WO2004047954A1

WO2004047954A1 - Gas filtering manifold and means for measuring the filter’s weight

Info

Publication number: WO2004047954A1
Application number: PCT/GB2003/005106
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert David Whalley
Original assignee: Vet-Tech Solutions Limited
Priority date: 2002-11-23
Filing date: 2003-11-24
Publication date: 2004-06-10
Also published as: AU2003288389A1; GB0227368D0

Abstract

Gas Filter Manifolds and Uses of same. A gas filtering manifold for a gaseous flow arrangement. The arrangement comprising a gas conducting structure having an inlet and a filter for removing one or more components of the gaseous flow from said gaseous flow. The filter is disposed within the gas conducting structure. The arrangement also includes in-situ weighing means for measuring variations in the weight of the filter, the in-situ weighing means being adapted to measure said variations whilst the filter is disposed within the gas conducting structure.

Description

GAS FILTERING MANIFORLD AND MEANS FOR MEASURING THE FILTER'S WEIGHT

This invention relates to gas filtering manifolds, gas flow assemblies incorporating same, and uses thereof. The invention has particular, but by no means exclusive, reference to veterinary applications.

In the veterinary field, it is known to provide arrangements whereby a gaseous flow is introduced to an enclosed area and subsequently exhausted therefrom. The gaseous flow may contain an anaesthetic gas, which may be present in high enough concentration to euthanise an animal which is held in the enclosed area. Other gases than purely anaesthetic gases might be used in instances in which the intended outcome is the death of the animal. For the avoidance of doubt, in the context of the present application "veterinary" is understood to include laboratory experiments in which an animal is sacrificed for the purposes of scientific or medical experimentation.

In such known prior art arrangements, it is common to provide a filter in the exhaust flow path to remove the anaesthetic or other active gaseous component prior to venting the gaseous flow to atmosphere. In typical arrangements, a filter is provided with a fitting which mates with or is otherwise adapted to engage with the exhaust gas manifold. The filter is disposed on top of and in direct contact with a fan unit, said fan unit being provided in order to vent the gaseous flow. A problem that is encountered with such arrangements is that the filter is only able to absorb a certain amount of gas. Once saturation of the filter has occurred, the filter is no longer able to remove the anaesthetic or other active gas, and thus this gas is vented into the atmosphere. This is undesirable and in many instances illegal. Thus, a filter has a finite lifetime, but this lifetime is dependent inter alia on the amount of usage, flow rates, concentration of anaesthetic gas used, and manufacturing variations in the filter. Therefore, it is not possible to predict with any accuracy apriori what the lifetime of a filter will be. The prior art solution to this problem has been to introduce a procedure whereby the filter is regularly removed from the gaseous flow arrangement and weighed. A filter is rejected once its weight has increased during usage by a predetermined amount, and a new filter is installed in the gaseous flow arrangements. There are a number of significant disadvantages associated with this procedure. It is cumbersome, time consuming and labour intensive to perform a plurality of weighings which involve disassembly and reassembly of the gaseous flow arrangement. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that the point at which the predetermined weight gain threshold is exceeded will be detected with any accuracy, it being dependent on the frequency with which weighings are made. Furtherstill, there is a danger than an operator might forget to record the pre-use weight of the filter, or that the record of the pre-use weight might be mislaid or destroyed, in which instances it would not be possible to accurately determine when the predetermined weight gain has occurred.

The present invention overcomes the abovementioned problems, and provides improved gaseous flow arrangements, in particular improved exhaust gas systems for gaseous flow arrangements.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a gas filtering manifold for a gaseous flow arrangement comprising:

a gas conducting structure having an inlet;

a filter for removing one or more components of the gaseous flow from said gaseous flow, the filter being disposed within the gas conducting structure; and in-situ weighing means for measuring variations in the weight of the filter, the in-situ weighing means being adapted to measure said variations whilst the filter is disposed within the gas conducting structure.

