Patents Examined by Brett Spurlock
  • Patent number: 9138831
    Abstract: A self-shielding welding electrode and a method of making the same are provided. The self-shielding welding electrode contains rare earth aluminide in either the flux or the electrode portion of the electrode. The self-shielding welding electrode contains at least about 0.5% by weight of the flux of rare earth aluminide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: LINCOLN GLOBAL, INC.
    Inventor: James M Keegan
  • Patent number: 9125517
    Abstract: It is disclosed a household multi-purpose cooking appliance that can function in a barbecue mode, in an oven mode and in a fryer/boiler mode. The appliance comprises a cooking chamber with a top aperture closed by a lid associated to a heating element and an insulating cover. The cooking chamber can contain a lower heating element for use in the oven or fryer cooking mode. A pan is inserted in the cooking chamber in the fryer mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Laura Fossati
  • Patent number: 9097452
    Abstract: Thermal regulation of perishable products is achieved using a container (2) having an elongate thermal member (14) which extends into a central region of the container. Thermal regulation is also achieved by selected direction of airflow about walls (4) of the container and providing the container with a rib (5) to facilitate air circulation between adjacent containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: FOODCAP INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventor: Roger Keith Palmer
  • Patent number: 9044116
    Abstract: A device and method for warming a cup in a machine for preparing a hot drink or beverage involving transmitting by conduction a part of the surface heat of the heating body to a cup holder. The heating body is also used to heat water in the machine. The device and method also at least partially dampen a vibration transmissible by the heating body to the surface of the cup holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Gilles Gavillet, Peter Möri, Jürgen Kristlbauer
  • Patent number: 9044826
    Abstract: A laser processing machine includes a workpiece support, a movement unit that is movable relative to the workpiece support, the movement unit being configured to move a laser processing head over the workpiece support, and a switch cabinet in which one or more control components of the laser processing machine are provided. An arrangement of the switch cabinet provides a free movement space disposed underneath at least a portion of the switch cabinet, wherein at least a portion of the movement unit is disposed within the free movement space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: TRUMPF Maschinen Gruesch AG
    Inventors: Peter Epperlein, Stefan Stroebel
  • Patent number: 9038530
    Abstract: A beverage machine for preparing and dispensing a hot beverage having a pump dispensing system. Hot water passes through a water distributor to infuse material in a filter basket. A coffee tank receives the brewed beverage and maintains it at an appropriate temperature. On demand, a pump dispensing system delivers the beverage through an outlet chamber and spout into a user's cup. The user manipulates a switch to vary the rate at which the pump dispensing system dispenses the beverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: ENE HOLDINGS LTD
    Inventors: Andrew Yuen Chin Chen, Amy Decem Cheng, Kwan Fai Lui
  • Patent number: 9016196
    Abstract: A fruit and vegetable juicer has a motor above which is a filter basket that is surrounded by a collection chamber. A feed tube is supported above the filter basket and is integral with a lid to the collection chamber. In preferred embodiments, the separation chamber comprises a central liquid collection portion and a pulp collection portion that surrounds it. In particularly preferred embodiments, the inside diameter of the interior sidewall that separates the pulp collection chamber from the juice collection chamber is tapered toward a central axis of rotation. The smaller diameter end of the sidewall is adjacent to an upper rim of the filter basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Breville Pty Limited
    Inventor: Keith James Hensel
  • Patent number: 9018561
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of operation for a high power broad band elongated thin beam laser annealing light source, which may comprise a gas discharge seed laser oscillator having a resonance cavity, providing a seed laser output pulse; a gas discharge amplifier laser amplifying the seed laser output pulse to provide an amplified seed laser pulse output; a divergence correcting multi-optical element optical assembly intermediate the seed laser and the amplifier laser. The divergence correcting optical assembly may adjust the size and/or shape of the seed laser output pulse within a discharge region of the amplifier laser in order to adjust an output parameter of the amplified seed laser pulse output. The divergence correcting optical assembly may comprise a telescope with an adjustable focus. The adjustable telescope may comprise an active feedback-controlled actuator based upon a sensed parameter of the amplified seed laser output from the amplifier laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Cymer, LLC
