All The Claims

1. A valve for controlling bidirectional flow of fluid through the valve comprising:
a valve body having an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber;
a first valve opening disposed between the inlet chamber and outlet chamber;
a second valve opening disposed between the inlet chamber and outlet chamber;
a control valve element movable relative to the first valve opening to regulate fluid flow from the inlet through the outlet when fluid flow is in the inlet-to-outlet direction, the control valve element being movable to sealingly engage the first valve opening when fluid flow is in the outlet-to-inlet direction;
a check valve element movable relative to the second valve opening, the valve element being movable to engage the second valve opening to prevent fluid flow through the second valve opening when fluid flow is in the inlet-to-outlet direction, and movable to permit fluid flow through the second valve opening to the exit when fluid flow is in the outlet-to-inlet direction;
wherein the check valve element comprises a plate adapted to sealingly engage the second valve opening.
2. The valve of claim 1 wherein the check valve element further comprises at least one projection adapted to guide the movement of the second valve element relative to the second valve opening.
3. The valve of claim 1 wherein the check valve element comprises at least one opening through which fluid passes when the check valve element is in a position to permit fluid flow through the second valve opening.
4. The valve of claim 3 further comprising a retaining plate adapted to be secured within the valve body and to limit the movement of the check valve element relative to the second valve opening, wherein the retaining plate includes at least one opening through which fluid passes when the check valve element is in a position to permit fluid flow through the second valve opening.
5. The valve of claim 4 wherein the retaining plate is secured within the valve body by a means selected from one of a group consisting of an interference press fit, an adhesive, an ultrasonic weld, or a weld.
6. A valve for controlling bidirectional flow of fluid through the valve comprising:
a valve body having an inlet chamber, an outlet chamber, and a side chamber;
a passageway between the inlet chamber and side chamber, the passageway being entirely disposed within the valve body;
a first valve opening disposed between the inlet chamber and outlet chamber;
a second valve opening disposed between the side chamber and outlet chamber;
a control valve element movable relative to the first valve opening to regulate fluid flow from the inlet through the outlet when fluid flow is in the inlet-to-outlet direction, the control valve element being movable to sealingly engage the first valve opening when fluid flow is in the outlet-to-inlet direction;
a check valve plate disposed adjacent the second valve opening, the check valve element being movable to restrict fluid flow through the second valve opening when fluid flow is in the inlet-to-outlet direction, and movable to permit fluid flow through the second valve opening to the inlet chamber when fluid flow is in the outlet-to-inlet direction; and
a cover secured to the valve body for enclosing and sealing off the side chamber.
7. The valve of claim 6 wherein the check valve plate comprises at least one guide member configured to guide the movement of the check valve plate relative to the second valve opening.
8. The valve of claim 6 wherein the cover includes a projection for limiting the movement of the check valve plate away from the second valve opening.
9. The valve of claim 8 wherein the check valve plate comprises at least one opening through which fluid passes when the check valve plate is in a position to permit fluid flow through the second valve opening, and wherein the check valve plate is movable to a position in which the at least one opening in the check valve plate is engaged with the projection on the cover to substantially prevent fluid flow through the second valve opening.
10. The valve of claim 6 further comprising a retaining plate secured within the side chamber, wherein the retaining plate limits the movement of the check valve plate and includes at least one opening through which fluid passes when the check valve plate is in a position to permit fluid flow through the second valve opening.
11. The valve of claim 10 wherein the check valve plate comprises at least one opening through which fluid passes when the check valve plate is in a position to permit fluid flow through the second valve opening, and wherein the check valve plate is movable to a position of engagement with the at least one opening in the retaining plate to substantially prevent fluid flow through the second valve opening.
12. The valve of claim 11 wherein the retaining plate is secured within the valve body side chamber by a means selected from one of a group consisting of an interference press fit, an adhesive, an ultrasonic weld, or a weld.
13. The valve of claim 6 wherein the cover plate is secured within the valve body side chamber by a means selected from one of a group consisting of an interference press fit, an adhesive, an ultrasonic weld, or a weld.
