Patents Issued in April 7, 1998
  • Patent number: 5735116
    Abstract: In an aircraft in which servocontrols are supplied with hydraulic fluid under pressure by a main pump driven by an engine of the aircraft and, in the event of loss of said engine power, by an emergency pump which is driven by a dynamic air pressure turbine deployed from the fuselage of the aircraft, a system is provided for assisting the restarting of said engine in the event of said aircraft suffering a total loss of engine power, wherein said main pump is of the reversible kind and means are provided for enabling surplus hydraulic power from the emergency pump to be supplied to the main pump whereby the latter acts as a hydraulic motor to increase the windmilling speed of the dead engine and thereby facilitate re-ignition thereof, even at a low aircraft speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Societe Nationale D'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs D'Aviation "Snecma"
    Inventor: Pierre Mouton
  • Patent number: 5735117
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for a gas turbine engine combustion chamber comprises at least one pilot fuel injector having a fuel discharge passage communicated to the combustion chamber and at least one secondary fuel injector having a fuel discharge passage communicated to the combustion chamber and a fuel purging passage communicated to a higher pressure region upstream of the combustion chamber. A fuel flow control device supplies metered fuel flow to the pilot fuel injector under all regimes of engine operation and to the secondary fuel injector under certain, intermittent regimes of engine operation requiring fuel flow above a selected level. A shuttle valve is movable to a first position to provide fuel flow communication between the fuel control device and the fuel discharge passage of the secondary fuel injector for fuel injection to the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Fuel Systems Textron, Inc.
    Inventor: Alvin D. Toelle
  • Patent number: 5735118
    Abstract: Gas generating compositions and methods for their use are provided. Metal complexes are used as gas generating compositions. These complexes are comprised of a metal cation template, a neutral ligand containing hydrogen and nitrogen, and sufficient oxidizing anion to balance the charge of the complex. The complexes are formulated such that when the complex combusts, nitrogen gas and water vapor is produced. Specific examples of such complexes include metal nitrite ammine, metal nitrate ammine, and metal perchlorate ammine complexes, as well as hydrazine complexes. A binder and co-oxidizer can be combined with the metal complexes to improve crush strength of the gas generating compositions and to permit efficient combustion of the binder. Such gas generating compositions are adaptable for use in gas generating devices such as automobile air bags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Thiokol Corporation
    Inventors: Jerald C. Hinshaw, Daniel W. Doll, Reed J. Blau, Gary K. Lund
  • Patent number: 5735119
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification device of an engine providing a NO.sub.x absorbent arranged in the exhaust passage. An O.sub.2 sensor is arranged in the engine exhaust passage downstream of the NO.sub.x absorbent. The degree of deterioration of the NO.sub.x absorbent is detected from the output signal of the O.sub.2 sensor. The cycle for making the air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture rich for causing the release of the NO.sub.x from the NO.sub.x absorbent and the rich time at that time are shortened the greater the deterioration of the NO.sub.x absorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takamitsu Asanuma, Tetsuro Kihara, Kenji Katoh, Satoshi Iguchi
  • Patent number: 5735120
    Abstract: A device for judging the deterioration of a three-way catalyst comprising an upstream O.sub.2 sensor and a downstream O.sub.2 sensor which are arranged in the exhaust passage upstream and downstream of the three-way catalyst, respectively. The deterioration of the three-way catalyst is judged in a predetermined narrow operating region based on the output of these O.sub.2 sensors. A learning value is set for control of the air-fuel ratio for the predetermined narrow operating region separate from the other operating regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshinari Nagai
  • Patent number: 5735121
    Abstract: An air pump abnormality-detecting system for an internal combustion engine. The engine has a catalyst arranged in the exhaust system of the engine, a passage extending from the exhaust system at a location upstream of the catalyst, and an electrically driven air pump arranged across the passage, for supplying secondary air into the exhaust system. A current sensor detects electric current flowing through the air pump, and a voltage sensor detects voltage applied to the air pump. An abnormality of the air pump is detected by comparing an output from the current sensor obtained during operation of the air pump, with predetermined abnormality-detecting reference values. At least one of the output from the current sensor or the predetermined abnormality-detecting reference values is corrected in response to an output from the voltage sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kato, Yuichi Shimasaki, Takashi Komatsuda, Akihisa Saito, Tetsu Teshirogi
