Patents Issued in October 11, 2001
  • Publication number: 20010027671
    Abstract: In a first aspect, an electronic lock suitable for replacing interchangeable core locks has a solenoid assembly longitudinally aligned parallel to the rotational axis of the cylinder of the lock. In a second aspect an electronic lock has a ferromagnetic enclosure that surrounds at least a portion of a solenoid assembly when the cylinder of the lock is free to rotate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventor: Paul R. Davis
  • Publication number: 20010027672
    Abstract: A cooling and lubricating device for a cold rolling mill has nozzle beams with spray nozzles for individual rollers that are moveable relative to the rollers independently of one another transverse to the strip running direction. Rotary and linear drives are connected to the nozzle beams for rotating them about the longitudinal axis and moving them longitudinally. The nozzle beams are movable from a maintenance position to a working position and back. The spray nozzles have nozzle holders mounted in openings of the nozzle beams and nozzle heads mounted in the nozzle holders. Rotary slide valves with control members are rotatably supported in center throughbores of the nozzle holders. The rotary slide valves have blind bores opening to the nozzle heads and inlet openings aligned with inlet openings of the nozzle holder or nozzle head, when the spray nozzle is open, and covered by the nozzle holder or nozzle head, when the spray nozzle is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Applicant: Achenbach Buschhutten GmbH
    Inventor: Axel Barten
  • Publication number: 20010027673
    Abstract: This invention provides a rolling mill and a rolling-mill train which are compact. Reducers to be coupled with them can be made compact. The inner surfaces of pipes to be rolled with the rolling mill and the rolling-mill train can be prevented from becoming squarish. The rolling mill comprises a plurality of rolls disposed symmetrically around the pathline of the rolling mill, an annular driving bevel gear of a large diameter for driving and rotating the rolls, an input-shaft mechanism for rotating the driving bevel gear, a plurality of transmission mechanisms disposed at regular intervals along the driving bevel gear, and a housing for holding them. The input-shaft mechanism (i) has an input shaft inserted in the housing from its outside and an input bevel gear of a small diameter mounted on the input shaft and engaging with the driving bevel gear and (ii) is disposed between two adjacent transmission mechanisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventors: Shigeharu Ochi, Hiroshi Fujiwara, Sho Inui, Takaaki Toyooka, Motoaki Itadani, Akira Yorifuji, Toshio Onishi, Koji Sugano, Yasuo Nishida, Nobuki Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20010027674
    Abstract: A rolling unit for a rolling mill for rolling or sizing metal pipes, bars or wires has at least three rolls arranged in a star arrangement. Each roll has a separate drive mechanism and is rotatably mounted on bearings on both sides of it. The rolls are adjustable radially together with the bearings. The improved rolling unit has smaller outside dimensions but can take a higher load. The number of individual rolling unit parts is also reduced as well as manufacturing and assembly expenses. For this purpose the bearings of the roll shafts are mounted in respective eccentric sleeves, whose rotational position may be adjusted manually and in a stepwise manner between several rotational positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventor: Heinrich Potthoff
  • Publication number: 20010027675
    Abstract: In forming a fuel inlet pipe FP, (1) a portion of a base pipe is expanded by use of an expander punch to form a processed pipe comprising a neck portion, of which the diameter is the same as that of the base pipe, a tapering portion, and an expanded portion, all of these portions being connected in coaxial relation to one another (coaxially expanding process); and (2) a central axis of the neck portion and a central axis of the expanded portion are decentered relative to each other, and the expanded portion of the processed pipe is further expanded by use of an expander punch having a diameter larger than that of the expander punch used in the coaxially expanding process, thereby forming the fuel inlet pipe FP (eccentrically expanding process). The coaxially expanding process is performed one time or a plurality of times, while the eccentrically expanding process is performed only one time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventors: Tsuguo Kido, Tetsuji Omori, Seiji Yamamoto, Yuji Nakada
  • Publication number: 20010027676
    Abstract: A method for operating a hydraulic pressing device, for example, a pipe clamping device, that includes a stationary part and a moving part. The hydraulic pressing device also includes an automatically actuating return valve. The moving part of the hydraulic pressing device is displaced relative to the stationary part until a predetermined pressure is reached. At that point, the moving part returns automatically and completely back into its initial position, which is released as a result of the predetermined pressure being reached. The moving part is biased into its initial position by means of a return spring and, on removal of the restoring force, returns automatically back into its initial, closed condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventor: Egbert Frenken
  • Publication number: 20010027677
