Patents Issued in May 5, 1998
  • Patent number: 5746040
    Abstract: A modular wall construction includes a plurality of laterally spaced support posts having mutually spaced slots in commonly facing walls thereof, each slot being at least partially defined by oppositely disposed first and second edge segments. At least one panel is arranged between the support posts. In one embodiment, connecting elements are integrally formed with and extend laterally from the panel to overlie the commonly facing walls of the support posts at the slots. In an alternative embodiment, connecting elements are removably coupled to extend laterally from the panel to overlie the commonly facing walls of the support posts at the slots. The connecting elements have hook shaped portions received in the slots in engagement with the first edge segments thereof. A fastener extends into the slots between the connecting element and the second edge segments to coact in engagement with the slot and connecting element to prevent disengagement of the hook portions from the first edge segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Wireway/Husky Corp.
    Inventors: Ronald A. Young, Gregory C. Young
  • Patent number: 5746041
    Abstract: The invention provides an endless conveyor having a pair of gaps in its product conveying surface. As a film-wrapped product is conveyed across the gaps, a sensor aligned with the second gap signals the initiation of a shrinking sequence by which a pair of upwardly directed nozzles impinge hot air on the portion of film below and inboard of the transverse film seals. As the flow of hot air begins, a pair of magnetic clutches are activated to transmit power from a drive to a pair of shafts on which each clutch is respectively mounted. The drive, through the clutches, causes each of the nozzles to rotate about an axis so that the stream of hot air follows the travel of the wrapped product to maximize the time of hot air exposure without slowing the speed of product travel. At the end of the arc through which the nozzle is pivoted, the hot air flow is shut off, the magnetic clutches are deactivated, and a biasing spring causes the nozzles to return to their respective starting positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Ossid Corporation
    Inventor: Sidney S. Tolson
  • Patent number: 5746042
    Abstract: A hand-held device for installing caps on vials having a housing with an outer housing member and an inner housing member. The housing is sized to enable the device to be held in a hand of a user and placed over a vial to be capped. A shuttle member is rotationally disposed within the inner housing for transporting one of a plurality of caps stored in the housing from a cap storage station to a cap installation station within the housing when said device is operated. At approximately the same time, a plunger extending from an inner surface of the outer housing is installs the cap transported to the cap installation station onto a vial. Also described is a cap to be used in the hand-held device. The cap has a substantially flat endwall defining a peripheral edge surface and a sidewall extending therefrom. The peripheral edge surface defines a radius which is substantially less than 0.040 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Scientific Resources, Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond A. Lombardi
  • Patent number: 5746043
    Abstract: A convertible, vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine and method for making a variety of types and styles of bags and seals is disclosed. The machine produces durable, substantially air-tight bags at high speed and provides for the production of different size and make of bags and different amounts and types of product in the bags. The machine includes a film drive and pinch roll pair, a pair of film pull belts, and a pair of zipper drive rollers for pulling plastic film and zipper strip through the machine. The machine is convertible from one for producing reclosable edge fin seal bags to another for producing nonreclosable midline seal pillow type bags. Conversion from one to another is facilitated by having the pinch seal assembly mounted on a base plate which is releasably secured to a drawer-like device. This allows the pinch seal assembly to be pulled out of the machine, indexed 90.degree., and pushed back into the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Pacmac, Inc.