  • Patent number: 5735122
    Abstract: The present invention provides an actuator controlled by an electro-hydraulic servovalve with a failfixed operation upon the loss of electrical power to the servovalve. A lock valve has apertures therethrough with friction pads therein for locking the actuator in position upon loss of the electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin D. Gibbons
  • Patent number: 5735123
    Abstract: In an energy generating system, which is preferably suitable for satellites and space stations, a total of four Stirling engines are assembled together into a cross-shaped unit, at the center of which is arranged a cross-gear drive that is acted upon by the pistons of the Stirling engines. The heaters of the Stirling engines are impinged upon by solar energy. The incident sun's rays either are guided by a radiation trap that is arranged in the center of a collector onto an umbrella-shaped tubular heating heat exchanger, or are absorbed by disk collectors that are arranged inside a fusion heat reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aerospace Airbus GmbH
    Inventor: Dietrich Ehrig
  • Patent number: 5735124
    Abstract: A brake system for use in connection with a vehicle including a hydraulic internally boosted master cylinder, a hydraulic pump, and hydraulic brakes wherein the master cylinder controls hydraulic fluid pressure to the brakes and has a primary or sensing piston, a modulator stem, and a secondary pistons, with the sensing piston responsive to a mechanical input force to urge the secondary piston forwards increasing the hydraulic fluid pressure applied to the brakes. In a second embodiment, the internally boosted master cylinder further includes a tertiary piston movable by hydraulic pressure between retracted and extended positions and biased toward the retracted position by a tertiary piston return spring. The tertiary piston controls hydraulic pressure applied to one or more brakes independent of the brakes controlled by the secondary piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Commercial Intertech Corp.
    Inventors: Frederick W. Cords, David E. Frye
  • Patent number: 5735125
    Abstract: Drops of water in wet steam exiting a steam turbine are electrically charged. When exposed to a sufficiently strong electric field produced by suitably disposed electrodes (34,85), the electrically charged water drops disintegrate into numerous small droplets, which serve as nuclei for internal condensation. Supersaturation of the steam is decreased, thereby decreasing the amount of water in the vapor phase, the condenser pressure, and the turbine backpressure. Electrostatic forces acting upon the charged water droplets decrease turbulence in the wet steam flow, further decreasing backpressure. The result is an increase in energy conversion efficiency and power output at constant fuel rate. A method and device for providing this beneficial result are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Inventors: Anatoly O. Tarelin, Volodymyr P. Skliarov, Yury I. Serhienko, Oleh Weres
  • Patent number: 5735126
    Abstract: In a combustion chamber (100) which is designed as an annular combustion chamber and a mixing essentially comprises a primary zone (1), a mixing section (2) arranged downstream and an adjoining secondary stage (3), vortex generators (200) are fixed inside the mixing section (2), which vortex generators (200) serve to form vortices. Both the mixing section (2) and the vortex generators (200) are provided with passage openings through which mixing air (8) flows into the interior of the mixing section (2) and mixes there with the main flow (4). The quantity of the intermixed mixing air (8) is variable; it can have a supercritical or subcritical blow-out rate relative to the main flow (4), and in this connection at least film cooling of the duct walls (5, 6) and of the vortex generators (200) takes place even at subcritical blow-out rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AG
    Inventor: Burkhard Schulte-Werning
  • Patent number: 5735127
    Abstract: A cryogenic cooling apparatus (cryocooler) with voltage isolation includes a cold end structure, which may be placed in thermally and electrically conductive contact with an electrically charged structured to be cooled, a warm end, and an electrically insulating structure between the warm end and the cold end structure of the apparatus so as to electrically isolate the cold end structure from the warm end. Two cold fingers, each comprising a cold end structure, a warm end, and the insulating structure, may be conveniently combined into a single cooling apparatus for the cooling of two electrically charged structures at different voltage levels, e.g., conductive electrical leads to a cryogenic superconductive energy storage device. The electrically insulating structure is selected so as to provide both electrical isolation and to contain a cryogenic working fluid within the cold finger of the cryocooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: John M. Pfotenhauer, Orrin D. Lokken