By providing in-situ weighting of the filter, the need to regularly remove the filter for external weighing is obviated, and thus the disadvantages associated with the above mentioned prior art technique are avoided. Although preferred embodiments of the invention refer to veterinary applications, the invention relates to the filtering of gases er se. There are numerous other areas of application such as in human anaesthetics and in applications in which the removal of toxic gases is desired. It should be appreciated that the term "in-situ weighing means" does not imply that the weighing means is entirely disposed within the manifold: indeed, it is generally the case that some or all of the in-situ weighing means is disposed outside of the manifold. For example, it is possible to determine the weight of the filter through an external interrogation technique, such as an optical technique. Alternatively, one or more weight sensitive sensors may be disposed within the manifold.

The in-situ weighing means maybe adapted to provide a warning condition when the weight of the filter increases by a predetermined amount. The warning condition, which may be visual and/or audible, might indicate when the weight gain of the filter is such that a replacement filter is required.

The filter may be mechanically isolated from the inlet. This is in contrast to the prior art arrangements described above, and is a key step in providing practical in-situ weighing of the filter. Advantageously, the filter is mechanically isolated from the entire manifold except the in-situ weighing means. The in-situ weighing means may comprise a weighing portion positioned within the gas filtering manifold, and the filter may be disposed upon said weighing portion.

The weighing portion may comprise one or more weight measuring transducers, which may be strain gauges .

The weighing portion may comprise a weighing plate upon which the filter is disposed. The weighing plate may comprise one or more apertures perrmtting the gaseous flow to flow across said weighing plate.

The gas filtering manifold may comprise a filter retaining enclosure, and the filter may be mechanically isolated from said filter retaining enclosure.

The gas filtering manifold may further comprise an enclosure retaining surface upon which the filter retaining enclosure is disposed, in which the enclosure retaining surface defines an aperture in which the weighing plate resides, and wherein the filter and the weighing plate are mechanically isolated from the enclosure retaining surface.

The gas filtering manifold may be an exhaust gas filtering manifold. The exhaust gas filtering manifold may comprise a fan, preferably a fan disposed downstream of the filter.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a gaseous flow arrangement incorporating a gas filtering manifold according to the first aspect of the invention. According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a veterinary device comprising an gaseous flow arrangement adapted to provide a flow of gaseous atmosphere to an animal and incorporating a gas filtering manifold according to the first aspect of the invention.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided the use of a gas filtering manifold according to the first aspect of the invention in the provision of a gaseous flow.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided the use of a gas filtering manifold according to the first aspect of the invention in a veterinary apparatus so as to provide a flow of a gaseous atmosphere to an animal.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention there is provided a kit of parts for providing a gas filtering manifold according to the first aspect of the invention.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention there is provided a gas filtering manifold for gaseous flow arrangement comprising:

a gas conducting structure having an inlet; and

a filter for removing one or more components of the gaseous flow from said gaseous flow, the filter being disposed within the gas conducting structure;

in which the filter is mechanically isolated from the inlet.

The mechanical isolation of the filter is key to the provision of in-situ weighing of the filter. A further advantage is that removal of the filter can be accomplished quickly and conveniently. The manifold may further comprise a weighing portion positioned within the gas filtering manifold, the filter being disposed upon said weighing portion. The weighing portion may comprise one or more weight measuring transducers. The transducers may be strain gauges.

The weighing portion may comprise a weighing plate upon which the filter is disposed. The weighing plate may comprise one or more apertures permitting the gaseous flow to flow across said weighing plate.

The m anifold m ay c omprise a filter r etaining e nclosure, t he filter b eing mechanically isolated from said filter retaining enclosure. The manifold may further comprise an enclosure retaining surface upon which the filter retaining enclosure is disposed, in which the retaining surface defines an aperture in which the weighing plate resides, and wherein the filter and the weighing plate are mechanically isolated from the enclosure retaining surface. The manifold may further comprise a weight sensing plate comprising one or more flexing portions which are in engagement with the weighing plate so that an increase in the weight of the filter causes the flexing portion to flex. The flexing portions may comprise a plurality of inwardly extending bars. The weighing plate may comprise a downwardly depending portion in engagement with the inwardly extending bars.

The weighing plate portion may further comprise a compressible layer disposed between the weighing plate and the weight sensing plate.

The gas filtering manifold may be an exhaust gas filtering manifold. The exhaust gas filtering manifold may comprise a fan, preferably a fan disposed downstream of the filter. According to an eighth aspect of the invention there is provided a gaseous flow arrangement incorporating a gas filtering manifold according to the seventh aspect of the invention.

