Patents Issued in November 8, 2001
  • Publication number: 20010037617
    Abstract: A protective corner guard includes a main body formed integrally from an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer foam material. The main body has two side walls connected to and intersecting with each other at a predetermined angle. Each of the side walls has an inner surface adapted to face a wall corner, an outer surface opposite to the inner surface, and two opposite end portions, each of which has a recessed section formed in the outer surface and a fastener hole formed in the recessed section. A fastener extends through a respective one of the fastener holes for fastening the main body to the wall corner. Light reflective pieces are received in the recessed sections for covering the fasteners, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventor: Fu-Long Chi
  • Publication number: 20010037618
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for connecting a floor system (30) to a support structure (33) in a building or other structure. A formed section (41) is positioned on the top of the structural stud members (34) of the support structure (33) and has two vertical sides (42, 43) which open upwardly. Tie members (45) maintain the formed section (41) in its configuration while concrete is being poured into the section (41). The floor system (30) is supported upon the formed section (41) with concrete (35) added thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 1997
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Applicant: John Russell Uren, P. Eng.
    Inventor: JOHN ROLF
  • Publication number: 20010037619
    Abstract: A lightweight decking plank has male and female connecting members formed at its opposite longitudinal edges, at least one component of each connecting member comprising a hollow section, and the connecting members being arranged such that when the male connector of one plank is engaged with the female connector of an adjacent plank, at least parts of the hollow sections of the respective connectors are positioned in vertical alignment with one another and form an essentially rigid load-supporting connection between the upper and lower surfaces of the assembly at the region of inter-connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventor: Terence Hardy
  • Publication number: 20010037620
    Abstract: Disclosed herewith is a built-up frame for supporting a portable water pool. The built-up frame is attached to the circumferential edge of the portable water pool. The built-up frame includes a plurality of fence rods each having a predetermined length. The fence rods are arranged one after another to form a polygonal shape. Each of the connectors has a through hole. Each pair of the connectors are fitted into the inner ends of two neighboring fence rods, and are overlapped together to be connected to each other at a predetermined angle. A plurality of support rods each have an upper end portion and at least one engaging projection projected from the upper end portion. Each of the support rods is inserted into and vertically supports two overlapped connectors. A plurality of tightening caps each accommodates the upper end portion of each of the support rods, and is each engaged with and disengaged from the upper end portion by rotating the cap by a predetermined angle regardless of direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventor: Soo-Hong Choi
  • Publication number: 20010037621
    Abstract: This composite building stud combines two metal shapes, inner and outer, with an insulating material to form a composite structural member having excellent acoustical properties. The stud also has an insulating valve (R-value) greater than a similar metal member normally used as a stud in a residential structure. The composite also has a strength comparable to that of a similar steel member normally used as a stud in a residential structure. One shape encompasses the other shape. The composite structural member eliminates any direct metal connections and thus eliminates any thermal shorts that reduce the overall insulating value (R-value) of the composite member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventor: Stephen Seng
  • Publication number: 20010037622
    Abstract: Proceeding for the construction of light self-supporting walls, which being able to be assembled in situ as from panels previously produced, destined to the closing of spaces between ceilings and floors of buildings; this proceeding characterized because it includes the following steps: a) producing rectangular, self-supporting panels with expanded polystyrene its density being at least 20 Kg/cm3; b) as from the floor of application, setting up the panels fixing its inferior borders against the floor and joining the different panels one with the other by their side borders by means of an adherent compatible with polystyrene; c) on the main faces of the set up panels apply an adherent material until its covers all the surface in an uniform way; and d) covering the main faces with a termination lining or layering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 1998
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Applicant: Deborah S. Gladstein
    Inventor: HUMBERTO OMAR GATTAS
  • Publication number: 20010037623