  • Patent number: 5735128
    Abstract: A drive for driving a displacer in a cryogenic refrigerator includes a rotatable cam having a cam surface. The cam is rotatable about a pivot point with a cam follower contacting the cam surface. Rotational motion of the cam is converted into reciprocating motion of the cam follower. A displacer rod is coupled between the cam follower and the displacer for transferring the reciprocating motion of the cam follower to the displacer for driving the displacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Helix Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Yueli Zhang, Ronald Norman Morris, David Christopher Giusti
  • Patent number: 5735129
    Abstract: A cooling system for an electron microscope specimen comprises a refrigerant container, a passage for introducing the refrigerant into a heat-exchanging position, a flow rate-adjusting valve mounted in an exhaust passage and a control unit. The flow rate of gas produced by evaporation is adjusted by a rate-adjusting valve. The control unit establishes either a maximum flow rate mode for rapid cooling or a minimum flow rate mode for observation of an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Jeol Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuji Ienaga
  • Patent number: 5735130
    Abstract: An ice removal motor control circuit and method for an automatic ice maker is provided, which ice maker includes a load voltage detector for detecting a load voltage applied across an ice removal motor, a comparator for comparing the load voltage with a predetermined reference voltage, and a controller for outputting a control signal to an ice removal motor controller to stop operation of the ice removal motor when the load voltage is larger than the reference voltage. Thus, an excessive load is prevented from being applied to the ice removal motor, thereby protecting the ice removal motor and relevant elements from being damaged and further improving reliability of the automatic ice maker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kun Bin Lee
  • Patent number: 5735131
    Abstract: A supplemental refrigerated element comprising a refrigerant reservoir and a condenser operatively connected to the reservoir. The condenser has a heat exchanger operatively connected thereto which condenses the refrigerant therein. An evaporator is operatively connected to the condenser. The evaporator is positioned below the condenser in which refrigerant circulates under the influence of gravity. In a specific embodiment, the evaporator may be formed into a panel or a shelf to provide supplemental cooling to a refrigerated space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Inventors: Harley Lambright, Jr., Raymond M. Miller
  • Patent number: 5735132
    Abstract: A control-information detecting apparatus for a refrigeration air-conditioner using a non-azeotrope refrigerant is equipped with a temperature detector and a pressure detector at the refrigerating cycle of the air-conditioner, which cycle is formed by connecting a compressor, a condenser, a decompressing device, and an evaporator, to detect the temperature and the pressure of the refrigerant circulating the cycle for obtaining the circulation composition of the refrigerant with the composition computing unit thereof. The usual optimum operation of the cycle is thereby enabled even if the circulation composition of the refrigerant has changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Sumida, Takashi Okazaki, Osamu Morimoto, Tomohiko Kasai
  • Patent number: 5735133
    Abstract: Uncomfortable air temperatures in an air conditioned vehicle immediately following start up of the air conditioning system or when the air conditioning system compressor is being driven at low speeds are avoided in a cooling system including a blower (22) for blowing air into a compartment (10). An air/liquid heat exchanger (30) is located at the outlet (34) of the blower (22) for cooling air received from the blower (22). The system includes a compressor (50), an expansion device (58), a condenser (54) and a liquid/refrigerant evaporator (64) for expanding refrigerant and cooling a liquid coolant which is circulated through a thermal storage device (92) and the heat exchanger (30) by a pump (86). Upon system start up, or when the compressor (50) is being driven at low speed, the coolant is cooled by the thermal storage device (92) to provide a means of cooling air from the blower (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Mark G. Voss, Alan P. Meissner, Joseph R. Stevenson
  • Patent number: 5735134
