Infrared sensor for arc welding
An infrared detector is provided with spectral filtering means for direct observation of the arc region during electric arc welding operations. The filter permits direct observation of the weld pool by suppressing almost all of the infrared radiation produced by the arc itself. Were this not the case, the electrical signal output from the infrared detector is totally obscured by the intense infrared radiation from the arc and would thus not permit sufficiently high resolution infrared measurements to be made on the weld pool and the work piece.
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This invention relates to sensors for use in electric arc welding processes. More particularly, the present invention relates to infrared sensors capable of directly viewing the arc region and surrounding workpiece areas.
In various electric arc welding processes, it is desirable to be able to determine a number of weld parameters during the welding operation itself. This is particularly important for automated welding processes. At present, automated welding processes have been essentially limited to spot welding processes. However, continued development of automated welding processes, particularly those processes carried out by general purpose manufacturing robots, require greater amounts of continuous information relevant to the quality of the weld that is being made. This information must, of necessity, be furnished on a real time basis, as the weld is being made. In short, there is a significant need for feedback control mechanisms based on such information to control certain parameters of the welding process. These parameters include arc current, arc voltage, electrode distance to the workpiece, lateral torch positioning and rate of torch movement along the length of the weld. Another significant variable that is extremely useful in determining the ultimate strength and quality of a welded joint is the penetration depth of the weld. This variable describes the depth that the weld fuses into the root of the joint. Because a stress joint is likely to fail at points where incomplete penetration has occurred, the continuous control of weld penetration is a significantly desirable objective in any automated welding process. The most influential factor determining weld depth penetration is the heat input per unit length of the weld pass. Increasing the arc current or decreasing the travel speed can, for example, result in greater penetration. However, other factors beyond the direct control of the welder, such as joint design and fit-up, also have important influences on weld depth penetration. Thus, it becomes highly desirable that automatic welders and processes employ some means of detecting penetration and of adjusting the heat supplied to the weld joint, to ensure proper quality for the finished weld.
Several different approaches have been taken in the past to determine weld depth penetration and quality. The most direct indication of heat input rate during a welding operation is the temperature of the workpiece at some fixed point relative to the arc. Thus, conventional temperature sensors have been employed to measure changes in such temperatures and, through appropriate feedback controls, changes in controllable parameters have been made to occur. These parameters have included arc current, torch travel speed and arc length. In the Sciaky weld penetration control, infrared sensors continuously monitor the heated zone on the underside of the joint that is being welded. This process possesses the significant disadvantage that uninhibited access to the underside of the workpiece is required. Additionally, critical alignment requirements necessitate the synchronization of the sensor and its movements with the welding torch movements. Thus, in the Sciaky control, there is no direct observation of the weld pool itself.
Other work in this field has been reported in a progress report titled "Improvement of Reliability of Welding by In-process Sensing and Control(Development of Smart Welding Machines for Girth Welding of Pipes)" submitted to the Department of Energy in June, 1981 by Jose Converti, et al. This report describes initial experiments conducted using contact sensors (thermocouples) to probe the temperature distribution near the weld puddle and seam. Attempts to use near infrared photodiodes, described therein, for remote temperature sensing were not successful due to significant optical interference from plasma radiation reflected from the metal surface. In particular, Converti et al. propose using a simple optical filter to reduce the radiation from the plasma arc through the use of materials similar to conventional welders' goggles.
A significantly different technique, based on contact thermometry has been developed by NASA for aluminum welding. A constantan wire, making a sliding contact with the workpiece, forms one leg of a thermocouple circuit. This contact occurs near the weld on the torch side of the joint. Such a system appears to function more successfully as a penetration control device on thin (0.125") aluminum workpieces rather than on thicker pieces where complete penetration is necessary.
In short, prior workers in the field of automated arc welding processes have yet to provide high resolution data and detailed information about the weld pool and the area immediately surrounding the arc. However, the instant inventor has discovered significant information concerning the spectral distribution of the infrared radiation from the arc itself, thus enabling the construction of an arc welding sensor providing hither-to unavailable information concerning weld quality, on a continuous, real-time basis, from the critically important region near to the arc and weld pool.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an infrared sensor for arc welding monitoring comprises means for directing infrared radiation from the arc region through focussing means for the infrared radiation and thence through a filter selectively passing infrared radiation having a wavelength greater than about 3 microns. The present sensor further comprises infrared detection means operating to receive the radiation transmitted through the filter means to produce electrical signals in response to the intensity of the infrared radiation impinging upon the detector. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the infrared detector comprises a linear array of pyroelectric detector cells operating to provide electrical signals indicative of temperature profile measurements in the immediate vicinity of the arc and weld pool. In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sensor is mechanically attached to the arc torch and, accordingly, moves along therewith. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the necessity for a second, traveling sensor arm and associated synchronization devices and circuitry, are no longer required. Furthermore, in still another embodiment of the present invention, the detector and filter are removable from the instant apparatus to permit manual focussing and alignment of the sensor using visible light optics, a feature which is particularly useful during setup operations.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electric arc welding sensor for producing radiation and temperature information from the vicinity of the arc and weld pool.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide feedback control means to control various arc welding torch parameters such as current rate of travel, arc length and depth of penetration.
Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to facilitate automated welding processes.DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of practice, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation view of the sensor of the present invention together with an electric arc torch to which it is mounted;
FIG. 2 is a graph of detector output voltage as a function of wavelength for a welding process employing argon gas and a thoriated tungsten electrode; and
FIG. 3 is a graph similar to that shown in FIG. 2 for a welding process employing helium gas and a tungsten electrode.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In particular, the present invention comprises infrared detector 10, filter 12, optical directing means 14 and focussing means 16. These elements and other elements which are preferably employed in the present invention are discussed in detail below.
