-tack adhesive, the entire creation can be taken apart and the shapes placed back on the release backing834for later reuse. Since the material and adhesive are non-water soluble and non-hygroscopic, they may be gently rinsed off if they become dirty increasing their useful life.
FIG. 8billustrates another embodiment of the present invention in which, rather than using nesting rings, one or more magnetic attachments850are used to hold two polarizers854together. These polarizers may be made in any shape desired. Similarly to the embodiment described inFIG. 8, the two polarizers854may be rotated relative to each other causing the colors of the artwork856made of birefringent stickers858to change. In all other respects, the embodiment shown inFIG. 8bis used in the same way as that shown inFIG. 8a. Any method or device for temporarily holding the two polarizers in place such as low-tack adhesive may also be used to adhere the two polarizers together without changing the teaching of the present invention.
FIG. 9illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention using a liquid crystal display (“LCD”) as a work surface. In the foregoing embodiments, at least two polarizers are required, one for polarizing the incoming light and the other an “analyzer” for seeing the image. We have found a convenient way to create and use the present invention using certain liquid crystal displays as both a source of light and a polarized light source. In recent years liquid crystal displays have become ubiquitous and increasingly used in portable devices such as “tablet” computers having glass, touch-screen back-lit screens. Because liquid crystal displays use polarized light, the light emitted from the screen is polarized. Manufacturers choose to orient the polarizer on the face of the screen at various angles, usually 45 degrees, but often 90 degrees or zero degrees. It should be noted that some liquid crystal displays may utilize compensating filters which elliptically or circularly polarize the light emitted from the screen. Such screens are not usable in the present invention, as will become clear below.
To create the present invention using an LCD as the work surface, a device preferably having a backlit display is chosen. The display must have the property of blanking-out (becoming substantially opaque) when viewed through a plane polarizing filter at certain angles, preferably 90 degrees or zero degrees. We have found that the certain “tablet computers” or personal digital assistants (“PDAs”), notably the Apple iPad920product manufactured at the time of this invention is ideal for this use, but this invention is not limited to this product. The surface922of the device should be glass but may be any transparent material. An executable program or application (colloquially known as an “App”) is executed which presents a white background924. Optionally, shapes928can be displayed on the screen as guides for creating a picture. The shapes can be provided or created by the user using well-known line-drawing algorithms or by selecting shapes from library of pre-drawn shapes and moving them to desired positions on the screen. The shapes may be generated by the device's computer capability or merely stored as images for display such as a ‘digital picture frame” well-known to the general public. A non-birefringent sheet of clear plastic930such as triacetate or acrylic is provided to place over the LCD surface. As in the embodiment described inFIGS. 8aand8b, “sticker” shapes932made of clear, colorless birefringent material such as BOPP are provided having ultra-low-tack adhesive adhered to least one side934. The user wears polarizing spectacles938and places the “sticker” shapes932on the clear plastic930to create a desired arrangement or picture940. While the stickers may be placed directly on the display surface922, the separate clear plastic surface930is more convenient in that, to use the tablet for other purposes, the individual stickers932need not be removed when the user is done playing. In addition, the separate clear surface930may be separately displayed in a window943or in front of another light source944when complete. To do this, a polarizer950must be provided to place behind the completed work when not displayed on the LCD screen. A second sheet of polarizer952may be provided to place over the completed picture so viewers need not wear polarizing spectacles938.
While it is possible to use a reflective LCD display in ambient incident light, we have found the back-lit screen to be ideal and far superior.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As discussed above, the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises clear, colorless BOPP having non-water soluble, non-birefringent clear Ultra-low-tack Adhesive adhered to at least one side. The surface of the BOPP is treated with processes well-known in the packaging printing industry such as corona treatment or plasma coating to effect preferential adherence of the adhesive to the BOPP versus the clear substrate930. Plasma coating may also be used to increase the film's hydrophobic properties. A variety of thicknesses of BOPP are used to provide a variety of colors when illuminated with polarized light and viewed through a polarizing filter or polarized spectacles. The thicknesses are selected by visually inspecting each source of BOPP using polarizing filters on both sides of the cellophane and back-lighting it. The BOPP is steel rule die kiss-cut into desired shapes and, where feasible, the matrix is removed. Two pieces of plane polarizing filter of nominally 0.010″ thickness are held in mutually independent rotating holders that can be adhered to a window or other light source for creating and then showing the complete picture.
The embodiment described inFIG. 8ausing an inexpensive light table made from cardboard and clear plastic having a reflective surface spaced below the plastic, and nesting plastic rings holding polarizers is considered the best mode due to the low cost and avoids the need to have a back-lit LCD device as described onFIG. 9.
The preferred polarizer is the Iodine type with triacetate protection on both sides as is well-known in the industry. Any other type of polarizer, such as dye type, will be acceptable, but the more neutral the color and the more highly efficient the polarizer is, the better. We have found HN38 type iodine-PVA neutral density linear polarizer to be a good choice. In use, one of the two nesting rings holding a polarizer is removably adhered to a smooth surface such as a day-lit window or computer screen that is programmed with a luminous white blank field. Shapes die-cut from BOPP and prepared with a layer of non-water-soluble, ultra-low-tack clear, non-birefringent adhesive are selected by the user and adhered to the first polarizer ring. The user wears polarized spectacles to see what she is creating. When complete, the second nesting ring holding a polarizer is placed within or around the first so the completed picture can be viewed by anyone not wearing polarized spectacles. While the foregoing is considered to be the best mode of making and using the present invention, it is not intended to be limiting, or to implicitly teach away from other modes.
The specific implementations disclosed above are by way of example and for enabling persons skilled in the art to implement the invention only. We have made every effort to describe all the embodiments we have foreseen. There may be embodiments that are unforeseeable or which are insubstantially different. We have further made every effort to describe the invention, including the best mode of practicing it. Any omission of any variation of the invention disclosed is not intended to dedicate such variation to the public, and all unforeseen or insubstantial variations are intended to be covered by the claims appended hereto. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except by the appended claims and legal equivalents.
| 0A
| 63 | H |
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In FIG. 1, a digital oscillation apparatus comprises an accumulating
section 1 and a data generating section 2. The accumulating section 1 is
responsive to each clock pulse of a clock signal to accumulate a constant
A and an output of the data generating section 2. When the output of the
data generating section 2 is constantly zero (0), output waveform data as
shown in FIG. 2 is obtained. That is, if the clock period .tau., data
increases by A at intervals of .tau., and when the data exceeds a dynamic
range D, it overflows. As the result, a saw-tooth wave data is obtained.
As is clear from FIG. 2, if the period of this saw-tooth waveform is T,
the following relationship holds:
EQU T=D.multidot..tau./A (1)
If the clock frequency is fc and the saw-tooth wave frequency is (i.e.
fc=1/.tau. and fs=1/T), Eq. (1) can be rewritten as:
EQU fs=(A/D).multidot.fc (2)
Thus, by changing the constant A and dynamic range D, the frequency of the
saw-tooth waveform can be changed.
However, in general, the accumulating section 2 operates in binary
notation, and in such an event, D becomes an exponentiation of two. Thus,
if fs is to be optionally set in accordance with Eq. (2), optional A must
be given. However, since A is also an integer, an optional fs cannot be
obtained.
The data generating section 2 is provided to solve this problem, and
functions as follows. The data generating section 2 periodically generates
a data string at a period of m clocks (m is integer), and the total of the
data string in each period is R (R is integer). Thus, the data average is
R/m. Because the data having such an average value is always input to the
accumulating section 1 together with the constant A, the accumulating
section is, on the average, equivalent to accumulating A+R/m value every
clock. Consequently, substituting A in Eq. (2) for A+R/m gives
EQU fs={(A+R/m)}/D.multidot.fc (3)
Thus, the proper selection of the integers R and m gives an optional
frequency fs.
Eq. (3) can be also interpreted as follows. In Eq. (3), (A+R/m)/D denotes
the ratio of to the saw-tooth wave frequency fs to the clock frequency fc,
and if the ratio is expressed as k/h (where k and h are natural numbers
and k/h is an irreducible fraction), we obtain
EQU k/h=(A+R/m)/D (4)
Consequently, if the dynamic range D of the accumulating section 1 and the
ratio k/h are given, A, R, and m can be obtained as follows:
EQU (k.multidot.D)/h=A+R/m (5)
Thus, from Eq. (5), dividing k.multidot.D by h gives the quotient A with
remainder R, and m is a denominator when (k.multidot.D)/h is reduced. For
example, if D=512, k=3, and h=22, from Eq. (5) the left member is
EQU (3.times.512)/22=768/11=(69.times.11+9)/11
Thus, A=9, R=69.times.11=759, and m=11.
Now, referring to FIG. 3, the second embodiment of the present invention is
described hereunder. In FIG. 3 the accumulating section 3 comprises an
adder 10 and a D-flip-flop 11 working as a delay circuit. Because the
output of the adder 10 is delayed by one clock by the D-flip-flop 11 and
returned to one input of the adder 10, the constant A inputted to another
input of the adder 10 is accumulated every clock. The adder 10 overflows
when the accumulated value exceeds D.
The adder 10 possesses a carry input, to which the output of the data
generating section 4 is inputted.
The data generating section 4 of this embodiment comprises an adder 5, an
overflow detector 6, a switching circuit 8, a subtraction circuit 7, and a
D-flip-flop 9.
The adder 5 adds R to the output of the D flip-flop 9. The output of the
adder 5 is checked by the overflow detector 6 to determine if it exceeds
m, and should it exceed m, the switching circuit 8 switches to its
terminal 13 to subtract m from the output of the adder 5 using the
subtractor 7. The output of the subtractor 7 is fed to the D-flip-flop 9.
The output of the D flip-flop 9 is returned to the adder 5. The overflow
detector 6 outputs a "1" when detecting overflow and a "0" otherwise to
the carry input of the adder 10 in the accumulating section 3.
Because the above configuration is equivalent to accumulating R in the
residual algebraic system with m as modules, adding R by m times produces
the same result. That is, the output data of the adder 5 has a cycle m,
and the overflow detector 6 outputs a "1" at the rate of R times to m
times. Consequently, the average of m times of outputs of the overflow
detector 6 becomes R/m, and adding this signal to the carry input of the
adder 10 in the accumulating section 3 can produce an equivalent effect to
that of the first embodiment. The present embodiment is advantageous in
that it can utilize the carry input of the adder 10 because the output of
the data generating section 4 is either a "0" or a "1", that is, 1 bit.
Now referring to FIG. 4, the third embodiment is described. In this
embodiment, the accumulating section 3 is the same as that of the second
embodiment, while the data generating section 20 comprises an m-counter 22
and a ROM 21. The m-counter 22 divides the clock frequency by m. In the
same fashion as the second embodiment, the data generating section 20 is a
circuit which outputs "1" at the rate of R times to m times. In the
present embodiment, the output of the m-counter 22 is input to the address
input of ROM 21. ROM 21 stores a "1" in R addresses out of m addresses,
and "0" in the remaining m-R addresses. This allows the third embodiment
to perform the same operation as the first embodiment. Alternatively, if
ROM 21 stores in advance a pattern to be obtained at the output of the
data generating section 4 of the second embodiment, the third embodiment
performs the same operation as the second embodiment.
Now, referring to FIG. 5, the fourth embodiment of the present invention is
described. This embodiment is realized by adding a ROM 30 and a D/A
converter 31 to the first embodiment. The output waveform of the
accumulating section 1 is a saw-tooth waveform as shown in the first
embodiment. Therefore, if sinusoidal data is stored in advance in ROM 30
as shown in FIG. 6 and the output data of the accumulating section 1 is
fed to the address input of ROM 30, the output data of ROM 30 becomes
sinusoidal waveform data. It is possible to convert this data with the D/A
converter 31 to an analog sine wave. Storing an optional waveform data
other than sine wave in ROM 30 allows an optional waveform to be produced.
Now, referring to FIG. 7, the fifth embodiment of the present invention is
described. This embodiment is realized by adding a D/A converter 32 to the
first embodiment, thereby providing an analog saw-tooth waveform. | 7H
| 03 | B |
DESCRIPTION
Reference is now made to the figures wherein like parts are referred to by
like numerals throughout. Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the dental prophylaxis
paste holder 10 includes a receptacle 12. The receptacle 12 could be
cylindrical, conical, or frusto-conical in shape. For example, the dental
prophylaxis paste holder 10 of FIG. 4 is substantially frusto-conical.
Referring again to FIGS. 1-3, the receptacle 12 has an opening 14 at the
top and a closed bottom 16. Thus, dental prophylaxis paste could be placed
directly into the receptacle 12. However, in the preferred embodiment, the
receptacle 12 has a size and shape adapted to receive a standard sized,
pre-packaged, disposable cup 18 of dental prophylaxis paste 18. The cup
18, known in the art, is substantially frusto-conical with a flat lip
around its rim. The cup 18 is inserted into the receptacle opening 14 and
is held in place by friction.
A loop 20 for securing the receptacle 12 to a dental professional's finger
is attached to the exterior wall of the receptacle 12. While it is
contemplated that the loop 20 could completely encircle the dental
professional's finger, in a preferred embodiment, the loop 20 includes a
gap 22. Also, the loop 20 is preferably formed from a deformable material
such as plastic or metal. The gap 22, coupled with the deformable material
comprising the loop 20, allows the loop 20 to deform to accommodate a
range of finger sizes.
Depending from the receptacle 12 is a support leg 24 aligned with the loop
20. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the support leg 24 extends past the
receptacle bottom 16 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the
receptacle opening 14 regardless of the shape of the receptacle 12. The
support leg 24 is of a length to bear against one or more fingers adjacent
to the finger encircled by the loop 20. In a preferred embodiment, the
support leg 24 only bears against the next adjacent finger.
The receptacle 12, loop 20, and support leg 24 could be attached to one
another using fasteners, adhesives, bonding, or the like. However, in a
preferred embodiment, the receptacle 12, loop 20, and support leg 24 are
integrally molded from a plastic. The plastic preferably has
characteristics, such as a high melting point, which allow the dental
prophylaxis device 10 to be sterilized in an autoclave.
In use, a standard cup 18 of dental prophylaxis paste is inserted into the
dental prophylaxis paste holder 10 and the dental prophylaxis paste holder
10 is secured to the dental professional's hand 30. FIGS. 5 and 6
illustrate how the dental prophylaxis paste holder 10 may be held.
Referring first to FIG. 5, the loop 20 could be secured to any finger with
the receptacle 12 on the back of the finger. For example, in FIG. 5, the
loop 20 surrounds the middle finger 34. The support leg 24 bears against
the ring finger 36. Thus, when a force is imparted to the receptacle 12,
or the cup 18 retained therein, the support leg 24 prevents the receptacle
12 from articulating around the middle finger 34.
Alternatively, the dental prophylaxis paste holder 10 could be secured to
the inside of the hand 30. For example, in FIG. 6 the loop 20 surrounds
the index finger 32 with the receptacle 12 on the inside of the hand 30.
The fingers may be curled around the receptacle 12. However, it is not
necessary to curl the fingers around the receptacle 12 because the support
leg 24 bears against the inside of the middle finger 34 to thereby prevent
the receptacle 12 from rotating when a force is imparted to the receptacle
12 or the cup 18 in the receptacle 12.
During the dental cleaning procedure, the dental professional holds the
dental angle in the dominant hand (i.e. in the right hand for a
right-handed person or the left hand for a left-handed person). The dental
prophylaxis paste holder 10 is secured to the other hand 30 with the loop
20. Because the dental prophylaxis paste holder 10 is secured to the
dental professional's hand, the dental professional is free to use the
fingers on that hand to manipulate the patient's mouth or hold
instruments. Similarly, the dental professional's hand 30 is less likely
to suffer fatigue because the dental prophylaxis holder 10 is secured to a
finger rather than gripped in the hand or pinched between two fingers.
The dental professional charges the dental angle with a quantity of dental
prophylaxis paste by pressing the applicator tip into the cup 18 and
scooping an amount of dental prophylaxis paste onto the applicator tip. As
the cleaning procedure proceeds, the dental professional adds dental
prophylaxis paste to the applicator tip in a similar fashion as necessary.
An advantage of the present invention is that the dental prophylaxis paste
is held in a stable fashion against the dental professional's hand 30.
Specifically, the support leg 24 prevents the dental prophylaxis paste
holder 10 from rotating around the dental professional's finger. Yet
another advantage of the present invention is that the loop 20 can
accommodate a range of finger sizes. A further advantage of the present
invention is that the receptacle 12 is sized to receive a standard sized
pre-packaged cup 18 of dental prophylaxis paste. Another advantage of the
present invention is that the dental prophylaxis paste holder 10 is
positioned so that the dental professional does not have to repeatedly
rotate the hand 30 to access the cup 18 containing dental prophylaxis
paste. Likewise, because the dental prophylaxis paste holder 10 is secured
to the dental professional's hand 30, the fingers of that hand are free to
hold other instruments or manipulate the patient's mouth. | 0A
| 61 | C |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a computed tomograph (CT) imaging system 10 is
shown as including a gantry 12 representative of a "third generation" CT
scanner. Gantry 12 has an x-ray source 14 that projects a beam of x-rays
16 toward a detector array 18 on the opposite side of gantry 12. Detector
array 18 is formed by detector elements 10 which together sense the
projected x-rays that pass through a medical patient 22. Each detector
element 20 produces an electrical signal that represents the intensity of
an impinging x-ray beam and hence the attenuation of the beam as it passes
through patient 22. During a scan to acquire x-ray projection data, gantry
12 and the components mounted thereon rotate about a center of rotation
24.
Rotation of gantry 12 and the operation of x-ray source 14 are governed by
a control mechanism 26 of CT system 10. Control mechanism 26 includes an
x-ray controller 28 that provides power and timing signals to x-ray source
14 and a gantry motor controller 30 that controls the rotational speed and
position of gantry 12. A data acquisition system (DAS) 32 in control
mechanism 26 samples analog data from detector elements 20 and converts
the data to digital signals for subsequent processing. An image
reconstructor 34 receives sampled and digitized x-ray data from DAS 32 and
performs high speed image reconstruction. The reconstructed image is
applied as an input to a computer 36 which stores the image in a mass
storage device 38. Preferably, the reconstructed image is stored as a data
array.
Computer 36 also receives commands and scanning parameters from an operator
via console 40 that has a keyboard. An associated cathode ray tube display
42 allows the operator to observe the reconstructed image and other data
from computer 36. The operator supplied commands and parameters are used
by computer 36 to provide control signals and information to DAS 32, x-ray
controller 28 and gantry motor controller 30. In addition, computer 36
operates a table motor controller 44 which controls a motorized table 46
to position patient 22 in gantry 12. Particularly, table 46 moves portions
of patient 22 through gantry opening 48.
The following discussion of image enhancement sometimes refers specifically
to enhancing images of IAC structures. The image enhancement algorithm,
however, is not limited to practice in connection with only IAC structures
and may be used to enhance images of other structures. It should be
further understood that the image enhancement algorithm would be
implemented in computer 36 and would process, for example, image data
stored in mass storage 38. Alternatively, the image enhancement algorithm
could be implemented in image reconstructor 34 and supply image enhanced
data to computer 36. Other alternative implementations are, of course,
possible.
Referring to FIG. 3, and as described above, in performing a CT scan 50,
data from detector elements 20 is obtained. Such data is generally
referred to in the art as projection data 52. High speed image
reconstruction is then performed to generate image data 54. With respect
to image reconstruction, many image reconstruction algorithms currently
are implemented in commercially available CT machines and the present
image enhancement algorithm could be implemented in connection with many
of such reconstruction algorithms.
In practicing the present image enhancement algorithm, it is desirable to
utilize original image data representing a sharp image with a low level of
artifacts. One image reconstruction algorithm which generates such image
data is generally referred to as the Bone algorithm and currently is
implemented in third generation CT systems commercially available from
General Electric Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In such systems, the
projection data is pre-processed, filtered, and then backprojected. In the
filtering step, the cutoff frequency of the filter kernel can be modified
to make the final reconstructed image either smoother or sharper. In
addition, the Nyquist sampling frequency for a single fan beam is N.sub.y,
and the cutoff frequency of the Bone algorithm filter is 1.8 N.sub.y. The
shape of the filter kernel may be modified to boost mid-frequency content
to further sharpen the image. The present invention, as explained above,
is not directed to image reconstruction algorithms such as the Bone
algorithm. Rather, the present image enhancement systems and algorithms
may be used in connection with such image reconstruction algorithms.
Referring again to FIG. 3, and after generation of the original image data
54, an enhancement mask 56 is generated. Generation of such enhancement
mask is described below in more detail. The enhancement mask is utilized
in performing global edge enhancement 58, which also is described below in
more detail.
With reference to FIG. 4, to generate the enhancement mask, the original
image data is low pass filtered 60 to generate smoothed image data. The
low pass filter may, for example, be a boxcar smoothing filter, where each
pixel reading, or CT number, is replaced by the average of its N nearest
neighbors, including itself. However, many other filters may be used, such
as a Gaussian shaped filter. Such low pass filtering is well known in the
art. The smoothed image data is then subtracted from the original image
data to obtain "edge only", or difference, image data 62. The difference
image data contains all image edge and image noise information.
Alternatively, rather than the low pass filter and subtraction operations
described above, other algorithms may be used to obtain the difference
image data. For example, a high pass filter may be used to obtain the
difference image data directly. High pass filter algorithms are well known
in the art.
In addition to generating the difference image dam, a classification map
also is generated 64. CT numbers from the original image data may be used
in generating the classification map. Particularly, each CT number in the
original image data is assigned to a certain class, or region, based on
its intensity. In general, different materials have different CT numbers.
For example, bone has a CT number of over 200, water has a CT number of 0,
grey-white matter (or soft tissue) in the brain has a CT number from
approximately 20-50, and air has a CT number of -1000. Since the CT
numbers are different for various regions, a thresholding method can
generally be used to assign CT numbers to certain classes, e.g., bone,
water, soft tissue, and air.
Many CT numbers, however, have intensities which fall between classes, or
thresholds. To assign such CT numbers to appropriate classes, fuzzy logic
can be used. For example, for a CT number of 80, the CT number could not
be assigned, with great confidence, either to bone or to grey-white
matter. Conversely, this CT number has a dual membership to both the bone
class and the grey-white matter class. Utilizing fuzzy logic, the CT
number may be determined to belong to grey-white matter class with a
membership grade of 0.6, for example, and belong to bone class with a
membership grade of 0.4. The transition function from the grey-white
matter region to the bone region can be either linear or non-linear
functions. For example, an S-function, which is well known in the Fuzzy
logic art, can be utilized. As a result of the above described process,
each pixel, or CT number, in the image data is assigned to a certain
class.
Prior to classifying the pixels or CT numbers, the original image data can
be smoothed to reduce the impact of noise on the pixel classification. For
example, the original image data can be low pass filtered to reduce the
influence of statistical noise on the image classification.
After classifying the pixels as described above, a classification map of
the image is generated. Specifically, and with respect to the
classification map, the bone and air regions, where enhancement generally
is desired, are assigned a value of one. The soft tissue regions are
assigned a value of zero. The dual membership regions are assigned a value
between zero and one based on their membership grade.
After generation of the classification map, some difference image data is
suppressed 66. Such suppression is performed by multiplying the
classification map and the difference image data. As a result of such
multiplication, CT numbers in regions that are classified "soft tissue"
are set to near zero in the difference image data. In the "fuzzy" regions,
the edge information is partially suppressed, or scaled, based on the
"grade" of the membership function. Specifically, based on the membership
grade, a new value is generated to control the amount of edge enhancement.
For example, assuming the difference image data at a fuzzy pixel location
has a value of .epsilon., and the membership grade for this pixel is 0.6
grey-white matter and 0.4 bone, the resulting edge data for this location
is then 0.4.epsilon.. These suppressions can be implemented by other, not
necessarily linear, functions. The amount of scaling depends on the amount
of edge enhancement desired. In regions other than soft tissue regions and
fuzzy regions, the edge information in the difference image data is fully
preserved. The difference image data set, subsequent to the suppression
operation, is sometimes referred to herein as the enhancement mask.
The enhancement mask image data may, of course, be linearly or non-linearly
scaled depending upon the amount of image enhancement desired. In other
words, the enhancement mask image data represents a candidate of the
amount of enhancement to be added to the original, or smoothed, image
data. The amount of the enhancement to be added to the image data may be
modified, as desired.
A combined image data set also is generated. The combined image data set
includes both original image data and smoothed image data. More
specifically, since bone and air regions are to be enhanced, the original
image data is multiplied by the classification map to maintain only the
original image data for bone-air regions in a first set of image data. For
soft tissue regions that are not to be enhanced, the smoothed image data
is multiplied by the inverse of the classification map so that the regions
corresponding to bone and air are zeros, and the soft tissue region
smoothed image data is maintained in a second set of image data. The first
and second image data sets are then added together to generate the
combined image data set having the original image data for the bone-air
regions and the smoothed image data for the soft tissue region.
The enhancement mask image data is then added to the combined image data
set 68. As a result, the enhancement mask image data for soft tissue
regions and fuzzy regions is combined, or added to, the smoothed original
image data to further suppress noise and aliasing artifacts. For regions
classified as "bone" or "air" , the enhancement mask image data is added
to the original image data to enhance the original image data for such
regions.
The above described algorithm, which includes generation of the enhancement
mask, increases image sharpness and reduces the levels of image noise and
aliasing artifacts. Such desired results are provided without adversely
affecting overall image quality.
From the preceding description of the present invention, it is evident that
the objects of the invention are attained. Although the invention has been
described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that
the same is intended by way of illustration and example only and is not to
be taken by way of limitation. For example, the present invention can be
used to enhance image data for regions other than IAC. Also, while the CT
system described herein is a "third generation" system, many other CT
systems, such as "fourth generation" systems may be used. Accordingly, the
spirit and scope of the invention are to be limited only by the terms of
the appended claims. | 0A
| 61 | B |
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As shown inFIG. 11, the multi-leg fiber reinforced concrete10includes concrete12and fibers14embedded in the concrete12to prevent the concrete12from being fractured due to cracks developing therein. As shown inFIGS. 11 and 2, at least one fiber14is embedded in a volume of concrete12, where the at least one fiber14has at least first and second legs16,18respectively extending along first and second directions D1, D2, respectively. The first and second directions are angularly oriented with respect to one another between 45° and 135°, as indicated by angle θ1 inFIG. 2. Each of the first and second legs16,18has a free end20,22, respectively, and a fixed end24,26, respectively. As shown, each free end20,22has a substantially Z-shaped contour. The fixed ends24,26of the first and second legs16,18, respectively, may be joined together to define a two-dimensional fiber structure, as shown inFIGS. 11 and 2. InFIGS. 11 and 2, the angle θ1 is shown as approximately 90°, however, it should be understood that this right angle is shown for exemplary purposes only. As noted above, angle θ1 may be between 45° and 135°.
It should be understood that a large number of fibers14would ordinarily be mixed into the concrete12, and thatFIG. 11shows only an enlarged or magnified view of a single fiber14for purposes of illustration and clarity. In actuality, given that fibers14are relatively small, a very large number of them would be mixed into, and distributed throughout, the concrete12. A typical exemplary weight percentage of fibers14in the overall multi-leg fiber reinforced concrete10is about 0.2 wt % to about 5.0 wt %. Further, it should be understood that the fibers14may be formed from any suitable type of reinforcing material, such as, for example, steel, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polypropylene, Kevlar® or the like.
It should be further understood that the cross-section of each fiber14may have any suitable contouring, such as, for example, circular or rectangular. It should be further understood that the overall configuration of each fiber leg may have any suitable shape or orientation, such as, for example, twisted fiber, crimped fiber, sinusoidal fiber, braided fiber or the like. Braiding, in particular, improves the outer surface of the fibers for the development of better bonds with the concrete. Further, fibers14may be formed from the braiding of two or more differing types of fiber and/or materials, thus providing different types of fibers at the same location. It should be further understood that fibers14may be glued together, or otherwise adhered together, to form bundles of fibers, allowing for compact packaging and transportation of the fibers. This will also aid in providing uniform dispersion of fibers14in the concrete12, as the fibers14will become separated when the fiber bundles come in contact with water during mixing of the concrete.
As shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, fibers14provide resistance to some of the cracks C, typical of cracks formed in concrete, which cross fibers14, even through their bent regions (i.e., their anchorage zones). This ability is notable, since conventional straight fibers cannot resist any type of crack passing through the end anchorages. InFIG. 5, the crack C is shown passing through the bent region of fiber14. Here, the bond force is indicated generally as B.
In the example ofFIG. 6, cracks C are shown formed approximately midway through each of legs16,18. Here, the common anchorage (CA) is formed at the bent point of joining between legs16and18. Compared to conventional straight fibers, fiber14can be seen to save the waste of fiber material in conventional end anchorages because the anchorage is inherently provided by the continuity of fibers through the change in direction at the bend; i.e., CA provides anchorage to both of legs16and18. The direction of the bond force B is reversed around each crack C to resist crack opening. The saving in the end anchorages for fibers14is 50%. As will be discussed in greater detail below,FIG. 3shows a three-leg fiber embodiment, in which the corresponding savings is 66.7%. As will be further discussed in greater detail below,FIG. 4shows a six-leg fiber embodiment, in which the corresponding savings is 83.3%. Returning toFIG. 6, the anchorage force at the Z-shaped ends20,22is indicated generally by A.
As shown, the bend at common anchorage point CA in fiber14adds to anchorages A, thus allowing the portion of each leg which lies in an uncracked zone to contribute to resisting cracks in the adjoining leg by adding to the anchorage strength. When concrete cracks, the legs of fibers crossing the cracks C resist the opening of cracks C, as shown inFIG. 6. Returning toFIG. 5, when the bends of fibers14cross the cracks C, the fibers14provide delayed resistance after slight straightening of the bends. This delayed resistance aids in providing resistance, even when the cracks C become relatively wide.
As shown inFIG. 7, the at least one fiber14may be partially coated with a polymeric material30, such as polypropylene.FIG. 8shows such a fiber14with a crack C formed midway through leg16, similar toFIG. 6, as described above. Although there is a reduction in bond between the polymeric material and concrete, as compared to the bond between steel and concrete, this is compensated to a great extent by the increased surface area of the polymeric material. In the event of fire, melting of the polymeric material30provides passages for the escape of water vapor and other gases, thus avoiding bursting of the concrete. Additionally, the polymeric coating30compensates for any loss of strength in the fiber14, due to the fire or other heated conditions, through development of additional stress in the fiber14.FIG. 9illustrates the melted polymeric coating30, following fire conditions, with a reduced or zero bond in the region of melted polymeric coating30. The remaining bond force B, near anchorage point20, is also reduced, and the anchorage force A is enhanced to compensate for the loss of bond force B.
In the alternative embodiment ofFIG. 3, a third leg132has been added to fiber114. Fiber114, similar to fiber14described above, has first and second legs116,118respectively extending along first and second directions D1, D2, respectively. Third leg132extends along third direction D3. The first and third directions are angularly oriented with respect to one another between 45° and 135°, as indicated by angle θ2 inFIG. 3. The second and third directions are angularly oriented with respect to one another between 45° and 135°, as indicated by angle θ3. Each of the first and second legs116,118has a free end120,122, respectively, and a fixed end124,126, respectively. As shown, each free end120,122has a substantially Z-shaped contour, similar to the previous embodiment.FIG. 1, similar to that described above with respect toFIG. 11, shows fiber114embedded in concrete102to form overall multi-leg fiber reinforced concrete100. Similar to the previous embodiment, it should be understood that a large number of fibers114would ordinarily be mixed into the concrete102, and thatFIG. 11shows only an enlarged or magnified view of a single fiber114for purposes of illustration and clarity. In actuality, given that fibers114are relatively small, a very large number of them would be mixed into, and distributed throughout, the concrete102. A typical exemplary weight percentage of fibers114in the overall multi-leg fiber reinforced concrete100is about 0.2 wt % to about 5.0 wt %.
In the embodiment ofFIG. 3, a first end134of third leg132is joined to the fixed end124of the first leg116. A second end136of third leg132is joined to the fixed end126of the second leg118. As indicated by the three-dimensional X-Y-Z Cartesian axes inFIG. 3, fiber114may be a three-dimensional structure. In the exemplary configuration ofFIG. 3, direction D3extends along the Z-axis, direction D1points within the X-Z plane, and direction D2points within the Y-Z plane. InFIG. 3, the angles θ2 and θ3 are shown as being approximately 90°, corresponding approximately to the X-Y-Z Cartesian axes, however, it should be understood that these right angles are shown for exemplary purposes only. As noted above, angles θ2 and θ3 may each be between 45° and 135°. In this embodiment, as can be seen inFIG. 3, even if one or both of angles θ2 or θ3 are varied from 90°, a first plane, defined by the first direction D1and the third direction D3, remains orthogonal to a second plane, defined by the second direction D2and the third direction D3. However, it should be understood that the direction D1may be such that it does not lie within the X-Z plane. Similarly, the direction D2may be such that it does not lie within the Y-Z plane.
In the further alternative embodiment ofFIG. 4, third, fourth, fifth and sixth legs232,234,236,238have been added to fiber214. Fiber214, similar to fiber14, has first and second legs216,218respectively extending along first and second directions D1, D2, respectively. Third, fourth, fifth and sixth legs232,234,236,238respectively extend along directions D3, D4, D5and D6. Each of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth directions D1, D2, D3, D4, D5and D6are angularly oriented with respect to one another between 45° and 135°. As in the previous embodiments, each of the first and second legs216,218has a free end220,222, respectively, and a fixed end224,226, respectively. As shown, each free end220,222has a substantially Z-shaped contour, similar to the previous embodiment.
The first end240of the third leg232is joined to the fixed end224of the first leg216, and the second end242of the third leg232is joined to the first end244of the fourth leg234. Similarly, the second end246of the fourth leg234is joined to the first end248of the fifth leg236, and the second end250of the fifth leg236is joined to the first end252of the sixth leg238. The second end254of the sixth leg238is joined to the fixed end226of the second leg218. Similar to the embodiment ofFIG. 3, each bend is shown as having an angle of approximately 90°, corresponding approximately to the X-Y-Z Cartesian axes, however, it should be understood that these right angles are shown for exemplary purposes only. It should be understood that, similar to the previous embodiments, each bend may have an angle between 45° and 135°.