According to a ninth aspect of the invention there is provided a veterinary device comprising a gaseous flow arrangement adapted to provide a flow of a gaseous atmosphere to an animal and incorporating a gas filtering manifold according to the seventh aspect of the invention.

According to a tenth aspect of the invention there is provided the use of a gas filtering manifold according to the seventh aspect of the invention in the provision of a gaseous flow.

According to an eleventh aspect of the invention there is provided the use of a gas filtering manifold according to the seventh aspect of the invention in a veterinary apparatus so as to provide a flow of a gaseous atmosphere to an animal.

According to a twelfth aspect of the invention there is provided a kit of parts for providing a gas filtering manifold according to the seventh aspect of the invention.

Devices and uses of same in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is an exploded side view of a manifold according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a partially exploded cross sectional side view of the manifold of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross sectional side view of an exhaust system incorporating the manifold of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a side view of an assembled manifold.

Figure 1 shows an exploded side view of a gas filtering manifold, shown generally at 10, in accordance with the invention. The manifold 10 comprises a filter retaining enclosure 12 which consists of a generally cylindrical tubular portion 12a having an inner lip 12b, and a top portion 12c which has an inlet 12d. The filter retaining enclosure 12 is disposed upon an enclosure retaining surface 14 which has an aperture 14a. The inner lip 12b fits snugly into the aperture 14a. In use, a gas filter is disposed in the enclosure 12, but for presentational purposes the filter is not shown in Figure 1.

The manifold 10 further comprises a weighing plate 16 which is shaped to fit within the aperture 14a, in mechanical isolation from the inner lip 12b of the tubular portion 12a. The weighing plate 16 has a plurality of apertures 16a which permit passage of a gaseous flow therethrough. It should be noted that the apertures 16a need not be entirely enclosed by the weighing plate 16 in order to perform their intended function: rather, the apertures might comprise mouth portions extending inwards from the periphery of the weighing plate. The weighing plate 16 is mounted on a compressible annular plate 18 which in turn is mounted on a weight sensing plate 20. The weight sensing plate 20 comprises an outer ring 20a, and an inner ring 20b having inwardly extending bars 20c. The triangular shaped inner ends of the bars 20c are nearly coterminus at the centre of the weight sensing plate 20; however, the bars 20c are not in connection with one another, and are able to flex when weight is applied to the weighing plate 16 in a manner which is more fully explained below. Furthermore, the ends of the bars 20c define a small gap through which a fastening device can protrude in a manner which, again, is explained in more detail below. The weight sensing plate 20 further comprises weight measuring transducers such as strain gauges 20d which measure the deflection of the inwardly extending bars 20c and thus detect variations in the weight applied to the weighing plate 16. The measurements made by the strain gauges 20d are fed via electrical connectors 22 to a control assembly 24 which incorporates circuitry 26 adapted to utilise the measurements made by the strain gauges 20d. In particular, the control assembly 24 may be adapted to provide a warning if the weight of the filter increases by an amount that exceeds a predetermined threshold. In this way, an operator is notified of the optimal juncture at which the filter can be replaced. The warning might be visual and/or audible. In principle, at least, the warning might initiate an automated filter replacement procedure. Additionally, or alternatively, it is possible to record and follow the variation in the weight of the filter as a function of time using the control assembly 24. The absolute weight - rather than the variation in the weight - of the filter might be measured if the weight measuring transducers are properly calibrated: such techniques are well known to those skilled in the art. The circuitry 26 is disposed on a base portion 24a of the control assembly 24. The control assembly further comprises a front portion 24b, a back portion 24c and side portions 24d which are in connection with the enclosure retaining surface 14. The weighing plate 16, annular plate 18 and weight sensing plate 20 are, in use, housed within the space defined by the enclosure retaining surface 14 and the control assembly 24. The base portion 24a has an aperture formed therein permitting gas to exit from the assembly 24.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional exploded view of the manifold shown in Figure 1, whilst Figure 3 is a cross sectional view through an entire assembled exhaust system incorporating the manifold of Figures 1 and 2. Figures 1, 2 and 3 share many common features, and identical numerals are used to denote such common features. Additionally, Figure 2 shows a filter 30 disposed within the filter retaining enclosure 12. The filter 30 may be of any design or material suitable for the intended application. In the case of anaesthetic gases, an activated charcoal filter is suitable. The dimensions of the filter 30 and the other elements in the manifold 10 are such that the upper part of the filter forms a substantially gas tight seal with the top portion 12c but the filter is mechanically isolated from the filter retaining enclosure 12. In particular, the filter 30 is not fitted or otherwise connected to the top portion 12c nor to any conduit or structure entering the manifold through the inlet 12d. This has the consequence that the weight of the filter 30 is not counterbalanced or held in any way apart from the resistance provided by the weighing portion. The mechanical isolation of the filter 30 is a key aspect of the provision of a practical in-situ weighing system which is sensitive to variations in the weight of the filter 30. It is also important that the filter 30 is not counterbalanced or held in any way by the filter retaining enclosure 12 or the enclosure retaining surface 14. Figure 2 also depicts the top of a fan unit 28. The fan unit 28, together with the precise mode of operation of the weight sensing plate 20, are explained to best effect with reference to Figure 3. In Figure 3, the mounting of the tubular portion 12a in the enclosure retaining surface 14 by way of the inner lip 12b fitting into the aperture 14a can be seen. Also, location of the weighing plate 16, annular plate 18 and weight sensing plate 20 can be discerned. As noted above, the dimensions of the components are such that the weighing plate 16 is in mechanical isolation from the inner lip 12b of the tubular portion 12a.

