Patents Examined by Philip R. Coe
  • Patent number: 6270586
    Abstract: A vehicle washing device that concentrates a spray of high pressure water on the wheels of the vehicle for an extended period of time is disclosed. A vehicle washing device is located on either side of the vehicle so as to direct a spray of high pressure water therefrom toward the vehicle as it passes thereby. An actuating mechanism is provided for each of the vehicle washing devices permitting the washing device to rotate about its vertical axis so as to direct the water spray therefrom for an extended period of time toward each of the vehicle wheels. In this manner, the “dwell” time of the high pressure water spray from each vehicle washing device is increased on the front wheels and on the rear wheels of the vehicle, thus allowing the wheels to be cleaned without manually scrubbing same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Inventor: Scott E. Soble
  • Patent number: 6270532
    Abstract: The invention pertains to an element (21) for washing or treating a yarn or similar structure with a fluid, the element comprising a cavity (23) for guiding the yarn and at least one fluid jet (26) for directing the fluid into the yarn, characterised in that the cavity (23) is tube-shaped and communicates with the outside of the element (21) via a slot (24). With the said element the formation of aerosel is avoided and the consumption of fluid is halved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Akzo Nobel N.V.
    Inventors: Winfried Hölz, Heinz-Dieter Bauer, Hans-Dieter Kiaubs
  • Patent number: 6266836
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for ultrasonic cleaning of materials in which vibrating plates are used in close contact with a material to be cleaned. The material is placed in a shallow liquid and the vibrator of the plates eliminate dirt or contaminating substances from the material by cavitation of the liquid. The vibrating plates are flexurally vibrated at a frequency which correspond to its resonant frequency and is one of a sonic or ultrasonic frequency. The acoustic field created by the oscillation of the plates and in cleaning the material. A pledging system may also include ultrasonic vibrating plates to assist in expelling water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas
    Inventors: Antonio Gallego Juarez, German Rodriguez Corral, Gonzalo Najera Vazquez de Parga, Fernando Vazquez Martinez, Piet van der Vlist
  • Patent number: 6267124
    Abstract: A method and system for immersion cleaning of mechanical parts which includes a continuous conveyor having a plurality of vertical conveyor runs which pass through one or more cleaning tanks. Each cleaning tank includes at least two turbulent wash zones. Pivotal parts carriers are supported by the conveyor and are loaded at a parts loading station and are unloaded at a parts discharge station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Bowden Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald R. Bowden
  • Patent number: 6266835
    Abstract: A process of dyeing by deposition of spots of dyebaths of different colors on moving filaments, in a series of application stations, by abrupt cyclic or pseudo-random interruption of the deposition in the application stations, and a device for practicing this process. The process is characterized in that, in each application station, the moving filaments are abruptly taken out of contact with the dyebath by a linear or pseudo-linear actuating device acting on the dyebaths or on the moving filaments. The invention is more particularly applicable to the field of the textile industry, in particular the treatment of filaments, particularly by dyeing of the “spaced dyeing” type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Superba S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Henry, Philippe Massotte, Francois Saura
  • Patent number: 6263887
    Abstract: A liquid waste disposal and canister flushing system and method for a medical canister including a lid with at least first and second ports features a cabinet with an opening and a sink with a drain positioned therein. A removable lid covers the cabinet opening. A canister holder in the form of a ring or bucket is positioned within the chamber defined between the sink and cabinet opening. The canister holder is supported by a rod that is rotatably positioned in the cabinet. The rod is also connected to an electric motor or lever so that the canister holder, and therefore the canister positioned therein, may be rotated between an initial position and a drainage position. The canister is secured within the canister holder and tubing, which is in communication with a source of pressurized and diluted cleaning solution, is connected to the first canister port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Dornoch Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: James L. Dunn
  • Patent number: 6263890