    Abstract: A machine for making filter bags for products for infusion, made starting with a flat tubular envelope comprises a station for application of a thread with seal and pick-up tab to the tubular envelope, the station comprising a first drum which rotates in a defined direction of rotation, having a plurality of seats for the positioning and pick up of the seals, continuous thread and pick-up tabs fed from three feed units, located downstream of one another relative to the direction of rotation of the first drum; the seal and pick-up tab feed units are supplied with continuous webs which are fed towards relative cutting elements, which cut the webs into individual seals and, respectively, individual pick-up tabs; the two feed units comprise corresponding transfer means, operating between the corresponding cutting element and the first drum, picking up the individual seals and individual pick-up tabs in a first zone at the cutting elements and transferring them to a second zone separated from the first zone by a g
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventor: Dario Rea
  • Publication number: 20010037624
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method to produce magazines, books, catalogues, brochures, periodicals, or the like on a collation or binding line, transport these products in a single stream of products towards a packaging line, divide the single stream of products into distinct streams of products where one such stream comprises products requiring wrapping and another such stream comprises products which do not require wrapping, transport the products requiring wrapping to a wrapping machine and sending these products through a wrapping process, transport the products that do not require wrapping around the wrapping machine, and merge the separate streams of products back into a single stream of products such that the products are arranged in a predetermined output order, such as demographic order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Applicant: Quad/Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: Willliam T. Graushar, John C. Geres
  • Publication number: 20010037625
    Abstract: A container for a stack of sheets (e.g., abrasive coated discs) including a base portion adapted to extend transversely across a bottom surface of the stack of sheets and having opposite ends adapted to be positioned at spaced locations along a side surface of the stack of sheets; and a plurality of stiff elongate retaining portions having proximal portions attached to the base portion at its opposite ends with the retaining portions at spaced locations around the side surface of the stack of sheets. The retaining portions have central parts adapted to extend along the side surface of the stack of sheets from its bottom surface to its top surface at those spaced locations, and have distal parts adapted to extend above the top surface of the stack of sheets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michael Sean Bates, Donna C. Rockette, David C. Roeker, David F. Slama
  • Publication number: 20010037626
    Abstract: A method of forming a container from a folded, flat, unitary blank of foldable sheet material includes placing a plurality of folded, flat, unitary blanks of foldable sheet material in at least one stack. One of the folded flat blanks is removed from the at least one stack. The removed folded, flat blank is moved from the folded, flat position to an assembled, closure flap open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Applicant: PUZANT KHATCHADOURIAN
    Inventor: Krikor Kouyoumdjian
  • Publication number: 20010037627
    Abstract: A closure system for use in repetitively opening and closing an openable portion of a pliable container includes at least one shape memory element which is bowed and adapted to be supported adjacent the openable portion on a side wall of the pliable container for rotation about a longitudinal axis defined by the element. The element includes an elongated, generally concave surface portion and an opposing, generally convex surface portion. Upon closing of the container, the closure element is forced to rotate which functions to place an opposing side wall of the container in tension. The closure system has application to various types of pliable containers, including two-sided, multi-ply and gusseted bags. Provisions are also made for releasably locking the closure system in a container sealing condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Applicant: Arthur D. Little Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert W. Hausslein
  • Publication number: 20010037628
    Abstract: An improved bridle bit is described that is useful for training an animal, for example, a horse. Said bit comprises a bar or bars to be received in the mouth of an animal, said bars having internally disposed therein, one or a plurality of bushings providing mouthpiece rotational movement, one or a plurality of spring elements providing return movement and cheek pieces providing traditional rein and headstall ring members for bridle assembly attachment. The invention may be used, for example, for the pinch and/or pain free training, control or correction of horses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: DAVID ROBART, GLENICE ROBART
  • Publication number: 20010037629
