Patents Examined by Joseph E. Nowicki
  • Patent number: 4441102
    Abstract: A flow sensing apparatus for providing an indication of the presence of an exiting flow stream from a coal processing plant cyclone includes a probe member disposed in the edge of the flow stream, an electronic sensing circuit cooperatively arranged with the probe member in order to provide either a high or a low level signal, depending upon whether the probe member is being contacted by the exiting flow stream or whether such contact is not being made. A display light is cooperatively arranged with the sensing circuit so as to flicker on and off as the exiting flow stream intermittently and irregularly contacts the probe member. The flickering of the display light indicating proper outlet flow from the coal processing plant cyclone while a constantly on condition of the light indicates that flow is not occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1984
    Assignee: Basic American Industries
    Inventor: Charles E. Webb
  • Patent number: 4410884
    Abstract: An Alarm system for furnishing an alarm signal in response to unauthorized entry through a passage connecting the outside to the interior of a building, wherein a first detecting device furnishes a first output signal when sensing the presence of a person in a first portion of the passage. A second detecting device nearer the outside of the building furnishes a second output signal when sensing the approach of a person. An evaluating circuit receives the output signals and initiates an alarm signal only if the second output signal is furnished prior to the first output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1983
    Assignee: Firma Aug. Winkhaus
    Inventor: Bernd Heiland
  • Patent number: 4403209
    Abstract: Carburant consumption indicator device for automobiles which monitors such information as the motor operating conditions, the selected gear ratio and the degree of gas butterfly valve opening which is characterized by several signal elements to each being separately disposed on the vehicle dash board and capable of informing the driver of the above information with the information detected and processed in known electronic circuits and then being processed in an interface circuit with several logic gates (69, 75, 83) which monitor the computational priorities between the information received before being sent to the control circuits (7) of the signal elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1983
    Assignee: Regie Nationale des Usines Renault
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Boudeville
  • Patent number: 4400696
    Abstract: A device for enabling animals to attract attention of a keeper thereof when the animal desires to obtain entrance into a house or other building comprising a door mounted contact and wire feed through element, and adjustable hinged outside door mounted panel member, and adjustable contact member mounted on the hinged panel member for contact with the door mounted contact when the panel member is actuated, adjustable tension means for normally maintaining the hinged panel member in an unactuated contact position, an inside door mounted container provided with appropriate electrical energization, wiring, and both visual and audible attention attracting elements, and a multiple position switch for permitting selection of the desired attention attracting element when the panel member is actuated by an animal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1983
    Inventor: Robert R. Klingensmith
  • Patent number: 4398174
    Abstract: A fuel consumption signalling system for signalling both efficient and inefficient fuel consumption conditions in the engine of a motor vehicle is herein disclosed. The system comprises an alarm circuit connected in series with an indicator circuit including an indicator light connected in parallel with a vacuum operated switch pneumatically connected to the engine manifold. An electric potential sufficient to actuate the alarm circuit, but insufficient to actuate both the indicator light and the alarm circuit is applied across the series connected indicator and alarm circuits. When the engine is consuming fuel efficiently, the vacuum switch is open, and the electric potential is divided between the indicator circuit and the alarm circuit. The divided potential is sufficient to illuminate the indicator light, but insufficient to actuate the alarm circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1983
    Inventor: Raymond P. Smith, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4395706
    Abstract: A safety circuit for a lifting device extensible boom is presented wherein the boom angle of elevation and boom length are each converted into a parallel coded word. The two coded words, one representing boom angle and the other boom length, are processed in a digital logic network which provides inhibit functions that prevent boom extension or boom lowering when either of the two boom actions will place the boom in a position which will damage the boom or topple the machine. A plurality of switches are associated with the boom to generate and apply the boom length code word to a monitoring circuit, which responds thereto to provide a switch malfunction signal when one of the switches is defective, whereby boom extension or lowering are inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1983
    Assignee: JLG Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Eugene L. Garber
  • Patent number: 4390862
