阅读说明：本技术 一种合金液自动测温系统及其控制方法 (Automatic alloy liquid temperature measuring system and control method thereof ) 是由 李新豪 陈苏坚 李升� 李旭涛 王永科 于 2020-12-03 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供一种合金液自动测温系统及其控制方法,对测温模块设有限位开关和时间控制,当限位信号未传输到控制模块时,还可通过时间控制把电机停下来,否则电机未接收到限位开关信号一直处于得电状态,测温模块被卡住,时间长了,电机就会烧掉,本发明提供的合金液自动测温系统及其控制方法可实现快速测温且可提高合金液自动测温系统安全性,延长合金液自动测温系统的使用寿命。(The invention provides an automatic temperature measurement system of alloy liquid and a control method thereof.A temperature measurement module is provided with a limit switch and time control, when a limit signal is not transmitted to the control module, a motor can be stopped through the time control, otherwise, the motor is not in a power-on state all the time when receiving the limit switch signal, the temperature measurement module is blocked, and the motor can be burnt after a long time.)

1. An automatic alloy liquid temperature measuring system is characterized by comprising a control module, a temperature measuring module, a first timing module and a first limiting module, wherein the control module can control the temperature measuring module to move downwards, when the control module starts to move downwards, the first timing module starts to time,

when the timing time of the first timing module reaches a first preset time value, the control module controls the temperature measuring module to stop moving downwards;

when the timing time of the first timing module is smaller than a first preset time value and the temperature measuring module triggers the first limiting module in the downward moving process, the first timing module stops timing, and the control module controls the temperature measuring module to stop moving downward.

2. The alloy liquid automatic temperature measurement system of claim 1, further comprising an alarm module, wherein the alarm module sends an alarm message when the timing time of the first timing module reaches a first preset time value.

3. The automatic temperature measurement system for alloy liquid according to claim 1, wherein the control module is further configured to receive a temperature value measured by the temperature measurement module, and when the temperature measurement module stops moving downward and a change value of the temperature value received by the control module within a second predetermined time value is smaller than a predetermined change value, the control module controls the temperature measurement module to start moving upward.

4. The automatic temperature measurement system of alloy liquid according to claim 1, further comprising a second timing module, wherein the second timing module starts timing when the temperature measurement module stops moving downward, and the control module controls the temperature measurement module to start moving upward when the timing time of the second timing module reaches a third preset time value;

or when the first timing module starts to time, the second timing module also starts to time, and when the timing time of the second timing module reaches a third preset time value, the control module controls the temperature measuring module to start to move upwards.

5. The automatic temperature measurement system for alloy liquid according to claim 4, wherein the control module is further configured to receive the temperature value measured by the temperature measurement module, and when the timing time of the second timing module is less than a third preset time value and the variation value of the temperature value received by the control module within the second preset time value is less than a preset variation value, the second timing module stops timing, and the control module controls the temperature measurement module to start moving upward.

6. The automatic temperature measurement system for alloy liquid according to claim 1, further comprising a third timing module, wherein the control module is further configured to control the temperature measurement module to move upward, the third timing module starts timing when the temperature measurement module starts moving upward, and the control module controls the temperature measurement module to stop moving upward when the timing time of the third timing module reaches a fourth preset time value.

7. The automatic temperature measurement system of alloy liquid according to claim 6, further comprising a second limit module, wherein when a third timing module counts time less than a fourth preset time value and the temperature measurement module triggers the second limit module during upward movement, the third timing module stops timing and the control center controls the temperature measurement module to stop upward movement;

the automatic alloy liquid temperature measuring system further comprises an alarm module, and when the timing time of the third timing module reaches a fourth preset time value, the alarm module sends out alarm information.

8. The automatic temperature measurement system of alloy liquid according to claim 1, wherein the temperature measurement module comprises a motor and a temperature measurement body, and the temperature measurement body can be driven by the motor to move downwards or upwards;

when the temperature measuring main body starts to move downwards, the first timing module starts to time,

when the timing time of the first timing module reaches a first preset time value, the motor stops working;

when the timing time of the first timing module is smaller than a first preset time value and the temperature measuring module triggers the first limiting module in the downward moving process, the first timing module stops timing and the motor stops working.