    Abstract: An air-permeable filter for ink cartridge is described, which comprises a laminate comprising at least one porous material layer comprising at least one resin selected from the group consisting of fluororesin and polyolefin resin and at least one air-permeable substrate layer having a tensile strength of 1 MPa or more. An ink cartridge is also described, which comprises a space for receiving an ink and at least one air vent in which the air-permeable filter is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: Hiroaki Mashiko, Hiroyuki Nishii
  • Publication number: 20010037630
    Abstract: Dehumidifier housing including a lower housing having a barrier part fitted vertically between a compressor and a water tank inside of a cabinet, a drain part formed in a horizontal direction above the barrier part for collecting condensate dehumidified at a heat exchanger and draining the water tank, and sidewalls formed at both sides of the barrier part and the drain part in a front and rear direction and supported on an inside of the cabinet, an upper housing having an orifice part with an air flow hole in a central portion, and a rim part around the orifice part in front and rear direction and supported on an inside of the cabinet, and coupling means for coupling the lower housing and the upper housing, thereby enhancing rigidity and dehumidifying effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventor: Nam Seob Eom
  • Publication number: 20010037631
    Abstract: A filter element (202, 250) includes pleated filter media (26) having a plurality of pleats (28) in a closed annular loop having an outer perimeter (30) defined by a plurality of outer pleat tips (32), an inner perimeter (34) defined by a plurality of inner pleat tips (36), the loop having a hollow interior (38) extending along an axis (40), wherein fluid to be filtered flows laterally through the filter media and flows axially in the hollow interior (38). The filter element has an axial flow passage (56a) along the axis (40) and circumscribing the hollow interior (38) and has a flow perimeter (218) greater than the inner perimeter (34) of the filter element defined by the inner pleat tips (36), and in the preferred embodiment substantially the same as the outer perimeter (30) defined by the outer pleat tips (32), to provide axial flow (58) through the hollow interior (38) and additional axial flow (59 and 59a) through the axial ends (68) of the pleats.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Applicant: Nelson Industries, Inc., corporation of the State of Wisconsin
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Morgan, Jon S. Wake, Kent J. Kallsen
  • Publication number: 20010037632
    Abstract: A self-cleaning attachment for a rotary mower has a carrier member (26) supporting a flexible, linear element (25) radially spaced from the rotational axis of the blade at a level above the blade so the element rotates near the underside of the mower housing defining a narrow upper chamber where air pulses are concentrated to maintain the underside of the housing relatively clean of build-up. The carrier may have a plurality of elements in equally spaced relationship, the structure of which is such that the outer tips are supported above the blade when idle, and the inertial mass is low compared to the rotating mass of the blade such that there is relatively little rotational effect as the elements become worn. The attachment is retro-fittable to existing mowers without causing appreciable power loss or degrading the blade stopping capability below ANSI standards for residential lawn mowers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2000
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventor: Lonnie Oxley
  • Publication number: 20010037633
    Abstract: For a harvesting machine, especially a self-propelled pick-up chopper for picking up and chopping corn, wilted grass, green feed and similar harvested material, with a conditioning device (5) for the harvested material, which is disposed after a feeding device (11) and a chopping device (2) and optionally engages a conveying duct or can be removed from this, the mounting and dismantling of the conditioning device (5) is simplified owing to the fact that the conditioning device (5) is connected, on the one hand, with a duct section (3), which can be pivoted about an essentially horizontal swiveling axis and, on the other, rigidly but detachably with a rigid region (8) of the conveying duct. Preferably, the swiveling axis is disposed at the underside of the pivotable duct section (3) in such a manner, that the swiveling motion of the pivotable duct section (3) is directed downward counter to the traveling direction (14) of the harvesting machine for removing the conditioning device (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: Bernard Krone, Dieter Berth, Thomas Strobel, Karl-Heinz Radke
  • Publication number: 20010037634
    Abstract: A self-propelled mower includes a frame and a mower housing mounted underbelly relative to the frame by a mounting assembly. The mounting assembly allows the mower housing to be disconnected from the frame and swung near the front of the housing from a mowing configuration to an access configuration as a front end of the mower is raised. The frame incudes a yoke that receives a nose of the housing, as the front of the mower is raised.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 1998