    Inventors: Emanuele Terminella, Frank Terminella, Joseph Terminella
  • Patent number: 5746044
    Abstract: A method of wrapping products, whereby gripping assemblies, each for receiving a respective product and a respective sheet of wrapping material, are fed successively in steps and in a given traveling direction along a path extending through a loading station where each assembly is supplied with a respective sheet of wrapping material; and whereby, at each step, two assemblies, located one behind the other along the path, are brought into the loading station and arrested in respective loading positions to simultaneously receive respective sheets of wrapping material, which are fed to the respective loading positions along respective supply paths located side by side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: G.D Societa Per Azioni
    Inventor: Fiorenzo Draghetti
  • Patent number: 5746045
    Abstract: A lawn mower is provided having a chassis, a mower deck dependent from the chassis, having a chute for discharging clippings generally in a first direction onto the ground; and a blower assembly mounted to the chassis on the same side as the chute, and having an outlet oriented such that a stream of air from the blower extends along a second direction and intersects the clippings discharged from the chute in the first direction and redisperses the clippings over an area greater than that achieved by the mower deck alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Inventor: James Haney
  • Patent number: 5746046
    Abstract: A composite yarn and a method for forming the composite yarn include the composite yarn being formed from different components wherein the resultant yarn exhibits characteristics not apparent from the individual component yarns with the composite yarn being formed from a first component yarn strand and a second component yarn strand with the first and second component strands being comingled using an entanglement device with the co-mingling occurring with the first and second component strands subject to a first tension value which is subsequently increased to a second, higher tension value for winding. A method for forming such a composite yarn includes propelling the strands through the entanglement device at a first tension value, entangling the strands, imparting a second tension value to the resultant entangled strands and winding the entangled strands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Guilford Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip D. McCartney, McDaniel L. Beard, Elaine V. Inman
  • Patent number: 5746047
    Abstract: An infrared suppressor system for a gas turbine engine is provided for suppressing infrared radiation associated with the hot metal parts of the engine and with the hot exhaust gases exhausted from the engine. The system features a unique arrangement of multiple baffles that are connected together as a single baffle module. The baffle arrangement permits mixing of hot and cool gas flows while eliminating line-of-sight infrared radiation in an axially compact suppressor. The baffles are additionally linked together into a single insertable baffle module that permits removal of the baffle module when infrared suppression is unnecessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Gereral Electric Company
    Inventors: William Steyer, Timothy Joseph Higgins
  • Patent number: 5746048
    Abstract: A compact gas turbine engine having improved fuel efficiency, lower emissions, better starting capability, and longer operational life is provided at low cost through the use of a combustor incorporating tangential fuel injection in conjunction with certain strategically placed and sized oxidant inlet jets. The oxidant inlet jets include deflector jets which deflect a generally circumferentially spiralling flow of gases within the combustor in a manner causing fuel and oxidant to recirculate for a longer period of time within a primary combustion zone, to thereby improve combustion efficiency and reduce undesirable emissions. Apparatus and methods for regulating injection of the fuel and oxidant in or primary, secondary, and dilution zones of the combustor in a manner providing improvements in fuel efficiency, high altitude starting and other advantages are also defined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Nipulkumar Shah
  • Patent number: 5746049
    Abstract: An engine control computer estimates NO.sub.x trap temperature based on an estimated midbed temperature of a three-way catalytic converter located upstream from the trap and the effect on NO.sub.x trap temperature of introducing air into the exhaust upstream of the trap during purging of the trap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael John Cullen, Steven Dinsdale, Christopher K. Davey
  • Patent number: 5746050
    Abstract: There is provided a system for the delivery of a gaseous product to a reaction chamber. The system includes a fuel tank containing a hypergolic liquid displaced from the fuel tank by a pressurized gas whose flow is controlled by a thruster control valve and directed to a gas generator. Pressurant gas entrained in the hypergolic liquid is not decomposed in the gas generator and causes pressure oscillations. The pressure oscillations are minimized by reducing the diameter of the gas bubbles or by disposing a gas fluid resistor between the gas generator and the reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Primex Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher H. McLean, Paul G. Lichon, Joseph P. Morris, Philip O. Flugstad