9. The automatic temperature measurement system of alloy liquid according to claim 1, further comprising a wireless communication module for wirelessly communicating with an external user and receiving control commands from the external user.

10. A control method of an alloy liquid automatic temperature measurement system is characterized by comprising the following steps:

the temperature measuring module moves downwards, and the first timing module starts timing;

when the timing time of the first timing module reaches a first preset time value, the control module controls the temperature measuring module to stop moving downwards;

when the timing time of the first timing module is smaller than a first preset time value and the temperature measuring module triggers the first limiting module in the downward moving process, the first timing module stops timing, and the control module controls the temperature measuring module to stop moving downward.

Technical Field

The invention relates to the field of temperature measuring devices, in particular to an alloy liquid automatic temperature measuring system and a control method thereof.

Background

In the alloy smelting industry, the alloy liquid temperature is a very important parameter, and the alloy liquid temperature needs to be measured in real time. When the temperature needs to be measured, the furnace door is opened, and a thermocouple is manually held and inserted into the alloy liquid from the furnace door to measure the temperature. The existing alloy liquid automatic temperature measuring system utilizes a control device to control a lifting system to drive a temperature measuring thermocouple to extend into alloy liquid of a smelting device for temperature measurement according to a preset temperature measuring period, after the preset retention time is reached, the lifting system is controlled to drive the temperature measuring thermocouple to rise so that the temperature measuring thermocouple is separated from the alloy liquid level of the smelting device, however, once a limit switch of the lifting device is broken in the method, a motor is in a power-on state or a signal of the limit switch is not received, the thermocouple is clamped at the end, the motor burns off or the thermocouple is damaged due to long-term invasion in the alloy liquid, great loss is caused, and the thermocouple may not obtain stable alloy liquid temperature in the temperature measuring period, resulting in inaccurate data.

Disclosure of Invention

Aiming at the defects of the prior art, the invention provides the control method which can realize quick temperature measurement and accurate measurement of the alloy liquid automatic temperature measurement system and can improve the safety of the alloy liquid automatic temperature measurement system.

The invention provides an alloy liquid automatic temperature measurement system which comprises a control module, a temperature measurement module, a first timing module and a first limiting module, wherein the control module can control the temperature measurement module to move downwards, when the control module starts to move downwards, the first timing module starts to time,

when the timing time of the first timing module reaches a first preset time value, the control module controls the temperature measuring module to stop moving downwards;

when the timing time of the first timing module is smaller than a first preset time value and the temperature measuring module triggers the first limiting module in the downward moving process, the first timing module stops timing, and the control module controls the temperature measuring module to stop moving downward.

Preferably, the alloy liquid automatic temperature measurement system further comprises an alarm module, and when the timing time of the first timing module reaches a first preset time value, the alarm module sends out alarm information.

Preferably, the control module is further configured to receive the temperature value measured by the temperature measurement module, and when the temperature measurement module stops moving downwards and a change value of the temperature value received by the control module within a second preset time value is smaller than a preset change value, the control module controls the temperature measurement module to start moving upwards.

Preferably, the automatic alloy liquid temperature measuring system further comprises a second timing module, when the temperature measuring module stops moving downwards, the second timing module starts timing, and when the timing time of the second timing module reaches a third preset time value, the control module controls the temperature measuring module to start moving upwards;

or when the first timing module starts to time, the second timing module also starts to time, and when the timing time of the second timing module reaches a third preset time value, the control module controls the temperature measuring module to start to move upwards.

Preferably, the control module is further configured to receive the temperature value measured by the temperature measurement module, and when the timing time of the second timing module is smaller than a third preset time value and the variation value of the temperature value received by the control module in the second preset time value is smaller than a preset variation value, the second timing module stops timing, and the control module controls the temperature measurement module to start moving upward.

Preferably, the alloy liquid automatic temperature measurement system further comprises a third timing module, the control module is further configured to control the temperature measurement module to move upwards, when the temperature measurement module starts to move upwards, the third timing module starts to time, and when the time counted by the third timing module reaches a fourth preset time value, the control module controls the temperature measurement module to stop moving upwards.