In experiments, fibers114were tested (corresponding to curve c inFIG. 10), compared against plain concrete (corresponding to curve a inFIG. 10) and conventional hooked straight fibers (corresponding to curve b inFIG. 10). Locally available aggregates (both fine and coarse) were used. To conform with the grading requirements of ASTM C33, the fine aggregate was obtained by mixing silica sand and crushed sand. The ratio of silica sand and crushed sand was taken as 2. The physical properties of the fine and coarse aggregates are given below in Table 1. The experimental samples were in the form of standard concrete cylinders (150 mm×300 mm) and were tested under compression. The mix proportion of the plain concrete is given below in Table 2. Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) was used. For curve b ofFIG. 10, fiber reinforced concrete was produced using steel fibers with lengths of 20 mm. The fibers114were produced with each of the three legs having a length of 20 mm. Each tested sample had the same fiber diameter and was formed from identical steel samples having a tensile strength of 1000 MPa. The end hooks in the two fiber types had the same dimensions. The volume of fibers in concrete was 0.6% (i.e., 1.96% by weight). The specimens were tested under compression after 28 days of curing by immersion in water.
TABLE 1Material PropertiesPropertyValueCementSpecific gravity3.15Blaine's fineness, cm2/g2450Standard consistency29%Initial setting time, min.110Final setting time, min.177Coarse AggregateMaximum size of aggregate, mm10Fineness modulus6.65Specific gravity2.67Water absorption1.45%GradingConforming toASTM C33Fine AggregateMaximum size of aggregate, mm4.75Fineness modulus2.36Specific gravity2.78Water absorption0.9%GradingConforming toASTM C33
TABLE 2Plain Concrete MixMaterialWeight (kg/m3)Cement650Crushed sand264Silica sand528Coarse aggregate (Nominal size = 10 mm)770Water (water cement ratio = 0.40)260Gli-110 (Super-plasticizer)19.5
As shown in the stress-strain diagrams ofFIG. 10, as expected, the addition of steel fibers (curves b and c) causes an increase in the compressive strength and introduces ductility in the concrete. However, the increase in the compressive strength of curve c is due to the improved distribution of fibers114, as well as the decrease in wastage of steel in the Z-shaped end hooks. With regard to curve a (i.e., the plain concrete), point1ainFIG. 10shows the initiation of micro-cracking in the concrete. Point2arepresents the peak load, and point3ashows widening/separation of the cracks. Point4ais the point of failure.
In curve b (i.e., the conventional straight fibers with hooked ends), point1bshows the fibers starting to resist the micro-cracks, with the initiation of micro-cracking in the concrete appearing at point2b. Point3brepresents the peak load and point4bshows the steel fibers starting to resist macro-cracks in the concrete. Point5bis the initiation of fiber pull out and/or fracture, and failure by fracture or pull out of the fibers occurs at point6b. In curve c (i.e., fibers114), the fibers start resisting micro-cracks at point1c. Initiation of micro-cracking in the concrete occurs at point2c, and point3crepresents peak load. The fibers114start resisting macro-cracks at point4c, and the fiber-bends in the crack zone start straightening at point5c. The initiation of fiber pull out and/or fracture of straight fibers crossing a crack, and straightened fibers starting to get stressed, occurs at point6c, and point7cshows the point of failure by fracture or pull out of the straightened fibers.
The zone3b-4bin curve b indicates that the crack opening is being resisted by the steel fibers. Its equivalent in curve c is the zone3c-5c, which shows that the crack opening is being resisted by the straight portion of one of the legs of the steel fibers crossing a crack. The improved characteristics of curve c, which are responsible for enhanced ductility, are demonstrated by the presence of zones5c-6cand6c-7c, which respectively indicate straightening of fiber bends falling in crack zones and the resistance provided by these straightened bends to further crack opening.
In the above, uniaxial compression tests were performed on the cylindrical test specimens at 28 days, in accordance with ASTM C39. The specimens were tested to failure using a displacement controlled compression testing machine with a 3000 kN capacity, manufactured by Tonitek of Germany. The rate of increase of the displacement was 0.3 mm/min. A compressometer with three linear variable displacement transducers (LVDTs) was used to measure the axial compression on the middle-half height of the cylinders. The load and dial gauge readings were recorded using a data logger. The load-deformation data was used to calculate the axial stress as σ=P/A, where a is the axial stress (in MPa), P is the load (in N), and A is the cross-section of the cylinder (in mm). The corresponding strain was calculated as ε=δ/L, where E is the axial strain (in mm/mm), δ is the axial compression (in mm), and L is the gauge length (in mm).
It is to be understood that the multi-leg fiber reinforced concrete is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the generic language of the following claims enabled by the embodiments described herein, or otherwise shown in the drawings or described above in terms sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the claimed subject matter.
| 4E
| 4 | C |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Fracturing fluids used to carry out the present invention are, in general, prepared from an aqueous base fluid such as water, brine, aqueous foams or water-alcohol mixtures. Any suitable mixing apparatus may be used to provide the fracturing fluid. The pH of the fluid is typically from about 2 to 11 or 12. The fracturing fluid includes a polysaccharide as a gelling agent, as discussed below, and typically includes other ingredients such as proppant particles and crosslinking agents to crosslink the polysaccharide gelling agent, also discussed below.
Polysaccharides soluble or dispersible in an aqueous liquid include industrial gums such as those generally classified as exudate gums, seaweed gums, seed gums, microbial polysaccharides, and hemicelluloses (cell wall polysaccharides found in land plants) other than cellulose and pectins. Examples include xylan, mannan, galactan, L-arabino-xylans, L-arabino-D-glucurono-D-xylans, D-gluco-D-mannans, D-Galacto-D-mannans, arabino-D-galactans, algins such as sodium alginate, carrageenin, fucordan, laminarin, agar, gum arabic, gum ghatti, karaya gum, tamarind gum, tragacanth gum, locust bean gum, cellulose derivative such as hydroxyethylcellulose or hydroxypropylcellulose, and the like. Particularly preferred are the hydratable polysaccharides having galactose and/or mannose monosaccharide components, examples of which include the galactomannan gums, guar gum and derivatized guar gum. Examples of particularly preferred thickening agents are guar gum, hydroxypropyl guar, and carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl guar.
The amount of polysaccharide included in the fracturing fluid is not particularly critical, so long as the viscosity of the fluid is sufficiently high to keep the proppant particles suspended therein during the injecting step. Thus, depending upon the application, the polysaccharide is included in the fracturing fluid in an amount of from about 10 to 150 pounds of polysaccharide per 1000 gallons of aqueous liquid, and more preferably in an amount of from about 20 to 100 pounds of polysaccharide per 1000 gallons of aqueous solution (about 2.4 to 12 kg/m3).
Any crosslinking agent may be used to carry out the present invention. Examples include metal ions including aluminum, antimony, zirconium an titanium containing compounds including organotitantates (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,514,309). Borate crosslinking agents or borate ion donating materials, are currently preferred. Examples of these include the alkali metal and alkaline earth metal borates and boric acid, such as sodium borate decahydrate. The crosslinking agent is typically included in an amount in the range of from about 0.0245 to 0.18% by weight of the aqueous fluid or more.
Proppant particles or propping agents are typically added to the base fluid prior to the addition of the crosslinking agent. Propping agents include, for example, quart sand grains, glass and ceramic beads, walnut shell fragments, alluminum pellets, nylon pellets, and the like. The propping agents are typically included in an amount of from 1 to 8 or even 18 pounds per gallon of fracturing fluid composition. Particle size of the proppant particles is typically in the range of about 200 to about 2 mesh on the U.S. Sieve Series scale. The base fluid may also contain other conventional fracturing fluid additives, such as buffers, surfactants, antioxidants, corrosion inhibitors, bactericides, etc.
Enzyme breaker compositions useful for carrying out the present invention may be provided in any suitable physical form, such as concentrated or dilute aqueous solutions, lyophylized powders, etc. The compositions contain an enzyme effective for degrading the particular crosslinking polysaccharide employed as the gelling agent. The compositions typically include a β-Mannanase which degrades β-1,4 hemicellulolytic linkages in galactomannan compounds such as guar gums at a temperature above 180° F., and/or an α-galactosidase which degrades α-1,6 hemicellulolytic linkages in galactomannan compounds such as guar gums at a temperature above 180° F. Typically, the enzyme breaker composition and one or more of the enzymes therein are at least capable of degrading the polysaccharide at temperatures of from 180° F. to 212° F. Preferably, as discussed above, the enzyme breaker and one or more of the enzymes therein are also essentially incapable of degrading the polysaccharide at a temperature of 90 or 100° F. or less (e.g., have relative activity of 0.1 or even 0.05 of optimum activity (1.0) at these temperatures).
Enzymes useful for preparing enzyme breaker compositions used in the present invention may be obtained from hyperthermophilic microorganisms Hyperthermophilic microorganisms are microorganisms which grow at temperatures higher than 90° C., and have an optimal growth temperature higher than 80° C. Generally, hyperthermophilic organisms are either hyperthermophilic bacteria or hyperthermophilic Archaea (as categorized according to C. Woese et al.,Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA87, 4576-4579 (1990)). These organisms are found in, for example, the Thermoproteales, Sulfolobales, Pyrodictiales, Thermococcales, Archaeoglobales, Methanococcales, Methanobacteriales, Methanopyrales, Thermotogales, and Aquificales groups. Typically these organisms are found in the generaAquifex, Archaeoglobus, Thermotoga, Thermoproteus, Staphylothermus, Desulfurococcus, Thermofilum, Pyrobaculum, Acidianus, Desulfurolobus, Pyrodictium, Thermodiscus, Pyrococcus, Thermococcus, Hyperthermus, Methanococcus, Methanothermus, andMethanopyrus. See, e.g., Biocatalysis at Extreme Temperatures, pgs. 4-22 (M. Adams and R. Kelly Eds. 1992) (ACS Symposium Series 498). The generaThermotoga, Thermococcus, andPyrococcusare particularly convenient sources of organisms useful for carrying out the present invention. Specific organisms from which enzymes useful in carrying out the present invention may be obtained include, but are not limited to,Pyrococcus furiosus, Pyrococcus furiosusGBD,Thermotoga maritima, Thermus aquaticus, Thermus thermophilous, Thermococcus litoralis, ES-1, ES-4, etc. The enzymes are identified in bacteria supernatant or lysed cell extracts by conventional techniques, such as by isolating and culturing the organisms on media which contain the appropriate growth substrates (e.g., for α-D-galactosidase activity on the substrate p-Nitrophenyl-α-D-Galactopyranoside; for β-D-mannanase activity on the substrate p-Nitrophenyl-β-D-Mannopyranoside), DNA screening with consensus oligonucleotide probes, “shotgun” cloning and screening of transformed host cells with antibodies and/or gel plate assays (e.g., plates containing the growth substrates given above), etc. The enzymes may be produced by any suitable means, including either conventional fermentation in a high temperature fermentor or by genetic engineering techniques.
The present invention may be carried out on subterranean formations which surround any type of well bore, including both oil and gas well bores, with the fracturing fluid being provided and injected and pressure released, etc., all in accordance with procedures well known to those skilled in the art. As noted above, the invention is particularly advantageously employed when the subterranean formation surrounding the well bore to be fractured has a temperature greater than 180° F., up to 280° F. or more (it being understood that other subterranean formations which surround the well bore, which may or may not be integral with the subterranean formation having the aforesaid temperature may or may not be fractured and may or may not have the aforesaid temperature range).
In one embodiment of the invention, the step of providing the fracturing fluid (e.g. preparing and mixing the fluid on-site) is carried out at a temperature of 90 or 100° F. or less, the fracturing fluid thereby being maintained at a temperature of 90 to 100° F. or less prior to the injecting step. This serves to reduce premature breaking of the crosslinked polysaccharide and sanding out of the fracturing fluid, as discussed above.
The present invention is explained in greater detail in the following non-limiting Examples, where “DSM” means Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganimen (Braunsschweig, Federal Republic of Germany), “M” means Molar, “μM” means microMolar, “μm” means micrometer, “ml” means microliter, “L” means liter, “mg” means microgram, “g” means gram, “rpm” means revolutions per minute, “PSIG” means pounds per square inch gauge, and temperatures are given in degrees Centigrade unless otherwise indicated.
EXAMPLE 1
Thermotoga neapolitanaCulture Conditions
Thermotoga neapolitanaDSM 5068 cells were cultured in an artificial sea water (ASW) based media supplemented with 0.1% yeast extract and 0.5% tryptone, with 0.5% lactose and 0.03% guar gum added as inducers (the guar gum was obtained from Rhône-Poulenc). The media composition per liter was: NaCl 15.0 g, Na2SO42.0 g, MgCl20.6H2O 2.0 g, CaCl20.2H2O 0.50 g, NaHCO30.25 g, K2HPO40.10 g, KBr 50 mg, H3BO320 mg, KI 20 mg, Fe(NH4)2(SO4)215 mg, Na2WO40.2H2O 3 mg, and NiCl26H2O 2 mg. The lactose, guar gum, K2HPO4, Fe(NH4)2(SO4)2were added after sterilization. However, K2HPO4and Fe(NH4)2(SO4)2were filtered through a 0.2 Am filter prior to addition.
First, inocula were grown in closed bottles (125 ml) under anaerobic conditions. The cultures were prepared by heating the media-containing bottles to 98° C. for 30 minutes, then sparging with N2, and then adding Na2S.9H2O (0.5 g/L) from a 50 g/L stock solution. Prior to anaerobic inoculation, cultures were cooled to 80° C.
Large scale cultures were grown in a semi-batch fashion using a 8-liter fermentor (Bioengineering Lab Fermenter type 1 1523). Oxygen was removed by continuous flow of nitrogen of approximately 5 liter/minute. Temperature and agitation were monitored using a conventional data acquisition system and were set at 85±2° C. and 150 rpm respectively. Growth was monitored by epifluorescent microscopy using acridine orange stain.
Cells were harvested in late exponential growth phase (1.5 to 2.108cells/ml). 350 liters were harvested and concentrated down to approximately 60 liters using a 0.45 μm PELLICON™ cross-flow filter from Millipore. The retentate was then centrifuged at 8000 rpm for 30 minutes in 1-liter bottles. Cells were frozen at −20° C. until use.
EXAMPLE 2
Preparation ofT. neapolitanaCell Extract
Frozen cells ofT. neapolitanaDSM 5068 prepared as described in Example 1 above were resuspended in 430 ml of 0.1M sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.4 and disrupted by one passage through a French pressure cell at 1100 PSIG. NaN3(0.01%) was added at this stage to prevent contamination. Cell debris was removed by centrifugation at 10,000 g for 30 minutes, and the soluble fraction was used as the crude enzyme preparation.
EXAMPLE 3
Detection of Enzyme Activity
α-Galactosidase and β-mannanase activities were determined by using p-nitrophenyl-α-D-galactopyranoside and p-nitrophenyl-β-D-mannopyranoside respectively as substrates. Spectrophotometric readings were taken with a Lamda 3 spectrophotometer (The Perkin-Elmer Corp., Conn.) with a thermostated six cell transport. A liquid-circulating temperature bath (VWR Scientific model 1130) containing a 1:1 mixture of ethylene glycol and water was used to maintain the desired temperature in the cell holder. This temperature was monitored with a thermocouple mounted in a cuvette that was placed in the cell transport. The six-cell transport was controlled and data were collected and analyzed by Perkin-Elmer software run on a microcomputer.
Routine enzymatic assays for α-galactosidase and β-mannanase were conducted as follows. For each assay, 1.1 ml portions of substrate consisting 10 mM of substrate in 0.1M sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) were pipetted into quartz cuvettes. The cuvettes were inserted into the cell holder, which was heated at the desired temperature, and preincubated for at least 10 minutes to allow the substrate to reach assay temperature. After the preincubation, 0.1 ml of sample was added to the cuvettes and the formation of the p-nitrophenyl (PNP) was followed by monitoring the optical density at 405 nm. A blank containing the same amount of sample in 0.1M sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) was also monitored to correct for interferences. At temperatures below 100° C. and for a short period of time (less than 15 minutes) no nonenzymatic release of PNP was noticed. One unit of α-galactosidase or β-mannanase activity was defined as the amount of enzyme releasing 1 nmol of PNP per minute under the specified assay conditions.
Temperature optima were determined by performing the appropriate assay at the temperature indicated.
FIG. 1shows the results obtained at 75° C., 85° C. and 96° C. for the cell extract of the large-scale culture prepared as described in Examples 1 and 2 above for both α-galactosidase and β-mannanase activities. Assays were performed as described above.
Relative activity is defined as the measured activity divided by the maximum activity (α-galactosidase activity at 96° C.).
Both activities increase with temperature but none of them reach an optimum in the considered temperature range. This result, however, shows that the optimal temperature for both activities is equal or greater than 96° C.
EXAMPLE 4
Pyrococcus furiosusCulture Conditions and Preparation of Cell Extract
Pyrococcus furiosus(DSM 3638) is grown in essentially the same manner as described in F. Bryant and M. Adams,J. Biol. Chem.264, 5070-5079 (1989). Cell extract from theP. furiosuscultures is prepared in essentially the same manner as given in Example 2 above.
EXAMPLE 5
Rheological Testing Solutions
Standardized guar gum solutions were made for rheological testing. The composition for a preferred solution is shown in Table 1. The guar solution is prepared by using a blender set at low speed to provide a shallow vortex of water. The guar is sprinkled slowly onto the free surface to produce a uniform dispersion. KCl, glutaraldehyde and sodium thiosulfate are added quickly. The total mixing time is about two minutes. The glutaraldehyde is used as a bactericide, and the sodium thiosulfate serves as an antioxidant. The samples are then mixed for 20 hours using a horizontal shaker.
TABLE 1Rheological Test Solution.MATERIALAMOUNTDeionized water100gGuar gum (powder)0.7gPotassium chloride2g25% glutaraldehyde solution in50mlwaterSodium thiosulfate0.5g
EXAMPLE 6
Rheological Testing of Enzyme Preparations
Standard guar solutions for carrying out rheological tests prepared as described in Example 4 above are mixed with enzyme prepared as described in Examples 1 and 2 above and then incubated at 85° C./98° C. using a shaking oil bath. Samples are also incubated without any enzyme as a control.
Rheological measurements were performed using a Rheometrics Mechanical Spectrometer (RMS 800™) using a cone and plate geometry with a diameter of 50 mm and a cone angle of 0.04 radians. The sample is loaded onto the rheometer and steady shear tests are performed (γ range 1-100 sec−1). Steady shear viscosities are obtained this way for the samples with and without the enzyme. A lower viscosity curve for the sample with enzyme indicates effectiveness of the enzyme in degrading the guar gum solution.
FIG. 2plots the data for the samples incubated for 6 hours at a temperature of 85° C. withT. neapolitanacell extract. Note that the samples used did not have an antioxidant and the viscosity curves are thus shifted downward compared to the other plots.
FIG. 3shows data for samples incubated for 6 hours withT. neapolitanacell extract at 98° C.
FIG. 4show data for samples incubated for 9 hours withP. furiosuscell extract at 98° C.
The low shear rate region in the foregoing figures has been shown sensitive to polymer microstructure and the large drops in viscosity at these shear rates (−1-100 sec−1) indicates breakup of the microstructure.
The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention, and not to be construed as limiting thereof. The invention is defined by the following claims, with equivalents of the claims to be included therein.
| 2C
| 12 | N |
DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1illustrates an example device100for improving a user's breathing. In general, device100may be used to treat sleep disordered breathing, such as snoring or obstructive sleep apnea, through forward adjustment of the user's lower jaw relative to the upper jaw. This opens the breathing passage and facilitates improved breathing through the user's nose and mouth. Preferably, device100remains entirely within the user's mouth and all surfaces of device100that may contact the interior of the user's mouth are smooth to prevent injury or discomfort.
Device100includes an upper arch10adapted to receive at least some of a user's upper teeth and a lower arch20adapted to receive at least some of the user's lower teeth. Upper arch10and lower arch20may include molds of at least some of the user's upper and lower teeth, respectively, for improved fitting, performance, and comfort. In one embodiment, device100includes a positioning and adjustment mechanism30that couples lower arch20to upper arch10, positions lower arch20vertically relative to upper arch10, and may be adjusted to pull lower arch20forward to facilitate improved breathing. In a more particular embodiment, lower arch20may be precisely positioned vertically relative to upper arch10to precisely determine the opening of the user's lower jaw. As described more fully below, mechanism30may include an upper platform40coupled to upper arch10, a lower platform50coupled to lower arch20, and a hook60coupling upper platform40to lower platform50. These components may be made from any suitable material, for example, a biocompatible metal or hard plastic.
FIGS. 2 through 5illustrate more detailed views of example vertical positioning and forward adjustment mechanisms associated with mechanism30. Hook60and lower platform50preferably have cooperating shapes to position lower arch20relative to upper arch10. End62of hook60may snap, click, or otherwise lock into recess52of lower platform50, such that suitable force is needed to remove end62from recess52, or end62may be freely removable from recess52. In one embodiment, the cooperating shapes of lower platform50and hook60precisely position lower arch20vertically relative to upper arch10to precisely determine an opening of the user's lower jaw. Hook60and lower platform50may be collectively referred to as a vertical positioning mechanism for lower arch20. In one embodiment, a substantially rounded recess52formed in lower platform50acts as a socket to receive a substantially rounded end62of hook60. Recess52of lower platform50is adapted to receive and position end62of hook60to pull lower arch20forward to facilitate improved breathing. Substantially rounded end62of hook60may be substantially spherical, as shown, or may have any other suitable substantially rounded shape. Use of the modifier “substantially” is intended to make it clear that true mathematical roundness, as in a true circle or sphere, is not required and that a substantially rounded end62or a substantially rounded recess52may have any suitable curved profiles. Furthermore, although a substantially rounded end62and a substantially rounded recess52are primarily described and may be preferred in certain circumstances, the present invention contemplates any suitable cooperating shapes for end62and recess52depending on the embodiment. Lower platform50may be fully integral to, permanently coupled to, or separate and removable from lower arch20. Unless otherwise clear from the context, lower platform50may be deemed a part of lower arch20, whether or not lower platform50is integral to lower arch20, such that lower arch20may be said to include recess52.
In one embodiment, hook60may be modified according to particular needs to provide increased flexibility. For example, the anterior portion of hook60may be lengthened or otherwise modified, either during or after initial construction of hook60, to provide a support arm for the attachment of a suitable continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) apparatus. As another example, flange64of hook60may be lengthened, either during or after initial construction of hook60, such that the maximum forward adjustment of the lower jaw is increased. In one embodiment, hook60may be selected from among multiple interchangeable hooks60having different lengths of arm61to customize device100according to particular needs. Depending upon the length of arm61of the particular hook60selected, a corresponding precise opening of the user's lower jaw may be determined.
Referring toFIG. 3, in one embodiment a substantially rounded recess52of lower platform50is elongated such that substantially rounded recess52has a greater width than length, resulting in a substantially elliptical, ovular, or “pill” shape. In a particular embodiment, height54aof substantially rounded recess52is slightly larger than height67aof substantially rounded end62of hook60, while width54bof substantially rounded recess52is significantly larger than width67bof substantially rounded end62. Consequently, in this embodiment, lower platform50, lower arch20, and thus the user's lower jaw are permitted substantially more lateral freedom of movement than vertical freedom of movement, which may provide increased comfort without sacrificing performance associated with precise vertical positioning of lower arch20. Similar elongation may be provided in embodiments in which end62and recess52are not substantially rounded. Where enhanced lateral freedom of movement for the lower jaw is not desired, any difference between widths54band67bmay be reduced. Of course, if no freedom of movement is desired vertically or laterally, then heights54aand67aor widths54band67b, respectively, may be substantially equal. In one embodiment, a plate, strap, or other cover may be provided to secure end62in recess52to keep device100together during shipment, during use, between uses, or for any other suitable purposes.
Upper platform40may be fully integral to, permanently coupled to, or separate and removable from upper arch10. For example, in one embodiment, upper arch10may include a slot to receive and engage upper platform40to couple upper platform40to upper arch10, the slot and upper platform40having cooperating shapes. Although the slot of upper arch10and upper platform40are illustrated as being substantially triangular in shape along their sides, the slot of upper arch10and upper platform40may have any suitable cooperating shapes. Unless otherwise clear from the context, upper platform40may be deemed a part of upper arch10, whether or not upper platform40is integral to upper arch10.
In one embodiment, upper platform40may include a slot42to receive and engage a flange64of hook60to couple hook60to upper platform40and to allow forward and rearward adjustment of hook60to facilitate positioning of lower arch20and thus the user's lower jaw. Although slot42and flange64are illustrated as being substantially triangular in shape along their sides, slot42and flange64may have any suitable cooperating shapes.
In one embodiment, upper platform40includes a channel43that houses a threaded adjustor44and hook60includes a threaded channel66that engages the threads of adjustor44. Adjustor44may be, for example, a threaded rod and may be made from any suitable material, for example, a biocompatible metal or hard plastic. Rotating adjustor44, which is preferably prevented from moving forward or rearward within channel43using appropriate stops, causes hook60to move forwardly or rearwardly within slot42of upper platform40.
Referring toFIG. 5, in one embodiment upper platform40includes a stop46bthat substantially prevents adjustor44from moving forward when adjustor44is disposed in channel43. A similar stop substantially preventing adjustor44from moving rearward is described below with reference toFIG. 7A. Upper platform40may include a depression47anterior to stop46bto guide an Allen wrench or other suitable adjustment tool into a hexagonal or other recess formed in adjustor44to facilitate rotation of adjustor44. Upper platform40, adjustor44, and hook60may be collectively referred to as a forward adjustment mechanism for lower arch20.
The cooperating shapes of slot42of upper platform40and flange64of hook60permit forward and rearward travel of hook60within slot42while substantially preventing lateral and vertical movement of hook60relative to upper platform40. Preferably, hook60is permitted to travel within slot42to any appropriate extent to adjust the extent to which lower arch20, and thus the user's lower jaw, is pulled forward. For example, a portion of hook60, including some or all of end62, may be permitted to travel forward past the most anterior portion of upper platform40if desired, and a portion of hook60, including some or all of end62, may be permitted to travel rearward past the most posterior portion of upper platform40if desired, according to rotation of adjustor44. However, as described more fully below, one or more stops may be provided to limit the forward and rearward travel of hook60within slot42.
FIGS. 6A and 6Billustrate an example hook. In one embodiment, as described more fully below with reference toFIGS. 8Athough8C, one or more slots, cut-outs, or other elongated recesses68may be formed in flange64to contact one or more stops70that are positioned within upper platform40and made to extend into the one or more recesses68to limit the forward and rearward travel of hook60within slot42of upper platform40. Hook60may include a flange69that provides additional strength to prevent deformation of hook60during use.
FIGS. 7A and 7Billustrate an example upper platform40. As shown inFIG. 7A, in one embodiment channel43, which houses threaded adjustor44, is not threaded and adjustor44rotates freely within channel43. Similar to stop46bdescribed above, stop46asubstantially prevents adjustor44from moving rearwardly when adjustor44is disposed in channel43. As shown inFIG. 7B, in one embodiment upper platform40may include recesses48to receive a bonding material, such as an acrylic or adhesive, that helps couple upper platform40to upper arch10. Middle portion49of upper platform40preferably adds additional thickness to upper platform40above adjustor44to provide strength.
Referring toFIGS. 8Bthough8C, in one embodiment, as described above, one or more stops70may be positioned within upper platform40and made to extend into one or more slots, cut-outs, or other elongated recesses68formed in flange64of hook60to limit the forward and rearward travel of hook60within slot42. For example, stops70may be set screws placed in through-holes that are formed in upper platform40. Either end of a recess68contacting a stop70will prevent further travel of hook60in a corresponding direction. In a particular embodiment, stops70may include a forward stop70afor limiting the rearward travel of hook60within a single slot42and a rearward stop70bfor limiting the forward travel of hook60within the single slot42. Although recess68is shown formed on the top of flange64of hook60, recess68may be formed in any suitable location, for example, horizontally through either side of flange64. Correspondingly, stops70may be positioned in any suitable location, for example, in through-holes formed in the sides of upper platform40to engage recess68formed horizontally through a side of flange64.
FIGS. 9A and 9Billustrate an example lower platform50. In one embodiment, lower platform50includes a flat arched anterior portion56that seats on the user's lower anterior teeth, providing improved balance, decreased wear, and better overall comfort and performance.
FIG. 10illustrates an example method of improving a user's breathing using device100. The method begins at step202, when upper arch10is inserted into the user's mouth. In one embodiment, upper arch10is adapted to receive at least some of the user's upper teeth and is coupled to hook60having a substantially rounded end62. At step204, lower arch20is inserted into the user's mouth. In one embodiment, lower arch20is adapted to receive at least some of the user's lower teeth, lower arch20having a substantially rounded recess52adapted to receive and position the substantially rounded end62of hook60to pull lower arch20forward to facilitate improved breathing. At step206, the substantially rounded end62of hook60is positioned in the substantially rounded recess52of lower arch20. At step208, hook60is adjusted while upper arch10and lower arch20are in the user's mouth. As described above, although a substantially rounded end62and a substantially rounded recess52are primarily described and may be preferred in certain circumstances, the present invention contemplates any suitable cooperating shapes for end62and recess52depending on the embodiment.
Although an example method is described, the steps may be accomplished in any appropriate order. For example, inserting the upper and lower arches can be accomplished sequentially, in any order, or simultaneously. The present invention contemplates using methods with additional steps, fewer steps, or different steps, so long as the methods remain appropriate for improving a user's breathing.
Although the present invention has been described above in connection with several embodiments, it should be understood that numerous changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, transformations, and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art, and it is intended that the present invention encompass such changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, transformations, and modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
| 0A
| 61 | F |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A mobile telephone 1 is shown in FIG. 1 and includes a display 2 and a keypad 3 . As is well known, the GSM mobile telecommunications standard provides for the transmission and reception of short text messages (short message SM) between stations in the mobile network using the short message service (SMS). Short messages can be used to obtain information regarding a mobile station and can be used to change operational settings of a mobile station.
With reference to FIG. 2 , a mobile telephone 1 includes a display 2 , a keypad 3 , and an antenna 4 . The antenna 4 is connected to transmit/receive means 5 which operate to send and receive signals via the mobile telephone network. A micro-processor 6 controls the functions of the mobile telephone, and is connected to receive and transmit signals via the transmit/receive means 5 . In addition, the mobile telephone incorporates a memory 7 which is used to store phone book entries for the user of the telephone. A typical entry in the phone book memory 7 comprises a person's telephone number combined with the name of that person.
In an embodiment of the present invention, a security number (SN) is stored in the phone book memory 7 . The security number is associated with the number of a caller who is entitled to interrogate the mobile station. This phone book entry is shown schematically in FIG. 3 , where the calling part's number is shown as CLI (calling line identifier) and the security number as SN.
In systems operated in accordance with the present invention, when a station within the mobile network wishes to interrogate another station by way of the short message service (SMS), a short message (SM) is sent from that station to the station of interest. The contents of the short message are shown schematically in FIG. 4 . The short message comprises a portion indicating the number of the calling station, a personal identification code which is unique to the station being called, and a message 13 . As will be described below, the calling station's number 11 is used in combination with the personal identification code 12 to determine a received security number. This received security number is then compared with the stored security number associated in the phone book of the called station with the caller's number in order to determine whether the message 13 can be processed by the mobile unit.
For example, the algorithm combines the personal identity code (PIC) (eg. a four digit number), with the international telephone number of the requesting station. Such an international telephone number is usually 13 or 14 digits long. The algorithm produces a security number which can contain letters and numbers. The algorithm preferably operates in a similar way to known automatic password generators.
With reference to FIG. 5 , the mobile unit 1 receives a short message ( 20 ) including the caller's number and the mobile unit's personal identity code. The calling line identity number and personal identity code (PIC) are combined using an algorithm known only to the mobile unit concerned, to produce a so-called received security number. The called line identity number 11 of the incoming message is used to identity an entry in the phone book memory 7 , and that phone book entry is used to provide the stored security number for the particular calling station.
The PIC is selected by the user in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is therefore unique to each mobile telephone. The algorithm used to combine the PIC and the incoming calling line identity number would preferably be determined by the manufacturer, and so would not necessarily be unique to each phone. However, increased security would be provided by an algorithm which is unique to each phone.
The received security number is then compared with the stored security number and if these numbers are not equivalent to one another, the incoming message is rejected. However, if the two numbers are equivalent, then the message is accepted, and processed by the mobile telephone.
Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention can provide a mobile telephone which can enable secure access to information provided by the mobile telephone, by storing a security number for a particular calling station in a telephone book entry in the phone book memory of the telephone. Since the combining algorithm and the security number are confidential to the mobile telephone user, heightened security is possible.
| 7H
| 04 | M |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
The present invention will be described in more detail in the following examples. However, the following examples are to illustrate the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following examples.
SYNTHESIS EXAMPLES 1 TO 3
Synthesis of Polyrotaxane
Synthesis Example 1
After 5 g of a caprolactone-grafted polyrotaxane polymer [A1000, Advanced Soft Material Inc.] was put into a 100 ml flask, 0.453 g of 2-isocyanatoethyl acrylate [AOI-VM, Showadenko K.K.], 2 mg of dibutyltin dilaurate [DBTDL, Merck & Co, Inc.], 11 mg of hydroquinone monomethylene ether, and 31.5 g of methylethylketone were added thereto and reacted at 70° C. for 5 hours, thereby obtaining a polyrotaxane polymer liquid including cyclodextrin to which a polylactone-based compound having an acrylate-based compound introduced at the end is bonded as a macrocycle (solid content: 14.79%).
The polyrotaxane polymer liquid as described above was dripped into an n-hexane solvent to precipitate a polymer, followed by filtration, thereby obtaining a white solid polymer (weight average molecular weight: about 500,000). 1H NMR data of the finally obtained polyrotaxane polymer liquid are shown inFIG. 1.
1H NMR data of the polyrotaxane polymer [A1000] that was used in Synthesis Example 1 as a reactant are shown inFIG. 1, and a structure of the caprolactone bonded to the macrocycle of polyrotaxane was confirmed through a gCOSY NMR spectrum ofFIG. 2. Further, 1H NMR of polyrotaxane contained in the finally obtained polyrotaxane polymer liquid has a shape as shown inFIG. 3[a peak intensity, and the like, may be different].
