Quick drainage mechanism suitable for road and bridgeTechnical Field
The invention relates to a drainage mechanism, in particular to a quick drainage mechanism suitable for roads and bridges.
Background
Under the weather of continuous rainfall or heavy rainfall and the like, the water level lines of rivers, lakes and the like can rise, the drainage speed of a sewer can be reduced, even water can flow backwards, namely the water is flushed to the ground from the sewer, and the water accumulated on the ground can cause various negative effects, such as the underground garage is flooded, the water accumulation amount on the ground causes various economic losses, the people are inconvenient to go out, the people are injured and the like, and the rapid drainage mechanism is arranged to avoid the similar phenomena.
Disclosure of Invention
The invention aims to provide a quick drainage mechanism suitable for roads and bridges, which can treat sludge in pipelines and quickly drain water.
The purpose of the invention is realized by the following technical scheme:
a fast drainage mechanism suitable for roads and bridges comprises a pipeline, a monitoring mechanism, a power mechanism and a switching-off mechanism, wherein the pipeline comprises a longitudinal pipeline, a mounting boss I, a seated spherical outer bearing II, a seated spherical outer bearing III, a limiting boss, a drainage cover, a drainage outlet, a transverse pipeline I, a matched gate component and a mixed bottom groove, the mounting boss I is fixedly connected at the front end of the longitudinal pipeline, the seated spherical outer bearing I is fixedly connected at the right end of the longitudinal pipeline, the seated spherical outer bearing II is fixedly connected at the left end of the longitudinal pipeline, the seated spherical outer bearing III is positioned at the upper end of the seated spherical outer bearing II, the limiting boss is fixedly connected at the left end of the longitudinal pipeline, the limiting boss is positioned at the upper end of the seated spherical outer bearing III, the drainage cover is in clearance fit at the upper end of the longitudinal pipeline, the drainage cover is provided with a plurality of drainage outlets, a transverse pipeline I is fixedly connected to the lower end of a longitudinal pipeline, a matching gate member is fixedly connected to the left end of the transverse pipeline I, a mixing bottom groove is fixedly connected to the lower end of the transverse pipeline I, the longitudinal pipeline is communicated with the transverse pipeline I, and the transverse pipeline I is respectively communicated with the matching gate member and the mixing bottom groove;
the monitoring mechanism comprises a fixed table, a connecting rod I, a sliding column, a pressure measuring table, a hinge frame, a hinge rod, a contact column I and a contact column II, wherein one end of the connecting rod I is fixedly connected to the front end of the fixed table, the middle end of the fixed table is provided with a groove, the sliding column is slidably connected in the groove of the fixed table, the pressure measuring table is fixedly connected to the upper end of the sliding column, a spring is arranged on the sliding column and is positioned between the fixed table and the pressure measuring table, the hinge frame is fixedly connected to the left end of the fixed table, the middle end of the hinge rod is hinged to the hinge frame, the contact column I is fixedly connected to the upper end of the hinge rod, the contact column I is in contact with the lower end of the pressure measuring table, the contact column II is fixedly connected to the left side of the;
the power mechanism comprises a waterproof motor, a transmission shaft I, a helical gear I, a clamping ring and a special gear I, the transmission shaft I comprises a transmission shaft main body and a long key, the long key is fixedly connected to the left end of the transmission shaft main body, the right end of the transmission shaft main body is fixedly connected to an output shaft of the waterproof motor, the helical gear I and the clamping ring are both fixedly connected to the transmission shaft main body, the clamping ring is located at the left end of the gear I, the special gear I comprises a gear I, side teeth I and a sliding key groove, a plurality of side teeth I are uniformly arranged in the circumferential direction, the side teeth I are all fixedly connected to the left end of the gear I, the sliding key groove is arranged on the gear I, the sliding key groove is connected with the long key in a clearance fit mode, the gear I is located at the left end of the clamping ring, a tension spring is sleeved on the transmission shaft I, one end, the right end of the transmission shaft main body is rotatably connected in the insert bearing I with the seat;
the brake opening mechanism comprises a special gear II, a transmission shaft II, a belt wheel I, a transmission belt, a transmission shaft III, a belt wheel II, an execution gear, a rack and a gate, wherein the special gear II comprises a gear II and side teeth II, the periphery of the side teeth II is uniformly provided with a plurality of side teeth II, the plurality of side teeth II are all fixedly connected to the right end of the gear II, the gear II is fixedly connected to the right end of the transmission shaft II, the belt wheel I is fixedly connected to the left end of the transmission shaft II, the belt wheel I is in belt transmission connection with the belt wheel II through the transmission belt, the belt wheel II is fixedly connected to the middle end of the transmission shaft III, the execution gear is fixedly connected to the left end of the transmission shaft III, the execution gear is in meshing transmission with the rack, the lower end of the rack is fixedly connected to the upper end of the gate, the transmission shaft II is, the special gear II is identical to the special gear I in structure, and the axis of the transmission shaft II is coincident with the axis of the transmission shaft I.
