Patents Examined by Charles W Kling
  • Patent number: 8122898
    Abstract: A rotating and telescoping cleaning system improves high pressure water cleaning of the inner surfaces of vessels or tanks. Vessels can be vertically divided with dividing plates with centered through-holes. Synchronized and controlled transverse and rotary movements of water jets result in a controlled spiral or helical cleaning track along the vessel walls. The water jets are directed at a pre-adjusted distance from the vessel wall and the travel speed of the water nozzle jets is exactly controlled allowing the removal of very hard deposits. One pass with the tool carrier with operating water jets along the length axis of the vessel results in a thoroughly cleaned vessel wall. The tool unfolds and folds inside of the vessel powered by the flow of the high pressure cleaning water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Aquajet Ltd.
    Inventors: Christian Geppert, Stefan Schroth
  • Patent number: 8123869
    Abstract: A dishwasher comprising a washing container, devices for washing dishes by means of rinsing liquor, and a sorption drying device which is connected in an air-conducting manner to the washing container via an outlet of the washing container and an inlet of the washing container. The sorption drying device is provided with a sorption column encompassing reversibly dehydratable material. The outlet and the inlet of the washing container are connected to the sorption drying device without mounting an air duct therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Jerg, Kai Paintner
  • Patent number: 8118044
    Abstract: A process chamber for processing semi-conductor wafers. The chamber includes at least one rotor within the process chamber. The rotor is adapted to receive and/or process semi-conductor wafers. The top of the process chamber also includes a tiltable rim. This rim tilts from a non-inclined position to an inclined position. The wafers may be loaded into and unloaded from the process chamber when the rim is in its inclined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel J. Woodruff
  • Patent number: 8113222
    Abstract: An automatic dishwasher having a tub defining a wash chamber for receiving utensils to be washed, a first rack located within the wash chamber, a second rack located within the wash chamber above the first rack, a rotatable spray arm associated with the second rack, a liquid recirculation system for selectively supplying liquid to the rotatable spray arm, and a drive system for driving the rotatable spray arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Roger James Bertsch, Jordan Robert Fountain
  • Patent number: 8113019
    Abstract: Disclosed is a drum type washing machine. The drum type washing machine includes a sealing member for preventing water between a tub and a drum from penetrating into a bearing for supporting a rotation shaft and a water penetration preventing unit for preventing the water between the tub and the drum from penetrating into the sealing member. Accordingly, it is doubly prevented that the water between the tub and the drum penetrates into the bearing, thereby preventing corrosion of the bearing due to the water. As a result, it is capable of preventing vibration and noise caused by the corrosion of the bearing and of stably supporting the rotation shaft with maintaining the initial performance of the bearing, thereby preventing the drum type washing machine from being out of order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Seong-No Yoon
  • Patent number: 8083865
    Abstract: A pair of parallel metal lances is driven by a transversal drive into and out of heat exchanger tubes. The lances are supported by a plurality of spaced apart, retractable door supports so that the transversal drive mechanism can approach the tube sheet of the heat exchanger tubes as closely as possible. A pair of rotational drive motors rotates the lances at a user controllable speed. As the lances are moved into the tubes, the interlocked support doors retract one at a time, sequentially. Similarly, as the lances are withdrawn from the tubes, the support doors close one at a time in an interlocked fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Aquajet Ltd.
    Inventors: Christian Geppert, Stefan Scroth
  • Patent number: 8061373
    Abstract: The surface cleaning apparatus is provided in self-propelled embodiments and in a trailer embodiment. The apparatus draws liquid from a supplied tank. Liquid is pressurized to approximately 4,000 psi, then directly to the surface to be cleaned. All cleaning and cleaning component functions are powered via the same fluid pumps via a supply manifold. Total width limitations dictated the design of the sidewalk capable apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Inventor: John R. Storms
  • Patent number: 8062433
    Abstract: A panel spacer and a dishwasher using the panel spacer are provided. The dishwasher has a door and a control panel located a predetermined distance from the door. The panel spacer includes a spacer cover installed between the door and the control panel, and at least one spacer body coupled to the spacer cover. The spacer body fills a gap between the door and the control panel together with the spacer cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Byung Kook Yoo
  • Patent number: 8056374
    Abstract: Systems and methods for delivering a first additive to an appliance are disclosed. The systems include a first storage container located in a pedestal, a first pump operatively connected to the first storage container and the appliance. A controller is configured to activate the first pump upon receiving an input. The first pump configured to deliver the first additive from the first storage container to the appliance. The methods include receiving a first input. The first input specifying an amount of the first additive to be delivered to the appliance. The first additive is delivered by activating a first pump in response to receiving the first input. Activating the first pump causes the first additive to be delivered to the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Christopher Gregory Hoppe
  • Patent number: 8052804
    Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor dishwasher having at least one washing zone (3, 4), at least one rinsing zone (5, 6), a suction-extraction location (23) and/or a heat-recovery device (11). The dishwasher also comprises at least one drying zone (7). The flow direction (30) of the exhaust air within the dishwasher runs from the outlet (8) to the inlet (1), counter to the transporting direction (9) of the wash ware (10) through the dishwasher, the suction-extraction location (23) being arranged in the region of the inlet (1) of the dishwasher, and volumes of air (28, 33) which are withdrawn from the drying zone (7) being dependent on positions (34, 35) of exit nozzles (26) for hot air within the drying zone (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Meiko Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Scheringer, Bruno Gaus, Thomas Peukert, Ingo Wiegand, Michael Streb