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventor: SCOTT A. SCHICK
  • Publication number: 20010037635
    Abstract: A crop lifter is described that combines the lifting ability of a conventional lifter with the sickle protecting qualities of a sickle guard. Crop-lifting surfaces in the combination lifter and guard extend from a forward end of an extended guard finger to a rearward end located substantially above a sickle knife slot and substantially rearward of a leading edge of the knife slot. This arrangement has been found to reduce crop loss. Some versions of the combination lifter and guard include a crop-holding surface that prevents crop loss by preventing grain from spilling backward or off the front end of a cutter bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventor: Joseph R. Figliuzzi
  • Publication number: 20010037636
    Abstract: The present invention provides mobile agricultural machinery for use in the harvesting of root crops. The machinery (10) comprises a chassis (12) provided with wheels (14), root crop harvesting shares (18), and an elevator system (22) including at least one generally vertically extending portion for conveying tubers (40) or the like generally vertically upwards from a first level to a second level. The elevator system comprises first and second endless belts (24, 25) and drive means (30) therefor which drive said belts in counter-rotating directions so that opposed conveying surfaces of the belts are driven in a common direction so as to define a conveying passage (28) therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventor: JAMES FRASER MITCHELL
  • Publication number: 20010037637
    Abstract: A harvesting machine 1, especially a self-propelled pick-up chopper with a feeder housing 8, which can be driven, has supplying elements 9 and can be transferred from a swiveled-in operating position about an axle 11 into a swiveled-up maintenance position. In order to be able to transfer the feeder housing 8 rapidly into the swiveled-up maintenance position, the feeder housing 8 can be swung out of the way forward towards the ground in the driving direction about an essentially horizontal axle 11, which is aligned transversely to the traveling direction of the machine. The supplying elements 9 of the feeder housing 8 can be driven over a drive shaft 10, which can be swiveled regionally in the same direction with the feeder housing 8 and is constructed telescope-like regionally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: Bernard Krone, Karl-Heinz Radke, Thomas Strobel, Dieter Berth
  • Publication number: 20010037638
    Abstract: A harvesting machine, especially a self-propelled pick-up chopper for picking up and chopping corn, wilted grass, green feed and similar harvested material includes a feeding housing, which is disposed ahead of a chopping device and accommodates feeding rollers, which can be driven. In order to have created a harvesting machine, which can be adapted to different use conditions, provisions are made so that more than two pairs of feeding rollers are provided, which are disposed consecutively in the feed-conveying direction and the upper rollers of which in each case can be driven over a common driving mechanism the common driving mechanism for adjusting the height of the upper rollers, having at least one driving element, which passes through the feeding housing and the position of which can be changed, and this driving element and the upper rollers being disposed so that they can be shifted by sliding in each case in guides at the side of the feeding housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: Bernard Krone, Thomas Strobel
  • Publication number: 20010037639
    Abstract: A top roller unit is arranged on a top weighting arm for a drafting apparatus of a spinning machine, which top roller unit has a holding device and two double top rollers and is arranged at two adjacent spinning stations. A first top roller of a spinning station borders a drafting zone which serves to draft a fiber strand, and a second top roller of a spinning station borders a condensing zone which serves to condense the fiber strand and which is arranged downstream of the drafting zone. The second top roller of each spinning station is driven via a drive by the first top roller, which drive takes the form of an intermediate gear which is common to all the top rollers of the top roller unit. The top roller unit is supported by a housing which encapsulates the intermediate gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventor: Hans Stahlecker
  • Publication number: 20010037640
    Abstract: An apparatus for temporarily retaining a thread segment of a twist yarn having a pre-existing twist in a manner which substantially preserves the pre-existing twist along a predetermined length of the thread segment in preparation for a selected thread or yarn joining operation is provided. The apparatus includes a stationary clamp surface member and a movable clamp surface member. The movable clamp surface member is movable relative to the stationary clamp surface member to form therewith a clamping extent in which the thread segment is clamped between the movable clamp surface member and the stationary clamp surface member. The clamping extent is dimensioned in correspondence with the length of the thread segment and may have, for example, a length corresponding to one-half the length of the predetermined length of the thread segment or about 35 to about 40 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Applicant: Volkmann GmbH