    Abstract: Differential pressure generator 100 includes a stacked pair of opposed novel gravity transducers of the inverted-cup falling-cylinder type. First enclosure 21 contains a first gravity transducer 23 and second enclosure 31 contains a second gravity transducer 33. First gravity transducer 23 includes first cylinder 24, and first piston 25. The first cylinder is mounted for gravity-driven, viscosity-limited motion with respect to the first piston to generate a first pressure difference. The second gravity transducer includes a second cylinder and a second piston. The second cylinder is mounted for gravity-driven, viscosity-limited motion with respect to the second piston to generate a second pressure difference. The first cylinder has a displacement volume that is equal to the displacement volume of the second cylinder, and the first cylinder is heavier than the second cylinder. The first pressure difference and the second pressure difference are summed in opposition to produce a reference differential pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Applicant: AVGI Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: George E. Sgourakes
  • Publication number: 20010027678
    Abstract: Apparatus (10) is shown for providing a flow of humidified air at a selected humidity level, and a method is disclosed of monitoring olfactory parameters of a sample gas or vapor to provide a “finger print” or profile of an odor. The flow of humidified air is used to set a level of humidity in a sensor chamber (36) which is the same as the level of humidity in a sample chamber (44) containing the sample of gas or vapor. The sample gas or vapor is then introduced into the sensor chamber (36), where an array of olfactory sensors record the odor profile, without a sudden change of humidity level when the sample gas or vapor is admitted. The flow of humidified air at a selected humidity level is obtained from a generator (10) having a controllable valve 14 for directing a clean dry air stream along either of two paths (17, 18), one of which includes a humidifier 22.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventors: Toby Trevor Fury Mottram, Steven George Vass, Colin John Houghton
  • Publication number: 20010027679
    Abstract: An improved structure of a gas sensor is provided which is designed to provide for firm installation of the protective cover assembly on a cover mount of a housing. The cover assembly made up of an outer cylindrical cover and an inner cylindrical cover each of which includes an open end portion and a body portion. The body portion of the inner cylindrical cover is disposed within the body portion of the outer cylindrical cover in a non-contact fashion. The open end portion of at least one of the outer and inner cylindrical covers has a shoulder which is placed in line contact with the open end portion of the other cylindrical cover to secure portions of the outer and inner cylindrical covers installed on an end side wall of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventor: Takashi Kojima
  • Publication number: 20010027680
    Abstract: A method of leak detection in a closed vapor handling system of an automotive vehicle, wherein an engine is shut off, implemented by a system, the method including obtaining a start temperature and start pressure, providing an evaluation temperature, calculating a temperature differential between the start temperature and the evaluation temperature, evaluating whether a pressure switch is closed if the temperature differential is greater than a temperature control value, incrementing a time counter if the pressure switch is not closed and comparing the time counter to a time control value if the pressure switch is not closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventor: Laurent Fabre
  • Publication number: 20010027681
    Abstract: Cutting tools and wear-resistant materials formed of a silicon-nitride-based sintered body having excellent characteristics, such as high wear resistance. Cutting tool 1 is in the form of a negative chip having a shape prescribed by ISO standard: SNGN 120408. Specifically, the cutting tool 1 is a chip of a rectangular parallelepiped shape which has a thickness of 4.76 mm and in which each of four sides (cutting edges) 5 on a rake face 3 side has a length of 12.7 mm. In the region having a width of 0.2 mm or less and extending from the cutting edges 5 of the cutting tool 1, the cutting tool 1 has a microhardness H. Plast of 21.2 GPa or greater and a microhardness HU of 11.2 GPa or greater. The Vickers hardness of the cutting tool 1 as measured at a substantial center of the rake face 3 is 14.5 GPa or greater. Further, the amount of oxygen within the cutting tool 1 is 1.0 to 2.0 wt. %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventors: Makoto Nomura, Hideki Kato, Hiroshi Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20010027682
    Abstract: A diagnostic apparatus for a fuel vapor purge system is provided which includes a pressure sensor that measures a pressure in a fuel tank, and which conducts leak diagnosis of a purge path based on a change in the pressure in the fuel tank and an amount of fuel vapor generated in the fuel tank. The change in the pressure is measured after sealing the purge path while providing a difference between inside pressure and outside pressure of the purge path, and the amount of fuel vapor is measured after applying an atmospheric pressure to the purge path and sealing the purge path. The diagnostic apparatus further detects a predetermined state after starting application of the atmospheric pressure to the purge path, and determines that the purge path has reached an atmospheric pressure state upon detection of the predetermined state. The amount of fuel vapor generated in the fuel tank is measured when it is determined that the purge path has reached the atmospheric pressure state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventors: Naoya Takagi, Mamoru Yoshioka, Yoshihiko Hyoudou