As a further optimization of the technical scheme, the rapid drainage mechanism suitable for roads and bridges further comprises an installation boss II and a transverse pipeline II, wherein the installation boss II is fixedly connected to the rear end of the longitudinal pipeline, the transverse pipeline II is fixedly connected to the left end of the matched gate component, and the matched gate component is communicated with the transverse pipeline II.
As a further optimization of the technical scheme, the rapid drainage mechanism suitable for roads and bridges further comprises a connecting rod II, one end of the connecting rod II is fixedly connected to the rear end of the fixing table, and the other end of the connecting rod II is fixedly connected to the mounting boss II.
As a further optimization of the technical scheme, the quick drainage mechanism is suitable for roads and bridges, and the outer ends of the contact column I and the contact column II are hemispheroids.
As a further optimization of the technical scheme, the quick drainage mechanism suitable for roads and bridges further comprises a bevel gear II, a rotating shaft, a plurality of stirring blades and a rotating platform, wherein the bevel gear II is in meshing transmission with the bevel gear I, the bevel gear II is fixedly connected to the upper end of the rotating shaft, the rotating platform is fixedly connected to the lower end of the rotating shaft, the plurality of stirring blades are uniformly arranged in the circumferential direction, the plurality of stirring blades are fixedly connected to the rotating platform, and the rotating platform is rotatably connected to the mixing bottom groove.
As a further optimization of the technical scheme, the quick drainage mechanism suitable for roads and bridges further comprises a contact table which is fixedly connected to the upper end of the rack.
The quick drainage mechanism suitable for roads and bridges has the beneficial effects that:
silt in the pipeline can be handled through the rotation of a plurality of stirring leaves, and the pressure measuring platform can descend when the inflow is big, and then makes special gear I and II meshing transmissions of special gear realize quick drainage.
Drawings
The invention is described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the overall structure of a quick drainage mechanism for roads and bridges according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional structural view of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a first schematic view of the construction of the longitudinal and transverse ducts of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a schematic de-piping of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a first schematic view of the piping structure of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a second schematic view of the piping structure of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a conduit according to the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a schematic structural view of a mating gate member of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the monitoring mechanism of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the power mechanism of the present invention;
FIG. 11 is a schematic structural view of a transmission shaft I of the present invention;
FIG. 12 is a schematic structural view of a special gear I of the invention;
FIG. 13 is a schematic structural diagram of the opening mechanism of the present invention;
fig. 14 is a structural schematic diagram of a special gear II of the invention.
In the figure: the device comprises apipeline 1, a longitudinal pipeline 1-1, a mounting boss I1-2, a mounting boss II 1-3, a seated spherical outside bearing I1-4, a seated spherical outside bearing II 1-5, a seated spherical outside bearing III 1-6, a limiting boss 1-7, a drainage cover 1-8, a drainage outlet 1-9, a transverse pipeline I1-10, a matched gate component 1-11, a transverse pipeline II 1-12, a mixed bottom groove 1-13, amonitoring mechanism 2, a fixed table 2-1, a connecting rod I2-2, a connecting rod II 2-3, a sliding column 2-4, a pressure measuring table 2-5, a hinged frame 2-6, a hinged rod 2-7, a contact column I2-8, a contact column II 2-9, apower mechanism 3, a waterproof motor 3-1, a pressure measuring table 2-5, a hinged frame 2-6, 3-2 parts of transmission shaft I, 3-2-1 parts of transmission shaft main body, 3-2-2 parts of long key, 3-3 parts of helical gear I, 3-4 parts of snap ring, 3-5 parts of special gear I, 3-5-1 parts of gear I, 3-5-2 parts of side tooth I, 3-5-3 parts of sliding key groove, 3-6 parts of helical gear II, 3-7 parts of rotating shaft, 3-8 parts of stirring blade, 3-9 parts of rotary table, 4 parts of opening mechanism, 4-1 parts of special gear II, 4-1 parts of gear II, 4-1-2 parts of side tooth II, 4-2 parts of transmission shaft II, 4-3 parts of belt wheel I, 4-4 parts of transmission belt, 4-5 parts of transmission shaft III, 4-6 parts of belt wheel II, 4-7 parts of executing gear, 4-8 parts of, And 4-10 gates.