    Inventor: Siegfried Brenk
  • Publication number: 20010037641
    Abstract: A gas and steam turbine plant includes a waste-heat steam generator which is located downstream of a gas turbine on the flue-gas side and which has heating surfaces that are connected into a water/steam circuit of a steam turbine. A gasification device is located upstream of a combustion chamber of the gas turbine through a fuel line, for the integrated gasification of a fossil fuel. The gas and steam turbine plant is to be operated with particularly high plant efficiency even when oil is used as the fossil fuel. Thus, a heat exchanger is connected on the primary side into the fuel line upstream of a mixing apparatus for admixing nitrogen to the gasified fuel, as seen in the direction of flow of the gasified fuel. The heat exchanger is constructed on the secondary side as an evaporator for a flow medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: Frank Hannemann, Ulrich Schiffers
  • Publication number: 20010037642
    Abstract: A catalyst deterioration detecting apparatus and method detects a deteriorated functional state of an catalyst provided in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle. A controller of the vehicle calculates a required total output that is required for driving the vehicle, and an output adjusting device, such as, for example, an electric motor, cooperates with the engine to provide the required total output. The catalyst is diagnosed so as to determine whether the catalyst is in a deteriorated functional state. During the diagnosis of the catalyst, the controller restricts the output of the engine to be held within a predetermined range, and changes the output of the output adjusting device as needed so as to provide the required total output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiro Uchida
  • Publication number: 20010037643
    Abstract: A first NOx-trapping catalyzer unit is disposed on an upstream part of an exhaust passage. A second NOx-trapping catalyzer unit is disposed on a downstream part of the exhaust passage. A structure is provided that causes the first NOx-trapping catalyzer unit to be exposed to a relatively high temperature environment and causes the second NOx-trapping catalyzer unit to be exposed to a relatively low temperature environment. Each of the first and second NOx-trapping catalyzer units traps NOx when the exhaust gas applied thereto shows a leaner air/fuel ratio and releases and reduces NOx when the exhaust gas applied thereto shows a stoichiometric or richer air/fuel ratio. The first NOx-trapping catalyzer unit shows the basicity that is higher than that of the second NOx-trapping catalyzer unit or the first NOx-trapping catalyzer shows the reducing ability that is lower than that of the second NOx-trapping catalyzer unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kengo Kubo, Kimiyoshi Nishizawa
  • Publication number: 20010037644
    Abstract: A secondary air fan for an internal combustion engine includes a housing in which a motor unit drives a pump unit, the housing having an air inlet channel and an air outlet channel, an air mass sensor, being arranged in one of the channels to control the motor unit by an electronic unit. The air mass sensor is connected to the electronic unit which is attached to the housing and/or to the air inlet channel or to the air outlet channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Applicant: PIERBURG AG
    Inventors: Klaus Muckelmann, Thomas Rosgen
  • Publication number: 20010037645
    Abstract: A motor assist control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle having an engine and an electric motor includes a first map that executes power-generating operation of the motor from both engine rotational speed and engine load during traveling of the hybrid vehicle. A second map executes driving operation of the electric motor when the load detected by a load detector exceeds a set value during traveling of the hybrid vehicle. A use demand input switch inputs a second map use demand input signal by manual operation. A controller executes both drive and power-generating operations for the motor based on a driving state of the hybrid vehicle and a driving state of the engine. The control apparatus executes a drive operation for the electric motor and switches over use to the second map when a use demand signal is input and when second map use conditions are satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Morimoto, Yoshiaki Omata, Kazuyoshi Noda
  • Publication number: 20010037646