14. A valve for controlling bidirectional flow of fluid through the valve comprising:
a valve body including an inlet chamber, an outlet chamber, and a check valve chamber having an opening through the side of the valve body;
a first valve opening disposed between the inlet chamber and outlet chamber;
a control valve element movable relative to the first valve opening to regulate fluid flow from the inlet through the outlet when fluid flow is in the inlet-to-outlet direction, the control valve element being movable to sealingly engage the first valve opening when fluid flow is in the outlet-to-inlet direction;
a passageway between the inlet chamber and check valve chamber, the passageway being entirely disposed within the valve body;
a second valve opening disposed between the check valve chamber and outlet chamber;
a check valve plate movable relative to the second valve opening, the check valve plate being movable to restrict fluid flow from the inlet through the second valve opening when fluid flow is in the inlet-to-outlet direction, and movable to permit fluid flow from the outlet chamber through the second valve opening when fluid flow is in the outlet-to-inlet direction; and
a cover secured within the opening in the side of the valve body leading to the check valve chamber, the cover being configured to seal the check valve chamber; and
15. The valve of claim 14 wherein the check valve plate comprises at least one guide member configured to guide the movement of the check valve plate relative to the second valve opening.
16. The valve of claim 14 wherein the cover comprises a projection for limiting the movement of the check valve plate away from the second valve opening.
17. The valve of claim 14 wherein the check valve plate comprises at least one opening through which fluid passes when the check valve plate is in a position to permit fluid flow through the second valve opening, and wherein the check valve plate is movable to a position in which the at least one opening in the check valve plate is engaged with the projection on the cover to substantially prevent fluid flow through the second valve opening.
18. The valve of claim 14 further comprising a retaining plate secured within the check valve chamber, the retaining plate having at least one opening through which fluid may pass, wherein the retaining plate limits the movement of the check valve plate.
19. The valve of claim 18 wherein the check valve plate is movable to engage the at least one opening in the retaining plate to substantially prevent fluid flow through the at least one opening in the retaining plate and through the second valve opening.
20. The valve of claim 19 wherein the check valve plate further comprises at least one opening therein through which fluid may flow when the check valve plate is in a position for permitting fluid flow from the outlet through second valve opening.

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 light emitting road boundary stone using a solar cell, comprising:
a body;
a solar cell unit mounted in an upper surface of the body and having a solar cell plate, and a battery and circuit unit; and
one or more light emitting units mounted in one or more lateral surfaces of the body and having lights to be turned onoff based on electricity supplied from the solar cell unit and other control conditions,
wherein the solar cell unit includes:
an upper fixing case provided at an outer upper surface thereof with the solar cell plate, a lower end of the upper fixing case being formed with an outer wall having a predetermined height to define a space along an inner circumference of the outer wall, fixing protrusions being arranged at an outer circumference of the outer wall; and
a lower fixing case having an interior space for receiving the battery and circuit unit, which is connected to the solar cell plate, the outer wall of the upper fixing case being fitted and coupled along an inner circumference of the lower fixing case, separation prevention protrusions being arranged at the inner circumference of the lower fixing case to be caught by the fixing protrusions, to fix the upper fixing case,
whereby the upper fixing case is separably assembled to the lower case embedded in the body of the boundary stone.
2. The boundary stone as set forth in claim 1,
wherein the body has a circular or rectangular column shape having a predetermined height, the light emitting units being embedded in opposite lateral vertical or inclined surfaces of the body to be exposed to the outside at their outer surfaces, a high-brightness reflective sheet being attached in an attachment groove, which is dented throughout an outer periphery of the body to a predetermined depth, and
wherein each of the light emitting units includes:
a metal rim fitted around an outermost rim portion of the light emitting unit;
a transparent acryl plate having a predetermined thickness so as to have a sufficient strength to resist external shock and provided at the rear surface thereof with intaglio patterns representing various images, a plurality of light mounting holes being bored at opposite positions of the outer circumference of the transparent acryl plate to a predetermined depth to receive lights, respectively, which are connected to the battery and circuit unit;
a printed matter printed with the same images as those of the intaglio pattern proved at the rear surface of the transparent acryl plate, the printed matter being located behind the transparent acryl plate; and
a translucent acryl plate located behind the printed matter, the metal rim, transparent acryl plate, printed matter, and translucent acryl plate being assembled to one another in this order.
3. The boundary stone as set forth in claim 1,
wherein the body has a horizontally elongated rectangular column shape having a length that is multiple times of a height thereof, an edge of a horizontally elongated rectangular upper surface of the body being chamfered to have an inclined surface to prevent damage to the body due to external shock, the inclined surface being centrally formed with a light emitting unit mounting recess dented into the body to a predetermined depth, such that one of the light emitting units is mounted therein to have a predetermined inclination,
wherein the light emitting unit includes:
a transparent acryl plate forming an outermost surface of the light emitting unit and having a predetermined thickness so as to have a sufficient strength to resist external shock, the transparent acryl plate being provided at a rear surface thereof with intaglio patterns representing orientation display images, a plurality of light mounting holes being bored inward from opposite positions of an outer circumference of the transparent acryl plate to a predetermined depth, to receive lights, respectively, which are connected to the battery and the circuit unit; and
a translucent acryl plate located behind the transparent acryl plate and having a high-brightness reflective sheet attached to a front surface thereof, the high brightness reflective sheet having the same images as those of the intaglio patterns provided at the rear surface of the transparent acryl plate.
