Patents Examined by Arthur O. Hall
  • Patent number: 10353847
    Abstract: A firefighting or rescue apparatus includes a frame having a cab defining an interior within which a flash memory device is permanently mounted. The flash memory device is isolated so that it is incapable of receiving any onboard operating data pertaining to the operation and status of the firefighting apparatus. Instead, the device primarily stores data regarding a service manual, maintenance manual, electrical diagrams and/or troubleshooting guide related to the firefighting apparatus. The device is able to be selectively coupled to a portable computing device so that a user working on the firefighting apparatus can access the data without risk of loss or misplacement thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: HME, Incorporated
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Lenz, Jr., James F. Symonds
  • Patent number: 10350619
    Abstract: In one aspect, a sprinkler is provided having a nozzle, a deflector that receives fluid flow from the nozzle, and a friction brake assembly that controls rotation of a deflector. The friction brake assembly is releasably connected to the frame in order to enhance serviceability of the sprinkler. In another aspect, a sprinkler is provided having a frame, a deflector rotatably connected to the frame, a nozzle, and a nozzle socket of the frame. The nozzle and nozzle socket have interlocking portions that releasably connect the nozzle to the frame. The nozzle may be easily removed for servicing. Further, the nozzle socket can be configured to receive a plurality of nozzles having different flow characteristics. A nozzle can be selected and utilized with the sprinkler according to the desired application for the sprinkler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: Eugene Ezekiel Kim, Radu Marian Sabau
  • Patent number: 10350618
    Abstract: A shower head capable of automatic switching and manual positioning is provided. By pressing buttons, a tension spring brings a final-stage small gear of a gear transmission unit to mesh with a switching gear. A rotor drives the switching gear through the gear transmission unit, enabling a water hole of the switching gear to align with one of water diversion holes of a water diversion seat for automatic switching to provide different outflow modes. The shower head implements function switching with one hand and is convenient to use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: SINYU TECHNOLOGY (FUJIAN) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zhangjun Yu
  • Patent number: 10342887
    Abstract: A washable theft resistant air scenting device is made of a hydrophobic impermeable flexible material which can absorb and desorb reversibly oil-base and/or solvent-base air scenting liquids. The device comprises an elongated member and a one way self-locking head having a through-opening adapted to receive the distal end of the elongated member and permit movement of the elongated member through the through-opening, only in one direction. Thus upon wrapping the elongated member around a stationary member and forming a closed loop around the stationary member, removal of the air scenting device would be difficult without destroying it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: AirScent International
    Inventor: Raymond Czapko
  • Patent number: 10343585
    Abstract: The invention relates to an agricultural machine for spraying a phytosanitary liquid over cultivated land, said machine comprising means for moving the machine, a spray boom having at least one arm, a mechanism for inclining the boom and/or at least one of the arms in relation to a frame of the machine and vertically when the machine is on a flat and horizontal surface, and a mechanism for raising/lowering the boom along an axis fixed in relation to the frame of the machine. At least one of the arms is provided with at least one sensor, each sensor measuring a distance between the surface of the land and said sensor or, if necessary, between the crop and the sensor. The control unit is connected to each sensor, provided with a memory for storing information provided by each sensor, and able to control the raising/lowering mechanism according to information stored in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: EXEL INDUSTRIES
    Inventor: Patrick Ballu
  • Patent number: 10343178
    Abstract: The rotary atomizing coating device (1) is provided with a spray head (2) formed of a tube body having a circular truncated conical shape and constituted to spray, from an opening end on the large diameter side, a coating introduced from an opening end on the small diameter side thereof, and a coating supply machine (3) engaged with the spray head (2) for supplying the coating while rotating the spray head (2) around an axial line (O). The spray head (2) has a first coating diffusion part (28) having a curved surface with a convex shape towards the axial line (O) on the inner peripheral surface, and a second coating diffusion part (29) extending to an outer edge (26) of the opening end on the large diameter side having a curved surface with a concave shape towards the axial line (O) with grooves (4) on the outer edge (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Kishimoto, Takayuki Ueki, Koji Ikeda, Masashi Takebe, Junichi Fukuno
  • Patent number: 10343003
    Abstract: A fire suppression system for an aircraft having a compartment, the fire suppression system including an inert gas source in selective fluid communication with the compartment and a fire suppression agent source in selective fluid communication with the compartment, wherein an inert gas from the inert gas source and a fire suppression agent from the fire suppression agent source are at least partially combined to form a fire suppression mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Patrick T. Baker, Douglas E. Ferguson, Mike R. Madden
