Patents Examined by Kevin Weldon
  • Patent number: 5894994
    Abstract: A slot coating die (10) is provided, comprising an upper die half (12) and a lower die half (14) attached together with a shim (16) disposed therebetween, each die half extending along an axis (18) and having a front and a back. The front of the upper die half includes a movable lip insert (22) extending substantially the entire width thereof and movable with respect to the upper die half toward and away from the front of the upper die half in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis. At least one adjustable die opening (20), which is adjustable independently of the movable lip insert, is defined by the upper and lower die halves and the shim plate disposed therebetween. A plurality of push-pull bolts (30) provide a coarse adjustment mechanism for adjusting the relative positions of the lower and upper die halves with respect to each other in a direction generally parallel to that in which the movable lip insert may be moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: John J. Keane, Richard E. Leeds, Jr., Charles H. Scholl
  • Patent number: 5894990
    Abstract: A synthetic jet actuator, which can be micromachined if desired, generates a synthetic jet stream characterized by a series of successive vortices that can be used for effectively entraining adjacent fluid. The synthetic jet actuator can be used to bend, or vector, a jet stream from another jet actuator. Further, because the synthetic jet actuator exhibits zero net mass flux, the synthetic jet actuator can be used within a bounded volume. In structure, the synthetic jet actuator comprises a housing defining an internal chamber and having an orifice. A flexible metallized diaphragm forms a wall of the housing and can change the volume of the chamber when moved. An electrode is disposed adjacent to and spaced from the diaphragm, and an electrical bias is imposed between the metallized diaphragm and the electrode by a control system to force movement of the diaphragm. As the diaphragm moves, the volume in the internal chamber changes and vortices are ejected from the chamber through the orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Ari Glezer, Mark G. Allen, David J. Coe, Barton L. Smith, Mark A. Trautman, John W. Wiltse
  • Patent number: 5894989
    Abstract: A plurality of linear elements or meshed elements are arranged in a powder paint transportation path in an electrostatic powder coating gun. The materials of the linear elements and meshed elements are capable of charging the powder paint by static electricity generated by friction between the powder paint and the elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichiro Yasuda, Masayuki Maruta, Yukiya Sato
  • Patent number: 5893522
    Abstract: A method of orienting a misaligned spray tip in a reversible turret of a paint spray gun by tapping the turret to rotate the tip until a key and keyway of the tip and turret are aligned. In one embodiment of the method, the turret is held in the left hand and tapped with the right hand to cause counterclockwise rotation of the tip. In another embodiment, the turret is held in the right hand and the turret is tapped with the left hand to cause clockwise rotation of the tip in the turret. Once the tip is oriented in the turret, an elastomer washer and hollow retaining screw are installed in the turret behind the tip to seal and retain the tip in the turret, and the turret is installed in the paint spray gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Wagner Spray Tech Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph W. Kieffer
  • Patent number: 5890658
    Abstract: A nozzle closing valve, particularly for a pressure atomizer nozzle of an oil burner, comprises an inlet side with an inlet passage, an outlet side with an outlet passage, a valve seat located between the inlet passage and the outlet passage, as well as a shutoff member. The shutoff member is sealingly pressed onto the valve seat by way of a first spring located behind the shutoff member and rises from the valve seat counter to the force of the first spring when a predetermined pressure is reached in the inlet passage. A maximum sealing action with easy manufacturability and a particularly compact structure are achieved in that the shutoff member is constructed as a membrane; the first spring has an essentially linear spring characteristic; the first spring is housed in a spring chamber, which is constructed as a space open on one side and whose sole opening is sealingly closed by the membrane; and the first spring and the spring chamber are located on the inlet side of the nozzle closing valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Satronic AG
    Inventor: Marcel Caminada
  • Patent number: 5890655
    Abstract: A nozzle for dispensing fluids with suspended solid particulates without experiencing permanent partial or total clogging is provided. The nozzle is made from a elastomeric material and has a dome-shaped tip. The dome-shaped tip has a slit that provides an elongated orifice which generates a fan-type spray pattern while allowing solid particulates to pass through the nozzle without permanent clogging. The slit is normally maintained closed at rest and provides precompression and shut-off functions. Several versions of the nozzle are described, such as a one-piece nozzle and a nozzle insert. Additionally, the nozzle can be attached to a manually actuated pump device and be used as a spray delivery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Dimitris I. Collias, Stephan G. Bush, Robert E. Stahley
  • Patent number: 5887795
    Abstract: A tangential air entry fuel nozzle has a combustor inlet port to permit air and fuel to exit into a combustor. The port includes a convergent surface, a combustor surface, and a cylindrical surface extending therebetween. The convergent surface extends a first distance along the longitudinal axis of the nozzle, the cylindrical surface extends a second distance along the axis, and the second distance is at least 30% of the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Sowa, Timothy S. Snyder
  • Patent number: 5887799
    Abstract: A dual fuel injector for an engine is selectively controlled to either inject a liquid fuel such as gasoline or a gaseous fuel such as butane or propane to the engine. The injection of one fuel or the other is effected by alternatively feeding a pulsating voltage of one polarity or he other to the coil of an electrically controlled injector. The injector has a permanent magnet armature which is driven in one direction in response to pulses fed to its surrounding coil of one polarity and the opposite direction in response to pulses fed to the coil of the other polarity. When the armature is driven in a first direction, it drives a pintle attached thereto in that direction. The pintle in turn drives against a spring urged valve to open this valve, thereby permitting gasoline to pass through the control injector from where it is injected into the engine in a pulsating manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: IMPCO Technoligies, Inc.