    Inventors: Richard L Sandstrom, Daniel J. W. Brown, Thomas Hoffmann, Jason D Robinson, Craig W Unick
  • Patent number: 9018560
    Abstract: A turbine component repair apparatus includes: a first die having male and female halves for clamping a first section of a turbine blade with a platform and a root portion of an airfoil, the first die having a recess shaped to receive the root portion and retain a faying surface thereof in predetermined alignment; and a second die having male and female halves for clamping a repair section which defines a tip portion of the airfoil, the second die having a second recess shaped to receive the tip portion and retain a faying surface of the tip portion in predetermined alignment. The first and second dies have mating front faces configured to align their bottom surfaces in a common plane. A alignment device is removably attached to the second die to temporarily align the repair section in the absence of the male half of the second die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Gary Krizansky, Gary R. Peters, Hai Sam
  • Patent number: 9016195
    Abstract: An apparatus for preparing a melon juice concentrate, such as watermelon juice concentrate, includes a finisher with brushes for separating melon flesh from melon rind including leaving at least 1/16 inch flesh on the rind and screens for separating juice from flesh. The apparatus also includes a steamer to reduce bacteria count on whole melon, a chopper for chopping melons into pieces less than about 16 inches square, an extractor for extracting juice from the flesh, and an evaporator for concentrating melon juice to form melon juice concentrate. The steamer includes a cylinder frame, steam jets directing steam through apertures in the cylinder frame at whole melon therein, and a motivator to move the whole melon along the cylinder frame. The apparatus can also process cantaloupe, honeydew melon, and other melon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Milne Fruit Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce D. DeJong, Eric A. Johnson, David L. Luther, Gordon R. Taylor
  • Patent number: 9000321
    Abstract: A thermal cutter for cutting with heat a board mounted upon a table having an internal space includes a plurality of walls and a sound absorbent material. The walls are disposed in the internal space of the table to partition a plurality of exhaust chambers with each of the exhaust chambers having an aperture that opens towards a side on which the board is mounted. The sound absorbent material is provided to at least a portion of at least one of the walls, the sound absorbent material being removably coupled to the table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Komatsu Industries Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Yamaguchi, Satoshi Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 8991301
    Abstract: A device for steeping barley having a container for containing the barley to be steeped. The container has a floor and the floor has passageways for flowing at least one of steeping water and gases through the passageways. The device further includes a water line system under the floor directly connected to the passageways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Buehler AG
    Inventors: Bernardus Van Dieren, Gerardus Toonen
  • Patent number: 8983283
    Abstract: A control system for an electric water heater having an upper heating element and a lower heating element is disclosed. The control system includes a control module that controls operation of the electric water heater by selectively toggling the upper and lower heating elements between an ON state and an OFF state and a consumer interface module that allows a consumer to input a set point temperature and select an energy savings mode for the electric water heater. The control module regularly monitors hot water usage and adjusts the set point temperature by a predetermined setback amount until a capacity of the water heater matches consumer usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Richard Miu, Lawrence J. Brazis, Richard E. Welch
  • Patent number: 8931399
    Abstract: The invention relates to a brewing apparatus, in particular for coffee, comprising a drainage valve, which is located on the one hand in a brewing liquid path between a brewing liquid container and a brewing unit of the brewing apparatus and on the other hand, in a drainage liquid path between the brewing unit and an outlet of the brewing apparatus. In a brewing position of the drainage valve, the brewing liquid path is released and the drainage liquid path is blocked. The brewing apparatus is characterised by a drainage position of the drainage valve in which both the drainage liquid path and also the brewing liquid path are released and a decalcification position of the drainage valve in which the brewing liquid path is blocked and a decalcification liquid path is produced between the brewing liquid container and the outlet via the drainage valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Jura Elektroapparate Ag
