Patents Examined by Thomas Ward
  • Patent number: 9144334
    Abstract: A dual-chamber teapot configured for stovetop preparation. In one embodiment, the dual-chamber teapot includes an exterior body portion defining a cavity and an interior body portion housed in the cavity. The teapot also includes a spout projecting outward from the exterior body portion. An inner chamber is defined by the interior body portion and an outer chamber is defined between the exterior body portion and the interior body portion. The inner chamber is in fluid communication with the outer chamber and the outer chamber is in fluid communication with the spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Inventor: Parag S. Patel
  • Patent number: 9140445
    Abstract: A superheated steam generator, capable of generating superheated steam which exceeds about 400° C. even if a litz wire is adopted as an induction heating coil, is generally described. The generator may include induction heating elements that can generate heat by electromagnetic induction and that are housed in a heat-resistant container. The generator may also include a hose that allows cooling water to pass therethrough and which is wound around an outer peripheral surface of the heat-resistant container. A water supply unit for the cooling water is connected to one end of the hose, and the other end of the hose is connected to a steam inlet of the heat-resistant container. An induction heating coil is mounted on an outer peripheral surface of the hose, and a high-frequency power supply unit is connected to the induction heating coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: TOKYO DENKI UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Hideo Tomita, Takeshi Maruyama, Shinzo Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 9144114
    Abstract: Insert for electrical furnaces comprising an insulating shell and a coiled heater element, the heater element comprising element wire that consists of at least two sections that are interconnected via a bend of element wire in such a way that the bend and the sections mutually form a loop of element wire. A fastening member is fixedly anchored in the insulating shell and arranged in the area of the bend in such a way that the element wire in a section directly connected to the bend is prevented from expanding past the fastening member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Sandvik Intellectual Property AB
    Inventor: Thomas Lewin
  • Patent number: 9131796
    Abstract: A corn creamer includes a blade bit with a cylindrical body having a first circular end and a second circular end, and said cylindrical body and circular ends define an interior chamber with an interior circumference defined by an interior surface of the circular ends and the cylindrical body. Teeth are disposed on the first circular end of said blade bit, and a scraping blade member with a cutting edge is attached to said cylindrical body and said cutting edge extends inward from the cylindrical body partially into the interior chamber. The second circular end of the blade bit is attached to a shaft and the device is used to cut and cream corn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Inventor: Cecil Holt
  • Patent number: 9131543
    Abstract: A method for matching an impedance of a system comprising a cavity and one or more feeds to an impedance of one or more sources of electromagnetic radiation irradiating a plurality of frequencies into the cavity via the feeds, comprising: determining a plurality of s-parameter of the system for a frequency band; determining the system impedance based on the s-parameters; and modifying the system impedance according to the difference between the impedance of the system and the impedance of the source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: GOJI LIMITED
    Inventors: Eran Ben-Shmuel, Alexander Bilchinsky, Lior Darshan
  • Patent number: 9115414
    Abstract: A retort furnace for heat and/or thermochemical treatment designed for technological process in protective gas atmosphere, process gas atmosphere or in vacuum, and used inter alia for annealing pipes made of austenitic alloys, having among other things: a cylindrical outer body with a lid equipped with an active thermal barrier, a cylindrical retort, thermal insulation, a heating system located in the thermal insulation, a cooling system of the furnace. The active thermal barrier constitutes the radiation screens, in the form of at least two metal boards, installed on brackets located at the lid inside the retort. Additionally, radiation caulking rings are located in the extreme areas of the brackets and, circumferential sealing rings are permanently fixed in the casing of the retort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: SECO/WARWICK S.A.
