CA2859364A1 - Opsin polypeptides and methods of use thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure provides opsins, including variant opsins with increased activity and/or increased trafficking to the plasma membrane. The opsins are useful in therapeutic and screening applications, which are also provided.

Description

[0112] A participant's satisfaction score for the collective outcome determined for a survey may be saved in the participant profile of the participant (and stored in participant profile database 119 of FIG. 1) to determine an influent level associated with the participant for a subsequent survey as explained later. Thus, as and when each survey is conducted, the participant profile of a participant is updated to include the participant's satisfaction score for that survey's collective outcome.
[0113] R(0, x) is the rank assigned to a potential outcome 0 for a participant x.
corresponds to an influent function $(0) in the unit form, that is, R(0, x)=
(KO) and 1411=1, then, a measure of the satisfaction of participant x for outcome 0 may be represented by Sati(0, x). We define the "neutral rank" for an outcome 0 as that rank R(0,N) where a participant has no energy for or against the outcome.
[0114] In one example embodiment, Sati(0, x) is expressed as:
(R(0, x) - MinR(x)) * (1 - 2A) + A
Sat' (0, x) = _______________________________________ MaxR(x)- MinR(x) (16) where MaxR(x) = R(0, x)s.t.0 E Oa and R(0, x)? R(0, y) V y E P. x y (MaxR(x) corresponds to the greatest rank provided by participant x for any of the outcomes);
MinR(x) = R(0, x)s. t. 0 E Oa and R(0, x) R(0, y) V y E P, x y (MinR(x) corresponds to the smallest rank provided by participant x for any of the outcomes); and A is some very small number, e,g. 0.0001. If MaxR(x) = MinR(x) then Sat1(0, x) =0.5 is taken.
[0115] In this example embodiment, Sati(0, x) has a range of 0 to 1. It is generally more convenient to generate Sat1(0, x) in such a manner that the range of Sat'(0, x) is symmetrical about a neutral point corresponding to the neutral rank. The neutral point may, for example, be zero. For example the values of Sat'(0, x) may be in the range of -1 to 1. It is particularly convenient to define a measure of participant satisfaction and a measure of participant dissonance such that both of these measures have the same neutral point and the same range. This facilitates combining these measures as discussed, for example, below.
[0116] An example way to define Sat' (0, x) such that Sat' (0, x) has the range (-1, 1) is:
(2R(0,x) - Rmax - Rmin) * (1 - A) (17) Sat (0,x) = ______________________________________________ Rmax- Rmin where Rmax = {the maximum rank possible for the outcome 0}, Rmin = {the minimum rank possible for the outcome 0}; and A is some very small number, e,g.
0.0001. In this example, if R(0,N), is midway between Rmax and Rmin, then Sat'(0,N) equals 0.
[0117] If the satisfaction function is considered over the space of all possible outcomes, a way of ensuring fairness and preventing strategic ranking is to require that the influence exerted over the space of all actionable outcomes be the same for all participants. A way of thinking about this is to imagine an automated bidding system, which helps each participant to place a price and bid on each potential outcome, where the amount of each bid is based on how much the participant values that outcome relative to the other outcomes.
[0118] Normalizing the final influent function associated with each participant ensures the total amount bid by each participant over all the outcomes is the same, while preserving the relative rankings of the outcomes and ensuring that Sat(0, x) remains within a desired range, for example, 0<Sat(0, x)<1 or -1<Sat(0, x)<1, for all outcomes and all participants.
Sat(0, x) defines the normalized satisfaction for a participant x and may be given by:
ISat(0 , x) ¨ S at(0 , N)I = !Sat' (0 , x) ¨ Sae (0 , N)I' (18) where Sat(0,19 = Sat '(0,N) and Px is the exponential modifier for each function that normalizes it to a constant volume while respecting the relative rankings of the outcomes and keeping the result in a desired range, e.g. between 0 and 1. Px may be determined for example by taking n = 10a1 and finding Px for each x in P such that:
Sat'(0, x)Px = ¨n

2 0E0a for the case where Sat ' (0,x) has the range 0 to 1 and the neutral point is zero, or, ISati(0, x) ¨ Sat' (0 , N)IPx ¨n (19) 0E0a for the case where Sat '(0,x) has the range -1 to 1 and the neutral point is Sat'(0,N).
[0119] Thus, in the first case, E 0E0a Sat(0, x) = EpEoa Sat(0, y) = 112 , and in the second case, Z0E0a I Sat(0, x) ¨ Sat(0, N) I = E0E0a Sat(0, y) ¨ Sat(0 , N)I = 112, for all x, y E

P, each of which basically asserts that all participants start with the same amount of influence in the bidding process.
[0120] If we are considering the survey as a decision following a set of preceding decisions D' = {D(i)...D(j)} c D, we can define D'(0) as D' ending with a decision to adopt outcome 0, for some potential outcome 0. If we are not considering previous decisions then we simply take D'(0)=0. The preceding decisions D' might include all previous decisions, or a subset of previous decisions such as the most recent five decisions. The preceding decisions D' may include some "blank" decisions D
where Sat(D , y) = Sat(D , x) and J(D , y)=J(D ,x) for all participants x, y for decisions with few or no prior decisions. Then we can define a measure of how satisfied a participant x would be with the decision series D' that ends in decision to adopt outcome 0 as:
EieD,(00% x) * Sat(i,x) Sat(V(0), x) =
(20) EiÃD,(o)/(i, x) where J(D(t), x) is the impulse of the participant x on the decision D(t) and Sat(D(t), x) is the satisfaction of the participant x towards a decision D(t). Further, we can define the average satisfaction of the participants for the decisions as:
ExEp Sat(D'(0), x) AvgSat(D'(0)) = ___________________________________________________________ (21) where p is the number of participants.
[0121] For each potential outcome 0, we can take I(D1(0)) as the "collective satisfaction score" to represent the amount of influence behind a decision to adopt 0 by:
e(0, x) * Sat(D'(0), x) I (D1 (0)) = (22) Evx e(0, x) [0122] On determining the satisfaction score and influent level for a potential outcome for a participant, the dissonance score associated with a given potential outcome may be determined based on one or more of: the participant's satisfaction score, the participant's average satisfaction score for all of the outcomes, the greatest rank provided by a participant to an outcome, the impulse of the participant given to the outcome, an advantage quotient associated with the outcome, a disadvantage quotient associated with the outcome, and the influent level of the participant.

101231 In some embodiments, the dissonance score may be determined as a standard deviation of influents invested in a decision series to come up with an outcome 0.
Therefore, the dissonance score of the outcome may be determined based on a satisfaction score of each participant for the decision series, an average satisfaction of the plurality of participants for a decision, and an average satisfaction of the plurality of participants over the decision series. Based on the values calculated above, the dissonance score DS1(11(0)) of the outcome 0 is calculated by the following equation:
Exep x) * 'Sag/Y(0), x) ¨ AvgSag/Y(0))12 DSADI(0))) =
(23) Ex, 0(0, x) [0124] Research studies have shown that unfairness in a decision process can lead people resisting an outcome even when they would benefit from the outcome, and conversely, that fairness in a decision process can lead to people supporting an outcome even when they would otherwise be resistant. Framed in mathematical terms, as DS' over an outcome space decreases from 1 to 0, there will be a "tipping point" when people will cease to resist something because of inequality aversion, and begin to support it due to its fairness.
Where this neutral tipping point is found will depend on the type of decision process and group dynamics, and can be determined empirically or by mutual agreement. Call this tipping point t, where 0 <= t <= 1.
101251 We can see that Sat(D'(0), x) and AvgSat(D'(0)) will fall in the range [-1, 1] and therefore that DS'(D'(0)) will fall in the range [0, 1]. We can define a linear transformation T which creates DS from DS' over a new range, T(DS') = DS, and which shifts the range from [0, 1] to (inverted) [-1, 1]. In other words, if DS' =
1, then DS = -1 and if DS' =0 then DS = 1, and which also moves the tipping point t to zero, DS(t) 0.
For example we can define T(x) as follows: take z = x ¨ t; if z < 0 then T(x) = - z/t, if z>
0 then T(x) = z/(1-0.
101261 A collective influent function may be defined for each outcome based on a relative weighting of the collective satisfaction scores and the dissonance scores. The collective influent function is the ratio of collective satisfaction to dissonance. One measure suitable for use as a collective influent function is an Ethelo Score.

[0127] We can define an Ethelo Score C for an outcome 0 as the sum of the support/opposition energy due to personal satisfaction I(D'(0), x), and the support/resistance energy due to procedural/distributive fairness DS(D'(0)), in a ratio according to their relative weight M, where 0 <= M <= 1 as follows:
Ethelo(0) = E(D'(0)) = M * I(D'(0)) + (1 ¨ M) * DS(D'(0)) (24) The value of M will depend on the type of decision process and group dynamics, and can be determined empirically or by mutual agreement.
[0128] In some decision scenarios, it will be possible to have a "strong"
mutual collaboration agreement between the parties, in which the parties will (a) fully support whichever outcome creates the most aggregate satisfaction (b) fully oppose whichever outcome creates the least satisfaction (c) fully support whichever outcome creates the most fairness and (d) fully resist whichever outcome creates the most unfairness.
We refer to this as the "Rawlsian Ethelo" = FR.
[0129] One way of defining the Rawlsian Ethelo as follows: Take DS(max) =
greatest value of DS over the space of all actionable outcomes and all participants, DS(min) =
smallest possible value of DS over the space of all the actionable outcomes and all participants. Then we can define DSR such that: if DS(0) <0 then DSR(0) = -DS(0)/DS(min), if DS(0) >0 then DSR(0) = DS(0)/DS(max), if DS(0) = 0 then DSR(0) = 0. Similarly, we can take I(max) = the greatest value of I over the space of all actionable outcomes and all participants, I(min) = smallest possible value of I over the space of all the actionable outcomes and all participants. Then we can define IR in a similar manner as DSR: if I <0 then IR = - I/I(min), if I> 0 then IR =
I/I(max), if I = 0 then IR= 0. From this, we can define:
EtheloR (0) = E R(D'(0)) = M * IR(D'(0)) + (1 ¨ M) * DSR(D'(0)) (25) [0130] When one or more of the final influent functions include rankings based on a characteristic function c* mapping an option or an outcome characteristic to a range within IR, then Ei(0) is a function mapping {c[in]} to {c[outril where n is the number of such final influent functions. Extending this, if one or more of the final influent functions include rankings based on a set of characteristic functions Ici,.*.1 then E1 (0) is a function mapping {c1 [in]hl(1)}U ...0 {c,,,[in]ni)} to {ci [out]n(1)) U ...0 {Cm [07,a]n)} where n(i) is the number of final influent functions that include rankings based on characteristic function c,*.Taking Ei(0) as based on a set of characteristic functions {c,*}
then for each outcome, the set of values in {c1[in] that maximize Ei(0) is used to determine the final E1(0), and the specific values of the characteristics of that outcome. This may be done using computational methods such as linear programming and numerical approximations.
This approach to determining E(0) can also be used in the processes for calculating the collective influent functions below.
[0131] In other embodiments, the dissonance score may be determined as a resistance to inequality by a participant based on the resistance of the participant to satisfaction associated with one or more other participants. For a given outcome, the other participants may include one or more participants having a higher satisfaction score than the participant and one or more participants having a lower satisfaction score than the participant. The resistance of a participant to an outcome or decision may be determined based on the impulse of the participant for the decision and difference of satisfaction between the participant and the other participants.
[0132] In some embodiments, resistance of the participant to an outcome may also be determined based on a difference in the satisfaction of the participant and the other participants, an advantage quotient and a disadvantage quotient. The resistance of the participant to an outcome may indicate resistance toward other participants having higher satisfaction than the participant. The resistance of the participant to an outcome may also indicate the resistance toward other participants having lower satisfaction than the participant.
[0133] Further, dissonance of the participant to a decision in a decision series may be determined based on the influent functions of the participant for the decision of the decision series, an impulse of the participant for the decision in the decision series, the influent level of the participant, and resistance of the participant to the decision in the decision series.