    Abstract: To present a cooling structure of combustor tail tube capable of avoiding formation of cracks in the tail tube by lessening thermal stress and preventing thermal deformation, and extending the service life, the invention provides a cooling structure of combustor tail tube forming a multiplicity of cooling jackets (5) extending in the longitudinal direction of tail tube of a gas turbine combustor along the entire circumference of the tail tube wall, in which passage sectional area of the cooling jackets (5) is varied depending on the metal temperature of parts of the tail tube (4), for example, the passage sectional area of the cooling jackets (5) formed at the rotor side wall and the mutually opposite side walls of the adjacent tail tube is formed larger than the passage sectional area of the cooling jackets (5) formed at the casing side wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: Takehiko Shimizu, Satoshi Hada, Kouichi Akagi, Katsunori Tanaka, Ryotaro Magoshi, Mitsuo Hasegawa, Shigemi Mandai, Mitsuru Kondo
  • Publication number: 20010037647
    Abstract: A method of storing a gas comprises absorbing a gas into or onto an absorbent medium, in one example by cryosorbing the gas. The cryosorbed gas is then encapsulated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventor: Roy Clampitt
  • Publication number: 20010037648
    Abstract: An ice maker includes a mold having at least one cavity configured for containing water therein for freezing into ice. An auger extends substantially vertically through the at least one mold cavity. The auger is configured for rotating to thereby push the ice out of the at least one mold cavity. A temperature sensor is positioned in association with the mold for sensing a temperature of the mold. A heat transfer member is metallurgically coupled with the auger and extends downwardly from the mold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: Andrei Tchougounov, Robert G. Cox, Donald E. DeWitt
  • Publication number: 20010037649
    Abstract: In an air conditioner using a flammable refrigerant of the present invention, an inner diameter of a liquid-side connecting pipe is reduced to less than 42.5% of that of a gas-side connecting pipe. By reducing the inner diameter of the pipe in which a liquid refrigerant of the air conditioner is reduced, it is possible to reduce the amount of refrigerant to be charged into the system without decreasing the capacity and the efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.,
    Inventors: Akira Fujitaka, Yoshinori Kobayashi, Riko Tachigori
  • Publication number: 20010037650
    Abstract: A dehumidification system is provided that includes a coil split subcooler having a plurality of splits that each include at least one circuit for removing moisture from an air flow. In addition, a system and method for modulating the capacity of a subcooler are provided whereby the rate in which moisture is removed from an air flow can be optimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2000
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Applicant: Optimum Air Corporation
    Inventors: Fred G. Scheufler, William H. Bayard, Nimalakirthi Rajasinghe
  • Publication number: 20010037651
    Abstract: A refrigeration chiller employs a centrifugal compressor the impellers of which are mounted on a shaft which is itself mounted for rotation using rolling element bearings lubricated only by the refrigerant which constitutes the working fluid of the chiller system. Apparatus is taught for providing liquid refrigerant to (1.) the bearings immediately upon chiller start-up, during chiller operation and during a coastdown period subsequent to shutdown of the chiller and (2.) the drive motor of the chiller's compressor for motor cooling purposes. By use of a variable speed-driven motor to drive the compressor, optimized part load chiller performance is achieved in a chiller which does not require or employ an oil-based lubrication system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: Arthur L. Butterworth, Todd R. Vandeleest, David H. Eber
  • Publication number: 20010037652
    Abstract: The controller 70 of the brine supply device 10 performs the PID calculation of the manipulated variable MV of the valve 14, calculates the compensated manipulated variable MV′ by compensating the manipulated value MV, and controls the operation of the valve 14 based on the compensated manipulated variable MV′. The variation &Dgr;MV of the manipulated variable MV becomes proportional to the variation &Dgr;PV of the brine supply temperature Pt1 as the operation of the valve 14 is controlled with the compensated manipulated variable MV′. This makes it possible to control temperature with a high accuracy using only one set of PID constants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: Kuboyuki Sasayama, Kazuya Sato, Masahiro Kawai
  • Publication number: 20010037653
    Abstract: In a refrigerant cycle system, refrigerant compressed in a first compressor is cooled and condensed in a radiator, and refrigerant from the radiator branches into main-flow refrigerant and supplementary-flow refrigerant. The main-flow refrigerant is decompressed in an expansion unit while expansion energy of the main-flow refrigerant is converted to mechanical energy. Thus, the enthalpy of the main-flow refrigerant is reduced along an isentropic curve. Therefore, even when the pressure within the evaporator increases, refrigerating effect is prevented from being greatly reduced in the refrigerant cycle system. Further, refrigerant flowing into the radiator is compressed using the converted mechanical energy. Thus, coefficient of performance of the refrigerant cycle system is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: Yasushi Yamanaka, Yasutaka Kuroda, Shin Nishida, Motohiro Yamaguchi, Yukikatsu Ozaki, Tadashi Hotta, Sadahisa Onimaru, Mitsuo Inagaki
