Patents Issued in May 26, 1998
  • Patent number: 5755063
    Abstract: A unit building 10, wherein a fixed corner portion of each of the four building modules 12 are disposed in such a way that they butt each other at the column-free butting portion 14, and a reinforcing beam 30 extending from between the ceiling beams 23, 23 of the two adjacent building modules 12 on a side of the column-free butting portion 14 to between the ceiling beams 23, 23 of the two adjacent building modules 12 on the other side of the column-free butting portion 14 is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Sekisui Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsunori Ohnishi, Chika Iri, Yukari Murayama, Naoto Tanaka, Yasuhiro Yoden
  • Patent number: 5755064
    Abstract: A carport enclosure built around an existing carport. The carport itself includes a plurality of carport support posts secured upright by respective footings and a roof supported by the support posts and overhanging the support posts. Enclosure posts, supported upright by footings, are positioned outboard of the carport support posts. A first side or end wall is attached to and supported by at least one of the enclosure posts, disposed underneath the roof and extends at least substantially up thereto so as to appear to be an integral side wall. Similarly, a second side or end wall is attached to and supported by at least one of the enclosure posts, disposed underneath an opposite side of the roof and extends at least substantially up thereto so as to appear to be an integral side wall. A rear wall is attached to and supported by at least one of the enclosure posts so as to appear to be an integral rear wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Bay Apartment Communities, Inc.
    Inventors: Gilbert M. Meyer, Morton L. Newman
  • Patent number: 5755065
    Abstract: A post-tension system including an anchor member having a tendon-receiving interior passageway, a tendon extending through the passageway, a plurality of wedges interposed between the anchor member and the tendon in the interior passageway, and a spring received by one end of the anchor member so as to be in compressive relationship with the plurality of wedges so as to urge the plurality of wedges in a direction toward an opposite end of the anchor member. A cap member is affixed to one end of the anchor member and extends over an end of the tendon. The spring is interposed between the cap and the plurality of wedges. The spring is affixed to an interior shoulder on the cap member. A seal is interposed between an exterior surface of a sheathed portion of the tendon and an interior surface of a tubular extension formed in an encapsulation around the anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Inventor: Felix L. Sorkin
  • Patent number: 5755066
    Abstract: A slip track assembly having a slip track mechanism and a non-combustible secondary member which together are fastened to a structural element and slidingly receive the studs and primary wall member of a non-load bearing stud wall so as to provide a desired fire barrier connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Inventor: Duane William Becker
  • Patent number: 5755067
    Abstract: A composite insulated building structure which can be fabricated on site. Structural members are lined with secondary framing strips to minimize thermal conduction therethrough from interior to exterior walls. The structural members are applied in a staggered fashion to increase the effectiveness of the insulation. Interior and exterior walls of the structure are formed and then filled with insulation by pouring, thereby causing bonding of the insulation to the walls. Excess insulation material flows out into the unfilled structural void or over the top of the section to avoid undue stress on the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Inventor: George A. Mercurio
  • Patent number: 5755068
    Abstract: A veneer panel (10) has a relatively thin veneer layer (12) secured to a relatively thick supporting base (16) to form a generally rectangular veneer panel blank. The outer veneer layer (12) is then grooved in a predetermined pattern with longitudinally extending grooves (30) and transversely extending grooves (34) in the veneer layer forming veneer rows (30). At least one end of the veneer panel (10) is cut across its entire thickness to form projecting end portions (32B) of varying lengths corresponding to the veneer rows (30) and defining slotted spaces (36) between the projecting end portions (32B). A complementary projecting end portion (32B) of an adjacent panel is provided and the end portions (32B) on complementary panels are interfitted to form a staggered joint defined by a plurality of transverse grooves across the entire width of the panels similar to the remaining grooves (30, 34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Inventor: Fred I. Ormiston
  • Patent number: 5755069
    Abstract: A louver assembly and a method for installing the louver assembly into an opening in a wall of a structure are provided wherein the louver includes a frame which and a separate louver section which may be mounted within the frame after the frame has been mounted in the opening in the wall. The frame defines a central channel which extends from an interior opening to an exterior opening. The frame includes a frame flange extending from an exterior edge of the central channel so that, when the frame is in a desired position within the hole in the wall, the frame flange extends around the entire perimeter of the hole to seal the perimeter of the hole. The louver section is selectively mountable within the central channel so that it is prevented from passing through the exterior opening. When the louver section is in a desired position within the central channel, the frame is sealed so that air is prevented from passing between the frame and an outer surface of the louver section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Specialty Metal Fabricators, Inc.