[0134] In such case, the resistance of a participant x to a decision 0 may be determined by: DS2(D'(0),x) = 6(x) Hi(D' (0),x) + 9(x) Lo(D1(0),x) where 8(x) is the advantage quotient, 9(x) is the disadvantage quotient, Hi(D' (0),x) is a normalized difference between the satisfaction of the participant x with one or more other participants having better satisfaction scores as compared to the participant x for a decision 0 and Lo(D1(0),x) is a normalized difference between the participant x and one or more other participants having lower satisfaction score than the participant x for an decision 0. Hi(D'(0),x) is determined using the following equation:
Hi(D' (0), x) = Sat(D' (0), y) ¨ Sat(D' (0), x) (26) yEHi where Hi is the set of participants whose satisfaction score Sat(D'(0),y) is higher than satisfaction score Sat(D'(0),x) of the participant x. Similarly Lo(LY (0),x) is determined using the following equation:
Lo(D1(0),x) = Sat(D' (0), x) ¨ Sat(D' (0),y) (27) yELo where Lo is the set of participants whose satisfaction score Sat(D'(0),y) is lower than satisfaction score Sat(D'(0),x) of the participant x.
[0135] The advantage quotient 6(x) and the disadvantage quotient 9(x) for a participant x may be defined by the survey administrators and/or the survey participants. In some embodiments, 6(x) and 9(x) may be determined to be the same for all participants such that 6(x) -= 6(y) and 9(x) = 9(y) for all x and y. In other embodiments, 6 and 9 may be based on empirical studies. In some embodiments, 6 and 9 may be determined by making one or more assumptions about agreements between the parties. In some embodiments, survey participants and/or survey administrators may provide a ratio for 8 and 9, and one of the assumed agreements may be used to calculate the value of 8 and 9.
[0136] Now, the resistance of the participant x for a decision series D' is determined as:
DS2(1Y(0),x) = 6(x) H,(D' (0),x) + p (x) Lo(D'(0),x) (28) The dissonance score of an outcome 0 is determined as:
Evx e(0, x) * DS2(D' (0), x) DS2(D1 (0)) = (29) Evx 0(0,x) where 0 (0, x) is the influent level of the participant x for an outcome 0. In some embodiments, one can take DS2(R(0)) as the standard deviation of DS2(DP(0),x) as per the earlier embodiment, that is:
ExEp 0(0, x) * ID S2(D' (0), x) ¨ Avg[DS2(D1(0))]12 DS2(D' (0)) = ____________________________________________________________ (30) ExEP (309, X) E(DX
where Avg[DS2 (D' (OM = xEPDS2I(0), ), which may be interpreted as a measure of fairness in the distribution of unhappiness.
101371 As in the preceding embodiment, a collective influent function may be defined for each outcome based on a relative weighting of the collective satisfaction and dissonance scores. The collective influent function 2(0) is then calculated as 2(0) = M
I(D' (0)) + (1--M)DS2(D'(0)), with the Rawlsian Ethelo defined in a manner similar to the above.
[0138] In other embodiments, the dissonance score may be determined as a deviation of satisfaction of a participant for an outcome, from the satisfaction of the participant for his ideal outcome. The ideal outcome is the outcome to which the participant has provided the maximum or highest rank. Therefore, the dissonance score for an outcome may be determined based on the participant's influent level, the participant's rank R(0, x) for the outcome, and the participant's maximum rank MaxR(x) for an outcome. The dissonance score DS3(D'(0),x) for participant x may be determined by the following equations:
D S 3(D' (0), x) = I MaxR(i, x) ¨ R(i, x) iEDI(o) (31) DS (D' (0)) = ExEP )) X) * DS3(D' (0), x)

3 xEp e(D x) where R(D(t), x) is as defined above for R(0, x) as the rank by the participant x for the final outcome 0 of the decision D(t) in the decision series D'. Similarly, MaxR(D(t)) is defined as above for MaxR(x) as the maximum rank by a participant x for an outcome of the decision D(t) in the decision series D'.

[0139] The relative weighting of I(D1(0)) and DS3(D'(0)) to define a collective influent function E may be determined as above: E3(0) = M* .1(D'(0)) + (1-M)* DS3(D' (0)). The Rawlsian Ethelo may be defined in a similar fashion as above.
[0140] According to other embodiments, the dissonance score of a particular outcome may be determined as the difference in satisfaction between the participant in question and the other participants with respect to the outcome. The dissonance score may be determined based on one or more of: the influent level of the participant, the influent levels of the other participants, the satisfaction score of the participant, and the satisfaction scores of the other participants. For example, a dissonance score for an outcome 0 may be determined by:
D.94(Y(0)) = 0(0, x) * 0(0, y) * 'Sag/Y(0),x) ¨ Sat(D1(0), y)I
(32) vx vy [0141] The collective influent function F may then be given by E4(0) = M
I(D1(0)) + (1-M)DS4(D'(0)), with the Rawsian Ethelo defined in a similar fashion as above.
[0142] On determining the collective influent function for a survey, at step 308 of FIG. 3's method 300 the potential outcomes associated with the survey are ranked based on the collective influent function. In some embodiments, the ranked outcomes are processed further to determine shortlisted outcomes. The shortlisted outcomes may be determined based on: a threshold satisfaction score, a threshold dissonance score, a threshold equality factor; a threshold rank; or a combination of one or more of the above. One or more of these may be defined by the survey participants. In some embodiments, the shortlisted outcomes are determined by comparing one or more of the threshold values with the corresponding values associated with each outcome. The shortlisted outcomes may represent a set of possible outcomes. The shortlisted outcomes may then be ranked based on one or more criteria, for example the collective influent function. On ranking the potential outcomes or the shortlisted potential outcomes based on the collective influent function, the top ranked outcome may be selected as a final outcome. In particular embodiments, a shortlist of the top ranked outcomes can be submitted for another decision-making process such as a direct vote.

[0143] In some embodiments, a confidence rating may be provided for the issues and options based on the shortlisted outcomes. The shortlisted outcomes are further processed to identify a frequency of occurrence of one or more options associated with the shortlisted outcomes. For example, suppose that there are 10 shortlisted outcomes. Each shortlisted outcome is associated with one or more options and one or more issues. If 4 shortlisted outcomes are associated with an option al, and 3 shortlisted outcomes are associated with an option a2, the frequency of occurrence of option al is 4 and the frequency of occurrence of option a2 is 3. Based on the frequency of occurrence of an issue or an option, a confidence rating is provided for the issue or the option. The confidence rating represents a confidence of the survey participants in the issue or the option for solving the problem.
[0144] In particular embodiments, a revised influent level for each participant is determined based on the final collective outcome associated with a survey, the current influent level of the participant and the satisfaction score for the participant associated with the selected outcome. In some embodiments, a function 0(D(t), x) determining the influent level for participant x for decisions at different times (e.g. from previous surveys) may also be considered in the determination of the revised influent level of participant x.
The influent level represents the influence of a participant in the selection of an outcome.
The revised influent level may be used in future surveys participated in by the participant.
The revised influent level for a participant is updated in the participant profile of the participant to be referred to when such future surveys are conducted.
[0145] In some embodiments, the revised influent level for a participant is allocated in such a manner so as to compensate for a low satisfaction level achieved by the participant for the final collective outcome of a survey. For example, in a decision series for making a plurality of decisions, a group of participants may have achieved lower satisfaction as compared to another group of participants. In such a scenario, the group of participants who had a lower satisfaction may be provided with increased influent levels for future surveys so that the chosen collective outcome for such surveys may be more satisfactory to such participants. The revised influent level for a participant may be determined based on the participant's satisfaction associated with the chosen collective outcome, the maximum satisfaction of any participant for the chosen collective outcome, and/or the current influent level of the participant.
[0146] In one example embodiment, after choosing an outcome 0 for a decision D
based on the satisfaction scores for the survey participants, the influent level of participants may be reduced from the starting influent level. For the participant x having a satisfaction score of Sat(D'(0),x) for a chosen outcome 0, the reduced influent level for the participant x is determined by:
* 'Sag/Y(0), x) T1(0,x) = 0(x) ____________________________________________________________ (33) max[l Sat(D'(0) I, y)Vy) where 0(x) is the starting influent level of the participant x, 0(0, x) is the influent level of the participant x for the outcome 0, and max{ ISat(D1(0), y)I for V yl is the maximum absolute satisfaction of one or more participants for the outcome 0. T1(0, x) may be used as the starting influent levels for the participant x for a subsequent decision.
[0147] In some embodiments, recycled influent levels for survey participant x may be determined as a function of time t. The recycled influent levels for the participant x for 0 may be determined by the following equation:
0(x) T2(T1(0, x)) = T1(0, x) + * µVyEP 0(y) e(y) ¨
T1(0, y)) (34) E
VyEP VyEP
Thus, starting influent levels for the participant x for the subsequent decision D(t+1) may be determined by:
0(D (t + 1),x) = T2(T1(0 (D (t), x))) (35) [0148] FIG. 9 illustrates a block diagram of a system 700 for conducting surveys according to various embodiments. System 700 includes a plurality of modules, some of which are optional as indicated by the dotted lines in FIG. 9. The modules may be implemented by one or more computers configured to perform the module's functions as described. For example, a processing unit in the computer may execute software routines to perform the functions carried out by the module. In the illustrated embodiment, system 700 includes a presenting module 702, a receiving module 704, an aggregation module 706, and a ranking module 708. These modules work in conjunction with each other for conducting a survey. Presenting module 702 is configured to present issues and options associated with a survey to the survey participants. (As discussed above, options may be categorized by issue.) Presenting module 702 may include a user interface through which the issues and options are displayed to the participants. FIG. 4 shows an example of a group of issues and corresponding options as presented to a survey participant in a user interface. Further, presenting module 702 of system 700 may be configured to present one or more potential outcomes associated with the issues and options to the survey participants.
[0149] Each particular combination of the available options is a potential outcome for the survey. However, as already noted above, some combinations might lead to non-actionable outcomes. In this regard, system 700 may include a shortlisting module 710 for eliminating one or more non-actionable outcomes from the potential outcomes associated with the survey. To eliminate the non-actionable outcomes, survey administrators and/or survey participants may specify one or more constraints or one or more rules.
Constraints can be framed as Boolean logical relations between options and groups of options. Rules can be framed as mathematical or logical functions based on influent functions and characteristics associated with options or outcomes. Shortlisting module 710 analyses the plurality of potential outcomes associated with a survey based on the constraints or rules specified for that survey and eliminates any potential outcomes that are not actionable.
The shortlisted potential outcomes may be presented to the participants by presenting module 702.
101501 The issues and options associated with a survey are presented to each survey participant for ranking by the participant. Various methods of ranking are further explained in conjunction with FIG. 3. Receiving module 704 receives the ranking of issues and options provided by each participant. These rankings may be used as the basis for influent functions (as explained in conjunction with FIG. 3). In some embodiments, rankings may be recommended to a participant by another participants based on a trust rank assigned to the other participant. A participant can give another participant more than one trust rank, depending on their expertise in different areas under consideration. For those participants to whom the participant has not assigned a trust rank, a trust rank may be established by considering a trust propagation factor and a trust decay factor (as explained in conjunction with FIG. 3). In this case, system 700 may include a trust establishing module 712 to determine a trust rank for those participants for whom the participant has not directly assigned a trust rank. A trust rank may also be established by considering historical voting information.
[0151] In some embodiments, system 700 includes a modification module 714 to enable a participant to create new influent functions based on existing published influent functions.
Modification module 714 may be configured to present influent functions created by other participants. The participant may select one or more of these existing influent functions and modify the selected influent functions in some manner to create a new influent function (as explained in conjunction with FIG. 3). In some embodiments, modification module 714 may include a user interface to allow a participant to modify the influent functions. In particular embodiment, modification module 714 may be configured to modify influent functions using one or more rules. Rules can express inequalities or Boolean statements which can lead to different functions if satisfied or not satisfied.
[0152] System 700 may include a merging module 716 configured to allow merging of two or more influent functions associated with a survey. Merging module 716 may include a user interface to allow a survey participant to select two or more existing influent functions for merging. The influent functions may be associated with other survey participants. In this case, the influent functions may be considered as starting influent functions. Merging the influent functions involves assigning a weight to each of the influent functions and combining them to form a single influent function.
Merging the influent functions to create a single influent is further explained in conjunction with FIG.
3. In some embodiments, merging module 716 is configured to create one or more influent functions by merging existing influent functions using one or more rules.
[0153] In some embodiments, system 700 may include an influent function generation module 718 for generating an influent function for a participant (or generating an ordinally ranked list of the potential outcomes) based on one or more existing influent functions associated with the participant and one or more potential outcomes chosen for the participant. For example, the participant may initially create one or more influent functions for a survey by: ranking the issues and options, ranking the issues and options based on one or more criteria, modifying one or more existing influent functions, and/or merging two or more existing functions as explained above. Based on the influent functions created by the participant, each potential outcome for the survey (corresponding to a particular combination of options) may be automatically ranked by an ordering module 720. Ordering module 720 works in conjunction with presenting module 702 to present the ordered potential outcomes to the participant. For each outcome, the participant may confirm or change the order in which that outcome has been automatically ranked (as explained in conjunction with FIG. 3). Receiving module 704 receives the ranks provided for potential outcomes and works in conjunction with influent function generation module 718 to generate an influent function for the participant based on the initially created influent functions and the ranked outcomes.
[0154] An aggregation module 706 aggregates all of the created influent functions across the plurality of participants to generate a collective influent function for each survey. As explained in detail above in conjunction with FIG. 3, determination of the collective influent function for a survey may take into consideration satisfaction scores and/or dissonance scores associated with the potential outcomes. To this end, aggregation module 706 may include a satisfaction determination module 722 for calculating a degree of satisfaction associated with each participant for each potential outcome, and a dissonance determination module 724 for calculating a measure of difference in satisfaction between the participants for each potential outcome. For each participant, satisfaction determination module 722 determines a satisfaction score for each potential outcome that indicates how satisfied the participant would be with that potential outcome.
In some embodiments, the satisfaction score and dissonance score associated with an outcome can be determined by considering the results of previous surveys and information associated with those surveys stored in the participant's profile, including the weight given by the participant to those surveys.
[0155] In other embodiments, in order to determine a satisfaction score for each potential outcome for a participant, the plurality of potential outcomes may be first automatically ordered by ordering module 720 in accordance with the final influent function developed by the participant. Presenting module 702 may then present the ordered potential outcomes to the participant. Thereafter, the participant may manually rank one or more of the potential outcomes by providing a most preferred potential outcome, a second most preferred outcome and so on.
[0156] On determining the satisfaction score for each potential outcome for each participant, dissonance determination module 724 determines the dissonance score associated with each potential outcome based on one or more of the satisfaction score of the participants, an average satisfaction score for the outcome, a maximum rank given by the participant to the outcome, the weight given by the participant to the outcome, an advantage quotient associated with each outcome, a disadvantage quotient associated with each outcome and the influent level of the participant.
[0157] The dissonance score may also be based on one or more of a standard deviation of satisfaction for the outcome, a number of participants having a higher satisfaction score than the participant and a number of participants having a lower satisfaction score than the participant, a difference in satisfaction between a preferred outcome of the participant and the chosen collective outcome for the survey, and the sum of differences in satisfaction for the outcome across the plurality of participants. Methods for calculating the dissonance score are explained in more detail in conjunction with FIG. 3.
[0158] On determining the collective influent function based on the satisfaction score and the dissonance score associated with each participant, ranking module 708 ranks the potential outcomes based on the collective influent function. In some embodiments, ranking module 708 may further process the ranked outcomes to determine shortlisted outcomes. The shortlisted outcomes may be determined based on one or more of a threshold satisfaction score, a threshold dissonance score, a threshold equality factor and a threshold rank. These may be defined by the survey participants. In some embodiments, the shortlisted outcomes may be determined by comparing one or more of the threshold values with the corresponding values associated with each outcome. The shortlisted outcomes may represent a set of possible outcomes. The shortlisted outcomes may then be ranked based on one or more criteria, for example the collective influent function. On ranking the potential outcomes or the shortlisted potential outcomes based on the collective influent function, the top ranked outcome may be selected as a final collective outcome or a shortlist of the top ranked outcomes can be submitted for another decision-making process such as a direct vote.
[0159] Based on the final collective outcome associated with a survey, the influent level of each participant and the satisfaction score of each participant associated with the selected outcome, a revised influent level for each participant may be determined. The revised influent level for a participant may be applied in a future survey to compensate for a satisfaction level achieved by the participant in a current survey due to selection of the final collective outcome as explained in conjunction with FIG. 3.
101601 Thus, the disclosed methods and systems enable surveys to be conducted to identify a collective outcome for each survey aiming to satisfy the largest number of the survey participants and minimize dissonance. The satisfaction and dissonance of the participants may be carried through from one survey to another to compensate a participant who had a relatively low satisfaction in a previous survey.
01611 In some embodiments, a system such as system 100 or 200 or 700 includes a user interface which permits an administrative user to set parameters affecting the operation of the system. For example, the user interface may allow an administrative user to directly or indirectly set values for: a tipping point, t, (e.g. a number between 0 and 1); a switch to determine whether an absolute or Rawlsian Ethelo score will be used; and a value, M, indicative of a relative importance of personal satisfaction vs. fairness (e.g. a percentage value). Use of an absolute Ethelo score will tend to give more comparable ratings across different decisions as compared to a Rawlsian Ethelo score.
[0162] As discussed above, systems 100 (Fig. 1), 200 (Fig. 2) and 700 (Fig. 9) may be configured to perform one or more of the methods described herein. Aspects of the technology (such as the methods described herein) may also be provided in the form of a program product. The program product may comprise any non-transitory medium which carries a set of computer-readable signals comprising instructions which, when executed by a data processor, cause the data processor to execute a method of the invention.
Program products according to the invention may be in any of a wide variety of forms.
The program product may comprise, for example, physical media such as magnetic data storage media including floppy diskettes, hard disk drives, optical data storage media including CD ROMs, DVDs, electronic data storage media including ROMs, flash RAM, or the like. The computer-readable signals on the program product may optionally be compressed or encrypted.
[0163] Where a component (e.g. processor, program memory, database, user interface, server, client device, plug-in, etc.) is referred to above, unless otherwise indicated, reference to that component (including a reference to a "means") should be interpreted as including as equivalents of that component any component which performs the function of the described component (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), including components which are not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which perform the function in the illustrated exemplary embodiments.
[0164] As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible. For example:
= In some cases it is the survey administrator who defines the issues, options and constraints. In some embodiments the survey participants may be responsible for defining the issues, options and/or constraints. In particular embodiments, the survey participants may be able to suggest, for addition to the list of available outcomes, a new option for an existing issue or a new issue and associated options.
If there is sufficient support for these suggestions by other survey participants (e.g.
these options may also have been suggested or approved by other survey participants), or if the survey administrator approves, then the new options may be added to the survey.
= In other embodiments, different subsets of the participants may be responsible for different aspects of the tasks of proposing, shortlisting, editing and categorizing options, defining issues and sub-issues, assigning characteristics and applying constraints.
= While machine-implemented embodiments of survey conducting and collective decision-making methods and systems are disclosed herein, in certain other embodiments some of the steps may be performed manually. For example, in some cases one may manually collect survey data (e.g. rankings of issues and options) using paper questionnaires completed by a survey participant. The survey responses may be gathered and input into a computer system which provides the data to a data processor for processing and analysis in accordance with the methods described herein.
[0165] While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the scope of the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

