Author: claimsbot

1. A method for heat exchange between a first shell-side fluid stream at mean pressure p1 and a second shell-side fluid stream at mean pressure p2, said method using
a first set of serially connected thermally isolated cross-flow exchanger cores for transfer of heat between an intermediary tube-side heat transfer fluid (HTF) and the first shell-side stream,
a second set of serially connected thermally isolated cross-flow exchanger cores for transfer of heat between the HTF and the second shell-side stream,
said HTF characterized as being substantially liquid phase throughout all cores and having critical temperature not less than 370 K,
wherein a core is characterized as comprising at least one row of finned tubes,
said finned tubes are further characterized in that the length of the tube fins per row in the shell-side flow direction is typically less than 80 mm and the fin pitch is typically less than 8 mm.
2. The method of 1 further characterized as having more than 4 thermally isolated cores exchanging with each shell-side stream and having effectiveness \u03b5 greater than 60% at design operating conditions.
3. The method of 1 in which said shell-side fluids are further characterized as selected from the set comprised of organic liquids having viscosity greater than 1 cP at 310 K and gases at pressure greater than 0.05 MPa.
4. The method of 1 where said HTF is further characterized as having flow rate GL kgs, specific heat CPL Jkg-K,
and WL=GLCPL,
said first shell-side fluid has flow rate G1, specific heat CP1, and W1=G1CP1,
said second shell-side fluid has flow rate G2, specific heat CP2, and W2=G2CP2,
said geometric mean shell-side conditions defined by WS=(W1W2)0.5,
said tube-side conditions further characterized in that WL>0.7 WS and WL<1.4 WS.
5. The method of 1 further characterized in that said HTF is selected from the set comprised of water, organics, molten alloys, and molten salts and is further characterized as having FD greater than 2E5 J2(s-m4-K2-cP) at the mean operating temperature, where
FD=kt\u03c1CP\u03bc,

where kt is in Wm-K, \u03c1CP is in Jm3-K, and \u03bc is in cP.
6. The method of 1 further characterized in that said tube-side HTF has FD greater than the lesser of the FD of either of the shell-side streams by more than a factor of 10 at mean operating conditions.
7. The method of 5 further characterized in that each of said shell-side streams has FD less than 2E5 J2(s-m4-K2-cP) at the operating conditions.
8. The method of 1 further characterized as including a plurality of liquid pumps and liquid reservoirs for circulation of a plurality of HTFs.
9. The method of 1 in which said HTF is further characterized as substantially selected from the set comprised of polyphenyl ethers, polyol esters, polyalphaolefins, phosphate esters, phthalates, silicones, fluorocarbons, polymer esters, organic liquid mixtures that include alkylated polynuclear aromatics, and engine oils.
10. The method of 9 further characterized as including a liquid reservoir with overhead gas space, said gas having H2 partial pressure greater than 0.01 MPa, O2 partial pressure less than 1 kPa, H2O partial pressure less than 10 kPa, and total pressure greater than 0.15 MPa.
11. The method of 1 in which said HTF is further characterized as substantially comprised of a lead-bismuth-tin alloy.
12. The method of 1 further characterized in that the mean pressure in said HTF is between 50% and 200% of the mean of p1 and p2.
13. The method of 1 wherein one of said shell-side fluids is further characterized as an organic solvent containing a dissolved gas that effervesces when the fluid is heated, and means are included between cores for separating the effervesced gas from the liquid.
14. The method of 1 wherein one of said shell-side fluids is further characterized as a gas containing a vapor that condenses when the fluid is cooled, with means for draining the condensed liquid from a core.
15. The method of 1 in which said HTF is further characterized as an organic liquid, and means are included for separation of reaction products from said HTF.
16. The method of 1 further characterized in that p2 is greater than 3p1 and the typical fin pitch in said second set of cores is less than 70% of the typical fin pitch in said first set of cores.
17. The method of 1 further characterized as including transverse passages between thermally isolated cores to equilibrate shell-side pressures across the faces of said cores, wherein cores are considered thermally isolated if fewer than 30% of the fins are continuous between adjacent cores in the shell-side flow direction and the tube pattern is not interleaved between adjacent cores.

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 method for reading at least one of analog and digital data stored in fields on a microform by means of a device for accessing the microform which is connected to a data processing system by a hardware interface, the method comprising:
reading, by a control unit of the device, the at least one of analog and digital data stored on the microform; and
presenting, by the control unit, the at least one of analog and digital data stored on the microform to the data processing system as if the microform were a conventional removable data storage medium, and one of:
when the microform includes exclusively analog data, generating, by the control unit, a file system corresponding to a removable data storage medium from the information on the arrangement and number of fields containing analog data acquired by a complete scan of the microform and storing the file system in a memory of the control unit;
when the microform includes one of exclusively digital data and digital and analog data, reading by the control unit information on the structure and type of data storage from one of a format field identifiable on the microform and from at least one of the digital data fields, generating from the information on the structure and type of data storage a file system corresponding to a removable data storage medium, and storing the file system in the memory of the control unit; and
when the microform includes exclusively analog data, reading by the control unit information on the arrangement and number of fields containing analog data from a format field identifiable on the microform, generating from the information on the arrangement and number of fields containing analog data a file system corresponding to a removable data storage medium, and storing the file system in the memory (RAM) of the control unit.