4. The boundary stone as set forth in claim 1,
wherein a lower end of the upper fixing case of the solar cell unit has a double wall structure including the outer wall and an inner wall spaced apart inward from the outer wall by a predetermined distance, the inner wall being slightly shorter than the outer wall,
wherein a specific location of a bottom surface of the lower fixing case, on which the inner wall of the upper fixing case is located when the upper fixing case is coupled to the lower fixing case, is formed with an upwardly protruding inner wall having a predetermined height, which is spaced apart inward from an outer wall of the lower fixing case by a predetermined distance, which that the outer wall of the upper fixing case is fitted into a gap between the outer and inner walls of the lower fixing case and a lower end of the inner wall of the upper fixing case comes into close contact with an upper end of the inner wall of the lower fixing case, to prevent infiltration of moisture from the outside.
5. The boundary stone as set forth in claim 4, wherein the upper fixing case is formed at the upper surface thereof with a plurality of release holes the facilitate separation and exchange of parts, and pair of O-rings having suitable elasticity are coupled between the outer and inner walls of the upper fixing case and interior bottom locations of the lower fixing case.
6. An apparatus comprising:
a solid housing comprising at least one solar cell recess, and at least one light emitting element recess, and at least one wiring bore connecting said at least one solar cell recess and said at least one light emitting recess;
at least one solar cell fitted in said at least one solar cell recess;
at least one light emitting element fitted in said at least one light emitting element recess configured to illuminate at least one pattern; and
wiring that electrically connects said at least one solar cell and said at least one light emitting element through said at least one wiring bore.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the apparatus is a boundary stone.
8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the solid housing is formed out of at least one of:
stone;
marble; and
cement.
9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said at least one solar cell, said at least one light emitting element, and the wiring substantially consume said at least one solar cell recess, said at least one light emitting element recess, and said at least one wiring bore.
10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:
said at least one light emitting element comprises at least one light source; and
said at least one light source is arrange on the periphery of said at least one light emitting element.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said at least one light source is at least one of:
a light bulb; and
a light emitting diode.
12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said at least one pattern is illuminated by light from said at least one light source being refracted by said at least one light emitting element.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said at least one light emitting element comprises:
a printed pattern comprising said at least one pattern; and
a refraction plate, wherein the refraction plate refracts light from said at least one light source onto said printed pattern to illuminate said at least one pattern.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the refraction plate is a transparent acryl plate.
15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the refraction plate is molding to complement said at least one pattern.
16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said printed pattern comprises reflective material.
17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the background of the printed pattern is a translucent material.
18. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein at least one of said at least one solar cell and said at least one light emitting element are at least one of:
removable; and
substantially sealed from external moisture.
19. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the width of the solid housing is greater than the height of the solid housing.
20. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the height of the solid housing is greater than the width of the solid housing.

1. A method for forming an article having a wall that is at least partially formed from a tube, the method comprising the steps of:
providing at least one tube;
stacking the at least one tube in a predetermined manner such that the at least one tube forms a plurality of tube seqments that are approximately abutted against one another; and
employing a pressurized fluid to compress the plurality of tube seqments such that a first surface of the at least one tube substantially conforms to a predetermined first wall configuration, a second surface of the at least one tube that is disposed opposite the first surface substantially conforms to a predetermined second wall configuration and each of the tube seqments is substantially contiguous with at least one other tube segment;
wherein the at least one tube is evacuated prior to the step of exposing the at least one tube to a pressurized fluid.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of heating the at least one tube to a predetermined temperature.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of heating the at least one tube and the step of exposing the at least one tube to the pressurized fluid are performed substantially simultaneously.