  • Publication number: 20010027683
    Abstract: The output characteristics of the sensing device or the control quantity of the sensing element can be adjusted by extracting an adjusting terminal in addition to a power source terminal, a ground terminal, an output terminal and the like outside a housing containing and protecting an electronic circuit. Further, by arranging the adjusting terminal inside a connector housing containing terminals such as the power source terminal, the ground terminal, the output terminal and the like, it is possible to prevent contact of foreign objects to the adjusting terminal and to water-proof the terminals for preventing corrosion since an associated connector is attached to the connector when the sensing device is actually used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Igarashi, Kaoru Uchiyama, Hitoshi Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20010027684
    Abstract: Mass flowmeter comprising a hollow conduit of a heat-conducting material for transporting in a determined flow direction a fluid with a mass flow rate to be measured, a first temperature-sensitive resistor element at a first position in thermal contact with this conduit for supplying heat to said fluid, a temperature sensor and measuring and control means connectable to the resistor element and the temperature sensor, wherein the temperature sensor is provided in thermal contact with the conduit at a second position upstream in relation to said first position, and the measuring and control means are adapted to maintain a constant difference in temperature at said first and second positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Applicant: BERKIN B.V.
    Inventors: Joost Conrad Lotters, Hendrik Jan Boer, Wybren Jouwsma
  • Publication number: 20010027685
    Abstract: A high resolution biosensing system for detecting and identifying a biochemical material to be tested by using proportional relationship between frequency variation of oscillation and mass of the biochemical material to be tested comprises a biosensor: all oscillator for generating oscillation based on the sensed result, a phase-lock loop circuit receiving the oscillation of the oscillator and generating pulse signals; an ultra-high frequency counter for counting the Bulb; signals; and a microprocessor for storing and displaying output from the ultra-high frequency counter and for controlling the oscillator. The phase-lock loop circuit generates the pulse signals of a frequency, which is n times the frequency of the oscillator and with a constant phase difference therebetween to trigger the ultra-high frequency counter. Accordingly, the resolution can be raised up to n times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventors: I-Nan Chang, Chung Chih Lo, Wu Chin Chen, Yen-Wen Chen
  • Publication number: 20010027686
    Abstract: A method of measuring the representative shear friction factor at the interface between a workpiece material and forming die during bulk forming processes through a backward extrusion process is disclosed. In this measuring method, the workpiece material is primarily positioned at a predetermined groove location within the forming die of the extrusion tool-set and is pressurized by a punch. This process forms an apex at the backward extruded end of the extruded product. Thereafter, the perpendicular distance “d” from the external side surface of the extruded product to the apex is measured and used to calculate the representative shear friction factor “mf”. In the above method, the diameter of the workpiece material is equal to the average of the outer diameter of the punch and the inner diameter of the forming die. It is also positioned such that its central axis is aligned with the central axes of both the punch and the forming die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventors: Yong Taek Im, Jae Seung Cheon, Soo Young Kim, Geun An Lee, Seong Hoon Kang
  • Publication number: 20010027687
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a torsional sensing load cell includes providing a member configured to sense torsion. Strain gauges are provided on selected portions of the member, such that torsion force produced an applied load is detected by the strain gauges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventor: Robert W. Bruns
  • Publication number: 20010027688
    Abstract: A system for monitoring the behavior and environmental conditions of a high precision electronic apparatus comprising a measuring device section (M) including a plurality of sensors (12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17) arranged around said high precision electronic apparatus (P) which is mounted on a vibration preventing mount (B) for detecting environmental conditions as analog data signals, and means for filtering and amplifying each of said analog data signals (20,21 and 22), and a computer system section (C) connected with said measuring device section (M) having an A/D convertor (32) for converting said analog data signals into ditigital data signals, a data collection circuit (34) for collecting said digital data, means (38)for recording and setting prescribed allowable environmental condition data, means (39) for comparing said allowable environmental condition data with said digital data, means (40) for producing warning signal if abnormalities between said allowable environmental condition data and said digit
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventor: Hideyuki Yamanaka