An iconic timepiece having a circular dial is disclosed.
At the periphery of the dial, electronic pixels sequentially appear and represent progressive minutes. At a smaller central circle, black dots are positioned in a circular pattern and appear sequentially to represent progressive hours.
During every sixty seconds, a viewer can count the quantity of appeared pixels to know the time in current minutes. During every sixty minutes the viewer can count the quantity of hour dots to know the time in current hours.
These motions give a sensation of the flow of time without active numerical values.

The following is claimed:
1.An iconic timepiece comprising:
(a) a circular case including a circular dial and a bezel thereon, (b) sequential pixels appearing at the periphery of the dial to indicate current minutes of time, (c) and sequential dots included in a smaller circle to indicate current hours of time, whereby time is dis-played with iconic dynamic motion.
2.A time piece according to claim 1, wherein vertical and horizontal lines are included to divide the dial into four symmetric quadrants.
3.A timepiece according to claim 2, wherein alternate hash marks and stationary numerals 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 are included on the bezel to assist counting the pixels and dots as they sequentially accumulate in greater quantities.

ICONIC TIMEPIECE
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to timepieces and more particularly to displays of time in iconic manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a novel timepiece which utilizes icOnic elements for tracking time without active numerical values. Instead, pixels and dots are displayed as active elements which can be counted by viewers to determine current time. This system graphically displays the flow of time in incremental patterns that indicate where time is in its sequential progression.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0003] FIG 1 illustrates a watch face in accordance with the present invention

[0004] FIG 2 illustrates the back of the watch case in accordance with the present invention.

[0005] FIG 3 illustrates the watch face in accordance with the present invention at the time 2:25.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0006] Figure 1 displays a circular watch case 10 that includes a bezel 12 surrounding a dial 14. Vertical lines 16 and horizontal lines 18 divide the dial into four symmetric quadrants. At the periphery of dial 14 are pixels 20 which represent minutes. Each pixel incrementally appears after sixty seconds have elapsed. Accordingly, there is enough time for the viewer to count the pixels sequentially from one to sixty and understand what the values of current minutes are. The letters, MIN, are included at the top of the dial to verify that the pixels are representative of progressive current minutes.

[0007] At the center of dial 14 are black dots 22, which are positioned in a smaller circle than the pixels 20. Dots 22 represent a total of twelve hours. After conclusion of a count of sixty minutes, each dot incrementally appears to indicate that an hour has elapsed. Twelve dots 22 indicate that a twelve hour cycle of time has elapsed, either AM or PM. The flow of pixels and dots graphically display how time progresses and this gives a sensation of iconic dynamic motion.

[0008] Bezel 12 is preferably marked with alternate hash marks 24 and stationary numerals 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 to assist viewers to count the minutes and hours as they progress sequentially larger. At the center of dial, HR characters are included in a circle to verify that the dots 22 represent progressive hours.

[0009] In 2006, applicants' assignee, Equitime, Inc, introduced a new digital watch called QUADTEC. It was operated with five push buttons marked with identifying icons, namely; a lamp emitting light beam (for lighting the display in the dark);
a watch face showing 10 past 10 (for switching the display into a setting mode); a three tone musical melody (for switching the display into an alarm setting mode), and two buttons marked with SEL and SET (for selecting and setting time modes and values). Similar buttons and functions are included in drawings of the present invention, see FIG 2 and buttons 26, 28, 30 and 32. These buttons and their operation are described in more detail in U.S. Patent No.
7,187,624, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0010] Manufacture of a module for the above described watch face can be readily accomplished by preparing an object code and then programming it in the ROM of a silicon LCD chip. The same technique was used in manufacturing the previous QUADTEC watch in 2006.

[0011] An embodiment of the invention has been described. All variations of the embodiment are intended to be covered within the scope of the following claims and all equivalents thereof.

The invention relates to a device for comminuting feedstock with a rotor (14) which is disposed within a housing (7), rotates about an axis of rotation (13), and is equipped over its circumference with comminuting tools (19). A ring disc (21) is attached to the front sides of the rotor (14) in each case concentrically to the axis of rotation (13). The removal of the sufficiently comminuted material occurs via a screen deck (23) extending over part of the rotor circumference. The invention provides that on the axial front sides of the screen deck (23) an arcuate sealing element (31) following the outer circumference of the ring disc (21) is disposed in each case, said element which to form a sealing gap in the plane of the ring disc (21) lies radially opposite to said disc. The sealing effect of the sealing gap between the screen deck (23) and rotor (14) uniformly over the entire length is successfully achieved in this way. It is possible further to be able to adapt the geometry of the sealing gap to the type of feedstock and its processing.

Claims:
1. A device for comminuting feedstock with a rotor (14) which is disposed in a housing (7), rotates about an axis of rotation (13), and is equipped with comminuting tools (19) over its circumference and to whose front side a ring disc (21) is attached in each case concentrically to the axis of rotation (13), and having at least one screen deck (23) extending over part of the circumference of the rotor (14), characterized in that on the axial front sides of the screen deck (23) an arcuate sealing element (31), following the outer circumference of the ring disc (21), is disposed in each case, said element which to form a sealing gap in the plane of the ring disc (21) lies radially opposite to said disc.
2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the screen deck (23) has a screen holder (25), on which the perforated screen (26) is disposed, whereby the inner circumference of the sealing element (31) aligns in the axial direction with the inner circumference of the perforated screen (26).
3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the screen deck (23) has a screen holder (25), on which the perforated screen (26) is disposed, whereby the inner circumference of the sealing element (31) is offset radially inward relative to the inner circumference of the perforated screen (26).
4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the screen deck (23) has a screen holder (25), on which the perforated screen (26) is disposed, whereby the inner circumference of the sealing element (31) is offset radially outward relative to the inner circumference of the perforated screen (26).
5. The device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the gap has an inner gap opening facing the perforated screen (26) and an outer gap opening facing away from the perforated screen (26), whereby the inner gap opening and outer gap opening align in the axial direction.

6. The device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the gap has an inner gap opening (32) facing the perforated screen (26) and an outer gap opening (33) facing away from the perforated screen (26), whereby the outer gap opening (33) is offset radially inward relative to the inner gap opening (32).
7. The device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the gap has an inner gap opening facing the perforated screen (26) and an outer gap opening facing away from the perforated screen (26), whereby the outer gap opening is offset radially outward relative to the inner gap opening.
8. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the ring discs (21) and the perforated screens (26) overlap with the formation of a radially directed sealing gap.
9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that the radially directed sealing gap opens into the axially directed sealing gap.
10. The device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the width S2 of the radially directed sealing gap is smaller than the width S1 of the axially directed sealing gap.
11. The device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the sealing elements (31) are attached releasably on the screen support (25).