Detailed Description
The present invention will be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Before describing the embodiments, to avoid repetitive language, the explanation below of "fixedly attached to a shaft by a key and a snap spring" may be: the explanation, which will be understood by those skilled in the art, is only a general installation method for fixedly connecting gears and the like to a shaft.
The first embodiment is as follows:
the embodiment is described below with reference to fig. 1-14, and a rapid drainage mechanism suitable for roads and bridges comprises apipeline 1, amonitoring mechanism 2, apower mechanism 3 and a switching-off mechanism 4, sludge in the pipeline can be treated through rotation of a plurality of stirring blades 3-8, a pressure measuring table 2-5 can descend when the water inflow is large, and then a special gear I3-5 is meshed with a special gear II 4-1 for transmission to achieve rapid drainage;
thepipeline 1 comprises a longitudinal pipeline 1-1, an installation boss I1-2, a seated insert bearing I1-4, a seated insert bearing II 1-5, a seated insert bearing III 1-6, a limit boss 1-7, a drainage cover 1-8, a drainage outlet 1-9, a transverse pipeline I1-10, a matched gate member 1-11 and a mixed bottom groove 1-13, wherein the installation boss I1-2 is fixedly connected at the front end of the longitudinal pipeline 1-1 by welding, the seated insert bearing I1-4 is fixedly connected at the right end of the longitudinal pipeline 1-1 by welding, the seated insert bearing II 1-5 is fixedly connected at the left end of the longitudinal pipeline 1-1 by welding, the seated insert bearing III 1-6 is fixedly connected at the left end of the longitudinal pipeline 1-1 by welding, the spherical outside bearing with seat III 1-6 is located on the spherical outside bearing with seat II 1-5, the limit boss 1-7 is fixed on the left end of the longitudinal pipeline 1-1 by welding, the limit boss 1-7 is located on the upper end of the spherical outside bearing with seat III 1-6, the drainage cover 1-8 is clearance fit on the upper end of the longitudinal pipeline 1-1, the drainage cover 1-8 is provided with a plurality of drainage ports 1-9, the transverse pipeline I1-10 is fixed on the lower end of the longitudinal pipeline 1-1 by welding, the matching gate component 1-11 is fixed on the left end of the transverse pipeline I1-10 by welding, the mixing bottom groove 1-13 is fixed on the lower end of the transverse pipeline I1-10 by welding, the longitudinal pipeline 1-1 is communicated with the transverse pipeline I1-10, the transverse pipelines I1-10 are respectively communicated with the matched gate components 1-11 and the mixed bottom grooves 1-13, the higher the height of the limiting bosses 1-7 is, the longer the racks 4-8 are, the larger the maximum value of the rising height of the gates 4-10 is, the larger the water discharge amount is, the position of the water discharge ports 1-9 is deviated to the centers of the water discharge covers 1-8, and the water discharge ports 1-9 are used for enabling accumulated water to fall to the pressure measuring tables 2-5 when the accumulated water flows into the longitudinal pipelines 1-1 from the water discharge ports 1-9;
themonitoring mechanism 2 comprises a fixed platform 2-1, a connecting rod I2-2, a sliding column 2-4, a pressure measuring platform 2-5, a hinged frame 2-6, a hinged rod 2-7, a contact column I2-8 and a contact column II 2-9, one end of the connecting rod I2-2 is fixedly connected to the front end of the fixed platform 2-1 through welding, the middle end of the fixed platform 2-1 is provided with a groove, the sliding column 2-4 is slidably connected in the groove of the fixed platform 2-1, the pressure measuring platform 2-5 is fixedly connected to the upper end of the sliding column 2-4 through welding, a spring is arranged on the sliding column 2-4 and is positioned between the fixed platform 2-1 and the pressure measuring platform 2-5, the hinged frame 2-6 is fixedly connected to the left end of the fixed platform 2-1 through welding, the middle end of the hinged rod 2-7 is hinged to the hinged frame 2-6 through a hinged bolt, the contact