    Abstract: A proximity indicator for motor vehicles, particularly recreational vehicles, has an audio or visual signal mounted in the driver's compartment and utilizes a probe which passes through a ring contact as the switching element, the probe and ring contact being longitudinally adjustable mounted in a yoke which is connected to the clamping structure with a single bolt which, when loosened, permits a longitudinal adjustment of the probe, the ring contact, and rotational adjustment of the probe and ring together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1983
    Inventor: William J. Elks
  • Patent number: 4390870
    Abstract: An interface circuit for use between a plurality of sensors, such as brush wear detecting sensors, and a single indicating alarm. The interface circuit is operable to transmit a signal from any or all of the sensors to actuate the alarm and latch it in its operative state until the alarm is de-energized by an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1983
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Richard N. Michael
  • Patent number: 4386337
    Abstract: A sensor for detection of the presence of a predetermined level of fluid in an enclosed reservoir, e.g., oil in an engine crankcase or transmission fluid reservoir, and a system for providing a remote indication of the detection of the existence of the predetermined level. The apparatus includes an electrically conductive float disposed within an encapsulator and movable responsive to the liquid level to provide an indication thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1983
    Inventor: John M. Todd
  • Patent number: 4385288
    Abstract: An alarm system for indicating unauthorized movement of an article includes a pendulum type motion responsive switch having a conically shaped suspended contact disposed within an annular contact. Adjustment of the height of the two contacts relative to each other provides for a variation in the sensitivity of the switch. A plurality of single-pole, double-throw switches connected in parallel with each other and having one output terminal cut or disabled to provide an open circuit condition provides for the selective disabling of the alarm system only by setting each of the switches in accordance with a predetermined key combination. All of the components of the system are self-contained on a cover that is secured to a casing which encloses the components and is attached to the article being protected. The cover is secured to the casing by bolts which form an operative component of tamper detection switches for actuating the alarm when an unauthorized attempt is made to remove the cover from the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1983
    Assignee: Fifth Dimension, Inc.
    Inventor: Sheldon S. Bitko
  • Patent number: 4384281
    Abstract: An electronic theft detection apparatus for detection of saturable magnetic targets has transmitter and receiver antennas formed of single turn loops of rigid metal pipe. The antennas are rectangular and have a width, in the direction of passage, through the interrogation zone, less than the length of a shopping cart. The transmitter antenna is in the form of a rectangular loop and the receiver antenna is of the same overall size and configuration but is bisected with a conductor to form two balanced loops. The antennas are purely inductive and a series resonant circuit is inductively coupled into the transmitter antenna and a parallel resonant circuit is inductively coupled out of the receiver antenna. Special circuits are also provided for temporarily disabling the apparatus when a related lower harmonic frequency signal decreases in amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1983
    Assignee: Knogo Corporation
    Inventor: Michael N. Cooper
  • Patent number: 4383242
    Abstract: An anti-theft system which is armed only when a hand-held coded transmitter is operated; the system is disarmed upon a subsequent operation of the transmitter. Whenever the transmitter is operated, the horn beeps, and the lights flash; this provides both verification that the system is armed, and serves as a car-locating aid in a parking field. Tampering with the automobile results in intermittent beeping of the horn and flashing of the lights. The horn beeping may be disabled during the verification and car locating sequences, while still operating if unauthorized access to the automobile is attempted. Other features include disabling of the horn beeping by momentarily turning on the ignition; beeping of the horn after the system is disarmed and a door is opened by the operator if, during his absence, unauthorized access was attempted; locking and unlocking of the doors with transmitter operation; and detection of unauthorized access attempts by sensing vibrations in the vehicle radio loudspeakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1983
    Assignee: TMX Systems Limited
    Inventors: Nathan Sassover, William A. Rennie
  • Patent number: 4383241
    Abstract: A voice warning system for vehicles adapted to give a voice warning of a specified condition detected by one of a plurality of sensors in one of a plurality of items of a vehicle which are to be checked, includes a rank selector switch which classifies the items to be checked into a plurality of ranks of different priorities whereby when a given one of the ranks is selected, the generation of a voice warning is inhibited even if a specified condition is detected in any one of the items belonging to the rank or ranks lower in priority than the selected rank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1983
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kojima, Atutoshi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 4382252