Preferably, the automatic alloy liquid temperature measuring system further comprises a second limiting module, when the timing time of the third timing module is smaller than a fourth preset time value, and the temperature measuring module triggers the second limiting module in the upward movement process, the third timing module stops timing, and the control center controls the temperature measuring module to stop moving upward.

Preferably, the temperature measuring module comprises a motor and a temperature measuring main body, and the temperature measuring main body can move downwards or upwards under the driving of the motor;

when the temperature measuring main body starts to move downwards, the first timing module starts to time,

when the timing time of the first timing module reaches a first preset time value, the motor stops working;

when the timing time of the first timing module is smaller than a first preset time value and the temperature measuring module triggers the first limiting module in the downward moving process, the first timing module stops timing and the motor stops working.

Preferably, the alloy liquid automatic temperature measurement system further comprises an alarm module, and when the timing time of the first timing module reaches a first preset time value, the alarm module sends out alarm information.

Preferably, the alloy liquid automatic temperature measuring system further comprises a wireless communication module, and the wireless communication module is used for being in wireless communication connection with an external user side and receiving a control instruction of the external user side.

The invention also provides a control method of the alloy liquid automatic temperature measurement system, which is characterized by comprising the following steps:

the temperature measuring module moves downwards, and the first timing module starts timing;

when the timing time of the first timing module reaches a first preset time value, the control module controls the temperature measuring module to stop moving downwards;

when the timing time of the first timing module is smaller than a first preset time value and the temperature measuring module triggers the first limiting module in the downward moving process, the first timing module stops timing, and the control module controls the temperature measuring module to stop moving downward

The automatic temperature measuring system for the alloy liquid and the control method thereof can realize quick temperature measurement and accurate temperature measurement of the alloy liquid, and can improve the safety of the automatic temperature measuring system for the alloy liquid.

Drawings

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the drawings, and the drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale in actual dimensions, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a connection mechanism of an automatic temperature measurement system for molten alloy according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic flow chart illustrating a control method of an automatic temperature measuring system for molten alloy according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3 is a schematic view of a connection structure of an alloy liquid automatic temperature measuring system and a melting device provided by an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description

To facilitate an understanding of the invention, the invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element and be integral therewith, or intervening elements may also be present. The terms "mounted," "one end," "the other end," and the like are used herein for illustrative purposes only.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The terminology used in the description herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Referring to fig. 1-3, an embodiment of the present invention provides an alloy liquid automatic temperature measurement system, including a control module 1, a temperature measurement module 2, a first timing module 3, and a first limit module 4, where the control module 1 may control the temperature measurement module 2 to move downward, when the control module 1 starts to move downward, the first timing module 3 starts to time,

when the timing time of the first timing module 3 reaches a first preset time value, the control module 1 controls the temperature measuring module 2 to stop moving downwards;

when the timing time of the first timing module 3 is smaller than a first preset time value and the temperature measuring module 2 triggers the first limiting module 4 in the downward movement process, the first timing module 3 stops timing, and the control module 1 controls the temperature measuring module 2 to stop moving downward.

In this embodiment, when temperature measurement is needed, the control module 1 controls the temperature measurement module 2 to move downward and extend into the alloy liquid, when the control module 1 starts to move downward, the first timing module 3 starts to time, the temperature measurement module 2 triggers the first limiting module 4 in the downward movement process, when the first limiting module 4 is triggered, the first timing module 3 stops timing, and the control module 1 controls the temperature measurement module 2 to stop moving downward. If the first limiting module 4 cannot be triggered, the temperature measuring module 2 continuously moves downwards, the first timing module 3 continuously counts time, and when the timing time of the first timing module 3 reaches a first preset time value, the control module 1 controls the temperature measuring module 2 to stop moving downwards, so that the problem that the temperature measuring module 2 cannot stop moving when the first limiting module 4 cannot be triggered can be avoided. In this embodiment, the temperature measurement module 2 triggers the first limit module 4 in such a manner that the temperature measurement module 2 touches the first limit module 4; or the first limiting module 4 senses the temperature measuring module 2 or senses that the temperature measuring module 2 reaches a certain position.

Referring to fig. 1-3, in a preferred embodiment, the thermometric module 2 comprises a motor and a thermometric main body 13, wherein the thermometric main body 13 can move downwards or upwards along the support frame 11 under the driving of the motor; when temperature measurement is needed, the motor is started to work, when the temperature measurement main body 13 starts to move downwards, the first timing module 3 starts to time,

when the timing time of the first timing module 3 reaches a first preset time value, the motor stops working, and the temperature measuring main body 13 stops moving downwards;

when the timing time of the first timing module 3 is smaller than a first preset time value and the temperature measuring main body 13 triggers the first limiting module 4 in the downward movement process, the first timing module 3 stops timing, the motor stops working, and the temperature measuring main body 13 stops moving downward.

In this embodiment, through the setting of first spacing module 4 and first timing module 3, carry out duplicate protection to the temperature measurement system, preset the time value through first spacing module 4 and first timing module 3, whether control temperature measurement module 2 stops moving, in order to prevent first spacing module 4 trouble, control module 1 does not receive the information that temperature measurement main part 13 stopped moving downwards, lead to the motor not to receive the close signal and be in the state of getting electric always, and temperature measurement main part 13 is blocked again, and is long-time, the motor will burn, cause the loss. In this embodiment, the control module 1 may be a PLC controller or other controllers. In this embodiment, the temperature measuring body 13 is a thermocouple.

Referring to fig. 1-3, in a preferred embodiment, the temperature measuring main body 13 and the first limiting module 4 can be fixed on the supporting frame 11 by bolts or the like, and the temperature measuring main body 13 and the first limiting module 4 are above the smelting device 12, the temperature measuring main body 13 can slide down along the supporting frame 11 under the driving of a motor, the first limiting module 4 is arranged at the lower side of the supporting frame 11, the first limiting module 4 is triggered during the downward movement of the temperature measuring main body 13, and when the first limiting module 4 is triggered, the control module 1 controls the motor driving the temperature measuring main body 13 to slide down to be turned off; when the control module 1 is damaged by the first limiting module 4 and does not receive a signal for triggering the first limiting module 4, when the temperature measuring main body 13 is driven for a first preset time value, the control module 1 can also control the motor for driving the temperature measuring main body 13 to slide downwards to be turned off, the temperature measuring main body 13 generally stays at the upper end fixed position of the support frame 11, the time for the temperature measuring main body 13 to move from the upper end fixed position of the support frame 11 to the first limiting module 4 is stable, the first preset time is slightly longer than the time for the temperature measuring main body 2 to move from the upper end fixed position of the support frame 11 to the first limiting module 4, namely, the time for triggering the first limiting module 4 in the moving process of the temperature measuring main body 13 is shorter, and the first preset time value is longer. The automatic temperature measuring system for the alloy liquid can be protected more by the arrangement, and the situation that the driving motor is always in a power-on state when not receiving a closing signal, the temperature measuring main body 13 is clamped for a long time, and the motor is burnt to cause greater loss is prevented.

Referring to fig. 1-2, in a preferred embodiment, the alloy liquid automatic temperature measuring system further includes an alarm module 8, and when the timing time of the first timing module 3 reaches a first preset time value, the alarm module 8 sends an alarm message, in this embodiment. If the first limiting module 4 has no fault and can be triggered, the first timing module 3 stops timing; when the first limiting module 4 breaks down, the timing time of the first timing module 3 reaches a first preset time value, the system triggers the alarm module 8, and the alarm module 8 can send out corresponding alarm information according to the fact that the timing time of the first timing module 3 reaches the preset value to remind a worker of overhauling.

