Patents Examined by John Wasaff
  • Patent number: 8653421
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for heating weather masts on wind turbines. The object of the invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art and to keep the weather masts of a wind turbine free of ice. The device according to the invention for heating a weather mast on a wind turbine is that the weather mast comprises interconnected pipings. In the pipings, there is arranged a heating system which is formed by one or a plurality of electric heating wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nordex Energy GmbH
    Inventor: Sebastian Kathoefer
  • Patent number: 8651016
    Abstract: The unitized vacuum fryer is capable of low atmosphere vacuum cooking and has an elongate cooking tunnel having an upper portion separable from a base portion for cleaning and maintenance. When hermetically sealed together the two portions function to retain a high vacuum for an enclosed fry cooking system. Hermetic sealing locks at each end of the tunnel afford product entry and exit. The vacuum fryer does not require a separate enclosing pressure vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Heat and Control, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew A. Caridis, James A. Padilla, Anthony A. Caridis, Thomas John Miller, Donald Giles
  • Patent number: 8642926
    Abstract: An electric heating system, in particular an auxiliary heating system in automobiles, in which the heating system has several heating rods (1), arranged side-by-side; the heating rods (1) are connected to each other by means of alike metal plates (4) that are slid onto the heating rods (1); the heating rods (1) have for this purpose a series of slotted holes (3) that extend in the longitudinal direction (10) of the metal plates (4); the slotted holes (3) have longitudinal edges, facing each other, that clamp the heating rods (1) between them; and at least one part of the slotted holes (3) in each metal plate (4) is longer by more than the manufacturing tolerance, than the width of the heating rods (1) measured in the longitudinal direction (10) of the metal plates (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: BorgWarner BERU Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Kochems, Michael Edgar Luppold, Rolf Merte
  • Patent number: 8642925
    Abstract: A heating device for testing integrated components is disclosed. In one embodiment, an inner casing is arranged in the heating device surrounding a holding chamber. The inner casing contains at least one recess in which an electrically conductive contact device is moveably arranged. This permits contact to be reliably made with a circuit to be tested. If the inner casing is of compact design, there is a very homogeneous temperature distribution in the heating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Robert Keller
  • Patent number: 8640607
    Abstract: Provided is an improved bidirectional heating cooker having a cooking pan including a first pan portion whose one portion is cut out open in order to form an incision portion and a second pan portion that is placed at the incision portion of the first pan portion, in a manner that the cooking pan is not formed into a fitting method being fitted with a central supporting pillar through a center hole formed at the center of the cooking pan but formed into a seating method being seated on the upper portion of a lower heating unit, to thereby enable the cooking pan to be easily attached on or detached from the lower heating unit to thus be easily washed, and to thereby allow various types of cooking pans to be easily combined to thus enhance conveniences of use and to be easily replaced with new ones and to be easily combined with other types of cooking pans to thus enable the various types of cooking pans to be used in combination and to accordingly cook different kinds of foods simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Inventor: Jin Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 8631737
    Abstract: The bread toaster includes a toaster frame defining at least one toaster slot for selectively receiving the bread slice, a heating device, and a lid arrangement. The lid arrangement includes a front and a rear sliding member, a plurality of sliding guiders, and at least one toaster lid. The toaster lid is coupled with the front and the rear sliding members in such a manner that the toaster lid is arranged to move between a closed position and an opened position, wherein in the closed position, the toaster lid is moved by the front and the rear sliding members to close the toaster slot, wherein in the opened position, the toaster lid is moved by the front and the rear sliding members to expose the toaster slot to an exterior of the toaster frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Crastal Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: George Mohan Zhang, Bei Zhang, Huajin Chen
  • Patent number: 8621990
    Abstract: A household appliance has a container for receiving working material and a housing that is isolated from the container by a wall. A rotatable working tool disposed inside the container. A motor for driving the working tool has a stator and a rotor. The stator is disposed within the housing so as to be isolated from the working material of the container. The rotor is disposed within the container and the working tool is preferably fixed to a shaft of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Electric S.A.