Figure 3 also shows that the weighing plate 16 has a downwardly extending tubular portion 16a. The dimensions of the tubular portion 16a are such that when the manifold is assembled, the free end of the tubular portion 16a is substantially at the level of the inwardly extending bars 20c of the weight sensing plate 20. A fastening device 32 is passed through the abovementioned gap between the bars 20c and is connected to the tubular portion 16a, thereby coupling the weighing plate 16 and the weight sensing plate 20 together. The fastening device 32 can be a screw, in which instance the tubular portion 16a has a threaded inner bore. The fan unit 28 comprises an outer body 34 and a fan 36 which acts to expel the filtered gas passing through the exhaust system. The fan unit 28 further comprises a motor 38 to drive the fan 36, a fan housing 39 and a circular mounting portion 40. The circular mounting portion 40 and fan housing 39 define a conduit through which filtered gas is propelled by the fan 36. The filtered gas exits the fan unit 28 through a vent 42. The weight sensing plate 20 is mounted on the circular mounting portion 40, the weight sensing plate 20 having a small flange 20e which locates between the circular mounting portion 40 and the base portion 24a of the control assembly 24. Connectors such as screws 44 can be used to secure the weight sensing plate 20 to the mounting portion 40.

In use, the filter 30 rests upon the weighing plate 16, forming a gas tight seal therewith. As increasing amounts of gases are absorbed onto the filter 30, the weight of the filter 30 increases and hence an increasing force is applied to the weighing plate 16. Since the annular plate 18 is compressible, the level of the weighing plate 16 will decrease slightly as the weight of the filter increases. However, the level of the outer ring 20a of the weight sensing plate 20 does not decrease to any significant extent since it is fabricated from a substantially non-compressible material and it is supported by the fan unit 28, which also is substantially non-compressible. As a result, the decrease in the level of the weighing plate 16 caused by an increase in the weight of the filter 30 causes a decrease in the level of inner ends of the bars 20c, but not in the level of the outer ring 20a. Thus, increases in the weight of the filter 30 cause a flexing of the bars 20c. The flexing of the bars 20c is detected by the strain gauges 20d thereby permitting in-situ detection of weight variations in the filter 30. The annular plate 18 can be formed from a foam, which should be substantially impermeable to gases. The weighing plate 16 and weight sensing plate 20 can be formed from metal, although other materials, such as plastics, may be suitable.