Referring to fig. 1-3, in a preferred embodiment, the control module 1 is further configured to receive a temperature value measured by the temperature measurement module 2, and when the temperature measurement module 2 stops moving downwards and a variation value of the temperature value received by the control module 1 within a second preset time value is smaller than a preset variation value, determine that the temperature value measured by the temperature measurement module 2 is stable, and the control module 1 controls the temperature measurement module 2 to start moving upwards, so as to bring the temperature measurement module 2 with the clutch gold liquid. In this embodiment, the temperature measuring module 2 extends into the alloy liquid in the downward movement process, the temperature measuring module 2 starts measuring the temperature, the temperature measuring module 2 stops moving after reaching the first limiting module 4, when the change value of the temperature value received by the control module 1 in a certain time is smaller than the preset change value, it is indicated that the measured temperature of the alloy liquid tends to be stable, the control module 1 records the temperature at the moment and controls the temperature measuring module 2 to rise, the temperature measurement is stopped, and the alloy liquid is evacuated. For example, the second preset time value is 10 seconds, the preset variation value is 2 ℃, and when the variation value of the temperature value received by the control module 1 in every 10 seconds is less than 2 ℃, the temperature value measured by the temperature measurement module 2 is judged to be stable, and the control module 1 controls the temperature measurement module 2 to start moving upwards. In this embodiment, the temperature measuring module 2 is directly controlled to rise by the control module 1 according to the temperature variation value measured by the temperature measuring module 2, so that the service life of the temperature measuring module 2 can be better prolonged.

Referring to fig. 1-2, in a preferred embodiment, the automatic temperature measuring system for alloy liquid further includes a second timing module 5, when the temperature measuring module 2 stops moving downwards, the second timing module 5 starts timing, and when the timing time of the second timing module 5 reaches a third preset time value, the control module 1 controls the temperature measuring module 2 to start moving upwards. The temperature measuring time of the temperature measuring module 2 is controlled by the second timing module 5, so that the temperature measuring module 2 can be better ensured to move upwards when the temperature measurement is finished. The first timing module 3 and the second timing module 5 in this embodiment may use the same timing carrier. When the temperature measuring module 2 stops moving downwards, the first timing module 3 stops timing, and the second timing module 5 starts timing.

In another preferred embodiment, when the first timing module 3 starts to time, the second timing module 5 also starts to time, and when the time counted by the second timing module 5 reaches a third preset time value, the control module 1 controls the temperature measuring module 2 to start to move upwards.

In a further preferred embodiment, when the timing time of the second timing module 5 is less than a third preset time value and the variation value of the temperature value received by the control module 1 within the second preset time value is less than a preset variation value, the second timing module 5 stops timing, and the control module controls the temperature measuring module to start moving upward. In this embodiment, whether the temperature measurement module 2 moves upward is directly controlled by the control module 1 according to the temperature variation value, and the temperature measurement module 2 is controlled to start moving upward when the temperature measurement is finished by the timing common cooperation of the second timing module 5.

Referring to fig. 1-2, in a preferred embodiment, the alloy liquid automatic temperature measurement system further includes a third timing module 7, the control module 1 is further configured to control the temperature measurement module 2 to move upward, when the temperature measurement module 2 starts to move upward, the third timing module 7 starts to time, and when the time counted by the third timing module 7 reaches a fourth preset time value, the control module 1 controls the temperature measurement module 2 to stop moving upward, in this embodiment, the first timing module 3 and the third timing module 7 may use the same timing carrier, and perform timing of different moving processes, and the third timing module 7 and the first timing module 3 may also be sub-design timing carriers. The setting of the third timing module 7 can better prevent the temperature measuring module 2 from being clamped in the upward moving process and damaging the motor.

Referring to fig. 1 to 3, in a preferred embodiment, the alloy liquid automatic temperature measuring system further includes a second limiting module 6, when the timing time of the third timing module 7 is less than a fourth preset time value, and the temperature measuring module 2 triggers the second limiting module 6 in the upward movement process, the third timing module 7 stops timing, the control module 1 controls the temperature measuring module 2 to stop moving upward, the second limiting module 6 is arranged at the upper end of the supporting frame 11, the temperature measuring module 2 is fixed on the second limiting module 6 in the non-working state, when the temperature measuring module 2 finishes measuring temperature, the temperature measuring module 2 moves upward from the first limiting module 4 to the second limiting module 6, when the temperature measuring module 2 reaches the second limiting module 6, the control module 1 controls a motor driving the temperature measuring module 2 to slide upward to be turned off, and the third timing module 7 stops timing. However, when the control module 1 is damaged by the temperature measurement module 2 or the second limit module 6 and does not receive the limit signal moving upward, and the time for driving the temperature measurement module 2 to move upward reaches the fourth preset time value, the control module 1 can also control the motor driving the temperature measurement module 2 to move upward to be turned off, the time for the temperature measurement module 2 to move from the first limit module 4 to the second limit module 6 is generally stable, and the fourth preset time is slightly longer than the time for the temperature measurement module 2 to move from the first limit module 4 to the second limit module 6.