  • Patent number: 10344726
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a fuel injection valve that can achieve sufficient atomization even if the spray angle is narrow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuki Yoshimura, Mitsuhiro Matsuzawa, Eiji Ishii, Akihiro Yamazaki, Takahiro Saito, Nobuaki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10337782
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fan gun snowmaker that utilizes an external nucleation device to create atomized water mist that is broken apart and frozen by a transverse air jet to create frozen nuclei, or snow seed. Further, flat spray nozzles that are normally used for spray washing and power washing are used that create a flat fan spray at the opening of the fan gun, rather than typical cone-shaped sprayers. The fan spray better disperses the water molecules into the cold, ambient air, which then combine with the frozen nuclei to create snowflakes. The fan gun is portable and lightweight and has anchors at each end that also function as jacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Snow Realm Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Tad Beaulac
  • Patent number: 10335811
    Abstract: A two-phase flow nozzle, having limited dimensions of main parts relating to size of atomized particle and having practical means to assure the important dimension is provided. The nozzle is composed with the first liquid passage, the liquid nozzle with a liquid splaying exit, a concave located at an end of the liquid nozzle where said liquid exit is located lower than said end of liquid nozzle, a gas nozzle having a gap to supply compressed gas for atomizing from the outer periphery of said liquid nozzle to the liquid injected from said liquid exit, and a gas nozzle having a gas exit, wherein said gap is formed by sticking the minute extrusion composed integrally on said liquid nozzle with said gas nozzle or sticking the minute extrusion composed integrally on said gas nozzle with said liquid nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: MORIZANE TRANSPORTATION CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kimihide Morizane
  • Patent number: 10322307
    Abstract: A method of laser (30) based fire fighting, the method comprising: delivering energy from an emitted energy beam source to an active fire affected area (10) so as to process combustible material by one of cutting, ablating, charring and total oxidation so as to reduce the quantity of combustible material. Preferably the provided energy exhibits a total fluence of at least 50 micro-joule per square centimeter measured over a window of no more than 0.1 milliseconds. Preferably the provided energy is from a laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Inventor: Daniel Leigh
  • Patent number: 10314781
    Abstract: A control unit for controlling the operation of a nebulizer is provided that is configured to measure the impedance of an actuator in the nebulizer and to determine whether a nebulizing element in the nebulizer is positioned correctly with respect to the actuator on the basis of the measured impedance. Also provided is a nebulizer comprising a reservoir chamber for storing a liquid to be nebulized, an actuator for vibrating liquid stored in the reservoir chamber, and a control unit as described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Alwin Rogier Martijn Verschueren
  • Patent number: 10315211
    Abstract: A retractable spray shield for agricultural use has a spray barrier; a storage tube; a deployment and concealment drive that in one direction deploys the spray barrier from the storage tube and in a second direction opposed to the first direction conceals the spray barrier within the storage tube; and a pivotal quick release support and boom arm coupling. The spray barrier has a generally triangular and flaccid liquid barrier film, a pair of framing legs coupled to opposed edges of the liquid barrier film, a hinge plate, a pair of pintles coupling the pair of framing legs to the hinge plate, a spring guide post intermediate between the first and second pintles, and a tension spring wrapped about the spring guide post and configured to operatively stretch the pair of framing legs apart from each other and thereby expand the barrier film toward a planar, generally triangular geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Inventor: Mark T. Hagberg
  • Patent number: 10307626
    Abstract: Implementations are disclosed herein that relate to a firefighting system. An example provides a firefighting system comprising a conveyance configured to receive and elevate screened soil, a chute configured to receive the screened soil at an entry point, and a nozzle configured to emit the screened soil toward a fire site, the nozzle comprising an augmentation device configured to increase a flow speed of the screened soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Inventor: Gary Brian Snodgrass
  • Patent number: 10299445
    Abstract: A center pivot irrigation system adapted for more uniform application of water. The system includes a pivot sprinkler arm with a first set of spaced apart nozzles. The system includes a first set of control valves each provided on the pivot sprinkler arm upstream of a nozzle. The irrigation system includes a corner sprinkler arm pivotally coupled to an end of the pivot sprinkler arm. The corner sprinkler arm includes a second set of spaced apart nozzles and a second set of control valves each provided upstream of a nozzle. The irrigation system includes a controller transmitting control signals to the first and second sets of control valves to open and close in a pattern defined by a valve pulsing pattern for the pivot sprinkler arm and a valve pulsing pattern for the corner sprinkler arm, whereby input water is applied in a uniform manner under the corner sprinkler arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: TRIMBLE INC.