    Abstract: A vapor compression system with set point optimization generates a set of thermodynamic operating parameters such that the system operates with optimum energy efficiency. Based on environmental conditions such as indoor and outdoor temperature as well as thermal load, the set of parameters for steady-state set point is generated. The system also monitors actual system properties in real-time and provides them as feedback to the set point computation module. Based on these actual real-time measurements, a new steady-state set point can be generated to enable the system to continue operating at maximum coefficient of performance upon change in environmental or thermal load requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Sheng Liu, Xiang-Dong He
  • Patent number: 5735135
    Abstract: When a single room unit 4 is connected to a compressor 2B of the outdoor unit 1, the room unit 4 is connected to a connection box 29 which is mounted on the outdoor unit 1. Instead, if two room units 5A and 5B must be connected to the outdoor unit 1, a connection box 37 is mounted on the back of the outdoor unit 1. The connection box 37 has branches each having valves 44A and 44B and expansion devices 43A and 43B. The two room units are connected to these branches of the connection box 37. Because of these optional connection boxes, the outdoor unit itself may be constructed in a compact form, and connection of multiple room units to the outdoor unit may be carried out conveniently and correctly in a simple manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hikaru Katsuki, Junichi Goya, Yasunori Ohama, Hideo Maeda, Kiyoshi Kobayashi, Toshimasa Tsukui, Masato Inuzuka
  • Patent number: 5735136
    Abstract: Flake freezing machine includes an evaporator for producing frozen flakes using a freezable liquid from a liquid source. The evaporator includes a cast aluminum cylindrical structure having an inner surface defining an interior chamber and an outer surface. A stainless steel helical tubing assembly having an inlet and an outlet is embedded inside the cylindrical structure between the inner surface and the outer surface. Refrigerating fluid is circulated through the tubing assembly to cool the inner surface to a temperature sufficient to freeze the liquid. Positioned inside the interior chamber is a rotatable shaft, which supports a liquid distribution pan having radially extending nozzles for distributing the liquid onto the inner surface of the cylindrical structure so as to freeze as a frozen sheet and a blade member for removing the frozen sheet from the inner surface of the cylindrical structure in the form of frozen flakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Howe Corporation
    Inventors: Richard W. Howe, Avinash K. Ahuja
  • Patent number: 5735137
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes an air inlet, an air outlet, a heat exchanger, and a suction source for sucking-in air through the inlet and then discharging the air through the outlet after passing the air across the heat exchanger. Vanes are provided for opening and closing the inlet. A drive mechanism rotates the vanes about respective horizontal axes such that the vanes become opened by progressively greater amounts in a direction away form the suction source to expose progressively larger areas of the air inlet. This achieves a substantially uniform rate of air flow throughout the height of the air inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jong-Lae Kim
  • Patent number: 5735138
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes separate freezing and refrigerating compartments, each having is own evaporator and air circulating fan. The evaporator and fan of the refrigerating compartment are mounted to a housing that is attached to a rear wall of the refrigerator. The housing includes an air inlet and an air outlet, the outlet including vertically spaced openings. A blade is mounted in the housing and is driven about a vertical axis for distributing cool air to the outlet openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Suck Haong Park, Yong Myoung Kim
  • Patent number: 5735139
    Abstract: An oil separator for a refrigeration system having two inlets for receiving two streams of a mixture of oil and refrigerant for separation. One inlet is on each side of the oil separator. This allows for a separator with a smaller diameter to be used to achieve the same preferred speed of travel of the oil-refrigerant mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Richard G. Lord, Kenneth J. Nieva
  • Patent number: 5735140
    Abstract: A pneumatic apparatus produces high density dry ice pellets without external electric or hydraulic energy. The apparatus operates solely on compressed air for reduced capital and maintenance costs and for portability to harsh or remote locations. An air-over-oil booster is connected to a pelletizing cylinder which is in turn connected to a source of liquid CO.sub.2 through an electronic controller. The controller sequences a set of fluid valves for operation of both the booster and pelletizing cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Waste Minimization and Containment, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Becker, Russell Furmanek
  • Patent number: 5735141
