Patents Examined by James Hakomaki
  • Patent number: 10526182
    Abstract: An apparatus for filling cans with an uncarbonated liquid fill includes a rotatable rotor, can holders, filling elements, a can-pickup station, a can set-down station, and either a movable clamping element or an underpressure acting on a can's bottom. The filling operation is either pressureless filling, free-jet filling, or hot free-jet filling. During a filling operation, the rotor moves a can from the pick-up station to the set-down station. Either the clamping element or the underpressure then fixes the can to either a circumferential side with respect to the rotor or a filling-element support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Ludwig Clusserath, Timo Jakob, Thomas Stolte
  • Patent number: 10280873
    Abstract: A fuel tank system stores liquefied gas fuel to be supplied to an engine. The liquefied gas fuel is refueled to the fuel tank system by a fueling equipment. The fuel tank system includes: a first tank part having a connector portion connected with the fueling equipment and defining a first storage chamber into which the liquefied gas fuel sent from the fueling equipment flows; a second tank part defining a second storage chamber that stores the liquefied gas fuel separately from the first storage chamber; and a sending part that raises a pressure of the liquefied gas fuel stored in the first tank part and that sends the liquefied gas fuel with the raised pressure to the second tank part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryou Katsura
  • Patent number: 10273139
    Abstract: A refueling adapter is provided. The refueling adapter includes a nozzle section and an inlet section coupled to and positioned upstream of the nozzle section, the inlet section including a restrictor element extending across an inlet section flow passage and an anti-sealing rib coupled to an inlet section housing and axially extending along the inlet section flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Brian Thomas Aitken
  • Patent number: 10247358
    Abstract: Method for filling a tank with pressurized hydrogen via a filling station comprising at least one buffer container and a fluid circuit connected to said at least one buffer container, the circuit of the filling station comprising a first end connected to at least one source of hydrogen gas, the circuit comprising a second end fitted with a transfer pipe intended to be connected removably to the tank that is to be filled, the method involving a step of cooling the hydrogen supplied to the tank by transferring negative calories between a cold source and the hydrogen, the method being characterized in that it comprises a step of purifying the hydrogen supplied by the source in a purification member before transferring it to the at least one buffer container, and in that it comprises a step of transferring negative calories from said cold source to the hydrogen before and/or during the purification step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Laurent Allidieres
  • Patent number: 10222116
    Abstract: An insulation delivery apparatus for forming an insulated appliance structure includes an insulated structure having a wrapper and a liner that define an interior cavity and a hopper having a storage bin and a delivery mechanism. The delivery mechanism delivers an insulating medium from the storage bin, through an insulation conduit and into the interior cavity. The delivery mechanism operates between idle and delivery states. A pressing mechanism is coupled with the insulation conduit and is in selective engagement with the insulated structure. The pressing mechanism operates between rest and compressing states. An inner support is in selective engagement with an outer surface of the inner liner and an operable outer support in selective engagement with the outer wrapper. The inner support and the operable outer support provide structural support to the insulated structure when the pressing mechanism is in the compressing state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Berhanu Allo, Mohamed Alshourbagy, Jon M. Anthony, Lakshya J. Deka, Abhay Naik, Lorraine J. Westlake
  • Patent number: 10214405
    Abstract: A filling machine includes a filling element that has a liquid channel, a liquid valve, controlled gas paths, and a probe having a channel and an opening. The channel connects to a tank of filling material. A filter in a gas path traps contaminants. During filling, the liquid valve introduces filling material into a container, the first gas path connects to an interior space of the container, and the probe's position determines a fill level in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventor: Friedhelm Wagner
  • Patent number: 10189614
    Abstract: A cap for closing an opening in a container, the container having a top wall in which the opening is formed, a bottom wall, and at least one container side wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall defining a cavity for storing a material for dispensing through the cap includes an end face having at least one fluid inlet adapted to allow air to flow through the cap and at least one fluid outlet, separate from the at least one fluid inlet, adapted to allow liquid to flow through the cap, a side wall extending from the end face, and a retaining element provided on at least a portion of the side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason W. Pruiett
  • Patent number: 10179727
    Abstract: A variable inlet device for a vehicle includes a first pipe and a second pipe arranged in parallel to each other, and a variable injection pipe configured to allow an exit thereof to be selectively connected to an entrance of the first pipe or an entrance of the second pipe by a rotation movement and a back and forth movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jiyoung Hong
  • Patent number: 10173794
    Abstract: Packaging machine and method for filling dusting product such as bulk material into open-mouth bags via a filling process. The filling process is controlled by weight via a control device and a weighing device. A batching element conveys product and introduces it through a filling spout into an open-mouth bag appended for the filling process. The filling spout is connected with a collecting tank through a flow connection such that a pressure surge occurring during the filling process is utilized for transferring into the collecting tank the displacing air contained in the open-mouth bag and including the dusting product to receive and settle the displacing air in the collecting tank and to deposit at least part of the dust content of the displacing air in the collecting tank as deposited product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: HAVER & BOECKER OHG
    Inventor: Uwe Breulmann
  • Patent number: 10160312
    Abstract: A movement permitting section is provided at a nozzle guide 22 at an interior of an inlet pipe 14. When a stopper 24 receives pushing force toward a fuel tank side from a refueling nozzle 18, the movement permitting section deforms so as to permit movement of the stopper 24 toward a radial direction outer side of the nozzle guide 22 or toward a fuel tank side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Shimokawa, Atsushi Sekihara, Yoshinari Hiramatsu, Motoyasu Kito, Akihito Hirunagi
  • Patent number: 10155653
    Abstract: An automatic supply system of a consumable material includes: an automatic supply device that automatically supplies a consumable material to a vehicle capable of being loaded with a cargo; and a control device that obtains loading information indicating whether or not the cargo is loaded on the vehicle, and is able to control an automatic supply of the consumable material to the vehicle based on the obtained loading information, wherein, when the control device determines that the cargo is loaded on the vehicle from the obtained loading information, the control device controls the automatic supply device not to perform the automatic supply of the consumable material to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Tojima, Kouichi Yamashita, Tsugio Sudou, Koji Takeda
  • Patent number: 10144628
    Abstract: A device for collecting waste cleaning fluid and debris from an installed A/C unit by placing and supporting a funnel shaped collection bib under the A/C unit by means of device mounting brackets placed behind the A/C unit, the bib being held open by an arcuate rib attached to the mounting brackets, and by a supporting cord passing through the rib, brackets, and bib hem and being cinched against the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Crossford International, LLC
    Inventors: Michael A Hardy, Scott C Cackowski
  • Patent number: 10145509
    Abstract: Provided is a hydrogen station that is used to charge hydrogen to a hydrogen tank mounted on a vehicle, the hydrogen station including: a compressor that compresses hydrogen; a lubricant cooling unit that cools the lubricant of the compressor while circulating the lubricant; a hydrogen cooling unit that is capable of cooling hydrogen which is not charged to the hydrogen tank mounted on the vehicle yet and is compressed by the compressor; a sensor that detects whether the vehicle approaches or reaches the hydrogen station; and a startup unit that starts up at least one of the lubricant cooling unit and the hydrogen cooling unit by a signal from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Nagura, Hitoshi Takagi
  • Patent number: 10144536
    Abstract: A vibrating device is incorporated in a packaging machine to vibrate packaging bags filled with articles. The vibrating device includes a tapping plate disposed below the bags, a servomotor having an output shaft, a selection unit selecting one of vibration patterns set according to sizes of the bags or types of the articles, an output unit delivering data of a rotation pattern of the output shaft, and a control unit controlling the output shaft according to the rotation pattern based on the delivered rotation data. When one vibration pattern is selected according to the size of the bag or the type of the articles, the control unit controls the output shaft according to the rotation pattern corresponding to the vibration pattern, so that the tapping plate connected via a link mechanism to the output shaft is vibrated up and down in the selected vibration pattern to vibrate the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL PACKER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kei Katsuyama, Naoyuki Kuniyoshi, Yuki Miyabe
  • Patent number: 10138008
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a filling device for heterogeneous products or products which have solid or semi-solid suspended elements with variable dimensions and compactness. The valve of the invention can be used in net weight filling machines. In particular, the invention relates to a filling device (1) for filling machines, comprising a hollow body (2) in which a shutter member (3) is movably fitted and acts in cooperation with a dispensing member (4), which is coaxial to said shutter member (3), to close or open a dispensing opening (5) for a product (P) to be dispensed into a container (C), characterized in that said dispensing member (4) comprises a rotatable shaft (10) comprising a screw portion (14) adapted to impart a dispensing pressure and a mixing to the product (P).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Weithtpack S.r.L.
