Patents Issued in June 10, 2004
  • Publication number: 20040107672
    Abstract: A door construction is illustrated with plural bumpers formed during the door manufacturing process. Respective sets of edges of the door body, such as trailing edges of door panel sections of the door body and top edges of the door panel sections, may be trimmed to establish the width and the height of the desired door. A closure or spacer member may be used to connect the trimmed edges. The door may be supported by a hinge assembly for pivoting about an upright pivot axis. The door body may be a monolithic one-piece construction, apart from any such closure members, and optional any window and window support. The door body may be formed by rotational molding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: Chase Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Rory Patrick Falato, Robert J. Clark, Daniel R. Eisenlord, Marvin L. Wollam
  • Publication number: 20040107673
    Abstract: A machine and method for applying reinforcing strapping to bulk boxes. The machine includes a plurality of strapping head assemblies arranged in series, with each adapted to apply a strap in encircling relationship to a box at a predetermined location on the box. As the box advances through successive strapping head assemblies, straps are applied in predetermined spaced relationship on the box, until the desired number of straps have been applied. The number, spacing and tension of the straps may be quickly and easily adjusted. In an embodiment of the invention, the strapping head assemblies are arranged in pairs in individual modules. A recovery strapping head assembly is provided just prior to exit from the machine to apply any strapping missed by a preceding strapping head assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventor: Eric Yarbrough
  • Publication number: 20040107674
    Abstract: Packs of rod-shaped smokers' products comprise containers of a material which permits monitoring of their contents by a suitable detector serving to generate signals which indicate the presence of characteristic indicia on one or more packed smokers' products. Such signals are encoded and the encoded information is applied to the respective containers. The information can be decoded and compared with signals furnished by the detector in order to ascertain whether or not the smokers' products are genuine, i.e., made by the manufacurer whose trademark(s) and/or other identifying information appear or appears on the containers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventor: Gottfried von Bismarck
  • Publication number: 20040107675
    Abstract: The present invention provides a chair having a removable outer cover. The chair has an air permeable bladder which houses compressible filler material. The compressible filler material allows the chair to be selectively compressed between various compressed states. A method for packaging the chair is provided which significantly reduces the weight and size of the chair. The method includes placing the chair in a vacuum chamber and suctioning air from the chair. The vacuum chamber may be partially open or closed during storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventor: Shawn Nelson
  • Publication number: 20040107676
    Abstract: A flexible pouch for packaging a product includes a front panel and a back panel, each having an upper edge, a lower edge opposite the upper edge, and side edges extending therebetween the upper and lower edges, that are joined together at the side edges and the lower edges to contain the product. The front and back panels include an outwardly projecting crease that forms a guide pocket for separating the panels, prior to filling the pouch with the product, and the crease is straightened out when the upper edges of the front panel and back panel are sealed together. A method of forming and filling the flexible pouch includes the steps of forming the panel, and forming a crease in each of the panels that projects outwardly and extends longitudinally along each of the panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventor: R. Charles Murray
  • Publication number: 20040107677
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for wrapping a stack of goods (1) with a section of a film (3) that is gathered, stretched and put over the stack on a gathering device (2). Said gathering device (2) has at least two gathering fingers (5) and at least one roller arrangement (4) on at least one connecting line between two adjacent gathering fingers (5). The roller arrangement consists of a gathering wheel (6) which is in contact with the exterior of the section of the film and of a counter-roller (7) which is in contact with the interior of the section of the film, and clamps the section of film between itself and the gathering wheel for the purpose of conveying it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Reiner Hannen, Norbert Vermeulen
  • Publication number: 20040107678
    Abstract: An apparatus for making a tubular length (1) of stretch film is applicable to machines or lines (3) for making packages (C) containing groups of products wrapped with stretch film and comprises at least the following: a feed table (4), extending in a defined direction (D), on which the groups of products presenting a front face (5) are formed; a station (6) for making the packages (C), located on the feed table (4) and equipped with means (7) for unwinding the stretch film and forming the length (1) of the film around means (8) for preforming the package (C), the means (7) for unwinding and forming the length (1) of film comprising at least one roll (9) of stretch film located close to the preforming means (8); means (10) for cutting a length of the film unwound from the roll (9); means (11) for gripping the film and moving along a substantially ring-shaped path (P) in such a way as to wind the film around the package (C) preforming means (8) and place the leading and trailing ends (1a, 1b) of the length (1)
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: AETNA GROUP S.p.A.
    Inventor: Mauro Cere
  • Publication number: 20040107679
    Abstract: Provided is a safety cabinet which can prevent contaminated air from leaking from a working space through the periphery of a front shutter, and which can prevent outside air from entering the working space. The safety cabinet is for anti-biohazard, and can minimize contamination even though worker has tired so as to cause deficiency in treatment after he carries out tests for biological specimens and pathogenic organisms for a long time. The safety cabinet has such a configuration that a peripheral structure part surrounding the working space is formed with air suction ports in a part opposed to the inner surface of the front shutter connected to a negative pressure passage formed outside of the working space, the air suction ports being connected with a negative pressure passage which formed outside of the working space and which guides air sucked through the air suction ports from the inside and the outside of the working space, toward a filter for purification of the air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventor: Keiichi Ono
  • Publication number: 20040107680
    Abstract: An air intake scoop for a motorcycle carburetor inserts into the carburetor mouth while also fitting within the air filter housing. The air scoop being designed with a cutout in front, a ridge along the interior and a 90-degree angle for the ability to draw a strong airflow into the carburetor, preventing gas mist from escaping from the carburetor. This air intake scoop would be molded preferably of polyurethane or other gas and oil resistant plastic or rubber, and would be easily adapted to fit a variety of different sizes of carburetors and air filter housings. An air filter cover with a forward air opening admits a strong current of air into the air filter and air intake scoop on clear days and has a closeable lid to prevent water from entering the carburetor on rainy days.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventor: David Leibold
  • Publication number: 20040107681
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator for cleaning of a gas from solid and/or liquid particles suspended therein, includes a stationary housing and a rotor arranged therein. The rotor at its one axial end has a central inlet for gas to be cleaned and delimits a central space communicating with the inlet. Around the central space a stack of conical separation discs is arranged in the rotor. These discs form between themselves several through flow passages which at their one ends communicate with the central space in the rotor and at their other ends communicate directly with a receiving chamber surrounding the rotor in the stationary housing. The rotor supports several turbine blades, which are arranged in a ring around the central inlet of the rotor, and at least one nozzle is adapted to direct a gaseous driving fluid towards the turbine blades for the rotor rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Claes-Goran Carlsson, Thomas Eliasson, Peter Franzen, