Author: claimsbot

I claim:

1. A method for determining the state of stability of an electrical grid having n nodes, comprising the steps of:
a. embedding load flow equations (L) representing the electrical grid in a parametric homotopy (L(s)) that goes continuously from a 0-case (L(0)), in which all voltages are equal to the nominal voltage and there is no energy flow in links of the grid, to an objective case (L(1)) representative of the grid in the condition for which stability is to be determined;
b. developing in power series values of the load flow equations’ unknowns in the parameters of the parametric homotopy (L(s)) in a neighborhood of the 0-case value of each parameter;
c. computing a continued fraction approximation to the power series coefficients produced in step b;
d. evaluating the n-order approximant of the continued fraction approximation produced in step c for the power series coefficients produced in step b to provide a solution to the load flow equations (L); and
e. displaying the solution to the load flow equations as a measure of the state of stability of the electrical grid.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
prior to said embedding step, receiving data from a supervisory and data acquisition system representative of conditions of the electrical grid, and forming said load flow equations (L) from said data.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of repeating said receiving step and steps a through e continuously to provide a continuous, real time estimation of the stability of the electrical grid.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the steps of confirming that a set of voltages and flows contained in said solution to said load flow equations (L) are representative of a physical electrical state.
5. A method of measuring load flow in a power generating system having an electrical grid comprised of n nodes, comprising the steps of:
a. embedding load flow equations (L) representing the electrical grid in a parametric homotopy (L(s)) that goes continuously from a 0-case (L(0)), in which all voltages are equal to the nominal voltage and there is no energy flow in links of the grid, to an objective case (L(1)) representative of the grid in the condition for which stability is to be determined;
b. developing in power series values of the load flow equations’ unknowns in the parameters of the parametric homotopy (L(s)) in a neighborhood of the 0-case value of each parameter;
c. computing a continued fraction approximation to the power series coefficients produced in step b;
d. evaluating the n-order approximant of the continued fraction approximation produced in step c for the power series coefficients produced in step b to provide a solution to the load flow equations (L); and
e. displaying the solution to the load flow equations as a measure of the load flow in the power generating system.
6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:
prior to said embedding step, receiving data from a supervisory and data acquisition system representative of conditions of the electrical grid, and forming said load flow equations (L) from said data.
7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the steps of repeating said receiving step and steps a through e continuously to provide a continuous, real time measure of the load flow in the power generating system.
8. A method of measuring load flow in a power generating system having an electrical grid, comprising the steps of:
a. generating a mathematical model of a known, physical solution to the load flow equations (L) in which all voltages are equal to the nominal voltage and there is no energy flow in links of the grid;
b. using analytical continuation to develop a mathematical model of the current, physical solution to the load flow equations representing the current load flow in the power generating system; and
c. displaying the physical solution to the load flow equations as a measure of the load flow in the power generating system.
9. The method of claim 8, said generating step further comprising developing a power series expansion of all quantities in a parametric homotopy (L(s)) formed from said load flow equations (L) in a neighborhood of the 0-case value of each quantity.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising using algebraic approximants to determine the sum of all coefficients of said power series for the load flow equations representative of the physical current load flow that is to be determined.
11. A system for measuring load flow in a power generating system having an electrical grid, said system comprising:
a supervisory control and data acquisition system adapted to collect data from said electrical grid indicative of electrical conditions in said electrical grid, said supervisory control and data acquisition system being in communication with a microprocessor-controlled energy management system, said energy management system further comprising executable computer instructions to:
a. process said data received from said supervisory control and data acquisition system into load flow equations (L) representing the electrical grid;
b. embed said load flow equations (L) in a parametric homotopy (L(s)) that goes continuously from a 0-case (L(0)), in which all voltage are equal to the nominal voltage and there is no energy flow in links of the grid, to an objective case (L(1)) representative of the grid in the condition for which stability is to be determined;
c. develop in power series values of the load flow equations’ unknowns in the parameters of the parametric homotopy (L(s)) in a neighborhood of the 0-case value of each parameter;
d. compute a continued fraction approximation to the power series coefficients produced in step c;
e. evaluate the n-order approximant of the continued fraction approximation produced in step d for the power series coefficients produced in step c to provide a solution to the load flow equations (L); and
f. display the solution to the load flow equations as a measure of the state of stability of the electrical grid.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A lens barrel assembly of a camera module, comprising:
a barrel in which at least one lens is received, the barrel having a stopping protrusion in a lower-end inner surface thereof to stop the lens; and
a retainer having a horizontal portion which has a lens exposing hole and covers an upper opening of the barrel and a vertical portion which is formed to extend from an outer circumference of the horizontal portion in the optical-axis direction and which an outer surface of the barrel is inserted into,
wherein an overlapped region of the barrel and the horizontal portion is fuse-secured by laser illumination.