  • Patent number: 5746051
    Abstract: In automobiles, for example, the exhaust fumes must pass through a plasma reactor operating by the principle of dielectrically inhibited ("silent") discharge, consisting of an arrangement of flat plates with alternating metallic and dielectric layers, whereby a plurality of adjacent discharge paths in parallel in the flow direction are formed. According to the invention, the discharge paths border on a single metallic electrode surface or layer (62, 72) and the electric power is supplied (58, 59) from two different sides with the metallic layers (62, 72) having alternating polarities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jorg Kieser, Markus Klein, Gunter Lins, Robert Seebock, Michael Romheld
  • Patent number: 5746052
    Abstract: In the present invention, the exhaust gas from the engine is divided into a first and a second branch exhaust passages after it passes through a three-way reducing and oxidizing catalyst, and the two branch exhaust passages merge into an exhaust gas outlet passage. In the first branch exhaust passage, an oxidizing catalyst is disposed, and in the exhaust gas outlet passage, a denitrating and oxidizing catalyst is disposed. NO.sub.x in the exhaust gas from the engine is all converted to N.sub.2 and NH.sub.3 by the three-way reducing and oxidizing catalyst and a part of the NH.sub.3 generated by the three-way catalyst flows into the first branch exhaust passage and is converted to NO.sub.x again by the oxidizing catalyst. The amount of NO.sub.x produced by the oxidizing catalyst and the amount of NO.sub.x flowing through the second branch exhaust passage is determined by the flow distribution ratio of the first and the second branch exhaust passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukio Kinugasa, Kouhei Igarashi, Takaaki Itou, Takehisa Yaegashi, Toshifumi Takaoka
  • Patent number: 5746053
    Abstract: When an apparatus for supplying power to an EHC becomes faulty, the supply of power to the EHC is shut off by a means which is separate from a control relay to prevent the catalyst from being overheated. The control relay that is opened and closed by an ECU is provided in a circuit that supplies electric power from a power source to the EHC attached to an exhaust gas passage of an internal combustion engine, and power supplied to the EHC is controlled by the control relay. When the control relay is short-circuited, this short-circuiting fault is detected by some means, and the power supply circuit is forcibly shut off so that power will not be continuously supplied to the EHC from the power source in this state. Means for forcibly shutting off the power supply circuit may be a relay, a breaker or a fuse when the power source is a battery, and may be to suppress the amount of power generated by an alternator when the power source is the alternator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiko Hibino
  • Patent number: 5746054
    Abstract: In an exhaust expansion chamber or tuned pipe of a two-cycle engine in a watercraft, variable amounts of water are injected, thus cooling the temperature within the expansion chamber and matching the sonic wave speed with that of the correct rpm of the motor. Thus, by regulating the temperature of the exhaust gases in the tuned pipe with water, the efficiency of the two-cycle engine at varying revolutions per minute, is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Bombardier, Inc.
    Inventor: Sylvain Matte
  • Patent number: 5746055
    Abstract: A hydraulic tile and trim mechanism for a marine outboard drive that provides a compact assembly and which ensures that contaminants which may enter the hydraulic fluid can accumulate in the fluid reservoir and will not be circulated by the fluid pump. This is accomplished by positioning the reservoir below the fluid pump and using a pick-up tube that does not extend into the bottom of the reservoir so that the contaminants can accumulate therein without being circulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Nakamura, Masahiko Iida
  • Patent number: 5746056
    Abstract: An overspeed control for a hydrostatic transmission of a mobile machine includes a speed control valve arrangement connected to a fixed displacement pump through a supply line and to a pressure responsive displacement controller of a variable displacement hydraulic pump of the transmission. An overspeed control valve is connected to the supply line and is operative for reducing the fluid pressure level in the displacement controller when the speed control valve arrangement is in an operative position and the rotational speed of the engine exceeds a predetermined level. This reduces the displacement of the variable displacement pump (which acts as a motor in a downhill situation) and thus increasing engine retarding and transmission losses for preventing the positive grade from accelerating the machine, engine and/or the components of the hydrostatic transmission to speeds exceeding their designed limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: David P. Smith
  • Patent number: 5746057