Infrared detector 10 receives focussed and filtered infrared radiation from weld pool 20 in workpiece 28. The weld pool is formed as a result of an electric arc extending from electrode tip 24 of arc welding torch 22, to metal workpiece 28. The detector of the present invention should be sensitive to infrared radiation having a wavelength greater than about 3 microns. Generally, the detector sensitivity extends from about 3 to about 14 microns with the preferable sensitivity range being between approximately 3 and approximately 7 microns. The detector should also preferably exhibit a minimum frequency response of approximately 50 Hz. Additionally, the detector should be stable at an operating temperature of approximately 25.degree. C. Several specific forms of detectors may be employed, none of which require cooling, such as by cryogenic liquid, for their proper operation. In particular, detector 10 may comprise a 32 to 128 element self-scanning pyroelectric linear array detector such as those available from Spiricon, Inc., 2600 North Main, Logan, Utah 84321. These linear detector arrays are particularly for providing linear temperature profiles. This profile can be employed to determine puddle dimensions and is particularly useful for welds between thin sheets of material. Additionally, detector 10 may comprise a single element photoconductive-type detector employing lead selenide or indium antimonide photoconductive materials. Such single element detectors may be employed to receive infrared radiation information from a fixed point in the weld pool region and is particularly useful for monitoring high penetration welds. Single element pyroelectric detectors may also be employed for this purpose. Lastly, detector 10 may comprise a two-dimensional scanning array pyroelectric cell or photoconductive-type detector. Such detectors are preferable for certain special purpose applications where it is desirable to obtain high resolution thermal data from the entire weld zone.
Much of the success of the instant arc welding sensor is attributable to the fact that it is a torch side instrument. Such instruments generally lack the ability to provide sufficiently significant levels of thermal data resolution because of the extremely bright and intense infrared radiation produced by the arc itself. This radiation is of such a high intensity that it effectively jams other infrared radiation produced. However, the instant inventor has discovered that, for a number of different welding processes, the bandwidth of the infrared radiation generated within the arc is limited to wavelengths below approximately 3 microns. Accordingly, applicant's invention employs filter 12 which selectively passes infrared radiation having wavelengths greater than about 3 microns. In this way, infrared "noise" from arc 26 is very greatly attenuated. The presence of filter 12 permits the entire weld pool region to be monitored without significant interference from arc 26. Filter 12 may comprise an infrared long pass filter with a lower cut-on wavelength of between 3 or 4 microns. Additionally, filter 12 may comprise a band pass type filter transmitting infrared radiation having wavelengths between about 3 and about 7 microns. Additionally, it should also be noted that infrared radiation having wavelengths up to about 14 microns contains useful information about the nature and quality of the weld being processed.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, detector 10 and filter 12 are mounted within detachable head 11. This is a particularly advantageous feature of the present invention in that removal of head 11 permits manual inspection of the weld area using visible light optics. Thus, an operator of arc welding torch 22 may easily remove head 11 to visually align and adjust the other optical elements in the present invention. It is contemplated that this adjustment would normally be done during an initial set up time and would seldom require manual intervention thereafter.
Although the sensor of the present invention could be mounted so that it is fixedly aimed at the weld zone, it is preferable (for the purposes intended herein) to employ optical directing means 14 for receiving infrared radiation from the arc region and reflecting it toward detector 10. Accordingly, beam deflector 14 preferably comprises a gold plated mirror or sapphire prism. This form of optical directing means permits the sensor to be mounted colinearly with welding torch 22 while providing detector 10 optical access to the entire weld zone, including pool 20. Beam deflector 14 is preferably mounted in a lockable ball and socket joint to facilitate optical alignment. In particular, beam deflector 14 may comprise an infrared reflecting mirror 14b mounted upon a base 14a which may comprise, for example, a cylinder or sphere having a flat face filed or ground thereon. Although not specifically shown in FIG. 1, beam deflector 14 is mechanically attached to either torch 22 or to the fixed portion of the sensor assembly. This permits the torch and the entire sensor assembly to travel as a single unit. The main sensor assembly is shown schematically as being mechanically attached to torch 22 by means of lines 40. This attachment is by any convenient mechanical means including, but not limited to, clamps, bolts or other convenient supports.
The present invention also comprises focussing means 16 for receiving infrared radiation from beam deflector 14 and for focussing the radiation on detection means 10. Focussing assembly 16 preferably comprises a simple or compound sapphire lens or other lens system having a depth of field sufficient to resolve the weld zone. A lock for holding the focussing adjustment fast is also preferred. Focussing means 16 might, for example, comprise movable lens 16a mounted in movable collimator 16d. Collimator 16d is slidably disposed within fixed collimator 16c which also houses rear, fixed lens 16b. Movement of collimator 16d and lens 16a acts to provide the requisite focussing. It should be noted that while transmissive optical devices are indicated in FIG. 1 for focussing means 16, it is also possible to provide reflective optical focussing means, such as those found in Cassegrain optical systems. It should also be noted herein that the use of the term "optical" includes not only the visible spectrum but also infrared spectral regions.
Additionally, the sensor of the present invention preferably includes an iris field stop 30. This may consist of an adjustable optical iris diaphragm having an interleaved construction similar to those found in many cameras. Iris field stop 30 is used to limit the area viewed by the sensor. Accordingly, it's primary function is to block the direct thermal radiation from the torch tip.