The number (m+N inFIG. 1) of caprolactone repeating units included in the macrocycle of polyrotaxane was confirmed to be 8.05 through the NMR data ofFIG. 2, and it may be appreciated that in the case in which the number of repeating units is 8, a seventh peak ofFIG. 3has intensity of 16.00 (2H*8). Therefore, when a substitution rate of the end of the caprolactone repeating unit substituted by “OH” is 100%, a first peak ofFIG. 3relating to acrylate functional groups should have intensity of 4.00 (2H*2). Thus, an end substitution rate of a lactone-based compound bonded to the macrocycle of polyrotaxane may be calculated by comparing with practically measured 1H NMR values. The substitution rate of the finally obtained polyrotaxane polymer liquid (solid content: 15%) was 46.8%.
Synthesis Example 2
After 5 g of a caprolactone-grafted polyrotaxane polymer [A1000, Advanced Soft Material Inc.] was put into a 100 ml flask, 0.906 g of 2-isocyanatoethyl acetate [AOI-VM, Showadenko K.K.], 2 mg of dibutyltin dilaurate [DBTDL, Merck & Co, Inc.], 12 mg of hydroquinone monomethylene ether, and 33 g of methylethylketone were added thereto and reacted at 70° C. for 5 hours, thereby obtaining a polyrotaxane polymer liquid including cyclodextrin to which a polylactone-based compound having an acrylate-based compound introduced at the end is bonded as a macrocycle (solid content: 15.21%).
The polyrotaxane polymer liquid as described above was dripped into an n-hexane solvent to precipitate a polymer, followed by filtration, thereby obtaining a white solid polymer (weight average molecular weight: about 500,000). 1H NMR data of the polyrotaxane polymer [A1000] that was used in Synthesis Example 2 as a reactant are shown inFIG. 1, and a structure of the caprolactone bonded to the macrocycle of polyrotaxane was confirmed through a gCOSY NMR spectrum ofFIG. 2.
Further, 1H NMR of polyrotaxane contained in the finally obtained polyrotaxane polymer liquid has a shape as shown inFIG. 3[a peak intensity and the like may be different]. The number (m+N inFIG. 1) of caprolactone repeating units included in the macrocycle of polyrotaxane was confirmed to be 8.05 through the NMR data ofFIG. 2, and it may be appreciated that in the case in which the number of repeating units is 8, a seventh peak ofFIG. 3has intensity of 16.00 (2H*8).
Therefore, when a substitution rate of the end of the caprolactone repeating unit substituted by “OH” is 100%, a first peak ofFIG. 3relating to acrylate functional groups should have intensity of 4.00 (2H*2). Thus, an end substitution rate of a lactone-based compound bonded to the macrocycle of polyrotaxane may be calculated by comparing with practically measured 1H NMR values. The substitution rate of the finally obtained polyrotaxane polymer liquid (solid content: 15%) was 60.0%.
Synthesis Example 3
After 50 g of a caprolactone-grafted polyrotaxane polymer [A1000, Advanced Soft Material Inc.] was put into a reactor, 13.58 g of 2-acryloylethyl isocyanate [Karenz-AOI, Showadenko K.K.], 20 mg of dibutyltin dilaurate [DBTDL, Merck & Co, Inc.], 110 mg of hydroquinone monomethylene ether, and 315 g of methylethylketone were added thereto and reacted at 70° C. for 5 hours, thereby obtaining a polyrotaxane polymer liquid including cyclodextrin to which a polylactone-based compound having an acrylate-based compound introduced at the end is bonded as a macrocycle (solid content: 15%).
It was confirmed by the same method as in Synthesis Examples 1 and 2 that 1H NMR of polyrotaxane contained in the finally obtained polyrotaxane polymer liquid has a shape as shown inFIG. 3[a peak intensity and the like may be different].
In addition, an end substitution rate of the lactone-based compound bonded to the macrocycle of polyrotaxane was calculated by the same method as in Synthesis Examples 1 and 2, and as a result, the substitution rate of the finally obtained polyrotaxane polymer liquid (solid content: 15%) was close to 100%.
Synthesis Example 4
Synthesis of Silicone-Epoxy Copolymer Having (Meth)acrylate Group Introduced at End
After FM-7771 (Chisso Corp. compound of Chemical Formula 10, weight average molecular weight: 1000) and bis-GMA (compound of Chemical Formula 11) were dispersed in a methylethylketone (MEK) solvent, α,α′-azobisisobutylonitrile, which is a thermal initiator, was added thereto, and a polymerization reaction was preformed at 80° C. for 5 hours, thereby synthesizing a silicone-epoxy copolymer having a (meth)acrylate group introduced at an end thereof.
EXAMPLE
Preparation of Polymer Film
Example 1
(1) Preparation of Resin Composition
Based on 100 parts by weight of polyrotaxane obtained in Synthesis Example 1, 15 parts by weight of UA-200PA (multifunctional urethane acrylate, Shin-Nakamura Chemical Co., Ltd.), 40 parts by weight of PU-3400 (multifunctional urethane acrylate, Miwon Corp.), 10 parts by weight of Miramer SIU2400 (multifunctional urethane acrylate, Miwon Corp.), 15 parts by weight of Estane-5778 (polyester-based polyurethane, Lubrizol Corp.), 1.5 parts by weight of Irgacure-184 (photopolymerization initiator), 1.55 parts by weight of Irgacure-907 (photopolymerization initiator), 12.5 parts by weight of isopropyl alcohol (IPA), and 12.5 parts by weight of ethylcellosolve were mixed therein, thereby preparing a UV curable coating composition.
(2) Preparation of Polymer Film
The UV curable coating composition was coated on each PET film (thickness: 188 μm) using a wire bar (No. 70). In addition, the coated product was dried at 90° C. for 2 minutes, and UV rays were irradiated for 5 seconds at 200 mJ/cm2, thereby preparing a polymer film having a thickness of 30 μm.
Example 2
A resin composition and a polymer film were prepared by the same method as in Example 1, except for using the polyrotaxane obtained in Synthesis Example 2.
Comparative Example
A resin composition and a polymer film were prepared by the same method as in Example 1, except for using the polyrotaxane obtained in Synthesis Example 3.
Example 3
(1) Preparation of Resin Composition
60 wt % of the silicone-epoxy copolymer having the (meth)acrylate group introduced at the end thereof (in a state in which it was dispersed in the MEK solvent, solid content: 50 wt %) obtained in Synthesis Example 4, 10 wt % of PETA, 4 wt % of a photoinitiator, 6 wt % of methyl ethyl ketone, and 20 wt % of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) were mixed, thereby preparing a UV curable composition.
(2) Preparation of Polymer Film
The prepared UV curable composition was coated on a PET film using a meyer bar (No. 50), and UV rays having a wavelength of 250 nm to 350 nm were irradiated onto the coated PET film at 200 mJ/cm2, thereby preparing a polymer film.
Experimental Example
Evaluation of Physical Properties of Polymer Film
Physical properties of the polymer films obtained in Examples 1 to 3 and a comparative example were evaluated as follows.
Experimental Example 1
Optical Properties
Light transmittance and haze were measured using a haze meter (Murakami Co. Ltd, HR-10).
Experimental Example 2
Elongation
A tensile strain (%) was measured by a tensile stress-strain test method specified in ASTMD638. In detail, a tensile specimen was manufactured according to ASTM D638 Standard, and the specimen was elongated using a texture analyzer (TA) at a predetermined rate (1 cm/s), thereby determining elongation (%) from a ratio of a length of the elongated specimen to a length of the initial specimen.
Experimental Example 3
Measurement of Scratch Resistance
A constant load was applied to steel wool to cause scratches while moving it back and forth, and the surface of the coating film was then observed with the naked eye.
The measurement results are shown in the following Table 1.
TABLE 1Example 1Example 2Transmittance/Haze92.9/0.792.6/0.8Elongation150%15%Scratch Resistance300 g load OK200 g load OK
As shown in Table 1, the polymer coating films in Examples 1 and 2 may have high elongation and elasticity while having transparent appearance characteristics, and have mechanical properties such as excellent scratch resistance or the like. Therefore, since the polymer film may have sufficient physical properties to replace tempered glass or the like, the polymer film may be used as a substrate, an external protective film, or a cover window in a flexible light emitting element display device.
4. Mandrel Test
After the coating films obtained in the examples and the comparative example were wound 180° around cylindrical mandrels having different thicknesses, respectively, and maintained for 1 second, crack generation was observed with the naked eye, and a time when cracks are not generated was confirmed while lowering an φ value of the cylindrical mandrels.
TABLE 2ComparativeExample 1Example 2ExampleMandrel Test (Φ)4624
As a result, it was confirmed that in the coating films prepared in Examples 1 and 2, cracks were not generated with a cylindrical mandrel having a lower φ value, such that the coating film had higher elasticity or elongation, high flexibility, and a foldable or rollable property as compared to the comparative example.
| 2C
| 09 | K |
Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate
like elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to FIG. 1, one or more substrates 10 can be polished by a
chemical mechanical polishing apparatus 20, which includes a lower machine
base 22 with a table top 23 mounted thereon and removable upper outer
cover (not shown). Table top 23 supports a series of polishing stations
25a, 25b, and 25c, and a transfer station 27. Transfer station 27 forms a
generally square arrangement with the three polishing stations 25a, 25b
and 25c. Transfer station 27 serves multiple functions of receiving
individual substrates 10 from a loading apparatus (not shown), washing the
substrates, loading the substrates into carrier heads, receiving the
substrates from the carrier heads, washing the substrates again, and
finally transferring the substrates back to the loading apparatus. The
carrier heads are described in more detail below, and in U.S. patent
applications Ser. No. 08/549,651, entitled "Carrier Head Design for a
Chemical Mechanical Polishing Apparatus," filed Oct. 27, 1995, and Ser.
No. 08/549,336, entitled "Continuous Processing System for Chemical
Mechanical Polishing," filed Oct. 27, 1995, both of which are assigned to
the assignee of the present application, and which are incorporated herein
by reference in their entirety.
Each polishing station 25a-25c includes a rotatable platen 30 on which a
polishing pad 32 is placed. If substrate 10 is, for example, an eight-inch
(200 mm) diameter disk, then platen 30 and polishing pad 32 will be about
twenty inches in diameter. Platen 30 is a rotatable aluminum or stainless
steel plate connected by a stainless steel platen drive shaft (not shown)
to a platen drive motor (not shown). For most polishing processes, the
drive motor rotates platen 30 at 30 to 200 revolutions per minute,
although lower or higher rotational speeds may be used.
Each polishing station 25a-25c may further include an associated pad
conditioner apparatus 40. Each pad conditioner apparatus 40 has a
rotatable arm 42 holding an independently rotating conditioner head 44 and
an associated washing basin 46. The conditioner apparatus maintains the
condition of the polishing pad so that the polishing pad maintains
effectiveness in substrate polishing.
A slurry 50 containing a reactive agent (e.g., deionized water for oxide
polishing), abrasive particles (e.g., silicon dioxide for oxide polishing)
and a chemically-reactive catalyzer (e.g., potassium hydroxide for oxide
polishing) is supplied to the surface of polishing pad 32 by a slurry
supply tube 52. Sufficient slurry is provided to cover and wet the entire
polishing pad 32. Two or more intermediate washing stations 55a and 55b
are positioned between neighboring polishing stations 25a, 25b and 25c.
The washing stations rinse the substrates as they pass from one polishing
station to another.
A rotatable multi-head carousel 60 is positioned above lower machine base
22. Carousel 60 is supported by a center post 62 and rotated thereon about
a carousel axis 64 by a carousel motor assembly located within base 22.
Center post 62 supports a carousel support plate 66 and a cover 68.
Multi-head carousel 60 includes four carrier head systems 70a, 70b, 70c,
and 70d. Three of the carrier head systems receive and hold substrates,
and polish them by pressing the substrates against the polishing pad 32 on
platen 30 of polishing stations 25a-25c. One of the carrier head systems
receives a substrate from, and delivers the substrate to, transfer station
27.
The four carrier head systems 70a-70d may be mounted on carousel support
plate 66 at equal angular intervals about carousel axis 64. Center post 62
allows the carousel motor to rotate the carousel support plate 66 and to
revolve the carrier head systems 70a-70d, and the substrates attached
thereto, about carousel axis 64.
Each carrier head system 70a-70d includes a polishing or carrier head 100,
which will be described in more detail below. Each carrier head 100
independently rotates about its own axis, and independently laterally
oscillates in a radial slot 72 formed in carousel support plate 66. A
carrier drive shaft 74 connects a carrier head rotation motor 76 to
carrier head 100 (shown by the removal of one-quarter of cover 68). Each
head has one carrier drive shaft and one motor.
Referring to FIG. 2, in which cover 68 of carousel 60 has been removed,
carousel support plate 66 supports the four carrier head systems 70a-70d.
Carousel support plate 66 includes four radial slots 72, generally
extending radially and oriented 90.degree. apart. Radial slots 72 either
may be close-ended (as shown) or open-ended. The top of support plate 66
supports four slotted carrier head support slides 80. Each slide 80 aligns
along one of the radial slots 72 and moves freely along a radial path with
respect to carousel support plate 66. Two linear bearing assemblies
bracket each radial slot 72 to support each slide 80.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each linear bearing assembly includes rails 82
fixed to carousel support plate 66, and two hands 83 fixed to slide 80 to
grasp each rail. Two bearings 84 separate each hand 83 from rail 82 to
provide free and smooth movement therebetween. Thus, the linear bearing
assemblies permit the slides 80 to move freely along radial slots 72.
A bearing stop 85 anchored to the outer end of one of rails 82 prevents
slide 80 from coming off the end of rails 82 accidentally. One of the arms
of each slide 80 contains an unillustrated threaded receiving cavity or
nut fixed to the slide near its distal end. The threaded cavity or nut
receives a worm-gear lead screw 86 driven by a slide radial oscillator
motor 87 mounted on carousel support plate 66. When motor 87 turns lead
screw 86, slide 80 moves radially. The four motors 87 are independently
operable to independently move the four slides along the radial slots 72
in carousel support plate 66.
Referring in particular to FIG. 3, a carrier head assembly, each including
a carrier head 100, a carrier drive shaft 74, carrier motor 76, and a
surrounding non-rotating shaft housing is fixed to each of the four
slides. The drive shaft housing holds drive shaft 74 by paired sets of
lower ring bearings 88 and a set of upper ring bearings 89. Each carrier
head assembly can be assembled away from polishing apparatus 20, slid in
an untightened state into radial slot 72 in carousel support plate 66 and
between the arms of slide 80, and there tightened to grasp the slide.
A rotary coupling 90 at the top of motor 76 couples four fluid or
electrical lines 92 into four channels 94 in drive shaft 74. Channels 94
are used to pneumatically power carrier head 100, to vacuum-chuck the
substrate to the bottom of the carrier head and to actuate a retaining
ring against the polishing pad. As described in more detail below, a
flange 98 is used to connect drive shaft 74 to carrier head 100. Flange 98
may be approximately concentric with drive shaft 74.
Returning to FIG. 1, the substrates attached to the bottom of carrier heads
100 may be raised or lowered by the carrier head systems 70a-70d. An
advantage of the overall carousel system is that only a short vertical
stroke is required of the polishing head systems to accept substrates, and
to position them for polishing and washing. The carrier head is vertically
fixed relative to the surface of the polishing pad by a support member
such as drive shaft 74. An input control signal (e.g., a pneumatic,
hydraulic, or electrical signal), causes expansion or contraction of
carrier head 100 of the polishing head systems in order to accommodate any
required vertical stroke. Specifically, the input control signal causes a
lower carrier head member having a substrate receiving surface to move
vertically relative to a stationary upper carrier head member.
During polishing, three of the carrier heads, e.g., those of polishing head
systems 70a-70c, are positioned at and above respective polishing stations
25a-25c. Carrier head 100 lowers a substrate to contact polishing pad 32,
and slurry 50 acts as the media for chemical mechanical polishing of the
substrate or wafer. The carrier head 100 uniformly loads the substrate
against the polishing pad. For the main polishing step, usually performed
at station 25a, carrier head 100 applies a force to substrate 10 of
approximately four to ten pounds per square inch (psi). At subsequent
stations, carrier head 100 may apply more or less force. For example, for
a final polishing step, usually performed at station 25c, carrier head 100
applies about three psi. Carrier motor 76 rotates carrier head 100 at
about 30 to 200 revolutions per minute. Platen 30 and carrier head 100 may
rotate at substantially the same rate.
In these steps, carrier head 100 must hold the substrate against polishing
pad 32, evenly distribute a downward pressure across the back surface of
the substrate, transfer torque from drive shaft 74 to the substrate, and
prevent the substrate from slipping out from beneath carrier head 100
during polishing operations.
If carrier head 100 breaks down, one or more of these functions may not be
performed or may be performed inadequately. Generally, the affected
carrier head must be removed, repaired and replaced.
As shown in FIG. 4, a carrier head 100 is connected to drive shaft 74 by
housing 102. Housing 102 is generally circular in configuration so as to
match the circular shape of the substrate to be polished. Housing 102 has
a system flange 98 connected to drive shaft 74 and a carrier head flange
101 connected to the top of the carrier head. System flange 98 has a first
plurality of magnetic plates 105 which may be spaced in an approximately
circular manner around its circumference or otherwise. FIG. 4 shows the
details only for plates 105a, 115a, and 125a. These plates are discussed
below.
Carrier head flange 101 has a second plurality of magnetic plates mounted
upright on an annulus 130 which may be spaced in an approximately circular
manner. The second plurality of magnetic plates generally face the first
plurality of magnetic plates. This second plurality of magnetic plates
comprises an inner plurality of magnetic plates 115 and an outer plurality
of magnetic plates 125. Each plate of the inner plurality 115a may be
radially separated from a corresponding outer plate 125a. Note that "a" is
used here as an index--if eight first plurality plates are used they may
be denoted 105a through 105h. Depending on the context, however, an
element number alone may also refer to a single plate or to a plurality of
plates. Annulus 130 can be made of, for example, steel. Each outer plate
125a corresponds to an inner plate 115a such that a radial line extending
from the center of annulus 130 that intersects outer plate 125a also
generally will intersect the corresponding inner plate 115a. Referring to
FIG. 5, inner plate 115, outer plate 125, and annulus 130 form a "U"-shape
when viewed in cross-section.
As mentioned above, system flange 98 has a first plurality of magnetic
plates 105a spaced around its circumference. FIG. 4 shows, in part, a
magnetic plate 105a of the first plurality. The number of such plates may
range between 4 and 12 depending on the application, the weight of the
carrier head, and the type of magnetic material used. Acceptable results
have been found if eight plates 105 are used. This particular embodiment
is shown in a bottom plan view in FIG. 6. Generally, the number of plates
105 is even and is the same as the number of inner plates 115, which, in
turn, is the same as the number of outer plurality plates 125. However,
having a matching number of plates is not necessary. For example, each
outer plate may correspond to two inner plates. Other such combinations
also are possible. The dimension of the magnetic plates along the arc of
the circumference of annulus 130 may be, for example, between 0.5 and 1
inch. The radial dimension of the magnetic plates, i.e., their thickness,
may be about 0.2 inches. The remaining dimension, the magnetic plates'
height, may be about 1 inch.
The composition of any or all of the magnetic plates may be, for example,
partially soft magnetic materials such as samarium-cobalt (SmCo),
neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB), or nickel-cobalt (NiCo). Other magnetic
materials may be used as the circumstances demand. Eight magnets made of
SmCo, for example, may hold a weight of about 400 pounds. This may be
compared with the weight of a typical carrier head 100 which may weigh
about 20 pounds. The magnet plates can be permanent magnets.
The installation of carrier head 100 involves mounting carrier head flange
101 onto flange 98. As shown in FIG. 7(a), this is accomplished relatively
simply by first moving carrier head flange 101 to a position such that
plates 115a and 125a are at a position circumferentially between plates
105a, referred to here as the "unlocked" position. Carrier head flange 101
can then be rotated to aposition such that each plate 105a is between a
set of magnetic plates 115a and 125a, referred to here as the "locked"
position and shown in FIG. 7(b). For purposes of safety, a spring return
may be provided (not shown) to maintain magnetic plates 115a and 125a in
the locked position. The above discussion also holds, of course, for
plates 105b, 115b, 125b, and so on.
In FIG. 7(b), plates 105a and 105b, inner plates 115a and 115b, and outer
plates 125a and 125b are shown in the locked position. Each plate has a
magnetization which is normal to its face, resulting in a north pole on
one face of the plate and a south pole on the opposite face. Plate 105a is
shown with a north pole denoted by "N" and a south pole denoted by "S."
Magnetic plates 115a and 125a also are oriented such that they have a
north pole "N" and a south pole "S" as shown. In this configuration, a
magnetic circuit is formed, one field line 120 of which is shown as a
dotted line. Another view of the field line is shown in FIG. 5. As this is
a stable configuration, the magnetically coupled plates resist changes to
the configuration. This provides the force required to attach carrier head
flange 101 to system flange 98.
A movement of carrier head flange 101 into or out of the plane of FIG.
7(b), which corresponds to a downward force on carrier head flange 101,
would not significantly change field line 120 until the plates start to
separate. Any such downward force on carrier head flange 101 tends to
break the closed magnetic circuit, and is thus resisted. Gravity, of
course, is one such force.
A circumferential rotation may be used to disengage carrier head flange 101
from flange 98. Referring to FIG. 8(a), a plate 105a is shown in locked
position between plates 115a and 125a. A plurality of generally "U"-shaped
shunts 135 can be provided on annulus 130--one for each set of plates 115a
and 125a. When carrier head flange 101 is rotated to the unlocked
position, plate 105a is rotated into a "U" formed by a shunt 135a. Shunt
135a effectively pulls the field lines, such as field line 120, away from
the magnetic circuit formed by plate 105a, inner plate 115a, outer plate
125a and annulus 130. This magnetic circuit is thus broken. In its place
is another magnetic circuit; this is the circuit formed by plate 105a and
shunt 135a. The field lines for this magnetic circuit, such as field line
122, are perpendicular to the direction of previous field lines such as
field line 120. The forces involved are likewise perpendicular. In this
unlocked position, carrier head flange 101 may be moved away from system
flange 98 in a direction parallel to drive shaft 74 and thus removed for
repair.
The circumferential distance between the locked and the unlocked position
is shown in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) as "d". This distance may be, for example,
between about 0.25 to 0.5 inches, corresponding to an angle of rotation of
the carrier head between about 10 and 20 degrees, such as about
15.degree..
FIG. 9 shows another embodiment, in which plates 115a and 125a are replaced
by soft ferromagnetic material plates 155a and 165a. Plates 155a and 165a
have no permanent magnetic moment, but rather have magnetic moments
induced by the magnetic field of plate 105a. As shown in FIG. 9, the left
face of plate 105a has a north pole which induces a north pole on the
right side of plate 165a. The right face of plate 105a has a south pole
which induces a south pole on the left side of plate 155a. This makes the
field line 160 run in a direction opposite that of field line 120 of FIG.
5. The remainder of the operation of this embodiment is similar to that
described above.
In yet another embodiment, referring to FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b), a magnetic
circuit is formed by plate 105a, inner plate 115a and outer plate 125a.
Plates 115a and 125a may or may not have a permanent magnetic moment.
Shunts need not be provided in this embodiment, however. Breaks 177a serve
to separate circumferentialy neighboring plates--e.g., plate 125a from
125b and plate 115a from 115b.
To couple carrier head flange 101 to system flange 98, plates 105a are
moved such that they are between breaks 177a. That is, plates 105a are
moved such that they are not co-radial with breaks 177a. To disengage
carrier head flange 101 in this embodiment, plate 105a is moved such that
it is co-radial with break 177a. Because of break 177a, a complete
magnetic circuit cannot be formed. Carrier head flange 101 is magnetically
coupled weakly, if at all, to system flange 98. Thus, carrier head flange
101 effectively is magnetically decoupled and may be removed and repaired
easily.
One way of installing plate 105a is to provide plate 105a with a radial
orientation of its poles opposite to the radial orientation of the poles
of plate 105b. In the same way, plate 105a may have a radial orientation
of its poles the same as that of plate 105c. In other words, every other
magnetic plate may have the same radial direction or orientation of its
magnetization.
This may be particularly advantageous in cases where plates 115a and 125a
have no permanent magnetic moment and in addition where shunt 135a is
used. In this situation, referring to FIG. 11, first plate 105a has been
moved into the unlocked positions inside "U"-shaped shunt 135a. On the arm
of shunt 135a opposite the north pole face of plate 105a, a north pole is
induced. A similar effect occurs with the south pole. These induced poles
are shown in FIG. 11 as N1 and S1. N1 and S1 in turn induce corresponding
magnetic poles in the portions of plates 115a and 125a nearest these
poles. In particular, N1 induces N2 and S1 induces S2. Since plate 105b
has a polarity opposite that of plate 105a, the former induces poles S4
and N4 which in turn induce S5 in plate 125b and N5 in plate 115b.
Fringing fields from poles S3 and S4 will at least partially affect the
circuit formed by plate 105b and shunt 135b. In the orientation shown,
poles S3 and N3 will "help" the magnetic circuit in the sense of not
impeding the field lines (if poles S3 and N3 were switched, their fringing
fields would undesirably impede the field lines). Therefore, orienting
first plurality plates 105 such that adjacent plates have opposite
polarities provides a convenient way of stabilizing the unlocked
configuration.
The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments.
The invention however, is not limited to the embodiments depicted and
described. Rather, the scope of the invention is defined by the appended
claims. | 1B
| 24 | B |
In the following examples, parts are by weight and temperatures are stated
in degrees Celsius.
EXAMPLE 1
60.8 g of the compound of the formula
##STR10##
are dissolved with sodium hydroxide solution in 350 ml of water together
with 6.9 g of sodium nitrite under neutral conditions and diazotized by
addition of 19.2 g of 32% hydrochloric acid at 20.degree. to 25.degree. C.
The resulting diazo suspension is added dropwise in the course of 45
minutes, at 25.degree. to 30.degree. C., to a solution prepared from 34.8
g of 6-anilino-1-hydroxynaphthalene-3-sulfonic acid and 22 g of
diethanolamine in 250 ml of water;, during this operation, the pH is kept
at 8.5 to 9.0 by addition of 18.0 g of diethanolamine. When the coupling
has ended, 40 g of 50% sodium hydroxide solution are added to the
synthesis solution and hydrolysis is carried out at 75.degree. C. for one
hour. After cooling to room temperature, the pH is brought to 6.5 to 7
with 32% hydrochloric acid. A suspension containing the dye of the formula
##STR11##
is obtained.
The dye suspension is desalinated by reverse osmosis over a membrane of
chemically modified polyacrylonitrile at 50.degree. C. and concentrated to
a final weight of 750 g.
A liquid formulation which is storage-stable at 2.degree. to 5.degree. C.
for several months is obtained.
EXAMPLE 2
A dye suspension containing 85.9 g of the trisodium salt of the dye
described in Example 1 is prepared as described in Example 1, except that
29 g of 30% sodium hydroxide solution are used instead of 40 g of
diethanolamine. The resulting suspension is then desalinated by reverse
osmosis over a membrane of chemically modified polyacrylonitrile at
50.degree. C. and concentrated to a final weight of 750 g. 3.9 g of
LiOH.multidot.1H.sub.2 O and 3.9 g of anhydrous Li.sub.2 SO.sub.4 are
added and the solution is stirred at 50.degree. C. for one hour. It is
then cooled to 25.degree. C., made up to 780 g with deionized water and
filtered.
The resulting dye solution is stable for several months at a storage
temperature of 2.degree. to 5.degree. C. and dyes paper with excellent
light-fastness.
EXAMPLE 3
The procedure described in Example 1 is repeated, except that 11.7 g of
anhydrous Li.sub.2 SO.sub.4 are used in place of 3.9 g of
LiOH.multidot.1H.sub.2 O and 3.9 g of anhydrous Li.sub.2 SO.sub.4,
likewise affording a storage-stable liquid formulation.
EXAMPLE 4
The procedure described in Example 1 is repeated, except that a total of
9.9 g of LiOH.multidot.1H.sub.2 O is used for the coupling in place of
diethanolamine, likewise affording a storage-stable liquid formulation.
EXAMPLE 5
70 parts of chemically bleached sulfite cellulose (from softwood) and 30
parts of chemically bleached sulfite cellulose (from birch wood) are
beaten in 2000 parts of water in a Hollander. 2.5 pans of the dye solution
described in Example 1 are added to this pulp. After a mixing time of 20
minutes, paper is produced from this pulp. The absorbent paper obtained in
this manner is dyed blue. The dyeing has a high light-fastness. The waste
water is practically colourless.
EXAMPLE 6
3.0 parts of the dye solution from Example 1 are dissolved in 100 parts of
water and the solution is added to 100 pans of chemically bleached sulfite
cellulose which has been beaten with 2000 parts of water in a Hollander.
After thorough mixing for 15 minutes, sizing is carried out in the
customary manner with resin size and aluminium sulfate. Paper produced
from this pulp has a blue shade with good wet-fastnesses and good
light-fastness.
EXAMPLES 7-13
The following dyes which dye paper in blue colour shades with good
fastnesses are prepared in a manner analogous to that described in Example
1.
______________________________________
##STR12##
Example A
______________________________________
7
##STR13##
8
##STR14##
9
##STR15##
10
##STR16##
11
##STR17##
12
##STR18##
13
##STR19##
______________________________________
EXAMPLES 14-16
The following dyes which dye paper in blue colour shades with good
fastnesses are prepared in a manner analogous to that described in Example
1.
__________________________________________________________________________
##STR20##
Example R
__________________________________________________________________________
14 CH.sub.3
15 SO.sub.3 H
16 COOH
__________________________________________________________________________
EXAMPLES 17-22
The following dyes which dye paper in blue colour shades with good
fastnesses are prepared in a manner analogous to that described in Example
1.
______________________________________
##STR21##
Beispiel A
______________________________________
17
##STR22##
18
##STR23##
19
##STR24##
20
##STR25##
21
##STR26##
22
##STR27##
______________________________________
EXAMPLES 23-25
The following dyes which dye paper in blue colour shades with good
fastnesses are prepared in a manner analogous to that described in Example
1.
______________________________________
##STR28##
Example D
______________________________________
23
##STR29##
24
##STR30##
25
##STR31##
______________________________________ | 3D
| 21 | H |
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The following description of the preferred embodiment of the invention is not intended to limit the invention to this preferred embodiment, but rather to enable any person skilled in the art of flow cytometry to make and use this invention.
As shown in the FIGURE, the flow cytometry system10of the preferred embodiment includes a flow channel12defining an interrogation zone14. A light source16and a light detector18are connected to the interrogation zone14, such that a sample flowing through the interrogation zone14can be optically analyzed through methods known in the art of flow cytometry. A bubble detector20is connected to the flow channel12. A controller22is connected to the bubble detector and is adapted to perform a predetermined output in response to the detection of a bubble in the flow channel12.
The flow channel12of the preferred embodiment is connected to a sample container38by a drawtube40. The flow channel12functions to contain and direct a sample fluid42through the interrogation zone14such that it can be analyzed. The drawtube40functions as a passageway into which the sample fluid42is drawn and transported to the flow channel12. The sample fluid42may be anything capable of being inserted into the flow path. Samples within the sample fluid42may include cells, biological materials, or other particles to be assayed, measured, or counted. The interrogation zone14is a portion of the flow channel12that readily permits analysis of the sample fluid42. In particular, the interrogation zone14is preferably transparent to the light source16and any range of light that may be scattered from the samples to the light detector18.
The light source16and the light detector18of the preferred embodiment are connected to the interrogation zone14. The light source16functions to emit a collimated beam of light, such as a laser beam, into the interrogation zone14from where it is scattered, absorbed, reflected, refracted, fluoresced, or transmitted by the sample within the sample fluid42. The light detector18functions to collect the light that is scattered, absorbed, reflected, refracted, fluoresced, or transmitted by the sample within the sample fluid42. Preferably, the light source16and the light detector18are connected to the controller22, which is adapted to control the emissions of the light source16and receive detected signals from the light detector18. Alternatively, there may be more than one light source16and more than one light detector18, each of which may emit a distinct frequency band or be responsive to a distinct frequency band, respectively. The light source and the light detector may, however, be any suitable combination of suitable devices to facilitate the analysis of the sample.
The bubble detector20of the preferred embodiment is connected to the flow channel12. The bubble detector20functions to detect the presence of one or more bubbles within the flow channel12. Bubbles include one or more pockets of gas (such as air) in a fluid, such as the sample fluid42. Bubbles may be of any size and may be present at any location in the fluid stream of the flow path, including in the flow channel12and the drawtube40. The term bubbles as is used herein also includes continuous air entering the drawtube, which may occur as a result of an empty sample well or container. Bubbles may be moving or may be generally fixed within the flow channel12, and they may be introduced externally (e.g. from leaks in the flow line, a sheath fluid container28, or the sample container38) or they may be generated internally (e.g., from the coalescence or nucleation of gases dissolved in the sheath fluid and/or sample fluid42). The bubble detector20of the preferred embodiment may be an impedance detector, an electromagnetic detector, a capacitance detector, an ultrasound detector, or any other suitable bubble detector.
An impedance detector functions to detect the presence of a bubble in the flow channel12by measuring a change between the impedance of a fluid and the impedance of a fluid with a gas that forms a bubble. The impedance detector includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter and the receiver are preferably electric devices and the signal acquired and analyzed by the receiver is preferably an electrical impedance. The transmitter is preferably any suitable emitter of an electric current (such as a first gold-plated electrode), and the receiver is preferably any suitable acquirer of the electric current (such as a second gold-plated electrode). Bubbles in fluid typically have higher electrical impedance than the fluid itself, particularly if the fluid contains conductive ions (which is typical of common flow cytometry buffers and samples). As such, the electrical impedance measured by the receiver will be modified when bubbles are present in the fluid stream between the transmitter and the receiver. Any suitable method may be used by the receiver to analyze whether the electrical impedance has been modified by the presence of bubbles in the fluid stream. Examples of suitable analysis methods include employing electrical impedance detection thresholds and/or algorithms that discriminate between the electrical impedance measurement of a fluid stream lacking bubbles and the electrical impedance measurement of a fluid stream containing bubbles. Electrical impedance measurements may be discriminated based on simple threshold or more complex pattern recognition algorithms. The analysis method used by the receiver may be preset, user defined, or dynamically created or altered.