    Abstract: An electronic control type brake booster having a brake booster; an air path separately formed from a path to which an engine vacuum pressure of said brake booster is applied; a pressure control valve arranged in the air path and driven by a solenoid valve, said pressure control valve providing a pilot pressure to the air path of said brake booster to control the pressure in the air path to a pressure between atmospheric pressure and the engine vacuum pressure; a wrinkled bellows tube connected to a predetermined portion of said air path connected to the pressure control valve; an operational chamber inwardly formed of a movable wall communicated with the bellows tube; a plunger located at an inside portion of the movable wall and formed with an operational chamber and a further chamber according to an operation of the plunger; an annular element arranged between the plunger and the movable wall; and a hole formed at the upper portion of the annular element and communicating with the further chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Mando Machinery Corporation
    Inventor: Tae-Young Shim
  • Patent number: 5746058
    Abstract: An adjustable actuator for a waste gate exhaust valve of a turbocharger includes a housing having a first opening therein for communication with the pressure outlet of the turbocharger and a second opening therein remote from the first opening. The actuator also includes a rod interconnecting the housing and the waste gate exhaust valve through the second opening. The actuator further includes a pivotal mounting bracket connected to the housing adjacent the second opening. One or more flange portions extend radially outward from a central body portion which has an aperture therein for receiving the rod. The actuator also includes a fastener for selectively clamping the bracket to the housing such that the bracket can rotate and tilt with respect to housing when the fastener is loosened and is held in a fixed positioned once the fastener is tightened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Gits Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Mark W. Vertanen
  • Patent number: 5746059
    Abstract: The third stage generator of a triple effect absorption apparatus may be operated at vapor pressures below 25 psig and more preferably below 15 psig by using a metal salt concentration in the absorption fluid in the third stage generator of at least 66.5%, by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Rocky Research
    Inventors: Paul Sarkisian, Uwe Rockenfeller
  • Patent number: 5746060
    Abstract: In the case of failure in communication between the control unit and the control panel in the manual operation of a car air conditioner, the operation mode is changed over to an automatic mode to introduce the outside air. In the case of failure in communication between the control unit and the mode door actuators, the compressor is turned on to introduce the outside air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Calsonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Sunaga, Masatoshi Suto
  • Patent number: 5746061
    Abstract: A method for determining airflow through an air cooling and dehumidifying coil by measuring the condensate rate and the moist air conditions entering and leaving the coil. The mass air flow, the volume air flow and the cooling capacity are then calculated from data exhibited on a psychrometric chart or by calculating the same result from basic principles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Inventor: Daniel E. Kramer
  • Patent number: 5746062
    Abstract: A surge detection system for use in a fluid system having a load driven by a centrifugal compressor, the compressor being driven by an electric motor. The surge detection system comprises a means for sensing a differential pressure developed across the compressor and a means for sensing a current representing input power to the motor. The surge detection system further comprises a first computing means responsive to the differential pressure developed across the compressor for indicating when a valid surge is occurring in the compressor, and a second computing means responsive to the variable speed drive current for indicating when a valid surge is occurring in the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: York International Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory K. Beaverson, Harold R. Schnetzka, Timothy M. Frank
  • Patent number: 5746063
    Abstract: A cooling and refrigeration apparatus cools surfaces of meat cutting machines, scales, and food preparation areas so as to inhibit bacterial and other microbial growth. The apparatus includes a cooler to lower the temperature of the food contact surfaces to a predetermined temperature which inhibits bacteria and other microbial growth by providing a surface at the predetermined temperature adjacent to or at the food handling surfaces. The cooler is either a thermoelectric module or an accessory source of cooled air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Inventors: Renee M. Hall, Donald M. Hall
  • Patent number: 5746064
    Abstract: An electrochemical heat exchanger including a housing, at least one electrochemical cell within the housing with a first electrode and a hydrogen electrode at least partially immersed in a liquid electrolyte, and positive and negative terminals of the electrochemical cell connected through the housing to respective positive and negative ends of a power supply. The housing includes a gas space which is in communication with a heat exchange chamber. The heat exchange chamber can be a flexible chamber capable of expanding in response to an increase in pressure in the electrochemical cell and contracting in response to a decrease in pressure in the electrochemical cell or it can be a conduit whereby an element to be cooled is placed in thermal contact with either hydrogen gas or a liquid coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Borst, Inc.