Additionally, in the case that detector 10 comprises a pyroelectric detector, it is also preferable to employ chopper 18. This device mechanically modulates the radiation incident upon sensor head 11 allowing the infrared detector to operate in an alternating current mode. The chopper also provides an inherent thermal reference source and timing synchronization. Any compact tuning fork or rotary chopper design may be employed. Such choppers are conventionally known and are available from the electronics division of Bulluva Watch Company, Inc., 61-20 Woodside Avenue, Woodside, N.Y. 11377. Both tuning forks, rotary and other chopper designs, are obtainable therefrom.
The output of detector 10 is in the form of an analog signal whose level is indicative of the intensity of infrared radiation impinging thereon. Pyroelectric detectors typically offer self-scanning features over a range of from about 32 to about 128 separate detector elements. In such cases, the output signal is a sequence of analog pulses whose values are indicative of the level of infrared radiation impinging upon the detector from a linear array of points along, around or across the weld seam. The analog signal from detector 10 together with synchronization signals from chopper 18 are provided to an electronic processing circuit which provides one or more control signals to arc welding torch 22. These signals may control lateral positioning, current level or travel rate along the seam weld.
The electrical signal produced by detector 10 may be employed to serve several functions. First, the detector and the optical direction means may be positioned so as to provide temperature profile measurements across the seam at the weld site. Such an alignment provides temperature profile information which is particularly useful in determining depth of weld penetration. Second, the sensor may be positioned so that a temperature profile across the seam but behind the weld is provided. This temperature profile is particularly useful for determining the quality of a completed weld segment. In this measurement, symmetry of the profile is a particularly advantageous factor in determining the weld. Thirdly, the sensor may be positioned so that a temperature profile along the weld seam, rather than across it, is produced. Thus, such positioning produces temperature profile information indicative of the cooling rate occurring behind the weld pool. Thus, this provides yet another means for determining weld quality. Lastly, seam tracking information may be provided as is more particularly disclosed in concurrently-filed U.S. patent application Ser. No. (RD-14,265) which is also assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
The instant arc welding sensor exhibits particular advantages because of the presence of infrared filter 12. As pointed out above, the instant inventor has observed that in several different welding processes, the infrared radiation from the arc itself is confined to a relatively narrow band of electromagnetic spectral frequencies. While the specific frequency band varies with the specific electrode material and inert gas employed, it has been generally found that the infrared radiation produced by the electric arc generally does not exhibit a wavelength greater than approximately 13 microns. In particular, FIG. 2 illustrates a plot of detector output voltage in millivolts as a function of wavelength for a tungsten inert gas (T.I.G.) arc. The inert gas employed was argon and the electrode material employed was thoriated tungsten. A similar plot is shown in FIG. 3 which illustrates the near infrared spectral distribution of a tungsten inert gas arc in which the inert gas employed was helium and the electrode material substantially comprised only tungsten itself. Again, it is seen that the infrared radiation from the arc itself is somewhat bandwidth limited centering around a wavelength of about 2 microns, and extending from about 11/2 to about 2 1/2 microns. Thus, for this form of inert gas arc welding an even wider bandwith filter 12 may be employed.
Experiments based upon the above-mentioned principles have been conducted and, in particular, measurements have been made in two specific infrared bands, namely that between 4.5 and 5.5 microns and between 7 and 14 microns. These experiments were conducted using an AGA 780-dual Thermovision imaging infrared radiometer. This instrument produces an image in which the display brightness level or gray scale corresponds to the viewed object's local radiance level. Arc gap varied between 1/8" and 1/2" with welding current varying from about 40 to about 60 amperes. Argon purge gas was also used in these experiments. Representative images were stored on digital magnetic tape and their viewing indicated several interesting features. In particular, the arc was essentially transparent, although not totally invisible, in both of the infrared bands in which measurements were taken. Furthermore, image quality appeared to be clearly superior in the longer wavelength region between 7 and 14 microns. It is thought that this increased image quality is due, at least in part, to the increased bandwidth in this region which allows more radiant energy to be received. Furthermore, the radiant emissive intensity map of the workpiece in both the infrared regions corresponded well to local surface temperature distribution. Lastly, low sensitivity settings on the instrument on the radiometer employed indicated that room temperature infrared detectors are employable without the need for supplementary cryogenic cooling apparatus.
Accordingly, from the above it may be appreciated that the present invention provides an infrared sensor for use in arc welding systems. In particular, it is seen that the present invention provides a torch side instrument, moving with the torch and specifically capable of high resolution infrared measurements of the arc weld pool. The present invention also offers the advantage of alignment and adjustment by means of visible wavelength spectrum direct observation. Furthermore, it is seen that the present invention is applicable not only to gas tungsten arc welding but also to gas metal arc welding. Furthermore, access to the underside of the weld is not a requisite in the present invention. And lastly, the present invention may be mounted directly on the arc torch thereby eliminating the need for a separate following instrument arc.
While the invention has been described in detail herein, in accord with certain preferred embodiments thereof, many modifications and changes therein may be effected by those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
1. An infrared sensor for an electric arc welder in which an electric welding arc is struck between a torch and a workpiece, said sensor comprising:
- infrared detection means for receiving infrared radiation from the vicinity of said welding arc and producing electrical signals in response to the intensity of infrared radiation impinging on said detection means; and
- filter means disposed with respect to said infrared detection means so that said infrared radiation impinging thereon passes through said filter means and wherein said filter means exhibits a cutoff wavelength greater than about 3 microns, whereby emitted rather than reflected infrared radiation is detected from the vicinity of the arc.