Referring to fig. 1-2, in a preferred embodiment, the alloy liquid automatic temperature measurement system further includes an alarm module 8, when the timing time of the third timing module 7 reaches a fourth preset time value, it indicates that the limit signal is not received, and it may be that the second limit module 6 or the temperature measurement module 2 is damaged, and the alarm module 8 sends an alarm message to remind a worker to maintain. In this embodiment, the alarm information may be an audio alarm, a light alarm, a sound-light alarm, or a screen directly displaying "second limit timeout alarm" … ….

Referring to fig. 1-2, in a preferred embodiment, the system for automatically measuring temperature of alloy liquid further includes a wireless communication module 9, the wireless communication module is configured to be wirelessly connected to an external user terminal 10 and receive a control command from the external user terminal 10, in this embodiment, the external user terminal 10 may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, or a desktop computer. The operator can send an instruction through the user terminal 10, and can directly move the temperature measuring module 2 upward or downward, and also change the first preset time value, the second preset time value, the third preset time value, the fourth preset time value, and the like.

Referring to fig. 2, the present invention further provides a control method of an alloy liquid automatic temperature measurement system, which is characterized by comprising the following steps:

s1, the temperature measuring module 2 moves downwards, and the first timing module 3 starts timing;

s21, when the timing time of the first timing module 3 reaches a first preset time value, the control module 1 controls the temperature measuring module 2 to stop moving downward, and the first timing module 3 stops timing;

s22, when the timing time of the first timing module 3 is smaller than a first preset time value and the temperature measuring module 2 triggers the first limiting module 4 in the downward movement process, the first timing module 3 stops timing, and the control module 1 controls the temperature measuring module 2 to stop moving downward.

S3, the second timing module 5 starts timing;

s41, when the timing time of the second timing module 5 reaches a third preset time value, the control module 1 controls the temperature measuring module 2 to start moving upwards.

S42, when the timing time of the second timing module 5 is less than the third preset time value and the variation value of the temperature value received by the control module 1 in the second preset time value is less than the preset variation value, the second timing module 5 stops timing, and the control module 1 controls the temperature measuring module 2 to start moving upward;

s5, the third timing module 7 starts timing;

s61, when the timing time of the third timing module 7 is smaller than a fourth preset time value and the temperature measuring module 2 triggers the second limiting module 6 in the upward movement process, the third timing module 7 stops timing, and the control module 1 controls the temperature measuring module 2 to stop moving upward;

s62, when the time counted by the third timing module 7 reaches a fourth preset time value, the control module 1 controls the temperature measuring module 2 to stop moving upward.

In this application, unless expressly stated or limited otherwise, the first feature "on" or "under" the second feature may be directly contacting the first and second features or indirectly contacting the first and second features through intervening media. Also, a first feature "on," "over," and "above" a second feature may be directly or diagonally above the second feature, or may simply indicate that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. A first feature being "under," "below," and "beneath" a second feature may be directly under or obliquely under the first feature, or may simply mean that the first feature is at a lesser elevation than the second feature.

In the description herein, reference to the description of the terms "preferred embodiment," "yet another embodiment," "other embodiments," or "specific examples," etc., means that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the application. In this specification, the schematic representations of the terms used above are not necessarily intended to refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples. Furthermore, various embodiments or examples and features of different embodiments or examples described in this specification can be combined and combined by one skilled in the art without contradiction.

Although embodiments of the present application have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the present application, and that variations, modifications, substitutions and alterations may be made to the above embodiments by those of ordinary skill in the art within the scope of the present application.