Patents Represented by Attorney Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP
  • Patent number: 7980830
    Abstract: A rotary shaft is rotatable relative to a motor rotor. A first end face of the motor rotor is exposed to the outside of a stator. A hammer portion is provided at the first end face. The hammer portion is configured to be movable as the motor rotor rotates. A collision portion rotating integrally with the rotary shaft is configured to collide with the hammer portion. The allowance space between the collision portion and the hammer portion allows the hammer portion to be move relative to the collision portion. Therefore, the electric pump is capable of detaching a rotor from a pump chamber without increasing the size of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Toshiro Fujii, Yoshiyuki Nakane
  • Patent number: 7980190
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method, apparatus, and system of a deep-draft semi-submersible hydrocarbon, such as for liquefied natural gas (LNG), floating production and storage vessel that can include a pontoon containing hydrocarbon tanks, fixed ballast at the bottom in a double-bottom portion, and segregated ballasted tanks with variable ballast located generally above the fixed ballast portion that can assist in keeping the pontoon submerged during various storage levels. Multiple vertical columnar supports can penetrate the pontoon from top to bottom and extend above the water surface to support a deck, including various topside structures. An intermediate double-deck on the top of the pontoon can provide access to the tanks, for example, through the vertical columnar supports. The double bottom structure, deck, and vertical columnar supports can provide overall structural integrity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Technip France
    Inventors: Jang Kim, Jim O'Sullivan, Atle Steen
  • Patent number: 7978137
    Abstract: A system for enhancing the performance of a wireless communication device (WCD) while executing a direction of arrival (DoA) estimation. The performance may be improved through device management, and may include the collection of information from one or more sensors installed within the WCD. The sensor information may initially be used to determine an appropriate configuration for the device. Further, the sensor information may also be used to affect the behavior of the device while performing the DoA estimation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Kimmo Kalliola, Hannu Kauppinen, Joni Jantunen, Antti Kainulainen, Vuokko Nurmela
  • Patent number: 7975489
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a method of detecting catalyst module overheating in a catalytic combustion system is provided. In one example, the method includes detecting one or more signals from at least one probe adapted to obtain values associated with at least one of the outlet gas temperature of a catalyst module and the outlet face temperature of the catalyst module included in a catalytic combustor. The one or more signals are compared with a preselected value associated with catalyst overheating. The detected temperature may be detected over time to determine a rate of change in the temperature. The temperature may be detected with a UV sensor directed to the catalyst outlet face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ajay Joshi, David Yee
  • Patent number: 7971555
    Abstract: A method of treating waste from chickens in a chicken house includes applying a layer of short paper fibers over a floor of the chicken house horizontally below the chickens in the chicken house, mixing manure from the chickens with the layer of short paper fibers, and removing the mixed manure and short paper fibers from the chicken house. The manure is turned with the layer of short paper fibers such that the manure and the short paper fibers are intimately mixed together. The removed mixture can be spread over land.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Inventor: Joseph W. Laubenstein
  • Patent number: 7972931
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing thin-film transistors using nanoparticles and thin film transistors manufactured by the method. A hydrophilic buffer layers are deposited on the substrates to facilitate formation of nanoparticle films. Sintered nanoparticles are used as an active layer and dielectric materials of high dielectric coefficient are also used as a gate dielectric layer to form a top gate electrode on the gate dielectric layer, thereby enabling low-voltage operation and low-temperature fabrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Korea University Industrial & Academic Collaboration Foundation
    Inventors: Sangsig Kim, Kyoung-Ah Cho, Dong-Won Kim, Jae-Won Jang
  • Patent number: 7972123
    Abstract: An inverter assembly includes a substrate, a capacitor assembly and a coil, a varistor and a base. The base fixes and supports thereto the substrate, the capacitor assembly, the coil, and the varistor, and is detachably fixed together to a first housing with screws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Tatsuya Koide, Kazuya Kimura, Ken Suitou
  • Patent number: 7971314
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a filter cage having an improved flow path suitable even for restricted flow regions of a float container in the cage. The filter cage departs from generally accepted structural considerations and provides flow paths to one or more sides of the cage outside the restricted flow regions of the float container, but within the cross-sectional area of the cage structure. In one exemplary embodiment, the cage is oval-shaped with a cross-sectional area defined by a major and minor axis. A restricted flow region, such as the float container, encompasses a cross-sectional area corresponding in size to a cross-sectional area defined by the minor axis of the oval-shaped cage. The remaining portion of the cage cross-sectional areas provides one or more flow paths outward from the float container in the direction of the major axis of the cage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventor: Robert Hollis
  • Patent number: 7973193
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a method for preparing an ester condensate and a catalyst therefore; wherein the method enables synthesis of enormous amounts of ester condensates comprising a specific structure in good yield, by a reaction of carboxylic acid and alcohol in equimolar amounts, while generation of by-products is prevented; wherein the catalyst exhibits good catalytic efficiency as a catalyst for use, the use of the catalyst in small amount is sufficient, and the catalyst is reusable and can be used repeatedly; therefore, the method for preparing an ester condensate of the present invention and the catalyst therefore can be applied to industrial methods which are preferable in view of green chemistry. Esterification reaction is performed by using a catalyst comprising a zirconium(IV) compound and/or a hafnium(IV) compound and an iron compound and a gallium compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Japan Science and Technology Agency