  • Publication number: 20010027689
    Abstract: A control apparatus of an automatic transmission capable of achieving a smooth change of output shaft torque to torque which can be generated by a friction clutch, thus enabling a smooth gear change even if the output shaft torque is high at the gear change. If the output shaft torque exceeds limit transmission output shaft torque obtained by multiplying a torque capacity of the friction clutch by a gear ratio provided for the friction clutch when a gear change command is issued in the automatic transmission, engine torque is controlled so as to make the output shaft torque decreased to the limit transmission output shaft torque, and then the engine torque control is switched when the output shaft torque decreased to the limit transmission output shaft torque to start the gear change operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventors: Mitsuo Kayano, Toshimichi Minowa, Tatsuya Ochi, Hiroshi Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20010027690
    Abstract: A slidable and rotatable first control shaft (61) and a slidable and rotatable second control shaft (67) for respectively shifting main and auxiliary speed change mechanisms (26, 29) project outwardly to one side of a vehicle housing (2) and are connected respectively to a main change lever (74) and an auxiliary change lever (75) which are pivotally supported by a support member (70) fixedly provided at one side of the vehicle housing. Preferably, the main change lever is disposed at a location where an operator on a seat (76) can operate the lever easily whereas the auxiliary change lever is disposed at a location where the operator is hard to operate the lever. The support member is preferably composed of a cover member which surrounds the control shafts, lower portions of the change levers, and connecting members (80, 87) therebetween. An opening (70b) provided to the cover member for assembling the connecting members is closed by a closure member (70c).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Applicant: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Mizuya Matsufuji, Takumi Fujita
  • Publication number: 20010027691
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to modify the shock originated from engaging and disengaging of a clutch during acceleration, when using a mesh type transmission provided with a clutch for engaging and disengaging the shift gear and the output shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Applicant: Hitachi Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Kayano, Toshimichi Minowa, Takashi Okada, Tatsuya Ochi, Hiroshi Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20010027692
    Abstract: A six forward-speed compact manual transmission of reduced overall length for FF drive. A low-speed gear train extending between input shaft and first intermediate shaft is disposed closer than a gear train for reverse, which extends between the first input shaft and first and second intermediate shafts, to a space accommodating clutch assembly. A new space is on second intermediate shaft in an area in line with the first-speed gear train within a space that accommodates the transmission. A bearing of the second intermediate shaft is disposed in line with the first-speed gear train within the new space. An enlarged clutch accommodating space receives the clutch assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20010027693
    Abstract: A nut unit (20) for use in a ball screw drive comprises a sleeve-shaped nut body (10) that is made of an essentially rigid material and that has an axis (A) and an inner circumferential surface (14). A one-piece, channel-shaped, ball-guiding strip material helix (18) is arranged on the inner circumferential surface (14) of the nut body (10). The strip material helix (18) is mounted within a concavely-curved support groove (16) formed in the inner circumferential surface (14) of the nut body (10). The helix (18) has an external convexly-curved profile (46), which is embodied with external profile flank regions (46′) and an external profile crown region (46″). The helix (18) defines, by means of a curved internal profile (48) facing the axis (A), a ball channel with an internal profile base region (48″) and two internal profile flank regions (48′). The outer profile flank regions are essentially rigidly supported by the support profile of the support groove (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Applicant: Rexroth Star GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Blaurock
  • Publication number: 20010027694
    Abstract: A gear indicator for use on a bicycle is provided remotely from the shift operating device. The gear indicator is coupled to a shift operating device via an indicator cable. The gear indicator basically includes a housing with an indicator member slidably coupled to the indicator cable with in the housing. The location of the indicator member relative to the housing indicates a gear currently engaged by the chain. In the most preferred embodiments, an indicator member is frictionally mounted on the inner wire of the indicator cable for automatically adjusting of the indicator member in the event that the cable becomes elongated or the indicator member becomes misaligned. The housing has a biasing member coupled between one wall of an interior cavity and the first end of the inner wire of the cable indicator for biasing the indicator member to one of its end positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventor: Etsuyoshi Watarai
  • Publication number: 20010027695