    Inventor: Philipp Büttiker
  • Patent number: 8925445
    Abstract: Provided is a cooking appliance. Steam generated in a steam generation part is selectively supplied into a cooktop part or a steam cooking part. The steam supplied into the cooktop part is used for cleaning a top plate. Also, the steam supplied into the steam cooking part is used for cooking a food. Thus, the steam may be used in a lot of uses, e.g., for cooking the food and cleaning the top plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jae-Hyoun Park, Young-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 8919243
    Abstract: Provided is a cooking appliance. The cooking appliance includes a cooktop part on which a grill module for grill cooking is detachably disposed, a collection device for sucking an exhaust gas generated in the grill module, an exhaust device forcibly sucking the exhaust gas collected into the collection device to exhaust the exhaust gas to the outside, and a guide device for guiding the exhaust gas collected into the collection device to the exhaust device. The cooking appliance enables different types of food to be simultaneously cooked according to different cooking methods, and thus cooking time for food may be reduced and various demands of users may be met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Myeong-Yeol Kang, Eun Hyae Han
  • Patent number: 8881642
    Abstract: A beverage brewer having a water flow control system for controlling the flow water through the system during a brewing cycle. The water flow control system is related to the spray head used in the brewer. The system can be calibrated based on the spray head used with the system and the calibration information can be used during the brewing process. An information device may be provided on the spray head to communication information to the brewer to control the brewing process. The brewer may be provided with a reader to read the information from the spray head. A system which can be used with a brewer, including all of the aforementioned information associated with the spray head for use in controlling the water flow during a brewing cycle. The system can be provided with the brewer or retrofitted with an existing brewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
    Inventor: Burton L. Hart
  • Patent number: 8884183
    Abstract: A welding arrangement and a welding process for forming a weld seam between two edge portions, wherein the edge portions form a Y joint having a root portion and a bevel portion, said root portion being welded by a hybrid laser electric arc welding process including directing a laser beam and an electric arc in a single interaction zone of plasma and molten metal. A hybrid laser electric arc welding head and welding submerged arc welding head are arranged on a common carrier structure for welding the Y joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: ESAB AB
    Inventors: Johan Tolling, Kari Erik Lahti
  • Patent number: 8875620
    Abstract: A racking system for a deep fryer, wherein the deep fryer contains cooking oil, the racking system includes a housing; at least one rack that carries a food product; an actuator operatively associated with the rack to raise and lower the rack within the housing. The system further includes a sensor that detects a property of the cooking oil; and a controller that receives a signal to initiate a cooking cycle based on the property and sends a signal to permit activation of the actuator to raise and lower the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Frymaster L.L.C.
    Inventors: Douglas S. Jones, Henry Preston Hutson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8878099
    Abstract: The present invention provides flux cored wire for welding duplex stainless steel which refines the solidified crystal grains for obtaining weld metal superior in toughness and ductility, characterized by containing, as the chemical ingredients included in the steel sheath and flux, by mass % with respect to the mass of the wire as a whole, C: 0.001 to 0.1%, Si: 0.01 to 1.0%, Mn: 2.0 to 6.0%, Cr: 17.0 to 27.0%, Ni: 1.0 to 10.0%, Mo: 0.1 to 3.0%, Al: 0.002 to 0.05%, Mg: 0.0005 to 0.01%, Ti: 0.001 to 0.5%, and N: 0.10 to 0.30%, further limiting P to 0.03% or less and S to 0.01% or less, satisfying 0.73×Cr equivalents?Ni equivalents?4.0 and Ti (mass %)×N (mass %)?0.0004, and having a balance of iron and unavoidable impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Nippon Steel & Sumikin Stainless Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshige Inoue, Manabu Mizumoto, Takashi Namekata, Yusuke Oikawa