    Inventors: Chuan Hui Fang, Li Sheng Liu, Yue Li, Liang Guan
  • Patent number: 8621984
    Abstract: A machine having a support structure with a hot-water dispensing head, a capsule-carrying assembly which is mounted so as to be movable in a first plane in the support structure. The machine further including a guide means suitable for allowing the capsule-carrying assembly to move between a working position in which the assembly is coupled with the dispensing head and an intermediate position in which the assembly can pivot about a first axis perpendicular to the first plane, towards an angular loading position in which it can receive a capsule. The machine also having an actuating device which includes an actuator member which is rotatable about a second fixed axis and can bring about the movement thereof between the working position and the loading position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Luigi Lavazza S.p.A.
    Inventors: Vittorio Vicentini, Stefano Tornincasa, Elvio Bonisoli, Alfredo Vanni
  • Patent number: 8616117
    Abstract: A substance dispensing system comprising in combination:—a disposable container (1) filled with a portion of a substance, the container having a preformed and deformable body with a bottom (2), a peripheral wall (3) adjoining said bottom and having a top end remote from said bottom, an integral circumferential rim (4) extending outwards from the top end of the peripheral wall and defining a filling opening of said container, said disposable container being closed by a cover sheet (5) which is sealed to the circumferential rim by means of a circumferential seal (6), and—a dispensing apparatus (30) comprising a compression device having a cover sheet side support member (15) for the cover sheet side of the container as well as a bottom engaging member (20) for engaging on the bottom of the container, said compression device being adapted to compress the container by reduction of the distance between the cover sheet side support member and the bottom engaging member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: MDS Global Holding Ltd.
    Inventors: Lucas Alphonsus Maria Evers, Robert Willemsen, Roeland Petrus Maria van Oirschot, Michiel Olivier Scholvinck
  • Patent number: 8601939
    Abstract: A steam cooking system includes a steam cooking chamber having an access door and a drain for draining condensate from the steam cooking chamber along a drain path. A steam generator unit heats water to generate steam. The steam generator unit is connected for delivery of steam from the steam generator to the steam cooking chamber via a first steam path during a cooking operation. The steam generator unit is also connected for delivery of steam from the steam generator to the drain path via a second steam path during a steam flushing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Premark FEG L.L.C.
    Inventors: Atul Saksena, Larry W. Lyons, Michael B. Reckner
  • Patent number: 8596188
    Abstract: A brewing device (1) for a coffee machine includes a brewing cylinder (6) with a cylindrical bore and two pistons (3 and 4), such that the brewing cylinder is able to be closed to form a brewing chamber. The brewing cylinder (6) and pistons (3 and 4) are held in a frame (2). Before the brewing operation, coffee powder is introduced into the brewing chamber. The coffee powder cake (17) ejected from the brewing chamber is stripped off into a collection container (20) via a stripping element (18). Disposed between the stripping element (18) and the collection container (20) is a subcomponent (22) that separates the coffee powder cake (17), stripped off by the stripping element (18), into pieces (17?, 17?) before the coffee powder cake reaches the collection container (20). The coffee powder cakes are stored in the container (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Schaerer AG
    Inventor: Christoph Wüthrich
  • Patent number: 8581146
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for feeding welding wire, where the apparatus contains a wire feeding device which pays out a wire and a power source which provides a current and voltage to the wire while it is being paid out. The apparatus further includes a detection circuit which detects a short circuit in the wire when the wire makes contact with a work piece or the like, and upon detection of the short circuit the wire feeding device stops feeding the wire so that a desired stick out distance is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Lincoln Global, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph A Daniel
  • Patent number: 8558140
    Abstract: Heated hand grips for motorcycles or other applications, such as snowmobiles, are disclosed. The hand grips enable better control and comfort for the user. The hand grips described herein have a better design for mounting on the handle bars, allowing for a better seal against ingress of moisture and for sturdier mounting of the control circuitry. The control circuitry itself is simplified, and the control knob has built-in detents for more tactile feedback to the user. The heated elements themselves include a temperature sensor for simplified wiring and immediate feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: James C. Hazlett, Richard W. Fitzgerald, Manuel Anaya Perea
  • Patent number: 8536480