  • Publication number: 20010037654
    Abstract: In an air conditioner including a compressor, a four-way valve, an outdoor heat exchanger, a pressure-reducing mechanism, an indoor heat exchanger and an accumulator which are successively connected to one another to construct a loop-like refrigerant circuit, non-azeotropic mixture refrigerant composed of first refrigerant having a high boiling point and second refrigerant having a low boiling point being filled in the refrigerant circuit and the flow of the non-azeotropic mixture refrigerant being inverted between cooling operation and heating operation by operating the four-way valve, when one of the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger serves as an evaporator, the first refrigerant of the non-azeotropic mixture refrigerant is stocked in the accumulator while the second refrigerant of the non-azeotropic mixture refrigerant is circulated in the refrigerant circuit, thereby increasing the refrigerant pressure in the evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2000
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Kobayashi, Haruyuki Kaeriyama, Naoki Tsuzurano, Shigetaka Nishino, Shinichi Ito, Takeshi Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20010037655
    Abstract: A refrigerator or freezer includes a compressor with an electrical drive motor. The drive motor is activated by a rotational speed controller. The compressor is connected to a cooling medium circuit which contains a condenser, an evaporator and an expansion means arranged therebetween. The cooling device comprises a cooling space closable with a door as well as a temperature control for the cooling space. The rotational speed controller and the temperature control are grouped together to a constructional unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventor: Jan Caroe Aarestrup
  • Publication number: 20010037656
    Abstract: An ice cream machine for cooling liquid ice cream into frozen ice cream includes an evaporator with baffles. The evaporator can be a flooded evaporator or evaporator having an auxiliary tank or section of the evaporator that can ensure that a cooling chamber is surrounded by liquid refrigerant during normal operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventor: Harold F. Ross
  • Publication number: 20010037657
    Abstract: A modular ice maker having a frame formed from a base, a tub resting on the base, and a pair of opposing side panels affixed to opposing sides of side tub and base assembly. The ice maker has a refrigerated compartment with a ice forming and dispensing device and an ice storage bin receiving and storing ice from the ice forming and dispensing device. An inner door or chute rotates about a horizontal axis to provide access to the ice storage bin and to provide a surface extending outwardly of the refrigerated compartment to redirect and guide dropped ice back into the ice storage bin. An outer door sealingly closing the refrigerated compartment is provided with a surface adapted for providing a camming action to drive the inner door upwardly when the outer door is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: James F. Dasher, Scott E. Roales, Daniel H. Quinlan
  • Publication number: 20010037658
    Abstract: In an air-conditioning refrigerant receiver having an annular clearance defined between an outer periphery of a lower cover supporting a contained assembly from the below and an inner periphery of a casing, a guide tube extends downwards to define an annular passage connected to the annular clearance between the guide tube and an inner surface of the casing, and is connected at its upper end to an outer periphery of the lower cover. Thus, a refrigerant, which has passed through the annular clearance, can be guided to a lower portion so as to quietly flow down along the inner surface of the casing, and hence, it is possible to inhibit to the utmost the refrigerant from leaving the inner surface of the casing and to become scattered, thereby more reliably preventing the occurrence of bubbling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: Mutsuo Sugisaki, Kenetsu Takenami
  • Publication number: 20010037659
    Abstract: A glass-impregnated, fiber-reinforced ceramic comprises a ceramic matrix having open voids, inorganic fibers embedded in the ceramic matrix in a regular or irregular orientation, and a glass matrix filling up the open voids in the ceramic matrix. The glass-impregnated, fiber-reinforced ceramic is manufactured by a manufacturing method comprising the steps of forming a fiber-reinforced ceramic comprising the ceramic matrix having open voids, and inorganic fibers embedded in the ceramic matrix, impregnating the fiber-reinforced ceramic with a glass precursor solution containing a glass precursor to stop up the open voids of the ceramic matrix with the glass precursor solution, and subjecting the fiber-reinforced ceramic impregnated with the solution to a heat treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: AKIHITO SAKAI, JUN GOTOH, KEIICHI TSUGEKI, MASAKI SHIBUYA, YASUHIRO SHIOJI
  • Publication number: 20010037660