    Inventor: David Sullivan
  • Patent number: 5755070
    Abstract: A multi veneer anchor structural assembly for interconnection between the inner wythe and the outer wythe of an edifice. The assembly includes a pair of base members mounted in spanning relationship with at least vertical channels which form the frame of an edifice. A vertical plate is connected between the base members and has formed thereon a plurality of outwardly projecting vertical members each of which is engagable with a wall tie; with the wall ties being connected to an outer wythe. The assembly forms part of a drywall construction system which includes an insulating strip disposed between adjacent ones of the vertical plates, thereby providing a complete insulating layer for the edifice. In an alternate embodiment, the vertical plate is fabricated with a plurality of locally deformed areas which results in a high degree of stiffness of the veneer anchor structural assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Hohmann Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald P. Hohmann
  • Patent number: 5755071
    Abstract: A flange cover for attachment to a vehicle includes a core member having a plurality of apertures therein. An elastomeric skin is disposed about the core member. Within the elastomeric skin is a longitudinally extending hollow cavity having an interior and an exterior edge, the interior edge being located between the core member and the exterior edge. A longitudinally extending rib projects from the exterior edge of the hollow cavity toward the interior edge of the hollow cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: The Standard Products Company
    Inventor: Eric Drozd
  • Patent number: 5755072
    Abstract: A construction method which includes marking layouts of installation locations directly on the floor of a building under construction. The layouts of the installations are marked directly on the floor of the building under construction by first providing architectural data that defines the architectural layout of a building to be constructed. From this architectural data a set of structural arrangement data is extracted and digitizing in order to allow computer processing the structural arrangement data to produce a digital representation of layouts of installation locations to be placed on the floor of a building at a construction site. This data is then automatedly marked, preferably directly on the floor of the construction site, by a automated robot marking machine or a large scale rendering machine to provide the layouts of installation locations of installation to be placed on the floor of the building at the construction site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Inventor: Kenneth Lingafelter
  • Patent number: 5755073
    Abstract: An article packaging machine comprises a frame, a carton conveyor mounted to the frame for conveying cartons along a carton path, and an infeed conveyor assembly for grouping articles such as beverage cans into groups of predetermined size and moving them toward and into open cartons moving along the carton path. When the cartons are packed with articles, adhesive is applied to the flaps of their open ends and the flaps are folded over onto themselves. A spring biased free floating compression section has a pair of opposed compression belt assemblies that are yieldably spring biased toward each other to apply pressure to the ends of the containers to set the adhesive, thus sealing the ends of the packaged cartons shut. When the cartons are sealed, they are ejected from the packaging machine by a pair of opposed ejector belt assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Moncreif, Jeff Disrud
  • Patent number: 5755074
    Abstract: A down-article indicator which automatically adjusts for the height difference of articles, such as bottles, when article size is changed for a new run on a machine conveying articles. A pivotably mounted height sensing arm, located on one lane of the machine, down stream from an array of freely pivoting detecting arms, is connected by an adjustable mechanical linkage to a pivoting bracket holding a retro-reflective photo eye in proper location with respect to the detecting arms so that the detecting arms do not break a light beam from the photo eye during normal operation. A non-upright article will cause a detecting arm to pivot and break the light beam to stop the machine. As a new group of articles having a different height moves into the down-article indicating station, the height sensing arm automatically moves the photo eye to its proper location for the new height articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventor: Shawn M. Fetters
  • Patent number: 5755075
    Abstract: A flight bar frame which translates along a predetermined path is adapted for engaging and translating an article grouping of one or more articles while simultaneously engaging and translating a sheet of material above the article grouping. The sheet of material is urged downwardly into juxtaposition above the article grouping by means of a lowering guide assembly. The flight bar frame is adapted for passage therethrough of lowering guides of the lowering guide assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventor: Will L. Culpepper
