Imation Corporation

Wts LLC

Other

Douglas R Plourde

John Abraham

Brian Plourde

Richard Pakonen

Dean E Sitz

Chad R Sandstrom

William R Qualls

Andy Gikling

Donald J Kerfeld

Brian T Bonn

Thiruppathy Srinivasan

Andrew Gikling

John R Johnson

Michael A Maiers

Nang T Tran

Scot Clifford Fairchild

Leo W Spychalla

Wayne M Hector

Warren Dalziel

Arne Bengt Boberg

Helen J Yoo

Kerry D Reimer

Edward L Schneider

Jeffrey M Novotny

Jerrie R Powers

Siu-Yue Tam

Val M Schmitz

Noel Naughton

A fluid heating system may include a solar collection system configured for focusing sunlight on a focal axis, an elongated flow element arranged and configured for transporting fluid along the solar collection system at the focal axis, and a flow-control assembly comprising thermostatic valves configured to control the flow of the fluid in the elongated flow element such that pathogens present in the fluid are substantially inactivated before the fluid exits the fluid heating system. A method of operating a fluid heating system wherein the fluid heating system comprises a parabolic solar collector and a support structure may also be provided.

Fluid heating system

A digital fluid heating system may include a solar collection system configured for focusing sunlight on a focal axis, an elongated flow element arranged and configured for transporting fluid along the solar collection system at the focal axis, and a flow-control assembly comprising a digitally controlled valve configured to control the flow of the fluid in the elongated flow element such that pathogens present in the fluid are substantially inactivated before the fluid exits the fluid heating system and at a maximized flow rate under the given energy providing conditions. The system may also include one or more digital controls and communication systems for remote and/or automatic control.

Digital fluid heating system

A method of determining pathogen inactivation may include performing an energy balance on a fluid heating system. Performing an energy balance may include calculating temperatures of a fluid at a plurality of locations as the fluid flows through the fluid heating system. The method of determining pathogen inactivation may also include receiving inactivation kinetic data regarding a pathogen present in the fluid and determining pathogen inactivation amounts based on exposure to the temperatures. Performing an energy balance may include receiving a plurality of input parameters relating to the fluid heating system. The plurality of input parameters may relate to a solar collection system and an associated fluid control system. The solar collection system may include a parabolic mirror and the fluid control system may include an elongated flow element arranged along a focal axis of the parabolic mirror.

Method of calculating pathogen inactivation for a fluid heating system

The disclosure relates to a tracking device configured to track an object in space, such as the sun, as the object moves across the sky. The tracking device may further be configured to direct a payload toward the object or toward an angle relative to the object. The tracking device may continuously or intermittently determine the location of the moving object, and adjust the position of the payload accordingly. The tracking device may calculate the position of the moving object based on GPS information, such as triangulated coordinates of the tracking device, date, and time. Generally, the tracking device may be capable of tracking an object such as the sun from anywhere on the earth's surface. The tracking device may employ one or more actuation assemblies to position the payload toward or relative to the moving object. The one or more actuation assemblies may operate through linear motion.

Dual axis tracking method

A control valve assembly may include a housing, an inlet, an outlet, and a plurality of thermostatic control valves biased toward a closed position and arranged within the housing between the inlet and the outlet. The thermostatic control valves may each be associated with separate respective flow paths between the inlet and the outlet and have different operating temperatures. The valves may be configured to open at their respective operating temperatures and remain open unless the fluid falls below their respective operating temperature such that when multiple thermostatic control valves are open the amount of fluid flowing through the control valve is equal to the addition of the amount of fluid flowing through each valve. The operating temperatures and the flow rates of the thermostatic control valves may be selected to limit the passage of pathogens through the control valve assembly. A degassing valve may also be provided.

Control valve assembly for a fluid heating system

Dual axis tracking device

A method for manufacturing magnetic recording tape includes applying a front coat including a magnetic component to a substrate to provide a coated substrate. The coated substrate defines a first face and an opposing, second face, the first face extending between a first corner and an opposing, second corner, and the second face extending between a third corner and an opposing, fourth corner. An abrasive surface is moved against the first corner of the coated substrate to abrasively remove a volume of material from the first corner. In particular, the abrasive surface is angularly offset at a substantially non-orthogonal angle from the first face of the coated substrate.