column I2-8 is fixedly connected to the upper end of the hinge rod 2-7 through welding, the contact column I2-8 is in contact with the lower end of the pressure measuring table 2-5, the contact column II 2-9 is fixedly connected to the left side of the lower end of the hinge rod 2-7 through welding, the other end of the connecting rod I2-2 is fixedly connected to the mounting boss I1-2 through welding, the sliding column 2-4 is long enough to prevent the sliding column 2-4 from sliding out of the fixing table 2-1, when the water flow is small, the precipitation is small, the pressure measuring table 2-5 cannot be impacted and reduced by the water flow, the water can flow from the right end of the transverse pipeline I1-10 to the places such as rivers and lakes, when the precipitation is large, the water level lines of the rivers and the like are likely to rise, the drainage is not smooth, the drainage speed on the right side of the transverse pipeline I1-, at this time, as the impact force of water flow descending at the water outlet 1-9 is increased, the pressure measuring table 2-5 descends, the gate member 1-11 ascends, and water flows to a water storage place from the left side of the transverse pipeline I1-10;
thepower mechanism 3 comprises a waterproof motor 3-1, a transmission shaft I3-2, a helical gear I3-3, a clamping ring 3-4 and a special gear I3-5, the transmission shaft I3-2 comprises a transmission shaft main body 3-2-1 and a long key 3-2-2, the long key 3-2-2 is fixedly connected to the left end of the transmission shaft main body 3-2-1 through welding, the right end of the transmission shaft main body 3-2-1 is fixedly connected to an output shaft of the waterproof motor 3-1 through a coupler, the helical gear I3-3 is fixedly connected to the transmission shaft main body 3-2-1 through a key and a clamping spring, the clamping ring 3-4 is fixedly connected to the transmission shaft main body 3-2-1 through welding, and the clamping ring 3-4 is located at the left end of the gear I3-, the special gear I3-5 comprises a gear I3-5-1, a plurality of side teeth I3-5-2 and sliding key grooves 3-5-3, the side teeth I3-5-2 are uniformly arranged in the circumferential direction, the side teeth I3-5-2 are fixedly connected to the left end of the gear I3-5-1, the gear I3-5-1 and the side teeth I3-5-2 are integrally processed, the sliding key grooves 3-5-3 are formed in the gear I3-5-1, the sliding key grooves 3-5-3 are connected with long keys 3-2-2 in a clearance fit mode, the gear I3-5-1 is located at the left end of a clamping ring 3-4, a tension spring is sleeved on a transmission shaft I3-2, one end of the tension spring is fixedly connected to the clamping ring 3-4 through a bolt, the other end of the tension spring is fixedly connected to the gear I3-5-1 through a bolt, the contact column II 2-9 is in contact with the upper side of the right end of the gear I3-5-1, the right end of the transmission shaft main body 3-2-1 is rotatably connected into the spherical bearing I1-4 with the seat, mechanical sealing is needed at the rotating connection position, the long key 3-2-2 is long enough for the gear I3-5-1 to slide the key groove 3-5-3 under the action of the tension spring and not to be separated from the long key 3-2-2, the left end of the transmission shaft I3-2 is close enough to the right end of the transmission shaft II 4-2, and when the gear I3-5-1 moves leftwards, a plurality of side teeth I3-5-2 are in meshed transmission with a plurality of side teeth II 4-1-2, the gear I3-5-1 cannot be separated from the transmission shaft I3-2, and the sliding key groove 3-5-3 cannot be separated from the long key 3-2-2;