  • Patent number: 5755076
    Abstract: There is provided a heat sealing bar (19) having a heating ribbon (35) which endures repeated sealing operations. The heat sealing bar comprises a slender block-like bar body (31), an insulating layer (33) formed on the surface of the bar body (31), and a heating ribbon (35) fixed on the insulating layer (33). A heat pipe (41) is embedded in the bar body (31) along the heating ribbon (35). The heat pipe (41) transfers heat in the longitudinal direction of the heat sealing bar (19) from a portion of a small thermal load to a portion of a larger thermal load, thereby holding the entirety of the heat sealing bar uniform in temperature. Accordingly, the opposite ends and central portion of the heating ribbon (35) fall in a stationary state in the same temperature range as that for the rest of the heating ribbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventor: Yuzo Otsuka
  • Patent number: 5755077
    Abstract: Apparatus (10) is disclosed including first and second forming rollers (18, 21) which rotatably abut with an anvil roller (20). The forming rollers (18, 21) each include a periphery forming a continuous forming surface including a plurality of axially and circumferentially spaced grooves (24) each formed as a continuous depression arranged in a serpentine and non-intersecting manner. Food (14) is simultaneously fed between a continuous strip of support material (16) and a continuous ribbon of film material (66) as they pass between a first abutment nip of the first forming roller (18) and the anvil roller (20). After extending partially around the periphery of the first forming roller (18), the materials (16, 66) and the food therebetween pass around an adjustable idler roller (70) to between a second abutment nip of the second forming roller (21) and the anvil roller (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard O. Benham, Sheryl S. Brunken, Robert C. Dechaine, Timothy J. Gluszak, Rene K. Smethers, Craig E. Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 5755078
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for folding an inflatable cushion having an end portion and a main body portion and inserting the folded cushion into a cover. The apparatus comprises folding structure for creating folds in the main body portion to form a folded cushion. The folding structure including first folding apparatus adapted to create a first fold in the main body portion to form a partially folded cushion, and accordion folding apparatus adapted to create a plurality of accordion folds in the partially folded cushion which are generally transverse to the first fold to form the folded cushion. Further included is apparatus for supporting a cover into which the folded cushion is inserted. The folding structure further serves to insert the folded cushion into the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Omega Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrence William Hurtig, Jr., Scott Franklin Mason, Jeffrey Jack Geiger
  • Patent number: 5755079
    Abstract: This invention relates to making paperboard and plastic composite package structures that combine an intricate thermoformed shell with a paperboard base or cover. Such structures of this type, generally, provide a lightweight package with a good printing surface on the outside of the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Westvaco Corporation
    Inventor: Ralph Scott Peterson
  • Patent number: 5755080
    Abstract: A method and machine for packing products, whereby packets completed as they travel along a wrapping path are fed successively to a distributing device and selectively fed to an input of one of at least two drying conveyors parallel to each other; and the packets are fed by the drying conveyors at a frequency (F2) lower than the frequency (F1) at which the packets are fed along the wrapping path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: G.D Societa' Per Azioni
    Inventors: Fiorenzo Draghetti, Marco Brizzi, Roberto Osti
  • Patent number: 5755081
    Abstract: A multilayer film includes:a. a first layer comprising a material having a melting point of at least 145.degree. C.;b. a second layer comprising a colorant blended with a polymer having a vicat softening point ranging from 100.degree. C. to 140.degree. C.;c. a third layer comprising a material having a melting point of at least 135.degree. C.; andd. a fourth layer comprising a material which is capable of forming a heat-seal,wherein, the second layer is positioned between the first and third layers and the fourth layer is an exterior layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Janet W. Rivett, Blake L. Westmoreland
  • Patent number: 5755082