    Inventor: Boris Tsenter
  • Patent number: 5746065
    Abstract: An accumulator deflector connection is used in an accumulator including a deep drawn can connected to a puck having an inlet passage and an outlet passage. The outlet passage includes a counterbore having a cylindrical bushing received therein, the deflector has a cylindrical extension received within the passage of the cylindrical bushing and the outlet end of the outlet tube is received within the passage of the cylindrical extension of the deflector and the cylindrical bushing is crimped to create a mechanical lock. In an alternate embodiment, the outlet end of the outlet tube includes knurling thereon and is located in the passage of the cylindrical extension of the thermoplastic deflector and the thermoplastic deflector is melted into the knurling during the welding of the can to the puck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Automotive Fluid Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Chhotu Patel, Larry M. Lafer, Steven M. Tossey
  • Patent number: 5746066
    Abstract: The present invention is a plurality of stages for partial condensation and phase separation a process gas stream, preferably containing substantial amounts of light olefins, methane, and hydrogen, but containing initially at least substantial amounts of methane and ethylene. Each condensation and separation stage is refrigerated with a subcooled and flashed high pressure liquid of a mixed refrigerant refrigeration loop, wherein throughout the loop the relative component ratios of the mixed refrigerant components are constant, contrasted with the several mixed refrigerant processes of the prior art where for all the streams of each closed refrigeration loop. In addition, rectification and/or stripping sections of an ethylene separation train have a common support construction taking advantage of relatively similar column diameters to reduce the total number of columns in the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Inventor: David B. Manley
  • Patent number: 5746067
    Abstract: A round bangle (20) has an improved clevis-like hinge assembly (23) and an improved bangle closing mechanism (24). The hinge assembly is in the form of two end caps, which are operatively mounted on adjacent marginal end portions of the bangle halves. A clevis-type connection is recessed in one of the bangle halves such that there is the appearance of a generally smooth continuous exterior when the bangle is closed. The improved closing mechanism includes a keeper wire (42) extending outwardly from one of the bangles within the other, with an intermediate support ball (43) and a distal button (44) located on the keeper wire. When the bangle is closed, the button passes through an opening (45) in the other bangle half to releasably lock the bangle halves together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Leach & Garner Company
    Inventors: Edwin F. Leach, II, Marinko Markic, Ronald E. Precourt, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5746068
    Abstract: A lower body garment for covering the legs, hips, waist and midriff of the wearer, formed from a tubular sleeve knit of successive yarn courses which includes a waistband, a midriff encircling portion integrally knit with the waistband and leg portions integrally knit with the midriff encircling portion. The leg portions are formed by slitting the tubular sleeve and joining the slit edges to provide a continuous longitudinal leg enclosing seam extending throughout the leg portions. Cuff portions are integrally knit with the leg portions and are also joined by the continuous longitudinal seam. The garment may be made with or without a lining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Sara Lee Corporation
    Inventors: Catrinel I. Popa, George A. Browder, Jr., Archie Dale Segraves
  • Patent number: 5746069
    Abstract: A clothes washing machine includes a spin basket on which dynamic balancers are arranged. Upper and lower balancers are mounted on the top and bottom of the spin basket, respectively. Each of the upper and lower balancers includes a plurality of separate coaxial chambers. Viscous oil and movable balls are disposed in each chamber. The chambers of the upper balancer are arranged one above the other and the cross sections of those chambers (as well as of the balls) become larger in an upward direction. The chambers of the lower balancer are arranged horizontally next to one another and the cross sections of those chambers (as well as of the balls) become larger in a radially outer direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Do Weon Kim
  • Patent number: 5746070
    Abstract: A spin drum for use in a horizontal axis clothes washing machine. The spin drum includes a generally semi-cylindrical side wall composed of stainless steel, first and second plastic end caps and first and second metal trunnions. The side wall has first and second ends with radially corrugated peripheries and a plurality of vanes that extend between the first and second ends. The vanes help define the radially corrugated peripheries of the first and second ends. The first and second plastic end caps are respectively secured to the first and second ends of the side wall and have flanges that are contoured to fit inside the radially corrugated peripheries of the first and second ends. The first and second metal trunnions are respectively disposed over the first and second plastic end caps and are secured to the first and second ends of the side wall and to the first and second plastic end caps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack W. Bailey, Joseph E. Howard
  • Patent number: 5746071