    Inventors: Kazuaki Ishihara, Hisahi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7972119
    Abstract: A variable displacement compressor includes a housing, a rotary shaft, a swash plate, a suction pressure region, a suction throttle valve, an oil reservoir, a lubricating oil passage, a gas flow passage, a communication passage, and a throttle mechanism. The suction-pressure region includes a suction chamber and a suction passage. The suction throttle valve is arranged in the suction passage and defines an upstream suction-pressure region and a downstream suction-pressure region. The lubricating oil passage connects the oil reservoir to the upstream suction-pressure region. The gas flow passage connects the crank chamber to the suction chamber. The communication passage connects the lubricating oil passage to at least one of the downstream suction-pressure region, the gas flow passage and the crank chamber. The throttle mechanism is provided in the lubricating oil passage between the oil reservoir and a position where the communication passage connects to the lubricating oil passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Taro Ozeki, Yoshinori Inoue, Suehiro Fukazawa, Masaya Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 7973452
    Abstract: A vibrator (3) is sandwiched between a base block (1) and a stator (2), and a substantially lower half of a substantially spherical rotor (6) is received in a recess (5) of the stator (2). A support member (7) is placed on an upper portion of the stator (2). A preload portion (10) is supported at an end of an angle portion (9) of the support member (7). A spherical member (11) rotatable about multiple axes of the preload portion (10) abuts against a top portion of the rotor (6) to apply a preload to the rotor (6). Driving the vibrator (3) rotates the rotor (6), whereby an output shaft (12) is moved between the preload portion (10) and an annular portion (8) of the support member (7) as a movable range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventor: Kodai Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7971564
    Abstract: An intake passage (10) communicating with a combustion chamber (3) comprises a first branch intake passage (16) having an intake port (4) at one end thereof and also having an intake manifold including a surge tank (13), a second branch intake passage (17) having an intake port (14) at one end thereof and also having an intake manifold including a surge tank (23), and a common intake passage (19) communicating with the ends of the first branch intake passage (16) and the second branch intake passage (17). The common intake passage (19) is provided with a mixer (11) for producing a mixture. The intake passage (10) is provided with a switching valve (18) for bringing the common intake passage (19) into communication with at least one of the first branch intake passage (16) and the second branch intake passage (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kuzuyama, Masahiro Machida
  • Patent number: 7969156
    Abstract: Applicants have created an improved method and apparatus for remotely monitoring an electrical load and assessing key attributes of power-related anomalies and line disturbances caused or created by the electrical load and qualifying their conformity to certain expected steady state conditions. The apparatus includes an intelligent power distribution module that can include a power output section, a power input section, a communication section, and related circuitry. The intelligent power distribution module can further include a memory section, a sensing device, a processing device, and a switch. The method for monitoring an electrical load having a current and voltage requirement supplied by an electrical source coupled to the load generally includes: interfacing a sensing module between the load and the electrical source; sensing one or more characteristics of the load; and determining the performance of the load sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Liebert Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin Ray Ferguson
  • Patent number: 7968022
    Abstract: A method for reformulating reclaimed, contaminated mixed waste plastics into useful articles wherein a plurality of batches of the mixed waste plastics are preprocessed to produce substantially homogeneous mixtures of a desired particle size range that are characterized according to their respective apparent densities, and are thereafter blended to produce a mixed plastic feed material having a rheology predetermined to be desirable for reprocessing into at least one of such useful articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe G. Brooks, Christopher Lynn Becker
  • Patent number: 7968077
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing titanium dioxide by reacting titanium tetrachloride with an oxygen-bearing gas in a tubular reactor and subsequently cooling the titanium dioxide particle/gas mixture in a cooling section, where the gas/particle flow is caused to rotate. Titanium tetrachloride is introduced in the cross-sectional plane of the reactor, but not in the radial direction, whereby the flow velocity of the oxygen-bearing gas is more than 20 m/s. Scrub solids free the inner wall of the reactor and the reactor cooling section of TiO2 deposits, thereby achieving a better cooling performance, which produces a TiO2 pigment with a narrow particle size distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Kronos International, Inc.
    Inventors: Rainer Gruber, Frank Malcharek
  • Patent number: D639676
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: China Shanghai Crown Textile Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daifeng Wang
  • Patent number: D639914
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Danco, Inc.
    Inventors: Chad H. Jones, Justin D. Pendleton
  • Patent number: D641068
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Danco, Inc.
    Inventor: Justin D. Pendleton
  • Patent number: RE42527
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for providing a virtual directory to facilitate a quick, direct search for a web site on the Internet. A user is provided with an extensive number of first level search categories. By clicking on a first level search category, the user is linked to a plurality of corresponding second level search categories which are pre-selected by a service provider. By clicking on a second level search category, the user is linked to a plurality of corresponding third level search categories, which are also pre-selected by the service provider. The third level search categories are preferably URLs corresponding to the search. The user can click on any one of the URLs to access a web site. A button is provided on a bar of the web site by which a user can return to one of the first or second level search categories directly from the current web page bypassing all the intermediate web pages the user reviewed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Heck.com, LLC
    Inventor: Ronald W. Colwill, Jr.
  • Patent number: D641936
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Inventors: Robert C. Simpson, Connie Simpson, Michael Ford, Elaine Ford, John T. Leadbeater, Barbara Leadbeater