    Abstract: In an encoder dampening mechanism for an electric spot welding gun equipped with a motor that is accommodated inside of a motor housing and causes a hollow rotor to rotate, and an encoder main body that detects a rotation angle of the hollow rotor, the encoder dampening mechanism includes: a thin plate that is formed with a top surface that is larger in a surface area than a base surface of the encoder main body, and on which the base surface of the encoder main body is installed within the top surface; and a thin plate mounting portion that connects the thin plate to the motor housing via the thin plate support part and the thin plate pressure part, which dampen vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Miwa, Koichi Matsumoto, Teruaki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8536481
    Abstract: Electrode assemblies for plasma reactors include a structure or device for constraining an arc endpoint to a selected area or region on an electrode. In some embodiments, the structure or device may comprise one or more insulating members covering a portion of an electrode. In additional embodiments, the structure or device may provide a magnetic field configured to control a location of an arc endpoint on the electrode. Plasma generating modules, apparatus, and systems include such electrode assemblies. Methods for generating a plasma include covering at least a portion of a surface of an electrode with an electrically insulating member to constrain a location of an arc endpoint on the electrode. Additional methods for generating a plasma include generating a magnetic field to constrain a location of an arc endpoint on an electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
    Inventors: Peter C Kong, Jon D Grandy, Brent A Detering, Larry D Zuck
  • Patent number: 8505445
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device for performing multiple folding on a pastry case enclosing a stuffing so as to made stuffed foods with pastry cases, such as Chinese spring rolls and Mexican tacos. The device is characterized in that a stuffing feeder, a pastry case front folding plate, a pastry case front pressing stand, a pastry case two-sided folding plate, a pastry case flanging and pressing stand, and a consecutive folding and pressing stand are disposed on a conveyor belt of an apparatus in sequence, for performing the steps of: upon entry of the pastry case onto the conveyor belt, feeding a stuffing automatically and continuously, and then performing single folding, two-sided folding, and secondary bending-pressing, to thereby form stuffed foods with pastry cases by multiple folding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Inventor: Ou-Young Robert
  • Patent number: 8492680
    Abstract: A heating device for a seat exhibiting excellent durability, reliability, safety and enhanced workability in fixing work to a seat while reducing the cost and weight and ensuring comfortable feeling at seating without causing a strange feeling. The heating device for a seat comprises a heating matter (4) including a base substance (2) and a heating wire (3) arranged on the base substance, a temperature detection element (5) for detecting temperature of the heating matter, and a temperature control circuit (1) for controlling temperature of the heating matter based on the output from the temperature detection element, characterized in that the temperature detection element and the temperature control circuit are arranged at predetermined positions on the base substance. The temperature control circuit is insulation-covered together with a part of lead wires connected to the temperature control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Kurabe Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadahiko Ohashi, Yasuhiro Ohashi
  • Patent number: 8487213
    Abstract: An arc welding robot control system of the present invention includes memory devices, controlling devices, a welding condition changing position calculating device, a weaving operation controlling device that outputs a signal of completion of one weaving cycle every time when a welding torch completes to perform one weaving cycle of a predetermined movement pattern, a welding condition calculating device for calculating to-be-changed welding conditions, and a welding condition changing device that changes welding conditions of an arc welding robot, based on to-be-changed welding conditions, every time when a signal of completion of one weaving cycle is input. With this configuration, it enables a continuous change of welding conditions and a copying arc welding with high accuracy even in the case in which the arc welding robot performs a weaving operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Asai, Masayuki Shigeyoshi
  • Patent number: 8457479
    Abstract: A rapid thermal processing apparatus comprises a processing chamber which subjects a semiconductor substrate to rapid thermal processing. A substrate support part is arranged in the processing chamber and supports the substrate. A lamp part optically irradiates the substrate supported by the substrate support part and heats the substrate. A thermo sensor is provided to measure a temperature of the substrate. A temperature computing part computes the temperature of the substrate based on an output signal of the thermo sensor. A control part controls an irradiation intensity of the lamp part according to the temperature computed by the temperature computing part. In this apparatus, the control part is provided to correct a control parameter of the irradiation intensity of the lamp part based on a measured reflectivity of a surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventor: Tomohiro Kubo
  • Patent number: 8434403
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to the field of stovetop popcorn poppers, with an interoperating apparatus to facilitate the mixing or stirring of the popped popcorn during a coating or flavoring operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Magellan Group Ltd.
    Inventors: Andre Dean Cloutier, Debra Lynne Sasken-Duff, Adriana Phillips