    Abstract: Disclosed is a washing machine which can strongly pump a washing liquid towards an upper portion of a spin tub while a washing cycle is being executed. The washing machine has a housing and an outer tub disposed in the housing so as to receive the washing liquid. A spin tub accommodated in the outer tub is divided into an upper chamber and a lower chamber by a compartment, and is formed at an inner wall thereof with first and second cylinders which are positioned in opposition to each other. The washing machine has a motor for generating a rotational force, a pulsator mounted on an upper surface of the compartment, and a pulsator driving section for driving the pulsator by receiving the rotational force from the motor. First and second piston assemblies are respectively disposed within the first and second cylinders in order to pump the washing liquid towards an upper portion of the spin tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gab-Jin Youn
  • Patent number: 5746072
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating an endless textile web by passing it in a direction along an endless path and contacting it with a treatment fluid has a conveying nozzle provided with a housing traversed by the path and having a lateral inlet, an upstream tube and downstream tube longitudinally traversed by the path. The upstream tube has an upstream portion of a cross section decreasing in the direction and a downstream portion of substantially constant cross section and having a downstream end. The downstream tube has an upstream portion of a cross section decreasing in the direction and having an upstream end in the housing upstream of the downstream end of the upstream tube, spaced laterally outward from the downstream portion of the upstream tube, and forming with the downstream portion of the upstream tube a gap open into the housing and a downstream portion of cross section increasing in the direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: H.Krantz Textiltechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Bernd Bohnke
  • Patent number: 5746073
    Abstract: A dye tube spacer for package dyeing. The spacer prevents distortion of the ends of the yarn package when the package is compressed prior to dyeing. The spacer includes a continuous vertical inner wall having an upper edge and a lower edge, the inner diameter of the wall being substantially equal to the outer diameter of the tube. A vertical outer wall is spaced from the inner wall and has an upper edge and a lower edge. A top annular wall is inclined upwardly from the upper edge of the inner to the upper edge of the outer wall, the wall having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the end of the yarn winding. A bottom annular wall extends from the lower edge of the inner wall to the lower edge of the outer wall. A support shelf extends inwardly from the inner wall and is positioned to engage the end of the tube. The inclined top and bottom annular walls contact the ends of the yarn packages and prevent undesirable distortion of the yarn during compression prior to dyeing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Unifi, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon A. Wise, Roger N. Saunders, Matthew M. Thomas, Raymond W. Maynard, Ronald W. Mangrum
  • Patent number: 5746074
    Abstract: A lock mechanism for push lawn mowers of the type having a secondary operations handle which must be moved into a position adjacent the lawn mower handle in order to engage the starting mechanism of the lawn mower, the apparatus comprising at least a first and second body members joined at a hinged portion, each body member formed into a substantial semi-circular pattern for defining a channel in each body member, so that as the body members are moved from the open to the closed position, the channels would define a circular bore through the body members that would encircle the primary handle of the lawn mower; a tab at the end of each of the body members, a tab having an opening there through, so that when the body members are closed, the openings in the tab align for accommodating a padlock therethrough, the body members once engaged around the handle of the lawn mower define a barrier which the second handle would engage when pulled towards the primary handle, so that the secondary handle is prevented from
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Inventor: William V. F. Collins
  • Patent number: 5746075
    Abstract: A combination padlock comprises a housing, a shackle, and a numbered wheel set. The housing is made up of a front housing and a rear housing. The shackle has a hooked portion and a rod-shaped body. The numbered wheel set comprises a seat on which a locking mechanism is disposed for actuating a movable grid plate to move up and down. The front housing is provided with a receiving cell having a position restricting block, whereas the rear housing is provided with a receiving cell having a position restricting block and a retaining block. The position restricting block is intended to confine the rod-shaped body of the shackle while the retaining block is engageable with the retaining recess of the rod-shaped body of the shackle at such time when the shackle is pulled upwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Inventor: Yaw-Kuen Yang
  • Patent number: 5746076
    Abstract: An actuator unit for shifting a lock lever of a vehicle door lock device between a locked position and an unlocked position comprises a housing having a reversible motor, an inside lever disposed inside the housing and being shiftable by the motor, and a key lever disposed inside the housing. The inside lever has a first shaft whose outer end extends through the housing and is connected to the lock lever. The key lever has a second shaft whose outer end extends through the housing and is connected to a door key cylinder. The first and second shafts being coaxial with each other but protruding in opposite directions. The inside lever has a third shaft coaxial with the first shaft and the key lever has a hole for supporting the third shaft. The actuator unit has first detecting means provided inside the housing for detecting a position of the inside lever, and second detecting means provided inside the housing for detecting a position of the key lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsui Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jiro Inoue