    Abstract: Equipment which automatically manufactures cushioning material by filling air inside polyvinyl alcohol laminated paper and sealing the filled material into individual bags. The manufacturing equipment 1 is provided with a material roll 20 on which a sheet material of polyvinyl alcohol laminated paper is wound. The sheet material 10 is rolled out by a feeding roller 40 from the material roll 20, and the sheet material 10 in a known length, adjusted by a length adjusting device 50 having a roller 42 which goes up and down, is supplied intermittently to a bag forming device 100 located downstream thereof. The bag forming device 100 is provided with a pipe member 105 and a sailor 110, which is a guide plate to reverse the sheet material 10 and form it into a tubular shape, and the sheet material 10 is fed along the pipe member 105 after being formed into a tubular shape. Feed rollers 130 and auxiliary belt 120 are arranged at the periphery of the pipe member 105.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Hitachi Electronics Services Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiro Takahashi, Yukio Tahara, Tsuyoshi Mizutani, Itsuku Ohtawa, Akira Aoyama, Norikazu Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 5755083
    Abstract: In a wrapping apparatus comprising a two-part endless track surrounding a wrapping station, a shuttle for dispensing wrapping medium able to ride around the track and thereby wrap an article in said station, and a track support structure such that at least one part of the track may be moved relative to another part so as to open and close a gap between those parts, a shuttle change may be effected by providing a movable shuttle carrier in the form of a length of track, and means enabling the shuttle carrier to be inserted into and removed from a gap in the track whereby a replacement shuttle may be driven from the carrier onto the track and a spent shuttle may be driven from the track onto the carrier for removal therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignees: BHP Steel, (JLA) Pty. Ltd., K.C. Metal Products Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenneth David Cleine
  • Patent number: 5755084
    Abstract: A device for arranging a band of flexible material, in particular paper or plastic, round at least one product. The device includes a feed mechanism for feeding band material from a supply roll, an assembly for forming a loop in an end portion of the band material round a space for receiving the product, an assembly for severing that end portion and a welding assembly for closing the loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Band-it Patent B.V.
    Inventor: Odulfus Franciscus Dekker
  • Patent number: 5755085
    Abstract: A portable actuator for a spindle brake associated with a textile machine includes a body, an arrangement for biasing the spindle brake operator to operate the spindle brake to halt rotation of the spindle with the biasing arrangement mounted to the body and an arrangement for retaining the actuator in an engaged operating relationship with the spindle brake operator with the retaining arrangement being mounted to the body with the entire device being selectively attachable to and detachable from the textile machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Inventor: Roger E. Insley
  • Patent number: 5755086
    Abstract: A machine unit through which a thread is guided includes a drafting unit comprised of double godets, a texturing unit, a relax unit comprising double rollers, and a winding device. The drafting unit and the relax unit are arranged at an angle of less than 90.degree. to a reference plane, while the winding device is arranged at an angle (.delta.) of essentially 90.degree. to the reference plane. Furthermore, an operator's working position is provided, from which the aforementioned arrangement of the drafting unit and relax unit relative to the winding device is accessible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Rieter AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Halbheer, Werner Flachmuller
  • Patent number: 5755087
    Abstract: An open-end spinning device has a spinning rotor defining a fiber collection groove between a rotor bottom and an open-end of the spinning rotor. The rotor further includes a wall extending from the fiber collection groove to the open end of generally less than 6.0 mm. A rotor cover has an extension reaching into the interior of the spinning rotor. The extension includes at least a portion of a fiber feeding channel for feeding a fiber and air mixture into the rotor. A feed surface is disposed essentially parallel to a plane through a fiber collection groove into the extension adjacent the fiber feeding channel so that fibers exiting the feeding channel are directed along the feed surface. The feed surface has a radial dimension so that an open radial distance of less than 4.0 mm exists between the feed surface and the wall or fiber collection groove which is directly radially opposite of the feed surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Rieter Ingolstadt Spinnereimaschinenbau AG
    Inventors: Werner Biller, Werner Bergmeier
  • Patent number: 5755088
    Abstract: Starting with a helical chain of large links, of the type known as a "transverse figure-of-eight chain" or "transversely assembled figure-of-eight chain" that can be made by machine, after a preliminary twisting operation in which it is reduced to the general form of a strip with rounded edges, that is to say in the so-called "linx" chain configuration, a further deformation is carried out by swaging it in the direction of the greatest dimension of its cross section, in such a way that its cross section is deformed into a generally square figure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Uno A Erre Italia S.p.A.
    Inventor: Franco Farsetti
  • Patent number: 5755089
    Abstract: A method for operating a gas and steam turbine plant includes utilizing heat contained in an expanded working medium from a gas turbine to generate steam for a steam turbine connected into a water/steam circuit. The working medium for the gas turbine is generated by combustion of a fuel along with a supply of compressed air. In order to increase efficiency of the plant, the generated steam, before being introduced into the steam turbine, is superheated through the use of heat occurring during hydrogen/oxygen combustion. The plant includes a waste-heat steam generator which is located downstream of the gas turbine on the exhaust-gas side and in which a number of heating surfaces connected into the water/steam circuit of the steam turbine are disposed. A hydrogen/oxygen burner is connected into the water/steam circuit between the waste-heat steam generator and the steam turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Walter Vanselow
  • Patent number: 5755090
    Abstract: A combustor is disclosed capable of averting engine flameout. This combustor comprises a combustion chamber, which comprises an outlet for discharging heated combustion products. The combustor further comprises a primary injector for injecting a fuel and compressed air into a primary zone of the combustion chamber such that the fuel is induced into a recirculation zone at a corner of the primary zone. Combustion means for combusting the fuel and the compressed air in the combustion chamber resulting in heated combustion products are also incorporated in the combustor. Moreover, the combustor comprises sensing means for monitoring the combustor to substantially detect a pre-flameout condition. To realize the advantages of the present invention, the combustor additionally comprises a pilot injector for injecting a propellant into the recirculation zone in response to detecting said flameout condition by the sensing means, such that the propellant combusts as a diffusion flame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Aaron S. Hu
  • Patent number: 5755091
    Abstract: A regenerative liquid propellant engine system includes a body having opposed ends. A combustion chamber is disposed in the body. A reservoir of liquid propellant is also disposed in the body. A regenerative piston is slidably disposed in the body for delivering the liquid propellant to the combustion chamber. When combustion occurs in the combustion chamber the piston is driven into the liquid propellant reservoir and the liquid propellant is injected into the combustion chamber to produce combustion products. A storage tank stores a quantity of liquid propellant and a pump delivers the liquid propellant from the storage tank to the liquid propellant reservoir. The regenerative piston produces the necessary pumping pressure to operate the pump, thus, the mechanical complexity and inefficiencies of other pumping techniques is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventor: Darrin L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5755092
    Abstract: An exhaust nozzle mixer for a turbojet engine is disclosed having a multi-lobed shroud extending from the exhaust nozzle of the turbojet engine, the shroud having a plurality of radially oriented lobes forming a plurality of gas mixing channels, each having a first cross-section in a plane extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the engine, as well as a flared lobe having a greater circumferential width than the remainder of the lobes to accommodate the engine mounting pylon. A baffle member extends radially inwardly from the mounting pylon toward the longitudinal axis of the engine such that the baffle extends into the flared lobe to form a plurality of cross-sections, each of such cross-sections being generally equal to each of remainder of the cross-sections of the multi-lobed shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Societe Nationale d'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation (S.N.E.C.M.A)
    Inventors: Bruno Filbert Dessale, Jean-Luc Gerard Duparcq, Hugues Denis Joubert
  • Patent number: 5755093
    Abstract: The exhaust in a gas turbine engine is lined with stacks of hollow cooling blocks made of a composite material. Air is pumped into each stack and escapes into the exhaust flow from a slot between the blocks in each stack. In addition, the blocks contain passages so that some of the airflow escapes to a space between the stacks. The blocks are attached using special fasteners that does not create mechanical stresses on the composite material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Mark E. Palusis, Carlos G. Figueroa, Daniel C. Friedberg, Debora F. Kehret
  • Patent number: 5755094
    Abstract: A fuel metering control system for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders. The system includes an air/fuel ratio sensor and engine operating condition detecting means for detecting engine operating conditions at least including engine speed and engine load. The basic quantity of fuel injection is determined by retrieving mapped data according to the engine speed and engine load. An adaptive controller is provided to calculate a first feedback correction coefficient to correct the quantity of basic fuel injection such that the detected air/fuel ratio is brought to a desired air/fuel ratio, and second and third feedback loops are provided for calculating feedback correction coefficients to correct the quantity of fuel injection. The output quantity of fuel injection is determined on the basis of the basic quantity of fuel injection and the feedback correction coefficients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidetaka Maki, Shusuke Akazaki, Yusuke Hasegawa, Isao Komoriya, Yoichi Nishimura, Toshiaki Hirota