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
conducting a first scan of the microform present in the device at least in a predetermined area of the microform;
if no format field is found during the first scan, assuming, by the control unit that the microform contains exclusively analog data, and
when the microform includes exclusively analog data, generating, by the control unit, a file system corresponding to a removable data storage medium from the information on the arrangement and number of fields containing analog data acquired by a complete scan of the microform and storing the file system in a memory of the control unit;
if a format field is found during the first scan, assuming by the control unit that the microform contains one of exclusively digital data, digital and analog data, or exclusively analog data, and
wherein, when the microform includes one of exclusively digital data and digital and analog data, reading by the control unit information on the structure and type of data storage from one of a format field identifiable on the microform and from at least one of the digital data fields, generating from the information on the structure and type of data storage a file system corresponding to a removable data storage medium, and storing the file system in the memory of the control unit; and
wherein when the microform includes exclusively analog data, reading by the control unit information on the arrangement and number of fields containing analog data from a format field identifiable on the microform, generating from the information on the arrangement and number of fields containing analog data a file system corresponding to a removable data storage medium, and storing the file system in the memory (RAM) of the control unit.
3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
upon receipt of a read command from the data processing system requesting data, determining by the control unit whether the requested data are already in the memory of the control unit;
if the requested data are already in the memory of the control unit, then sending by the control unit the requested data to the data processing system;
if the requested data are not in the memory of the control unit, then determining by the control unit which individual fields of the microform must be scanned to acquire the requested data based on the file system, and executing a scan of the individual fields; and
converting by the control unit the at least one of analog and digital data of the microform acquired during the scan of individual fields into a data format conforming to the generated file system and sending the at least one of analog and digital data of the microform acquired during the scan of individual fields as output to the data processing system.
4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
upon receipt of a read command from the data processing system requesting data, determining by the control unit whether the requested data are already in the memory of the control unit;
if the requested data are already in the memory of the control unit, then sending by the control unit the requested data to the data processing system;
if the requested data are not in the memory of the control unit, then determining by the control unit which individual fields of the microform must be scanned to acquire the requested data based on the file system, and executing a scan of the individual fields; and
converting by the control unit the at least one of analog and digital data of the microform acquired during the scan of individual fields into a data format conforming to the generated file system and sending the at least one of analog and digital data of the microform acquired during the scan of individual fields as output to the data processing system.
5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
upon receipt of a write command from the data processing system, determining by the control unit whether a writable microform is present in the device, and
if a writable microform is present, then writing data transferred from the data processing system to the device onto the microform.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the conventional removable data storage medium is selected from the group of storage media including magnetic storage media, optical storage media, magneto-optical storage media, and flash EEPROM storage media.
7. A device for accessing a microform with at least one of analog and digital data stored in fields, the device comprising:
a unit for drawing the microform into a receiving slot of the device and ejecting the microform from the receiving slot;
at least one scanning unit for scanning the microform received in the device, the scanning unit comprising at least one electromagnetic radiation source arranged on one side of the microform and at least one electronic sensor on an opposing side of the microform, said at least one electronic sensor converting the different degrees of transparency of the microfiche film of the microform to the electromagnetic radiation into electrical signals; and
a program-controlled control unit configured to receive the at least one of analog and digital data stored on the microfilm acquired by the scanning unit and to present the at least one of analog and digital data stored on the microform to a data processing system (PC) in the form of data on a conventional removable data storage medium, wherein the control unit comprises a read-only memory; a working memory, which simultaneously serves as a memory for the data to be read in from the microform and for a file system; a nonvolatile, rewritable memory for the control program of the control unit; and the following peripheral components:
a CCD peripheral component for reading the sensor signals of the scanning unit, for assigning the sensor signals to an associated reading location, and for storing the sensor signals in the working memory;
an LED peripheral component for controlling a brightness of the at least one electromagnetic radiation source; and
an IO peripheral component for controlling the unit for drawing in and ejecting the microform and for controlling the drive which moves the scanning unit.
8. The device according to claim 7, further comprising a writing unit controlled by the control unit for writing data onto the microform which can be drawn into the receiving slot.
9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the control unit further comprises a LASER peripheral component for controlling the writing unit.
10. The device according to claim 7, wherein the conventional removable data storage medium is selected from the group of storage media including magnetic storage media, optical storage media, magneto-optical storage media, and flash EEPROM storage media.