    Abstract: A method and an machine for the manufacturing of syringes by vertically feeding long glass tubes to an intermittently rotary forming machine, having two horizontally rotary machine sections each intermittently rotating on a central vertical axis of a stationary machine frame, to a plurality of forming stations, each machine section having a plurality of continuously rotary gripping chucks mounted on the stationary machine frame, a plurality of burner nozzles and a plurality of forming tools, for firstly opening a closed lower end of a glass tube, forming a tip for a needle at the lower end of the glass tube, cutting off a syringe body including the tip at a lower end, and then translating the syringe body to the second machine forming section for opening a closed upper end of the syringe body, forming a finger flange at the upper end of the syringe body and release the finished syringe body at a discharging machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: JOSE-DE-JESUS DELGADO-CARRANZA, TEODORO RIVAS-GUZMAN, ARMANDO MEDINA-GARCIA
  • Publication number: 20010037661
    Abstract: Molten glass has a liquid level located at a higher level than lower ends of an uprising pipe and a downfalling. In addition, a contacting portion of the uprising pipe or the downfalling pipe and a brick receiver on an upstream or downstream pit for supporting the uprising or downfalling pipe, or a joint in the brick receiver is filled with sealing material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Applicant: Asahi Glass Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Takei, Shigekuni Inoue, Michito Sasaki, Yasuharu Hirabara, Atsushi Tanigaki, Mitsuo Sugimoto
  • Publication number: 20010037662
    Abstract: The present invention improves a tensile strength of an optical fiber obtained by heating to melt and drawing a preform and thereby realizes an extension of the surviving length of an optical fiber in a screening test. For this purpose, an optical fiber preform before the drawing step, that is, a preform (51), is stored while exposed to an ionized gas, that is, air (G), in a storage apparatus, and this stored preform (51) is conveyed while exposed to the ionized air (G) in the process of conveying this to a drawing use heating furnace, whereby deposition of foreign substances to the preform (51) is suppressed and a reduction of the tensile strength of the optical fiber due to the foreign substances can be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Applicant: The Furukawa Electric CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yukio Kohmura, Yasuhiro Naka
  • Publication number: 20010037663
    Abstract: The invention is directed to the production of optical fibers from optical fiber preforms using flow physics. The present methods provide for the “drawing” of an optical fiber preform using focusing of the preform by a surrounding fluid, e.g. a heated gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: Alfonso M. Ganan-Calvo, Dianna L. DeVore
  • Publication number: 20010037664
    Abstract: For producing knitted products with several knitting planes on a two bed flat knitting machine, all needles of one needle bed are usable for producing of stitches for a knitting plane, and the production of additional knitting plane is performed so that the stitches of another plane are transferred to the transfer element and held there, until new stitches for the knitting plane must be formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: Hans-Guenther Haltenhof, Henning Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20010037665
    Abstract: In a locking device for a door, window or the like, having a main lock box, at least one supplementary lock box, and at least one drive rod connecting the supplementary lock boxes to the main lock box, better resistance to break-ins is attained in that the supplementary lock box has a latch bolt that can be retracted freely into the latching position, wherein the latch bolt is displaceable by a spring and/or by a gear past the normal latching position into its locking position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 1997
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Applicant: Felix J. D' Ambrosio
    Inventors: WALTER RENZ, WOLFGANG ROGER, THOMAS HENZLER
  • Publication number: 20010037666
    Abstract: The locking device (10) for doors, in particular of vehicles, has an inside door opener and an outside door handle (12) which can be used to actuate at least one lock for locking the door. Locking devices of this type are conventionally very complicated mechanically, since the mechanical connection between the outside door handle (12) and the lock is meant to be uncoupled as a function of various functional positions. In order to reduce the mechanical complexity, it is proposed that only the inside door opener should act mechanically on the lock, and the outside door handle (12) should act via an electric control on an actuating drive (18), which actuates the lock. In this case, the opening command is instigated only if at least one defined allowable precondition is present. The required additional functions of locking devices can very easily be controlled by the electric control, so that additional mechanical elements are not required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 1999
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Applicant: Martin A. Farber
    Inventors: MARTIN ROOS, DIRK HIPP