    Abstract: A bicycle cable guide system for maintaining axial tension in a straight portion of a flexible cable extending between a cable actuated bicycle component and a cable actuator consists of a straight length of axially and radially rigid tubing having first and second ends and an inner diameter greater than an outer diameter of the flexible cable receiving the straight portion of the flexible cable. A first axially fixed connector is operatively associated with the first end of the rigid tubing and a second axially fixed connector is operatively associated with the second end of the rigid tubing. A method of routing a flexible cable between a cable actuated bicycle component and a cable actuator includes providing a straight length of axially and radially rigid tubing, feeding a portion of a flexible through the axially and radially rigid tubing and fixing the ends of the axially and radially rigid tubing against axial movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventor: Wayne R. Lumpkin
  • Publication number: 20010027696
    Abstract: A brake pedal structure for a vehicle disclosed herein includes a pedal bracket provided on a dash panel of the vehicle, a pedal shaft provided on the pedal bracket, a pedal arm pivotally supported by the pedal shaft in a freely rotatable manner around the pedal shaft as a rotational axis, and a push rod connected to the pedal arm for operating a brake system of the vehicle in response to rotation of the pedal arm. The push rod has a portion so as to interrupt the transmission of a load input at the time of collision of said vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Mizuma, Sadahiro Kawahara, Tohru Kobayashi, Sunao Gouhara
  • Publication number: 20010027697
    Abstract: A core bar for a steering wheel includes an upper shell and a lower shell coupled to the upper shell. Each half shell includes a boss core-bar portion coupled to a steering shaft, a rim core-bar portion, and a spoke core-bar portion interposed between the two. An insertion is received in a hollow defined by the upper and lower shells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Applicant: NIHON PLAST CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Sugiyama, Kazuhiro Kaneko, Mikio Ochiai, Kazuyoshi Nishijima, Kevin Dominic Delaney
  • Publication number: 20010027698
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle steering wheel with a steering wheel rim, the steering wheel comprising a skeleton, and a skeleton covering which is visible from the exterior and has recesses. The skeleton covering is provided in a region of the steering wheel rim. The steering wheel further comprises at least one decorative segment which supplements a part of the skeleton covering and has detent noses which engage into the recesses in the skeleton covering. The decorative segment is a half shell having an essentially clip-shaped form in cross-section and has free edges which are provided with the detent noses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jupp Fleckenstein
  • Publication number: 20010027699
    Abstract: A tractor steering wheel grip comprising a clamp secured to the rim of the steering wheel and having a post projecting therefrom. A hand grip is rotatably secured to the post which is gripped by the operator of the tractor. The hand grip comprises a base portion which rotatably receives the post, a first leg portion which extends from the base portion at substantially a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the post, an arcuate portion extending from the first leg portion, and an elongated hand gripping portion extending from the arcuate portion. The first leg portion, arcuate portion and the elongated hand gripping portion define a substantial U-shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventors: David Reicks, Dana Reicks
  • Publication number: 20010027700
    Abstract: Arrangement for the reduction of metal-oxide-bearing material, particularly of iron ore, with a reduction vessel in which the metal-oxide-bearing material is reduced in counterflow with reduction gas and which is provided with an inlet for metal-oxide-bearing material, an inlet for reduction gas, an outlet for off-gas and an outlet for reduced material, a vessel for metal-oxide-bearing material, which is connected with the reduction vessel by means of a line and a first supply line for a sealing gas which serves to seal the reduction vessel against the vessel, which first supply line is provided at the connecting line between the vessel and the reduction vessel, characterized in that at least one additional supply line for a sealing gas is provided at the connecting line, which additional supply line is located between the first supply line and the vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventor: Gerald Rosenfellner
  • Publication number: 20010027701
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of producing granular metallic iron, including: heating a formed raw material comprising a carbonaceous reductant and a substance containing iron oxide in a reduction melting furnace to subject the iron oxide contained in the formed raw material to solid-state reduction; and carburizing reduced iron resulting from the solid-state reduction with carbon contained in the carbonaceous reductant to cause the reduced iron to melt, while separating off gangue components contained in the formed raw material and causing resulting molten metallic iron to coalesce into the granular metallic iron, wherein an atmospheric gas present in proximity to the formed raw material in the carburizing and melting step has a reduction degree of not less than 0.5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Applicant: MIDREX INTERNATIONAL B. V.