12. The device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the sealing element (21) and screen support (25) are made monolithically.

13. The device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the ring disc lose.e.+ Arse. "Cosi. e=^M.rsre. rsre2.frn.rk. +kr.m.c.r ri,, rik= r #.1=1,-,Fesre.

DEVICE FOR COMMINUTING FEEDSTOCK
Description:
The invention relates to a device for comminuting feedstock according to the preamble of claim 1.
Such devices fall within the field of mechanical process engineering, particularly the comminution of feedstock by means of cutting, shearing, tearing, or breaking up. But the breaking of the bond of composite materials, with which a comminution of the feedstock always proceeds, is also within the scope of the present invention. Within the meaning of the invention, prior-art devices are, for example, shredders, cutting mills, hammer mills, and the like. Generic devices therefore are suitable for comminuting piece and bulk goods, particularly plastics with and without admixtures, wood, scrap wood, paper, cardboard, cellulose, textiles, waste materials, rubber, natural rubber, resins, leather, foodstuffs, semi-luxury food, and feedstuffs, minerals, pigments, dyes, pharmaceuticals, metals, composite materials such as electronic waste, cables, used tires, and the like.
Other feedstock originates from the recovery of reusable materials during recycling, for example, for their reuse as alternative fuels.
The basic principle of material processing results from the interaction of rotating cutting, shearing, or tearing tools with stationary tools or, however, from the impact energy of rapidly rotating impact tools such as hammers, plates, and the like, which break up the feedstock. After sufficient comminution, the feedstock is removed from the device via a screen deck, whereby the screen deck can function in addition as a comminution tool.
The screen therefore divides the housing interior functionally into an upstream comminution region and a downstream comminution region for the removal of already comminuted material.
US 2006/0118671 Al discloses a generic device having a rotor-accommodating housing. The rotor is formed by a drive shaft on which a plurality of rotor discs sit concentrically. The rotor discs are equipped over their circumference with tooth-like comminuting tools and act together with stator tools disposed in a stationary manner in the housing. A wear ring is disposed concentrically to the drive shaft in each case on the front rotor discs of the rotor. The rotor penetrates the housing in the axial direction, to which end the housing walls have circular openings. The rotor is mounted in bearings outside the housing.
A screen deck, consisting of screen supports and a perforated screen, extends over the rotor circumferential section running below the drive shaft, whereby the perforated screen while maintaining a radial distance follows the outer circumference of the two wear rings, so that a sealing gap through which accordingly small particles in the feedstock can leave the housing results between the perforated screen and wear rings.
Because the partially cylindrical shape of the perforated screen is produced by rolling, production-related tolerances result with respect to the curvature of the perforated screen. Subsequently, the perforated screen and the wear ring do not run constantly parallel to one another, but the radial width of the sealing gap varies over the circumference of the perforated screen. In areas where the sealing gap is wider, a negative effect on the sealing action therefore cannot be prevented. A further disadvantage is that because of the design type the gap always aligns axially with the in ner circumference of the perforated screen. The operator of such a device is therefore restricted to this machine geometry.
Against this background, the object of the invention is to develop further prior-art devices in such a way that the sealing action of the sealing gap between the screen deck and rotor is uniform over the entire length. A further object is that the type of m aterial processing can be adapted to the feedstock by suitable structural measures in th e area of the sealing gap.
Said objects are attained by a device with the features of claim 1.
Advantageous embodiments emerge from the dependent claims.

A first advantage of the invention emerges from the possibility of not having to produce an arcuate sealing element of the invention, in contrast to perforated screens, by rolling, but by cutting, rotating, or milling from a plate. These types of machining enable very high precision in the fabrication of the sealing element edge facing the rotor, as a result of which the necessary curvature is maintained precisely over the entire length of the sealing element. The sealing gap formed with the rotor therefore has a uniform radial width over its entire length, with the result that the sealing effect of the sealing gap is constant over its length.
Moreover, the parts for forming the sealing gap are functionally decoupled from the parts for forming the screen deck by the provision of an arcuate sealing element on the front side of the screen deck. This opens the possibility to be able to adjust the relative position of the sealing gap in regard to the perforated screen by selecting suitable radii of the ring discs and sealing elements with respect to the rotor axis. In a first embodiment, the radius and thereby the curvature of the sealing element correspond to that of the perforated screen, which results in a radial position of the sealing gap at the level of the inner circumference of the perforated screen, at which the sealing gap aligns with the perforated screen, therefore in the axial direction. This embodiment is suitable in a particular way for feedstock with fibers or wires, which can pass the sealing gap relatively well, whereas larger particles in the feedstock such as, for example, rubber granules are removed via the screen deck. A preferred field of application of this embodiment is the recycling of old tires in which both the steel and rubber fractions are recovered.
If, in contrast, smaller radii of the sealing element and ring discs are selected or their curvatures are selected as greater than that of the perforated screen, then a sealing gap position results which is offset in the radial direction toward the axis of rotation and in which the sealing element with its inner circumference, forming the sealing gap, projects radially over the inner circumference of the perforated screen. In this embodiment, the radial projection causes the accumulation of fine particles before these can pass axially through the sealing gap, so that a time delay of passage through the gap results.
Preferably, composite materials are processed with this machine configuration.
In contrast, selection of a larger radius of the sealing elements or ring discs achieves that the sealing gap is offset outwardly in the radial direction. In this embodiment, the ring discs and the perforated screen overlap in the radial direction, which leads to the formation of a second radially directed sealing gap.
In this embodiment, therefore, an increased sealing effect and thereby a more difficult gap passage arise which is advantageous, for example, during the processing of film-like feedstock. Such embodiments are therefore particularly suitable for the processing of feedstock to alternative fuels.
The invention will be described subsequently in greater detail with use of an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawings, whereby other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent. The exemplary embodiment relates to the implementation of the invention in a shredder, without the invention being limited thereto. Rather, similarly constructed devices based on the same functional principle are within the scope of the invention, for example, cutting mills, drum shredders, impact mills, and the like.
Shown are:
FIG. 1 a longitudinal section through a device of the invention along the line I-I
depicted in FIG. 2;
FIG. 2 a cross section through the device depicted in FIG. 1 along the line II-II there;
FIG. 3 the area labeled with D in FIG. 1 on a larger scale;
FIG. 4 a first alternative embodiment of the area labeled with D in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 a second alternative embodiment of the area labeled with D in FIG.
1, and FIG. 6 a third alternative embodiment of the area labeled with D in FIG. 1.
FIGS. 1 and 2 show the general structure of a device of the invention. The device has a substantially symmetric structure, based on a machine base frame 1 with two cross walls 2 lying opposite at a distance plane parallel, which at their lower corners are connected rigidly to one another by lower longitudinal bars 3 and at their upper corners by upper longitudinal bars 4. Longitudinal walls 5, which connect cross walls 2, are formed over their entire surface area by doors 6, which can be pivoted on hinges 8 for opening and closing of housing 7, arising in this way, and thus assure accessibility to the interior of the device. A feed chute 9 with a rectangular cross section joins machine base frame 1 vertically upward; cross walls 10 of said chute represent the continuation of cross walls 2 of base frame 1 and its longitudinal walls 11 in the bottom area are formed in each case by a support beam 12 for receiving the stator knives. Feed chute 9 is open at the top, so that the feedstock via this opening enters the action zone of a rotor 14 disposed centrally in housing 7 and rotating about a longitudinal axis 13.
As emerges from FIGS. 1 and 2, rotor 14 is formed substantially by a rotor drum 15, in which in each case a shaft stub 16 engages rotationally fixed on the front side. The two shaft stubs 16 extend with their free ends through openings in cross walls 2, 10 and are mounted there rotatably outside housing 7 at an axial distance to cross walls 2, 10 in shaft bearings 17. To this end, brackets 18 are welded onto the outer sides of cross walls 2. Rotor 14 is equipped over its circumference with a plurality of rotor tools 19, which are spaced apart both in the circumferential direction and in the axial direction.
Each rotor tool 19 is attached replaceably in a receptacle on the lateral surface of rotor drum 15. As indicated by arrow 20, rotor 14 can be operated in both rotation directions.
The front ends of rotor 14 are formed by ring discs 21 which are concentric to axis 13 and made up preferably of a plurality of sectors, such as, for example, three ring disc = CA 02848911 2014-04-14 sectors with a circumferential section of 1200 in each case, and are screwed together axially with the front rotor ends. The multipart design of ring discs 21 enables their assembly and disassembly without having to remove rotor 14 out of machine base frame 1. The outer diameter of ring discs 21 here is greater than the diameter of the cutting orbit. In FIG. 2, the outer diameter of ring discs 21 is labeled with the reference character 22.
The lower circumferential section of rotor 14 is surrounded by a screen deck 23, which in the present example is formed by four screen elements 24. Each screen element 24 consists substantially of a screen support 25, on which a perforated screen 26 is mounted. In cross section, two screen elements 24 extend in a mirror image over approximately a fourth of the rotor circumference and in the longitudinal direction two screen elements 24 follow each other axially.
For the pivotable mounting of screen elements 24, axle bearings 28, in which screen supports 25 are mounted rotatably, are disposed on the inner side of cross wall 2 or on a partition wall 27. Screen elements 24 can be swung downward with the help of cylinder piston units 29 on the outer side of cross walls 2, whose movable pistons act via a control lever on screen support 24. In the case of open doors 6, therefore, access to perforated screens 26 and rotor 14 is assured.
By this type of structural design, longitudinal walls 11 of feed chute 9 together with screen deck 23 in processing terms form a separation of the upstream region, where the active material processing occurs, from the downstream region, which serves to remove the comminuted material from the device.
The connection of rotating machine parts to stationary parts, particularly ring discs 21 of rotor 14 to screen deck 23, is of considerable importance in this context. On the one hand, it must be assured that feedstock not sufficiently comminuted does not enter the discharge zone of the device by bypassing screen deck 23; this presupposes a relatively narrow gap. On the other hand, the gap between rotating and stationary machine parts should not be so narrow that the rotational movement of rotor 14 is adversely impacted thereby or heat production and wear due to friction are too great.
This region labeled with "D" in FIG. 1 is the subject matter of FIG. 3;
alternative embodiments are shown in FIGS. 4 and 6.
In FIG. 3, the front bottom circumferential section of the rotor with a tooth-like rotor tool 19 can be seen whose active edge is labeled with the reference character 30.
The maximum radial distance Ai between rotor tools 19 and perforated screen 26 is between 15 mm and 35 mm. In the axial direction, the already mentioned ring disc 21, made up of three identical ring disc sectors, forms the rotor end plate. Cross wall 2 of housing 7 runs in the clear axial distance of, for example, at least 3 cm or at least 5 cm to ring disc 21.
Screen deck 23 comprising screen support 25 with perforated screen 26 mounted thereupon can be seen lying radially opposite to rotor 14. An arc-shaped sealing element 31 is attached to the outer side, opposite to cross wall 2, of screen holder 25; it extends over the entire circumferential length of screen element 24 and thereby forms a radial projection W over the inner circumference of perforated screen 26 with its inner circumference. Sealing element 31 can be formed in this case of one, two, three, or more arc sections. In the present exemplary embodiment, sealing element 31 is mounted axially to the screen support by means of screws. This has the advantage that sealing elements 31 can be exchanged and replaced by others for retrofitting of the device. Embodiments with sealing elements 31 formed monolithically on screen support 25 also fall within the scope of the invention, however, which reduces the on-site assembly costs.
In addition, sealing element 31 lies opposite to ring disc 21 with the formation of a sealing gap at a narrow radial distance. The radial width of the sealing gap is designated with S1 and is, for example, between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm, preferably 1 mm.
The radial projection of sealing element 31 over perforated screen 26 causes an accumulation of particles passing the sealing gap, with the effect that the gap passage occurs with a delay.
The variant illustrated in FIG. 4 differs from this embodiment in a relative position of the sealing gap in the radial direction at the level of perforated screen 26. The sealing gap therefore aligns with the inner circumference of perforated screen 26, which facilitates gap passage primarily for fiber-containing feedstock or wires. The radial width of the sealing gap is again designated by Si and is, for example, between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm, preferably 1 mm. The radial maximum distance A2 of rotor tools 19 from perforated screen 26 in this case is, for example, 5 mm to 15 mm.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the sealing gap is offset radially outward compared with embodiment described in FIG. 4, whereby the rotor-side ring disc 21 overlaps with the front side of perforated screen 26 radially by the amount W. In the overlap region, ring discs 21 and perforated screen 26 thus form a second radially directed sealing gap, which opens into the first axially directed sealing gap. Preferably, the second sealing gap has a smaller width than the first sealing gap, in order to prevent clogging of the sealing gap. In the present example, the width S2 of the second sealing gap is a maximum of 0.5 mm and the width Si of the first sealing gap is a maximum of 1 mm.
The radial maximum distance A3 of rotor tools 19 from perforated screen 26 is, for example, 0.5 mm to 5 mm.
FIG. 6 shows finally an embodiment of the invention in which the sealing gap between ring disc 21 and sealing element 31 does not run axially but at the angle a to longitudinal axis 13. The sealing gap has an inner gap opening 32, facing perforated screen 26, and an outer gap opening 33, facing away from perforated screen 26, whereby inner gap opening 32 connects flush to the inner circumference of perforated screen 26 and outer gap opening 33, in contrast, is offset radially inward toward longitudinal axis 13. This results in a gap course which is oriented obliquely to longitudinal axis 13 and in which the material penetrating the gap along pathway 34 is subjected to a jamming effect. The gap width is again between 0.5 mm and 1 mm.
The angle a is 150 to 450 .
The invention is not limited to the combination of features described in the individual exemplary embodiments, but likewise comprises combinations of features of different exemplary embodiments, provided these are readily discernible by the person skilled in the art.