    Inventor: David H. Smith
  • Patent number: 5887789
    Abstract: A foam break device and a system for use of said device. The system comprises an outlet tube for a filling machine using an air gap proportioner. The device has a plurality of vanes and beveled edges for positioning in the bottom of the outlet tube of the filling machine. The device reduces the amount of foam discharged from the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: The Butcher Company
    Inventor: Glenn Louis Szabo
  • Patent number: 5884710
    Abstract: Fire extinguishing or suppression apparatus and method employing a liquid pyrotechnic composition of a ternary mixture of hydroxyl ammonium nitrate, an amine nitrate salt, and water, in a closed combustion chamber of a pressure container. The apparatus is constructed to permit a large volume of water vapor exothermically generated by the reaction of a liquid pyrotechnic composition to be discharged from the combustion chamber and pressure container to an area of a fire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Barnes, Guy R. Letendre, Brett Hussey
  • Patent number: 5884851
    Abstract: This invention relates to a nozzle and a nozzle mix gunning system incorporating the nozzle for pneumatically propelling dry or wetted particulate gunning material toward a substrate a distance removed from the nozzle and at an angle to the line of sight of the operator. The nozzle comprises a plurality of substantially straight tubular sections. Each section is lined with an abrasion resistant material, and joined to the other sections in a manner that produces a curvature in the nozzle. The cross-section of the jacket sections and the bore of the abrasion resistant liner may be independently circular or polygonal, where a jacket or liner having a polygonal cross-section has at least three substantially flat sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Minerals Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Dominick Colavito, William Peschler, Douglas Vanderbilt
  • Patent number: 5884844
    Abstract: A spray apparatus has first and second elongate ducts. The material to be sprayed, which may be solid or liquid, is delivered through the first elongate duct to an elongate slot-shaped nozzle or other means for distributing it. To reduce disturbance by de-energizing ambient air currents, the second elongate duct supplies air to first and second air distribution outlets, each of which defines an elongate slot-shaped nozzle. The nozzle is directed outwardly, away from the air distribution mechanism and towards the surface on which the material is to be distributed, so as to form air curtains on either side of the elongate ducts. The elongate air distribution outlet can form an elongate slot-shaped nozzle having a convergent inlet section, a throat section and a diffuser section extending to an outlet port. It can also include fins extending into the air duct, to deflect air from the air duct through the slot-shape nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Inventor: Archie Arthur Truitt
  • Patent number: 5881493
    Abstract: A foam sprayer apparatus comprises a container and a manual air pump carried by the container. The pump is operable to manually pump air into the container and create an air head therein. A discharge channel establishes fluid communication between the interior and exterior of the container. The channel contains an air opening located inside the tank and above a level to which a supply of foaming composition is to be filled. An inlet of the discharge channel is located below the level to which a supply of foaming composition is to be filled. A foaming chamber is also included for causing turbulence in a fluid received from the discharge channel. A discharge valve controls the flow of fluid through the discharge channel and foaming chamber. When the valve is open, fluid flows from the discharge channel to the foaming chamber, and from the foaming chamber to a nozzle. The nozzle is in fluid communication with the outlet of the foaming chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: D. B. Smith & Co. Inc.