    Inventors: Shuzo Ito, Yasuhiro Tanigaki, Shoichi Kikuchi, Osamu Tsuge, Isao Kobayashi, Keisuke Honda, Koji Tokuda, Hidekazu Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20010027702
    Abstract: An improved method of processing a nonferrous metal and alloys of said metal using a blanketing gas having a global warming potential is provided. The improvement involves reducing the global warming potential of the blanketing gas by blanketing the nonferrous metal and alloys with a gaseous mixture including at least one compound selected from the group consisting of COF2, CF3COF, (CF3)2CO, F3COF, F2C(OF)2, SO2F2, NF3, SO2ClF, SOF2, SOF4, NOF, F2 and SF4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventors: John Peter Hobbs, James Francis Heffron, Andrew Joseph Woytek, Zbigniew Zurecki
  • Publication number: 20010027703
    Abstract: A grinding machine, which preferably serves in sharpening saw-blades, particularly circular saw-blades, has a machine frame that supports a device for supporting the saw blade and for fixedly clamping the blade and for advancing the saw-blade tooth-by-tooth. The grinding attachment has two spindles or shafts, which operate independently of one another, and are preferably oriented perpendicular to one another, and preferably support separate drives. The grinding attachment is mounted to pivot and be adjusted in three spatial directions. In a selected pivoting position, one of these spatial directions (Z direction) is oriented radially with respect to the saw blade. In this position, the axis of rotation of one spindle is oriented in the circumferential direction, and the axis of rotation of the other spindle is oriented in the radial direction. A grinding attachment of this type permits the hollow-grinding of tooth faces with grinding pencils that have a small diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventor: Harry Rein
  • Publication number: 20010027704
    Abstract: A corkscrew with an advertising feature is disclosed. This corkscrew has a housing of a half bottle form, such as a half of a miniature wine bottle. This housing, acting as a transverse handle of the corkscrew, has a service mark and/or an advertising expression on its rounded external surface by directly printing on the surface or attaching an advertising label to the surface. The corkscrew also has a cap opener on the housing, and so it is selectively used for drawing corks from bottles or for opening crown-shaped caps of bottles through a levering action. The housing also has a spiral holding means in its recessed space. A spiral assembly, consisting of a metal spiral and a support block axially integrated into a single body, is hinged to the spiral holding means at the support block. In the preferred embodiments, an advertising label is attached to the rounded external surface of the housing, thus accomplishing a desired advertising feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventor: Doo Seok Kee
  • Publication number: 20010027705
    Abstract: An open-end wrench is provided with a mouth between two jaws and a nest interconnecting the two jaws, a first convex surface portion is provided on the first jaw driving surface; and a first transverse tooth, a second transverse tooth and a second convex surface portion is provided on the second jaw driving surface. The first transverse tooth, the second transverse tooth and the second convex surface portion of the second jaw are respectively arranged at predetermined distances from the first convex surface portion of the first jaw driving surface. Further, the distance between the first transverse tooth and the second transverse tooth is {fraction (3/25)} of the distance between the first convex surface portion of the first jaw driving surface and the first transverse tooth. This structural shaped and dimensional open-end wrench structural arrangement represents an improvement in grasping and turning new-type bolts and nuts as well as worn-out bolts and nuts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventor: Chih-Ching Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20010027706
    Abstract: A processing machine wherein oil micro-fog is supplied to an upper bearing and a lower bearing of a rotary shaft of a head through a supply pipe from an oil micro-fog supply device. The upper bearing is isolated from the atmosphere by a bearing cover and the lower bearing is isolated from the atmosphere by an isolator. The oil micro-fog supply to the upper bearing and the lower bearing is collected by a collecting pipe, a collecting passage of the head and a collector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Applicant: Heian Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20010027707
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a square conductive wire which has a square-shape with four equal sides in section, comprises the steps of: preparing a conductive material sheet having a thickness T equal to the length of each the sides of the square-shape and a front and a rear surface 3, 4 which are in parallel to each other; and cutting the conductive material sheet at intervals each being equal to the length of the each the sides by a prescribed length in a direction orthogonal to the front and the rear surface. In this manner, small-sized square conductive wires can be manufactured successively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventor: Yoshihide Goto
  • Publication number: 20010027708
    Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus and methods for z-axis control and collision detection and recovery for waterjet and abrasive-jet cutting systems. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a linear rail, a slide member coupleable to a cutting head and slideably coupled to the linear rail, at least one actuator having a first end coupled to the slide member and a second end fixed with respect to the linear rail, a position sensor, and a controller. The actuator provides an adjustable support force that supports the weight of the cutting head, allowing the cutting head to be controllably positioned at a desired height above the workpiece. The actuator may include a pneumatic cylinder, or alternately, a linear motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Stewart, Thomas Pesek, Volker Kern, Chien Chou Wu, Daniel Chin, Felice M. Sciulli
  • Publication number: 20010027709
    Abstract: A lockup device for securing cutting mats to a rotary anvil comprises a base portion, one sidewall, and a wedge portion, and is adapted to be inserted into the channel of the rotary anvil such that the sidewall of the lockup device is adjacent a wall of the channel. A cutting mat having opposing first and second flanged ends is wrapped around the rotary anvil. The first flange is compressed between the locking wedge and the sidewall of the lockup device. The second flange is compressed between the locking wedge and a channel wall. As such, the locking wedge and cutting mat are frictionally secured to the rotary anvil. Further, the cutting mat may be quickly repositioned by releasing the second flange from the channel. When the cutting mat is unwrapped from the rotary anvil, the lockup device remains secured to the first flange, allowing for quick repositioning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventors: John Rocco Elia, Jerry Shelton
  • Publication number: 20010027710
    Abstract: A punch unit, in particular for making a punch for the binding comb of a ring binding is set-up of a circular shaped blade 1 and a counter die 19. The circular blade 1 is rotatably beard concerning an axis of rotation 27. At the circumference of the blade 1 cutting elements 2 are arranged. This cutting elements 2 raise over a fictive rolling circle 21. The surface of the counter die 19 is arranged perpendicular at the distance of the rolling circle radius rw, to the axis of rotation 27 of the circular blade 1 and show one or several opening in which in each case intervenes at least one cutting element 2 of the circular blade 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventor: Axel Lewandowski
  • Publication number: 20010027711
    Abstract: A capo (10) for use with a stringed instrument having a plurality of strings (4) and a neck (2). The neck (2) comprising a fingerboard (6) and a back (8). The capo (10) comprising a string engaging arm (12)and a clamping arm (14) that are adapted to press against and clamp the strings (4). The arms (12,14) pivotally interconnected about a pivotal connection (16) and axis (1) at a position along said arms (12,14) that is adjacent a side of the neck (2). The pivotal connection includes a releasable locking means (18) which is operable to selectively lock and unlock the pivotal connection arid the relative pivotal movement of the clamping arm (14) and string engaging arm (14) at least in a particular direction. In particular the locking means (18) is operable to selectively lock and unlock the pivotal connection and relative pivotal movement of the clamping arm (14) and string engaging arm (14) away from each other and the neck of the instrument in a clamping direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventor: Nicholas John Campling
  • Publication number: 20010027712
    Abstract: A key is provided for permitting simple attachment of a weight and easy adjustment of a touch load, while using an alternative material for substitution for lead as a material for the weight, to thereby reduce the manufacturing cost. A swingable key body is formed with an embedding hole. The weight is made of a composite material produced by blending a plurality of kinds of materials except for lead in a predetermined blending proportion to have a predetermined specific gravity, and is removably attached to the embedding hole of the key body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventors: Makoto Kanemitsu, Mitsuo Yamashita, Hiroyuki Kurita, Masahiko Abiko
  • Publication number: 20010027713
    Abstract: Disclosed is a random play control method and apparatus for a disc player. According to the random play control method and apparatus, music information is read out from discs inserted in N (N≧2) disc drives, and then stored. The disc drives subject to random play is selected, and when a plurality of disc drives subject to the random play are selected, music to be first reproduced is determined. Then, a weighted value that determines how long reproduction of the music subject to the random play is continuously performed in the specified disc drive is allocated to the respective disc drive, in a manner that the weighted value of the disc drive which stores the music selected to be reproduced is greater than the weighted value of the disc drive which does not store the music selected to be reproduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventors: Sang On Park, Yong Hee Han
  • Publication number: 20010027714