An electromagnetic detector functions to detect the presence of a bubble in the flow channel12by measuring a difference in the electromagnetic properties of the fluid within the flow channel12as compared to the electromagnetic properties of the fluid with a gaseous bubble. The electromagnetic detector includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter and receiver are optoelectronic devices and the signal acquired and measured by the receiver is an optical signal. The transmitter is preferably any suitable emitter of an electromagnetic wave (such as a light emitting diode), and the receiver is preferably any suitable acquirer of the electromagnetic wave (such as a photodetector). Bubbles in fluid typically cause the optical properties of the fluid, such as transmission, reflection, refraction, absorption and the like, to be altered. As such, the optical properties measured by the receiver will be modified when bubbles are present in the fluid stream between the transmitter and the receiver. Any suitable method may be used by the receiver to analyze whether the optical properties have been modified by the presence of bubbles in the fluid stream. Examples of suitable analysis methods include employing electromagnetic radiation detection thresholds and/or algorithms that discriminate between the intensity or frequency of light passing through a fluid stream lacking bubbles and the intensity or frequency measurement of a fluid stream containing bubbles. Optical property measurements may be discriminated based on a simple threshold or more complex pattern recognition algorithms. The analysis method used by the receiver may be preset, user defined, or dynamically created or altered. Furthermore, a “reference cell” of known configuration (e.g. a section of fluid flow path either free of bubbles or known to contain one or more bubbles) may be included in the system to provide a reference for threshold or other such parameters that enables compensation for dynamic changes in fluid composition, temperature, and the like.
A capacitance detector functions to detect the presence of a bubble in the flow channel12by measuring a difference in capacitance between a fluid passing through the flow channel12and a fluid having bubbles passing through the flow channel12. The capacitance detector includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter is preferably any suitable conductor of an electric current (such as a first gold-plated electrode), and the receiver is preferably any suitable conductor of the electric current (such as a second gold-plated electrode). The detector may further include an amplifier, diode, or other suitable electronic device for measuring a change in current in the conductor of the receiver. Bubbles in fluid typically have a lower dielectric constant than the fluid itself, particularly if the fluid contains conductive ions (which is typical of common flow cytometry buffers and samples). As such, the capacitance measured by the receiver will be modified when bubbles are present in the fluid stream between the transmitter and the receiver. Any suitable method may be used by the receiver to analyze whether the capacitance has been modified by the presence of bubbles in the fluid stream. Examples of suitable analysis methods include employing electrical current thresholds and/or algorithms that discriminate between the capacitance measurement of a fluid stream lacking bubbles and the capacitance measurement of a fluid stream containing bubbles. Capacitance measurements may be discriminated based on a simple threshold or more complex pattern recognition algorithms. The analysis method used by the receiver may be preset, user defined, or dynamically created or altered.
The ultrasound detector functions to detect the presence of a bubble in the flow channel12by measuring a difference in the acoustic properties of the fluid as compared to the acoustic properties of a fluid having one or more bubbles. The ultrasound detector includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter is preferably any suitable emitter of an acoustic signal, and the receiver is preferably any suitable acquirer of the acoustic signal. Bubbles in fluid typically cause echoes, distortion or other measurable changes to the acoustic properties of the fluid. As such, the acoustic signal measured by the receiver will be modified when bubbles are present in the fluid stream between the transmitter and the receiver. Any suitable method may be used by the receiver to analyze whether the acoustic signal has been modified by the presence of bubbles in the fluid stream. Examples of suitable analysis methods include employing acoustic signal detection thresholds and/or algorithms that discriminate between the acoustic properties measurement of a fluid stream lacking bubbles and the acoustic properties measurement of a fluid stream containing bubbles. Acoustic signal measurements may be discriminated based on a simple threshold or more complex pattern recognition algorithms. The analysis method used by the receiver may be preset, user defined, or dynamically created or altered.
In a preferred embodiment, a single signal type is employed. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of signal types emitted from one or more transmitters may be used. In alternative variations of the preferred embodiment, signal types other than electrical impedance, electromagnetic waves, capacitance and acoustic waves may be used. For the impedance detector, the electromagnetic detector, the capacitance detector, and the ultrasound detector, the transmitter and receiver may be connected to the system10in any configuration suitable for emitting and acquiring, respectively, a signal capable of being modified by the presence of bubbles. The receiver of the bubble detector20is preferably connected to the system10in relative close proximity to the transmitter (e.g. on opposite walls of the flow channel12such that the distance between the transmitter and receiver is approximately equal to the diameter of the flow channel12). By placing the transmitter and receiver in close proximity to one another, the system10can identify the presence of bubbles at a relatively localized site along the flow path. Alternatively, the receiver may be connected to the system10along the flow path at a more distant location relative to the transmitter, which allows the system10to identify the presence of bubbles present along a length of the flow path, i.e. over a length of the flow channel12. The signal emitted from the transmitter may be optimally adjusted to function with the particular configuration of the transmitter and receiver. In the preferred embodiment, a single transmitter and a single receiver are connected to the flow cytometer. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of transmitters and receivers may be connected, thus permitting both localized and wide-area detection of bubbles. Any suitable combination of transmitters and receivers (either in a 1:1 ratio or any other suitable ratio) may be used.
In an alternative embodiment, the bubble detector20includes a data analysis unit connected to the light detector and adapted to detect the presence of a bubble in the interrogation zone. The data analysis unit may be connected to the interrogation zone14, or alternatively, the data analysis unit may be integrated within the controller22. The preferred data analysis unit functions to detect the presence of a bubble in the interrogation zone14by comparing the data received by the light detector18with a control data set that is indicative of a fluid without bubbles. The control data set may be programmed into the data analysis unit, it may be determined by a user, or alternatively it may be acquired by the data acquisition unit in real-time such that for each sample being analyzed, the data analysis unit includes a relevant control data set for comparison. Examples of suitable data discrimination analysis methods include signal detection thresholds and/or algorithms that discriminate between the measured properties of a fluid lacking bubbles and the properties measured of a fluid containing bubbles. Signal measurements may be discriminated based on a simple threshold or more complex pattern recognition algorithms. The analysis method used by the data analysis unit may be preset, user defined, or dynamically created or altered.
Once the bubble detector20has detected bubbles, the system10preferably implements or suggests corrective actions to avoid or limit the corruption of the experimental data and/or inconvenience to the user. Preferably, the controller22is adapted to perform a predetermined output in response to the detection of a bubble. In a first variation of the controller22, the predetermined output includes alerting a user regarding the detection of a bubble. To alert the user, the system10preferably includes a user interface24that is connected to the controller22. The user interface24may include a display and/or speakers that enable the controller to initiate a visual and/or audio alert to the user in response to the detection of a bubble. For example, a display on the user interface24may visually indicate the detection of a bubble through those means and methods known in the communications arts. The system10may, however, alternatively include any other suitable method or device to alert the user regarding the detection of a bubble.
In a second variation of the controller22, the predetermined output performed includes flagging data. In response to the detection of a bubble, the controller22is adapted to flag data, recognizing that the data may be corrupted, inaccurate, or otherwise unreliable. Preferably, the controller22flags the data in the time domain, independently of the quality, quantity, or other characteristics of the data received from the interrogation zone14. That is, the controller22is adapted to associate a time with the detection of a bubble, through an internal clock or other mechanism, and flag the data associated with the time at which the bubble was detected by the bubble detector20. Preferably, the controller flags the data in the time domain for an interval of time that substantially corresponds to the detection of a bubble in the interrogation zone. As such, if a single bubble is detected as it passes through the interrogation zone, then the interval of time would be the amount of time that it took the bubble to exit the interrogation zone after detection. Alternatively, the interval of time may automatically include a predetermined amount of time prior to the detection of the bubble, thus accounting for any delay or error in the bubble detection process or the transmission of the detection signal to the controller22from the bubble detector20. The interval of time may also be fixed, based upon historical or estimated time intervals for clearing the interrogation zone14of bubbles, or user defined prior to experimentation or during the experiment based upon the observations of the user of the data stream.
In a third variation of the controller22, the predetermined output includes ceasing data collection in response to the detection of a bubble. The cessation of data collection can be accomplished through control of the light source16and the light detector18, both of which are connected to the controller22. In response to the detection of a bubble, the controller22preferably ceases, or otherwise modifies, the operation of the light source16and/or the light detector18, thus preventing the acquisition of corrupted or otherwise unusable data from the interrogation zone14. When the flow channel12is clear of bubbles, the controller22preferably resumes normal operation of the light source16and/or light detector18in accordance with the standard operation of the flow cytometry system10.
The system10of the preferred embodiment also includes a sheath fluid pump26, which is in fluid communication with the flow channel12. The sheath fluid pump26functions to pump sheath fluid from a sheath fluid container28into the flow channel12. The sheath fluid functions to hydrodynamically focus the sample fluid42, and the sample located therein, as it passes through the interrogation zone. The sheath fluid may be distilled water or phosphate-buffered saline, or any other suitable fluid for hydrodynamically focusing the sample in the interrogation zone14. The system10of the preferred embodiment also includes a waste fluid pump30, which is in fluid communication with the flow channel12. The waste fluid pump30functions to extract waste fluid (the mixture of the sheath fluid and the sample fluid42) from the flow channel12and deposit the waste fluid into a waste fluid container32.
The preferred controller22controls the flow rate of both the sheath fluid pump26and the waste fluid pump30. In operation, the sheath fluid pump26and the waste fluid pump30preferably cooperate to draw the sample fluid42from the sample container38into the interrogation zone14through the use of a pressure differential (e.g., the sheath fluid pump26“pushes” the sheath fluid and the waste fluid pump30“pulls” the sheath fluid and the sample fluid42). In order to allow a variable flow rate of the sample fluid42, the system10preferably allows for a variable flow rate of the sheath fluid and/or the waste fluid. For example, the sheath fluid pump26and the waste fluid pump30may be driven by a single motor with a variable drive ratio device (e.g., transmission), by a single motor with at least one valve34(such as a by-pass valve or restrictive valve) located near the sheath fluid pump26and/or the waste fluid pump30to divert or restrict a variable amount of the fluid flow, by separate motors with separate controls, or by any other suitable method or device such as the control schemes taught in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/370,714 filed 8 Mar. 2006 and entitled “Fluidic System For A Flow Cytometer”, which is incorporated in its entirety by this reference. As such, the controller22may cease data collection through control the flow of sample fluid42through the flow channel12through control of the sheath fluid pump26and/or the waste fluid pump30.
In response to the detection of a bubble, the controller22may be adapted to vary the flow rates of the sheath fluid pump26and the waste fluid pump30such that their respective flow rates are substantially identical. As previously noted, the sample fluid42is pulled into the flow channel12by the pressure differential generated by the sheath fluid pump26and the waste fluid pump30. Therefore, if the controller22operates the sheath fluid pump26and the waste fluid pump30at identical or substantially identical flow rates, then no sample fluid42will be injected into the flow channel42. As such, the sample fluid42and the sample will be conserved, the bubble will pass through the interrogation zone14, and data collection will effectively cease as no new samples will enter into the interrogation zone. When the flow channel12is clear of bubbles, the controller22preferably returns the flow rate of the sheath fluid pump26and the waste fluid pump30to their respective normal operational flow rates and normal analysis of the sample fluid42may resume.
Alternatively, in response to the detection of a bubble, the controller22may be adapted to dynamically vary the flow rates of the sheath fluid pump26and the waste fluid pump30. For example, in response to the detection of a bubble, the controller may alternately increase the flow rate of the waste fluid pump30and decrease the rate of the sheath fluid pump26, resulting in a harmonic pressure differential within the system10that dissipates, destroys or otherwise removes the bubbles from the interrogation zone14. The controller22may be adapted to dynamically vary the flow rates of the sheath fluid pump26and the waste fluid pump30at constant or variable frequencies between one and one hundred Hz in order to remove the bubbles from the interrogation zone42. Once the bubble detector20indicates that the interrogation zone14is clear of bubbles, then the controller22may be adapted to return the flow rate of the sheath fluid pump26and the waste fluid pump30to their respective normal operational flow rates and normal analysis of the sample fluid42may resume.
In addition to controlling the flow rates of the sheath fluid pump26and the waste fluid pump30, the controller22may also be adapted to control the valve34in fluid communication with the interrogation zone14. For example, the controller22may control the flow rate of the sheath fluid and/or the waste fluid by controlling a by-pass valve or a restrictive valve. As previously noted, by controlling the flow rate of the sheath fluid and/or the waste fluid, the controller22can cease data collection while removing bubbles from the interrogation zone. Control of the flow rates of the sheath fluid and/or waste fluid may accelerate the removal of bubbles from the flow channel12. Alternatively, control of the flow rates of the sheath fluid and/or waste fluid may cause harmonic pressure differentials that dissipate, destroy or otherwise remove the bubbles from the interrogation zone. Alternatively, control of the flow rates of the sheath fluid and/or waste fluid may cause a pressure equilibrium that results in the cessation of sample fluid42being pulled into the flow channel12. Once the bubble detector20indicates that the interrogation zone14is clear of bubbles, then the controller22may be adapted to return the valve34to its respective normal operational levels and normal analysis of the sample fluid42may resume.
As a person skilled in the art of flow cytometry will recognize from the previous detailed description and from the figure and claims, modifications and changes can be made to the preferred embodiment of the invention without departing from the scope of this invention defined in the following claims.
| 1B
| 65 | B |
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A shedding device of the design here under consideration includes a
kinematic connecting member 1, which interconnects pulling elements, a
pulley block 2 with a first disk 3, around which the connecting member 1
is guided, and a second pulley 4, which is connected to the first disk 3
via web parts 5, a cord 6, which is guided around the second disk 4 and is
connected to the heddle 7 for the guiding of warp threads and a restoring
spring 8, which is mounted to the end of the heddle 7. The other end of
the cord 6 is connected to the machine frame.
The shedding device includes, furthermore, two lifting blades, which are
oppositely moveable upwards and downwards, two pulling elements, which are
moveable upwards and downwards between a lower and an upper shed position
and an electrically controllable magnetic insertion device with a control
device.
The lifting blades, pulling elements and the retention device will be
described in detail based on the appended drawings for the inventive
embodiments of shedding devices.
In FIGS. 1 and 2 a first embodiment of an retention device is illustrated.
This insertion device 12 includes two electromagnets 13, 14 and two pole
plates 15, 16 and a holder 17, as well. Each electromagnet consists of a
cylindrical core 18 and a winding 19, which is wound on the core (FIG. 2).
Each pole plate 15, 16 has a U-shaped cross section, which decreases along
the length of the pole plate, such that the legs 20, 21 form inclined
surfaces. The pole plates 15, 16 are arranged in such a manner, that the
ends of the legs are at a distance oppositely of each other. The
electromagnets 13, 14 are located between the pole plates 15, 16. The
electromagnets 13, 14 and the pole plates 15, 16 are interconnected by a
plastic material mass 22, which fills the hollow spaces between the pole
plates and the gap between the ends of the legs. By means of this a wedge
shaped unit having two inclined surfaces is arrived at.
Such as illustrated in FIG. 1, a portion of the pulling element 42 is
attracted when the electromagnets 13, 14 are excited, such that this
portion comes to lay against the inclined surfaces, which are formed by
the outer surface of the legs 20, 21 of the pole plates. In this case the
pole plates form pole areas 23 and 24, such that the lines of flux 25 of
the electromagnets are directed in a lateral direction relative to the
pulling element 42. A base edge 17A is formed by the lower broader portion
of this insertion device 12.
FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of an retention device. This
insertion device 31 has an electromagnet 32 and a support 33 for the
electromagnet. The electromagnet 32 consists of a double-T-shaped core 34
and a winding 35. The core 34 has a web portion, on which the winding is
arranged in an insulated manner and a broader base flange 36 and a
narrower flange 37, which include inclined surfaces at the sides facing
the pulling elements 42, which form defines pole areas 38 and 39 and
accordingly the base edge.
It is illustrated in FIG. 3, that a portion of the pulling element 42 is
attracted when the electromagnet 32 is excited, such that this portion
comes to lay on the inclined surfaces of the flanges 36, 37 of the core
34, whereby the lines of flux 40 are directed in the longitudinal
direction of the pulling element 42. By means of this, the magnetic
circuit is short-circuited, such that the power consumption of the
electromagnet 32 is decreased in an advantageous manner.
The inventive shedding device illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 7 includes two
lifting blades 41, which are oppositely moved upwards and downwards by a
not illustrated driving device, two pulling elements 42, which can be
brought to engage and disengage the lifting blades 41, an retention device
12 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 with a not specifically illustrated
control circuit 58, and which are located at the area of the lower shed
position of the pulling elements 42 and two guide portions 43, 44, between
which the retention device 12 is arranged in such a manner, that the
pulling elements 42 attain a defined position relative to the pole areas
(23, 24;) of the retention device 12 (FIG. 1). In this position an air gap
A of a maximal width of less than 1 mm, preferably almost zero, is present
between the base edge 17a of the pole areas and the pulling element 42
(FIG. 6). In order to improve the guiding of the pulling elements 4,
groove-like recesses can be foreseen in the guiding members 43, 44.
The pulling element 42 is of a strip-like design. At the lower end the
pulling element 42 is connected to the kinematic connecting member 1. The
upper end is designed as hook shaped portion 45, which can be brought to
engage and to disengage the lifting blade 41. The pulling element 42 is
divided into a coupling portion 46, which is adjacent the hook shaped
portion 45 and a guiding portion 47 adjoining same. An abutment part 48 is
located in the guiding portion 47, which e.g. lies on an abutment board
49, when the pulling element 42 is in the lower shed position (FIG. 4).
The guiding portion 47 is guided in an opening 50 in the abutment board
49. The members 1, 48, 2, 6, 7 and 8 collectively are called a "complete
harness string."
The pulling element 42 can consist of a metal, which is magnetizable. It is
likewise possible to use a pulling element consisting of a plastic
material, whereby the coupling portion 46 can consist of a magnetizable
material or must contain such a material.
At the longitudinal edge the lifting blades 41 are equipped with two
parallel extending portions 51, 52, into which the hook shaped sections 45
hook in.
A tension spring 53 is hooked onto the pulley block 2 in order to
pretension the pulling elements 42 in the direction of the shed to be
formed.
It is, however, also possible to allocate a spring to every pulling element
42.
In FIG. 5 the pulling element 42 is designed integrally. It is, however,
also possible to design the pulling element in two parts, whereby then the
coupling portion 46 and the guiding portion 47 are interconnected as
separate structures by suitable means.
The shedding device is equipped with a resetting device 55 in order to lift
the coupling portion 46 of the pulling element 42 off the retention device
12, when the electromagnets 13, 14 (FIG. 1) are not excited. To this end,
the resetting device 55 can consist of a support 56 and a leaf spring 57
and be e.g. mounted at the retention device 12.
FIGS. 8 to 11 illustrate a further embodiment of an inventive shedding
device.
The shedding device is designed in a space saving manner and comprises two
lifting blades 101, two pulling members 102, guide parts 103 for the
lifting blades, an retention device 12 illustrated in FIG. 1 and two
guiding elements or guides 104, between which the retention device 12 is
arranged in such a manner, that the pulling elements 102 attain a defined
position relative to the pole areas 23, 24 (FIG. 1).
As shown in FIGS. 8+9, the guiding element or guide 104 is designed in such
a manner, that the pulling element 102 is guided at the respective lower
base edge 17a of the retention device, wherewith the pulling element
contacts the pole areas 23, 24 with a minimal air gap. It is, thereby,
specifically advantageous, that the pulling element 102 extends inclined
relative to the base surface of the retention device 12. By means of such,
a defined restoring force of the coupling portion 110 is arrived at.
The pulling element 102 is designed in a strip-like manner and consists of
an elastically deformable material. The pulling element consists of a
narrow portion 105, onto the free end of which the connecting member 1 is
hooked on, and a broad portion 106, of which the free end comprises a
portion 107 which is inclined relative to the plane of the strip. A
rectangular opening 108 is formed below the portion 107. By means of the
two portions 105 and 106 a shoulder 109 is formed at the pulling element,
which lies on the abutment board 46, when the pulling element 102 is in
its lower shed position. Furthermore, the pulling element is divided into
the coupling portion 110 and a guide portion 111.
The lifting blade 101 has at its narrow side facing downwards a projection
112 with hook shaped portions 113, which project from the side surfaces of
the projection 112 and can be brought to engage and disengage the openings
108 in the pulling element.
A ramping surface 114 is formed by the projecting portions 113. The portion
112 is adjoined by a broadened portion 116 having inclined surfaces 117,
which passes into the head portion of the lifting blade 101. During the
downwards movement of the lifting blade 101 the inclined portion 107 of
the pulling element is placed onto the inclined surface 117 and by the
continued downwards movement of the lifting blade the coupling portion 110
is deflected and comes to lay on the pole areas 23, 24 (FIG. 1) of the
retention device 12.
FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate a further embodiment of the inventive shedding
device.
The shedding device includes two lifting blades 120, two pulling elements
121 and an retention device 12 illustrated in FIG. 1, which is arranged in
such a manner, that it is located between the pulling elements 121, when
latter are in the lower shed position. In this lower shed position the
pulling elements attain a defined position relative to the pole areas 23,
24 (FIG. 1).
The pulling element 121 comprises a strip shaped guide portion 122 and a
strip shaped coupling portion 123, which is fixed on the guide portion
122. The guide portion 122 is connected at one end to the kinematic
connecting member 1. At the area of the other end a rectangular opening
125 is foreseen. The guide portion 122 consists advantageously of a
material, which is not magnetizable. Each pulling element 121 has a stop
member 54, which projects outwards towards the lifting blade 120 and is
mounted to the guide portion 122 and which e.g. lies on the abutment board
46, when the pulling element 121 is in the lower shed position, or which
causes the lifting blade 120 moves the pulling element 121 positively into
the lower shed position.
The coupling portion 123 has at one end a hook shaped portion 126 which can
project through the opening 125 and serves as a locked connection with the
lifting blade. The coupling portion 123 consists of an elastically
deformable material, which is magnetizable and is pivoted to the magnet
pole 23, 24. A two-part design of this pulling element 121 is specifically
advantageous, because no magnetic attraction force is exerted onto the
guide portion 122.
A guide member 127 which serves as a restoring cam is located above the
retention device 12, and the coupling portions 123 contact this guide
member 127, when the pulling element 121 is in the upper shed position. An
opening 128 is foreseen in the abutment board 46, in which the guide
portion 122 is guided during the upwards and downwards movement.
Accordingly, a double guiding for the pulling element 121 is arrived at.
The guiding can be improved, when a groove shaped recess is foreseen in
the guide member 127, which receives the coupling portion 123 during the
upwards and downwards movement of the pulling member, such that the guide
portion 122 is guided at the edges of the guide member 127.
Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been specifically
illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minor
variations may be made in the apparatus without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention, as defined the appended claims. | 3D
| 03 | C |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
An embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 in connection with a shaft 10 forming a portion of a turbo machine, centrifugal compressor, or the like. An annular labyrinth seal assembly 12 extends around the shaft to seal against the leakage of fluid in an axial direction along the shaft from a high pressure area to a low pressure of the turbo machine. The seal assembly 12 consists of four arcuate segments 14 , 16 , 18 and 20 disposed in an end-to-end relationship with each segment extending for approximately ninety degrees to form a ring. A portion of the outer surfaces of the segments 14 , 16 , 18 , and 20 are machined to form flat surface portions 14 a , 16 a , 18 a , and 20 a , midway between the respective ends of each segment.
A spring-loaded assembly 24 is mounted in one end portion of the segment 14 and engages the corresponding end of the segment 20 ; a spring-loaded assembly 26 is mounted in one end portion of the segment 16 and engages the corresponding end of the segment 14 ; a spring-loaded assembly 28 is mounted in one end portion of the segment 18 and engages the corresponding end of the segment 16 ; and a spring-loaded assembly 30 is mounted in one end portion of the segment 20 and engages the corresponding end of the segment 18 . The assemblies 24 , 26 , 28 , and 30 will be described in detail later.
With reference to FIG. 2 , the seal assembly 12 is mounted in a casing 32 , and although shown partially, it is understood that the casing extends completely around the shaft 10 and supports it for rotation in a conventional manner. The casing 32 has an internal cylindrical bore 32 a which receives the shaft 10 , and an inner annular cavity, or enlarged groove, 32 b formed in the inner surface portion of the casing that defines the bore 32 1 , for receiving the seal assembly 12 . Although FIG. 2 depicts only the seal assembly segment 18 extending in the cavity 32 b , it is understood that the other segments 14 , 16 , and 20 also extend in other portions of the cavity.
The outer surface of the shaft 10 is radially spaced from the corresponding inner surface of the casing 32 to form an annular chamber 34 . The segment 18 has an annular inside labyrinth surface 18 b extending through a corresponding portion of the chamber 34 and into a sealing engagement with the outer surface of the shaft 10 . The labyrinth surface 18 b thus divides the chamber 34 into a relatively high pressure portion 34 a located upstream of the labyrinth surface 18 b and a relatively low pressure portion 34 b located downstream of the labyrinth surface. In the event the casing 32 forms part of a turbo machine or a compressor, the high pressure chamber portion 34 typically would be in pressure communication with the high pressure discharge gas from the impeller (not shown) of the turbo machine or compressor.
The inner surface of the segment 18 is spaced from the inner wall of the cavity 32 a to form a annular space, and a passage 36 connects the space with the chamber portion 34 a . Thus, the relatively high pressure in the chamber portion 34 a is transmitted to the latter space so that as the pressure increases, the segment 18 , and therefore its labyrinth surface 18 b , is forced into sealing engagement with the outer surface of the shaft 10 . This establishes a seal against the movement of the high pressure gas in an axial direction along the shaft 10 from the chamber portion 34 a to the chamber portion 34 b.
It is understood that the other segments 14 , 16 , and 20 of the seal assembly are identical to the segment 18 , extend in the cavity 32 a of the casing in the same manner, and, together with the segment 18 , surround the entire outer surface of the shaft 10 . Also, each of the other segments 14 , 16 , and 20 has a labyrinth surface that also sealing engages the outer surface of the shaft 10 in the same manner as described above.
Since the specific arrangement of the segments 14 , 16 , 18 and 20 , the labyrinth surface 18 b and the corresponding labyrinth surfaces of the segments 14 , 16 , and 20 , as well as their engagement with the shaft 10 , do not, per se, form a part of any embodiment of the present invention, they will not be described in any further detail. However, they are fully disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,019, assigned to the present assignee, and the disclosure of this patent is incorporated by reference.
Although the casing 32 is not shown in FIG. 1 for the convenience of presentation, it is provided with two stops 38 a and 38 b in its upper half, which are shown in FIG. 1 . The labyrinth segments 14 , 16 , 18 , and 20 slide into the cavity 32 a of the casing 30 and are retained by the stops 38 a and 38 b extending in corresponding grooves formed in the end portions of the segments 14 and 20 .
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3 , a through bore 20 b is formed through the segment 20 and extends from an outer surface of the segment to the end thereof adjacent the corresponding end of the segment 18 . The spring-loaded assembly 30 is located in the bore 20 b and includes a spring 40 extending in the bore between a spring plate 42 and a ball 44 . A portion of the ball 44 extends outwardly from the bore 20 b under the force of the spring 40 , and the remaining portion of the ball rides in a retainer sleeve 46 disposed in the end portion of the bore. The spring 40 thus urges the ball 44 outwardly from the bore 20 b against the corresponding end of the adjacent segment 18 .
A portion of the bore 20 b extending from the surface of the segment 20 is of a smaller diameter than the remaining portion of the bore to form a shoulder for receiving the spring plate 42 . The smaller-diameter portion of the bore 20 b is internally threaded, and an externally threaded set-screw 48 is in threaded engagement with this bore portion. Thus, rotation of the set-screw 48 causes corresponding axial movement of same in the bore 28 b and thus adjusts the compression on the spring 40 , and therefore the force applied by the spring to the ball 44 . This creates an adjustable separation force between the end of the segment 20 and the corresponding end of the segment 18 .
The connection assemblies 24 , 26 and 28 are identical to the assembly 30 and are mounted in the seal assembly segments 14 , 16 , and 18 , respectively, in an identical manner.
In operation, the set-screw 48 is adjusted to apply a predetermined separation force between the segments 18 and 20 as discussed above, and the set-screws associated with the segments 14 , 16 , and 20 are adjusted in the same manner. Thus, the segments 14 , 16 , 18 , and 20 are spring loaded into a slightly expanded position, with the corresponding ends of adjacent segments being in a slightly spaced condition, as shown in FIG. 1 . As the pressure in the chamber portion 34 a pressure increases, the labyrinth surface 18 a of the segment 18 , as well as the labyrinth surfaces of the segments 14 , 16 , and 20 will be forced into a sealing engagement with the shaft 10 as described above.
The seal assembly 10 has several advantages. For example, it is relatively easy to assemble, provides uniform loading on all segments of the assembly and can easily be adjusted. Also, the flat surface portions 14 a , 16 a , 18 a , and 20 a make the segments 14 , 16 , 18 , and 20 , respectively, more stable when retracted and ensures that the upstream pressurized steam gets into the cavity 32 a and into the annular space between the inner wall of the cavity and the corresponding outer surface of each segment 14 , 16 , 18 , and 20 .
According to the embodiment of FIG. 4 the ball 44 of the previous embodiment is replaced by a solid cylindrical plunger 50 . Since the remaining components of the embodiment of FIG. 4 are identical to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 , they are referred to by the same reference numerals.
An annular flange 50 is formed on the plunger near one end thereof which receives the corresponding end of the spring 40 . A portion of the plunger 50 extends outwardly from the bore 20 b under the force of the spring 40 , and the spring extends around another portion of the plunger in the bore 20 b . The spring 40 thus urges the plunger 50 outwardly from the bore 20 b against the corresponding end of the adjacent segment 18 . It is understood that a plunger, identical to the plunger 50 , are provided on the connection assemblies 24 , 26 and 28 and function in an identical manner. The embodiment of FIG. 4 thus enjoys all of the advantages of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 .
It is understood that several variations may be made in the foregoing without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, number of segments forming the ring around the shaft can vary within the scope of the invention. Also, the spatial references, such as above , etc. is for the purpose of example only, are not intended to limit the structure disclosed to a particular orientation. Moreover, the embodiment described above is not limited to turbo machines or compressors, but is equally applicable to other equipment requiring a seal.
Other modifications, changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the disclosure will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the disclosure.
| 5F
| 16 | J |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of a sensor according to the present
invention. One large surface of an insulating flat ceramic substrate 6
contains, in vertically arranged layers, a reference electrode 5,
preferably made of platinum, a porous solid electrolyte 4, measuring
electrodes 1 and 2, and a gas-permeable protective layer 3. A heating
device 7 with a cover 8 is mounted in the opposite large surface.
To measure the concentration of oxidizable constituents in exhaust gases,
the sensor is heated to a temperature between 300 and 1,000.degree. C.,
advantageously to 600.degree. C., using heating device 7.
The measuring gas diffuses through the porous solid electrolyte to
reference electrode 5, which catalyzes the establishment of the oxygen
equilibrium potential. Measuring electrodes 1, 2 are designed to have
reduced catalytic activity in the oxygen equilibrium reaction. On at least
one measuring electrode, the sensor generates a cell voltage via the
oxygen ion conducting solid electrolyte by a first half-cell reaction
initiated with the help of the reference electrode and a second half-cell
reaction influenced by the oxidizable gas constituents to be measured. The
concentrations of the gas constituents is determined from the voltage
values on the basis of the calibration curves.
In its simplest form, the sensor according to the present invention can be
used with one reference electrode which catalyzes the establishment of gas
mixture equilibrium and with one measuring electrode which cannot or can
only slightly catalyze the establishment of gas mixture equilibrium.
However, it is also possible to install two measuring electrodes, as shown
in FIG. 1, or even multiple electrodes, each with different catalytic
activity for establishing oxygen equilibrium states. The measuring
electrodes then respond with different voltages in relation to the
reference electrode, depending on the type of gas.
In arrangements with two or more measuring electrodes with different
catalytic activities, it is also possible to evaluate voltages between the
measuring electrodes in order to measure oxidizable gases. Measuring
voltages between electrodes that are on the same plane and positioned
equidistant from the heating device, such as electrodes 1 and 2 in FIG. 1,
also disables the Seebeck effect.
In arrangements with at least two measuring electrodes, it is also possible
to completely or at least partially compensate for cross-sensitivity of a
first measuring electrode us using the signal of an additional measuring
electrode by adjusting the sensitivity of this additional measuring
electrode to the interfering gas constituents.
According to an additional embodiment, the solid electrolyte is designed in
such a way, e.g. by mixing in 0.01% to 10% by volume of platinum powder
into at least one layer of the solid electrolyte facing the reference
electrode, that the solid electrolyte catalytically converts the gases to
be measured so that only the gases corresponding to the thermodynamic
equilibrium reach the reference electrode, or that the solid electrolyte
converts only the gases interfering with the reference signal.
According to an additional embodiment, one or more measuring electrodes, in
addition to the solid electrolyte, are porous, thereby facilitating the
diffusion of gas to the reference electrode.
Concerning the measuring electrode composition, it is possible to select
metal electrode substances like those described, for example, in
Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 60-61654, or semiconductors
with a high specific sensitivity toward certain oxidizable gases.
Especially suitable are semiconducting oxides or mixed oxides, which can
be doped with an acceptor and/or donor having a concentration, for
example, of between 0.01% and 25%. The acceptor is incorporated into the
semiconductor as, for example, a solid solution or a segregated
constituent. The high sensitivity, e.g. of acceptor- and donor-doped
n-type titanium oxide, in particular to unsaturated hydrocarbons, is due
to the adsorbent interaction between the orbitals of the pi bonds of the
unsaturated hydrocarbons and the acceptor sites on the semiconductor
surface.
To prevent the conductivity-reducing acceptor component from becoming fully
electronically active, it is advantageous to add to the electrode a
conductivity-increasing donor, in particular in a higher concentration
than the acceptor.