11. A microform with at least one of analog and digital data stored in fields receivable in a device comprising:
a unit for drawing the microform into a receiving slot of the device and ejecting the microform from the receiving slot;
at least one scanning unit for scanning the microform received in the device, the scanning unit comprising at least one electromagnetic radiation source arranged on one side of the microform and at least one electronic sensor on an opposing side of the microform, said at least one electronic sensor converting the different degrees of transparency of the microfiche film of the microform to the electromagnetic radiation into electrical signals; and
a program-controlled control unit configured to receive the at least one of analog and digital data stored on the microfilm acquired by the scanning unit and to present the at least one of analog and digital data stored on the microform to a data processing system (PC) in the form of data on a conventional removable data storage medium, wherein the control unit comprises a read-only memory; a working memory, which simultaneously serves as a memory for the data to be read in from the microform and for a file system; a nonvolatile, rewritable memory for the control program of the control unit; and the following peripheral components:
a CCD peripheral component for reading the sensor signals of the scanning unit, for assigning the sensor signals to an associated reading location, and for storing the sensor signals in the working memory;
an LED peripheral component for controlling a brightness of the at least one electromagnetic radiation source; and
an IO peripheral component for controlling the unit for drawing in and electing the microform and for controlling the drive which moves the scanning unit,
the microform comprising:
a format field identifiable by the scanning unit of the device and at least one field for the storage of the at least one of digital and analog data, wherein the format field comprises information on the structure and type of data storage,
wherein both the format field and the data-storage fields, which have the same shape and size in certain areas, are arranged in rows and columns in a grid, and
wherein the grid comprises the data-storage fields arranged in series in rows or columns for the storage of digital data and fields arranged in series in rows or columns for the storage of analog data; and the format field comprises structure information pertaining at least to the position of the individual fields on the microform, to the number of data-storage fields, to the number of columns and rows of data cells of each field of the data-storage fields, to the arrangement of the first field with analog data, and to the size of the data blocks which can be addressed in the fields for the storage of digital data.
12. The microform according to claim 11, wherein the format field is located in the upper left corner of the grid.

1. A fluid control system, comprising:
a pump;
a tank;
an actuator;
a valve assembly configured to control fluid communication between the actuator, the tank, and the pump; and
an energy recovery circuit including a pressure transformer and an energy storage device, the energy recovery circuit being fluidly coupled to the actuator in parallel with the valve assembly,
wherein the energy recovery circuit is configured to receive pressurized fluid flowing from the actuator and to store the pressurized fluid to the energy storage device.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the valve assembly includes an independent metering valve arrangement.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a head end chamber and a rod end chamber, and wherein the valve assembly includes a first valve configured to control fluid communication between the head end chamber and the tank, a second valve configured to control fluid communication between the head end chamber and the pump, a third valve configured to control fluid communication between the rod end chamber and the pump, and a fourth valve configured to control fluid communication between the rod end chamber and the tank.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a head end chamber and a rod end chamber, and wherein the pressure transformer includes a head end port, a rod end port, and a high pressure port, the head end port being in fluid communication with the head end chamber, the rod end port being in fluid communication with the rod end chamber, and the high pressure port being in fluid communication with the energy storage device.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the pressure transformer is a two quadrant hydraulic pressure transformer.
6. A fluid control system, comprising:
a pump;
a tank;
an actuator;
a valve assembly configured to control fluid communication between the actuator, the tank, and the pump; and
an energy recovery circuit including a pressure transformer and an energy storage device, the energy recovery circuit being fluidly coupled to the actuator in parallel with the valve assembly,
wherein the actuator includes a head end chamber and a rod end chamber,
wherein the pressure transformer includes a head end port, a rod end port, and a high pressure port, the head end port being in fluid communication with the head end chamber, the rod end port being in fluid communication with the rod end chamber, and the high pressure port being in fluid communication with the energy storage device, and
wherein the energy recovery circuit is configured to receive pressurized fluid flowing from at least one of the head end chamber and the rod end chamber and to store the pressurized fluid to the energy storage device.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the energy recovery circuit is configured to supply pressurized fluid from the energy storage device to at least one of the head end chamber and the rod end chamber.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the energy recovery circuit is configured to assist the valve assembly in operating the actuator.
9. The system of claim 7, wherein the energy recovery circuit is configured to operate the actuator independently of the valve assembly.
10. A fluid control system, comprising:
a pump;
a tank;
an actuator;
a valve assembly configured to control fluid communication between the actuator, the tank, and the pump; and
an energy recovery circuit including a pressure transformer, the energy recovery circuit being fluidly coupled to the actuator in parallel with the valve assembly,
wherein the pressure transformer is a four quadrant hydraulic pressure transformer.