thebrake opening mechanism 4 comprises a special gear II 4-1, a transmission shaft II 4-2, a belt wheel I4-3, a transmission belt 4-4, a transmission shaft III 4-5, a belt wheel II 4-6, an execution gear 4-7, a rack 4-8 and a gate 4-10, the special gear II 4-1 comprises a gear II 4-1-1 and side teeth II 4-1-2, a plurality of side teeth II 4-1-2 are uniformly arranged in the circumferential direction, the side teeth II 4-1-2 are fixedly connected to the right end of the gear II 4-1-1, the gear II 4-1-1 and the side teeth II 4-1-2 are integrally processed, the gear II 4-1-1 is fixedly connected to the right end of the transmission shaft II 4-2 through a key and a clamp spring, a belt wheel I4-3 is fixedly connected at the left end of a transmission shaft II 4-2 through a key and a snap spring, the belt wheel I4-3 is in transmission connection with a belt wheel II 4-6 through a transmission belt 4-4, the belt wheel II 4-6 is fixedly connected at the middle end of the transmission shaft III 4-5 through a key and a snap spring, an execution gear 4-7 is fixedly connected at the left end of the transmission shaft III 4-5 through a key and a snap spring, the execution gear 4-7 is in meshing transmission with a rack 4-8, the lower end of the rack 4-8 is fixedly connected at the upper end of a gate 4-10 through welding, the transmission shaft II 4-2 is rotatably connected on a spherical outside bearing II 1-5 with a seat, the rotating connection part needs mechanical sealing treatment, and the transmission shaft III-5 is rotatably connected on the sphericaloutside bearing III 1, the rotary joint needs mechanical sealing treatment, a gate 4-10 is in clearance fit in a matched gate component 1-11, a special gear II 4-1 and a special gear I3-5 have the same structure, a transmission shaft II 4-2 is coincident with the axis of a transmission shaft I3-2, when the lower end of the gate 4-10 is contacted with the matched gate component 1-11, a contact platform 4-9 is ensured not to touch an execution gear 4-7, when the gate 4-10 is raised to the highest, the belt 4-4 will slip, the gate 4-10 remains at the highest position, when the gate 4-10 is not subjected to power transmission any more, the water is prevented from flowing out by descending to the lowest position by the self gravity, for the rust-proof treatment, a plating layer is recommended, the place where the gear is meshed is recommended to be protected by a box body, and the gear is coated with gear oil.
The second embodiment is as follows:
referring to fig. 1-14, the present embodiment will be described in detail, wherein thepipe 1 further includes a mounting boss ii 1-3 and a transverse pipe ii 1-12, the mounting boss ii 1-3 is fixedly connected to the rear end of the longitudinal pipe 1-1 by welding, the transverse pipe ii 1-12 is fixedly connected to the left end of the mating gate member 1-11 by welding, the mating gate member 1-11 is communicated with the transverse pipe ii 1-12, the boss ii 1-3 is used for facilitating the welding of the connecting rod ii 2-3, and the connecting rod ii 2-3 is further added to stabilize the fixing of the fixing platform 2-1, the transverse pipe ii 1-12 is communicated with a water storage location, such as a water reservoir, a factory cooling water reservoir, it should be noted that these water storage locations are for the purpose of raising the water level of the river or the like when a large amount of precipitation occurs, and the water channel is not easy to drain to the river, so the water channel drains to the water storage location, so the water storage location cannot store excessive water when being level, and the water storage location is difficult to deal with various drainage difficulties generated when the river rises.
The third concrete implementation mode:
the embodiment is described below with reference to fig. 1 to 14, and the second embodiment is further described in the present embodiment, themonitoring mechanism 2 further includes a connecting rod ii 2-3, one end of the connecting rod ii 2-3 is fixedly connected to the rear end of the fixing platform 2-1 by welding, and the other end of the connecting rod ii 2-3 is fixedly connected to the mounting boss ii 1-3 by welding.
The fourth concrete implementation mode:
in the following description of the present embodiment with reference to fig. 1 to 14, which will be further described, the outer ends of the contact columns i 2 to 8 and the contact columns ii 2 to 9 are shaped like hemispheres, so that the contact columns i 2 to 8 and the contact columns ii 2 to 9 are in the form of point contacts when contacting the pressure measuring tables 2 to 5 and thegears i 3 to 5-1, respectively, thereby reducing friction.