As noted above, the measurements obtained by the strain gauges 20d are processed by the circuitry 26. Suitable circuitry, which might include a microprocessor and analogue to digital converter, is well known to those skilled in the art. The measurements made by the strain gauges 20d are temperature dependent, and in preferred embodiments a temperature correction routine is performed in order to eliminate the effects of temperature from the measurements. This can be done by measuring ambient temperature, and applying an appropriate correction obtained from a look up table. Calibration of the arrangement maybe required in order to convert the raw deflection data provided by the strain gauges into quantitative weight or weight variation measurements. In the instance in which a standard activated charcoal filter is used, a typical weight increase which is taken to be indicative of saturation of the filter is 200g, although this figure should not be taken to be a limiting one.

Figure 4 shows the gas filtering manifold of Figures 1 to 3 when assembled. A power switch 46 is provided to control the supply of the electrical power to the fan motor 38. Electrical power to the circuitry 26 is provided by a mains connection (not shown). A fitting 48 is in connection with the inlet 12d of the filter retaining enclosure 12. The fitting 48 in the embodiment shown in Figure 4 is a three way adaptor which is in gas conducting connection with conduits 50, 52, which might be flexible tubing or any other suitable form of gas conducting conduit. The manifold of Figure 4 might be connected to a veterinary device for anaesthetising or sacrificing animals, or another form of gaseous flow arrangement. The dual conduit connection shown in Figure 4 enables two devices to be vented by a single exhaust manifold. Of course, a single exhaust manifold may be connected to a single device, or to a greater number of devices.

There are numerous variations to the embodiment so depicted in Figures 1 to 4 which are within the scope of the invention. For example, other weight measuring transducers, such as piezoelectric sensors, might be used. In principle, the compressible annular portion might be dispensed with, particularly if the weight sensing plate is larger than the weighing plate, and the weighing plate is positioned solely in engagement with a flexing portion of the weight sensing plate. Although the embodiment depicted in Figures 1 to 4 is very convenient, there are other arrangements which the skilled person might contemplate. The shape and configuration of the components can be varied; for example, circular symmetry is not a necessary requirement. Furthermore, there are other arrangements involving other flexing portions which might be utilised in place of the inwardly extending bars. It may be possible to incorporate the weight measuring transducers in the weighing plate itself. Alternatively, it may be possible to measure the weight of the filter in-situ by using an external interrogation technique. For example, the decrease in the level of the filter caused by its increased weight might be monitored by an external imaging or tracking technique, such as an optical technique that might follow the movement of a marker on or in connection with the filter. In addition to applications in veterinary science, the invention might be utilised in other application areas, such as human anaesthetics and the removal of toxic gases, or of undesired particulates in a gas flow, such as pollutants or microorganisms.

Claims

1. A gas filtering manifold for a gaseous flow arrangement comprising:

a gas conducting structure having an inlet;

a filter for removing one or more components of the gaseous flow from said gaseous flow, the filter being disposed within the gas conducting structure; and

in-situ weighing means for measuring variations in the weight of the filter, the in-situ weighing means being adapted to measure said variations whilst the filter is disposed within the gas conducting structure.

2. A gas filtering manifold according to claim 1 in which the in-situ weighing means is adapted to provide a warning condition when the weight of the filter increases by a predetermined amount.

3. A gas filtering manifold according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the filter is mechanically isolated from the inlet.

4. A gas filtering manifold according to any of claims 1 to 3 in which the in-situ weighmg means comprises a weighing portion positioned within the gas filtering manifold, and the filter is disposed upon said weighing portion.

5. A gas filtering manifold according to claim 4 in which the weighing portion comprises one or more weight measuring transducers.

6. A gas filtering manifold according to claim 5 in which the transducers are strain gauges.

7. A gas filtering manifold according to any of claims 4 to 6 in which the weighing portion comprises a weighing plate upon which the filter is disposed.

8. A gas filtering manifold according to claim 7 in which the weighing plate comprises one or more apertures permitting the gaseous flow to flow across said weighing plate.

9. A gas filtering manifold according to any previous claim comprising a filter retaining enclosure, in which the filter is mechanically isolated from said filter retaining enclosure.

10. A gas filtering manifold according to claim 9 when dependent on claim 7 or claim 8 further comprising an enclosure retaining surface upon which the filter retaining enclosure is disposed, in which the enclosure retaining surface defines an aperture in which the weighing plate resides, and wherein the filter and the weighing plate are mechanically isolated from the enclosure retaining surface.