A method to produce LNG at straddle plants. In contrast to known methods, there is provided a slipstream of a high pressure, pre-treated, pre-cooled natural gas stream to a straddle LNG
plant section. The slipstream is further cooled, and processed in a high pressure column to a methane content of 85% or 85 plus by mole. The processed stream is further treated to remove carbon dioxide. The de-carbonated high pressure stream is further cooled in a heat exchanger by a counter-current vapour fraction of the expanded gas before entering an expander apparatus. The processed, treated and cooled gas is expanded into a separator. The produced LNG fraction is pumped to storage. A portion of the LNG fraction is used as a reflux stream to the high pressure column. The cold vapour fraction from the separator flows through counter-current heat exchangers, giving up its coolth energy before being re-compressed into the high pressure transmission gas pipeline.

What is Claimed is:
1. A method to produce Liquid Natural Gas (LNG), comprising:
passing a dewatered natural gas stream at pressures of between 700 psig and 1200 psig through one or more heat exchangers to pre-cool the natural gas stream;
passing the pre-cooled natural gas stream through a gas colunm where natural gas liquid fractions and natural gas fractions are separated;
passing the natural gas fractions at pressures of between 700 psig and 1200 psig through a gas treatment unit to remove carbon dioxide gas;
passing the de-carbonized natural gas fractions at pressures of between 700 psig and 1200 psig through one or more heat exchangers to pre-cool the de-carbonized natural gas fractions;
passing the de-carbonized natural gas fractions at pressures of between 700 psig and 1200 psig through a gas expansion apparatus where pressure of the de-carbonized natural gas fractions is lowered to a pressure of less than 100 psig; and passing the de-carbonized natural gas fractions at a pressure of less than 100 psig through a separator where the de-carbonized natural gas fractions are separated into an LNG stream and a natural gas stream at a pressure of less than 100 psig.
2. The method of Claim 1, wherein a high pressure LNG pump is used to divert a reflux stream from the LNG stream to the gas column.
3. A method to produce LNG where a high pressure, pre-treated, pre-cooled natural gas stream from a straddle plant is routed to a gas expansion apparatus, the LNG
section comprising:
providing heat exchangers on a high pressure, pre-treated, pre-cooled natural gas LNG feed line to a gas expansion apparatus;
providing a gas column downstream of the heat exchanger, on the LNG plant feed line to the a gas expansion apparatus;
providing a gas treatment unit downstream of the column, on the LNG plant section feed line to a gas expansion apparatus;

providing a heat exchanger downstream of a gas treatment unit on the LNG
plant section feed line to a gas expansion apparatus;
providing a natural gas liquid separator downstream of the gas expansion apparatus; and providing a high pressure LNG pump for a reflux stream to the column.
4. The method of Claim 3, wherein the gas expansion apparatus can be a JT
valve or a gas expander turbine.
5. The method of Claim 3, wherein further cooling is provide by the vapour fraction of the expanded gas.
6. The method of Claim 3, wherein the reflux stream to the column controls the methane concentration of the overhead stream.
7. The method of Claim 3, wherein the column bottoms are routed to the distillation column as distillation column reflux and for NGL' recovery.
8. The method of claim 3, wherein a gas treatment unit removes the carbon dioxide content in the column overhead to a concentration less than 50 ppm.
9. The method of claim 3, wherein a de-carbonated high pressure gas stream is further cooled by the vapour fraction of the expanded gas before entering the expander apparatus.
10. The method of Claim 9, wherein the gas to be liquefied is liquid natural gas (LNG).
11. The method of Claim 3, wherein the reflux stream is LNG.
12. The method of Claim 4, wherein the bottoms of the column are a mixture of NGL's from the LNG plant section feed line, carbon dioxide and methane.
13. The straddle plant LNG section, comprising:

an heat exchanger to further cool the pre-treated, pre-cooled high pressure feed gas;
a high pressure gas column gas to control the methane content on its overhead stream;
a high pressure LNG pump to feed a reflux stream to the high pressure column;
a carbon dioxide gas treatment unit;
an heat exchanger to further cool the de-carbonated gas stream;
a feed line feeding gas to the gas expansion apparatus;
a gas expansion apparatus;
a LNG receiver to separate the vapour and liquid fractions; and a compressor to re-compress the vapour fraction.

14. The liquefied gas production plant of Claim 11, including a feed line feeding a LNG pump that transports LNG to storage.

15. The liquefied gas production plant of Clafin 11, wherein a slipstream of LNG is routed to a high pressure pump for use as reflux on the high pressure column.
This reflux stream controls the methane content on the high pressure column overhead stream and hence on the LNG product.

TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
A method to produce LNG
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method to liquefy natural gas. The method was developed with straddle plants in mind, but has broader application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Canadian Patent Application 2,763,081 (Lourenco et al) entitled "Method to Product Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) at Midstream Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs) Recover Plants" describes a process addition to straddle plants which are used to recover natural gas liquids (NGL's). The described process allows these plants, in addition to producing NGL's, to also efficiently produce liquid natural gas (LNG).
There will hereinafter be described an alternative to the method described in the 2,763,081 patent application. The method can be used wherever high pressure gas flows and supporting infrastructure exists to deal with the process streams, such as at straddle plants.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There is provided a method to produce Liquid Natural Gas (LNG). A first step involves passing a dewatered natural gas stream at pressures of between 700 psig and 1200 psig through one or more heat exchangers to pre-cool the natural gas stream. A
second step involves passing the pre-cooled natural gas stream through a gas column where natural gas liquid fractions and natural gas fractions are separated. A third step involves passing the natural gas fractions at pressures of between 700 psig and 1200 psig through a gas treatment unit to remove carbon dioxide gas. A fourth step involves passing the de-carbonized natural gas fractions at pressures of between 700 psig and 1200 psig through one or more heat exchangers to pre-cool the de-carbonized natural gas fractions. A fifth step involves passing the de-carbonized natural gas fractions at pressures of between 700 psig and 1200 psig through a gas expansion apparatus where pressure of the de-carbonized natural gas fractions is lowered to a pressure of less than 100 psig. A sixth step involves passing the de-carbonized natural gas fractions at a pressure of less than 100 psig through a separator where the de-carbonized natural gas fractions are separated into an LNG stream and a natural gas stream at a pressure of less than 100 psig.
Where there is a high pressure stream of natural gas (ie at pressures in a range of 700 psig to 1200 psig) that can be tapped, the above method can operate without external power inputs, resulting in substantial savings in both capital and operating costs.
The input temperature of a high pressure stream of natural gas is relatively constant.
This means that once steady state is achieved, the ratio of cold gas vapour is constant relative to a flow rate of the natural gas. A high pressure LNG pump can be used to divert a reflux stream from the LNG stream to the gas column in order to maintain desired operating conditions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to in any way limit the scope of the invention to the particular embodiment or embodiments shown, wherein:
FIG. 1 labelled as PRIOR ART is a schematic diagram of a typical straddle plant equipped with a gas pre-treatment, heat exchangers (cold box), an expander-compressor and a main compressor for re-compression to transmission pipeline.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a typical straddle pant with the addition of a LNG
production unit facility equipped with an alternate cooling, processing and treating medium and compression of the recycled vapour fraction.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a typical straddle pant with the addition of a LNG
production unit facility equipped with A JT (Joules Thompson) valve in lieu of a gas expander.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a typical straddle pant with the addition of a LNG
production unit facility equipped with an additional heat exchanger to extract more cooling from the straddle plant and improve LNG production.

DESCRIPTION OF A PRIOR ART STRADDLE PLANT
LNG is produced from a natural gas that has been cooled to a cryogenic condition to condense methane, the natural gas main component. A temperature of approximately -160 C is required to produce and keep natural gas in a liquid state at standard atmospheric pressure. Liquefaction reduces the volume of natural gas by approximately 600 times thus making it more economical to transport over great distances versus traditional pipelines.
At present LNG is primarily transported across continents thus making it available throughout the world. LNG is also produced in small scale liquefaction plants to supply peak shaving demands, as well as to make available natural gas to regions that need it but where it is not economical or technically feasible to build pipelines.
The differences in liquefaction selection processes for large versus small LNG

plants are; for large plants the main criteria is minimization of capital cost whereas the minimization of energy consumption is left as a second objective. These two objectives can also go together; thus an optimization of the efficiency of the plant may involve a reduction in the investment of the equipment. On the other hand, a higher efficiency can result in an increase in LNG production, so the efficiency factor has a significant impact on the plant economics. In small to medium LNG plants, it is not the efficiency, but other factors such as simplicity, modularization, ease of maintenance, operation and installation that have an higher criteria when selecting a liquefaction technology. The direct consequence of these different selection criteria is that liquefaction technologies for small to medium scale applications are not the same as the ones that are used in large LNG
plants.
The two main groups of liquefaction technologies are the mixed refrigerant technologies and expansion based technologies. The mixed refrigerant technologies are "condensing type" processes, where the refrigerant used for the liquefaction makes use of its latent heat of vaporization to cool the natural gas. The expansion based technologies are processes where the refrigerant is always in gas phase and only makes use of its sensible heat to cool the natural gas.