The fifth concrete implementation mode:
the embodiment is described below with reference to fig. 1 to 14, and the embodiment further describes the first embodiment, thepower mechanism 3 further includes a bevel gear ii 3-6, a rotating shaft 3-7, a plurality of stirring blades 3-8 and a rotating table 3-9, the bevel gear ii 3-6 is in meshing transmission with the bevel gear i 3-3, the bevel gear ii 3-6 is fixedly connected to the upper end of the rotating shaft 3-7 through a key and a snap spring, the rotating table 3-9 is fixedly connected to the lower end of the rotating shaft 3-7 through a coupler, a plurality of stirring blades 3-8 are uniformly arranged in the circumferential direction, the plurality of stirring blades 3-8 are fixedly connected to the rotating table 3-9, the rotating table 3-9 is rotatably connected to the mixing bottom groove 1-13, the rotational connection mode is not limited, when the stirring blades 3-8 rotate, silt and water can be mixed together, sediment can not be precipitated, so that the sediment can be smoothly discharged.
The sixth specific implementation mode:
the present embodiment is described below with reference to fig. 1 to 14, and the present embodiment further describes the first embodiment, theopening mechanism 4 further includes a contact platform 4-9, the contact platform 4-9 is fixedly connected to the upper end of the rack 4-8 by welding, and the contact platform 4-9 increases the contact area between the rack 4-8 and the limit boss 1-7.
The invention relates to a quick drainage mechanism suitable for roads and bridges, which has the working principle that:
when precipitation or ponding reason, water can flow to pressure measuring platform 2-5 from a plurality of outlet 1-9, flows to mixed kerve 1-13 again downwards, flows out from the right-hand member of transverse duct I1-10 at last, when precipitation is too big or ponding reason such as too much, on the one hand: a large amount of water flows to the pressure measuring table 2-5 from the water discharging ports 1-9 to enable the pressure measuring table 2-5 to descend, the spring is continuously compressed, the pressure measuring table 2-5 descends to drive the contact column I2-8 to move towards the right lower side, the hinge rod 2-7 rotates towards the clockwise direction, the contact column II 2-9 moves towards the left upper side, the contact column II 2-9 drives the gear I3-5-1 to move towards the left upper side, the tension spring is lengthened, the side teeth I3-5-2 are in meshed transmission with the side teeth II 4-1-2, the waterproof motor 3-1 can be started at the moment or before, the rotation of the output shaft of the waterproof motor 3-1 can drive the transmission shaft I3-2 to rotate, the rotation of the transmission shaft I3-2 can drive the side teeth I3-5-2 to rotate, the plurality of side teeth I3-5-2 can drive the plurality of side teeth II 4-1-2 to rotate, further, the gear II 4-1-1 rotates to drive the transmission shaft II 4-2 to rotate, the transmission shaft II 4-2 drives the belt pulley I4-3 to rotate, the belt pulley I4-3 drives the transmission belt 4-4 to rotate, the transmission belt 4-4 drives the belt pulley II 4-6 to rotate, the belt pulley II 4-6 drives the transmission shaft III 4-5 to rotate, the transmission shaft III 4-5 drives the execution gear 4-7 to rotate, the execution gear 4-7 drives the rack 4-8 to ascend, the rack 4-8 drives the gate 4-10 to ascend, a large amount of water flows to the transverse pipeline II 1-12 from the left end of the transverse pipeline I1-10 and finally flows to a transverse water storage site; on the other hand, the rotation of the transmission shaft I3-2 drives the helical gear II 3-6 to rotate, the helical gear II 3-6 drives the rotating shaft 3-7 to rotate, the rotating shaft 3-7 drives the rotary table 3-9 to rotate, and the rotary table 3-9 drives the plurality of stirring blades 3-8 to rotate, so that the silt and the water in the mixing bottom groove 1-13 are mixed, and the vortex generated by the water flow moves upwards and outwards, and is discharged from two sides of the transverse pipeline I1-10.
It is to be understood that the above description is not intended to limit the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above examples, and that various changes, modifications, additions and substitutions which are within the spirit and scope of the present invention and which may be made by those skilled in the art are also within the scope of the present invention.