11. A fluid control system, comprising:
a pump;
a tank;
an actuator;
an independent metering valve arrangement configured to control fluid communication between the actuator, the tank, and the pump; and
an energy recovery circuit being fluidly coupled to the actuator in parallel with the independent metering valve arrangement.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the actuator includes a head end chamber and a rod end chamber, and wherein the independent metering valve arrangement includes a first valve configured to control fluid communication between the head end chamber and the tank, a second valve configured to control fluid communication between the head end chamber and the pump, a third valve configured to control fluid communication between the rod end chamber and the pump, and a fourth valve configured to control fluid communication between the rod end chamber and the tank.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein the energy recovery circuit includes a pressure transformer and an energy storage device.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the actuator includes a head end chamber and a rod end chamber, and wherein the pressure transformer includes a head end port, a rod end port, and a high pressure port, the head end port being in fluid communication with the head end chamber, the rod end port being in fluid communication with the rod end chamber, and the high pressure port being in fluid communication with the high pressure chamber.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the energy recovery circuit is configured to receive pressurized fluid flowing from at least one of the head end chamber and the rod end chamber and to store the pressurized fluid to the energy storage device.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the energy recovery circuit is configured to supply pressurized fluid from the energy storage device to at least one of the head end chamber and the rod end chamber.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the energy recovery circuit is configured to assist the independent metering valve arrangement in operating the actuator.
18. The system of claim 16, wherein the energy recovery circuit is configured to operate the actuator independently of the independent metering valve arrangement.
19. A method of operating a fluid control system including a pump, a tank, and an actuator having a head end chamber and a rod end chamber, the method comprising:
operating a valve assembly to control fluid communication between the actuator, the tank, and the pump;
receiving a first fluid flow from one of the head end chamber and the rod end chamber;
transforming the first fluid flow of a first pressure to a second fluid flow of a second pressure by supplying or discharging a third fluid flow of a third pressure; and
directing the second fluid flow to an energy storage device.
20. The method of claim 19, further including supplying pressurized fluid from the energy storage device to at least one of the head end chamber and the rod end chamber.
21. A fluid control system, comprising:
a pump;
a tank;
an actuator;
a valve assembly configured to control fluid communication between the actuator, the tank, and the pump; and
an energy recovery circuit including a pressure transformer, the energy recovery circuit being fluidly coupled to the actuator in parallel with the valve assembly,
wherein the valve assembly includes an independent metering valve arrangement.
22. A fluid control system, comprising:
a pump;
a tank;
an actuator;
a valve assembly configured to control fluid communication between the actuator, the tank, and the pump; and
an energy recovery circuit including a pressure transformer, the energy recovery circuit being fluidly coupled to the actuator in parallel with the valve assembly,
wherein the actuator includes a head end chamber and a rod end chamber, and
wherein the valve assembly includes a first valve configured to control fluid communication between the head end chamber and the tank, a second valve configured to control fluid communication between the head end chamber and the pump, a third valve configured to control fluid communication between the rod end chamber and the pump, and a fourth valve configured to control fluid communication between the rod end chamber and the tank.

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 method for logic checking to check an arbitration of an arbiter that is connected to a bus to which at least two master models and at least one slave circuit are connected, wherein each of the at least two master models is set to output a same signal to the bus as a corresponding one of at least two master circuits, wherein at least one slave model is set to output a same signal to the bus as the at least one slave circuit, and wherein a bus master model executes bus access in accordance with a bus protocol, the method comprising:
an outputting step of outputting requests from the at least two master models to the arbiter in accordance with the bus protocol by starting transitions of signals at a same cycle time, and outputting the signal from the at least one slave model in response to the signals outputted by the at least two master models; and
a checking step of checking the arbitration of the bus access by the arbiter in response to the signals output from the at least two master models and the at least one slave model.
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
an activating step of activating the at least two master models at arbitrary times.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the outputting step, a plurality of bus master models output requests for bus access directly to the bus arbiter in respective states of concentrating and deconcentrating the requests.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the bus master model outputs a request for bus access without requiring any input data.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the bus master model can pause operation.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the bus master model corresponds to one of the at least two master circuits and outputs a request for bus access at a same frequency as a corresponding one of the at least two master circuits.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the bus master model corresponds to one of the at least two master circuits and outputs a request for bus access at a higher frequency than a corresponding one of the at least two master circuits.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the outputting step, a plurality of bus master models operate by independently setting operational conditions for each of the plurality of bus master models.
9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the bus master model and the at least two master circuits are used and connected to the bus.
10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a connecting step of connecting the bus master model to the bus in place of one of the at least two master circuits.
11. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the outputting step, the signals are output from the at least two master models and the at least one slave model at random times.
12. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the outputting step, the at least one slave model responds to a request from one of the at least two master models after a passage of a random time period.
13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least two master models and the at least one slave model are connected directly to the bus.