  • Patent number: 5755095
    Abstract: An improved and easily adaptable system to provide secondary air for an internal combustion engine, including a single-cylinder engine unit having (i) a closed crankcase capable of experiencing pressure pulsations produced by the reciprocating motion of a piston in a cylinder, (ii) in the case of a four-cycle engine, a crankcase breather system including a breather assembly attached to a chamber integrally formed with the engine block, or, in the case of a two-cycle engine, an intake reed plate attached to the intake port of the engine, and (iii) an exhaust system including a catalytic converter. The secondary air supply system consists of an external secondary air pump, such as a diaphragm pump, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Inventor: Paul S. Maurer
  • Patent number: 5755096
    Abstract: This invention provides for reliable, long-life operation of fluid pressure responsive engines directly from raw natural gas at the wellhead by introducing a novel rotary dynamic contaminant filter system especially adapted for removing liquid and abrasive particle contaminants from the flow of natural gas under high pressure from the wellhead. Thus, a novel turbine type gas driven rotor in the gas flow stream has rotor blades slanted at an angle to the rotation axis to serve as a ramp for removal of contaminants as the flow of gas spirals upwardly from input to output ports. This dynamic filter employs the combined forces of gravity, centrifugal force and those imposed by interception with a contaminant flow ramp to encounter and remove a wide range of microscopic contaminants from the high pressure wellhead natural gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Inventor: John E. Holleyman
  • Patent number: 5755097
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for improving control of pressurized fluid flow through bootstrap power steering systems are disclosed. In particular, the methods include differentially measuring control pressure across internal flow control orifices as directly as possible. Differential control pressure measurements are made between Kelvin supply, or return, pressure values and a control pressure port of a control valve. In addition, methods and apparatus for improved speed sensitive control of steering assist and/or driver selectable steering effort are also disclosed. One of the methods comprises an extension of the method of differentially measuring control pressure across the internal flow control orifices wherein a range of control pressures are enabled. In addition, a method of improving low speed tactile steering feel wherein an electronically variable orifice is activated in order to provide additional fluid flow thereby increasing "on-center" hydraulic pressure gain is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Techco Corporation
    Inventor: Edward H. Phillips
  • Patent number: 5755098
    Abstract: An axle driving apparatus which houses a hydraulic transmission and axles in an axle casing. A pump shaft projects outwardly from the axle casing for inputting engine power. A power take-off shaft, connected in association with the pump shaft, is juxtaposed with the pump shaft in the axle casing, whereby there is no need to separately provide a power take-off route from the engine to the hydraulic transmission. A power transmission route from the engine to the hydraulic transmission is also used as a power take-off route, thereby enabling the power take-off shaft to be driven. The power take-off shaft is juxtaposed in the vicinity of the axle casing to simplify power transmission from the power take-off shaft to a working machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Irikura
  • Patent number: 5755099
    Abstract: A hydraulic circuit system for one-touch jack and its structure has an inlet circuit, a return circuit and an overload protection circuit with a hydraulic cylinder, a piston rod, a sequence valve, a safety valve and a relief valve, in which the inlet circuit extends from an outer reservoir of a hydraulic cylinder via a check valve to connect to an oil chamber of a manual pump. The oil chamber of the pump is connected to an oil guide tube via another check valve, the oil guide tube is inserted into an inner oil chamber formed in a piston rod to form a closed circuit. The oil chamber of the pump is connected to an inner chamber of the hydraulic cylinder via a sequence valve and the inner chamber is connected to the outer reservoir via a check valve. When the maximum effect capacity of the oil chamber of the piston rod, a single touch of the pump can raise the hydraulic jack to the required loading position for raising at no load or light load conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: MVP (H.K.) Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Michael Hung
  • Patent number: 5755100
    Abstract: A hermetically sealed Stirling engine driven generator system with a rotating generator, self lubricated bearings using PTFE filled polyimide, a fibrous ceramic piston dome, and flame sprayed ceramic and PTFE coating on the pistons, which allow an oil free system. A brushless self starting system is also used as an alternator. A simple working gas pressure control system uses the housing for the generator and the crankcase as a reservoir for working gas allowing a single valve working in conjunction with a small compressor to regulate the pressure of the working gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Stirling Marine Power Limited