    Inventors: Vanni Zacche′, Gianguido Corniani
  • Patent number: 10131527
    Abstract: A method for filling containers simultaneously with the filling-material sealing the containers against filling heads at the filling positions, and using a filling-material volumetric-flow-rate controller common to all of the filling positions to control flow of filling-material as a function of a target filling-curve by executing a filling phase with intervals that have different flow rates and controlling transition times between these intervals to ensure that each container finishes the filling phase with the correct amount of filling-material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventor: Hilmar Fickert
  • Patent number: 10124955
    Abstract: A tank assembly for receiving liquids comprises a tank body. The tank body includes a tank wall defining an enclosed tank cavity. The tank body also includes a manhole lid attached to the tank wall and movable from a closed position covering a manhole in the tank body to an open position uncovering the manhole. A liner includes a flexible liner wall defining an enclosed liner cavity. An opening is formed in the liner wall to permit liquid to be introduced into the liner cavity. The liner also includes a fitting secured to the liner wall at the opening in the liner wall. A first end of a hose is attached to the fitting for conducting fluid to the liner cavity. A valve is attached to a second end of the hose. The valve and the second end of the hose are releasably attached to the manhole lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: TANKBAG PROPERTIES LLC
    Inventors: Thomas J. Starck, Waldemar Frans Finke
  • Patent number: 10107454
    Abstract: In a gas supply system, a control portion acquires a first temperature and a first pressure of a gas in a fuel tank, and a first output signal value of a pressure sensor corresponding to the first pressure before gas supply, acquires a first amount of the gas in the fuel tank using a fuel tank volume, the first temperature, and the first pressure, acquires a second amount after gas supply, through integration of a measurement value obtained by a flowmeter during gas supply, acquires a second temperature, a second pressure, and a second output signal value corresponding to the second pressure after gas supply, calculates a third pressure using the fuel tank volume, the second amount, and the second temperature, and corrects a relationship between an output signal and the pressure using the first pressure, the first output signal value, the third pressure, and the second output signal value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroki Yahashi, Tsukuo Ishitoya
  • Patent number: 10088212
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance and method of operation are provided. The refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet, an ice maker, a door, and a dispenser conduit. The cabinet may define a storage compartment. The ice maker may be disposed within the storage compartment. The door may be attached to the cabinet and define a dispenser recess in selective communication with the ice maker. The dispenser conduit may be disposed on the door within the dispenser recess. The dispenser conduit may include a stationary inner funnel and a slidable outer funnel extending along a passage axis. The slidable outer funnel may be disposed over an external surface of the stationary inner funnel to selectively define an extended portion of an ice passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Benjamin Miller, Andrew Reinhard Krause
  • Patent number: 10011332
    Abstract: This invention discloses an inflator mechanism for rafts and life vests that performs a multitude of functions required for rescue and underwater deployment of personnel and devices. The inner cylinder in this disclosure is actuated by a plethora of inputs, manual, automatic selectable pressure sensing, or dualled hydrostatic sensors which can each be safely selected by function selection. Since the inflator uses spring discs to drive a penetrator which mechanically punctures a membrane of an inflation gas source and actuated by an electronically controlled solenoid, dissolvable elements, conductivity switches and preset check valve actuators are eliminated increasing the safety and reliability of the actuator. Electronic control further permits user enabling of inflation depth actuation and the multiple water sensors prevent failure of actuation due to splashes and humidity effects on sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Inventor: Bogdan Michalski