    Inventors: Maciej Korecki, Robert Luźeńczyk, Józef Olejnik
  • Patent number: 9115912
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluid heating device which can instantaneously heat a fluid which is flowing for the purpose of supply or circulation. It comprises: a ceramic heater in the form of a flat plate having terminal lead wires for applying a power source; partition plates, to top and bottom of the ceramic heater, which allow the fluid which is to be heated to move towards the ceramic heater and which said partition plates have horizontal-movement fluid pathways such that fluid which has been heated by means of the ceramic heater is discharged; a flow path forming plate having a fluid through path such that the fluid on the horizontal-movement fluid pathways can move vertically to the fluid pathway of the next layer; an upper cover having an inlet hole for the supply of a fluid for heating the outside surface of the uppermost partition plate; and a final lower cover having an outlet hole for discharging the heated fluid onto the outside surface of the lowermost partition plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: CMTECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hung Sik Min, Young Geun An, Sung Jin Yang
  • Patent number: 9113740
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-purpose juicer, which includes a frame assembly, a base assembly, and a drive assembly. The frame assembly includes a frame body, a head assembly fixed on the base assembly, and a function element. A terminal of the frame body matches with the head assembly to form an operation cavity for containing the function element. Another terminal thereof matches with the drive assembly such that the drive assembly drives the function element to operate in the operation cavity. The drive assembly can directly drive the function element to rotate it in the operation cavity. The function element may be altered according to different needs; however, other elements need not to be altered, thus the whole structure thereof is simple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Inventor: Yan Kwong Wong
  • Patent number: 9113503
    Abstract: A cooking hob, in particular an induction hob, includes several heating elements, at least one power electronics subassembly for generating a heating current for operating the heating elements, and a switching arrangement for making and breaking a connection between the power electronics assembly and the heating elements. The switching arrangement is constructed as an assembly that is separate from the power electronics assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Adolfo Arnal Valero, Ignacio Garde Aranda, Pablo Jesus Hernandez Blasco, Sergio Llorente Gil, Daniel Palacios Tomas, Ramon Peinado Adiego, Jose Alfonso Santolaria Lorenzo
  • Patent number: 9101041
    Abstract: A plasma torch head, a plasma torch shaft and a plasma torch for providing a quick and simple possibility of changing the plasma torch head are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Kjellberg Finsterwalde Plasma und Maschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf-Peter Reinke, Timo Grundke, Frank Laurisch, Volker Krink
  • Patent number: 9091480
    Abstract: A rotary furnace (1) for the heat treatment of solids includes at least one rotary tube into which the solids are introduced and a first heater outside of the rotary tube that makes it possible to conduct a portion of the heat treatment in the absence of oxygen. A second heater for heating feedstock to improve heat treatment is formed by a second heating element (4, 4?, 4?) positioned above the feedstock when the furnace rotates and at least one deflector panel that surrounds the heating element (4, 4?, 4?) is provided on the side opposite to the feedstock (2) and arranged inside of the rotary tube. The rotary furnace is used to roast solid biomass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: IFP Energies nouvelles
    Inventors: Elena Sanz Garcia, Matthieu Rolland
  • Patent number: 9089918
    Abstract: A grounding system is provided for welding applications. The system comprises a pair of contacts that are brought into close grounding contact with a workpiece, and a measurement circuit coupled to the contacts. The contacts may be urged into intimate contact with the workpiece by a biasing structure that pulls the contacts tightly against the workpiece. The measurement circuit may include a center-tap transformer having a secondary coupled to a ground lead and to the contacts. A primary winding of the transformer is coupled to an oscillator that executes a measurement test. The system may provide an indication of the quality of the ground in the form of an operator perceptible notification, a digitized value, or any other suitable form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Carl Gitter, George Harold Baus, Anthony Van Bergen Salsich
  • Patent number: 9079265
    Abstract: Connection between a plasma torch wearing part and a plasma torch wearing part holder, plasma torch wearing part and plasma torch wearing part holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Kjellberg Finsterwalde Plasma und Maschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf-Peter Reinke, Timo Grundke, Frank Laurisch, Volker Krink
  • Patent number: 9072308