2. The welding sensor of claim 1 in which said infrared detection means comprises a linear array of pyroelectric detector cells.
3. The sensor of claim 1 further including focussing means disposed in the optical path between said arc and said detection means for focussing infrared radiation on said detection means.
4. The sensor of claim 3 further including chopper means disposed in the optical path between said detection means and said focussing means.
5. The sensor of claim 3 further including iris means for controlling the amount of infrared radiation impinging upon said detection means, said iris means being disposed between said detection means and said focussing means.
6. The sensor of claim 3 in which said focussing means comprises a reflective optical system.
7. The sensor of claim 1 in which said detection means and said filter means are removable from said sensor to permit visible light viewing and alignment of said sensor.
8. The sensor of claim 1 in which said filter is transmissive to infrared radiation having a wavelength between about 3 and about 14 microns.
9. The sensor of claim 1 in combination with an arc welding torch on which said sensor is mounted.
10. The sensor of claim 1 further including optical directing means for receiving infrared radiation from said vicinity of said arc and redirecting it to said detection means.
11. An electric arc torch welding system in which an electric welding arc is struck between a torch and a workpiece, said system comprising:
- an electric arc torch for producing said electric welding arc;
- infrared detection means for receiving infrared radiation from the vicinity of the arc produced by said torch, said infrared detection means thereby producing electrical signals in response to the intensity of infrared radiation impinging upon said detection means; and
- filter means disposed with respect to said detection means so that said infrared radiation impinging upon said detection means passes through said filter means, said filter means selectively passing infrared radiation having a wavelength greater than about 3 microns, whereby emitted rather than reflected radiation is detected from the vicinity of the welding arc.
|3299250||January 1967||Vilkas et al.|
|3627972||December 1971||Iceland et al.|
|3666949||May 1972||DeFalco et al.|
|4280137||July 21, 1981||Ashida et al.|
|4302655||November 24, 1981||Edling|
|4316075||February 16, 1982||Isoya et al.|
|4316076||February 16, 1982||Balfanz|
- "Development of Weld Pool Imaging Techniques for the Adaptive Control of Gas Tungsten Arc Welding", S. Hanumanth Rao, Thesis Presented to The Ohio State University, 1981.
Filed: Apr 26, 1982
Date of Patent: Nov 20, 1984
Assignee: General Electric Company (Schenectady, NY)
Inventor: Robert D. Lillquist (Schenectady, NY)
Primary Examiner: C. C. Shaw
Attorneys: Lawrence D. Cutter, James C. Davis, Jr., Marvin Snyder
Application Number: 6/371,704
International Classification: B23K 910;


text:
What you need to know before you get started on an electric bike
I’m in decent shape for mountain biking, but it’s not uncommon (OK, okay, it’s actually quite common) for someone to pass me while pedaling uphill. Lately, however, I feel like more and more people are leaving me behind thanks to electric-assist two-wheelers.
My anecdotal evidence of e-bikers regularly consuming dust is backed up by data. The Boulder-based NPD Group, which analyzes outdoor industry consumer trends, found that sales of electric mountain bikes (eMTBs) jumped 181% between 2020 and 2021. people to come back to earth. These are people who may have aged from the sport or had physical limitations that prevented them from cycling,” says Chad Schneckenburger, Regional Trails and Dispersed Recreation Program Manager at the US Rockies Regional Office. Forest Service. “What e-bikes do is reopen that door for people.”
Now the question is how to handle all those electric two-wheelers on the trails. In late March, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) released updated guidelines that will allow for expanded use of e-bikes on the lands it manages. Previously, e-bikes could only be used on roads and trails where motorized vehicles are permitted. Under the updated rules, local ranger districts can choose to allow e-bikes on specific trails that had been closed to e-bikes, i.e. “if we first do the analysis appropriate environmental status and that there is public support,” Schneckenburger says, explaining that any assessment would include a 30-day period in which people can give feedback on the change in status.
So while there are currently 5,118 miles of trails on USFS-managed Colorado land open to e-bikes, that number is likely to grow in the coming years. Not that trails on Forest Service-regulated lands are the only places to walk them. Certain classes of e-bikes are also permitted in portions of wilderness areas and state parks overseen by Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) (see here for more detailed information), as well as portions of open space overseen by specific counties.
If you’re one of those jumping into the power saddle (or hoping to soon), here are five expert tips to keep in mind before you hit the trail, plus four places in Colorado to have fun. .
Understand the basics of the electric bike
Each e-bike falls into one of three categories, which are determined by the maximum speed the bike can reach and its ability to move without pedaling.
- Class I e-bikes top out at 20 miles per hour and their electric motors only engage with pedaling.
- Class II e-bikes also tend to top out at 20 miles per hour, but they include a throttle that can be used to keep riders moving even when not pedaling.
- Class III bikes can reach speeds of around 30 miles per hour and may or may not have a throttle.
According to Trevyn Newpher, former pro mountain biker and founder of Evolution Sports Colorado, when riding dirt trails, you’ll want an eMTB instead of a commuter-style e-bike. These two-wheeled workhorses have tires made with grip-enhancing rubber that’s also thicker and more durable than urban e-bikes, making them more resistant to punctures. They also usually have better suspension to provide a more comfortable ride. “You’re going to see a more rugged design to withstand the rigors and demands of off-road riding,” adds Newpher.