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for purifying a substance in which the substance is rectified within first and second distillation columns to produce a tower overhead in the second distillation column, lean in both heavy and light impurities. The column bottoms produced within the second distillation columns is boiled to provide boil-up within the second distillation column, thereby to initiate formation of an ascending vapor phase. A vapor stream in removed from the second distillation and then fed into a bottom region of the first distillation column to initiate formation of the ascending vapor phase therein. The vapor stream removed from the second distillation column is formed from the ascending vapor phase produced within the second distillation column. The second distillation column is reboiled by a reboiler that can include a reservoir containing a heat exchange fluid that condenses against boiling the column bottoms provided in the second distillation column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter H. Whitlock
  • Patent number: 5735142
    Abstract: A process and a plant in which gaseous oxygen is produced directly at the desired high pressure by pumping liquid oxygen drawn off in the vessel of the low-pressure column (11). The air to be distilled is split into three flows: a flow at the medium pressure of the double distillation column (1), a flow at a high pressure, higher than approximately 60 bars, and a flow at an intermediate pressure which, after partial cooling, is expanded to the medium pressure in a turbine (8). The intermediate pressure is chosen so that the air treated in the turbine is near its dew point at the entry of the turbine wheel. Liquid product is simultaneously drawn off (at 24) from the plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Maurice Grenier
  • Patent number: 5735143
    Abstract: Disclosed is a diet earring for stimulating acupuncture points located on the human tragus used in a simple procedure to eliminate disadvantages of the conventional needle puncture process. The earring has a pressing member 1 and a retaining member 2 for engaging the outer surface and the opposite surface of the tragus 9, respectively, and a connecting member 3 provided with an appropriate resilient urging spring for connecting the above-mentioned members, thereby the earring being retained on the both surfaces of the tragus with a suitable pressure with the tragus interposed between the pressing and retaining members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Inventor: Ryuzo Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5735144
    Abstract: A ring member connectable with at least one other ring member comprises a shank and a connector on the shank for connecting to a connector on at least one other ring, the latter connector being on the shank of the second ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Inventor: Elizabeth Man Gabel
  • Patent number: 5735145
    Abstract: A multi-layer weft knit fabric for absorbing moisture and wicking it from a first fabric layer to a second layer is described, as well as a method for making the fabric. The multi-layer fabric includes a first hydrophobic layer and a second hydrophilic layer, with the layers being secured together by a series of courses forming spacer yarns which maintain the fabric layers in a spaced relationship relative to each other. The spacer yarns are adapted to wick moisture from the hydrophobic layer to the hydrophilic layer. The spacer yarns are preferably knit-in or laid-in to the respective knit fabric layers, and a plastic water-resistant layer can be secured proximate the hydrophilic fabric layer. A method of integrally knitting the multi-layer fabric on a circular knitting machine is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Monarch Knitting Machinery Corporation
    Inventor: Bruce M. Pernick
  • Patent number: 5735146
    Abstract: The invention is a cam locking rod devices for securing doors on intermodal cargo containers, semi-trailers, utility trailers, trucks, and other similar cargo storage compartments. The lock rod device is used in conjunction with a rotatable cam lock rod, having cam locks on each end, mounted on a container door for securing the container door in a locked condition. A locking cylinder, through which the cam lock rod extends, has at least one locking projection thereon which interacts with at least one projection on a sliding latch, which when intermeshed prevents rotation of the cam lock rod. A pad lock is used in conjunction with the sliding latch to lock projections on the locking cylinder and slide latch in a meshed position which prevents rotation of the cam lock rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Inventor: Gerald N. Taplin
  • Patent number: 5735147