2. The lens barrel assembly of claim 1, wherein the barrel is formed as a screwless hollow-cylindrical member which is inserted into the horizontal portion of the retainer.
3. The lens barrel assembly of claim 1,
wherein the barrel further comprises a spacer for maintaining an interval between adjacent lenses, and
wherein the overlapped region is disposed to a position corresponding to the spacer.
4. The lens barrel assembly of claim 3, wherein the spacer is made of a heat-resistance material.
5. The lens barrel assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the body of the barrel and an inner surface of the vertical portion are in a surface contact with each other and vertically assembled in the overlapped region.
6. A laser apparatus for assembling a lens barrel assembly, comprising:
a lens barrel assembly having a barrel in which at least one lens is received, a retainer which is coupled with an upper-end portion of the barrel, and an overlapped region of the barrel and retainer;
a mounting jig in which the lens barrel assembly is mounted; and
a laser generator which is electrically connected through an optical-fiber cable to a laser output terminal disposed to a position corresponding to the overlapped region of the lens barrel assembly to illuminate the overlapped region with a laser beam having a specific frequency range.
7. The laser apparatus of claim 6,
wherein the mounting jig is formed on an upper surface of a base disposed on a bottom surface, and
wherein the mounting jig is provided with a mounting opening having a predetermined depth in which the lens barrel assembly is mounted.
8. The laser apparatus of claim 6, wherein the laser output terminal selectively illuminates any one of a solid-laser beam, a gas-laser beam, and a liquid-laser beam.

What is claimed is:

1. A hose access port for a mobile unit configured to provide access for a hose through an exterior wall to extend to a toilet for flushing a holding tank, the hose access port comprising:
a hose-holding duct portion having a bore extending between opposite first and second end portions of the duct portion, said duct portion being operable to extend through a hole formed in the exterior wall between an outside surface and an inside surface of the exterior wall proximate the toilet in the mobile unit, said duct portion being operable to receive the hose through the bore into the toilet to run water therethrough and flush the holding tank;
an outside-mountable flange extending orthogonally from the first end portion of the duct portion and operable to be secured against the outside surface of the exterior wall; and
a sleeve member with securing structure coupled around the second end portion of the duct portion, said sleeve member having an inside-mountable flange extending orthogonally from the duct portion and operable to be secured against the inside surface of the exterior wall.
2. The hose access port of claim 1, wherein said securing structure comprises the inside-mountable flange and is operable to substantially stabilize the duct portion in the exterior wall.
3. The hose access port of claim 1, further comprising a cap operatively coupled to the second end portion of the duct portion and operable to cover the bore at the second end portion of the duct portion.
4. The hose access port of claim 1, wherein said sleeve member is sized and configured to be positioned around the second end portion with an interference fit.
5. The hose access port of claim 1, wherein said sleeve member is operable to be coupled to a cap to cover the bore at the second end portion of the duct portion.
6. The hose access port of claim 5, wherein said sleeve member includes a threaded portion configured to correspond with a threaded configuration formed on the cap to couple the cap to the sleeve member.
7. The hose access port of claim 1, further comprising an outside closure operatively coupled to the first end portion of the duct portion and operable to cover the bore at the first end portion of the duct portion.
8. The hose access port of claim 1, wherein said duct portion comprises a tubular configuration with the bore sized and configured to hold a portion of the hose therein.
