Patents Represented by Attorney David D. Murray
  • Patent number: 4515499
    Abstract: A traffic lane delineator includes an elongate centrally disposed planar strip flanked on at least one side, and generally both sides, by outwardly extending tabs or ribs. The width of each rib may be equal to the space between adjacent ribs or the rib width and spacing therebetween may be varied if desired. This configuration provides an audible warning if a moving vehicle engages and drives upon the ribs. The planar strip preferably also includes a longitudinally extending double yellow line marking which may include reflective material. A physical barrier along the central strip may take the form of spaced-apart stanchions which may include reflective material for visibly delineating the traffic lanes. The delineator may be readily installed on a lane surface as needed as well as removed and rolled or stacked for compact storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1985
    Inventor: David L. Furiate
  • Patent number: 4513632
    Abstract: An improved mounting bracket for a steering column mounted control stalk is disclosed. The bracket includes a generally flat base portion having an aperture formed therein for receiving a boss formed on the steering column. A hollow intermediate portion extends from the base portion and has an internal diameter at least equal to the internal diameter of the base portion aperture. A slot is formed in the base and intermediate portions for receiving a key formed on the steering column boss. A hollow end portion extends from an end of the intermediate portion opposite the base portion and has an internal diameter smaller than the internal diameter of the intermediate portion. The end portion further includes means for releasably engaging the steering column mounted control stalk. Means are provided for securing the base portion to the steering column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1985
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventor: Jack E. Swoveland
  • Patent number: 4510001
    Abstract: A vinyl repair compound and two step vinyl repair method provide an exceptionally strong and long wearing repair. The repair compound includes vinyl resins, a solvent, a plasticizer and silica filler, has a paste-like consistency and air dries. The repair process entails the following: trimming away the damaged material, placing backing material behind the damaged area if necessary, filling the repair area flush with the surface of the surrounding material with the repair compound and allowing it to air dry. Due to shrinkage of the compound as it dries, a depression is formed which is then filled with a conventional heat curable plastisol vinyl repair compound. If necessary, smooth or grained release paper is placed over the repair area, heat is applied to cure the plastisol compound and the repair is allowed to cool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1985
    Inventor: Lawrence L. Speer
  • Patent number: 4507923
    Abstract: A hand held manually operable hydraulic auxiliary device for lifting or pressing of loads or for operating of tools includes a hydraulic cylinder having pressure and activating pistons disposed between which is a valve housing including inlet and discharge channels and being furnished with non-return valves.The hydraulic cylinder including both the actuating piston operable by a manually operated lever, and the pressure piston, as well as the valve housing are disposed within an outer casing receiving the hydraulic fluid. The outer casing at least on the pressure piston side thereof is provided with a tool adapter. The valve members include a forced reset guide. Disposed in the area of the pressure side of the hydraulic cylinder is a randomly operable detent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1985
    Inventor: Thomas D. Trabbic
  • Patent number: 4502686
    Abstract: A amusement game includes a pair of symmetrical, folded alleys which meet at a common, centrally disposed scoring region. Each of the folded alleys includes a gutter disposed on each side thereof and a first rebounding barrier extending generally across the alley and oriented at a 45.degree. angle. A second rebounding barrier is oriented at a right angle to a first rebounding barrier and forms a chevron shaped pattern; one end of each of the barriers being disposed in close proximity. A common scoring region is disposed generally intermediate the second rebounding barriers of the pair of folded alleys. The scoring region includes a pair of parallel gutters as well as indicia disposed within scoring boundary lines indicating a score or point value for placing a game piece within the associated boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1985
    Inventor: Donald E. Iiams, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4492146
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for shutting off a supply of pressurized motive fluid to an associated fluid driven motor in response to a predetermined motor back pressure indicating a predetermined load on the motor. The device comprises a housing having a fluid inlet connected to a supply of motive fluid and a fluid outlet connected to supply pressurized fluid to the associated fluid driven motor. A passageway extends through the housing between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. A shut-off piston is slidably mounted with the housing and is shiftable to close the housing passageway and shut off the supply of pressurized fluid to the motor in response to a predetermined motor back pressure. An orifice of variable size is provided in the housing passageway and is utilized to reduce the pressure of the fluid supplied to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1985