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a cleaning device (RV) for cleaning a shaving head (SK) of a dry shaving apparatus (TR), having a housing (1), a holding device (2), a cleaning liquid container (3), a filter (4), a feed device (6) adapted to be driven by a motor (5) and including a supply pipe (7) leading to a cleaning basin (8) and a liquid drain (9) from the cleaning basin (8) to the cleaning liquid container (3), wherein the cleaning liquid container (3) with integrated filter (4) is adapted to be coupled with a wall (12) of the housing (1) by means of a latching device (V).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventor: Jürgen Höser
  • Patent number: 6263889
    Abstract: An engine oil system cleaning apparatus has a cleaning solution delivery line connected by an adapter to a running engine, and an exit line and a return line from the engine connected at an adapter at the engine oil pan. A fail-safe loop flow circuit, including the exit line and solution delivery line, is provided upon sensing of a pressure drop in the delivery line to operate valves to effect flow through the fail-safe circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Inventors: Robert A. Flynn, Robert E. Flynn
  • Patent number: 6260391
    Abstract: Conventional laundry centrifuges are loaded with laundry in a upwardly slanted position, spin-dry in the same position and are then swiveled to an oblique downward angle to unload. The drum (16) of the centrifuge according to the invention receives the laundry in an upwardly slanted position, spin-dries in an upright position and swivels from that position to a downwardly directed position to unload the laundry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Pharmagg Systemtechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Hans-Joachim Rippe
  • Patent number: 6260390
    Abstract: A dry cleaning process and system for cleaning articles disposed in a cleaning chamber having a rotatable member therein, using carbon dioxide (CO2) from a storage tank. The process includes causing a pressure differential between the storage tank and the cleaning chamber, filling the cleaning chamber with a predetermined amount of liquid CO2 enabling flow of liquid CO2 from the storage tank to the cleaning chamber in response to the pressure differential, and rotating the rotatable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Sail Star Limited
    Inventor: Robert B. Carr
  • Patent number: 6257028
    Abstract: The treatment device includes a container for a treatment fluid, in which a drum around which the web loops rotates eccentrically. The drum is made up of axis-parallel, hollow, sealed rods and possesses a drum shaft structured as a hollow shaft, which together produce a buoyancy which makes up a significant part of the weight of the drum and the drum shaft. The drum is suspended at one end via stretchably elastic drive belts, and at the other end on tension springs, which catch the remaining weight. The drum shaft is eccentrically mounted on an eccentric shaft. The eccentric shaft is provided with equalization weights. All of the measures act together to allow low-vibration operation, towards the outside, of the treatment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Eduard Kusters Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Dieter Russkamp
  • Patent number: 6257027
    Abstract: A full-automatic washing machine includes a rotatable tub for accommodating laundry together with water, an agitator provided in the rotatable tub for agitating the water or the laundry, a variable-speed washing motor for directly driving the agitator, and a variable-speed dehydrating motor for directly driving the rotatable tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Masahiro Imai
  • Patent number: 6253584
    Abstract: Disclosed is a washing machine having a device (30) for filtering dirt in washing water. The device has a drawing pipe (31) connected to a tub (21) for accommodating laundry and water, a pump (33) for drawing the water in the tub into the drawing pipe, a cylinder (35) for receiving the water supplied from the drawing pipe, a rotating blade for generating a water-flow vortex in the cylinder, and a return pipe (37) for returning the water in which dirt has been filtered into the tub. The device can filter the dirt in the water effectively, and need not be cleaned frequently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeong Soo Shin
  • Patent number: 6253586
    Abstract: An apparatus for a large throughput fabric processing operation including a conveyor belt passing under a row of washers and having an extraction (spinning) apparatus at the end of the belt. The production line involves top loading each washer as required and dumping the batches of fabric on the belt after completing the washing step. The extraction step involves varying the rate of spin and the tilt of the extraction cyclinder in order to maintain an even distribution of fabric and then rocking the extractor to loosen the load from the inside surface of the extractor. Processing oprations to which this invention may be applied include, laundering, dyeing and drycleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Inventor: David Lai
  • Patent number: 6247480