    Inventor: Richard A. Lamos
  • Patent number: 5755101
    Abstract: A turbocharger wastegate control system is responsive to electrical control signals to control the position of a wastegate valve positioned within an exhaust bypass conduit of the turbocharger. In one embodiment, the control system includes an air pressure control device having an inlet port receiving boost air pressure from an intake manifold connected to the turbocharger, an outlet port providing wastegate air pressure to a wastegate actuator and a vent to atmosphere. A number of air flow control switches are responsive to electrical control signals to control the levels of boost air pressure and vented air to thereby provide a plurality of discrete wastegate air pressure levels to the wastegate actuator. In another embodiment, the control system includes an electrically controllable wastegate actuator responsive to boost air pressure and electrical control signals to modulate the position of the wastegate actuator plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Douglas Free, Spencer C. Lewis, Jr., Canden R. Nelson
  • Patent number: 5755102
    Abstract: A hygroscopic power plant utilizes low salinity liquid (e.g., sea water having a salinity of about 4%) and a source of high salinity liquid (e.g., brine having a salinity of about 38%) for generating electricity. The plant includes a flash chamber to which liquid is supplied and within which water in the liquid is flashed into steam producing more concentrated liquid. A steam turbine is responsive to the steam for generating electricity and producing heat depleted steam. A condenser is provided to which high salinity liquid and the heat depleted steam are supplied for directly contacting the steam with the high salinity liquid whereby the steam condenses on the liquid producing diluted high salinity liquid. A regenerator is provided for evaporating water from the diluted high salinity liquid to produce the high salinity liquid supplied to the condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Ormat Industries Ltd
    Inventors: Gad Assaf, Lucien Y. Bronicki, Uriyel Fisher
  • Patent number: 5755103
    Abstract: A room air conditioner includes an evaporator and a fan which circulates air from the room through the evaporator and back into the room through an outlet. Water condensing on the evaporator is collected. Ultra-violet lamps are positioned within the air conditioner to sterilize the air passing therethrough and to sterilize the collected water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-Ick Na, Seung-kwan Lee
  • Patent number: 5755104
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating or cooling a space comprises a main flow loop including a compressor (1012), an outside heat exchanger (1014), an inside heat exchanger (1016) connected to allow working fluid to circulate therebetween, and a first valve (1026) between the outside heat exchanger (1014) and the inside heat exchanger (1016) selectively to block flow between the outside heat exchanger (1014) and the inside heat exchanger (1016). A first bypass line extends between the outlet of the outside heat (1014) and the inlet of the inside heat exchanger (1016). A thermal storage device (1018) is positioned in the first bypass line. A second bypass line extends between the inlet of the inside heat exchanger (1016) and the outlet of the inside heat exchanger (1016) and communicates with the first bypass line to bypass the inside heat exchanger (1016). A second valve (1030) is positioned in the second bypass line to block flow through the second bypass line selectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Store Heat and Produce Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander P. Rafalovich, Matthew D. Emmert, Oleg Mankovskiy
  • Patent number: 5755105
    Abstract: A sensor apparatus, which is threadably engaged into the auxiliary drain orifice in the drain pan. The sensor includes a pair of water contact points on a first end, which is on the threaded end of the sensor, so that should fluid or water make contact with the points, it effects a bridge across the points for creating a circuit there across. Upon this occurring, the electrical components contained within the sensor would relay a message through the thermostat wire, to the air conditioning system which would automatically shut the system down. Likewise, there is on the second end of the sensor a fluid high level indicator light, which would glow when this eventuality occurs. Therefore, when the owner would attempt to restart the system, the system would not reactivate. Therefore, upon inspection of the coils, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Inventor: Marvin Lacoste
  • Patent number: 5755106
    Abstract: An ice cream machine for cooling liquid ice cream into frozen ice cream includes an evaporator having a cylindrical cooling tank and an auxiliary tank. The auxiliary tank ensures that the cylindrical cooling tank is flooded with liquid refrigerant during normal operation. The flooding of the cylindrical cooling tank provides more efficient and even cooling in an interior cooling chamber. The more efficient cooling allows the ice cream machine to utilize a smaller compressor, thereby reducing the cost and energy consumption of the ice cream machine. The auxiliary tank can be a coil of tubing or a cylindrical container positioned above the cylindrical cooling tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Inventor: Harold F. Ross
  • Patent number: 5755107