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: William Workman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4365406
    Abstract: A hydraulic pressure transducer comprises a cylindrical housing having a plurality of circumferential inwardly and outwardly directed ribs which axially position and retain coaxially aligned operative components within the transducer. These components include a hydraulic piston and cylinder, a restoring spring disposed between two centering and retaining stabilizer cups, and a biasing spring which maintains the components in compressed juxtaposition to ensure accurate and immediate response while minimizing axial dimensional stack up. The transducer senses hydraulic pressure in, for example, a brake line and provides a variable resistance output which may be used in an auxiliary electric brake system controller commonly used on recreational trailers and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1982
    Assignee: Kelsey Hayes Company
    Inventors: Daniel L. Neill, Leonard T. Tribe
  • Patent number: 4341014
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for interconnecting pairs of terminals with a pretwisted pair of insulated wires routes, cuts, strips, identifies, and secures such identified ends of the pretwisted wire pair to appropriate terminals. Routing operations are performed in part by pairs of biaxially translatable dressing finger assemblies which engage the twisted pair and provide points about which the wire is routed to achieve complex wiring patterns having multiple bends. Routing and terminating operations are performed by a pair of substantially identical mechanisms which are also mounted for biaxial translation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1982
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred W. Loy, Robert B. Senior
  • Patent number: 4279162
    Abstract: A hydraulic pressure transducer comprises a cylindrical housing having a plurality of circumferential inwardly and outwardly directed ribs which axially position and retain coaxially aligned operative components within the transducer. These components include a hydraulic piston and cylinder, a restoring spring disposed between two centering and retaining stabilizer cups, and a biasing spring which maintains the components in compressed juxtaposition to ensure accurate and immediate response while minimizing axial dimensional stack up. The transducer senses hydraulic pressure in, for example, a brake line and provides a variable resistance output which may be used in an auxiliary electric brake system controller commonly used on recreational trailers and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1981
    Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Company
    Inventors: Daniel L. Neill, Leonard T. Tribe
  • Patent number: 4207724
    Abstract: A plastic pulsation bag for automobile gasoline filters and a method of making the same is disclosed. The bag comprises two opposing flexible membranes peripherally sealed together along their opposing sides. At least one of the opposing sides is recessed so that a pocket is formed by the sealed membranes for enclosing a gas which is preferably heavier than air. In a preferred method, a first step in forming the bag is to slopingly insert the membranes into an open-top chamber containing a body of gas, such that the recessed opposing sides pass obliquely through the upper surface of the gas and face away from the chamber. The membranes are then agitated within the chamber to release trapped air adjacent thereto, oriented in an opposing relationship, mounted upon opposing sealing dies, and then sealed together about their peripheries. Pulsation bags made in accordance with this invention are useful in preventing "water hammer" in certain large vehicle fuel systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1980
    Assignee: R. L. Kuss and Company
    Inventor: John F. Combest
  • Patent number: 4201629
    Abstract: A diffusion pump capable of separating impurities from its pump fluid during operation is disclosed. Skimming drains are provided in the pump's boiler for periodically skimming the evaporative surface of the working fluid. This eliminates nearly all contaminants of higher molecular weight than the pump fluid. In the foreline of the pump, a series of peripheral gutters are provided for trapping, separating and draining off condensates. The gutters facilitate the removal of impurities of lower molecular weight than that of the pump fluid. Means are also provided for further removing trace quantities of residual volatile impurities which tend to backstream up the diffusion pump barrel. The highly purified pump fluid allows for a more vigorously working evaporative surface, thereby increasing the throughput of the diffusion pump. Together with the elimination of volatile impurities from the pump barrel, this facilitates the attainment of significantly higher ultimate chamber vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1980
    Inventor: Alvin E. Buggele
  • Patent number: 4192519