  • Patent number: 5746077
    Abstract: A machine for rolling an article, such as a rain gutter, from sheet metal dispensed from a coil comprises an elongate base having an input end, at which sheet metal dispensed from a coil is inputted into the machine, and an outlet end, at which an article rolled by the machine is outputted from the machine. An elongate track mounted on the machine and extending between those ends includes a pair of rails extending between those ends. A dispenser for mounting a coil of sheet metal and for dispensing sheet metal from the mounted coil into the machine at the input end is supported on the elongate track, via two dispenser-supporting rollers engaging each rail, so that the dispenser can be selectively positioned on the elongate track in a loading position, near the input end of the elongate base or in a dispensing position, near the output end of the elongate base. The dispenser can be releasably secured in the dispensing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: ZMC, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory R. Zaccagni, Joseph A. Kiely
  • Patent number: 5746078
    Abstract: A new Protection Device For Key Lock Openings for preventing moisture and dirt from entering key locks. The inventive device includes a dome-shaped cap, a handle on one side of the cap, and a magnetized clip extending from the other side of the cap and sized to fit within a key lock opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Inventor: Mark Kiernan
  • Patent number: 5746079
    Abstract: For the production of a metallic valve member a tube section (10) is introduced into a pressing mold (14) and deformed by means of a stamp (15). The ends of the tube section remain as tubular port connections. The center section intermediate these ends is thrust inwardly on the side of the tube section, which corresponds to the bottom of the valve member, whereas on the opposite side of the tube section a flat opposite surface (14a) of the pressing mold forms a flat in the wall of the tube section so that opposite to the flat two fluid guide surfaces are formed, which starting from the axial direction as defined by the port connections are directed axially inward and simultaneously toward the flat and merge together in a common rib opposite the flat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Burkert Werke GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Gerhard Hettinger, Walter Rutsch
  • Patent number: 5746080
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a metallic can body that is shaped distinctively in order to enhance its visual presentation to consumers includes, in one embodiment, steps of providing a can body blank that has a sidewall that is of a substantially constant diameter; providing a mold unit that has at least one mold wall that defines a mold cavity that is shaped generally like the can body blank, the mold wall having a pattern formed therein that corresponds to a desired final shape of the can body; positioning the can body blank within the mold cavity; and supplying a pressurized fluid into the mold cavity so that the can body blank is forced by pressure against the mold wall, causing the can body blank to assume the desired final shape of the can body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Hartman, Zeev W. Shore, James J. Tang, Anton A. Aschberger, Michael R. Gogola, William O. Irvine, Ralph J. Trnka, Richard O. Wahler, Robert A. Winkless
  • Patent number: 5746081
    Abstract: The invention relates to an installation for cold rolling strip-shaped rolling material, with a reversing stand disposed between two reel-up or unreeling coils or reels. Approximately 450,000 tons of hot rolled strip can be rolled in the course of one year into cold strips in such single stand reversing trains. In order to be able to roll 700,000 tons of cold strip per year, a second reversing stand in the rolling line of the first reversing stand is provided and both stands can be adjusted corresponding to consecutive passes for performing the rolling process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: SMS Schloemann-Siegmag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Klaus Klamma, Wilfried Bald
  • Patent number: 5746082
    Abstract: A die assembly includes a forming portion to form a negative angle portion when an upper die is lowered in a straight line to abut a lower die. A cylindrical rotating cam with a groove formed therein in the axial direction is rotatably mounted in the lower die. A negative angle forming portion is formed in the groove edge portion of the rotating cam. A slide cam with a negative angle forming portion is mounted on the upper die in such a manner to be opposed to the rotating cam to enable the removal of the workpiece from the lower die after the forming process is completed. The rotating cam includes a plurality of cylindrical portions of varying diameters whereby an excessively bent negative angle forming portion may be formed by a single rotating cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Umix Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuo Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 5746083
    Abstract: A hemming machine adapted to externally and internally hem a sheet metal fabrication comprising an anvil which itself is apertured so as to register with an aperture in the metal fabrication which is to be internally hemmed, wherein additional hemming apparatus is provided mounted at the upper end of a drive, and support means is located below and protruding up through the opening in the anvil so as to protrude the opening in the fabrication, further comprising a hemming tool displaceable vertically and horizontally having a chamfered lower leading edge, a slidable block carrying the tool at one end, drive means for positioning the slide vertically, and further drive means for positioning the block within the slide for positioning the tool horizontally, a second anvil resiliently displaceable and engaging the underside of the tool or normally raise the latter relative to its lowermost position, and wherein the upper surface of the block is adapted to withstand an impact force and transmit same to the tool to