    Abstract: An automotive air conditioner comprises an offset blower for blowing an air, an evaporator is centrally disposed within a dashboard and receives the air from below, and a heater approximately horizontally disposed above the evaporator. The evaporator inclines downward along the direction of the air flow. A plurality of condensed water guide plates are provided under the evaporator so as to allow a condensed water smoothly flow on the surface of each guide plate and is discharged from the evaporator through a condensed water drain pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Shirota, Hisashi Tanaka, Hiroshi Nonoyama, Kazushi Shikata, Yukio Uemura, Hikaru Sugi, Manabu Miyata, Koji Ito, Teruhiko Kameoka
  • Patent number: 5755108
    Abstract: A refrigerated display case having a configuration resulting in a restricted air flow recirculation channel, such as a wedge shape, and comprising a housing having a bottom, a top, and defining a display space and an access thereto, the housing having a lower well and at least one shelf above the well, a refrigeration coil beneath the well, an air inlet to the coil from the display space, and an air outlet from the coil, at least one fan adjacent the coil for propelling air from the air inlet, through the coil, to the air outlet, an air flow opening from the outlet the well, the display case having a configuration forming a restricted vertical air flow channel from the outlet up the case to the top, an air discharge opening from the channel down toward the air inlet to the coil, and at least one fan in the channel adjacent the top for drawing air up the channel and discharging the air through the discharge opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Kysor Industrial Corporation
    Inventors: Fayez F. Ibrahim, Thomas L. Dickey, Kamal G. Eskander
  • Patent number: 5755109
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a compressor and an evaporator interconnected by a refrigerant conducting tube. The tube passes through an opening in an internal wall of the refrigerator. The opening is formed by cutting a U-shaped slit into the wall, thereby forming an elastic plate, and then forming a groove having an open access end coinciding with a section of the slit. By elastically flexing the plate, the access end of the groove becomes exposed to enable the tube to be inserted into the groove. When the plate is released, it snaps back to a position wherein an edge thereof extends across the access end and keeps the tube pressed within the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ik Guen Kim
  • Patent number: 5755110
    Abstract: A cooling vest having a plurality of elongated pocket partitions formed on front side and backside vest portions for containing beads of polyacrylamide material that absorb a liquid, such as water, to form a gel that may be chilled, or frozen, to provide a cooling effect on the upper torso of a human wearer. The cooling effect is facilitated by non-impervious properties of a double layer fabric used in construction of the vest that permit evaporation. The front side portions of the vest also provide surface area upon which to add fashion appeal ornate designs, or on which utility pockets are formed. The vest is further provided with a collar member having a partition for containing polymer material. The upper shoulder blade area of the backside of the vest is divided from the lower lumbar area by a stitching pattern that ornate the backside of the vests and that separates the upper and lower polymer containing partitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Inventor: Cesar F. Silvas
  • Patent number: 5755111
    Abstract: A high-low pressure passage switching device in a heating-cooling apparatus comprises a hollow tube; a high pressure gas inlet port formed in a wall of the hollow tube and connected to a high pressure gas outlet port of a compressor; a first high pressure gas outlet port/low pressure gas inlet port formed in the wall of the hollow tube and connected to one end of a heat exchanger; a second high pressure gas output port/low pressure gas inlet port formed in the wall of the hollow tube and connected to the other end of the heat exchanger; and a flow passage switch disposed within the hollow tube and capable of rotating about a fixed axis. The flow passage switch is adapted to supply a high pressure gas introduced from the high pressure gas inlet port selectively to one of the first high pressure gas outlet port/low pressure gas inlet port and the second high pressure gas outlet port/low pressure gas inlet port to thereby switch the high pressure gas flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Fuji Injector Corporation
    Inventor: Isamu Toyama
  • Patent number: 5755112
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body (64) housing a fresh food compartment (63), and a cool air duct (131) provided in a wall of the fresh food compartment and having cool air discharging openings (111) opened toward the fresh food compartment (63) to supply a cool air from an evaporator (72b) into the fresh food compartment. The refrigerator comprises a rotary shaft (85); a driving means (125) for rotating the rotary shaft; and cool air dispersing wings (81) mounted spirally on the rotary shaft (85) near the cool air discharging openings (111) to deviate the discharge angle of the cool air blown into the fresh food compartment (63) through the cool air discharging openings. A cool air dispersing device (80) equipped with such spiral cool air dispersing wings (81) realizes an even refrigeration of the fresh food compartment (63) in the left, right, up and down directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae Gil Kang