The following example describes a method for producing a sensor according
to the present invention: rutile doped with 0.5% to 15%, for example 7%,
niobium and 0.25% to 7%, for example 3%, of one of transition metals
nickel, copper or iron is screen-printed in a 30 .mu.m layer onto a
substrate on which are mounted a reference electrode, preferably made of
platinum, and, on top if this, a solid electrolyte layer. A heating device
is attached to the opposite side of the substrate. The sensor is sintered
for 90 minutes at 1,200.degree. C. with a heating/cooling ramp of
300.degree. C./hour. After sintering, the solid electrolyte has pores
ranging in size from 10 nm to 100 .mu.m.
An attached platinum conductor path, which is insulated from the solid
electrolyte and contacts only the measuring electrode, is used to measure
the voltage between the reference and rutile electrodes at the cell formed
in this manner with a resistance of 1 MOhm. In doing this, the sensor is
heated by its heating device to a temperature of 600.degree. C. A
simulated exhaust gas containing 10% oxygen, 5% water, and 5% carbon
dioxide, as well as 30 ppm sulfur dioxide, is used as the measuring gas.
Oxidizable gases are then added in the quantities shown in the table.
For comparison, the last line in the following table shows the voltage
values for a mixed-potential electrode made of 20% gold and 80% platinum,
representing a measuring electrode according to the related art.
TABLE
Voltage values (in mV) as a function of the concentration
of oxidizable gases and the composition of the measuring electrode
Rutile electrode
with 7% Nb and 3% Reference
oxidizable gases Voltages in mV electrode, 20%
(ppm) Ni Cu Fe Au and 80% Pt
Propene 460 150 45 60 320
180 120 36 47 280
90 90 27 35 180
H2 460 30 12 20 500
180 17 6 10 450
90 5 3 4 380
CO 460 40 3 16 70
180 15 -- 7 35
90 7 -- 6 23
The table shows that a rutile semiconductor electrode with 7% niobium as
the donor and 3% nickel as the acceptor demonstrates the greatest
sensitivity to propene as the conductive substance. The gold-platinum
system known from the related art, on the other hand, shows especially
high cross-sensitivity to hydrogen. | 6G
| 01 | N |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
It is to be understood that not every use case in accordance with the embodiments is described herein. The core ideas described can be combined with other memory structures using the same ideas to form additional embodiments.
A first aspect of the present invention concerns a method for manufacturing an integrated circuit including a ferroelectric memory cell. The ferroelectric is formed as a first amorphous layer having as main components O and any of the group of Hf, Zr, and (Hf, Zr).
A second aspect of the present invention concerns the inclusion of an anti-ferroelectric amorphous layer in a ferroelectric memory cell. This layer is also formed from main component, O and any of the group of Hf, Zr, and (Hf, Zr). This layer differs from the first amorphous layer mentioned above due to a different concentration of additives.
A third aspect of the present invention concerns adding nanodots within the anti-ferroelectric amorphous layer. These nanodots are made of a similar material as the first amorphous layer and are contained within the anti-ferroelectric layer to assist in conduction. For purposes of clarification, “similar material” means that the main components are O and any of the group of Hf, Zr, and (Hf, Zr), and can contain the same or different concentration of additives so long as the additives do not exceed approximately 20%.
FIGS. 1ato 1fillustrate embodiments of known prior art FeFETs or FRAM using the same materials (i.e., an O with any of the group of Hf, Zr, and (Hf, Zr)).
InFIG. 1b, the ferroelectric memory cell101includes source and drain regions102aand102bformed within the carrier103. There is a gate layer stack105over the carrier103which is formed of an insulating buffer layer108, a crystallized oxide layer110, a covering layer120, and a top gate190. The top gate190is optional and only depicted inFIGS. 1aand1b.
FIGS. 1athrough 1dillustrate variations of this basic structure.FIG. 1adoes not include the insulating buffer layer108ofFIG. 1b.FIGS. 1cand 1dcould have an insulating buffer layer, but it is not shown.
FIGS. 1cand 1dillustrate the MFS and MFM variants. In these variants, there are 2 crystallized oxide layers110aand110bthat are separated by a different amorphous oxide layer121, a conducting layer150, and a conductive covering layer120.
FIGS. 1eand 1fillustrate a FRAM using a crystallized oxide layer. This is depicted by110inFIG. 1eand 111aand 111binFIG. 1f. Note that in1f, this is a MFM configuration within the capacitor.
The process of creating a crystallized oxide layer is known to one skilled in the art. We summarize here for discussion purposes. The carrier103is composed of Si, a Si compound such as SiGe, silicon-on-insulator (SOI), III-V semiconductor compounds such as GaAS or any other suitable substrate material. Components and devices may already be formed on the carrier. The amorphous layer is formed by atomic layer deposition (“ALD”), metal organic atomic layer deposition (“MOALD”), chemical vapor deposition (“CVD”), metal organic chemical vapor deposition (“MOCVD”), physical vapor deposition (“PVD”), or any other suitable deposition technique providing an amorphous layer.
The thickness of the amorphous layer can be in the range of 2 nm to 100 nm, or the thickness of the entire gate stack105to be between 2 nm to 250 nm. In the embodiments disclosed inFIGS. 2ato 2f, we note that advances in the previously described processes (ALD, MOALD, CVD, MOCVD, PVD, and other depositions method) enable thinner layers from 1 Angstrom to 150 angstroms. This change in amorphous layer thickness, i.e., the thinner layer, is denoted as210in theFIGS. 2athrough2f.
The materials of the crystalline layer are composed primarily of O and any of Hf, Zr, and (Hf, Zr). This means that the volumetric content of these elements per cell is higher compared to any other component or further additives. One who is skilled in the art will note that the concentration of additives is typically within a range of 0.5% to 6.75%. A higher concentration of additives will typically result in crystallization that is not ferroelectric. It will also be appreciated that the concentration of additives is related to the thickness of the amorphous layer as described previously. That is, in increasing the thickness of the amorphous layer, the concentration of additives is increased.
The additives used in this and the other embodiments described herein include any suitable additives that are included within the material oxide layer including, without limitation, any one or more of C, Si, Al, Ge, Sn, Sr, Pb, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ti, Zr (providing Zr as an additive to an HfO2 layer), Ti, and any one or more of the rare earth elements (Y, Gd, etc.).
Further, one skilled in the art will note that previously the temperature range chosen for heating the amorphous layer was in the range of 400° C. to 1200° C. In the embodiments disclosed, it is found that heating the amorphous layer in a range from 100° C. to 1100° C. is preferable in certain circumstances in fabrication. One who is skilled in the art will note that in choosing a lower temperature, the heating time will be longer. The purpose of the heating step remains to form crystallization in the amorphous layer.
Additionally, there is a covering layer that is formed over the amorphous layer that assists in the transition from the amorphous state to the crystalline state. The heating of the amorphous layer to alter its crystal state may be affected by a particular anneal or may be carried out in a standard anneal of a respective semiconductor manufacturing process.
FIG. 3aillustrates one embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the source and drain102aand102band the carrier103are as previously described. Within the gate stack, there are several changes. The first is that the covering layer forms the layer120aand is then followed by a crystallized ferroelectric oxide layer310, a crystallized anti-ferroelectric oxide layer340, and then another covering layer120b. The crystallized oxide layer remains as described previously and is denoted by310to signify the difference in thickness from the prior art. In addition, this embodiment introduces the use of an anti-ferroelectric layer340.
The anti-ferroelectric layer340is formed primarily of O and any of Hf, Zr, and (Hf, Zr). This means that the volumetric content per cell of these elements is higher compared to any other component or further additives. To achieve anti-ferroelectricity, the concentration of additives is typically set within a range of 7% to 25%. We refer to this layer as being anti-ferroelectric because the formulation of the layer forms a crystallized oxide layer wherein the dipoles oppose that of a ferroelectric crystallized oxide. This opposed alignment prevents charge from escaping the ferroelectric layer, and thus acts as a charge trapping layer.
The thickness of the crystallized anti-ferroelectric layer340is either the same or greater than the thickness of the crystallized ferroelectric layer310. This means that its thickness can range from 1 Angstrom to 300 Angstroms.
Including the anti-ferroelectric layer340improves the electrical properties of the ferroelectric memory cell. In previous embodiments, charge trapping is accomplished through the covering layer. However, using the covering layer is not ideal because it is conductive, which is a different electrical property than being ferroelectric. Using a conductor for charge trapping is not using the proper tool to accomplish the job. By creating an anti-ferroelectric layer, the correct tool is employed to achieve the desired result.
FIG. 3bis an extension ofFIG. 3aexcept that the order of the crystallized ferroelectric oxide310and the crystallized anti-ferroelectric oxide340are switched.
FIG. 3cis the same asFIG. 3aexcept that it shows the optional insulating buffer layer108included.
FIG. 3dis the same asFIG. 3bexcept that it shows the optional insulating buffer layer108included.
FIG. 4aillustrates another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the source102a, the drain102b, and the carrier103are as previously described. Within the gate stack, there are several changes. The first is that the covering layer forms the first layer120aand is then followed by a first crystallized ferroelectric oxide layer410a, a crystallized anti-ferroelectric oxide layer440, a second crystallized ferroelectric oxide layer410b, and then another covering layer120b.
The anti-ferroelectric layer440remains the same as described for340except for the thickness. In this case the thickness can vary from 1 Angstrom to 600 Angstroms. The added thickness is needed due to having two crystallized ferroelectric oxide layers. Since there are multiple ferroelectric oxide layers, the need for the crystallized anti-ferroelectric oxide trap charge is likewise increased. One method to accomplish this is to increase the thickness of the anti-ferroelectric oxide.
The first crystallized ferroelectric oxide layer410aand second crystallized ferroelectric oxide layer410bare as described for210. They are differentiated from210in several ways.
In the embodiments illustrated inFIGS. 4aand 4b, each crystallized ferroelectric oxide layer410aand410bcan be used to store separate polarization states. This means that each oxide layer acts as its own memory and can be programmed separately. Note that while this method of operation is possible, it may not be the desired behavior. For example, an application may desire that one oxide layer be programmed continuously and after it is fatigued, switch to the other oxide layer in order to increase the effective endurance per cell.
Another use of the illustrated embodiments is in using both cells together. Each ferroelectric crystallized oxide layer is capable of storing at least 4 phases (2 bits) per cell. If the entire cell is taken as one entity, the different combinations of the 4 phases between both cells can be taken to equate to 16 combinations of phases (or 4 bits) per cell. This effectively exponentially increases the amount of storage per cell.
The materials used in each crystallized ferroelectric oxide layer410aand410bare composed primarily of O and any of Hf, Zr, and (Hf, Zr). This means that the volumetric content per cell of these elements is higher compared to any other component or further additives. One who is skilled in the art will note that the concentration of additives is typically set within a range of 0.5% to 6.75%.
The exact material and concentration for each crystallized ferroelectric oxide layer410aand410bcan be the same or different. As a non-limiting example, both layers410aand410bcould be HfO2 with a 2% concentration of additives. As a further example410acould be composed of HfO2 with a 2% concentration of additives and410bcould be ZrO2 with a 3% concentration of additives.
The thickness of each crystallized ferroelectric oxide layer410aand410bremains the same in that each layer can range in thickness from 1 Angstrom to 150 Angstroms. Note that the effective combined thickness of both first oxide and second oxide ranges from 2 Angstroms to 300 Angstroms.
FIG. 4billustrates the same embodiment asFIG. 4aexcept that the optional insulating buffer layer108is included.
Although not illustrated,FIGS. 4aand 4bcan be adapted such that layers440and410brepeat n times to form 2n+1 total layers with n layers being anti-ferroelectric440and n+1 total layers being ferroelectric (i.e., 1 of410aand n of410b).
FIG. 5aillustrates yet another embodiment of the invention.FIG. 5abuilds off the same concept asFIG. 4aexcept that the crystallized anti-ferroelectric oxide layer540is different. In this embodiment nanodots541are embedded within the crystallized anti-ferroelectric oxide layer540. Aside from the inclusion of nanodots, the formulation of the crystallized anti-ferroelectric oxide layer540remains unchanged as described for440.
The concept of nanodots is well understood by one skilled in the art. One exemplary process for fabricating nanodots for use in embodiments of the present invention can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,320,784 to Muralidhar et al., the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein. They are included in order to improve the performance of electrical properties within a system. In this embodiment crystallized ferroelectric nanodots are used.
The nanodots541are formed primarily of O and any of Hf, Zr, and (Hf, Zr). This means that the volumetric content per cell of these elements is higher compared to any other component or further additives. One who is skilled in the art will note that the concentration of additives is typically set within a range of 0.5% to 6.75%.
The use of the nanodots541within the crystallized anti-ferroelectric oxide layer540is used primarily as a means to improve the performance characteristics of the cell. Similar to the charge trapping anti-ferroelectric layers, the nanodots can be used to maintain the electrical characteristic performance of the cell.
FIG. 5billustrates another embodiment of the invention discussed inFIG. 5aexcept that there is an optional insulating buffer layer108at the bottom of the gate stack.
Although not illustrated,FIGS. 5aand 5bcan be adapted such that layers540and510brepeat n times to form 2n+1 total layers with n layers being anti-ferroelectric540and n+1 total layers being ferroelectric (i.e., 1 of510aand n of510b).
FIG. 6ais a flowchart that illustrates a prior art method for manufacturing an integrated circuit including a ferroelectric memory cell. There are three main components to the prior method—forming an amorphous layer over a carrier, the amorphous layer comprising, as main components, O and any of the group of Hf, Zr, (Hf, Zr) (Step601); manufacturing a covering layer on the amorphous layer (Step602); and heating the amorphous layer to a temperature above its crystallization temperature either to: (a) at least partly alter its crystal state from amorphous to crystalline or (b) at least partly alter its electric state into a ferroelectric state (Step603).
FIG. 6bis a flowchart that illustrates an inventive process for manufacturing an integrated circuit including a ferroelectric memory cell as depicted inFIGS. 2ato 2f. A first amorphous layer is formed over a carrier, the amorphous layer being from 1 Angstrom to 150 Angstroms in thickness and comprising, as main components, O and any of the group HF, ZF, (Hf, Zr), with further additives of a concentration within a range of 0.5% to 6.75% from the group C, Si, Al, Ge, Sn, Sr, Pb, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ti, Zr, Ti, and rare earth element (Step621). A covering layer is formed on the amorphous layer, the covering being proportional to the thickness of the amorphous layer (Step622). This is desirable because it uses less material, because the resulting device will be physically smaller, and because the voltage required to program the device will be reduced. Lastly, the amorphous layer is heated to a temperature proportional to its thickness above its crystallization temperature either to: (a) partly alter its crystal state from amorphous to crystalline or (b) partly alter its electric state into a ferroelectric state (Step623).
FIG. 6cis a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of the process for manufacturing an integrated circuit including a ferroelectric memory cell as depicted inFIGS. 3ato 3d. A ferroelectric amorphous layer is formed over a carrier, the ferroelectric amorphous layer comprising as main components O and any of the group of Hf, Zr, (Hf, Zr) (Step624). An anti-ferroelectric amorphous layer is formed over the ferroelectric amorphous layer, the anti-ferroelectric amorphous layer having as main components O and any of the group of Hf, Zr, (Hf, Zr) (Step625). A covering layer is formed on the amorphous layers (Step626). The amorphous layers are heated to a temperature above its crystallization temperature either to: (a) at least partly alter all crystal states from amorphous to crystalline or (b) at least partly alter their electric states into at least 1 ferroelectric state and at least 1 anti-ferroelectric state (Step627).
In this embodiment either amorphous layer may be the ferroelectric or anti-ferroelectric layer. That is, e.g.,120amay be ferroelectric if120bis anti-ferroelectric, or120amay be anti-ferroelectric if120bis ferroelectric.
FIG. 6dis a flowchart illustrating another embodiment of the process for manufacturing an integrated circuit including a ferroelectric memory cell as depicted inFIGS. 3ato 3d. A ferroelectric amorphous layer is formed over a carrier, the ferroelectric amorphous layer comprising as main components O and any of the group of Hf, Zr, (Hf, Zr) (Step632). An anti-ferroelectric amorphous layer is formed over the ferroelectric amorphous layer, the anti-ferroelectric amorphous layer having as main components O and any of the group of Hf, Zr, (Hf, Zr) (Step633). The amorphous layers are heated to a temperature above its crystallization temperature either to: (a) at least partly alter all crystal states from amorphous to crystalline or (b) at least partly alter their electric states into at least 1 ferroelectric state and at least 1 anti-ferroelectric state (Step634). A covering layer is formed on the crystalline layers (Step635).
FIG. 6eis a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of the process for manufacturing an integrated circuit including a ferroelectric memory cell as depicted inFIGS. 4aand 4b. A ferroelectric amorphous layer is formed over a carrier, the ferroelectric amorphous layer comprising as main components O and any of the group of Hf, Zr, (Hf, Zr) (Step640). An anti-ferroelectric amorphous layer is formed over the ferroelectric amorphous layer, the anti-ferroelectric amorphous layer having as main components O and any of the group of Hf, Zr, (Hf, Zr) (Step641). These first two steps are iterated n times, ending in the formation of a final amorphous layer on top for a total of 2n+1 layers (Step642). A covering layer is formed on the amorphous layers (Step643). The amorphous layers are heated to a temperature above their crystallization temperature either to: (a) at least partly alter all crystal states from amorphous to crystalline or (b) at least partly alter their electric states into at least 1 ferroelectric state and at least 1 anti-ferroelectric state (Step644).
FIG. 6fis a flowchart illustration of another embodiment of the process for manufacturing an integrated circuit including a ferroelectric memory cell as depicted inFIGS. 4aand 4b.FIG. 6fdiffers fromFIG. 6ein that one or more intermediate heating steps645are introduced. This step645is similar to step644, in that it transforms the layers that have currently been deposited into ferroelectric or anti-ferroelectric layers. Once heating step645is completed, half the layers will be ferroelectric and half will be anti-ferroelectric.
FIG. 6gis a flowchart illustration of an embodiment of the process for manufacturing an integrated circuit including a ferroelectric memory cell as depicted inFIGS. 5aand 5b.FIG. 6gis similar toFIG. 6eexcept that Step641replaced with Step650. In Step650, the amorphous layer is formed to contain both anti-ferroelectric materials as well as ferroelectric nanodots. Heating step644crystallizes the layer with nanodots present.
FIG. 6his a flowchart illustration of an embodiment of the process for manufacturing an integrated circuit including a ferroelectric memory cell as depicted inFIGS. 5aand 5b.FIG. 6hisFIG. 6fwith Step641replaced with Steps650ofFIG. 6g, i.e., including nanodots in the anti-ferroelectric layer(s). Additionally, intermediate heating step651occurs similarly to previous described intermediate heating step645, but with the additional effect of placing the nanodots in a ferroelectric state.
While the specific embodiments disclosed are describing 1T or 1T-1C ferroelectric memory cells, it is to be understood that the methods and structures of the present invention can be applied to any suitable type of ferroelectric memory cells, including but not limited to 2T-2C, 3T-2C, and 3D FeFET.
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.
| 7H
| 1 | L |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
According to one aspect, an injector assembly for an injection valve, has an injector body with a central longitudinal axis and a recess with a fluid inlet, a nozzle needle which is arranged axially movably in the recess in such a way that a fluid flow through at least one injection opening is prevented in a closed position and, otherwise, a fluid flow through the injection opening is released, and the nozzle needle has an end side which faces away from the injection opening, a chamber which is formed in the injector body and adjoins an end side of the nozzle needle, which end side faces away from the injection opening, a throttle module which is arranged in the chamber, a fluid feed chamber which is coupled hydraulically to the fluid inlet, a control space which is coupled hydraulically to the fluid feed chamber via an inflow throttle for setting a pressure force which can be applied to the nozzle needle, and a valve chamber which is coupled hydraulically to the control space via an outflow throttle for receiving a valve which is configured for discharging fluid into a fluid return line being formed in the throttle module, and a control module which is arranged in the chamber, is adjacent to the throttle module and in which the fluid return line is arranged. Precisely one first and one second sealing edge are formed between the throttle module and the injector body and/or the control module. A further hydraulic coupling of the fluid feed chamber to the control space is suppressed by means of the first sealing edge and a further hydraulic coupling of the fluid feed chamber to the valve chamber is suppressed by means of the second sealing edge. A third sealing edge is formed between the injector body and the control module, by means of which third sealing edge a hydraulic coupling of the fluid feed chamber to the fluid return line is suppressed.
Together with an actuator unit, the injector assembly can, for example, form the injection valve.
This has the advantage that the throttle module can achieve small dimensions. A small axial length of the throttle module and, as a consequence, a small axial extent of the injector assembly can therefore be achieved. Small recesses for the throttles in the throttle module are therefore also possible. Moreover, favorable flow conditions of the fluid in the throttle module and therefore low abrasion of the throttle module can also be achieved. Hardening of the throttle module can therefore be dispensed with. Moreover, as a result of the small number of sealing edges, high component strength and lower sensitivity of the throttle module to external mechanical influences can be achieved. The dimensions of the fluid feed chamber, the control space and the valve chamber can likewise be very small, as a result of which the machining outlay for these chambers can be very low. Overall, low costs can be achieved for the throttle module and therefore for the entire injector assembly.
In one embodiment, the sealing edges are formed on the throttle module. Simple production of the sealing edges is therefore possible. The throttle module is not overdetermined with regard to its sealing edges.
In a further embodiment, one of the sealing edges is formed at an axial end of the throttle module, which axial end faces the nozzle needle, and the other of the sealing edges is formed at an axial end of the throttle module, which axial end faces away from the nozzle needle. A simple formation of the throttle module is therefore possible.
In a further embodiment, the first sealing edge is formed on the injector body and/or the second sealing edge is formed on the control module. Simple production of the sealing edges is therefore possible.
In a further embodiment, the sealing edges are formed as cutting edges. Particularly satisfactory sealing properties of the sealing edges can therefore be achieved.
According to a second aspect, an injection valve may have an actuator unit and an injector assembly according to the first aspect. The actuator unit is coupled to the injector assembly in such a way that the injector assembly can be actuated by means of the actuator unit.
FIG. 1shows an injection valve10having an injector assembly14and an actuator unit16.
The injector assembly14has an injector body12with a central longitudinal axis L and a recess32. The injector body can be configured in one piece or in multiple pieces. A nozzle needle34is arranged in the recess32of the injector body12. The nozzle needle34can be configured in one piece or in multiple pieces.
The actuator unit16is arranged in the injector body12. The actuator unit16can be configured, in particular, as a piezoelectric actuator with a stack of piezoelectric elements, and its axial extent changes as a function of the electric voltage which is applied. The electric voltage is applied to the actuator unit via a connector socket. The actuator unit16is connected to a transmission means20which is likewise arranged in the injector body12. The actuator unit16and the transmission means20form an actuating drive for the nozzle needle34.
Furthermore, the injector body12comprises a high pressure connection18, via which, in the mounted state, the injection valve10is connected to a high pressure circuit (not shown) of a fluid.
A chamber22is arranged in the recess32of the injector body12. The connection between the high pressure connection18and the chamber22takes place via a fluid inlet23. A throttle module24and a control module26are arranged in the chamber22, the structure and function of which modules24,26will be described in detail further below. A valve28which is coupled to the transmission means20and has a valve body29and a valve spring30is arranged in the throttle module24and the control module26. Depending on the form of the valve body29, the valve28can also be configured without a valve spring30in further embodiments (not shown). This applies, in particular, when the valve body29is configured as a ball. If the valve28is configured without a valve spring30, the throttle module24can be of very small configuration.
Fluid return lines31which make a hydraulic connection possible to a tank (not shown) of the vehicle are arranged in the control module26. Depending on the position of the valve28, the chamber22is coupled hydraulically to the fluid return lines31or is decoupled hydraulically from the latter.
Furthermore, the injection valve10comprises a nozzle body35which is connected to the injector body12by means of a nozzle clamping nut36. One or more injection openings52is/are arranged in the nozzle body35at the end which faces away from the actuator unit16.
The nozzle needle34has an end side38which faces the chamber22. In its region which faces the at least one injection opening52, the nozzle needle34has a shaft section44. At its end which faces the actuator unit16, the shaft section44of the nozzle needle34has a nozzle needle shoulder45which is in contact with fluid which is at approximately the pressure of the high pressure circuit. The nozzle needle shoulder45is configured in such a way that the force which is caused by the pressure of the fluid has an opening action on the nozzle needle34.
Furthermore, a cavity46is formed in the injector body12, which cavity46receives a nozzle spring48which is supported at one end on a shoulder50of the cavity46and at the other end prestresses the nozzle needle34in such a way that the latter assumes a closed position which is assigned to it and in which it suppresses the fluid flow through the at least one injection opening52which is arranged in the nozzle body35.
The nozzle needle position depends on the balance of the forces which, caused by the pressure of the fluid, act on the nozzle needle shoulder45and on the tip of the nozzle needle34, and secondly on the spring force of the nozzle spring48and the force as a result of the fluid which is situated in the chamber22and the force which is caused as a result and is introduced via the end side38of the nozzle needle34in the closing direction of the nozzle needle34.
As is shown inFIG. 2, the throttle module24is of substantially cylindrical configuration with a module body53and extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis L in the chamber22of the injector body12.
A fluid feed chamber54is formed in the throttle module24, which fluid feed chamber54is arranged as an annular gap between the body of the throttle module24and the injector body12and is coupled hydraulically to the fluid inlet23.
At its end which faces the end side38of the nozzle needle34, the throttle module24has a control space56which forms a part of the chamber22, and via which control space56a pressure force can be applied to the nozzle needle34by means of the fluid, by means of which pressure force a fluid flow through the at least one injection opening52is prevented in the closed position of the nozzle needle34and, otherwise, a fluid flow through the at least one injection opening52is released.
Facing the control module26, a valve chamber58is formed in the throttle module24, in which valve chamber58at least part of the valve body29and the valve spring30of the valve28are arranged.
The fluid feed chamber54is connected hydraulically to the control space56via an inflow throttle60. Furthermore, an outflow throttle62is arranged in the module body53of the throttle module24between the control space56and the valve chamber58, by which outflow throttle62the control space56is coupled hydraulically to the valve chamber58.
The valve28, in particular the valve body29, can be actuated via the actuator unit60, and can close or open a sealing seat63which is formed on the control module26. The valve body29is restored by means of the valve spring30which is configured as a helical spring. In the further embodiments, in which the valve28is configured without a valve spring30, the valve body29is restored by means of a hydraulic force which acts on it.
A first sealing edge64is formed between the throttle module24and the injector body12, to be precise at an axial end of the throttle module24, which axial end faces the nozzle needle34.
A further hydraulic coupling between the fluid feed chamber54which is configured as an annular gap and the control space56can thus be prevented, as a result of which it is possible to fix the fluid feed into the control space56via the dimensioning of the inflow throttle60and therefore, when the valve28is closed, to fix the pressure rise in the control space56. The first sealing edge64is preferably configured as a cutting edge, since a particularly satisfactory sealing action can therefore be achieved between the throttle module24and the injector body12.
A second sealing edge66is formed between the throttle module and the control module26. The sealing edge66is preferably arranged at an axial end of the throttle module24, which axial end faces away from the nozzle needle34. A further hydraulic coupling between the fluid feed chamber54and the valve chamber58can be prevented by means of the second sealing edge66. This is of significance, in particular, when the valve28is open, that is to say the valve body29is raised up from the sealing seat63. In this case, unintended outflow of the fluid from the fluid feed chamber54via the valve chamber58to the fluid return line31can be avoided by means of the second sealing edge66.
A third sealing edge68is formed between the injector body12and the control module26. A direct hydraulic coupling of the fluid feed chamber54to the fluid return line31can be suppressed by means of the third sealing edge68.
As a result of the formation of the first sealing edge64at the axial end of the throttle module24, which axial end faces the nozzle needle34, and the formation of the second sealing edge66at the axial end of the throttle module24, which axial end faces away from the nozzle needle34, it is possible to firstly configure the throttle module24very simply, since, in particular, simple production of the sealing edges64,66is possible. Secondly, the throttle module24is not overdetermined with regard to its sealing edges64,66. Relatively high tolerances can therefore be permitted during the production of the throttle module24, in particular with regard to the tolerances for the sealing edges64,66. Moreover, the simple cylindrical configuration of the throttle module24permits small dimensions of the throttle module24and high component strength. As a result of a small axial extent of the throttle module24and therefore a small axial extent of the injector assembly14, a small axial extent of the entire injection valve10becomes possible. Moreover, it is possible for the favorable arrangement in flow terms, in particular, of the inflow throttle60and the outflow throttle62to achieve a situation where only a low eddy formation of the fluid in the control space56and therefore low abrasive wear of the module body53of the throttle module24take place. Hardening of the throttle module24can therefore be dispensed with.
Satisfactory sealing properties of the sealing edges are possible as a result of the configuration of the sealing edges64,66as cutting edges.
In the following text, the function of the injection valve10is to be described briefly:
By activation of the actuator unit16which is configured as a piezoelectric actuator, the actuator unit16extends and the valve body29is raised up from the sealing seat63on the control module26via the transmission means20. A hydraulic connection from the control space56via the valve chamber58to the fluid return line31is therefore released and the pressure in the control space56drops. The equilibrium of forces at the nozzle needle34is therefore changed in such a way that the nozzle needle34moves into the control space56in the direction of the actuator unit16, as a result of which the at least one injection opening52in the nozzle body35is released. If the injection valve10is configured as a fuel injection valve, an injection of fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine can therefore take place.
As soon as the injection is to be ended, the actuator unit16is deactivated, as a result of which the valve body29comes into contact again with the sealing seat63in the control module26. The hydraulic coupling between the control space56and the fluid return line31is therefore interrupted. As a result of the feed of fluid from the fluid inlet23via the fluid feed chamber54and the inflow throttle60into the control space56, the pressure in the control space56rises, as a result of which the valve needle34, optionally with the assistance of the nozzle spring48, is moved away from the actuator unit16in the axial direction. The nozzle needle34therefore passes into a closed position and the fluid flow through the at least one injection opening52is suppressed. The assistance of the nozzle spring48for closing the nozzle needle34is of significance, in particular, during the starting phase of the internal combustion engine and with regard to an increased functional reliability of the closing operation of the nozzle needle34.
As a result of the formation of the first and second sealing edges62,64on the throttle module24, reliable control of the fluid from the fluid feed chamber54to the control space56and from the control space56via the valve chamber58to the fluid return line31can be achieved, in particular.
In further embodiments which are not shown here in detail, it is also possible to form the first sealing edge64in the injector body12instead of in the throttle module24, the second sealing edge in the control module26instead of in the throttle module24, and the third sealing edge68in the control module26instead of in the injector body12.
| 5F
| 02 | M |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawing, there is shown a circuit diagram of a multi-stage
linear regulator power supply 100 in accordance with the invention.
The linear regulator power supply 100 comprises a pair of regulation units
110, 120 with their corresponding dependent loads R.sub.L1, R.sub.L2, and
a protection circuit 200 for preventing an overcurrent due to a
short-circuit in any of the loads. The first regulation unit 110 includes
an op amp OP1, a zener diode 50 and a boost transistor TR1. A voltage
divider with a pair of resistors R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is connected to an
inverting input terminal (-) of the op amp OP1. A voltage drop V.sub.R1
across the resistor R.sub.1 is applied as a comparison voltage to the
inverting input terminal (-) of the op amp OP1. The zener diode 50 is
connected to a non-inverting input terminal (+) of the op amp OP1 and
provides a reference voltage V.sub.ref to the non-inverting input terminal
(+).
The op amp OP1, using the difference between the reference voltage
V.sub.ref and the comparison voltage V.sub.R1, provides a switching signal
to the boost transistor TR1. In response to the switching signal, the
transistor TR1 is turned on, to thereby allow a regulated voltage to be
applied to the load R.sub.L1 by controlling a load current I.sub.L1
therethrough.
With the arrangement as set forth above, the regulated voltage V.sub.out1
across the load R.sub.L1 may be represented as follows.
##EQU1##
wherein V.sub.R2 is a voltage drop across the resistor R.sub.2.
Like the first regulation unit 110, the second regulation unit 120 includes
an op amp OP2 and a boost transistor TR2. A voltage divider with a pair of
resistors R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 is connected to an inverting input terminal
(-) of the op amp OP2. A voltage drop V.sub.R3 across the resistor R.sub.3
is applied as a comparison voltage to the inverting input terminal (-) of
the op amp OP2. A non-inverting input terminal (+) of the op amp OP1 is
commonly connected to the output of the zener diode 50 which provides the
reference voltage V.sub.ref thereto.
The op amp OP2, using the difference between the reference voltage
V.sub.ref and the comparison voltage V.sub.R3, provides a switching signal
to the boost transistor TR2. In response to the switching signal, the
transistor TR2 is turned on, thereby allowing a regulated voltage to be
applied to load R.sub.L2 by controlling a load current I.sub.L2
therethrough.
With the arrangement as set forth above, the regulated voltage V.sub.out2
across the load R.sub.L2 can be represented as follows.
##EQU2##
wherein V.sub.R4 is a voltage drop across the resistor R.sub.4.
The protection circuit 200 has a bypass transistor TR3 and a pair of diodes
D1 and D2 coupled to the first and the second regulation units 110 and
120, respectively. The bypass transistor TR3 serves to control the flow of
the switching signal to the transistors TR1 and TR2 and has an emitter
connected to the non-inverting input terminals (+) of the op amps OP1 and
OP2, a collector connected to ground, and a base connected to each anode
of the diodes D1 and D2. Cathodes of the diodes D1 and D2 are connected to
emitters of the transistor TR1 and TR2, respectively. Each of the diodes
D1 and D2 detects a change in the potential level of the respective
regulated output voltage to activate the bypass transistor TR3. Under a
normal operation of the linear regulator power supply 100, the potential
level of the regulated output voltage remains higher than that of the base
of the bypass transistor TR3, and therefore, the protection circuit 200
remains inoperative.
During the operation of the linear regulator power supply 100, when a
short-circuiting occurs in any of the load, e.g., R.sub.L1, an abrupt
overcurrent is induced to pass through the regulation unit 110, thereby
lowering the potential level of the output voltage below that of the base
voltage of the transistor TR3. As a result of the drop in the potential
level of the output voltage, the diode D1 becomes forward biased and the
bypass transistor TR3 is turned on. When the potential level of the
reference voltage V.sub.ref becomes equal to the ground level through the
bypass transistor TR3, the op amp OP1 becomes inactive and the boost
transistor TRt is turned off to thereby stop the flow of the abrupt
overcurrent through the regulation unit 110.