11. A gas filtering manifold according to claim 10 further comprising a weight sensing plate comprising one or more flexing portions which are in engagement with the weighing plate so that an increase in the weight of the filter causes the flexing portion to flex.

12. A gas filtering manifold according to claim 11 in which the flexing portions comprise a plurality of inwardly extending bars.

13. A gas filtering manifold according to claim 12 in which the weighing plate comprises a downwardly depending portion in engagement with the inwardly extending bars.

14. A gas filtering manifold according to any of claims 11 to 13 in which the weighing portion further comprises a compressible layer disposed between the weighing plate and the weight sensing plate.

15. An exhaust gas filtering manifold for a gaseous flow arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 14.

16. An exhaust gas filtering manifold according to claim 15 comprising a fan, preferably in which the fan is disposed downstream of the filter.

17. A gaseous flow arrangement incorporating a gas filtering manifold according to any of claims T to 16.

18. A veterinary device comprising a gaseous flow arrangement adapted to provide a flow of a gaseous atmosphere to an animal and incorporating a gas filtermg manifold according to any of claims 1 to 16.

19. The use of a gas filtering manifold according to any of claims 1 to 16 in the provision of a gaseous flow.

20. The use of a gas filtering manifold according to any of claims 1 to 16 in a veterinary apparatus so as to provide a flow of a gaseous atmosphere to an animal.

21. A kit of parts for providing a gas filtering manifold according to any of claims 1 to 16.

22. A gas filtering manifold for gaseous flow arrangement comprising:

a gas conducting structure having an inlet; and

in which the filter is mechanically isolated from the inlet.

23. A gas filtering manifold according to claim 22 further comprising a weighing portion positioned within the gas filtering manifold, in which the filter is disposed upon said weighing portion.

24. A gas filtering manifold according to claim 23 in which the weighing portion comprises one or more weight measuring transducers.

25. A gas filtering manifold according to claim 24 in which the transducers are strain gauges.

26. A gas filtering manifold according to any of claims 23 to 25 in which the weighing portion comprises a weighing plate upon which the filter is disposed.

27. A gas filtering manifold according to claim 26 in which the weighing plate comprises one or more apertures permitting the gaseous flow to flow across said weighing plate.

28. A gas filtering manifold according to any of claims 22 to 27 comprising a filter retaining enclosure, in which the filter is mechanically isolated from said filter retaining enclosure.

29. A gas filtering manifold according to claim 28 when dependent on claim 26 or claim 27 further comprising an enclosure retaining surface upon which the filter retaining enclosure is disposed, in which the enclosure retaining surface defines an aperture in which the weighing plate resides, and wherein the filter and the weighing plate are mechanically isolated from the enclosure retaining surface.

30. A gas filtering manifold according to claim 29 further comprising a weight sensing plate comprising one or more flexing portions which are in engagement with the weighing plate so that an increase in the weight of the filter causes the flexing portion to flex.

31. A gas filtering manifold according to claim 30 in which the flexing portions comprise a plurality of inwardly extending bars.

32. A gas filtering manifold according to claim 31 in which the weighing plate comprises a downwardly depending portion in engagement with the inwardly extending bars.

33. A gas filtering manifold according to claims 30 to 32 in which the weighing portion further comprises a compressible layer disposed between the weighing plate and the weight sensing plate.

34. An exhaust gas filtering manifold for a gaseous flow arrangement according to any of claims 22 to 33.

35. An exhaust gas filtering manifold according to claim 34 comprising a fan, preferably in which the fan is disposed downstream of the filter.

36. A gaseous flow arrangement incorporating a gas filtering manifold according to any of claims 22 to 35.

37. A veterinary device comprising a gaseous flow arrangement adapted to provide a flow of a gaseous atmosphere to an animal and incorporating a gas filtering manifold according to any of claims 22 to 35.

38. The use of a gas filtering manifold according to any of claims 22 to 35 in the provision of a gaseous flow.

39. The use of a gas filtering manifold according to any of claims 22 to 36 in a veterinary apparatus so as to provide a glow of a gaseous atmosphere to an animal.

40. A kit of parts for providing a gas filtering manifold according to any of claims

22 to 35.

41. A gas filtering manifold substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the description and/or the drawings.