Magnetic recording tape edge processing

An optical disk exhibiting no detrimental thickness increase (edge wedge effect) that arises at the outer diameter of an optical disk substrate during an injection molding manufacturing process, and an apparatus and method for making such a disk. The optical disk of the present invention is designed for use with an optical disk player, especially where the data on the optical disk is stored air incident. This optical disk includes a disk substrate made from a molded polymeric material. The disk substrate has a first major surface, a second major surface, and an outer edge. The first major surface of the optical disk includes a data region having an intermediate portion and an outer portion. The outer portion extends to the outer edge of the optical disk. The disk substrate has a thickness defined by the distance between the first major surface and the second major surface. The optical disk also includes an information layer covering the data region. In the present invention, the thickness of the intermediate portion of the data region is substantially equal to the thickness of the outer portion of the data region such that the outer portion of the data region is capable of being used by the optical disk player.

Optical disk mold tooling for reduced edge wedge

In one embodiment, the invention is directed toward inline lapping of magnetic tape. The lapping process is performed inline with one or more other magnetic tape manufacturing processes. In this manner, the number of times the magnetic tape is un-spooled and then re-spooled can be reduced. Consequently, the amount of handling of the individual tape pancakes can also be reduced, thus avoiding damage to the edge of the tape, or other damage associated with tape pancake handling.

Inline lapping of magnetic tape

A mold and a process for use in producing data storage articles such as single substrate double-sided disks. In one configuration, a mold for manufacturing a substrate includes a stamper, at least one holder having an interface with the stamper, and a vacuum line for applying a retention force to maintain the interface between the holder and the stamper. In another configuration, the mold includes a demolding line for applying a demolding force to the substrate to aid in separating the substrate from the stamper. The various embodiments of the present invention provide, among other things, easier and faster stamper changeover, substrates and final data storage articles having improved process indicia such as thickness, flatness, inner and outer diameter, and concentricity, and facilitates production of single-substrate double-sided disks.

Mold for manufacturing double-sided disk shaped articles for storing data

A winding flange guide ( ) is utilized to provide a better quality wind of a strand media. The guide ( ) has a first flange ( ) and a second flange ( ) which constrain the movement of the outer wraps of the tape pancake formed by the tape media. The winding flange guide ( ) is utilized in a servo writer ( ), tape cartridge ( ) and tape drive ( ).

Flange guide for improved tape winding

A data storage disk cartridge having a dual housing structure includes an inner housing that contains a disk, and an outer housing that contains the inner housing. The inner housing is at least partially removable from the outer housing for insertion into a disk drive. The outer housing remains external to the disk drive, however, except for a portion that is inserted into the drive to provide a docking channel for retraction of the inner housing. A shutter on the inner housing covers a portion of the disk, but is manipulable by the disk drive to uncover the disk and allow drive access. The dual housing structure of the cartridge is capable of significantly improving disk and drive reliability, particularly for recording applications that require higher areal recording densities, such as near field optical recording. In particular, the disk cartridge reduces the accumulation of debris on the disk and drive components. The dual-housing disk cartridge provides a system of partially redundant barriers that significantly reduce the possibility of debris accumulation. The barriers form a hierarchy of cleanliness that stands between the outside environment and the disk and drive components. Consequently, in a preferred mode, the disk is never exposed to the outside environment. The reduced amounts of debris contribute to more consistent optical and mechanical performance of the disk and drive, and thereby enhance data storage reliability.

Disk cartridge with dual housing structure

A data storage cartridge having a data storage disc locking/restraining mechanism. The data storage cartridge includes a shell defined by a cover and a base, within which a disc and the restraining mechanism are disposed. The restraining mechanism operates to restrain the central portion of the data storage disc against the shell when the data storage disc is in a non-operating position. When the data storage disc is in an operating position, the restraining mechanism is disengaged from restraining the disc by the drive spindle independent of a shutter mechanism.

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Somerset, WI, United States of America

Douglas R Plourde