    Abstract: While a normal tone of a designated pitch is being generated in response to key depression or other performance operation on a keyboard or other performance operation device, the tone is controlled in response to manipulation of a pedal or other auxiliary performance operator. Namely, once the auxiliary performance operator is manipulated during generation or sounding of the normal tone, generation of an additional tone related to the normal tone is initiated. In this case, in correspondence with ON/OFF operation of the auxiliary performance operator, a resonant tone is generated, as the additional tone, which is peculiar to the currently-generated normal tone and which is also peculiar to the ON/OFF operation of the auxiliary performance operator. Particularly, if the normal tone is still being generated when the auxiliary performance operator has been returned from the ON state to the OFF state, a returning tone related to the currently-generated normal tone is generated as another additional tone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventors: Masao Kondo, Satoshi Miyata
  • Publication number: 20010027715
    Abstract: Tone control data are stored in a volatile first memory such as a RAM, and a color or other factor of a tone to be generated is set or controlled in accordance with the tone control data. User can set contents of the tone control data stored in the first memory. In response to the setting of the tone control data, the stored contents of the first memory are automatically transferred to and stored into a non-volatile second memory, at which time the tone control data are transferred to the second memory within an idle time period when no other operation is being carried out. A plurality of sets of the tone control data, updated at different time points, are stored in the second memory, and arrangements are also made such that, when an error occurs in the course of newest tone control data, data recovery can be made using the second newest set of the tone control data stored in the second memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Applicant: Yamaha
    Inventor: Satoru Tsutsumi
  • Publication number: 20010027716
    Abstract: A guitar pickup has symmetrically balanced coils arranged in a concentric configuration with a ferromagnetic steel plate centrally common to both coils. Inductive components are added or subtracted in order to enhance the sound and tonal characteristics that pickup without compromising noise immunity. A non-magnetized planar ferromagnetic plate is interposed between upper and lower coils of the pickup. Magnetic pole pieces extend from within the upper coil to within the lower coil through holes disposed in the planar ferromagnetic plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventor: William T. Turner
  • Publication number: 20010027717
    Abstract: A vacuum brake booster (10) has a vacuum chamber (16) and a working chamber (18), which is separated in a pressure-tight manner from the latter by a moveable wall (14). In order to obtain a pressure difference at the moveable wall (14), a control valve (20) is provided, which valve comprises a housing (22) coupled in a working manner to the moveable wall (14) and a first valve seat (40), which is disposed in the housing and which, in co-operation with a first valve sealing member (42), can control the supply of atmospheric pressure or above atmospheric pressure to the working chamber (18) in accordance with the displacement of an input member (24), which is coupled to the first valve seat (40), of the brake booster (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventor: Peter Schluter
  • Publication number: 20010027718
    Abstract: The invention depicts and describes a clamping device for securing a draw-in bolt (12) on a machine table, a baseplate, or the like, having a piston (6) that is arranged movably in a cylinder bore (4) to form a pressure chamber (5), a cover (9) that closes off the cylinder bore (4) on the side opposite the pressure chamber (5), a receptacle (11) which is configured in the piston (6) and/or the cover (9) and into which a draw-in bolt (12) can be inserted, and a clamping mechanism in order to secure a draw-in bolt (12) in the receptacle (11), the clamping mechanism being actuable by displacement of the piston (6) between a clamped position into which it is pushed by spring elements (10) that are arranged in a spring chamber (2) provided between the piston (6) and cover (9), and a released position into which it can be brought by impingement of a hydraulic medium on the pressure chamber (5), which is characterized in that the spring chamber (2) is connected to the receptacle (11) by at least one runoff duct (19)
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventor: Ernst Etter
  • Publication number: 20010027719
    Abstract: An energy-saving method and an energy-saving device for operating a single-acting cylinder device provided with a return function, which comprises a cylinder part (2) with an interior duct (50) and a piston (4) which is arranged in a movable manner in the duct (50) and which defines a working chamber (5) and a return chamber (6) in the duct (50). The piston (4) executes a working stroke and a return stroke in the duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventor: Per-Ake Wahlberg
  • Publication number: 20010027720
    Abstract: In a cylinder having a piston 2 and a cylinder body 3 having a piston chamber 4 in which said piston 2 is slidably accommodated, a guide shaft 9 extending toward the piston chamber 4 is provided on a head-side end wall 8 of the cylinder body 3, and the piston 2 includes a guide hole 2c in which the guide shaft 9 is accommodated. A plurality of grooves 9a and 2d respectively extending in axial directions are provided between an outer peripheral surface of the guide shaft 9 and an inner peripheral surface of the guide hole 2c. A plurality of steel balls 13 are provided between the grooves 9a and 2d.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Applicant: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Motohiro Sato, Hiroshi Miyachi