Know how to use the electric bike
Before you hit the dirt, get your bearings for your e-bike by taking a few rides on an accessible paved path, like the Yampa River Core Trail in Steamboat Springs or the Recreational Pathway System, commonly known as the Recpath, in Summit County. Make sure you are comfortable with the weight of the bike, as well as the electric assist, drivetrain, and throttle (if your two-wheeler has one). “Just because it has a pedal-assist motor, especially when you’re in the backcountry, doesn’t mean you’re going to have an easier experience,” says Laraine Martin, Executive Director of Routt. County Riders. “It’s still a lot of things to get used to.”
Review the trail map
Be sure to check the trail map of the area you intend to ride to see if e-bikes are allowed. It’s also important to make sure the specific class of e-bike you’re using is licensed. Class I and II eMTBs, for example, are allowed on roads, bike paths, multi-use trails in CPW-supervised state parks, while Class III e-bikes are not. “It is the responsibility of the rider,” says Newpher, “to know what class their bike is and what restrictions may be in place for a given trail system.”
If you plan to ride on Forest Service land, check the motor vehicle use map for that forest to find trails that allow motorized vehicles. The same applies to paths managed by the CPW as well as those on departmental and municipal land. (Summit County, for example, prohibits e-bike use on natural-surface trails.) Finally, study your route carefully to make sure it doesn’t take you from an e-bike-friendly trail to a single track where electric two-wheelers are not allowed. If you find yourself in this situation, it is best to dismount, turn off the engine and walk with your bike to avoid a ticket.
Check your power gauge
“E-bikes allow you to go further,” says Schneckenburger. “If you go further into the backcountry, make sure you have the ability to get out.” This means you need to confirm that the battery is fully charged and will last the duration of your ride, bearing in mind that climbing and how often you use an electric boost will affect your range.
Wear the right gear
“Mechanics” (slang for issues with your bike) is part of cycling, and it’s no different with an e-bike. “Make sure you have all the proper equipment to make repairs to the bike, wheelset, and crank, if needed,” says Martin. “You have to be capable of all that.” She recommends having a standard bike repair kit, including tire levers, a spare inner tube or patch, pump or air canister, and a multitool, plus extra layers (in case of change of weather), a map, a first aid kit, and plenty of water. Also make sure you have a way to call for help, such as a phone (reminder: cell service can be spotty) or a GPS device.
don’t be a fool
“Ride the trails respectfully as you would on a regular mountain bike,” Schneckenburger says, emphasizing the importance of yielding to pedestrians, horses and, if you’re going downhill, uphill people. “Riding an e-bike, in terms of etiquette, is really no different than riding a regular bike,” he adds. And, of course, be careful not to deviate from the trail, which could damage the surrounding ecosystem.
Colorado Trails to try your electric bike
Hartman Rocks Recreation Area
Minutes from Gunnison, Hartman Rocks offers nearly 80 miles of bike paths, all open to e-bikes. Beginners will enjoy Evan’s Loop, a flowing 2.8-mile stretch through sagebrush.
If you start from the Bear Creek trailhead east of Salida near County Road 101, it’s possible to go 100 miles one way on this route. The trek offers views of the southern end of the Sawatch Range, the Sangre de Cristos, and the San Luis Valley that Schneckenburger deems “spectacular.”
Green Mountain Loop
If you plan on e-mountain biking the Front Range, check out this 6.9 mile intermediate trail in Morrison. It doesn’t have a lot of blind turns (long distance visibility is helpful when riding at faster speeds), making it easy to use for beginners.
white ranch park
This Golden-based park offers an extensive trail system suitable for e-bikes. Those looking for a challenge should try the Mustang Trail quick drops or the breathtaking Longhorn descent.
(Read more: What you need to know about Denver’s updated e-bike rules)

domain: hobby


text:
I wash my material before I begin a quilt.
Can I just use a quilt after it is finsihed without washing it afterwards?
I tried to wash a wall quilt once and a seam popped out.
Do people wash finsihed quilts?
Answer by ObbyDobbie at 11:16 AM on Oct. 4, 2010
Answer by ohwrite at 11:02 AM on Oct. 4, 2010

domain: artistic


text:
Coca-Cola, bowing to pressure, amends employee equity plan
By Devika Krishna Kumar and Anjali Athavaley
(Reuters) - Coca-Cola Co, facing criticism from Warren Buffett and other investors for its outsized employee share rewards, said it had adopted new guidelines that would limit its stock compensation plan and improve transparency.
The company said its new guidelines would extend the number of years award shares will last, formalize its practice of share repurchases to minimize dilution and renew commitments to open dialogue with shareholders on compensation matters.
About 83.16 percent of shareholders voted for the company's 2014 equity plan when it came up for renewal in April, according to a Coca-Cola filing following the company's annual meeting.
However, the approval figure included a significant number of shareholders who had abstained from the vote, according to Reuters calculations.
Buffett, whose Berkshire Hathaway Inc holds 9.1 percent of Coca-Cola and is the company's biggest shareholder, was among those who abstained.
The billionaire said in an interview with Bloomberg that while he considered the plan to be "excessive" he did not vote against it out of loyalty to the company.
But it has been Wintergreen Advisers, which owns less than 1 percent of Coca-Cola on behalf of clients, which has been the most vocal critic of the company's equity plan, saying it greatly diluted the holdings of current shareholders. Continued...

domain: economics


text:
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During the public health crisis caused by COVID-19 and the economic crisis that resulted from the government-mandated societal shutdown, the public’s attention has focused on short-term threats and immediate consequences. This, understandably, led to an emphasis on figures such as the approximately 2.1 million confirmed cases of coronavirus, roughly 118,000 deaths from the virus, and the 44 million Americans and counting who have filed for unemployment since the crisis began.