  • Patent number: 8052805
    Abstract: A method for flushing at least a portion of a bulk dispensing system in a household cleaning appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Stephen Hendrickson, Michael T. Dalton
  • Patent number: 8052766
    Abstract: One embodiment described herein relates to a system for removing pollutants from a flue gas. The system includes a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system having a SCR reactor containing a NOx reducing catalyst and one or more SCR protective devices. At least one of the SCR protective devices is connected to a rapping hammer system that actively remove fly ash collected on the SCR protective devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Michael G. Varner, David K. Anderson
  • Patent number: 8047215
    Abstract: A laparoscopic lens cleaner which is suitable for maintaining the lens of a laparoscope in a clean, dry condition during a laparoscopic surgical procedure is disclosed. An illustrative embodiment of the laparoscopic lens cleaner includes an elongated cleaner sheath having a sheath interior, a fluid conduit provided in the cleaner sheath, a fluid discharge nozzle provided in the sheath interior and communicating with the fluid conduit, a gas conduit provided in the cleaner sheath and a gas discharge nozzle provided in the sheath interior and communicating with the gas conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Inventor: Larry Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8042559
    Abstract: A dishwasher is disclosed which includes a rack arranged inside of a washing cabinet, a plurality of shelves arranged on the rack, and a shelf holder installed on the rack. The shelf holder may include a plurality of shelf fixing parts that fix the shelves together. The dishwasher so configured is capable of minimizing the number of shelf holders needed to fix a plurality of shelves to a rack and, therefore, simplifies the assembly process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Jin Choi, Nung Seo Park, Young Hwan Park, Gap Su Shin
  • Patent number: 8038805
    Abstract: A dishrack system for a drawer-type dishwasher having a tub including bottom, rear and opposing side walls includes a side portion and a readily removable base portion supported by the side portion. The side portion includes a base section having first and second leg members, and a back wall section. The leg members directly support the side portion upon the bottom wall of the tub, with the back wall section extending along one of the opposing side walls. The base portion includes a first end directly supported by the side portion and a second end which can be supported either directly by the bottom wall of the washing chamber or by another side portion. With this arrangement, the dishrack system occupies a full length and width of the tub, while the base portion can be removed without disturbing dishware items resting on the side portion(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Randy Anderson, Kory A. Gunnerson, Heather M. Hagans, Kristen K. Hedstrom, Mark E. Palm, David K. Reynolds, Barry E. Tuller, Rodney M. Welch, Jeffrey N. Williams
  • Patent number: 8028709
    Abstract: A cleaning system which can be integrated into a coater track system for use in the production of semiconductor devices and methods for its use are provided. The cleaning system can include a series of nozzles having assorted configurations and features which provide uniform and efficient rinsing of excess material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Adrian Salinas, Joel Peterson
  • Patent number: 8028548
    Abstract: A laundry machine includes a height increasing member between a washing tub and an installation surface of a cabinet. The height increasing member includes a housing with an opening to support the washing tub in the cabinet, a body with a storage space that moves in and out of the opening in the housing, and a door panel to hide a servicing section when the body is moved into the opening and to expose the servicing section when the movable body is moved out from the opening. The servicing section may include or otherwise provide access to a filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Ki Chul Woo, Na Eun Kim, Dong Won Kim
  • Patent number: 8024947
    Abstract: A washing machine paddle includes a plurality of intake openings for collecting liquid at the bottom and rear of a drum of a front loading washing machine. Discharge openings are located on the paddle toward the front of the drum for discharging liquid therethrough. A baffle arrangement in the paddle directs the liquid collected from the intake openings to the discharge openings upon rotation of the drum to place the paddle into a top location. A drum arrangement and washing machine includes at least one such paddle mounted thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: BSH Home Appliances Corporation
    Inventors: Jaime Andia Laborda, Jonathan Murrell, Terry Smith
  • Patent number: 8015984
    Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate processing apparatus for cleaning and drying a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer. This substrate processing apparatus includes a liquid processing unit for processing a substrate by immersing the substrate in stored purified water, a drying unit arranged above the liquid processing unit and configured to dry the substrate, a substrate transfer apparatus for transferring the substrate between the liquid processing unit and drying unit, a fluid supply mechanism for supplying a fluid mixture containing vapor or mist of purified water and vapor or mist of a volatile organic solvent to the drying unit, and a controller for controlling the supply of the fluid mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Koukichi Hiroshiro, Yuji Kamikawa, Takayuki Toshima, Naoki Shindo
  • Patent number: 8015644
    Abstract: A method for controlling a washing machine is disclosed. The method for controlling a washing machine having a steam generator includes a step of automatically discharging water of the steam generator outside of the steam generator during the operation of the washing machine. Therefore, according to the present invention, foreign substances may be efficiently prevented from precipitating in the steam generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Youn Dong Lee, In Geun Ahn