4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of brazing the tube segments together.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second surfaces are generally parallel to one another.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressurized fluid is a gas that is selected from a group of gasses consisting of argon, nitrogen and helium.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to the step of exposing the at least one tube to the pressurized fluid the method further comprises the steps of:
providing a first closeout skin structure, the first closeout skin structure having a first skin surface that defines the predetermined first wall configuration; and
abutting the first skin surface to the first surface of the at least one tube.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein prior to the step of exposing the at least one tube to the pressurized fluid the method further comprises the steps of:
providing a second closeout skin structure, the second closeout skin structure having a second skin surface that defines the predetermined second wall configuration; and
abutting the second skin surface to the second surface of the at least one tube.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of removing at least one of the first and second closeout skin structures from the at least one tube after the step of exposing the at least one tube to the pressurized fluid.
10. A method for forming an article having a wall that is at least partially formed from a tube, the method comprising the steps of:
providing at least one tube:
stacking the at least one tube in a predetermined manner such that the at least one tube forms a plurality of tube segments that are approximately abutted against one another; and
employing a pressurized fluid to compress the plurality of tube segments such that a first surface of the at least one tube substantially conforms to a predetermined first wall configuration, a second surface of the at least one tube that is disposed opposite the first surface substantially conforms to a predetermined second wall configuration and each of the tube segments is substantially contiguous with at least one other tube segment;
wherein prior to the step of exposing the at least one tube to the pressurized fluid the method further comprises the step of at least partially filling the at least one tube with a fluid.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the fluid in the at least one tube is a compressible fluid.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the compressible fluid is an inert gas.
13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of heating the at least one tube to a predetermined temperature.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of heating the at least one tube and the step of exposing the at least one tube to the pressurized fluid are performed substantially simultaneously.
15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of brazing the tube segments together.
16. The method of claim 10, wherein the first and second surfaces are generally parallel to one another.
17. The method of claim 10, wherein the pressurized fluid is a gas that is selected from a group of gasses consisting of argon, nitrogen and helium.
18. The method of claim 10, wherein prior to the step of exposing the at least one tube to the pressurized fluid the method further comprises the steps of:
providing a first closeout skin structure, the first closeout skin structure having a first skin surface that defines the predetermined first wall configuration; and
abutting the first skin surface to the first surface of the at least one tube.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein prior to the step of exposing the at least one tube to the pressurized fluid the method further comprises the steps of:
providing a second closeout skin structure, the second closeout skin structure having a second skin surface that defines the predetermined second wall configuration; and
abutting the second skin surface to the second surface of the at least one tube.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of removing at least one of the first and second closeout skin structures from the at least one tube after the step of exposing the at least one tube to the pressurized fluid.
21. A method for forming an article having a wall that is at least partially formed from a tube, the method comprising the steps of;
providing at least one tube;
arranging the at least one tube in a predetermined manner such that the at least one tube forms a plurality of tube segments that are abutted against one another in a stacked arrangement, each of the tube segments having an annular cross-section with an outer circumference, the annular cross-section being taken generally perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the tube segment;
employing a pressurized gas to compress the plurality of tube seqments such that a surface of the at least one tube substantially conforms to a predetermined wall configuration and each of the tube seqments contacts at least one adjacent tube seqment over an area that exceeds about 5% of the circumference of the tube segment; and
heating the at least one tube to a predetermined temperature;
wherein the at least one tube is evacuated prior to the step of exposing the at least one tube to a pressurized fluid.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of exposing the at least one tube to the pressurized gas and the step of heating the at least one tube are performed substantially simultaneously.
23. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of brazing the tube segments together.
24. The method of claim 21, wherein the pressurized fluid is a gas that is selected from a group of gasses consisting of argon, nitrogen and helium.
25. The method of claim 21, wherein prior to the step of exposing the at least one tube to the pressurized gas the method further comprises the steps of:
providing a closeout skin structure, the closeout skin structure having a skin surface that defines the predetermined wall configuration; and
abutting the skin surface to the surface of the at least one tube.
26. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of removing the closeout skin structure from the at least one tube after the step of heating the at least one tube.
27. A method for forming an article having a wall that is at least partially formed from a tube, the method comprising the steps of:
providing at least one tube;
arranging the at least one tube in a predetermined manner such that the at least one tube forms a plurality of tube seqments that are abutted against one another in a stacked arrangement, each of the tube segments having an annular cross-section with an outer circumference, the annular cross-section being taken generally perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the tube seqment;
employing a pressurized gas to compress the plurality of tube segments such that a surface of the at least one tube substantially conforms to a predetermined wall configuration and each of the tube seqments contacts at least one adjacent tube seqment over an area that exceeds about 5% of the circumference of the tube segment; and
heating the at least one tube to a predetermined temperature;
wherein prior to the step of heating the at least one tube the method further comprises the step of at least partially filling the at least one tube with a fluid.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein the fluid in the at least one tube is a compressible fluid.