The following mixed refrigerant technologies are the most representative processes in the industry: PRICO (Poly Refrigerated Integrated Cycle Operation) is licensed by Black and Veatch and it consists of one cycle of mixed refrigerant (a mixture of methane, ethane, propane, butane, nitrogen and sometimes isopentane), the advantages claimed by the licensor are operating flexibility, modular design and reduced refrigerant inventory.
The AP-M (Air Products) is licensed by APCI, is a single mixed refrigerant that is vaporized at two different levels of pressure. The dual pressure cycle is more efficient than the single pressure cycle, resulting in smaller heat exchangers and compressor. The LiMuM (Linde Multistage Mixed Refrigerant) is licensed by Linde and consists of a spiral wound heat exchanger and one 3-stage single mixed refrigeration loop for the pre-cooling, liquefaction and sub-cooling of the natural gas. This process allows for high capacity throughput. PCMR (Pre-cooled Mixed Refrigerant) is licensed by Kryopak and consists of a pre-cooling stage (ammonia or propane cycle) followed by a single mixed refrigerant cycle, where the mixed refrigerant is a mixture of nitrogen, methane, ethane, propane and butanes, this process is used primarily in small plants. OSMR
(Optimized Single Mixed Refrigerant) is licensed by LNG Limited, the process is a single mixed refrigerant process complemented with a standard package ammonia absorption process.
The utilization of an ammonia process improves the efficiency of the process and an increase in LNG output compared to traditional single mixed refrigerant processes. In all of the above mixed refrigerant technologies, the main differences between them are the composition of the mixed refrigerant (although the refrigerants are the same ie; nitrogen, methane, ethane, etc...), the metallurgy of the heat exchangers, the orientation of the equipment and the operations set points. In all the mixed refrigerants processes the objective of innovation is to increase efficiency, reducing capital and operating costs.
The expansion based technologies have various processes based on the use of nitrogen as a refrigerant to liquefy natural gas, the N2 expansion cycle. Some of these processes use a single cycle, others use a dual expansion cycle and in other cases a pre-cooling cycle is added to improve efficiency. Several licensors ie; APCI, Hamworthy, BHP Petroleum Pty, Mustang Engineering and Kanfa Oregon offer the N2 expansion cycles processes, they differ by proprietary process arrangement. In all these processes the cooling is provided by an external refrigeration plant using nitrogen expanders. The Niche LNG process is licensed by CB&I Lummus, consists of two cycles: one cycle uses methane as a refrigerant and the other uses nitrogen. The methane provides cooling at moderate and warm levels while the nitrogen cycle provides refrigeration at the lowest temperature level. The OCX process is licensed by Mustang Engineering and is based on 5 the use of the inlet gas as a refrigerant in an open refrigerant cycle with turbo-expanders, there are variations such as OCX-R which adds a closed loop propane refrigerant to the OCX process and OCX-Angle which incorporates LPG recovery.
As demonstrated, presently there are many variations and processes to liquefy LNG. All of the processes operate based on the expansion of low boiling fluids be it through expanders or JT valves, be it closed or open cycle, the difference between them is in the process efficiencies which result in lower capital and operating costs per unit of LNG produced.
A straddle plant is a natural gas processing plant constructed near a transmission pipeline downstream from the fields where the natural gas in the pipeline has been produced. Also called an "on-line" plant. The straddle plant removes natural gas liquids, the C2+ gas fractions, from the transmission natural gas stream. This is done by first pre-treating the gas stream, pre-cooling it and then reducing the transmission gas high pressure stream in a range of 700 to 1200 psig, typically about 1000 psig, through a gas expander to pressures typically about 325 psig, to cool, condense and separate the C2+
gas fractions in a distillation column. The bottoms of the distillation column exit the plant as the recovered natural gas liquids (NGL's). The distillation column overhead stream, primarily C2- gas fractions, are pre-heated in a countercurrent heat exchange by the straddle plant pre-treated feed gas stream and re-compressed in two steps back to the same transmission pipeline gas pressure. The major operating cost of these straddle plants are the re-compression costs. The re-compression is typically done in two steps. The first step is done through a booster compressor, which typically is a direct drive compressor connected to the gas expander, the energy recovered by expanding the gas from the transmission gas pipeline high pressure is directly used to compress the distillation gas overhead stream from distillation column pressure to an intermediate gas pressure, typically from 450 to 550 psig. The main re-compressor then compresses this intermediate pressure to transmission pipeline pressure. The economics of a straddle plant are based on the quantities and revenues of natural gas liquids produced against the re-compression and maintenance costs.
Referring to FIG. 1, a pressurized pipeline natural gas stream 32 is routed to a straddle plant through valve 34. Valve 35, allows the transmission gas pipeline to bypass the straddle plant. High pressure gas stream 1 enters the straddle plant and is first pre-treated in unit 2 to remove the water content. The de-watered stream 3 is then routed to cold box 4 where it is pre-cooled in coil 5 by counter current gas streams is series, first by gas coil 21, then gas coil 26 and finally gas coil 18. The high pressure, pre-cooled gas stream 6 enters separator 7 where the liquids and gaseous fractions are separated. The liquid fraction is routed through stream 15 to expansion valve 16, where the pressure is reduced to column 23 pressure, this pressure expansion generates more coolth energy and the now expanded and cooler gas is routed through stream 17 to coil 18 in the cold box, pre-cooling the high pressure gas stream in coil 5. The now warmer stream 19 enters distillation column 23 for NGL
recovery. The gaseous fraction exits separator 7, through stream 8 which divides into two streams, 9 and 12. Stream 9 enters expander compressor 10 where the high pressure gas is expanded to column 23 pressure, generating torque in shaft A, which drives booster compressor 28 and, the colder gas stream exits the expander-compressor 10 through stream 11 into column 23 for NGL's recovery. The gaseous stream 12 is routed through expansion valve 13, where the high pressure gas is expanded to column 23 pressure and the cooler expanded gas enters column 23 through stream 14 as a reflux stream to control column 23 overhead temperature and distillation. The recovered NGL's exit column 23 through line 24.
The stripped gas exits column 23 through stream 25 and is pre-heated in the cold box through coil 26. The warmer gas stream 27 enters booster compressor 28 which is connected through shaft A to the expander 10, thus recovering the mechanical work produced by the expander and boosting stream 27 pressure to stream 29. The boosted pressure stream 29 enters main compressor 30, where the pressure is increased to transmission pipeline pressure and routed trough stream 31, through straddle plant block valve 32 and into pipeline gas distribution stream 36.
The above described process in FIG. 1 is the operation of a traditional straddle plant, there are various straddle plant modes of operation to improve the recovery of the NGL's, in all cases the objective is to produce NGL's.
Referring to FIG. 2, the difference from Fig.1, is the addition of a LNG
production section to a conventional straddle plant which as described above its main objective is to produce NGL's. A pressurized pipeline natural gas stream 32 is routed to a straddle plant through valve 34. Valve 35, allows the transmission gas pipeline to bypass the straddle plant.
High pressure gas stream 1 enters the straddle plant and is first pre-treated in unit 2 to remove the water content. The de-watered stream 3 is then routed to cold box 4 where it is pre-cooled in coil 5 by counter current gas streams is series, first by gas coil 21, then gas coil 59, gas coil 26 and filially gas coil 18. The high pressure, pre-cooled gas stream 6 enters separator 7 where the liquids and gaseous fractions are separated. The liquid fraction is routed through stream 15 to expansion valve 16, where the pressure is reduced to column 23 pressure, this pressure expansion generates more coolth and the now expanded and cooler gas is routed through stream 17 to coil 18 in the cold box, pre-cooling the high pressure gas stream in coil 5. The now warmer stream 19 enters distillation column 23 for NGL recovery.
The gaseous fraction exits separator 7, through stream 8 which divides into two streams, 9 and 37. Stream 9 enters expander-compressor 10 where the high pressure gas is expanded to column 23 pressure, generating torque in shaft A, which drives booster compressor 28 and, the colder gas stream exits expander-compressor 10 through stream 11 into column 23 for NGL's recovery.
The recovered NGL's exit column 23 through line 24. The stripped gas exits column 23 through stream 25 and is pre-heated in the cold box through coil 26. The warmer gas stream 27 mixes with LNG plant section gas stream 62 before entering booster compressor 28.
The high pressure gaseous stream 37 is the LNG section feed stream, it is routed through heat exchanger 38 where it is further cooled, the colder stream 39 enters column 40 where the methane concentration of stream 43 is controlled. The high pressure liquid fraction 41 is expanded through valve 42 to distillation column 23 pressure as a reflux stream to control distlillation column overhead temperature of stream 25. The methane content controlled stream 43 is routed to gas treatment unit 44 to remove the carbon dioxide content in this stream to less than 50 ppm. The de-carbonated stream 45 enters heat exchanger 46 where it is further cooled by gaseous cold stream 56. The high pressure, de-carbonated, and further cooled stream 47 enters expander-compressor 48, where it is expanded to pressures from 0-100 psig, with 10 psig being the preferred operating pressure, the expanded stream 49 enters separator 50, where the liquid fraction LNG is separated from the gaseous fraction. The torque energy generated by expander 48 is recovered and transferred by shaft B
to booster compressor 61 shaft B.
The LNG stream 51 enters LNG pump 52 and is split into streams 53 and 54. LNG
stream 53 is routed to storage. LNG stream 54 is routed to high pressure pump 55 where the pressure is increased to column 40 pressure, the LNG flowrate is added to control column overhead temperature, stream 43 and hence the concentration of methane to 85% or greater than 85%
by mole. The cold gaseous stream 56 exits separator 50 and is routed to heat exchanger 46, the warmer gaseous stream 57 is further heated in heat exchanger 38, exiting it through stream 58 into cold box coil 59 where it is further heated before entering booster compressor 61 through line 60. Compressor 61 is powered by torque energy recovered in expander 48 through shaft B. The boosted pressure gaseous stream 62 mixes with stream 27 and the mixed stream 63 enters booster compressor 28 where the pressure is further boosted to stream 29. Compressor 28 is powered by torque energy recovered in expander 10 through shaft A.
Stream 29 gas enters main compressor 30 where the pressure is increased to transmission pipeline pressure 36, exiting the compressor through stream 31 and straddle plant block valve 32.
The proposed invention addresses both large and small plants in which process simplicity and ease of operation are the main components. The invention eliminates the need for refrigeration cycle plants and the use of proprietary mixed refrigerants. By simplifying the process it reduces capital, maintenance and operations costs. In the preferred method, a pre-treated, pre-cooled high pressure natural gas stream is further cooled in a counter-current second heat exchanger with produced cold LNG vapor, treated to a methane content specification, then de-carbonated, further cooled in a primary heat exchanger and then expanded through a gas expander. The gas expander produces torque and therefore shaft power that can be converted into mechanical compression power or electricity. In the preferred application the shaft,power is used for compression. The expanded gas produces a gaseous and a liquid stream. The gaseous stream is routed to the transmission pipeline first by pre-heating it with inlet feed gas stream and then recompressed to the transmission gas pipeline. The liquid stream, LNG is split into two streams, LNG to storage and LNG
for a column reflux. The LNG reflux stream is pressurized to column pressure to control the methane content of the LNG production stream. The bottoms of the column are then sent to the distillation column for the recovery of NGL's. The objective of the invention is to provide the ability for a straddle plant to improve its economics by generating LNG
in addition to NGL's. In addition, the ratio of NGL's produced in this mode of operation to gas from the straddle plant to gas transmission pipeline is increased.
A main feature of this invention is the simplicity of the process which eliminates the conventional use of external refrigeration systems for LNG production. Another feature of the invention is the flexibility of the process to meet various operating conditions since the ratio of LNG production is proportional to the cold gaseous stream generated and returned to the transmission gas pipeline. The invention also provides for a significant savings in energy when compared to other LNG processes since the process produces its own refrigeration needs. The proposed invention can be used in any straddle plant size.
Variations:
It should be noted that the motive force generated by the expanders can be connected to a power generator to produce electricity versus a connected gas compressor as proposed.
Referring to FIG. 3, the main difference from Fig.s 2 and 3, is the use of a IT
expansion valve 65 in lieu of an expander-compressor. The use of a JT valve versus an expander is an alternative mode of LNG production at a lower capital cost but resulting in a lower production of LNG.
Referring to FIG. 4, the main difference from Fig.s 2, 3, and 4 is the addition of a heat exchanger 66, where stream 37 recovers more coolth energy from stream 25, before being further cooled by the in heat exchanger 38. This added feature allows for an increment in LNG production due to an higher recovery of cryogenic energy versus Fig 2.

In this patent document, the word "comprising" is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article "a" does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that 5 there be one and only one of the elements.
The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given a broad purposive interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

There is provided an adhesive comprising a flowable material having water and a crushable material that is at least one selected from the group consisting of earth, fmely crushed rock, clay, talc, gypsum, lime, and kaolin. The adhesive includes a solvent and polystyrene. The adhesive is made by mixing together approximately in equal parts by weight: the flowable material and the crushable material to form a first mixture, and the solvent and the polystyrene until the polystyrene is dissolved within the solvent to form a second mixture. The method includes forming the adhesive by mixing together the first and second mixtures. There is further provided a method of manufacturing a composite product comprising mixing together a waste material with the adhesive to form the composite product thereby. In one example, approximately one part by weight of the adhesive is mixed with approximately four parts by weight of the waste material.

WHAT IS CLMMED IS:
1. An adhesive comprising:
a flowable material having water;
a crushable material that is at least one selected from the group consisting of earth, finely crushed rock, clay, talc, gypsum, lime, and kaolin;
polystyrene; and a solvent to dissolve the polystyrene.
2. The adhesive as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flowable material comprises water and the crushable material is gypsum.
3. The adhesive as claimed in any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the polystyrene is expanded polystyrene.
4. The adhesive as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the flowable material and the crushable material are mixed to form a first mixture, wherein the solvent and the polystyrene are mixed until the polystyrene is dissolved within the solvent to form a second mixture, and wherein the first mixture and the second mixture are then uniformly mixed together to form the adhesive.
5. The adhesive as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the solvent is an oxygenate.
6. The adhesive as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the solvent is an aromatic compound.
7. The adhesive as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the solvent is an aliphatic compound.
8. The adhesive as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the solvent is capable of dissolving plastics.
9. The adhesive as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the solvent is capable of dissolving rubber.
10. The adhesive as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the solvent is gasoline.
11. The adhesive as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the solvent is a thinner.

12. The adhesive as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the solvent is turpentine.
13. The adhesive as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the flowable material, the crushable material, the solvent and the polystyrene are mixed in substantially equal parts by weight.
14. The adhesive as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the flowable material substantially comprises water.
15. The adhesive as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the flowable material includes manure.

16. The adhesive as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the flowable material is a slurry.

17. The adhesive as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the flowable material is brought to a boil and then mixed with the crushable material.

18. The adhesive as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the adhesive is mixed together at an ambient temperature substantially in the range of 27 to degrees Celsius.

19. The adhesive as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the adhesive is mixed together at an ambient temperature of approximately 40 degrees Celsius.