    Abstract: A high pressure multi-purpose seal for use with pressure vessels and other equipment requiring demountable access fittings withstands pressures thousands of times above atmospheric pressure at both cryogenic and elevated temperatures. The cryogenic high pressure seal comprises a stack of indium, brass and fluorocarbon plastic sealing rings disposed about an access opening in the pressure vessel. A gland nut type closure is tightened against the seal stack which compresses it and causes the indium rings to extrude and seal against the closure and pressure vessel walls. The seal exhibits negligible leakage and provides exceptional pressurization and depressurization cycle life at both high pressures and cryogenic temperatures. The instant invention also comprehends a high pressure seal suitable for use at elevated temperatures (370.degree. to 400.degree. Celsius or 700.degree. to 750.degree. Farenheit).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1980
    Inventor: Alvin E. Buggele
  • Patent number: 4177844
    Abstract: A breather bag for use in a sealed silo maintains pressure equilibrium between the inside and the outside of the silo by its volumetric change while preventing the ingestion of oxygen laden air. The breather bag is of generally arcuate or semi-circular shape and has a generally circular cross section. The breather bag includes at least one flexible conduit which extends between the breather bag and the silo roof and provides communication between the inside of the breather bag and the atmosphere. The breather bag is comprised of at least three plastic panels which are sealed together along overlapping edges. Two of the panels are a generally semi-circular shape and the third is a generally hour-glass shape. A continuous hanger strap is sealed along the upper arcuate center line of the breather bag to facilitate hanging the bag within a silo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1979
    Assignee: Kuss Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph L. Kuss, Jerry J. Hickle
  • Patent number: 4170522
    Abstract: A diffusion pump capable of separating impurities from its pump fluid during operation is disclosed. Skimming drains are provided in the pump's boiler for periodically skimming the evaporative surface of the working fluid. This eliminates nearly all contaminants of higher molecular weight than the pump fluid. In the foreline of the pump, a series of peripheral gutters are provided for trapping, separating and draining off condensates. The gutters facilitate the removal of impurities of lower molecular weight than that of the pump fluid. Means are also provided for further removing trace quantities of residual volatile impurities which tend to backstream up the diffusion pump barrel. The highly purified pump fluid allows for a more vigorously working evaporative surface, thereby increasing the throughput of the diffusion pump. Together with the elimination of volatile impurities from the pump barrel, this facilitates the attainment of significantly higher ultimate chamber vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1979
    Inventor: Alvin E. Buggele
  • Patent number: 4168555
    Abstract: A water mattress having a portion of its volume occupied by air or gas filled bodies lowers the total mattress weight without sacrificing its desirable characteristics. The gas filled bodies comprise independent, elongate, parallel chambers having sidewall members which are secured to the bottom panel of the mattress. The chambers are positioned at approximately the horizontal midplane of the mattress such that it exhibits the conventional uniform weight distribution characteristics found desirable in such devices. Air is supplied to or released from the chambers through access fittings on the chambers and water mattress. The water filled mattress weighs substantially less than a conventional mattress having the same external volume. Furthermore, the chambers tend to inhibit the sloshing and highly under-damped natural harmonic motion typical of conventional water mattresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1979
    Assignee: Kuss Corporation
    Inventor: Gary L. Benjamin
  • Patent number: 4100634
    Abstract: A water mattress construction is disclosed. The construction involves a folded one piece vinyl sheet wherein the various panels are joined at the vertical corners, along the lengthwise lower edges and side to side across the middle of the bottom. By so locating the seams, not only are all but the vertical corner seams supported directly by the mattress frame, but they are also removed from the upper area of the mattress which is generally subjected to flexing. A cappable fitting to facilitate filling and emptying of the mattress is included. The various panels are joined by overlapping the vinyl material, and subsequently heat-sealing them to produce strong lapped seams throughout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1978
    Assignee: Kuss Corporation
    Inventor: Gary L. Benjamin
  • Patent number: 4091772
    Abstract: A primarily oil-fueled engine is disclosed in which the engine compression ratio is established well below the level at which compression ignition of oil fuel will occur and in which the oil fuel charge is ignited by the discharge from a spark ignited, gas-fueled precombustion chamber. The compression ratio and peak firing pressures are similar to those encountered in a gas-fueled engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1978
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Heater, Fred S. Schaub, John R. Kennedy