    Abstract: A containment assembly for use with a pressure washing apparatus to contain and collect the relatively light weight contaminants from run-off of a washing fluid after being flowed over an object to be cleaned. The containment assembly includes a settling compartment for collection of the run-off washing fluid therein, and a containment compartment in gravity flow fluid communication with a surface of the collected washing fluid in the settling compartment. As the lightweight contaminants at the surface of the washing fluids gravity flow into the containment compartment, they are contained and collected therein. A fluid extraction assembly is in fluid communication with the contained washing fluid in the containment compartment through an opening therein vertically disposed below a predetermined operational fluid level of the contained washing fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: EZ Environmental Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Paul Wegner
  • Patent number: 6247479
    Abstract: A washing/drying process apparatus comprises a spin chuck for holding a substrate such that a surface thereof to be processed faces upward and for rotating the substrate, a process fluid supply mechanism for selectively supplying one or two or more of a plurality of kinds of process fluids to the surface to be processed of the substrate rotated by the spin chuck, the process fluid supply mechanism having a first nozzle with a discharge port for discharging a process fluid which is in a liquid phase under conditions of room temperature and atmospheric pressure, and a second nozzle with a discharge port for discharging fluid which is in a gas phase under conditions of room temperature and atmospheric pressure, a driving mechanism for simultaneously moving the first and second nozzles to a location above the substrate held by the spin chuck, and a controller for controlling operations of the process liquid supply mechanism and the driving mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hiroki Taniyama, Yuji Kamikawa, Kotaro Tsurusaki
  • Patent number: 6247339
    Abstract: A washing basket doubling as a spin-drier is disposed rotatably in a water-tub. A motor drives the basket, which generates centrifugal force. The centrifugal force cause cleansing water to run through the fibers of clothes in the basket, thereby cleansing the clothes. A control device cause variation of the spinning of the basket so that the centrifugal force working on the clothes is varied, which cleanses the clothes more effectively. The clothes in the basket receive only water-moving-force, and they can be cleansed without being damage or entangled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitoyo Kenjo, Fumio Ota, Hiroyuki Fujii
  • Patent number: 6247340
    Abstract: A method for cleaning or sterilizing objects in a liquid fluid cleaning system comprising a high-pressure storing/working vessel, a cleaning chamber, and a low-pressure supply vessel, the method comprising the steps of loading the cleaning chamber with objects to be cleaned or sterilized; supplying cleaning fluid to the cleaning chamber from the low-pressure supply vessel by means of pressure difference; supplying cleaning fluid to the cleaning chamber from the high-pressure storing/working vessel; cleaning the objects in the cleaning chamber with the cleaning fluid; transferring cleaning fluid from the cleaning chamber to the high-pressure storing/working vessel; and unloading the cleaned objects from the cleaning chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: AGA AB
    Inventors: Kenneth Lindqvist, Orvar Svensson
  • Patent number: 6244276
    Abstract: Apparatus and a method for the direct recovery of residual quantities of an aqueous solution adhering to pourable mass parts following an electrolytic and/or chemical surface treatment on the parts, in the course of which the parts are carried in a perforated immersion barrel supported on a movable carriage of a barrel treatment installation. A compressed-air chamber is provided on the carriage, into which the barrel is moved, the chamber being provided with a compressed air source to cause a current of air to flow transversely through the chamber. The compressed-air chamber essentially comprises a horizontal, upwardly cylindrically convex upper half-shell which is fixed on the carriage and which encompasses in a substantially air-tight manner the upper half of the immersion barrel when the barrel has been positioned within the chamber, and a pair of horizontal, lateral, lower, outwardly cylindrically convex quarter-shells which are capable of movement towards and away from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: Hans Henig
  • Patent number: 6244279
    Abstract: A method and system for immersion cleaning of mechanical parts which includes a continuous conveyor having a plurality of vertical conveyor runs which pass through at least one cleaning tank. Each cleaning tank includes at least two turbulent wash zones. Parts carriers are supported by the conveyor such that the parts are rotated as they are conveyed through the at least one cleaning tank during the cleaning process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Bowden Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald R. Bowden