Similarly, an overcurrent protection with respective to the second
regulation unit 120 is accomplished through the use of the protection
circuit 200 as set forth above.
Another diode may be additionally connected, in parallel, to the diodes D1
and D2 with the addition of a regulation unit to the linear regulator
power supply 100.
While the present invention has been shown and described with reference to
the particular embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the
art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. | 6G
| 05 | F |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
With reference toFIGS. 1-4, the fixed needle safety syringe of the instant invention is shown to include a fixed needle syringe2that has a syringe barrel body4which includes a distal portion6. Extending from the distal end8of the syringe barrel4is a needle hub10, with a needle12fixedly extending therefrom. Syringe2further has a proximal end14. As is well known, syringe2has a through bore (not shown) into which a plunger16is inserted by way of an opening provided at proximal end14.
For the embodiment of the fixed needle syringe shown inFIG. 1, modification is effected at distal portion6at the syringe barrel4to enable the syringe barrel to be fitted thereto a collar18of a needle protective housing20, which is connected to collar18by a living hinge22. Thus connected, housing20is pivotable toward collar18per directional arrow23.
For the modification of syringe barrel4for the embodiment shown inFIG. 1, a groove24is formed at distal portion6a predetermined distance from distal end8. The location of groove24formed at syringe barrel4is designed such that when collar18is fitted thereto, the top surface26of collar18is substantially flushed with the shoulder or distal end8of syringe barrel4. As best shown inFIG. 4, groove24is formed to include an undercut27that has a diameter slightly larger than groove24.
Collar18, as best shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, has a number of flanges28formed at its inner circumferential surface, at its proximal portion. A number of protrusions30are also formed at the inner surface of collar18but at its distal portion. Formed at the outer surface, at opposite sides of collar18, are two extensions32, each of which coacts with a corresponding catch34formed at the base of housing20, when housing20is pivoted in the direction as indicated by directional arrow23to align along longitudinal axis36of collar18. It should be noted that axis36is also the longitudinal axis of fixed needle syringe2.
Housing20has a proximal portion38and a distal portion40. Proximal portion38is semi-circular in shape, and has a dimension that enables it to cover needle hub10, when collar18has been press fitted to groove24and housing20pivoted to cover needle12. Proximal portion38has an opening39at its back wall that allows the side of collar18that is enclosed by proximal portion38to be viewed when hub10is covered by housing20. A perspective view of the opening provided by the semi-circular configuration of proximal portion38of needle housing20is shown inFIG. 8. Distal portion40of housing20extends from proximal portion38in the form of a narrow channel42. Channel42is formed by an open slot through which needle12passes when housing20is pivoted towards the longitudinal axis36for covering needle12. As shown inFIG. 3, the slot into channel42extends to the opening that forms the semi-circular configuration of proximal portion38of housing20.
With reference toFIG. 4, collar18is shown to have been press fitted to the collar reception groove24at the distal portion6of syringe barrel4. As shown, flanges28are matingly fitted to groove24. The dimension of the inside diameter and more particularly the circumference formed by flanges28is such that it is slightly larger than the diameter of groove24, so that collar18is rotatable about groove24, after collar18is press fitted thereto. Collar18is fittable to groove24because of the elastic characteristics of the aforenoted conventional medical plastics from which collar18, housing20and syringe barrel4are formed. Also, with reference toFIGS. 5 to 8, note that there is a circumferential or annular space44formed between distal end8and the portion of hub10that extends from distal portion6of syringe barrel4. Annular space44therefore surrounds at least one portion of needle hub10so that when collar18is forced fitted onto syringe barrel4, the distal end8would slightly compress while at the same time collar18would slightly expand, so that with the appropriate pressing force, collar18is matingly fitted to the collar reception portion of the syringe barrel4. Annular space44thus facilitates the mating of collar18to the collar reception portion of syringe barrel4.
For the embodiment ofFIG. 1, to prevent free rotation of collar8relative to syringe barrel4, bumps or protrusions30provided at the inner surface of the distal portion of collar18are designed to be in contact with area46of syringe barrel4. The tension applied by protrusions30against area46is such that collar18, although not freely rotatable, is nonetheless rotatable relative to syringe barrel4, if a predetermined torque is applied against either collar18, or housing20attached thereto for rotating collar18.
Further with respect toFIG. 4, note that needle12, before use, is covered by a needle cap or needle sheath48, shown in dashed lines. See alsoFIG. 1. Needle sheath48ensures the sterility of needle12prior to use.
As best shown inFIG. 8, note that with collar18fitted to collar reception area24of syringe barrel4, the top surface26of collar18becomes substantially flushed with or in a substantially planar relationship with the shoulder or distal end8of syringe barrel4, to thereby provide a rest stop for base50of needle sheath48.
In operation, needle sheath48is removed from needle hub10. After use, to cover the now contaminated needle12, housing20is pivoted in the direction as shown per directional arrow23until it becomes substantially aligned along longitudinal axis36. At about that time, needle12snaps past and is grasped by integral catch member50, which may be in the form of a hook, within channel42of housing20; and hub10is covered by proximal portion38of housing20. Also, extensions32formed on the outside of collar18become caught by catches34formed at the base of housing20. As a result, needle12is fixedly retaining within housing20and housing20in turn is fixedly retained to collar18, with collar18not removable from syringe barrel4due to flanges28having a small diameter than undercut27of groove24. The now used fixed needle syringe, with the contaminated needle no longer exposed, can then be disposed of.
FIG. 5shows an alternative embodiment of the fixed needle syringe of the instant invention. For this embodiment, note that the needle reception area of syringe barrel4, instead of a groove, has a boss52formed circumferentially at distal portion6. Note further that hub10has a number of evenly spaced fins51extending lengthwise along the hub. For the sake of simplicity, the needle of the fixed needle syringe is not shown in theFIG. 5embodiment. For mating with the alternative syringe ofFIG. 5, a collar54as shown inFIG. 6may be utilized. For the alternative embodiments, components that are the same as in theFIG. 1embodiment are labeled the same.
As for collar54, note that it has an internal groove or notch56formed circumferentially along its inner surface so that when collar54is fitted to the distal portion of syringe barrel4, notch56will snap over and become mated to boss52of the syringe barrel. The dimension of collar54, particularly that of notch56, is designed such that collar54is rotatable relative to syringe barrel4, but is not freely rotatable thereabout.
Yet another embodiment of the collar of the instant invention is shown inFIG. 7. There, instead of an internal groove56as shown in theFIG. 6embodiment, collar58has a plurality of extensions, or flanges60, provided at its proximal portion. Flanges60are fitted within the groove62formed by the lower portion of boss54and surface64of syringe barrel4. For the embodiment ofFIG. 7, collar58is manufactured so that flanges60would have a dimension that would allow them to contact groove62so as not to be freely rotatable and yet rotatable with the application of a predetermined torque to either collar58or the housing attached thereto. Protrusions64may be provided at the distal portion of ring collar58to apply the appropriate rotation free friction or tension relative to syringe barrel4.
FIG. 8is a perspective view of the fixed needle syringe of the instant invention with the needle sheath having been removed to expose needle12. The collar shown mated to syringe barrel4is the collar58shown in theFIG. 7embodiment.
| 1B
| 23 | P |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The noise suppressor according to embodiment 1 is shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2. The equipment of this embodiment includes an enclosed casing (1); on the casing (1), there are the air intake end (2) and the air outlet end (3); the air intake end (2) and the air outlet end (3) are respectively located at the front end and rear end of the casing (1); the air intake direction is the same as the air outlet direction; between the air intake end (2) and the air outlet end (3), there is the noise suppressing chamber (4); at the air intake end (2) and the air outlet end (3), there are the air intake area (6) and the air outlet area (7) made up of densely arranged duct-shaped air exhaust microholes; and the air intake sectional area and the air outlet sectional area are respectively smaller than the sectional area of the noise suppressing chamber (4); the air intake area (6) at the air intake end (2) is located around the air intake end (2); the middle part of the inner wall of the air intake end (2) is embedded with noise suppressing cotton (8); the air outlet area (7) of the said air outlet end (3) is located at the middle part of the air outlet end (3); around the inner wall of the air outlet end (3) is embedded with noise suppressing cotton (8).
A noise suppressor according to embodiment 2 for use with the vacuum air cleaner is shown inFIG. 2. The equipment of this embodiment includes an enclosed casing (1); on the casing, there are the air inlet end (2) and the air outlet end (3); the air inlet end (2) and the air outlet end (3) are respectively located at the front end and side end of the casing (1); there is an included angle between the air inlet direction and the air outlet direction; between the air intake end (2) and the air outlet end (3), there is the noise suppressing chamber (4); at the air intake end (2) and the air outlet end (3), there are the air inlet area (6) and the air outlet area (7) made up of densely arranged duct-shaped air exhaust microholes; and the intake sectional area and the air outlet sectional area are respectively smaller than the sectional area of the noise suppressing chamber (4).
A noise suppressor according to embodiment 3 for use with the vacuum air cleaner is shown inFIG. 4. The equipment of this embodiment includes an enclosed casing (1); on the casing (1), there are the air inlet end (2) and the air outlet end (3); the air inlet end (2) and the air outlet end (3) are respectively located at different sides of the casing (1); between the air intake direction and the air outlet direction, there is an included angle; between the air intake end (2) and the air outlet end (3), there is the noise suppressing chamber (4); at the air intake end (2) and the air outlet end (3), there are the air intake area (6) and the air outlet area (7) made up of densely arranged duct-shaped air exhaust microholes (5); and the air intake sectional area and the air outlet sectional area are respectively smaller than the sectional area of the noise suppressing chamber (4).
Desirably, the present invention includes one or more of the following structures or features. Since the air intake area (6) and the air outlet area (7) of this invention are made up of densely arranged duct-shaped air exhaust microholes, the air exhaust noise of the vacuum air cleaner can be reduced. The smaller the air exhaust holes, the better the noise reduction effect. The longer the duct, the better the noise reduction effect. Since in this invention, between the air inlet end (2) and the air outlet end (3), there is the noise suppressing chamber (4),50that when the gas entering from the air inlet area (6) enters the noise suppressing chamber (4), its volume increase instantaneously, thus noise can be greatly reduced. The positions of the air intake area (6) and the air outlet area (7) of this invention are arranged in such a way that they are staggered from each other, the gas entering from the duct-shaped air exhaust microholes (5) in the air intake area (6), after entering the noise suppressing chamber (4), needs bending before being able to enter the duct-shaped air exhaust microholes (5) in the air outlet area (7), thus noise can also be reduced. In the present invention, other than the air intake area (6) and the air outlet area (7), the areas on the inner surfaces of the air intake end (2) and the air outlet end (3) are all filled with noise suppressing cotton, which can likewise reduce the air exhaust noise of the vacuum air cleaner. The above-mentioned four kinds of structure or features may be incorporated or integrated to form a noise suppressor of the present invention, thus the noise suppressing function is greatly increased. After this invention is installed at the air exhaust port of the vacuum air cleaner, the working noise of the vacuum air cleaner can be greatly reduced.
Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.
| 0A
| 47 | L |
Referring to FIG. 1, a sample of liquid such as water is held ill an open
topped container 1, above which is located an optical detector 2. A small
aperture 3 is defined in the base of the container, which is fabricated
from a non-wetting material. At the aperture 3 the water forms a meniscus
5 which defines a curved surface below the container 1.
An optical source 6 is located directly below the aperture 3 to direct
light up through the meniscus 5 and aperture 3 and into the container 1.
Light transmitted through the liquid within the container 1, and out
through the open top of the container 1, is focused on the detector 2 by
coupling optics represented by a lens 7.
Characteristics of the liquid within the container 1 (such as information
relating to pollutants) can be monitored by extraction of appropriate
information from the detected transmitted light, without that light having
to pass through any physical windows which might become damaged or fouled,
or limit the light-warelengths possible. That is, the light both enters
and leaves the liquid sample through free surfaces of the liquid.
The meniscus 5 provides a transparent port of very high optical quality and
also has a small positive optical power. The optical power of the meniscus
can be used to modify the angular deviation of light transmitted
therethrough. Furthermore, although the aperture 3 will generally be
relatively small, the curvature of the meniscus 5 provides a large angular
acceptance (approaching 2.pi. steradians) so that the aperture 3 has a
large optical throughput. If required, optical throughput could be
increased by providing an array of apertures 3 over an essentially
unlimited surface area.
It will be appreciated that if the head of water within the container 1 is
such that the pressure within the container 1 exceeds a certain limit
relative to the pressure below the container 1, the force on the meniscus
5 will overcome the surface tension and water will simply flow through the
aperture 3. It is, however, possible to contain a sufficiently large body
of water within the container 1 (without it pouring through the aperture
3) to provide a large enough optical path for the transmitted light to
yield useful measurements. For example, tests have shown that a 50 mm
diameter cylinder with a 75 .mu.m thick polyester base provided with a
0.52 mm aperture, can hold water at a depth of about 45 mm without it
pouring through the aperture. At this depth the meniscus was approximately
hemispherical.
The maximum possible head of water that can be held within the container 1
may be simply calculated from the diameter of the aperture 3, the surface
tension, and the contact angles of water, base and air (the result is
essentially the same as that for capillary rise in a tube).
The depth of water that can be held within the container 1 without it
pouring through the aperture 3 could be increased by appropriate control
of the pressure on either side of the aperture 3. For instance, referring
to FIG. 2, the optical source 6 could be housed within a pressurised
enclosure 8 below the container 1. By increasing the pressure within the
enclosure 8 it is possible to increase the possible maximum head of water
within the container 1 and also to control the curvature of the meniscus
5. Similarly, provision of the pressurised enclosure 8 makes it possible
for the diameter of the aperture 3 to be increased.
A further possible modification of the instrument of FIG. 1 is illustrated
in FIG. 3, in which water is fed to a header tank 9 located above the
container 1, between the container 1 and the lens 7. Water from the header
tank 9 falls to the container 1 through an aperture 10 in its base in the
form of a continuous thread 11. The water thread 11, although not stable,
is capable of transmitting light (from light source 6) from the container
1 to the detector 2 via the header tank 9 and the lens 7. In this way, the
optical path of the transmitted light is substantially increased (the
thread being for example 150 mm in length).
With the arrangement of FIG. 3, and with the arrangements of FIGS. 1 and
FIGS. 2, the locations of the detector 2 and source 6 could be
interchanged with one another. Furthermore, referring to FIG. 4, which
illustrates a modification of the instrument of FIG. 3, the detector 2
could be replaced by an arrangement combining a detector 2. a source 6,
and a beam-splitter 12. In this case, the lens 7 focuses light from the
source 6 onto the aperture 10 in the base of the header tank 9 thus
directing a beam of light into the water thread 11. Light back-scattered
along the water thread 11 is then directed to the detector 2 by the
beam-splitter 12. This system could thus, for instance, rely upon the
Raman effect (or simple Rayleigh scattering) to measure characteristics of
the water. That is, inputting an excitation beam of sufficiently high
power causes the formation of a frequency-shifted beam due to scattering
of the input beam off dissolved molecules with Raman-active mechanical
vibrations. Such frequency-shifted photons are emitted isotropically, and
hence can be detected after travelling back along the water thread. The
beam-splitter arrangement thus enables the instrument to perform a Raman
scattering measurement without any optical component being required in
contact with the water.
An alternative embodiment of the invention in which light is introduced
into the water sample horizontally rather than vertically is illustrated
in FIGS. 5a and 5b (5a being a plan view of 5b). In this example, the
water is contained within a cylindrical container such as a pipe 13. Three
apertures 14, 15 and 16 are provided within the wall of the pipe at the
same vertical height. At each of the three apertures the water forms a
meniscus in essentially the same way as described above. An optical source
17 (e.g. an LED or optical fibre etc.) is positioned at the aperture 14 to
shine a beam of light into the water sample. Detectors 18 and 19 are
positioned at each of the apertures 15 and 16 to detect components of the
input light beam which are either transmitted through the water sample
(detector 18) or are scattered through 90.degree. (detector 19). This
arrangement is particularly useful for monitoring the characteristics of
water passing through a pipe line, without having to remove a sample of
the water from the pipe line.
Another embodiment of the invention which is useful for conducting in situ
measurement is illustrated in FIG. 6. This shows an immersion probe
comprising a cylindrical outer casing 20 of non-wetting material defining
a narrow internal bore 21. A cladded optical fibre 22 extends into one end
of 21 and terminates at a fibre ferrule 23. Adhesive seals are provided at
locations indicated by references 24 and 25. In use the probe is immersed
in a body of liquid which will form a meniscus 26 at the opening of the
bore 21. A light beam can then be introduced into the liquid from the
optical fibre, passing through the meniscus 26. Similarly, back scattered
light from the liquid is transmitted through the meniscus 26 and then to a
detector(not shown), via the optical fibre 22.
By using two or more such probes, as illustrated in FIG. 7, components of
the introduced light beam scattered through other angles (such as
90.degree. as with the arrangement shown in FIG. 7) can be monitored.
Similarly, by facing two such probes towards one another components of
light transmitted through the liquid without scattering can also be
measured.
With all the above described embodiments of the invention there is no
requirement for a physical window to transmit light to or from the liquid
sample. Should the apertures used to define the meniscus ports become
fouled, which is unlikely, they can readily be cleaned, with, for
instance, a pulse of air. Indeed, periodic ejection of air bubbles is seen
as being a most useful way to inhibit the growth of biofilms around the
aperture.
A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 8. This is a
simple embodiment in which a liquid drop 27 is simply suspended from a
capillary tube 28 such that light can be transmitted transversely through
the drop, for instance in the direction of arrow A. By appropriate
positioning of optical sources and detectors (not shown) components of
transmitted and/or scattered light can be measured. This arrangement
offers the potential advantage that only a very small volume of liquid is
required. However, it suffers the disadvantage that the maximum optical
path is limited by the size of the drop 27 to only a few millimeters in
most practical situations.
It will be appreciated that all the above embodiments of the invention can
be used for monitoring the characteristics of a wide variety of liquids
including, but not limited to, water. It will also be appreciated that
many modifications could be made to the detail of the various arrangements
such as the choice of optical components etc. Other possible modifications
will be evident to the appropriately skilled person. | 6G
| 01 | N |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The punch-out sheet is generally made of plastic, synthetic materials, cardboard/paper compsotions, plant fibres or combinations of these materials. The punch-out sheets are preferably made of howwow-structure sheet polypropylene.
The bird nesting box according to the present invention is characterised in that it is made by folding and assembling at least the inner sheet from the punch-out sheets.
The bird nesting box is used in all contexts where wild and domesticated birds need or use nesting boxes.
In the prior-art nesting boxes of this type, such boxes are also sometimes folded and assembled from punch-out sheets or sheets made by the use of other technology, but nesting boxes of this type have not at one and the same time addressed the following aspects:
(1) that the punch-out sheet which is the basis of the nesting box is contained in a outer punch-out sheet with a carrier handle and devices for adjustment and/or retention and reinforcement of the entrance/exit hole diameter of the nesting box,
(2) that the diameter of the entrance/exit hole of the nesting box can be adjusted and/or retained and reinforced with devices contained in an outer punch-out sheet,
(3) that the nesting box has an inherent, at least bipartite or dual, suspension system contained in the punch-out sheet that is the basis of the nesting box,
(4) that the nesting box in its assembled state has inside surface devices (or ladder ) opposite to the side of the entrance/exit hole which helps not fully fledged nestlings leave the nest box,
(5) that the nesting boxes in an assembled state have an internal transverse device under the entrance/exit hole ( squirrel barrier ) as a guard against predators,
(6) that nesting boxes can withstand boiling water at cleaning,
(7) that the nesting boxes can withstand cleaning with all known household cleaning agents,
(8) that the nesting boxes can withstand strong frost, strong heat and solar influence (UV radiation) without rapidly becoming destroyed,
(9) that the nesting boxes can easily be opened and reclosed after, e.g., cleaning without the use of tools and aids,
(10) that the nesting box can be dyed (color-fast) in all colors (e.g., the entire RAL color scale),
(11) that the nesting boxes have excellent insulation properties, good ventilation and relevant draining devices at one and the same time,
(12) that, due to low net weight and design in general, the nesting boxes can easily/cheaply be handled at mailing/shipping in general in a non-folded/non-assembled state,
(13) that many (e.g., more than 50) nesting boxes can easily be manually transported ever great distances in a non-folded/non-assembled state,
(14) that the nesting boxes are made of such materials that considerations of the environment and degradability/composting in the environment are optimised on the basis of current international environmental agreements, conventions, legislation for the use of industrially manufactured products in and around the nature.
The nesting box of the invention provides a box that appears as a bird nesting box in the conventional meaning in all substantial aspects.
The novelties of the invention are that the nesting box can easily be shipped and transported (also manually) even over large distances, and that the nesting box can easily be folded and assembled without the use of tools or other assembly aids on the basis of the components of an outer and an inner punch-out sheet, also at the actual place of suspension, and is easily suspended without the use of tools. Also, the nesting box can easily be cleaned at the place of suspension (trees, bushes, buildings, etc.) and easily be destroyed or recycled when its useful life is completed.
Through chosen designs and based on existing research as well as practical experience in the field, the invention has solved the problems of providing nesting boxes in which birds including any offspring obtain adequate protection/cover and shelter from predators, weather and wind, in combination with the fact that the invention is easy to: ship/transport, assemble, suspend, clean, replace and destroy/recycle. Furthermore, through its designs the invention ensures that birds and any offspring can easily get in and out of the nesting box, in combination with the fact that the invention seeks to secure birds and their offspring against predators ( squirrel barrier ).
FIG. 1 shows:
The inner and outer interconnected punch-out sheets 10 and their components carried in the so-called carrier handle 11 ; outer punch-out sheet 12 ; inner punch-out sheet 13 ; and cut-out members 14 A, 14 B for reinforcing the entrance-exit hole 15 . The inner punch-out sheet represents the main portion of the nesting box, and includes front portion 16 , side portions 17 , 18 , outer back portion 19 , lid portion 20 and floor portion 21 . These portions include various slots and tabs that enable to box to be assembled. Also, the rear inner wall portion 22 includes a plurality of horizontal cut-outs 23 which when the box is assembled create steps that assist in allowing fledglings to exit the nesting box.
FIG. 2 illustrates the inner punch-out sheet 13 in position for assembly of the box. The front portion 16 includes the entrance/exit hole 15 , and an extension 24 that has a hole 25 that corresponds to the entrance/exit hole 15 . As shown, the extension 24 is being folded over the inner side of the front portion 16 with the holes 15 , 25 in alignment. In addition to reinforcing the entrance/exit hole 15 , extension 24 also includes a squirrel barrier 26 that makes it more difficult for squirrels to enter the nesting box. The ends of this barrier 26 are held in slots 27 and this arrangement maintains the barrier 26 in its operative position.
FIG. 2 also shows tabs 28 on floor portion 21 and slots 29 for fastening and closing the outer back portion 19 of the nesting box through slots 30 on rear inner wall portion 22 to the floor portion 21 . Side flaps 31 of the floor 21 abut against side wall portions 17 , 18 and prevent a space from opening between side wall portions 17 , 18 and floor 21 . Side wall portions 17 , 18 each include extensions 32 , 33 , which includes cut-outs 34 , 35 , respectively. Lid portion 20 includes tabs 32 which are used for closing/opening the nesting box lid by being pressed down into the cut-outs 34 , 35 of side wall portions 16 , 17 . FIG. 4 illustrates these tabs in position for engagement of the cut-outs of the side wall portions.
FIG. 3 illustrates the partial formation of the nesting box after one sidewall portion 18 is folded to stand vertically, with rear outer portion 19 also being in a vertical position. To complete the assembly of the box, side wall portion 17 is folded vertically upwards, rear inner wall portion 22 is folded to span the open space between the side walls 17 , 18 and rear outer portion 19 is folded upon the rear inner portion 22 . As noted above, tabs 28 of floor portion 21 extend through the cut-outs 30 of rear inner wall portion 22 and then through cut-outs 29 of rear outer portion 19 to hold those portions together. Also, the tab members 36 on rear outer portion 19 pass through slots 37 formed between the inner rear wall portion 22 and side wall portion 17 to hold those portions together.
FIG. 4 illustrates the final steps to form the nesting box. The lid portion 20 is folded over the opening formed by the other portions with its tab members 39 engaging the slots 34 , 35 of the sidewall members 17 , 18 . Although only one side wall portion 17 is illustrated, the same assembly is made for the other side wall portion 18 .
The diameter of the entrance/exit hole 15 is preferably 28 mm, while the diameter of the hole 25 of the extension 24 is preferably 32 mm. As shown in FIG. 4 , the cut-out members 14 A, 14 B can be selected for use in the adjustment, retention, or reinforcement of the diameter of the entrance/exit hole of the nesting box. This is achieved as shown in FIG. 5 by fastening flaps 40 A, 40 B into slots 41 located between the front portion 16 and side wall portions 17 , 18 so that the cut-out members 14 A, 14 B are securely mounted on the nesting box.
As noted above, rear inner wall 22 includes horizontal cut-outs or slots 23 which act as internal surface devices that cooperate to form a ladder , which helps not fully fledged offspring leave the nesting box. Also, the flaps 31 on the floor 21 of the nesting box, which help close the bottom of the nesting box, also act to reinforce the structure.
Finally, the floor 21 of the nesting box includes a perforated cut-out which forms a circle containing an -R- which is also perforated. The parts of the suspension system of the nesting box include the cut-out suspension holes, flaps, and the cut-outs and slots for fastening the portions together.
The nesting box is made of plastics, synthetic materials, cardboard/paper compositions, plant fibers and combinations thereof in sheets or fixed shapes. The nesting box is 100 to 1000 mm high, 100 to 1000 mm wide and 100 to 1000 mm deep.
A preferred embodiment of the nesting box is made of a hollow-structure sheet polypropylene HKP PP 2 mm, 600 g/square meters and is 260 mm high, 130 mm wide and 130 mm deep and weighs on the order of 250 g when it is folded and assembled.
Through FIGS. 1 to 5 , the preferred design and forming of the nesting box are shown, but the nesting box can be formed as all known spatial figures and all combinations thereof, and the entrance and exit hole 15 of the nesting box can also be formed as all known shapes and all combinations thereof, and the location of the entrance and exit hole is not limited to a location on the top center part of the front of the nesting box.
FIGS. 6 and 7 are front and perspective views, respectively of the final nesting box 50 that is assembled. Flaps 43 and 44 are provided on the rear of the nesting box for mounting on a wall or other flat vertical surface using screws or the like.
| 0A
| 01 | K |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
First Embodiment
An embodiment realizing the present invention in horn switches which are
provided on steering wheels of automobiles is described below with
reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
As shown in FIG. 3, a boss plate 4 is welded on the outer peripheral
portion of a boss portion 3 where a steering shaft 1 is fitted in and
secured by means of a nut 2. On said boss plate 4, a core metal 5 of the
spoke portion is welded and a core metal 6 of the pipe-shaped ring portion
is attached to the tip of said core metal 5 of the spoke portion. The
outer peripheries of said core metal 5 of the spoke portion and said core
metal 6 of the ring portion are covered by a cover layer 7 made of
synthetic resin.
At the under surface side of said boss plate 4, a lower cover 8 made of
synthetic resin is screwed such as to cover said plate 4. At the upper
portion of said lower cover 8, a pad portion 9 made of synthetic resin is
attached such as to cover the upper surface side of said boss plate 4 and
others. At the central portion of said pad portion 9, a recess 9a is
formed, wherein a horn switch 10 which is constituted as described below
is provided.
As shown in FIG. 1, a housing 12 is secured by means of a screw 13 on a
base plate 11 made of synthetic resin such as ABS resin (an
acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer), polyamide resin (6-nylon) and
others, which is attached to the bottom of said recess 9a.
On the surface of said base plate 11, a recess 11a is formed, where a
plus-side electrode portion 14a is formed by means of electroless plating
extending from one side of the surface of said base plate 11 (left side of
FIG. 1) of said recess 11a.
The other electrode 14b of minus-side is extended from the other end of the
surface of the base plate 11 (right side of FIG. 1) to the central portion
of the housing 12. As shown in FIG. 2, said electrode portion 14b is
formed by means of electroless plating such as to encircle said electrode
portion 14a in a shape of an arc.
Electroless plating for formation of said electrode portions 14a and 14b is
performed first by means of covering with the masking material the
portions except the electrode portions 14a and 14b. Next, the phosphorus
alloys such as nickel-boron (Ni-B) alloy, nickel-phosphorus (Ni-P) alloy
and others as well as the copper alloys are used for plating under the
given conditions such as plating fluid concentration, PH, temperature,
time and other.
On the upper surface of said housing 12, a horn contact 16, the upper
portion of which contacts a horn button 15, is protruded therethrough. A
contact member 16a of a letter T shape at the cross section is formed
integrally with the under section of the horn contact 16. A spring 17 is
disposed at the outer peripheral portion of said contact member 16a
between said base plate 11 and the horn contact 16 to press said horn
contact upwardly. The under portion of said spring 17 is adapted to
contact the one electrode portion 14b but not to contact the other
electrode portion 14a which is formed in the recess 11a on said base plate
11 due to the difference of elevation.
A lead wire 18a is connected with the end portion (left end in FIG. 3) of
said electrode portion 14a. The lead wire 18a is connected with a slip
ring 19 mounted on the under surface of said lower cover 8.
Said slip ring 19 is conducted to a control pin 20 which is provided on the
column side of the steering wheel. Said contact pin 20 is connected with a
horn and the drive circuit thereof. On the other hand, a lead wire 18b is
connected with the end portion of the electrode portion 14b (right end
portion in FIG. 3). Said lead wire 18b is connected with the boss plate 4
and then grounded through the steering shaft 1.
Next, the operation of the horn switch 10 as described above is explained
and its effects are mentioned.
As shown in FIG. 1, when the horn button 15 is not pressed, the contact
member 16a of the horn contact 16 is in a state of non-contact with the
electrode portion 14a on the base plate 11.
The spring 17 is also in a state of non-contact with the electrode portion
14a while it is in a state of contact with the whole portion formed in a
shape of an arc of the other electrode portion 14b.
When the horn button 15 is pressed, the horn contact 16 is pushed down by
the pressing force and in opposition to the urging force of the spring 17.
Next the under surface of the contact member 16a contacts the electrode
portion 14a. Thus, the electrode portions 14a and 14b are conducted
through the intermediary of the contact member 16a of the horn contact 16
and the spring 17.
Hence, the electricity is conducted from the contact pin 20 being connected
with a not-shown horn to the steering shaft 1 through the slip ring 19,
the lead wire 18a, the electrode portion 14a, the contact member 16a, the
spring 17, the other electrode portion 14b, the other lead wire 18b and
the boss plate 4 to operate the horn.
When the pressing force on the horn button 15 is released, the under
surface of the contact member 16a of the horn contact 16 comes off the
electrode portion 14a. Thus, the conductivity of the electrode portion 14a
with the other electrode portion 14b is released to suspend the operation
of the horn.
In the horn switch 10 of this embodiment, as mentioned above, the position
of the electrode portion 14a is placed lower than the position of the
electrode portion 14b, thereby the conventional masking material is not
required. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 2, the arc portion of the
electrode portion 14b can be formed larger than the conventional one,
resulting in the improvement of the performance and reliability of the
horn switch 10, leading to the reduction of the manufacturing cost.
Second Embodiment
Next, an embodiment of the present invention which is concretized in the
printed wiring unit for the horn switch of the steering wheel is described
below with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 5, a boss 33 formed integrally with spokes 32 is secured
to the upper portion of the steering shaft (not shown). Through a bore 33a
formed on said boss 33, a contact ring terminal 34 of a contact ring
provided on the column (not shown) side of the steering wheel protrudes.
On the boss 33, fitting bores 33b are formed to be fitted in by fitting
projections 35a protruded on the under surface of a pad 35. On said pad
35, a receiving recess 36 is formed close to the front side of the upper
surface thereof, wherein a horn switch 37 is provided. On the bottom
surface of the receiving recess 36, a plus-side printed wiring pattern
comprising terminal portions 38a and 38b and a printed wiring portion 38c
formed integrally with the terminal portions 38a and 38b is provided.
Similarly, a minus-side printed wiring pattern 39 comprising terminal
portions 39a and 39b and a printed wiring portion 39c formed integrally
with the terminal portions 39a and 39b is provided on the same bottom
surface of the receiving recess 36 with the terminal portions 38a and 39a
facing each other. The terminal portion 38b of the plus-side printed
wiring pattern 38 is secured to the contact ring terminal 34 passing the
contact ring terminal 34 through a bore 36 a formed in the receiving
recess 36 and projecting therein by means of a screw 40. On the other
hand, the terminal portion 39b of the minus-side printed wiring pattern 39
is adapted to contact the head of a screw 41 to be screwed in a threaded
bore for grounding conductivity by means of said screw 41.
As shown in FIG. 6, movable contact guides 42 are fixed by means of screws
43 so the terminals 38a and 39a being positioned in the guide bores 42a on
the bottom surface of the receiving recess 36 corresponding to said
printed wiring pattern 38 and 39. Movable contacts 44 having contact
portions 44a which may contact terminals 39a of said minus-side printed
wiring pattern 39 are inserted in the guide bores 42a so as to be
vertically slidable. Said contact portions 44a are maintained spaced apart
from the terminals 39a by the urging force of the spring. Fitting portions
44b of the movable contacts 44 are coupled and fixed with fitting portions
46a of a horn button 46 so as to be integrally movable with the movable
contact 44. The movable contacts 44 made of resin are covered by metal all
over the surfaces thereof. The springs 45 are made of steel or phosphor
bronze, the surface of which is plated with sliver. The lower end of said
spring 45 is positioned so as to contact only the terminal 38a of the
plus-side printed wiring pattern 38.
As shown in FIG. 8, pattern bases 47 made of ABS resin are buried in the
same shape as the printed wiring patterns 38 and 39 in the receiving
recess 36 of the pad 35 wherein the pad 35 constitutes an insulative base
48. On the surface of said pattern bases 47, conductive plating layers 49
are formed.
Formation of the patterns is performed by insertion fabrication or
embedding the pattern bases 47 in the insulative base 48.
Next, an example of the plating method of the pad 35 where the printed
wiring patterns formed by the pattern bases 47 made of ABS resin are
buried in the insulated base 48 made of polycarbonate is described below.