20. In combination, an adhesive as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 19, together with waste material therefor, the waste material mixing with the adhesive and forming a composite product therefrom.

21. The combination as claimed in claim 20 wherein the waste material is dried and crushed and then mixed with the adhesive to form the composite product.

22. The combination as claimed in either claims 20 and 21, wherein the composite product is a brick.

23. The combination as claimed in either claims 20 and 21, wherein the composite product is a roof tile.

24. The combination as claimed in either claims 20 and 21, wherein the composite product is a plaque.

25. The combination as claimed in either claims 20 and 21, wherein the composite product is a beam.

26. The combination as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 25, wherein the waste material is derived from industrial waste products.

27. The combination as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 25, wherein the waste material is derived from commercial waste products.

28. The combination as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 25, wherein the waste material is derived from construction waste products.

29. The combination as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 25, the combination enabling recycling of a substantial majority of residential, industrial, commercial and civil construction residue.

30. The combination as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 29, wherein approximately one part by weight of the adhesive is mixed with approximately four parts by weight of the waste material to form the composite product.

31. A method of making an adhesive as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, the method comprising:
mixing together the flowable material and the crushable material to form a first mixture;

mixing together the solvent and the polystyrene until the polystyrene is dissolved within the solvent to form a second mixture; and mixing together the first mixture and the second mixture, the adhesive being formed thereby.

32. A method of manufacturing a composite product comprising the steps of:
mixing together a flowable material having water and a crushable material that is at least one selected from the group consisting of earth, finely crushed rock, clay, talc, gypsum, lime, and kaolin to form a first mixture;
mixing together a solvent and polystyrene until the polystyrene is dissolved within the solvent to form a second mixture;
mixing together the first mixture and the second mixture to form an adhesive;
and mixing together waste material with the adhesive to form the composite product.

33. The method as claimed in claim 32, including the step of mixing approximately one part by weight of the adhesive with approximately four parts by weight of the waste material to form the composite product.

34. The method as claimed in either claims 32 and 33, further including the step of crushing and then drying the waste material before mixing the waste material with the adhesive.

35. The method as claimed in any one of claims 32 to 34, further including the step of forming a composite material by mixing together the waste material with the adhesive and the step of then extruding the composite material to form the composite product.

36. The method as claimed in any one of claims 31 to 35, including the step of boiling the flowable material and then mixing it with the crushable material.

37. The method as claimed in any one of claims 31 to 35, including maintaining an ambient temperature in the range of 27 to 95 degrees Celsius when forming the first mixture and the second mixture and when combining the first mixture and the second mixture.

38. The method as claimed in any one of claims 31 to 35, including maintaining an ambient temperature of approximately 40 degrees Celsius when forming the first mixture and the second mixture and when combining the first mixture and the second mixture.

39. The method as claimed in any one of claims 31 to 38, including the step of uniformly mixing together the first mixture and the second mixture.

40. The method as claimed in any one of claims 32 to 35, including the step of uniformly mixing together the waste material with the adhesive to form the composite product.

Agent's Ref. 6813P01CA
ADHESIVE FOR MANUFACTURING COMPOSITE PRODUCTS FROM
WASTE MATERIAL, AND METHODS FOR MAKING THE ADHESIVE AND
COMPOSITE PRODUCTS THEREFROM
Field of the Invention [0001] There is provided an adhesive and a composite product including the adhesive. In particular, there is provided an adhesive for manufacturing the composite product from waste material, and methods of making the adhesive and the composite product therefrom.
Description of the Related Art [0002] As the world's population expands and as consumption rates continue to rise, more and more waste materials are being produced. The finite nature of the world's resources, the desire to reduce carbon and energy footprints, and the problem of containing said ever-growing quantity of waste materials has created a need for a solution that addresses these concerns in an economically useful and environmentally sound manner.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0003] There is provided an adhesive disclosed herein, together with composite products formed therewith, that may provide a solution to the above longstanding need.
[0004] There is accordingly provided an adhesive comprising a flowable material having water. The adhesive includes a crushable material that is at least one selected from the group consisting of earth, finely crushed rock, clay, talc, gypsum, lime, and kaolin.
The adhesive includes a solvent to dissolve polymers. The adhesive includes polystyrene.
[0005] There is also provided a method of making the above set out adhesive. The method includes mixing together the flowable material and the crushable material to form a first mixture. The method includes mixing together the solvent and the polystyrene until the polystyrene is dissolved within the solvent to form a second mixture. The method includes mixing together the first mixture and the second mixture, with the adhesive being formed thereby. According to one aspect, the flowable material, the crushable material, the solvent and the polystyrene are mixed together in approximately equal parts by weight.
[0006] There is further provided a method of manufacturing a composite product.
The method includes mixing together a flowable material having water and a crushable material that is at least one selected from the group consisting of earth, fmely crushed rock, clay, talc, gypsum, lime, and kaolin, to form a first mixture. The method includes mixing together a solvent and polystyrene until the polystyrene is dissolved within the solvent to form a second mixture. The method includes mixing together the first mixture and the second mixture to form an adhesive. The method includes mixing together a waste material with the adhesive to form the composite product. According to one aspect, approximately one part by weight of the adhesive is mixed with approximately four parts by weight of the waste material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0007] The invention will be more readily understood from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof given, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a flowchart showing the method of manufacturing an adhesive according to one aspect; and Figure 2 is a partially schematic view of a process for manufacturing a composite product using the adhesive of Figure 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
100081 Referring to the drawings and first to Figure 1, there is shown a method 10 for manufacturing an adhesive 12. The adhesive has, as one of its mixing constituents, a flowable material 14. The flowable material may substantially comprise water, may be a slurry and/or may include manure.
[0009] As seen in Figure 1, the adhesive 12 includes, as another of its mixing constituents, a crushable material 16. The crushable material is at least one selected from the group consisting of earth, finely crushed rock, clay, talc, gypsum, lime, and kaolin.
According to one preferred aspect, the crushable material 16 is gypsum.
Variations in the crushable materials 16 will vary the color of the resulting composite product.
The adhesive 12 may have a reddish colour when the crushable material is earth or clay. The adhesive may have a whitish colour when the crushable material 16 is gypsum, lime or kaolin. The adhesive 12 may have a greyish colour when the crushable material is finely crushed rock or talc.
[0010] The adhesive 12 includes, as a further of its mixing constituents, a solvent 18 to dissolve polymers such as plastics. The solvent may be an oxygenate, an aromatic compound or an aliphatic compound. According to one aspect, the solvent 18 is capable of dissolving rubber. According to a further aspect, the solvent is gasoline.
According to a preferred aspect, the solvent is a thinner, such as turpentine.
[0011] The adhesive 12 includes, as yet a further of its mixing constituents, polystyrene 20. The polystyrene is non-expanded according to one aspect. In an alternative aspect, the polystyrene 20 is in the form of expanded polystyrene.
The solvent 18 is selected to dissolve the polystyrene. According to one preferred aspect, the adhesive 12 does not need or include starch.
[0012] In order to manufacture the adhesive 12, the flowable material 14, crushable material 16, solvent 18 and polystyrene 20 are to be mixed in substantially equal parts by weight according to one preferred aspect. However, varying the extent of water or slurry, for example, in the flowable material 14 of the adhesive 12 will affect the texture of the adhesive and its viscosity. The higher the percentage of water or slurry relative to the other ingredients in the mixture, the more liquid or less viscous the adhesive will be.
[0013] The crushable material 16 is first crushed into a granular or fme powdered form. According to one example, the flowable material 14 is then boiled;
however, this is not required according to other examples. The flowable material 14 and the crushable material 16 are then uniformly mixed in equal parts by weight to form a first mixture 22.
[0014] The solvent 18 and polystyrene 20 are uniformly mixed in equal parts by weight until the polystyrene is dissolved within the solvent to form a second mixture 24.
The first mixture 22 and the second mixture 24 are then uniformly mixed together to form the adhesive 12.
[0015] The method of manufacturing the adhesive 12 includes maintaining an ambient temperature preferably in the range of 27 to 95 degrees Celsius when forming the first mixture and the second mixture and when combining the first mixture and the second mixture. According to one preferred aspect, the adhesive 12 is mixed together at an ambient temperature of approximately 40 degrees Celsius. Mixing temperatures below 27 degrees Celsius may inhibit the process of manufacturing the adhesive 12 because the various ingredients to be mixed, including the adhesive as the end product, may tend to prematurely harden and have higher viscosity.

[0016] Referring to Figure 2, the adhesive 12 may be combined with waste material 26 in order to manufacture a composite product 28. The method of manufacturing the composite product is generally shown by numeral 30. The waste material 26 may be derived from industrial waste products, commercial waste products, or construction waste 5 products, such as construction debris, for example. The waste material may include, and thus enable the recycling of, a substantial majority of residential, industrial, commercial and civil construction residue. Such residue may be responsible for the majority of environmental pollution when poured on a landfill. The residue may include glass, wood, construction debris, waste trash, tree pruning and lawn waste, metal, sand, clay, plastic, fabric, organic materials such as rubber, industrial wastes, and tailings that may be dry, moist, wet or muddy, for example. These particulate materials may be bonded with each other within their own category of materials or may be mixed with each other and other categories of materials. The adhesive 12 and composite products 28 described herein are configured to use this otherwise wasted material and thus inhibit environmental pollution.
[0017] The method 30 includes the step of crushing the waste material, as shown by numeral 32. The crushing may occur by positioning the waste material 26 to be crushed between a pair of plates 34 and 36 that selectively come together under force, compressing and crushing the waste material into granular portions 38. In other examples, other means for crushing the material into granular form may be used. The granular portions 38 are then dried, in this example, via heating, this step being generally shown by numeral 40.
[0018] The next step in method 30 is uniformly mixing together, according to one preferred aspect: one part by weight of the adhesive 12 with four parts by weight of the now dried granular portions 38 of the waste material 26. For example, if one kilogram of dried waste material 26 is used, then approximately 250 grams of adhesive 12 should be added, according to one preferred aspect. This mixing may occur, for example, within an agitator 42. The agitator is operated by a motor 44 mounted to an agitator vessel, in this example a tank 46. The tank in this example is generally cylindrical, with an open first end 48 for receiving the adhesive 12 and waste material 26, and a second end 50 spaced-apart from the first end. A conduit 52 extends from the second end of the tank 46 in this example. The adhesive and waste material so mixed together form a composite material 54 that may selectively exit from the tank via conduit 52.
[0019] The method 30 includes the step of forming the composite product by subjecting the composite material to large compressive forces by way of a forming machine, in this example an extruder 56. The extruder has an inlet hopper 58 for receiving the composite material 54, a die 60 in communication with the hopper and through which the composite material is pushed and compressed, and an outlet 62 in communication with the die. The composite material exits from the outlet in a compressed and continuous form that is uniform in cross-section. The greater the force with which the composite material 54 is compressed, the more compact, stronger and homogenous the resulting composite product 28 may be.
[0020] The extruder 56 includes a separating member, in this example a cutter 64 pivotally connected thereto and which is configured to selectively pass over the outlet 62 of the extruder 56. The cutter so configured selectively cuts and divides the extruded composite material in order to obtain repeating units of the composite products 28. The composite products in this example are in the form of bricks. However, in other examples, the composite products 28 may be roof tiles, plaques, beams or in the form of any number of manufactured extrudable products, for example. The whole process from the manufacture of the adhesive 12 through to the manufacture of the composite products may take approximately one hour, according to one aspect.
[0021] The composite products 28 may then be dried by being exposed to the sun, or by being selectively placed within a gas furnace for example. The curing times and drying conditions will vary depending on the types and sizes of products to be manufactured.
[0022] Advantageously, the composite products described herein utilize waste material on two levels: when combined at four parts to one by weight with the adhesive, and also in the form of the polystyrene and other polymers selectively extracted from waste materials for the formation of the adhesive itself.
[0023] It will be appreciated that many variations are possible within the scope of the invention described herein. For example, the amount of material used to make composite products 28, such as bricks, may vary depending on the forming machine that is selected.
Also, if a brick that is lighter in weight is desired, the composite material 54 should contain less than four parts by weight of dried waste material 26 for every one part by weight of adhesive 12. If the user wants a heavier brick, then more waste material, such as construction debris, should be used. In this case the composite material should have more than four parts by weight of dried waste material for every one part by weight of adhesive.
100241 It will be also understood by someone skilled in the art that many of the details provided above are by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention which is to be determined with reference to at least the following claims.

A golf club holder includes an elongate body having a first end and a second end. A ground engaging member is positioned at the first end, whereby the body is supported in a ground surface in a substantially vertical orientation. A socket is provided for detachably securing a first end of at least one golf club spaced from the first end of the elongate body.
A clamp is provided for detachably securing a second end of the at least one golf club spaced from the second end of the elongate body.