29. The method of claim 28, wherein the compressible fluid is an inert gas.
30. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of pressurizing the fluid.
31. The method of claim 27, wherein the step of exposing the least one tube to the pressurized gas and the step of heating the least one tube are performed substantially simultaneously.
32. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of brazing the tube segments together.
33. The method of claim 27, wherein the pressurized fluid is a gas that is selected from a group of gasses consisting of argon, nitrogen and helium.
34. The method of claim 27, wherein prior to the step of exposing the at least one tube to the pressurized gas the method further comprises the steps of:
providing a closeout skin structure, the closeout skin structure having a skin surface that defines the predetermined wall configuration; and
abutting the skin surface to the surface of the at least one tube.
35. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of removing the closeout skin structure from the at least one tube after the step of heating the at least one tube.

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

What is claimed is:

1. A method for customizing entities in a software system, comprising:
automatically instantiating a base extension entity related to a base entity each time the base entity is instantiated;
receiving a customization value indicative of a customization to be made to the base entity; and
customizing the base entity using the base extension entity, based on the customization value.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein customizing further comprises:
generating an extension entity, related to the base extension entity, having a property indicative of the customization value.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein customizing and further comprises:
re-compiling the base extension entity after generating the extension entity.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein data represented by the entities is stored in a relational database and wherein generating an extension entity comprises:
generating an entity-relational (ER) map mapping the extension entity to the relational database.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein relationships among entities are stored in an entity association (EA) map and wherein generating an extension entity comprises:
generating an entity-association (EA) map mapping relations between the extension entity and the base extension entity.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the base extension entity has an associated E-R map and E-A map and wherein re-compiling comprises:
re-generating the ER and EA maps for the base extension entity.
7. The method of claim 5 wherein generating an extension entity comprises:
storing a table in the relational database, including data indicative of the customization value in the extension entity, according to a database schema.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein storing a table comprises:
storing the customization value in an extension of a table corresponding to the base entity.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein storing a table comprises:
storing the customization value in a separate table, separate from a table corresponding to the base entity.
10. The method of claim 7 wherein receiving includes receiving a plurality of customization values indicative of a plurality of customizations, and wherein storing a table comprises:
storing the plurality of customization values in a single customization table, separate from a table corresponding to the base entity.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the customization value specifies a change to a relationship between the base extension entity and another entity.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein base extension entity has an associated entity-association (EA) map mapping associations between the base extension entity and other entities, and wherein customizing comprises:
re-generating the EA map to reflect the change in the relationship between the base extension entity and the other entity.
13. A system for customizing fields of entities in a software system, comprising:
an adapter subsystem having methods configured to be invoked to receive a customization input from a customizable subsystem, the customization input being indicative of a request to apply a customization to a field of an entity to be customized, the adapter subsystem identifying instances of target entities to be customized based on the request; and
a target subsystem having a method configured to be invoked by the adapter subsystem, to apply the requested customization to the field of the identified instances of target entities.
14. The system of claim 13 wherein the adapter subsystem includes methods which, when invoked, perform customization functions on various portions of the customizable subsystem.
15. The system of claim 13 and further comprising:
a context component configured to identify a context in which each customization is applied.
16. The system of claim 15 wherein the adapter subsystem is configured to access the context component to identify the instances of target entities, based on a current context.
17. A system for implementing customizations to fields of entities, the system comprising:
an adapter subsystem identifying instances of target entities to be customized based on a customization request; and
a target subsystem configured to generate one or more extension entities, related to the identified target entities to be customized, the one or more base extension entities being indicative of a customization to a field.
18. The system of claim 17 wherein the target subsystem includes a method configured to be invoked by the adapter subsystem, to apply the requested customization to the field of the identified instances of target entities to be customized.
19. The system of claim 17 wherein the adapter subsystem includes methods which, when invoked, perform customization functions on various portions of the customizable subsystem.
20. The system of claim 17 and further comprising:
a context component configured to identify a context in which each customization is applied.
21. The system of claim 20 wherein the adapter subsystem is configured to access the context component to identify the instances of target entities, based on a current context.
22. The system of claim 17 wherein the target subsystem is configured to generate one or more extension entities, related to the base extension entity, including a property indicative of the customization to the field.
23. The system of claim 22 wherein the target subsystem is configured to re-compile the base extension entity after generating the one or more extension entities.