But one key measure has gone under the radar—the untold trillions our government has piled onto the national debt during this crisis. This debt burden will haunt future generations long after the pandemic subsides and the economy reopens. Thus, our debt-financed COVID-19 response represents a fundamentally immoral intergenerational transfer of wealth. Those who directly benefit from the spending are sending the bill down the line for today’s young people and tomorrow’s taxpayers to bear the burden. Responding to a crisis today isn’t a justification for creating a crisis for the next generation to deal with—and the debt is indeed approaching crisis levels.
New calculations make the severity of the current debt spike dreadfully clear.
Manhattan Institute economist Brian Riedl ran the numbers and concluded that between the $2.4 trillion cost of already-passed COVID-19 response pills, the economic downturn’s $4 trillion impact on the federal government’s budget, and $1.3 trillion in interest on the new debt, the COVID-19 pandemic and government response will lead to an astounding $8 trillion in new federal debt.
Riedl projects that the budget deficit may exceed $4 trillion this year—more than triple the deficit run during the peak of the 2008 financial crisis. And that $4 trillion figure assumes no further spending bills are passed, despite House Democrats having passed an additional $3 trillion bill and some members of the Trump administration calling for more “stimulus.”
“These pandemic costs represent additional gasoline poured onto a growing budgetary inferno,” Riedl warns.
And what led up to that pre-COVID inferno in the first place? As James Agresti of Just Facts writes:
As with the recent debt increases from the Covid-19-related laws, the national debt has been mainly driven for the past 60 years by social spending, or government programs that provide healthcare, income security, education, nutrition, housing, and cultural services. These programs have grown from 20% of all federal spending in 1959 to 62% in 2018:
Under current laws and policies, the Congressional Budget Office projects that almost all future growth in debt will be due to increased spending on social programs and interest on the national debt.
Legislators ignore this towering debt crisis at the peril of future generations.
One immediate consequence that massive deficit spending imposes on future generations is crippling interest payments that tomorrow’s taxpayers will have to cover. The interest on the national debt must be paid each year, and the annual expense associated with that payment only increases as the total debt grows.
The annual interest was already projected to hit $1 trillion by 2030 before the latest crisis hit and before counting all the new debt. This means future generations will have to shell out trillions more in taxes every year to service the debt we’re accruing now via spending that, at least ostensibly, benefits us today.
And it’s widely understood that high levels of government debt are a serious drag on future economic growth. This happens in part because massive government deficits “crowd out” private sector investment by drawing from the pool of available money. But that’s hardly the only economic consequence of government debt.
Here’s how the non-partisan Peter G. Peterson Foundation summed up the consequences of the runaway national debt:
Growing debt also has a direct effect on the economic opportunities available to every American. Based on data provided by CBO, income per person could increase by as much as $5,500, on average, by 2049 if we were to reduce our debt to its historical average.
In addition, high levels of debt would affect many other aspects of the economy in the future. For example, higher interest rates resulting from increased federal borrowing would make it harder for families to buy homes, finance car payments, or pay for college. Fewer education and training opportunities stemming from lower investment would leave workers without the skills to keep up with the demands of a more technology-based, global economy. Faltering support for research and development would make it harder for American businesses to remain on the cutting edge of innovation, and would hurt wage growth in the U.S. Furthermore, slower economic growth generally would also make our fiscal challenges even worse, as lower incomes lead to smaller tax collections and put the federal budget further out of balance.
Of course, it is future workers who will bear these economic consequences—not the Baby Boomers in Congress who are burning through taxpayer money at lightspeed.
Here’s a hypothetical that helps put the gross immorality of skyrocketing government debt simply:
Imagine a parent who responded to a financial crisis affecting their family not by racking up bills on their own credit card, but by taking out a credit card in their child’s name and loading it up with charges for them to deal with later in life. This is effectively what the federal government is doing right now in response to COVID-19. At the very least, Congress shouldn’t have let the national debt continue to mount during the prior decade of growth. Fiscal responsibility would have cushioned the blow in case Congress was later forced to spend profusely in response to a crisis like COVID-19.
But instead, policymakers chose the path that would be politically beneficial in the short-term and shrugged off the future consequences as not their problem. As famed economist Thomas Sowell said, “The national debt is the ghost of Christmas past.” For future generations, holidays may not offer much cause for celebration.


text:
Enzymotec Ltd., (the “Company”) announced today that it has successfully completed a Series B1 investment round, raising $11 million. The round was led by the Company’s existing shareholders (Galam Ltd, Ofer Hi-Tech Investments Ltd. and Millennium II Materials Technology Fund L.P.) and by a new investor – Arancia International Inc.
In addition, the Company is finalizing a new $7 million line of credit (of which $3m were already received) from a leading Israeli bank.
“The successful completion of the financial round validates the strength and potential of Enzymotec, particularly given current economic conditions" said Dr. Ariel Katz, President and CEO of Enzymotec. "This additional funding will enable us to complete the construction of our new plant in Migdal HaEmek, Israel, with increased capacity and will enable us to enhance our research and development activities in the upcoming years“.
Enzymotec’s revenue growth from fiscal year 2003 to 2007 amounted to 2,134% and resulted in a #12 ranking in the Deloitte’s 2008 Israeli Fast 50 Program ceremony held on November 2, 2008.
About Arancia International Inc.
Arancia International Inc. is part of Arancia Industrial SA de CV, a private Mexican company founded in 1925, has vast experience in food ingredients manufacturing and international joint ventures. Arancia operates in biotechnology in the industrial enzymes markets, in services for the health sector, and foodservice logistics.