    Abstract: A utensil for layering liquids comprising, a stem mechanically coupled to a diffusion ball. The stem further comprises a liquid channel. The utensil is formed such that a user pour layered drinks without the user's hands obstructing the user's view of the diffusion ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Inventor: Daniel Raymond Dembny
  • Patent number: 9055615
    Abstract: The present invention provides an induction heating cooker, which is structured to cut off visible light being incident upon an infrared sensor, yet being capable of more accurately sensing any abnormality of the infrared sensor before heating is started. To this end, the induction heating cooker includes a sensor failure sensing-purpose light emitting portion that emits visible light for sensing any failure of an infrared sensor, a visible light cutting filter provided on a surface of a printed circuit board holding the infrared sensor so as to cover the field of view of the infrared sensor, and a control unit that limits the output of an inverter circuit supplying a high-frequency current to a heating coil when the output of the infrared sensor is equal to or less than a threshold value in a situation where the sensor failure sensing-purpose light emitting portion is lit up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Watanabe, Takahiro Miyauchi, Tomoya Fujinami, Hiroshi Tominaga
  • Patent number: 9024225
    Abstract: A clad welding method, which can prevent the occurrence of incomplete fusion, and can cover the surface of a base material over a wide range with a weld metal, while suppressing the dilution of the weld metal, by use of a relatively simple technique, is provided. For this purpose, a welding heat input is increased at a location where one end (10a) of a preceding weld bead (10) and the other end (20b) of a succeeding weld bead (20) overlap, as compared with a welding heat input at a location where the preceding weld bead (10) and the succeeding weld bead (20) do not overlap, to produce a deep penetration portion (12a) involving locally deep penetration (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kamo, Satoru Zenitani, Hirokazu Kadowaki, Naoki Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 9012821
    Abstract: A digital control type power converter for cooking utensils includes a rectifier; a power inverting circuit composed of an IGBT and an LC shunt-resonant circuit; and a SoC chip which internally integrates a MPU, a Programmable Pulse Generator (PPG), an ADC, a COM, wherein the PPG, the ADC and the COM are connected to the MPU. One output of the MPU is connected to the PPG through a first AND gate, and a pulse signal outputted by the PPG is transmitted to the IGBT through a second AND gate. The MPU calculates the present power value according to measured current and voltage signals, and compares the present power value with the required power of the host computer to change the set pulse width value of the PPG. When a magnetic energy conversion detecting circuit outputs an enabling signal, the PPG outputs the pulse signal with the setting pulse width to drive the IGBT and realize the regulation of power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Shenzhen CHK Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shouqing Qiu, Samson Xu
  • Patent number: 9006619
    Abstract: A combination cooking appliance controls a radiant heating element provided in an oven cavity, both a blower and a convection heating element provided in an air plenum, and microwave energy sources to provide for numerous potential operating modes. The present invention is particularly concerned with the manner in which the various cooking components are configured and flexibly controlled to provide for short cook cycles in a variety of operational modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: ACP, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert McNamee, Robert A. Schulte, Thomas Miller, Roger W. Carlson, James A. Goranson, Edward R. Cook
  • Patent number: 9000337
    Abstract: A device for heating an object by an electromagnetic induction comprises at least one rotor, and the rotor comprises at least one permanent magnet. The device also comprises a stator for providing varying magnetic field arranged to interact with at least one magnet of the rotor and causing said rotor to rotate around the axis. The magnets of said rotor is arranged to provide varying magnetic field and eddy currents within the object when said rotor is rotated so that said object is heated by the electromagnetic induction generated by said varying magnetic field and eddy currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: EFFMAG Oy
    Inventor: Pekka Suominen
  • Patent number: 8993946
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for popping kernels, comprising a heating chamber configured to contain kernels, a microwave emitter configured to produce microwave energy within the heating chamber and heat the kernels, a single-mode resonant microwave applicator configured to generate a stable focused high intensity microwave region within the heating chamber, and an air blower configured to create airflow within the heating chamber sufficient to move the kernels within the heating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Sterling, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen C. Jacobsen, John McCullough