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Western Atlas U.K. Limited
    Inventors: Josef Kovarovic, John Ralph Kowalewsky
  • Patent number: 5746084
    Abstract: A drawing mechanism for a press has a drawing slide and a plate holder with a plate held therein. A holding force, which acts against the drawing direction, can be applied to the plate by way of a piston rod which can be displaced in parallel to the drawing direction. A control accelerates the plate holder in the drawing direction before the drawing slide is placed on the plate holder because the plate holder is rapidly acceleratable independently of the drawing slide. A pre-acceleration cylinder is fixed to the press and has a pre-acceleration piston which is operatively connected with the piston rod. The pre-acceleration cylinder has first and second effective surfaces of different sizes which act in opposite directions, and a first and a second pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Schuler Pressen GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Siegfried Baur, Heinz Horn, Hartmut Dexling
  • Patent number: 5746085
    Abstract: A method of forming a gear through cold plastic working comprises preparing a disc-like blank, and pressing conically a central portion of the blank with a uniform pressure from upper and lower sides to cause plastic deformation in the blank thereby to form a gear along a gear-shaped die arranged around the periphery of the blank. The blank material is restrained to flow radially at peripheral end faces of the blank during the forming of the gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Harada, Hisanobu Kanamaru
  • Patent number: 5746086
    Abstract: A driving device for a bending unit for bending-in an edge flange against a workpiece. The bending unit comprises a stand, supporting the driving device, a supporting surface for the workpiece and a linkage system, which supports a bending tool for the movement along a predetermined path of movement. A motor (14) is mounted on the stand (1) and is coupled to a crankshaft (23) mounted in the stand. The crankshaft supports on a crank pin (25) one end of a connecting rod (26), the other end of which is articulated to a link (8) in the linkage system. The connecting rod (26) is movable, by rotation of the crankshaft (23), between a rest position, in which it keeps the linkage system (8) and the tool in a deactivated position, and a work position, in which it keeps the linkage system (8) and the tool in an end position, where bending-in of the edge flange is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: AB Volvo
    Inventor: Peter Palmqvist
  • Patent number: 5746087
    Abstract: Clearance take up means is provided to take up the running clearance between the bed frame and slide of a progressive former at least near the end of the advance of the slide to top dead center, so that the advance is completed under essentially zero clearance conditions. A header slide system must allow a certain amount of running clearance to give room for lubricant and allow for expansion of the slide and bed due to variations in the temperature of the slide and bed. This clearance however compromises the concentricity of the work piece. The present invention enables normal running clearances to be maintained; however, near the front of the slide stroke clearances are eliminated completely by putting a side load on a system of wedges. This system reduces the side to side movement of the slide as well as the cocking about the vertical axis of the slide that occurs with offset heading loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: The National Machinery Company
    Inventors: Martin J. Wurm, Stanley J. Wasserman
  • Patent number: 5746088
    Abstract: This invention includes a combustion engine fuel level indication system operable at 10 mA or lower and without any contact resistance buildup. The present system utilizes a noble metal ink formulation for both contacts of resistive path and a conductive path. The resistive and conductive paths each having angled conductor lines which reduce the overall volume requirement for the noble metal ink composition used to make the paths. The invention also includes a wiper contact having spaced apart parallel tangs or fingers positioned so that a first finger engages a first conductor line along the conductive path and a second finger engages an adjacent conductor line along the conductive path to improve the make brake contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Ulf Sawert, Hugh Wesley Ireland, Timothy Francis Coha
  • Patent number: 5746089
    Abstract: In a starter including a planetary gear reducer for reducing a rotational output of a motor and transmitting the reduced rotational output to a starting object, the motor includes an armature 3, a motor output shaft 31 and a cylindrical yoke 1. The planetary gear reducer includes a ring gear 8 fitted in and engaged with the yoke at its one end and having an inner peripheral gear portion 11 formed on the inner periphery thereof, a bearing 13 mounted on the side wall of the ring gear at the center thereof, a plurality of planetary gears 4 rotatably interposed between the outer peripheral gear portion 32 of the motor output shaft and the inner peripheral gear portion of the ring gear and a starter output shaft 21 rotatably supported by the ring gear side wall, the starter output shaft being connected at its one end with the planetary gears and adapted to be engageable at its other end with the starting object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Morimoto