First, the pad 35 is washed by a PH 11 to 12 alkali solution of sodium
hydroxide, sodium phosphate or both. After washing, the pad 35 is dipped
for 2 to 6 minutes at 70.degree. C. in an etchant containing chromic acid
(420 g/l) and concentrated sulfuric acid (380 g/l). Thus, the surface of
the pattern base 47 is etched to make the plating layer easily adherable
to the pattern base 47. After washing, the pad is dipped in hydrochloric
acid for 30 seconds at room temperature and then washed again. By this
hydrochloric acid treatment, chromic acid is removed. Then, the pad is
dipped for 30 to 90 seconds at 25.degree. C. in a solution containing A-30
catalyst 20 cc/l (made by Okuno Pharmaceutical Industrial Co., Ltd.)
including palladium chloride and stannous chloride as principal components
and concentrated hydrochloric acid 180 cc/l and then washed. Thus,
metallic palladium which is required as a catalyst in the electroless
plating process is adheres the surface of the pattern base 47.
Next, the pad is dipped for 3 minutes at 40.degree. C. in an aqueous
solution of concentrated hydrochloric acid 70 cc/l and washed. Then, the
pad is dipped for 5 minutes at 35.degree. C. in the nickel plating bath
with sodium hypophosphite as a reducing agent. Thus, the nickelling layer
is formed on the surface of the pattern base 47. By washing and drying the
pad, a series of plating treatments is completed.
Next, the operation of the horn switch constituted as described above is
explained and the effects are mentioned.
As shown in FIG. 5, the printed wiring patterns 38 and 39 are integrally
formed as a printed wiring unit in the receiving recesses 36 of the pad
35. Accordingly, the assembling of the pad 35 with the boss 33 secured on
the upper portion of the steering shaft and the assembling of the movable
contact guides 42, the movable contacts 44, the horn button 46 and so on
with the receiving recess 36 of the pad 35 are completed. Thus, the horn
switch 37 assembly is completed. Therefore, the conventional wiring work
is not necessary.
As shown in FIG. 6, in a state of the horn button 46 being not pressed, the
terminals 38a of the plus-side printed wiring pattern 38 are electrically
connected with the movable contacts 44 through the spring 45.
On the other hand, the contact portions 44a of the movable contacts 44 are
not contacted with the terminals 39a of the minus-side printed wiring
pattern 39. And the adjacent area of the terminal 39a is insulated by the
green mask 50 (shown in FIG. 7) and others so as to prevent the
conductivity with the spring 45. Another method of insulation is to form a
difference in level as shown in FIG. 9 which is the same as the first
embodiment mentioned above. Accordingly, the circuit for operating the
horn is maintained in a nonoperative open state.
When the horn button 46 is pressed, the movable contact 44 is lowered by
the pressing force simultaneously opposing the urging force of the spring
and the contact portion 44a contacts the terminal 39a of the printed
wiring pattern 39. Thus, the terminal 38a of the plus-side printed wiring
pattern 38 and the terminal 39a of the minus-side printed wiring pattern
39 are conductive through the intermediaries of the spring 45 and the
movable contacts 44. The circuit for operating the horn is closed to
operate the horn.
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments but can be
realized in the following.
(1) In the first embodiment described above, the horn contact 16 and the
contact member 16a are integrally formed but they may be divided to each
form a separate piece. In the same embodiment, they are made of resin
which is covered by metal all over the surface through electroless
plating. However, only the portion where electrical conductivity is
required, such as the surface of the contact member 16a and the lower
portion of the horn contact 16, may be covered by metal.
Further, electroplating or other methods of covering metal may be
appropriately applied.
(2) In the first embodiment described above, the position of the arc-shaped
electrode portion 14b which the spring 17 contacts on the surface of the
base plate 11 can be formed lower than the general surface 14c (the
surface of the base plate 11 at the outer peripheral portion of the
electrode portion 14b) as shown in FIG. 4. In this case, the position of
the electrode portion 14a (the position below the contact member 16a) must
be lower than the position of the electrode portion 14b.
(3) In the first embodiment described above, the electrode portions 14a and
14b can be formed by applying a conductive ink on the portions requiring
electrical activity of the electrode portions 14a and 14b through screen
printing method as an alternative to the electroless plating employed in
the first embodiment.
(4) In the second embodiment described above, the combination of the
pattern base 47 and the insulated base 48. can be made by etching the
pattern base 47 with an etchant such as a combination of chromic acid and
concentrated sulfuric acid. Examples of suitable pattern base 47 and
insulative base 48 combinations include polyacetal and ABS resin or nylon
and ABS resin.
As the metal for formation of the plating layer 49, not only nickel but
copper or silver or others can be used; however the conditions of plating
are varied according to the kind of the metal employed in the pattern base
47, the insulative base 48 and the conductive plating layer 49. In the
embodiment described above, the example embodied in the printed wiring
pattern for the horn switch is explained but it can be applied to the tail
lamp or realized in the wiring structure of the display board such as
metals.
Inasmuch as it is apparent that the present invention can be realized in a
wide range of embodiments without departing from its spirit and scope, the
realizations of the present invention are not limited to those stated in
the appended claims. | 7H
| 01 | H |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1, a cleaning device comprising a substrate sheet 10 is
shown with an adhesive 12 coated on substantially the entire top surface
14 thereof. The sheet 10 can be constructed of paper, such as bond,
photocopy, kraft or synthetic paper, for example, or constructed of
plastic film, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, for example.
The adhesive has a tack strength between about 0.0002 and about 0.12 pound
force-square inch, and can be a self adhesive resin such as non-limitedly
exemplified in latex resin or silicone rubber resin, or it can be a
pressure sensitive adhesive resin such as non-limitedly exemplified in
liquid rubber resin, petroleum resin, or turpentine resin. As is apparent
from the tack strength, the adhesive is relatively non-aggressive and
therefore does not require a liner thereon for stacking and storage of the
substrate sheet 10.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a substrate sheet 10 with adhesive 12 is shown
having in addition a resin foam 16 laminated to substantially the entirety
of the bottom surface 18 of the sheet 10. The resin foam 16 can be
constructed of polyethylene, polypropylene or poylurethane, for example,
and is provided to impart greater thickness and resiliency if needed to
the sheet 10 for pressured application against a surface to be cleaned.
Finally, a generally lint-free cloth layer 20 can be laminated to the
exposed surface 22 of the resin foam 16. This cloth layer 20 also can be
included without the presence of the resin foam 16, in which case the
cloth layer 20 is laminated directly to the bottom surface 18 of the
substrate sheet 10. Inclusion of a cloth layer 20 functions to provide
additional structural integrity to the substrate sheet 10. A preferred
dimension of the substrate sheet 10 is 8.5.times.11 inches, while
preferred thicknesses of the components are as follows: substrate sheet
10--10-3,000 .mu.m; adhesive--5-500 .mu.m; resin foam 16--200-3,000 .mu.m;
cloth layer 20--200-3,000 .mu.m.
Soil removal occurs as the substrate sheet is fed into the printing
apparatus and travels there through along the paper-path surfaces upon
which paper is conveyed, as especially exemplified by rubber rollers for
paper feed. When a cleaning device of the present invention is inserted
into a printing apparatus along the same path that paper to be printed
travels, the device removes dirt by adhesion and static electricity as the
device is moved by a roller. The examples that follow illustrate this
efficacy.
EXAMPLES
In all of the examples reported below, comparative results were measured
from data gathered using a Hewlett Packard Desk Jet 1200C printer from
which 100 identical copies were generated on Hewlett Packard Inkjet paper.
After each set of 100 copies was produced, cleaning occurred with results
shown below in Table I. operating parameters that produced the results
shown in Table I are recited under each Example. Tack strength throughout
was from about 0.0002 to about 0.12 pound force-square inch.
Example 1
A cleaning device constructed of 100 .mu.m thick photocopy paper and 50
.mu.m thick self adhesive latex resin on the top surface of the paper was
introduced to make a single pass through the printer.
Example 2
A cleaning device constructed of 60 .mu.m thick PET film and 800 .mu.m
thick self adhesive silicone rubber resin on the top surface of the paper
was introduced to make a single pass through the printer.
Example 3
A cleaning device constructed of 2,000 .mu.m thick kraft paper and 10 .mu.m
thick pressure sensitive liquid rubber resin on the top surface of the
paper was introduced to make a single pass through the printer.
Example 4
A cleaning device constructed of 150 .mu.m thick white bond paper and 200
.mu.m thick pressure sensitive petroleum resin on the top surface of the
paper was introduced to make a single pass through the printer.
Example 5
A cleaning device constructed of 30 .mu.m thick white bond paper and 100
.mu.m pressure sensitive turpentine resin on the top surface of the paper
was introduced to make a single pass through the printer.
Example 6
A cleaning device constructed of 100 .mu.m thick photocopy paper and 50
.mu.m thick self adhesive latex resin on the top surface of the paper and
1,000 .mu.m thick polypropylene foam resin laminated to the bottom surface
of the paper was introduced to make a single pass through the printer.
Example 7
A cleaning device constructed of 100 .mu.m thick photocopy paper and 50
.mu.m thick pressure sensitive liquid rubber resin on the top surface of
the paper and 1,000 .mu.m thick polypropylene foam resin laminated to the
bottom surface of the paper was introduced to make a single pass through
the printer.
Example 8
A cleaning device constructed of 200 .mu.m thick kraft paper and 50 .mu.m
thick self adhesive latex resin on the top surface of the paper and 1,600
.mu.m thick polypropylene foam resin laminated to the bottom surface of
the paper was introduced to make a single pass through the printer.
Example 9
A cleaning device constructed of 60 .mu.m thick PET film and 800 .mu.m
thick self adhesive silicone rubber resin on the top surface of the paper
and 1,000 .mu.m thick polypropylene foam resin laminated to the bottom
surface of the paper was introduced to make a single pass through the
printer.
Example 10
A cleaning device constructed of 100 .mu.m thick photocopy paper and 500
.mu.m thick self adhesive latex resin on the top surface of the paper and
200 .mu.m thick rayon lint-free fabric laminated to the bottom surface of
the paper was introduced to make a single pass through the printer.
Example 11
A cleaning device constructed of 200 tm thick kraft paper and 500 .mu.m
thick self adhesive silicone rubber resin on the top surface of the paper
and 700 .mu.m thick polyester lint-free fabric laminated to the bottom
surface of the paper was introduced to make a single pass through the
printer.
Example 12
A cleaning device constructed of 100 .mu.m thick photocopy paper and 500
.mu.m thick pressure sensitive liquid rubber resin on the top surface of
the paper and 500 .mu.m thick polyester/rayon fabric blend (50/50 wt. %)
laminated to the bottom surface of the paper was introduced to make a
single pass through the printer.
Example 13
A cleaning device constructed of 100 .mu.m thick photocopy paper and 800
.mu.m thick pressure sensitive petroleum resin on the top surface of the
paper and 500 .mu.m thick polypropylene lint-free fabric laminated to the
bottom surface of the paper was introduced to make a single pass through
the printer.
Example 14
A cleaning device constructed of 100 .mu.m thick photocopy paper and 50
.mu.m thick self adhesive latex resin on the top surface of the paper and
1,000 .mu.m thick polyethylene foam resin laminated to the bottom surface
of the paper was introduced to make a single pass through the printer.
Example 15
A cleaning device constructed of 60 .mu.m thick PET film and 800 .mu.m
thick self adhesive silicone rubber resin on the top surface of the paper
and 700 .mu.m thick urethane foam resin laminated to the bottom surface of
the paper was introduced to make a single pass through the printer.
Example 16
A cleaning device constructed of 100 .mu.m thick photocopy paper and 50
.mu.m thick self adhesive latex resin on the top surface of the paper and
700 .mu.m thick polyester lint-free fabric laminated to the bottom surface
of the paper was introduced to make a single pass through the printer.
Example 17
A cleaning device constructed of 60 .mu.m thick PET film and 800 .mu.m
thick self adhesive silicone rubber resin on the top surface of the paper
and 350 .mu.m thick cotton lint-free fabric laminated to the bottom
surface of the paper was introduced to make a single pass through the
printer.
TABLE I
______________________________________
Results of Examples 1-17
Example No.
Soil Removal
Ease of Operation
Product Safety
______________________________________
1 4 E E
2 5 E E
3 5 A E
4 4 E E
5 5 A E
6 5 E E
7 5 E E
8 5 E E
9 5 E E
10 5 E E
11 5 E E
12 5 E E
13 5 E E
14 5 E E
15 5 E E
16 5 E E
17 4 E E
______________________________________
Key: Soil Removal Ability 1.about.5 (5 being best)
E = Excellent; A = Adequate
As is apparent from the experimental results shown above, the cleaning
device of the present invention effectively accomplishes soil removal from
paper path surfaces in a printing apparatus as here exemplified by an ink
jet printer while providing user-friendly operation and complete product
safety. While an illustrative and presently preferred embodiment of the
invention has been described in detail herein, it is to be understood that
the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed
and that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such
variations except insofar as limited by the prior art. | 1B
| 32 | B |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 shows a general construction of an image forming apparatus which may
be applied with an image processing apparatus according to the present
invention. The image forming apparatus has an image scanner 1, an image
processing part 2 and an image output part 3. The image scanner 1
optically scans and reads an image of a document and supplies an image
signal of the document image to the image processing part 2. The image
processing part 2 subjects the image signal to a predetermined image
processing and outputs an image signal which describes a processed image.
The processed image is outputted from the image output part 3. The image
output part 3 may be constituted by an image forming means which forms an
image on a paper or the like by electrophotography or displays the image
on a display means. For convenience sake, it is assumed hereunder that the
image forming apparatus is a copying machine and the image output part 3
forms the image by electrophotography.
FIG. 2 shows an essential part of an embodiment of an image processing
apparatus according to the present invention. The block system shown in
FIG. 2 substantially corresponds to the image processing part 2 of the
image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1. The image processing apparatus
has a mark detecting circuit 11, a marked area detecting circuit 12, an
inverter 13, AND circuits 14 and 17, selectors 15 and 16 and a
binarization circuit 18.
An image signal (image data) a applied to input terminal means 5 is a 6-bit
signal which describes an input image in 64 gradation levels. The mark
detecting circuit 11 is supplied with the image signal a and detects a
marking in the input image. For example, the marking is entered on the
document by use of a color felt pen having a tone which falls within a
predetermined tone range, and the marking encircles a desired area of the
document. Hence, the mark detecting circuit 11 can detect the marking by
detecting the tone of the image. A mark signal b outputted from the mark
detecting circuit 11 and indicating the detected marking is supplied to
the marked area detecting circuit 12. The marked area detecting circuit 12
detects a marked area which is encircled by the marking in the input image
and outputs a marked area signal c indicating the marked area. The marked
area signal c is supplied to a control terminal Al of the selector 15.
The inverter 13 is supplied with the mark signal b and supplies an inverted
signal b to the AND circuit 14. The AND circuit 14 also receives the
marked area signal c, and outputs a signal d which indicates the marked
area excluding the marking itself. This signal d is supplied to a control
terminal B1 of the selector 15.
The selector 15 selectively outputs one of the signals applied to the
control terminals Al and B1 thereof responsive to a signal i which is
supplied to a set terminal S thereof. This signal i is outputted from the
AND circuit 17 and an output signal e of the selector 15 is the signal d
when the signal i has a high level and is the signal c when the signal i
has a low level.
The selector 16 receives a binary image signal (image data) j from the
binarization circuit 18 at input terminals D0, D1, D4 and D6 thereof. The
binary image signal j has a high level at a black portion of the input
image and a low level at a white portion of the input image, for example,
and is derived from the image signal a received at the input terminal
means 5. Input terminals D2, D3, D5 and D7 of the selector 16 are
grounded. A signal g from an input terminal 7 is applied to a control
terminal A2 and a signal f from an input terminal 8 is applied to a
control terminal B2 of the selector 16. In addition, the signal e from the
selector 15 is applied to a control terminal C2 of the selector 16. An
output image signal k which is outputted from an output terminal Y of the
selector 16 and obtained through an output terminal 19 is determined by
the input conditions at the control terminals A2, B2 and C2 of the
selector 16.
The following Table 1 shows the signal at the output terminal Y of the
selector 16 determined by the signal levels at the control terminals A2,
B2 and C2, where "0" and "l" respectively denote low and high levels of
signals, and D0 through D7 denote signals at the input terminals D0
through D7 of the selector 16.
TABLE 1
______________________________________
C2 B2 A2 Y
______________________________________
0 0 0 D0 (j)
0 0 1 D1 (j)
0 1 0 D2 (0)
0 1 1 D3 (0)
1 0 0 D4 (j)
1 0 1 D5 (0)
1 1 0 D6 (j)
1 1 1 D7 (0)
______________________________________
The signal f applied to the input terminal 8 has a high level in a trimming
mode, while the signal g applied to the input terminal 7 has a high level
in a masking mode. The signal h applied to the input terminal 9 indicates
whether or not to include the marking itself in the marked area regardless
of whether the trimming mode or the masking mode is selected. For example,
the signal h is outputted from a selection switch (not shown) provided in
an operation part (not shown) of the image processing apparatus. The
signal h has a high level when the marking itself is to be excluded in
marked area during the trimming mode and has a low level when the marking
itself is to be included in the marked area during the trimming and
masking modes.
The signal f from the input terminal 8 and the signal h from the input
terminal 9 are also supplied to the AND circuit 17, and the AND circuit 17
produces the signal i based on these two signals f and h.
The signals f and g are also outputted from the operation part. For
example, when the trimming mode is selected by manipulating a trimming key
(not shown) of the operation part, a high-level signal f is outputted from
the operation part. In addition, a high-level signal g is outputted from
the operation part when the masking mode is selected by manipulating a
masking key (not shown) of the operation part. Of course, when the
trimming mode is newly selected during the masking mode, the masking mode
is automatically reset without the need to turn OFF the masking key.
Similarly, when the masking mode is selected during the trimming mode, the
trimming mode is automatically reset without the need to turn OFF the
trimming key.
FIG. 3 shows an example of the input image of a document, that is, a
document image. A document image 20 has areas A, B and C. The mark area B
indicated by a hatching encircles the area A, while the area C exists
outside the mark area B. In FIG. 3, the characters A, B and C also denote
an image (black image) within the respective areas A, B and C.
The following Table 2 shows the image signal k outputted from the output
terminal 19 in the areas A, B and C during a normal mode, the trimming
mode and the masking mode when the signal h has the high level. The value
"j" indicates the black image portion while the value "0" indicates the
white image portion.
TABLE 2
______________________________________
Mode/Area A B C
______________________________________
Normal j j j
Trimming j 0 0
Masking 0 0 j
______________________________________
Therefore, when the signal h has the high level, the image within the mark
area B, that is, the mark area B itself is forcibly converted into a white
image portion during the trimming and masking modes as may be seen from
the Table 2 because k=0 within the mark area B. As a result, only the
image portion within the area A remains in the processed image which is
finally outputted from the output terminal 19.
The following Table 3 shows the image signal k outputted from the output
terminal 19 in the areas A, B and C during the normal mode, the trimming
mode and the masking mode when the signal h has the low level.
TABLE 3
______________________________________
Mode/Area A B C
______________________________________
Normal j j j
Trimming j j 0
Masking 0 0 j
______________________________________
Accordingly, when the signal h has the low level, the image within the mark
area B, that is, the mark area B itself may partially appear as a black
image portion during the trimming mode as may be seen from the Table 3
because k=j within the mark area B, especially when the marking is dark
(that is, the tone of the marking is high) and a portion of the marking is
recognized as being a black portion when a corresponding image data
portion is subjected to the binarization in the binarization circuit 18 to
obtain the binary image signal j. But when the marking is not so dark that
a portion of the marking is recognized as being a black portion, it is in
some cases more convenient to set the level of the signal h to the low
level, such as the case where a desired area of the document is relatively
small and more easily designated by entering the marking over the entire
desired area rather than encircling the desired region by the marking.
In this embodiment, the selectors 15 and 16 are controlled so as to select
a mode in which the marking itself is included in the marked area and a
mode in which the marking itself is excluded from the marked area at the
AND circuit 17 which receives the signal h from the input terminal 9.
In FIG. 2, time delays occur at the mark detecting circuit 11, the mark
area detecting circuit 12 and the binarization circuit 18. Hence,
appropriate time compensations are carried out in these circuits to
compensate for such time delays. Means for carrying out such time
compensations are known and an illustration and description thereof will
be omitted in the present application.
Hence, in this embodiment, when the marking is relatively dark (that is,
the tone is relatively high) and there is a possibility that the marking
itself will partially appear on the processed image during the trimming
mode, the selection switch of the operation part can manipulated so as to
switch the level of the signal h to the high level so as to set the marked
area excluding the marking itself as a trimming area. In addition, it is
possible to set the marked area excluding the marking itself as the
trimming area during the trimming mode and to set the mark area including
the marking itself as the masking area during the masking mode.
FIGS.4 through 8 show processed images outputted from the embodiment of the
image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 2 in various modes.
FIG. 4 shows the processed image obtained in the normal mode shown in the
Tables 2 and 3. In this case, the signals f and g have low levels, and the
signal h may have a low or high level. The marking itself thinly appears
as indicated by a phantom line in addition to the images A, B and C in the
respective areas A, B and C.
FIG. 5 shows the processed image obtained in the trimming mode shown in the
Table 2. In this case, the signals f and h have high levels, and the
signal g has a low level. Since the marking itself is not included in the
trimming area, the image B and the marking itself do not appear in the
processed image and only the image A within the area A appears in the
processed image.
FIG. 6 shows the processed image obtained in the masking mode shown in the
Table 2. In this case, the signal f has a low level and the signals g and
h have high levels. Because the marking itself is included in the masking
area, the image A, the image B and the marking itself are masked and do
not appear in the processed image, and only the image C within the area C
appears in the processed image.
FIG. 7 shows the processed image obtained in the trimming mode shown in the
Table 3. In this case, the signal f has a high level and the signals g and
h have low levels. Since the marking itself is included in the trimming
area, the image B and the marking itself appear in the processed image
together with the image A within the area A.
FIG. 8 shows the processed image obtained in the masking mode shown in the
Table 3. In this case, the signals f and h have low levels and the signal
g has a high level. Because the marking itself is included in the masking
area, the image A, the image B and the marking itself are masked and do
not appear in the processed image, and only the image C within the area C
appears in the processed image.
Although the embodiment is described for the case where the present
invention is applied to the image forming apparatus or copying machine, it
is possible to apply the present invention to other apparatuses including
the facsimile machine. In the case of the facsimile machine, for example,
the processed image data outputted from the image processing part 2 shown
in FIG. 1 is obtained from a caller facsimile machine and the processed
image outputted from the image output part 3 is obtained from a receiving
facsimile machine which receives the processed image data through a
transmission path.
In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to
designate a desired area of a document with ease with a large degree of
freedom in that the shape of the desired area is not limited to a
rectangle. In other words, it is possible to designate the desired area by
simply encircling or filling the desired area by use of a felt pen or the
like having the tone which falls within the predetermined tone range.
Further, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, but
various variations and modifications may be made without departing from
the scope of the present invention. | 7H
| 04 | M |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in the single
FIGURE.
The scent generating apparatus 10 shown in the FIGURE includes a cover 12,
a base member 14 and a heat activated cartridge 16. The cover 12 and base
member 14 together form a housing for the heat activated cartridge 16. The
housing must be capable of withstanding temperatures of up to 550.degree.
F. and is preferably fabricated from a heat conductive material. Suitable
materials are ceramics, metals such as tin, aluminum and steel, and glass.
Cover 12 includes a top 18 and a upper sidewall 20 which extends
circumferentially around cover 12. Base member 14 is comprised of a bottom
22 and a lower sidewall 24 which extends circumferentially around base
member 14.
Lower sidewall 24 of base member 14 includes a circumferential lip 26
thereon. Circumferential lip 26 acts to limit the downward movement of
cover 12 when it is fitted over the upper portion of lower sidewall 24 of
base member 14. Thus, upper sidewall 20 will fit over the portion of lower
sidewall 24 which is above circumferential lip 26. This fit is preferably
snug enough so that cover 12 cannot fall off of base member 14 when the
scent generating apparatus is inverted.
Heat-activated cartridge 16 fits within base member 14 of scent generating
apparatus 10. Cover 12 is then placed over the upper portion of lower
sidewall 24 of base member 14 to close the scent generating apparatus 10.
Heat-activated cartridge 16 is comprised of a carrier material and a
scented material which is dispersed in the carrier material. Preferably,
the scented material is homogeneously dispersed in the carrier material by
for example mixing the scented material into the carrier material in the
melt form.
Suitable carrier materials for use in the apparatus of the present
invention have a melting point of at least 175.degree. F. and more
preferably have a melting point between 185.degree. F. and 275.degree. F.
In addition, the carrier material should be chemically and physically
stable up to temperatures of about 550.degree. F. By chemically and
physically stable it is meant that the carrier material does not undergo
pyrolysis, combustion, or other significant chemical change and that it
does not boil or otherwise undergo a physical change. It is the intention
that the carrier material will be melted when exposed to typical
temperatures for gas fireplaces and that it will resolidify upon removal
from the fireplace or extinguishing of the gas flame.
A unique characteristic of the present invention is that the carrier
material is essentially inert and will remain in the apparatus even when
all of the scented material has been exhausted. In this manner, no
pollutants are released into the air by use of the device of the present
invention and no waste material in the form of ash or other residues of
pyrolysis or combustion are created. Thus, once the scented material is
exhausted, the carrier material can be recycled or otherwise disposed of
by the user. This makes for an environmentally friendly apparatus.
Suitable carrier materials include saturated hydrocarbon polymers. Such
saturated hydrocarbon polymers will generally have molecular weights of
500-5,000 grams per mole and more preferably 1,000-3,000 grams per mole.
Of course, higher molecular weight polymers will be better suited for
higher temperature applications since they will typically have higher
melting points and will be able to withstand higher temperatures. On the
other hand, lower molecular weight materials may be preferable if a rapid
melting of the carrier material is desired, for example to quickly provide
a scent to a room.
Suitable saturated hydrocarbon polymers include polyethylene homopolymers
having molecular weights of 500-3,000 grams per mole. These types of
polymers are commercially available and typically melt at temperatures
between 175.degree. F. and 275.degree. F., depending upon the molecular
weight. Such polyethylene homopolymers are chemically and physically
stable at temperatures of up to 550.degree. F. and thus can withstand the
extreme temperatures which can be encountered in gas fireplaces.
Polywax.RTM. (ex. Petrolite) polyethylene homopolymers are suitable for
use as the carrier material.
In addition, for cost or other reasons it may be desirable to include minor
amounts of other materials in the carrier material. Such additional
materials should not materially affect the basic characteristics of the
carrier material. For example, it may be desirable to incorporate a
limited amount of paraffin in the carrier material in order to reduce its
cost without changing its basic characteristics.
The scented material to be employed in the apparatus of the present
invention may be any conventional scented material which can be dispersed
in the carrier material. Typically, scented materials with relatively high
boiling points will be preferred since these will provide a more long
lasting effect than scented materials which will boil off at temperatures
below 200.degree. F., for example. In any event, it is important that the
scented material be volatilized upon melting of the carrier material so
that the scented material can accomplish its desired function.
The scented material preferably comprises from 1-10% by weight of the total
weight of the heat activated cartridge 16. More preferably, the scented
material makes up 3-5% by weight of the total weight of the heat activated
cartridge 16. Examples of scented materials are apple, cherry, lilac and
pine scent. Essentially, any commercially available scented material can
be employed as long as it can be incorporated in the heat activated
cartridge 16.
In operation, cover 12 is removed from base member 14 to expose heat
activated cartridge 16 to the air. Then, scent generating apparatus 10 is
placed in close proximity to a gas fire for example, above the fire on the
metal screen typically associated with gas fireplaces. The heat from the
fire will heat up scent generating apparatus 10 thereby causing the
carrier material to melt. Upon melting of the carrier material the scented
material will be gradually volatilized and provide a pleasing scent to the
room in which the gas fireplace is located.
EXAMPLE
A tin housing was provided with a heat-activated cartridge of Polywax.RTM.
(ex. Petrolite), a polyethylene homopolymer with a melting point of
190.degree. F. as the carrier material and, homogeneously mixed in the
carrier material, an apple scent. The apparatus, without the cover, was
placed on the metal screen above the fire in a gas fireplace and, upon
heating, provided a pleasant apple scent to the room.
The present invention has been described with reference to its preferred
embodiments. The foregoing description should not be construed as limiting
the scope of the invention in any way. The scope of the invention is to be
determined by the claims appended hereto. | 5F
| 24 | B |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIGS. 1-3 of the drawing depict a valve train for two intake valves E. Each
valve E is acted upon in the closing direction by a spring 1. The valves
are actuated by their own cams 2, 3 of a cam shaft 4 via first rocker
levers 5 which are pivotably supported on a common fixed pin 6 and are
held in contact with their cams 2, 3 by the valve springs 1 during their
lift phases. The cams 2 and 3 preferably have different cam profiles in
order to achieve a different valve lift, a different opening duration
and/or different control periods for the individual intake valves and to
create optimum conditions in the lower and medium rotational speed range
of the internal combustion engine.
Arranged on the cam shaft 4 between the two cams 2 and 3 is a further cam
7, the cam profile of which is designed for the conditions in the upper
rotational speed range of the internal combustion engine, for example a
larger valve lift and a longer opening duration. A second rocker lever 8
interacts with the cam 7 and this second rocker lever can be coupled to
the first rocker levers 5 in the upper rotational speed range, with the
result that in this rotational speed range the valves E are actuated in
accordance with the contour of cam 7.
The free end of the second rocker lever 8 is provided with a cross-bar 9
which extends in front of and at a short distance from the free ends of
the first rocker levers 5. Holes 10 radial to the pivot pin 6 are provided
in the first rocker levers 5 and these holes 10 are in alignment with
holes 11 in the cross-bar when the valves E are in their closed position,
i.e. when the rocker levers 5 and 8 are running on the base circles of
their cams 2, 3 and 7. Arranged in each hole 10 is a piston 12 which can
be displaced between a first, inner position (FIG. 2) and a second, outer
position (FIG. 1) in which it engages in the corresponding hole 11 in the
cross-bar 9. In the second position, the pistons 12 thus connect the first
rocker levers 5 to the second rocker lever 8 and the valves are thus
actuated in accordance with the contour of cam 7.
The displacement of the pistons 12 towards the outside takes place with the
aid of a pressure medium which is supplied through a passage 14 in the pin
6, the passage 14 being connected to the holes 10 via openings 15 in the
wall of the pin 6. If the supply of pressure medium is interrupted, the
pistons 12 are each moved back into their holes 10 by a spring 13 and the
second rocker lever 8 can then oscillate freely and the actuation of the
valves takes place by means of the first rocker levers 5 in accordance
with the contour of cams 2 and 3 respectively. The spring 13 is supported
at one end against an insert 16 fixed in the hole 10 and at the other end
against the end 17 of a tube 18 which is secured on the piston 12 and
extends through the insert 16.
Each rocker lever 5 and 8 has a sliding surface 19 by which it rests
against its cam 2, 3 and 7 respectively.
The second rocker lever 8 is held in contact with its cam 7 by a spring
system which, in the illustrative embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3, is
arranged on a tube 20 accommodating a spark plug or an injection valve and
acts on extensions 21 of the second rocker lever 8, the said extension
partially surrounding the tube 20. The spring system (cf. FIG. 1)
comprises a first, stronger spring 22, which is formed by a helical
spring, and a second, weaker spring 23, which is formed by an elastomer
ring. The first spring 22 is arranged under prestress between a first
spring plate 24 connected to the tube 20 and a second spring plate 25,
which is seated displaceably on the tube 20 and has a tubular extension 26
which is supported against a fixed stop 27 formed by a surface on the
cylinder head of the internal combustion engine. The second spring 23 is
supported on that side 28 of the second spring plate 25 which faces away
from the spring 22 and the extensions 21 of the second rocker lever 8 are
supported via a supporting ring 29, seated displaceably on the extension
26, on the second spring 23. The second spring 23 can be connected to the
supporting ring 29 and to the second spring plate 25 to form a unit.
During the base circle phase shown in FIG. 1, in which the rocker levers 5
and 8 run on the base circles of their cams 2, 3 and 7 respectively, the
second rocker lever 8 is pressed against its cam 7 only by the weak second
spring 23 since the strong spring 22 is supported against the fixed stop
27 via the tubular extension 26. After the base circle phase has been
passed through and at the beginning of the lift phase, the rocker levers 5
and 8 are pivoted about the pin 6 in the clockwise direction, the
extensions 21 of the rocker lever 8 compressing the second spring 23 until
it forms a rigid block, and then come under the influence of the
prestressed spring 22. Immediately after the beginning of the lift phase,
the second rocker lever 8 is thus pressed against its cam 7 with a force
which corresponds to the prestress of the first spring 22, and this
contact force rises in accordance with the characteristic of the spring 22
as the pivoting angle increases.
FIG. 3 shows a diagram which illustrates, in principle, the variation of
the contact force acting on the second rocker lever 8 during the lift
phase. In this diagram, P is the contact force and s the displacement of
the supporting ring 29 in accordance with the pivoting of the second
rocker lever 8 by the cam 7. Up to the beginning of the lift phase at
point 0, the rocker lever 8 is subject only to the prestressing force of
the second spring 23, which is, for example, 3N. At the beginning of the
lift phase, the second spring 23 is first of all compressed into a rigid
block, as a result of which the contact force rises to, for example, 10N.
At this moment, the prestress of the first spring 22 comes into effect,
this prestress being illustrated in the diagram by section a, as a result
of which the contact force acting on the rocker lever 8 is increased to,
for example, 200N. The contact force then rises in accordance with the
course of the line b, which is defined by the characteristic of the spring
22.
From the diagram in FIG. 3, it can be seen that in the base circle phase
the rocker lever 8 is pressed against its cam 7 with only a small force.
Immediately after the beginning of the lift phase, however, a high contact
pressure is present due to the prestress of the first spring 22 and this
contact pressure ensures that the rocker lever 8 rests continuously
against its cam 7 by its sliding surface 19 even at high rotational
speeds.
FIGS. 4-6 show a further illustrative embodiment of the invention.
Identical parts are provided with identical reference numerals and are not
described again.