Enzymotec is an Israeli biotech company that develops and produces innovative, lipid-based biofunctional solutions for orthomolecular medicine, dietary supplements and advanced infant nutrition. The company acts in three main categories: cognitive improvement, cardiovascular disease prevention and balanced nutrition for babies and children.

domain: news


This Model is one of the coolest things I have ever built. Please comment it, tell me what you think.
About this creation
The Protodeka was a separatist droid model used during the clone wars as a massive weapons platform, It was introduced in the Star Wars: Clone Wars video game and is one of the primary bosses which must be defeated in order to progress.
The Protodeka, nicknamed "floating heads" by republic forces, was one of the most bizzare and devastating droid models built by the separatist forces. A single unit could destroy entire platoons of troops and take assive amounts of damage before being destroyed. essentially a huge floating weapons platform, the Protodeka relied on four huge repulsor generators located in its core to float about 10 feet off the ground The generators power could be alternated allowing the droid to swivel around very quickly, making it difficult to flank. The repulsors generated so much power that anything that came within a 10 foot radius of the vehicle would suffer extreme structural damage from the anti-grav field generated by this system and wherever the Protodeka roamed, the groun would be torn up and severely shaken. The Protodeka's primary weapons were a pair of 5 barreled chain guns which fired over 1500 bolts a minute, annihilating anything in its path. The guns took so much power to operate that they could only fire for short periods of time, during which the unit employed its second weapon: two heavy seeker missle pods located in outriggers that sprouted from the droids "head". The missiles possessed tracking systems that could funtion for short distances. Altogether the protodeka was more than a match for most republic vehicles and even Jedi found them difficult to destroy. fortunatly for the G.A.R., however, Protodekas were only built in very small numbers and generally were used only for guarding important positions, namely the vaults and factories. Protodekas fought on Raxus Prime, Thule, Mygeeto, and possibly on Felucia. After the Clone wars ended the droid model was deactivated entirely, and the schematics for the machine, destroyed.


text:
OPA-LOCKA, FLA. (WSVN) - An Opa-locka woman has been arrested on child abuse charges after she was allegedly caught on camera shaking and strangling her infant son.
Police arrested 18-year-old Susana Hernandez Sunday.
According to an arrest report, the paternal grandmother of Hernandez’s son called police to report that her 4-month-old grandchild was being abused by Hernandez.
The grandmother told police she received a call from her son, who is in basic training, saying that his child was being abused, and he sent her videos of the alleged acts.
The grandmother went to check on the child’s welfare and called police.
The grandmother then showed detectives the videos, which detectives said showed the infant being spanked on the bed with such force that the bed began shaking and the child’s head bounced up and down.
Police said another video showed Hernandez shaking the bed while the infant lied down, causing the child to cry and scream.
Another video showed the baby sleeping with a cord wrapped around his neck while Hernandez pulled on it.
Hernandez was arrested and has been charged with child abuse and battery.
The child has temporarily been placed in the grandmother’s care.
Copyright 2023 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

domain: sociology


text:
Houzz is the new way to design your home.
373,780 woods wallpaper Home Design Photos
To search for all words in exact order, you can use quotes around the term.
Example: "woods wallpaper"
To search for all words in any order, add "+" before each word.
Example: +woods +wallpaper
Benjamin Dhong Interiors
Hello, beautiful space! Can you tell me if the wood is painted/washed or if that's actually wallpaper? Doesn't look like paper to me, but I know some are making paper that looks like wood. Please clarify. Thank you!
If you go to designyourwall.com, I believe this is the "Baxter" faux wood paper.
wallpaper that looks like white filled wood
cool paper that looks like grey wood
wallpaper that looks like grained wood
Use wood effects to create texture. There are so many great faux wood products available in beautiful neutral colors. This wallpaper is stunning and creates a textural elegance that is definitely not boring.
Giulietti Schouten Architects
Crane Building Penthouse
Woodlands wallpaper for telly wall - nice!!!
Coles and Son Birch Tree wallpaper..."10-Trends - Wood Wallpaper"
The wallpaper offers the eye a place to rest in the large contemporary open floor plan of this loft. Side Note: A flat screen floating in the trees seems like fodder for some sort of crazy post-modern poem or something, doesn't it?
Woods WallpaperThis beautiful and serene pattern hit its apex in
Matilda Rose Interiors
creative shelving system. I also like the wallpaper but not for our space
I love the ladder shelves, and the wallpaper.
with wallpaper. The Woods wallpaper from Cole & Son has become a modern classic. Managing to be both crisply modern and a bit whimsical at once, it looks great in a wide range of spaces. The woods design gives the illusion of depth, making it ideal for adding character to a "plain white box." Try
Northern VA Furniture & Interiors
Visit one of our showrooms!
Visit one of our showrooms!
Sheffield Furniture & Interiors offers interior design services, high end furniture, custom window treatments and custom upholstery. Our award winning staff of designers are ready to assist you!
House tour: Small eclectic San Francisco Family home
Use wallpaper or even contact paper to the back of bookcase.
Woods wall paper http://www.houzz.com/photos/149300/Woods-Wallpaper-by-Cole---Sons-contemporary-wallpaper- For back of cherry bookcases
Is this woods wallpaper so popular?
Double-sided tape. Houzz contributor Samantha Schoech didn't wait around for a wallpaper hanger; she simply affixed this Woods wallpaper with double-sided tape.