9. A flushing system comprising:
a mobile unit having an exterior wall defining a periphery of the mobile unit, said mobile unit including a toilet disposed within the mobile unit and a holding tank operatively coupled to the toilet; and
a hose access port configured to provide access for a hose through the exterior wall to extend to the toilet for flushing-out the holding tank, the hose access port including:
a hose-holding duct portion having a bore extending between opposite first and second end portions of the duct portion, said duct portion being operable to extend through a hole formed in the exterior wall between an outside surface and an inside surface of the exterior wall proximate the toilet in the mobile unit, said duct portion being operable to receive the hose through the bore into the toilet to run water therethrough and flush the holding tank;
an outside-mountable flange extending orthogonally from the first end portion of the duct portion and operable to be secured against the outside surface of the trailer wall; and
a sleeve member with securing structure coupled around the second end portion of the duct portion, said sleeve member having an inside-mountable flange extending orthogonally from the duct portion and operable to be secured against the inside surface of the trailer wall.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein said securing structure comprises the inside-mountable flange and is operable to substantially stabilize the duct portion in the exterior wall.
11. The system of claim 9, wherein said sleeve member is sized and configured to be positioned around the second end portion with an interference fit.
12. The system of claim 9, wherein said sleeve member is operable to be coupled to a cap to cover the bore at the second end portion of the duct portion.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein said sleeve member includes a threaded portion configured to correspond with a threaded configuration formed on the cap to couple the cap to the sleeve member.
14. The system of claim 9, further comprising an outside closure operatively coupled to the first end portion of the duct portion and operable to cover the bore at the first end portion of the duct portion.
15. The system of claim 9, wherein said duct portion comprises a tubular configuration with the bore sized and configured to hold a portion of the hose therein.
16. A method of installing a hose access port in an exterior wall of a mobile unit, the method comprising:
forming a hole in the exterior wall of the mobile unit;
extending a duct portion through the hole so that an outside-mountable flange is positioned against an outside surface of the exterior wall;
positioning a sleeve member over an exposed portion of the duct portion on an inside surface of the exterior wall so that an inside-mountable flange extending from the sleeve member is positioned against the inside surface of the exterior wall;
marking the exposed portion of the duct portion with a mark;
cutting the duct portion at the mark to remove an excess length of the duct portion; and
securing the outside-mountable flange and the inside-mountable flange to the respective outside surface and the inside surface of the exterior wall to secure the duct portion in the exterior wall operable to hold a hose extending through the duct portion to run water into a toilet for flushing-out a holding tank in the mobile unit.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein said securing comprises securing the outside-mountable flange and the inside mountable flange with fasteners extending into the respective outside surface and the inside surface of the exterior wall.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein said securing comprises securing the inside-mountable flange to the duct portion with adhesive with the inside-mountable flange positioned against the inside surface of the exterior wall.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein subsequent to said marking comprises removing the duct portion from the exterior wall to perform said cutting.
20. The method of claim 16, wherein said positioning comprises sliding the sleeve member over the exposed portion of the duct portion so that the sleeve member moves toward the inside surface of the exterior wall along a longitudinal length of the exposed portion.
21. A method of making a hose access port for a mobile unit configured to provide access for a hose through an exterior wall to extend to a toilet for flushing a holding tank, the method comprising:
forming a hose-holding duct portion having a bore extending between opposite first and second end portions of the duct portion and operable to extend through a hole formed in the exterior wall between an outside surface and an inside surface of the exterior wall proximate the toilet in the mobile unit, said duct portion being operable to receive the hose through the bore into the toilet to run water therethrough and flush the holding tank;
forming an outside-mountable flange extending orthogonally from the first end portion of the duct portion and operable to be secured against the outside surface of the exterior wall; and
forming a sleeve member with securing structure configured to be coupled around the second end portion of the duct portion;
forming an inside-mountable flange extending orthogonally from the duct portion and operable to be secured against the inside surface of the exterior wall; and
configuring said hose-holding duct portion to include excess length to extend longer than a thickness of the exterior wall and beyond the sleeve member coupled around the second end portion of the duct portion, said excess length of said duct portion operable to be removed from the duct portion.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A connector to connect a vertebral member to a longitudinal member, the connector comprising:
an anchor comprising a shaft and an enlarged head;
a body attached to the anchor and comprising a receiver and a cavity that are aligned along a common axis, the receiver comprising a channel sized to receive the longitudinal member; and
a fastener configured to mate with the receiver to maintain the longitudinal member in the channel, a force applied by the fastener to maintain the longitudinal rod within the channel being isolated from the anchor; and
the cavity positioned on an opposite side of the body from the receiver and the cavity comprising a narrow opening that extends into an enlarged receiving area, the receiving area being isolated from the channel and sized to pivotally accommodate the head of the anchor with the narrow opening sized to retain the head within the receiving area.