    Inventor: Mark Jonathan Whalley
  • Patent number: 10265717
    Abstract: A method of controlling the spray droplet size of a spray nozzle apparatus, in particular for the manufacturing of food powders, delivered to the spray nozzle comprises the following steps: a) providing a paste of a product to be sprayed by a spray nozzle; b) continuously determining the shear viscosity (?) of the product paste delivered to the spray nozzle; c) determining the mass flow rate (Qrn) of the product paste delivered to the spray nozzle; d) determining the static pressure (P) of the product paste delivered to the spray nozzle; e) determining the density (p) of the product paste delivered to the spray nozzle; f) delivering the data obtained in steps b) to e) to a control device comprising a computer and a memory; g) calculating control data for adjusting the spray nozzle on the basis of the data obtained in steps b) to e) and on nozzle geometry parameters stored in the memory; h) sending the control data as control signals to a control means of the spray nozzle and adjusting the spray nozzle accordi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Peter Erdmann, Peter Frankhauser, Martin Nydegger, Dale Richard Sanders, Christian Schmied, Michael Stranzinger, Gerhard Walthert
  • Patent number: 10094348
    Abstract: A valve assembly arrangement for an injection valve may have a central longitudinal axis, a valve assembly of the inward opening type, and a valve assembly of the outward opening type, wherein the valve assembly of the outward opening type is axially arranged adjacent and fixedly coupled to the valve assembly of the inward opening type such that the valve assembly of the inward opening type is operable to inject fluid into the valve assembly of the outward opening type for increasing a fluid pressure in the valve assembly of the outward opening type to open the valve assembly of the outward opening type to enable dispensing of the fluid from the valve assembly arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Mauro Grandi
  • Patent number: 10052509
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system as well as a method for extinguishing fire in an enclosed room (6) in which the enclosed room (6) is flooded with extinguishing gas at least until an extinguishing gas concentration capable of providing an extinguishing effect (a) is set in the flood zone. In order to achieve the realizing of a maximum extinguishing gas concentration (b) as quickly as possible without the flooding of the room (6) thereby posing a danger to people, it is inventively provided for the flooding of the enclosed room (6) to be divided into a pre-flooding phase and a main flooding phase subsequent thereto. The pre-flooding phase corresponds to an interval of time between the time (t1) the alarming starts to warn people of impending danger and a predefined time (t2). The main flooding phase corresponds to an interval of time between the predefined time (t2) and the time (t4) at which a maximum extinguishing gas concentration (b) is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Amrona AG
    Inventor: Ernst-Werner Wagner
  • Patent number: 10047959
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a fuel spray nozzle of a gas turbine engine combustor includes an angular lip axially projecting into an upstream section of an annular passage to guide a fuel layer vortex to flow along a radially outer passage wall of the annular passage and to guide an air layer vortex to fill into and pass through an annular space between the fuel layer vortex and a radially-inner passage wall of the annular passage. The air layer vortex is free of mixing with the fuel layer vortex before the fuel layer vortex is discharged from the annular passage for fuel atomization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Bhawan B. Patel, Oleg Marenko
  • Patent number: 10039943
    Abstract: An aircraft comprises a fuselage having a compartment, and a fire suppression system for delivering fire suppressant to the compartment. The system includes at least one suppressant concentration sensor located in the compartment, a valve for regulating flow of the fire suppressant to the compartment, and a controller, responsive to the sensor, for controlling the valve to maintain fire suppressant concentration within the compartment at a target concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Charles Steven Meis, David John Shaw