    Inventor: Mario John Restive
  • Patent number: 5881818
    Abstract: A test system for use in testing Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting and Structl Pumper vehicles equipped with fire fighting foam distribution systems. The dye piping arrangement for the test system uses a dye concentrate and water mixture which are delivered into the dye water foam free test system through a three way ball valve, a proportioner and eductor. Fluid flow through the eductor generates a vacuum or negative pressure within the eductor. The dye concentrate from a dye storage bottle is then suctioned into the foam distribution system by the negative pressure within the eductor. A needle valve, check valve and a dye solenoid valve are included in the system. The needle valve meters the amount of dye suctioned into the dye water foam distribution system. The check valve prevents any fluids from back flowing into the dye concentrate tank. The normally closed dye solenoid valve is remotely operated by an ON-POWER OFF-OFF three position switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: T. Richard Lee, Rance T. Kudo, Jesse L. McNolty, Raymond J. Cappillino
  • Patent number: 5878952
    Abstract: A modular rail system for positioning a six axis robot about an auxiliary axis includes a plurality of rail sections which are selectively interconnected in order to provide a reconfigurable length about the auxiliary axis, and the six axis robot for movement with respect to the rail sections about the auxiliary axis. The rail sections may include a first end section positioned toward a first end of the auxiliary axis, a second end section positioned toward a second end of the auxiliary axis, and one or more intermediate sections positioned between the first and second end sections. The first end section, the intermediate sections and the second end section are interconnected along the auxiliary axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Inventor: Thomas M. Powell
  • Patent number: 5878961
    Abstract: An injection valve, particularly for injecting fuel directly into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, has a flow path whose end region encompasses an annular gap on the outlet side, and which, in the open state, has at least one annular injection opening that is provided on the outlet side in a closing part, downstream of the annular gap with respect to the flow direction. To achieve good fuel distribution during injection, particularly in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, and to be able to set the penetration of the fuel stream into the combustion chamber, means are associated with the annular gap that determine the cross section of the flow path establishing the flow volume such that this cross section has varying radial widths in a circumferential direction of the annular gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Mueller, Christian Preussner
  • Patent number: 5878954
    Abstract: A drinking tube for supplying fluid directly to a person having a limited ability to swallow. The drinking tube includes associated pump and pump control elements to provide fluid upon activation of a switch. The quantity of fluid supplied may be varied and the system may be repeatedly activated by the person to whom the fluid is directly supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Inventor: Richard A. Lyons
  • Patent number: 5878959
    Abstract: A pump dispenser has a nozzle body on which is rotatably disposed a nozzle cap having two orifices which selectively align with a swirl chamber formed in the front end of the body. One orifice is formed with a surrounding cup-like structure to retain the last drop of liquid after discharge. The other is formed with a pair of diagonal parallel ribs on opposite sides of the orifice to effect an elongated narrow landing pattern for the spray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Smolen, Jr., William Contaxis, III
  • Patent number: 5878963
    Abstract: A discontinuity at the surface of tubing which intercepts a stream of fluid flowing along the surface of the tubing causing the fluid to form drops and causing the drops to fall at an intended location. The invention addresses in particular the installation of drip irrigation systems in hillside applications where drip irrigation tubing may not be level. Heating and cooling of the drip irrigation tubing causes the tubing and drip emitters to rotate. The water from the emitter which is rotated to face away from the area where irrigation drip is to be applied emerges as a stream and flows along the surface of the drip irrigation tubing until it encounters a slope which causes a drop to form. The failure of the water to form drops and fall at the position of the drip emitter and rather to flow along the tubing results in a loss of irrigation to the particular plant serviced by an emitter. Plants are thus subject to stress and reduced production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Inventor: Roger E. Bates
  • Patent number: 5878956
    Abstract: There is provided a new and useful water sprinkler unit for use as a toy in connection with a water source in which the unit is constructed so as to be within a single housing. The unit comprises a water inlet, a water sprinkler head and a fluid conduit between the water inlet and the water sprinkler head. There is also provided a power supply, motion-detection apparatus with up to 360 degrees visibility and a valve between the water inlet and the water sprinkler head. Circuits are provided to control the valve wherein the circuits open the valve for a pre-determined or variable period of time in response to movement detected by the motion-detection apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignees: Contech Electronics, Inc., Burman & Burman Corp.
    Inventors: Erik Djukastein, Barry A. Burman, Carol Burman