2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the anchor is movably positioned within the body to pivot about the common axis.
3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises an intermediate section positioned between the channel and the receiving area, the intermediate section and the body being constructed from a single member.
4. The connector of claim 3, wherein the intermediate section has a thickness to space apart the channel and the receiving area.
5. The connector of claim 1, wherein the receiving area further comprises a wear member that contacts the head of the anchor, the wear member being constructed of a different material from the body.
6. The connector of claim 5, wherein the wear member has an outer surface that contacts the body and an inner surface that contacts the head of the anchor.
7. The connector of claim 5, wherein the wear member has an outer surface that is constructed of a wear resistant coating.
8. The connector of claim 1, wherein a top section of the receiving area has a rounded configuration to conform with the head of the anchor.
9. The connector of claim 1, wherein the head of the anchor is constructed with a wear resistant coating.
10. A connector to connect a vertebral member to a longitudinal member, the connector comprising:
an anchor comprising a shaft and an enlarged head;
a body attached to the anchor and comprising a channel and a cavity aligned along a common axis, the channel sized to receive the longitudinal member;
a fastener configured to maintain the longitudinal member in the channel, a force applied by the fastener to maintain the longitudinal member within the channel being isolated from the anchor; and
a wear member positioned within the cavity and constructed from a material different from the body, the wear member forming a receiving area sized to pivotally accommodate the head of the anchor;
the cavity comprising a narrow opening to retain the head within the receiving area and the receiving area positioned for the anchor to pivot when the fastener maintains the longitudinal member in the channel.
11. The connector of claim 10, wherein the head contacts the wear member when the anchor pivots within the body.
12. The connector of claim 10, wherein the wear member is a coating applied to an inner surface of the cavity.
13. The connector of claim 10, wherein the wear member comprises a first surface that contacts an inner surface of the cavity, and a second surface that contacts the head of the anchor.
14. The connector of claim 10, wherein an adhesive attaches the wear member to an inner surface of the cavity.
15. The connector of claim 10, wherein the wear member has a width that is greater than the narrow opening to maintain the wear member within the cavity.
16. The connector of claim 10, wherein the anchor is movably positioned within the wear member to pivot about the common axis.
17. The connector of claim 10, wherein the body further comprises an intermediate section positioned between the channel and the cavity, the intermediate section and the body being constructed from a single member.
18. The connector of claim 10, wherein a top section of the cavity comprises a stop to prevent the wear member from pivoting within the cavity during movement of the anchor.
19. The connector of claim 10, wherein the head of the anchor is constructed with a wear resistant coating.
20. The connector of claim 10, wherein the wear member is constructed with a wear resistant coating.
21. A connector to connect a vertebral member to a longitudinal member, the connector comprising:
an anchor comprising a shaft and an enlarged head;
a body attached to the anchor and being constructed from a single member having a receiver, a cavity, and an intermediate section, the receiver comprising a channel sized to receive the longitudinal member; and
a fastener configured to mate with the receiver to maintain the longitudinal member in the channel;
the cavity and channel being aligned on a common axis and positioned on opposite sides of the intermediate section, the cavity comprising a narrow opening that extends into an enlarged receiving area, the receiving area being isolated from the channel and sized to accommodate the head of the anchor, and the narrow opening being sized to retain the head within the receiving area;
the receiving area being isolated from the channel and sized to allow the anchor to freely pivot when the fastener mates with the receiver.
22. The connector of claim 21, wherein the intermediate section is substantially perpendicular to the common axis.
23. The connector of claim 21, further comprising a wear member positioned within the receiving area to contact the head of the anchor, the wear member constructed of a different material than the body.
24. The connector of claim 23, wherein the different material comprises a wear resistant coating.
25. The connector of claim 21, wherein the anchor is movably positioned within the body to pivot about the common axis.
26. The connector of claim 21, wherein a top section of the receiving area has a rounded configuration to conform with the head of the anchor.
27. The connector of claim 21, wherein the head of the anchor is constructed with a wear resistant coating.