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR
PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A golf club holder, comprising:
a shaft with a ground engaging base;
golf club retainers radially spaced about the shaft; and sockets radially spaced at or near the ground engaging base about the shaft and each shaped to receive and wedge a handle end of a golf club.
2. The golf club holder of claim 1 in which interior sidewalls of each socket converge in a direction from a socket opening to a socket base.
3. The golf club holder of any one of claim 1 - 2 in which an interior of each socket has a non circular shape in a cross sectional plane defined perpendicular to a socket axis.
4. The golf club holder of claim 3 in which the interior of each socket has a polygonal shape, with rounded corners and rounded sides, in the cross sectional plane.
5. The golf club holder of any one of claim 1 - 4 having a pair of golf club retainers and a pair of sockets, with each golf club retainer being axially aligned with a respective socket, and each golf club retainer and socket being radially spaced at diametrically opposite positions about the shaft from the other golf club retainer and socket, respectively.
6. The golf club holder of claim 5 with a radial dimension profile sufficiently narrow to permit insertion of the golf club holder with attached golf clubs in between adjacent partitions in a golf bag.
7. The golf club holder of any one of claim 1 - 6 further comprising a bracket with a retainer for a handle end of the shaft and a connector for one or more of a golf cart or golf club bag.

Claims (22)

1. An isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least about 85% amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence depicted in Figure 6.

2. An isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least about 85% amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence depicted in Figure 6.

3. A recombinant vector comprising the polynucleotide of claim 2.

4. A genetically modified cell comprising the recombinant vector of claim 3.

5. An isolated variant opsin polypeptide comprising, in order from amino terminus to carboxyl terminus: a) an amino acid sequence having at least about 90% amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence depicted in Figure 8A; and b) an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) export signal.

6. The polypeptide of claim 5, wherein the ER export signal comprises the amino acid sequence VXXSL, where X is any amino acid; or FXYENE (SEQ ID NO:
4), where X is any amino acid.

7. The polypeptide of claim 5, wherein the polypeptide further comprises a fluorescent protein disposed between (a) and (b).

8. The polypeptide of claim 5, wherein the polypeptide further comprises a trafficking sequence comprising an amino acid sequence having at least about 90% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence selected from:
MDYGGALSAVGRELLFVTNPVVVNGS (SEQ ID NO: 6);
MAGHSNSMALFSFSLLWLCSGVLGTEF (SEQ ID NO: 7);
MGLRALMLWLLAAAGLVRESLQG (SEQ ID NO: 8); MRGTPLLLVVSLFSLLQD

(SEQ ID NO: 9); and KSRITSEGEYIPLDQIDINV (SEQ ID NO: 10); wherein the trafficking sequence is disposed between (a) and (b).

9. The polypeptide of claim 5, wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence having at least about 90% amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence depicted in Figure 7A or 7B.

10. An isolated variant opsin polypeptide comprising, in order from amino terminus to carboxyl terminus: a) an amino acid sequence having at least about 90% amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence depicted in Figure 9A; and b) an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) export signal.

11. The polypeptide of claim 10, wherein the ER export signal comprises the amino acid sequence VXXSL, where X is any amino acid; or FXYENE (SEQ ID NO:
4), where X is any amino acid.

12. The polypeptide of claim 10, wherein the polypeptide further comprises a fluorescent protein disposed between (a) and (b).

13. The polypeptide of claim 10, wherein the polypeptide further comprises a trafficking sequence comprising an amino acid sequence having at least about 90% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence selected from:
MDYGGALSAVGRELLFVTNPVVVNGS (SEQ ID NO: 6);
MAGHSNSMALFSFSLLWLCSGVLGTEF (SEQ ID NO: 7);
MGLRALMLWLLAAAGLVRESLQG (SEQ ID NO: 8); MRGTPLLLVVSLFSLLQD
(SEQ ID NO: 9); and KSRITSEGEYIPLDQIDINV (SEQ ID NO: 10); wherein the trafficking sequence is disposed between (a) and (b).

14. The polypeptide of claim 10, wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence having at least about 90% amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence depicted in Figure 7C.

15. An isolated variant opsin polypeptide comprising, in order from amino terminus to carboxyl terminus: a) an amino acid sequence having at least about 90% amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence depicted in Figure 10A; and b) an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) export signal.

16. The polypeptide of claim 15, wherein the ER export signal comprises the amino acid sequence VXXSL, where X is any amino acid; or FXYENE (SEQ ID NO:
4), where X is any amino acid.

17. The polypeptide of claim 15, wherein the polypeptide further comprises a fluorescent protein disposed between (a) and (b).

18. The polypeptide of claim 15, wherein the polypeptide further comprises a trafficking sequence comprising an amino acid sequence having at least about 90% amino acid sequence identity to an amino acid sequence selected from:
MDYGGALSAVGRELLFVTNPVVVNGS (SEQ ID NO: 6);
MAGHSNSMALFSFSLLWLCSGVLGTEF (SEQ ID NO: 7);
MGLRALMLWLLAAAGLVRESLQG (SEQ ID NO: 8); MRGTPLLLVVSLFSLLQD
(SEQ ID NO: 9); and KSRITSEGEYIPLDQIDINV (SEQ ID NO: 10); wherein the trafficking sequence is disposed between (a) and (b).

19. The polypeptide of claim 15, wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence having at least about 90% amino acid sequence identity to the amino acid sequence depicted in Figure 7D or Figure 7E.

20. An isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the variant opsin of polypeptide of claim 5, claim 10, or claim 15.

21. The polynucleotide of claim 20, wherein the variant opsin-encoding nucleotide sequence is operably linked to a promoter that provides for neuron-selective expression.

22. A recombinant expression vector comprising the isolated polynucleotide of claim 20.

These functions take characteristics and characteristic functions associated with the options and outcomes, as well as other influent functions, to create another influent function. For example, a rule-based influent function may represent a total cost of a date.
The choices might be (a) which restaurant (b) which theatre and (c) what transportation in between. The cost of the date may depend on not just the restaurant or movie theatre, but also how much it will cost to travel in between if both a restaurant and a movie theatre are chosen. The cost to travel might in turn depend on the choice of transportation, which depends on which restaurant and theatre is chosen. Rules are ways of expressing more complicated relations which can be entered as formulas.
[0101] Rules can express inequalities or Boolean statements which can lead to different functions if satisfied or not satisfied. Rules can be defined by survey participants and/or survey administrators. Rules can be used to create influent functions from scratch, or modify an existing influent. For example, a survey participant may take a certain influent function as his starting point, but create a rule which zeros the support for any outcome in which the budget exceeds a certain spending threshold. It might also be used as a multiplier or power function which affects the total support for an outcome based on certain characteristics.
[0102] In some embodiments, influent functions associated with survey participants may be included in a library of influent functions which serves as a repository of influent functions. The influent functions stored in the repository may include influent functions created by any one of the methods described herein, including: ranking options, ranking issues and options, ranking issues and options based on one or more criteria or values, modifying one or more influent functions, merging two or more influent functions, using one or more starting influent functions associated with the participant and one or more potential outcomes determined based on the influent functions, and using rules. The library of influent functions may be accessed by a participant to select one or more starting influent functions and further perform operations such as modifying the influent functions, merging the influent functions, ranking potential outcomes based on the starting influent functions, and using rules to modify and/or create new influent functions based on the starting influent functions. The repository of influent functions may be populated over time with influent functions created by survey participants. These influent functions may then be presented to other survey participants as starting influent functions.
Each survey may have a corresponding repository of influent functions.
[0103] A participant profile may be associated with each participant. For example, survey conductor 102 of FIG. l's system 100 incorporates, or has access to, a participant profile database 119 for storing information related to each participant's profile;
such information may be used by survey conductor 102 and/or collective outcome generator 104 to determine influent functions, influent levels, satisfaction scores, dissonance scores, and other variables for each survey. The participant profile may be populated as the participant completes each survey. The participant profile may record information such as information relating to the participant's survey experiences and responses and the participant's influent level for the survey. For example, a participant profile may include one or more of the following, for each survey: the participant's final influent function(s), a satisfaction score and/or dissonance score of the participant with respect to the survey's collective outcome, an influent level of the participant, and a weight assigned by the participant to the survey. To begin with, at time ti, the participant profile for a participant may include an influent level associated with the participant for a decision D(ti) and a weight or "impulse" assigned by the participant to the decision D(ti).
[0104] The influent level associated with a participant for each survey is the weighing factor accorded to the participant's one or more influent functions that constitute that participant's "vote" for the survey. For example, in a democratic process all participants may be considered to have equal say or equal influence in deciding the collective outcome or decision, and a weighing factor of 100% is thus assigned to each participant. However, a democratic process that assigns all participants an equal influence towards a decision may not always be desirable or feasible. For example, in the case of a Parliament, there could be five political parties with 40%, 31%, 19%, 6% and 4% of popular support respectively. In this case, the political parties could be assigned influent levels of 40, 31, 19, 6 and 4 respectively. This means the political parties' votes are weighed by a factor 40%, 31%, 19%, 6% and 4% respectively. The influent level associated with a participant may be assigned by a survey administrator and/or by the survey participants.

[0105] The influent level of a participant x is referred to as 0(x). The influent level of participant x can also vary depending upon the time or decision, in which case we can write e(D(t), x) as the influent level for the decision at time t. The influent level of participant x may vary depending on the outcome. For example, the influent level for outcome 0 may be the percentage of options belonging to 0 for which participant x provided a rank. We refer to the influent level of participant x for outcome 0 as 0(0, x).
[0106] In addition to the influent level associated with a participant for a survey, the participant profile may also include a weight assigned by a participant for a survey. The weight assigned by a participant to a survey indicates a level of importance given by that participant for the survey. A participant can give a rank J(D(t), x) to a decision as a way of indicating its importance relative to other decisions in the series of decisions. The rank J(D(t), x) where 0 _5_ J(D(t), x) <1, may be called the impulse of x for D(t).
[0107] The impulse assigned by the participant to each survey may be used to determine the participant's satisfaction or dissonance for the survey as will be explained below.
[0108] Each participant may create or select one or more influent functions in the manner described above. If more than one influent function is developed then the participant may select a subset of these influent functions to contribute toward the participant's "vote"
toward a collective decision. The selected influent functions may be combined to create a new influent function for the participant corresponding to the participant's vote. The selected influent functions may be combined using one or more of the techniques described above for merging together influent functions. The new influent function corresponding to the participant's vote and/or the influent functions created by the participant may be published by the participant for use by other participants.
[0109] After the survey participants have cast their vote, at step 306 of FIG.
3's method 300 the influent functions of the participants are aggregated and applied to each potential outcome to determine a collective influent function for each survey, as described in further detail below. This step may be performed by one or more components of FIG.
l's system 100 or FIG. 2's system 200. For example, the processing at method 300's step 306 may be carried out by collective outcome generator 104 of system 100 (FIG.
1). A

processor 112 of collective outcome generator 104 may be operated to call software routines 114 stored in a program memory 116 accessible to processor 112. The influent functions of the survey participants, which may be stored in a survey results database 118, may be provided as input to one or more of the software routines 114 that are called by processor 112. The influent functions may be used to determine satisfaction scores and dissonance scores as explained herein. Execution of the software routines 114 by processor 112 causes the processor 112 to generate and return a collective influent function for the survey.
[0110] As noted above, the generation of a collective influent function for a survey may take into consideration satisfaction scores and/or dissonance scores associated with each potential outcome for the survey. The satisfaction score of a potential outcome represents a participant's degree of satisfaction with that outcome. The satisfaction score may be indicative of the amount of intentional energy that a participant would put towards realizing that outcome. The satisfaction score Sat' can be expressed as a percentage of potential energy available. In particular embodiments the satisfaction score for each outcome is derived from the final influent function (as determined from the participant's rankings of issues and options). Application of the final influent function to the potential outcomes generates a ranked list of the potential outcomes, wherein the top ranked outcome is the one that would provide the greatest satisfaction to the participant and therefore has the highest satisfaction score.
[0111] In other embodiments, the participant's satisfaction score may be based on a modified ranked list of the potential outcomes submitted by the applicant. In such cases, each potential outcome may first be automatically ranked in accordance with the participant's final influent function as discussed above, but the participant is allowed to modify the order in which the outcomes are ranked. The participant may view the pre-ranked list and confirm or change the order by manually ranking one or more of the potential outcomes as the most preferred potential outcome, a second most preferred outcome and so on. In some embodiments, ranks for the potential outcomes may have been recommended to the participant by recommending ranks for issues and/or options as discussed earlier (e.g. as may be recommended when ranking by value or trusted advisor).