Woods wallpaper in between shelves and faux birds nest
Wallpaper with double stick tape in bookshelves
Double sided tape to attach wallpaper or fabric
double sided tape to hold on small pieces of wallpaper
scraps of Woods wallpaper using double-stick tape. The bookshelf looked too heavy and dark at first, and the paper helps lighten it up.
Fifth Element Homes
The Urban Executives
very subtle use of the Woods wallpaper
Woods wallpaper!!! Cole and sons
wallpaper on narrow wall separating spaces
woods wallpaper on narrow wall to right of our kitchen entrance
put wallpaper with light gray in bathroom
birch tree wallpaper - powder room?
accent wallpaper in one area
Excellent subtle use of wallpaper
Wallpaper focus wall
love the wallpaper for master
wallpaper on an accent
woods wallpaper white on white
dark wood dining set
Wallpaper accent...Woods wallpaper...color and wallpaper...wood flooring...Woods Wallpaper...tree wallpaper
Jenny Baines, Jennifer Baines Interiors
for a wallpaper like this for a client. Would you mind sharing the manufacturer? Thank you!
Love the wallpaper for a hall bath
love the wainscoting with the wallpaper to make it not so overwhelming
Wallpaper, sink, wood siding
funky wallpaper...woods wallpaper?...Woods and wainscoat...LOVE the wallpaper...the wallpaper...wood wallpaper...Like the wallpaper...birch wallpaper...woods wallpaper...stained wood
Michael Fullen Design Group
I feel like I want tree wallpaper some time, somewhere...
Use wallpaper to kick-start imaginative play. This Woods wallpaper by Cole and Son is the perfect backdrop for acting out Little Red Riding Hood.
If your wallpaper can be categorized in the black, white, gray or neutral families, then you’ve got a great opportunity to inject color and a sense of playfulness through bold, colorful prints. It’s a no-brainer for kids’ rooms, where fun is always welcome!
Wallpaper and wood paneling in same room
wallpaper for powder room in kitchen
of the wood surfaces, the views of the trees through the windows and the gray-and-white image of the forest on the paper.
I love the hint of this Woods wallpaper by Cole and Son juxtaposed with a modern kitchen. It’s unpredictable, making the space feel personalized.
hardware, a wallpaper print and striation on the wood paneling.Whether you choose thick or thin, weighty or light — balance is key. Start with your showcase piece and balance its weight. Then come in and counter with the opposite weight to create a well-balanced space.


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text:
Imagine Utah without Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy.
That’s probably easy for the vast majority of you, who likely never heard of the place. The same could be said for the Salt Lake Center for Science Education, Academy for Math Engineering and Science and Intech Collegiate High School.
All four are charter high schools, and all ranked in the top 10 of best performing high schools in the state by U.S. News and World Report.
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I’m guessing the students at these schools wouldn’t want to imagine the state without them.
Maeser was ranked No. 1, by the way. Nationally, that wasn’t unique. The magazine’s top three high schools in Arizona all were charters, and they were ranked as the top three overall high schools nationally, as well.
Last week was National Charter School Week. It’s worth pausing and noting how these unique versions of public schools, cast in controversy from the start and, to a large extent, existing in controversy to this day, have changed the landscape.
I’m not naïve enough to think I’ll end those controversies in one column, nor am I saying there isn’t room for some reform in how charters are governed (as well as in how traditional schools are governed).
But I am saying that choices are good.
That shouldn’t be a stunning statement in America, where people generally understand how choices benefit everything from cell phone plans to churches. For some reason, when it comes to schools, choice becomes a fighting word.
Not all charters are as successful as Maeser. Some have failed. Two years ago, two such schools closed their doors within days of the beginning of the school year, traumatizing parents and students.
But failure is an interesting concept in public education. It isn’t always tied to a school’s finances. When a traditional public school fails to adequately instruct its students, earning a low grade on state assessment tests, for instance, that school continues to operate, often with little adverse publicity. In those cases, the trauma tends to be delayed.
By the same token, choice can be a difficult concept to measure. Critics often point to studies that show students in charter schools score about the same on tests as their counterparts in traditional public schools. This is true, but it masks the whole story.
I admit to a conflict in this discussion. Years ago, one of my sons — now a college-educated adult in a successful career — was struggling in a traditional school. My wife and I decided to enroll him in a charter school.
He thrived. He gained a love of learning, earned an associate’s degree at the same time he graduated from high school and was accepted to a good university.
He performed about as well as a good student in a regular high school, which is to say he wouldn’t have skewed those results that show charters performing about the same as regular schools. But try quantifying how important the choice was for him.
We have other children who thrived in regular public schools and entered successful careers, as well. That doesn’t diminish the value of choices.
While we’re contemplating charters, it’s worth noting that the state’s charter schools, collectively, receive more funding for special education students than any district in the state, which is a direct result of enrolling more such students, according to a document prepared for the 2016 Legislature.
They also are about as diverse as the neighborhoods in which they exist. Maeser, for instance, has 23 percent minority enrollment, and 9 percent economically disadvantaged students.
I mention this only to dispel some common myths about charter enrollment and, undoubtedly, to stoke the fires of controversy.
But let’s face it, that controversy seems a bit silly in the context of how poorly American students perform in relation to kids in other developed countries. The Programme for International Student Assessment found last year that American students continue to finish behind those in many other industrialized nations in math and science.
Other tests, such ones administered by the National Assessment of Educational Progress, show math and science scores declining slightly.
Charters alone won’t help that situation. But letting go of the traditions and ideological bunkers that fuel a lot of the controversies around them would be a good start.
So would an honest study of what makes Maeser and some other charters so successful.