    Abstract: An apparatus is adapted to prevent the theft of a wheeled vehicle having air brakes (e.g., large trucks and buses). A brake valve is selectively actuated by linear movement of an exposed knob that is located adjacent a supporting structure in the cab, and a valve housing is mounted behind the supporting structure. A new structural base is permanently connected to the valve housing in an exposed position in the vehicle's cab. The base is normally accessible to the driver at all times, but it is thin enough so that it will not interfere with normal push/pull movement of the valve's knob. A rigid and generally hollow cover is adapted to be selectively suspended over and in contact with the structural base. The cover is sufficiently deep as to envelop the valve's knob in order to conceal it and render it inaccessible when the cover is suspended over the base. The cover is selectively removable from the base so as to permit the driver to remove the cover and thereby have access to the knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Inventors: John T. Cattanach, Roy L. Chandler
  • Patent number: 5735148
    Abstract: An auto-transmission shift lever locking structure for an automobile is disclosed. The locking structure includes a base member mounted to a free end of the shift lever and a cover member secured to the base member, defining therebetween a space for disposing therein a locking member and a U-shaped hook member. The base member is provided with a concave slot thereon. The cover member is provided with a first channel and a second channel. A locking driver has a driving rod rotatable by a key for locking or unlocking the locking device. The locking driver is mounted into the first channel of the cover member, used to operate the driving member and further control the U-shaped hook member. A shift enabling button with a spring is inserted into the second channel of the cover member to perform shifting of the transmission system when the locking structure is at unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Inventor: Yung-Chi Hsiao
  • Patent number: 5735149
    Abstract: A motor vehicle security device for protecting against the cutting of an automobile steering wheel which includes a protective member made of cut-resistant material for covering the steering wheel rim and a connector for attaching the protective member to the steering wheel rim. The protective member radially and circumferentially overlies the steering wheel rim to limit access to the rim and protect against cutting of the rim. The protective member is collapsible for convenient storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Winner International Royalty Corporation
    Inventor: James E. Winner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5735150
    Abstract: A vehicle anti-theft device including an interior locking component adapted for lockable coupling with a periphery of a steering wheel of a vehicle and an exterior component adapted for rotatable coupling with respect to the interior locking component and the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Inventor: Richard M. Desouza
  • Patent number: 5735151
    Abstract: An anti-theft device for motor vehicles which selectively disables the vehicle by interrupting the operative connection of the steering wheel to the steering column. The device includes an outer cylindrical boss which is fixed to the steering wheel and rotatably mounted on and about an inner cylindrical boss affixed to the steering column. A key actuated locking mechanism is carried by the outer boss which selectively engages the inner boss to operatively connect the steering wheel to the steering column. By unlocking the locking mechanism, this operative connection is interrupted and the vehicle cannot be controlled by the steering wheel and is thus disabled. As the disabling of the vehicle is obtained when the locking mechanism is in an unlocked position as opposed to a locked position, damaging the mechanism by the application of excessive force will not overcome its disabling effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Inventors: Mark Nickeas, Martin Nickeas
  • Patent number: 5735152
    Abstract: In a locking system comprising a lock unit and a key unit, each of which has an induction coil for transmitting power and data, the induction coil on the lock side is mounted by via a coil carrier on a lock body in the lock unit. Between the induction coil on the lock side and the lock body, there is a screening body which magnetically screens off the lock body from the induction coil on the lock side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Temic Telfunken Microelectronic GmbH
    Inventors: Gunter Dietz, Matthias Kuhn, Thomas Rupprecht
  • Patent number: 5735153
    Abstract: A turnable lock operable with driver and tumbler pins when positioned by a key at a shear line in which shearable assembly pins are assembled in the lock and thereafter sheared to form such driver and tumbler pins for operation thereon. Each assembly pin is selectively weakened at a plurality of locations which correspond with notched depth heights of the family of keys capable of insertion in the keyhole. Such weakening is controlled so that pin shearing can be accomplished by application of rotational or linear forces applied to any part of the lock except the key. When linear forces are used the tumbler or plug may be indexed to employ a driver pin as a plug lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Master Lock Company
    Inventors: Robert Harold Hanneman, James George Wagner, Steven A. Fantl
  • Patent number: 5735154