In this arrangement, the second rocker lever 8 is pressed against the cam 7
by its sliding surface 19 in the lift phase by means of a single helical
compression spring 30, the spring 30 lying under prestress on a tube 20'
between a first spring plate 31 connected to the tube 20' and a second
spring plate 32 arranged displaceably on the tube 20'. The spring plate 32
is supported against the extensions 21 of the second rocker lever 8, which
partially surround the tube 20'.
A stop 34 is provided on the fixed component 33, which is normally part of
the cylinder head of the internal combustion engine, and the second rocker
lever 8 is pressed against this stop 34 by the spring 30 in its base
circle phase. The arrangement is such that the sliding surface 19 is not
in contact with the base circle of the cam 7, this being illustrated in an
exaggerated manner for the sake of clarity in FIG. 4. In practice, the
spacing between the sliding surface 19 and the cam base circle is of the
order of the normal valve clearance. This arrangement avoids the
occurrance of friction between the sliding surface 19 and the cam 7 in the
base circle phase. After the base circle phase has been passed through and
at the beginning of the lift phase, the second rocker lever 8 is raised
from the stop 34 by the lobe of the cam 7, as a result of which it comes
under the influence of the prestressed spring 30 and is pressed against
the lobe of the cam 7 with a corresponding force. This contact force
increases in accordance with the characteristic of the spring 30 as the
second rocker lever 8 is pivoted to an increasing extent by the lobe of
the cam 7.
Thus, on the one hand, the total friction between the rocker lever 8 and
the cam 7 is reduced, since sliding contact occurs only in the lift phase,
and, on the other hand, the prestress of the spring 30 acts immediately at
the beginning of the lift phase to press the rocker lever 8 against the
lobe of the cam 7.
The invention is not limited to the illustrative embodiments depicted but
can also be used for a valve-actuating mechanism for just one valve or for
more than two valves, with variable valve timing, per cylinder. The
invention can, in principle, also be used for valve timing mechanisms of
different construction in which a rocker lever which does not act directly
on a valve is pressed against its cam by its own spring. | 5F
| 01 | L |
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention. As is shown in
FIG. 1, an accumulator for car suspension system 1 comprises first housing
2 and second housing 3. Second housing 3, having the shape of a hollow
cylinder, is fitted in first housing 2, and can reciprocate along the axis
of first housing 2.
First housing 2 includes cylindrical first member 2a and cylindrical second
member 2b fitted therein. Sealing member 4 is interposed between first and
second members 2a and 2b. Oil seal 5, seal retainer 6, and sliding bearing
7 are attached to the lower end portion of second member 2b. Sliding
bearing 8 and rebound rubber 9 are attached to the upper end portion of
member 2b. First and second housing 2 and 3 constitute cylinder assembly
10.
Coupling member 12 is mounted on the upper end of first housing 2. Housing
2 is connected to a member (not shown) on the car-body, by means of the
coupling member. Oil chamber 13 is defined inside housing 2, and it is
filled with oil. Oil port 15 in housing 2 connects with chamber 13.
Hydraulic unit 40 (mentioned later) is connected to port 15. First housing
2 is formed with hole 16, through which air escapes from oil chamber 13
when oil is injected into chamber 13. Hole 16 is closed by plug 17.
Coupling member 20 and rubber bumper 21 are attached to one end portion of
second housing 3. Dust cover 22 is positioned between first housing 2 and
the outer end of second housing 3. Cover 22 surrounds a sliding surface of
second housing 3 which protrudes from first housing 2. Damping-force
generating mechanism 24 is attached to the other end portion of second
housing 3, and includes conventional plate valves. Inside housing 3,
ring-shaped stopper 26, having oil passage port 25, is fixed in the
vicinity of mechanism 24.
Oil chamber 28 and gas chamber 29 are defined inside second housing 3.
Chamber 28 communicates with oil chamber 13 of first housing 2 by means of
damping-force generating mechanism 24. A compressed inert gas, such as
nitrogen, is charged in chamber 29. A pressure of gas is from about 30 to
200 kg/cm.sup.2 .
Metal bellows 31 is housed in second housing 3, and separates oil chamber
28 and gas chamber 29. In this embodiment, the internal space of bellows
31 serves as gas chamber 29. The gas is charged into chamber 29 through
gas-supply port 33. Port 33 is closed by plug 34. Bellows 31 is coaxial
with housing 3, and can extend or contract in the axial direction of
housing 3. Bellows 31 is made of thin metal plate. A thickness of bellows
31 is, for example, from about 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm. Fixed end 31a of bellows
31 is fixed to end portion of housing 3. Closed free end 31b of bellows 31
is faced to stopper 26. Back-up oil chamber 35 is defined by inner surface
of housing 3 and outer surface of bellows 31. Back-up chamber 35 is
communicated with oil chamber 28.
Self-sealing member 39 is attached to the outer surface of free end 31b of
bellows 31, opposing passage port 25 of stopper 26. A self-sealing member
39 is provided, which is made of elastomer, such as nitrile rubber, and is
so shaped (for example, conical) as to fit into port 25 in liquid-tight
fashion when bellows 31 expand to a predetermined length. Sealing member
39 has hardness ranging from Hs70 to Hs95 in the definition of the
Japanese Industrial Standards, JISK6301.
A suitable quantity of oil has been stored into oil chamber 28, before the
gas is charged into gas chamber 29. As is shown in FIG. 2, to charge the
gas into chamber 29, high-pressure gas source 38 is connected to port 33
by pipe 36 and valve 37. When valve 37 is opened, the gas is supplied from
source 38 into gas chamber 29. As a result, the gas pressure within
chamber 29 rises, whereby bellows 31 expand in the axial direction. As
bellows 31 expand, self-sealing member 39 reaches stopper 26 and then fits
into port 25. In this condition, back-up oil 28a is confined in back-up
oil chamber 35 which is located between the outer periphery of bellows 31
and the inner periphery of second housing 3. Since oil 28a in chamber 35
is practically noncompressive, it evenly supports the outer periphery of
bellows 31. Thus, metal bellows 31 are prevented from being deformed
excessively or from having a concentrated stress.
Hydraulic unit 40 includes hydraulic source 41 such as oil pump. Arranged
between source 41 and oil port 15 are check valve 43 and solenoid-operated
valve 42 for supplying oil into oil chamber 13. Solenoid-operated valve 45
for discharging oil from oil chamber 13 is located between oil tank 44 and
port 15.
The operation of suspension system 1 will now be described.
If second housing 3 is pushed into first housing 2, some of the oil in oil
chamber 13 flows into oil chamber 28 of second housing 3, via
damping-force generating mechanism 24. As the oil flows through mechanism
24 in this manner, the motion of second housing 3 is damped by the viscous
resistance of the oil. At the same time, the gas in gas chamber 29 is
further compressed in accordance with the depth of depression of second
housing 3. Accordingly, the capacity of chamber 29 is reduced, so that
bellows 31 contracts, and the repulsive force of the gas increases.
If, on the other hand, second housing 3 moves such that it extends out from
first housing 2, some of the oil in oil chamber 28 then flows into oil
chamber 13 of housing 2, via mechanism 24. Also, as in the previous case,
the motion of second housing 3 is damped by the viscous resistance of the
oil. In response to the movement of second housing 3, moreover, gas
chamber 29 increases in its capacity, so that bellows 31 extends.
Thus, as second housing 3 repeatedly extends and contracts relative to
first housing 2, suspension system 1 serves both as a shock absorber and a
gas spring. If solenoid-operated valve 42 is opened, with valve 45 closed,
the oil from hydraulic source 41 is fed into oil chamber 13. In this case,
second housing 3 is moved hydraulically so as to extend out from first
housing 2, thereby raising the ride height of the car. Valve 42 is closed
and source 41 is stopped, when the height of the car reaches a
predetermined value. If, on the other hand, valve 45 is opened, a part of
the oil in oil chamber 13 is returned to tank 44. In this case, the ride
height of the car decreases.
FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. Suspension
system 1 of this embodiment includes third housing 50, in addition to
first and second housing 2 and 3.
Oil chamber 28' and gas chamber 29' are arranged in third housing 50. The
two chambers are divided by metal bellows 31. Fixed end 31a of bellows 31
is fixed to end portion of housing 50. Chambers 28' and 29' are defined
inside and outside bellows 31, respectively. Cylindrical stopper 51,
having oil passage port 52, is positioned inside bellows 31. Oil chamber
28' communicates with oil chamber 28 in second housing 3, by means of oil
passage 55. Port 15 is connected with hydraulic unit 40 of the same type
as is shown in FIG. 1.
In the second embodiment, self sealing member 39 is attached to the inner
surface of the closed free end 31b of bellows 31, facing passage port 52
of stopper 51. Self sealing member 39 is shaped so that it can be fitted
in port 52, in a liquid-tight manner. As is shown in FIG. 4, if bellows 31
contracts to a predetermined length when compressed gas is supplied
through gas-supply port 33, member 39 engages port 52. Thus, during the
charge of the gas, back-up oil 28a is confined in back-up oil chamber 35
which is defined by the inner surface of bellows 31 and the outer surface
of stopper 51.
In the second embodiment, when second housing 3 reciprocates in the axial
direction, relative to first housing 2, oil in oil chamber 28 inside
second housing 3 flows, through oil passage 55, into or out of oil chamber
28' inside third housing 50. As second housing 3 reciprocates, moreover,
some of the oil flows through damping-force generating mechanism 24,
thereby changing the capacity of gas chamber 29'. Accordingly, bellows 31
extends and contracts in the axial direction.
FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In this
embodiment, a suitable quantity of liquid 57 is contained in gas chamber
29', whereby the capacity of chamber 29' is adjusted. | 5F
| 16 | F |
In the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 to 2the element according to the invention is constructed as a polyaxial screw which has a screw element with a threaded shank1with a bone thread and a head2, shaped like a segment of a sphere, which is connected to a receiving part3. The receiving part3has on one of its ends a first bore4, aligned symmetrically to the axis, the diameter of which is larger than that of the thread section of the shank1and smaller than that of the head2. The receiving part3further has a coaxial second bore5, which is open at the end opposite the first bore4and the diameter of which is large enough for the screw element to be guided through the open end with its thread section through the first bore4and with the head2as far as the bottom of the second bore5. Between the first and the second bore a small coaxial section6is provided, which is immediately adjacent to the first bore4and is constructed as spherical towards the open end, the radius being substantially identical to the section of the head2shaped like a segment of a sphere. The second bore5widens towards the end facing away from the first bore4, forming an area7with a larger diameter.
The receiving part3further has a U-shaped recess8, arranged symmetrically to the centre of the part, for receiving a rod100, the bottom of which is directed towards the first bore4and by which two open legs9,10are formed, the open end11of which forms the upper edge of the receiving part3. In an area adjacent to the open end11the legs9,10have an outer thread12.
Further provided is a pressure element20with a first end21, which in a state inserted into the receiving part3faces the head2, and a second end22opposite the first end21. The pressure element has adjacent to the first area21a first cylindrical area23with a diameter which is slightly smaller than that of the bore5adjacent to the spherical section6, so that the pressure element can slide in the area of bore5, in other words can be displaced towards the head2. The first cylindrical area23changes with a conical outer face into a second cylindrical area24, extending as far as the second end22and having a diameter which is slightly smaller than that of area7of the receiving part3to the effect that the pressure element20with its second cylindrical area24can slide in area7of the receiving part3.
The pressure element further has on its first end21a recess26, shaped like a segment of a sphere and widening towards the end, the spherical radius of which is chosen in such a way that in a state inserted into the receiving part it partially encompasses the head2.
There is further on the pressure element20, on the second end22opposite the recess26shaped liked a segment of a sphere, a U-shaped recess27, wherein the dimensions of the U-shaped recess of the pressure element are dimensioned in such a way that in the state inserted into the receiving part3the U-shaped recess8of the receiving part and the U-shaped recess27of the pressure element form a channel into which the rod100can be placed. The depth of the U-shaped recess27, seen in the direction of the cylindrical axis of the receiving part3, is larger than the diameter of the rod100to be received, so that the pressure element20projects upwards above the placed in rod100with lateral legs28,29. The pressure element further has a central bore30extending through it, the diameter of which is dimensioned just large enough for a screwing tool to be guided through for bringing into engagement with a recess31provided in the head2. In its first cylindrical section23further provided on the circumferential side of the pressure element are indented bores32, which cooperate with corresponding crimped bores33on the receiving part3to hold the pressure element lightly in the position in which the channel is formed.
Further provided is a sleeve-like element40of cylindrical shape, with a first end41and a second end42opposite thereto, wherein the outer diameter of the element40is large enough for the element40to be able to be inserted from the open end11in area7of the receiving part3and to slide therein. The sleeve-shaped element40has a central bore with an inner thread43for receiving an inner screw60. Adjacent to the second end a ring-shaped recess44is provided in the outer wall, by which a shoulder45is formed. In the embodiment according toFIG. 1a plurality of slits47extends in the axial direction from the first end41of the element40through its wall as far as the level of the shoulder45. These slits have the effect that the element40is mainly elastic in the horizontal direction on the one hand and in the vertical direction acts as a stable pressure ring. The axial length of the element40is dimensioned in such a way that the element, when it is inserted into the receiving part together with the screw head2and the pressure element20and rests with its first end41on the legs28,29of the pressure element, projects with its shoulder45slightly above the edge11of the receiving part.
To fix the element40an outer nut50, encircling the legs9,10from outside, is provided, the inner thread51of which cooperates with the outer thread12of the legs9,10of the receiving part3. The outer nut50has at one end a projection52, directed radially inwards, which in the screwed down state of the outer nut50presses on the shoulder45of the element40. The axial length of the outer nut50is further dimensioned in such a way that in the screwed down state the outer nut just does not press on the placed in rod100, so that it is displaceable in the channel.
The inner screw60can be screwed into the sleeve-type element40. For this purpose it has a recess61for bringing into engagement with a screwing in tool
In operation first the screw element is introduced into the receiving part3until the head2is resting against the spherical section6. Then the pressure element20is inserted and held via the cooperation of the indented and crimped bores32in such a way that the U-shaped recess8of the receiving part and the U-shaped recess27of the pressure element20come to rest on top of one another. The pressure element is thus secured against falling out. In this state the surgeon screws the screw element into the bone via the recess31. Then the rod100is placed in and the sleeve-type element40with already screwed in inner screw60is inserted between the legs9,10from the open end11of the legs. The inner screw60is therein screwed into the element40only to such a distance that its side facing the rod does not yet touch the rod. The outer nut50is then screwed on. As long as the projection52of the nut directed inwards is not yet resting on the shoulder45of the element40, the head2of the screw element is still not fixed all the time. Only with further screwing down of the outer nut50, the projection52presses on the shoulder45and thus on the element40, which on its part again with its first end41exerts a force on the legs28,29of the pressure element20, whereby it presses against the head2and fixes it in its position. Because the legs28,29of the pressure element project above the placed in rod100, the rod is still displaceable. The rod is then fixed by deeper screwing in of the inner screw60until it acts on the rod100.
During screwing down of the outer nut a force acts on the legs9,10of the receiving part, pressing them slightly inwards. The slit element40is thus slightly pressed together. For final firm screwing in of the inner screw60for fixing the rod a force component, directed radially outwards, acts via the thread flanks and widens the element40. The element40thereby splays out against the legs9,10of the receiving part and the thread12holding the outer nut, effectively preventing loosening or even detaching of the locking mechanism.
The described locking mechanism additionally guarantees that the pressure element20experiences forces only in the axial direction, but not in the radial direction, so its function of fixing the head is not impaired even after the inner screw has been screwed in.
In one modification the inner thread43of the element40is constructed as a left thread, while the outer thread12of the legs of the receiving part3and the thread of the outer nut are constructed as right threads.
Instead of the above-described embodiments, in which the shank1is constructed with a bone thread, the shank can also be constructed as a hook, as used in spinal column surgery for hooking in behind bone projections of the spinal column.
In a further modification of the polyaxial embodiments, instead of the thread shank1or the hook, a bar or a rod-shaped element is provided, which has a head shaped like a segment of a sphere at both ends, connected to a receiving part of the kind described. In this way an element of this kind can be used as a connecting element between two rods100.
In a further modification the sleeve-type element40is rotatably connected to the outer nut. For this purpose the second end42of the element40is curved radially outwards (not illustrated in the figures), so that it engages in a ring-shaped recess54, shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, on the upper side of the outer nut50. In operation the outer nut with the rotatably connected element40is then placed as a unit on the legs and the outer nut is screwed down.
The locking device according to the invention can also be applied to a monoaxial bone screw. In this case the sleeve-type element40does not act on a pressure element, but acts in addition to the inner screw directly on the rod. For this purpose the element40is dimensioned, as far as its axial length is concerned, in such a way that when the outer nut is screwed down it presses on the rod. When the inner screw is screwed in, splaying of the element40takes place, as in the embodiment of the polyaxial screw, reliably preventing loosening or even detaching of the rod clamping.
| 0A
| 61 | B |
The figures are schematic and simplified for clarity, and they just show details which are essential to the understanding of the invention, while other details are left out. Throughout, the same reference numerals are used for identical or corresponding parts.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
A hearing-aid attachment system1for connection of a bone conduction hearing aid (FIG. 3, position No2) to an osseointegrated implant3is shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 4. The system comprises an implant3which is fixated in the bone10of a wearer as especially indicated inFIGS. 2 and 3. As seen in the figures the implant3comprises a screw3with an external thread4, and an abutment5that goes through the skin11. A hearing aid2has a coupling7that allows the hearing aid2to be connected to the abutment5, as is seen inFIGS. 3 and 5. To this end the abutment5has a coupling surface15at its lateral end. (With “lateral” is to be understood a direction away from the bone or skin surface whereas contra-lateral is to be understood as a direction towards the skin and bone surface of a wearer) This coupling surface15is in contact with the hearing aid coupling7. In the embodiment inFIGS. 4 and 5, the coupling surface is provided at an internal circumference of the cup shaped abutment5. As seen inFIGS. 3 and 5, the axial orientation of the hearing aid coupling7in relation to the implanted screw3is decided by the axial orientation of the coupling surface15when the hearing aid2is attached to the abutment5. The abutment5has an implant contact surface16at a contra-lateral end thereof and this surface16is in contact with a lateral end of the implant3. A hearing aid coupling axis20is defined by the coupling surface15, and an implant axis25is defined by the implant screw3. As seen inFIG. 1the abutment is designed so that there is an angle α between the hearing aid coupling axis20and the implant axis25.
Generally the implant screw3is to be implanted perpendicular to the bone surface, but this is not always a well defined direction as the surface of the bone is not necessarily even, and also during the implant procedure some variation in the screw placement may follow due to the craftsman nature of this procedure.
The angle α is preferably in the range between 5 and 20 degrees.
Preferably the angle α is provided by an angulation of the coupling surface15and the contact surface16with respect to each other.
Both the coupling surface15and the contact surface16are circular. This allows the abutment5to be turned around the axis25and fastened at any rotational angle with respect to the implant screw3, whereby the angle α may be freely rotated about the implant axis25.
As seen inFIGS. 1,2and4, the abutment has a central hole30and a connection screw31where, as further seen inFIGS. 2 and 4the implant3has a threaded inner hole32for the connection screw31. The axial orientation of the connection screw31corresponds to the axial orientation of the implant screw3.
At the lateral end the abutment5comprises a recess6, which is shaped such that a head33of screw31may be seated therein. The recess6thus comprises a seat surface17for the screw head33arranged perpendicular to the implant axis25. In this way the head33of the connection screw31can be accessed from the lateral end of the abutment5, and the screw31may be tightened in the threaded hole32to establish a strong sealing force between the abutment contact surface16and the implanted screw3, through tightening forces imparted onto the surface17.
In a further embodiment (not shown in the drawing) the abutment coupling contact surface is a spherical surface and the hearing aid coupling has a corresponding reverse spherical surface, and further, the hearing aid coupling is magnetically attached to the abutment coupling contact surface. This allows the angle α to be varied by attaching the hearing aid coupling on different locations on the spherical abutment coupling contact surface.
The invention is defined by the features of the independent claim(s). Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims. Any reference numerals in the claims are intended to be non-limiting for their scope.
Some preferred embodiments have been shown in the foregoing, but it should be stressed that the invention is not limited to these, but may be embodied in other ways within the subject-matter defined in the following claims.
| 7H
| 04 | R |
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Referring to FIG. 1, a bottom connector 11 for a tension leg platform
tendon 13 is shown. Connector 11 has an inner tubular body 14 which is
secured to a lower end of tendon 13. Connector 11 is provided for
anchoring tendon 13 to a cylindrical receptacle 15 located on the sea
floor (not shown). Once connector 11 is installed, tendon 13 and body 14
are in tension; no downward-directed force is applied to the assembly.
Inner body 14 has a central axis 16 and a hub or flange 17 on a lower end
with an upward-facing shoulder 19 on an outer side, and a coaxial bore 21.
Connector 11 has three substructures: a lower portion which is used to
facilitate entry into a bore 18 in receptacle 15, an intermediate portion
which accommodates for extraneous movement of tendon 13, and an upper
portion which interfaces with bore 18 of receptacle 15.
The lower portion of connector 11 comprises an end plate 23 which is welded
to the lower end of inner body 14 over bore 21 perpendicular to axis 16.
End plate 23 has a coaxial, concave recess 24 on a lower side which
receives a convex upper end 26 of a pivot member 25. Pivot member 25
extends upward into engagement with end plate 23 from a bottom plate or
brace 27. End plate 23 is pivotal relative to pivot member 25 as shown in
FIG. 9. A tow eye 29 extends downward from a lower side of bottom plate
27. The lower end of connector 11 also comprises a rigid guide funnel 31.
Guide funnel 31 has a lower frustoconical portion 33 and an upper
cylindrical portion 35. A lower end of frustoconical portion 33 is welded
to bottom plate 27. Cylindrical portion 35 is concentric with axis 16 and
has an outer diameter that is slightly less than the inner diameter of
receptacle 15. The upper end of cylindrical portion 35 is welded to an
annular retainer plate 37 which is perpendicular to axis 16.
The intermediate portion of connector 11 comprises a flexible element 41
which is landed on shoulder 19 of flange 17. Flexible element 41 extends
upward from shoulder 19 and is fastened to tendon 13 with an annular clip
43. A spacer ring 45 is fastened to an upper end of flexible element 41
with bolts 47.
Referring to FIG. 2, the upper portion of connector 11 has an outer body 51
which is fastened to spacer ring 45 and retainer plate 37 with bolts 53.
The lower inside and the upper outside portions of body 51 are generally
concave recesses 55, 57, with the lower inside portion 55 receiving spacer
ring 45. A retainer cap 59 is fastened to the upper end of body 51 with
bolts 61. Cap 59 has a generally V-shaped groove 63 and a lip 65 along an
outer edge.
A latch 71 is located within recess 57 and groove 63. In the embodiment
shown in FIG. 2, latch 71 comprises a plurality of segmented latches. Each
segment of latch 71 is outwardly pivotal about a pivot point on a lower
end. Latch 71 has a pair of external teeth or grooves 73 which are
designed to mate with an inner profile 75 at the upper end of receptacle
15. Grooves 73 have outer flanks which are inclined upward. Latch 71 also
has a small step or shoulder 77 on an upper end which engages lip 65 in
cap 59. An outwardly-biased split ring spring 79 locates within a recess
81 between cap 59 and body 51. Spring 79 engages an inner side of latch
71. A rib 83 extends outward from latch 71 just below grooves 73.
Latch 71 is retained within bottom connector 11 by an annular blocking
sleeve or retainer 85. Retainer 85 is a solid ring and is axially movable
relative to body 51. Retainer 85 has an inner profile which generally
mates with the outer surface of latch 71, including a lip 87 which lies
between lower groove 73 and rib 83, and an internal groove 89 which
engages rib 83. Retainer 85 also has an upward facing shoulder 91 which
mates with a downward facing shoulder 93 on body 51 located just below
recess 57. Retainer 85 is sliclably movable along body 51 from the upper
released position shown in FIGS. 1-6, to the lower locked position shown
in FIGS. 7-8. A lock member 95 is located below and is part of retainer 85
for restricting its movement relative to body 51 and latch 71. Lock member
95 is an outwardly-biased split ring. An entrapment pin 97 lies between
lock member 95 and retainer 85 for maintaining the position of retainer
85. Pin 97 is spring-biased and releasable from a detent in a lower
portion of retainer 85. Lock member 95 has an outer profile which is
designed to mate with an intermediate groove 98 located below inner
profile 75 in receptacle 15. In its expanded position of FIG. 1, lock
member 95 has an outer diameter which is greater than the outer diameter
of retainer 85. Referring back to FIG. 1, receptacle 15 also has a recess
99 on a lower end.
In operation, connector 11 is secured to tension leg platform tendon 13 and
receptacle 15 is anchored to the sea floor. As shown in FIG. 2, the lower
end of connector 11 is lowered into receptacle 15. If the axes of
connector 11 and receptacle 15 are slightly misaligned, frustoconical
portion 33 will assist in their proper alignment. Once the axes are
aligned, cylindrical portion 35 drops into receptacle 15. As the upper
portion of connector 11 enters receptacle 15, lock member 95 is collapsed
radially inward, with its outer diameter flush with the inner diameter of
receptacle 15 (FIG. 3). Latch 71 is pivoted radially inward, thereby
collapsing spring 79 inward. Latch 71 is now in a retracted position.
During its descent, the upward inclined flanks of grooves 73 prevent latch
71 from engaging inner profile 75. Retainer 85 slides over inner profile
75 and does not engage it since retainer 85 has an axial dimension which
is longer than the axial dimension of inner profile 75. As shown in FIG.
4, connector 11 continues its descent into receptacle 15, generally
unimpeded. Once grooves 73 are below inner profile 75, connector 11 is
raised upward until latch 71 springs outward under the influence of spring
79 and grooves 73 engage inner profile 75 (FIG. 5). Once this step occurs,
latch 71 is in an engaged position and prevents the upward movement of
body 51. Lock member 95 snaps into intermediate recess 98, releasably
preventing downward movement of connector 11 in receptacle 15. In this
figure, retainer 85 is in a released position relative to latch 71 which
allows latch 71 to move to the engaged position.
Referring to FIG. 9, once connector 11 is anchored into receptacle 15, it
is capable of accommodating a significant amount of pivotal movement by
tendon 13. By pivoting between end plate 23 and spacer plug 25, and
flexing about flexible elements 41, connector 11 allows tendon 13 to pivot
up to ten degrees relative to axis 16.
To disengage connector 11, it is once again lowered (FIG. 6). As described
above, the inclined flanks of grooves 73 do not impede the downward motion
of connector 11. The resistance to downward movement by retainer 85 and
lock member 95 is overcome with a selected weight applied in a downward
direction. The downward motion of connector 11 is stopped when retainer 85
is located in or below recess 99 of receptacle 15 (FIG. 6). Connector 11
is then lifted upward. When lock member 95 engages recess 99 (FIG. 7) it
engages a downward-facing shoulder 99a, which causes pin 97 to release
from the detent on retainer 85. Continued upward movement causes body 51
to move upward relative to retainer 85 and lock member 95. With this
motion, lip 87 of retainer 85 is moved onto a radially outer surface of
rib 83, thereby shifting retainer 85 from the released position to a
locked position which holds latch 71 in the retracted position. Latch 71
is axially movable relative to retainer 85 while retainer 85 engages
recess 99. Rib 83 engages internal groove 89 when retainer 85 is in the
released position (FIGS. 5-6), and disengages from groove 89 when retainer
85 is in the locked position (FIGS. 7-8). As shown in FIG. 8, continued
upward movement of body 51 moves latches 71 past inner profile 75, thereby
allowing connector 11 and tendon 13 to be withdrawn from receptacle 15
with latch 71 being held in the retracted position.
A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B. A
bottom connector 111 for a tension leg platform tendon (not shown) is
provided for anchoring the tendon to a cylindrical receptacle 115 located
on the sea floor (not shown). The tendon is substantially similar to
tendon 13 of FIG. 1. Like connector 11, connector 111 has lower,
intermediate and upper portions.
The lower and intermediate portions of connector 111 are very similar to
those of connector 11. A rigid guide funnel 131 has an outer diameter
which is slightly less than the inner diameter of receptacle 115. The
upper end of funnel 131 is fastened to an annular outer body 145 with
bolts 147. Connector 111 also has an inner body (not shown) which attaches
to a tendon and preferably mounts to outer body 145 with flex elements.
The upper outside portion of outer body 145 is a generally concave recess
149 with a downward sloping lower surface. An uppermost portion 145a of
outer body 145 extends vertically and is threaded on an outer surface. A
generally L-shaped housing 151 is threadingly fastened along its lower,
inner surface to uppermost portion 145a. A retainer cap 159 is fastened to
the upper end of housing 151 with bolts 161. Cap 159 has a generally
downward facing U-shape with a lower outer edge 159a.
A latch 171 is located in recess 149 below an inclined, lower side 151a of
housing 151. Side 151a is generally parallel to the lower surface of
recess 149. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10B, latch 171 comprises a
split ring which is biased in a radially outward direction. Latch 171 is
radially movable within recess 149 between an outer position shown in FIG.
10B and a contracted position shown in FIG. 18. Latch 171 has an
upward-facing shoulder 173 which is designed to mate with an inner profile
175 at the upper end of receptacle 115. Latch 171 also has neck 177 on an
upper end which engages side 151a.
Latch 171 may be retained within recess 149 in a retracted position by a
split ring retainer 185. Retainer 185 is axially and radially movable
relative to housing 151 and latch 171. Retainer 185 has an outer profile
which generally mates with an upper profile 115a located above inner
profile 175 in receptacle 115. Retainer 185 also has a lip 187 which
extends downward toward latch 171, and an internal rib 189 which extends
diagonally downward and inward and engages a slot 186 in housing 151.
Retainer 185 also has an upper vertical portion 191 which engages edge
159a on cap 159.
A release spring or lock member 195 is located along an outer edge of outer
body 145 below latch 171 for accommodating its movement relative to outer
body 145, housing 151 and retainer 185. A spring 194 extends between a
lower portion of lock member 195 and outer body 145 for biasing lock
member 195 in an upward direction. A positioner pin 197 extends between
lock member 195 and outer body 145 for maintaining the position of lock
member 195. The head of pin 197 locates in an elongated slot in lock
member 195 to allow limited axial movement of lock member 195 relative to
outer body 145. Lock member 195 has an upper surface 195a which is
designed to engage the lower surface 171a of latch 171 and is flush with
the lower surface 149a of recess 149 while in the upper position of FIGS.
10-14. Surface 195a and surface 171a have the same radial thickness and
are inclined at the same angle as surface 149a. Lock member 195 has an
upper, outer lip 196 for limiting the outward movement of latch 171. Like
receptacle 15, receptacle 115 also has a recess 199 on a lower end (FIGS.
16-18).
Connector 111 operates very similarly to connector 11. As shown in FIG. 11,
connector 111 is lowered into receptacle 115. As the upper portion of
connector 111 enters receptacle 115, latch 171 and retainer 185 are
collapsed radially inward until they have an outer diameter that is flush
with the inner diameter of receptacle 115 (FIG. 12). Latch 171 is shown in
a retracted position.
During its descent, the outer profile of latch 171 prevents it from locking
into inner profile 175. Retainer 185 slides over inner profile 175 (FIG.
13) and does not engage it since retainer 185 has an axial dimension which
is longer than the axial dimension of inner profile 175. Retainer 185 is
compressed axially upward and radially inward during the descent. As shown
in FIG. 13, connector 111 continues its descent into receptacle 115,
generally unimpeded. Once latch 171 is below inner profile 175, the tendon
and connector 111 are raised upward until latch 171 springs outward and
engages inner profile 175 (FIG. 14). Once this step occurs, latch 171 is
in an engaged position and prevents the upward movement of housing 151.
Referring to FIG. 15, additional upward pull is then applied to the tendon
which moves body 145 upward slightly relative to lock member 195. An outer
edge 149b of recess 149 abuts an inner lower edge of latch 171 to prevent
it from moving inward. Housing 151 moves upward slightly relative to lock
member 195, compressing spring 194. Lock member 195 releasably prevents
radially inward movement of latch 171 and, thus, downward movement of
connector 111. In this figure, retainer 185 is in a released position
relative to latch 171 which allows latch 171 to move to the engaged
position.
To disengage connector 111, it is once again lowered (FIG. 16). Latch 171
and retainer 185 do not impede the downward motion of connector 111. The
resistance to downward movement by these components is overcome with a
selected downward weight on the tendon. After being compressed upward and
radially inward during the descent, retainer 185 springs downward and
outward into recess 199 at the bottom of receptacle 115. The diagonal
portion of retainer 185 located below vertical portion 191 slides along
edge 159a to assist in this propagation. The downward motion of connector
111 is stopped when retainer 185 is located in or below recess 199 of
receptacle 115 (FIG. 17). Latch 171 is axially and radially slidable
relative to retainer 185 while retainer 185 engages recess 199. Connector
111 is then lifted upward. When retainer 185 engages recess 199 (FIG. 17),
it springs outward relative to housing 151 and latch 171. Recess 199 has a
downward-facing shoulder 199a which contacts retainer 185 as housing 151
is lifted. With this motion, lip 187 of retainer 185 is moved onto a
radially outer surface of shoulder 173 on latch 171, thereby shifting
retainer 185 from the released position to a locked position which holds
latch 171 in the retracted position (FIG. 18). Rib 189 is simultaneously
placed within slot 186 to prevent further axial movement of retainer 185.
Lip 187 does not engage shoulder 173 when retainer 185 is in the released
position (FIGS. 10-17), and engages shoulder 173 when retainer 185 is in
the locked position (FIGS. 18-20). Lowering housing 151 until retainer 185
engages recess 199 causes retainer 185 to assume the locked position,
thereby allowing connector 111 and the tendon to be withdrawn from
receptacle 115 with latch 171 being held in the retracted position (FIGS.
19-21). Like connector 11, connector 111 is similarly capable of
accommodating up to ten degrees of deflection by the tendon relative to
its vertical axis.
The invention has several advantages. This vertical entry bottom connector
does not require rotation or bottoming-out on a shoulder within the
receptacle to disengage it. The invention employs a compact design, has
very few moving parts and has a pivotal lower end which allows limited
deflection of the connector inner body relative to the receptacle.
While the invention has been shown or described in only two of its forms,
it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is not so
limited, but is susceptible to various changes without departing from the
scope of the invention. | 4E
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