    Abstract: An intrusion warning system for indicating the presence of an intruder to a given area includes an antenna provided around the area and which is insulated from the ground. An oscillator is provided for feeding an alternating current signal to the antenna, and a coupling impedance is connected between an output of the oscillator and the antenna. The coupling impedance includes an arrangement to vary the impedance to an appropriate value such that the voltage fed to the antenna is approximately 50% of the voltage fed from the oscillator to the coupling impedance. By this arrangement the detection sensitivity is always kept at an optimum. The system also includes a signal processing apparatus for producing an output signal responsive to a change in the voltage of the alternating current on the antenna exceeding a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1983
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ohashi, Yuji Takada
  • Patent number: 4380751
    Abstract: A moving anchor type passive vehicle occupant restraint belt system having a restraint belt which is transferable along a guide rail affixed in the vehicle roof above the door between an occupant-releasing configuration and an occupant-restraining configuration. The locking device comprises a locking pawl mounted in a fixed anchor member which engages cams provided on the top edge of a movable anchor member and selectively locks the movable anchor member with the fixed anchor member in the occupant-restraining configuration. The invention further comprises an electrical warning system for indicating when the movable anchor member is in the occupant-releasing position, when the pawl is engaged in the cams in the occupant-restraining position, and if the tongue plate attached to the safety belt is properly engaged in the buckle affixed to the moving anchor member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1983
    Inventor: Juichiro Takada
  • Patent number: 4379281
    Abstract: An alarm system for bicycles and the like in which a collar having an undulating exterior surface is mounted on the handlebar post and rotates therewith. A moveable trigger member, preferably a spring biased pin, is mounted to the bicycle chassis adjacent the collar. Unauthorized rotation of the handlebars causes the collar to rotate against the trigger member, moving that member to close a set of contacts and thereby complete an electrical alarm circuit. The alarm circuit is controlled by a latching relay which hold the alarm on until either an automatic timing device operates to terminate the alarm, or the system is turned off by a key-operated lock. The trigger member closes another set of contacts to actuate the alarm if the bicycle is tampered with by removing the collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1983
    Inventor: John C. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4376931
    Abstract: A detection system for detecting abnormality in the internal air pressure of a tire of a motor vehicle produces an alarm upon detection of an abnormal change in the air pressure of the tire. The system comprises a first device which is disposed at a wheel (or a rotating part) of the motor vehicle and has an abnormal pressure detecting means using a crystal resonator and an antenna for sending out detection information in the air; and a second device which is disposed for example in the vicinity of a driver's seat (or at a non-rotating part) and has a transmitter/receiver arrangement provided with an antenna. The crystal resonator is driven by an exciting energy sent out from the transmission part of the transmitter/receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1983
    Assignee: Meisei Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Komatu, Sumio Kobane, Masanobu Yamamoto, Hiroshi Takahashi, Terutsugu Izumo
  • Patent number: 4374375
    Abstract: A probe mount assembly for a brake wear warning system comprising a probe electrically connected with a warning signal electric circuit and supported by and electrically insulated from one of friction plates by a nonrotatable bushing and a spacer disposed on the opposite sides of said one friction plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1983
    Assignee: International Harvester Co.
    Inventors: Aldo Allori, Ronald A. Koutsky, John A. Wilger
  • Patent number: 4371864
    Abstract: The digital display device of a vehicle is provided with a control facility for controlling other vehicle mounted electric equipment such as a warning device, an auto-door lock mechanism, or the like. The control is effected by using a control signal intended for turning on a particular segment of an indicating portion of the digital display indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1983
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruo Kawasaki, Hiroyuki Nomura, Mikio Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 4367460
    Abstract: A transparent continuous optical fiber is embedded in a transparent panel made of glass or plastic, with the two ends of the fiber accessible from outside the panel for coupling to a visible or invisible light source and detector respectively. By nearly matching the refractive indices of the panel and the fiber, and using good-quality material for the fiber so that it does not scatter significant amounts of the light passing through it, the fiber can be made virtually invisible although it establishes a complete light circuit. Cutting or breaking through the panel at a point intersecting the fiber interrupts the light circuit and triggers an alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1983
    Inventor: Henri Hodara