    Abstract: A method of controlling the passage of rolling stock through a continuous mill train of successive roll stands comprising rolling shafts supporting the rolls, a rolling-mill drive preceding the rolling shafts, and individual electric motor drives having a steplessly variable rotary speed connected to the rolling-mill drive to apply torque to the rolling shafts, which comprises the steps of (a) measuring a reaction force on a machine part of a respective one of the stands to obtain a physical parameter changing in dependence on the torque before and after an initial pass of a stand succeeding the one stand, and (b) controlling the rotational speed of the individual electric motor drive for the succeeding one stand in dependence on any change of the measured physical parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: GFM GmbH
    Inventor: Otto Hein
  • Patent number: 5735155
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing patterned tread plates including the steps of providing a press having a path for advancing a sheet therethrough, the press being equipped with a progressive die including a plurality of gaggable dies and punches arranged in a plurality of rows in the path to sequentially engage the sheet when the same is being advanced therethrough in the path, operably associating with the press a CPU having a large capacity secondary data storage device, introducing a multiplicity of codes into the secondary data storage device with each code corresponding to a different tread pattern, some of the codes including gagging instructions for the operation of the dies and punches, selecting a first set of codes and operating the CPU to control the press so as to optionally produce a predetermined number of tread plates according to the first set of codes, and thereafter selecting a second set of codes and operating the CPU to produce a predetermined number of tread plates having a different pattern th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Morton Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: William C. Morton, Jeffery W. Covert
  • Patent number: 5735156
    Abstract: A method of forming a non-circular pipe having a different sectional shape in the longitudinal direction thereof by bending a raw pipe while applying pressure to the inside of the raw pipe, wherein the circumference of a section of the raw pipe is substantially equalized to the circumference of a section, corresponding to the section of the raw pipe, of the non-circular pipe after formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Yoshitomi, Shinji Tanaka, Shota Iwakura, Takeshi Araya, Takamitsu Nakazaki, Norio Yokoba, Toshimi Sato
  • Patent number: 5735157
    Abstract: A bearing mount assembly is installed in opposed relation to a roll support frame with the pass line interposed therebetween, the bearing mount assembly being provided with bearings capable of removably supporting the front ends of roll shafts carried on the roll support frame. In roll exchange operation, the bearing mount assembly is moved away from the roll support frame and has its bearings removed therefrom, whereupon the bearing mount assembly is turned from this raised position to a flat position to provide a roll exchange operation space defined above the bearing mount assembly, making it possible to effect roll exchange operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Hitachi Zosen Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Yamamoto, Masaru Nagao
  • Patent number: 5735158
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously forming corrugated sheet material in which corrugations are oriented at an oblique angle to side edges of the sheet material. The apparatus includes a pair of corrugating gear rollers supported for rotation on respective first and second parallel axes, the corrugating gear rollers having meshing linear teeth parallel to the first and second axes and providing a corrugating nip. At least one of the first and second gear rollers are movable toward and away from the other of said gear rollers to position the teeth in respective conditions of corrugating and released meshing engagement at the corrugating nip. The sheet material is directed to the corrugating nip along a path at an oblique angle to the axes of the corrugating gear rollers and the corrugating gear rollers are driven to corrugate the sheet material while the teeth are alternated between conditions of corrugating and released meshing engagement at the corrugating nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Engelhard Corporation
    Inventor: Gordon Wayne Brunson
  • Patent number: 5735159
    Abstract: Assembly to expel bars which is associated with a bar production line (11) fed by a coiled roll (12), the bar production line (11) comprising in line a straightening and drawing assembly (13), an assembly (14) for shearing to size, a revolver-type storage assembly (15) and a gauging assembly (16), the revolver-type storage assembly (15) comprising rotary drum means (17) including peripherally a plurality of container seatings (18) to hold the drawn bars, the assembly to expel bars (10) comprising thrust means (21) associated with guide means (26) cooperating with the container seating (18) lying momentarily on the same axis as the axis (20) of the bar production line (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Danieli Centro Maskin SpA
    Inventor: Davinci Schiavi
  • Patent number: 5735160
    Abstract: A hollow metal body is shaped by a process including simultaneous stretching and bending. The body is stretched longitudinally by pulling end portions in opposite directions with sufficient force to exceed an elastic limit and to initiate elongation through plastic deformation. While the body is being stretched longitudinally, it is bent between its end portions transversely of the direction of pulling. Solid polymeric first and second mandrels are inserted into end portions of the body to prevent collapse during bending.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Thomas J. VanSumeren, Robert P. Evert
  • Patent number: 5735161
    Abstract: Apparatus for forming a panel to a predetermined cross dimension by flangers which form flanges on the opposite side edges of the panel. The flangers are movable toward and away from advanced positions in which to form the flanges. The advanced positions can be adjusted depending on the cross dimension desired. The flangers can be retracted to permit loading and unloading of panels. Forming units are also provided to form tabs on an end of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Western Atlas, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald A. Brown, Gerrit W. Sloat, Timothy A. VerVaecke
  • Patent number: 5735162
    Abstract: The invention relates to a clinching press comprising a press tool (52) and a prebending unit (1) to produce a reciprocating movement in a tool holder (14) of a prebending tool (12), said tool holder being articulated to a foundation (2). The prebending unit (1) has a pressure rod (50) coupled to the press tool (52) and a knee-joint mechanism (28, 30), joined, on the one hand, to a pivot point (36) on the tool holder (14) and, on the other hand, to a fixed pivot point (34) on the foundation (2). The pressure roller (46) is freely rotatably mounted at the connecting point (32) of the links (28, 30). The knee-joint mechanism (28, 30) has a gas pressure spring (38, 42) for returning the mechanism to the starting position shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: AB Volvo
    Inventors: Mikael Mattsson, Bo Johansson
  • Patent number: 5735163
    Abstract: A method of effecting press working on a blank, in which a local portion of the blank is strengthened prior to the press working, so as to achieve increased mechanical strength, due to structural transformation of the material of the blank, or by an embossing operation. The local portion is selected so that the blank exhibits improved formability and suffers from reduced fractures during the press working.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihito Sato, Shinichiro Nakamura, Takashi Hosoe
  • Patent number: 5735164
    Abstract: An upsetting tool of a pair of upsetting tools for the deformation of continuously cast slabs in a slab upsetting press is composed of two connecting rods which are driven through two eccentric shafts and which support the upsetting tool and guide the upsetting tool in parallel direction. Hinged to the connecting rods is a piston/cylinder unit for producing a movement of the upsetting tool synchronously with the slab movement on a roller table. The upsetting tool has upsetting surfaces for acting on one of the two longitudinal sides of the slab. The upsetting surfaces extend parallel or inclined relative to the direction of movement of the slab. The upsetting surfaces are located next to one another so as to form edges extending transversely of the direction of movement of the slab, wherein upsetting surfaces inclined away from the longitudinal side surfaces of the slab are arranged following or possibly in front of an upsetting surface extending parallel to the travel direction of the slab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: SMS Schloemann-Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerhard Heitze, Adolf Muller, Gunter Kneppe
  • Patent number: 5735165
    Abstract: A mechanical bodymaker drive system for an under drive type vertical punch including a scotch yoke mechanism utilized to drive the punch. Two counterrotating cranks with counterweights are geared together to balance inertial forces on the scotch yoke driven slide. The scotch yoke mechanism, employing a slider block and slide, eliminates second harmonic inertia forces acting on the machine and allows counterrotating counterweights to totally balance inertia forces throughout the stroke. The punch is additionally hydrostatically attached to the scotch yoke mechanisms to compensate for deflections and thermal stress during operation. The hydrostatic pads eliminates the clearance between the face of the punch and the scotch yoke yet permits small lateral movements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: The Minster Machine Company
    Inventors: Robert L. Schockman, Roderick A. Lavy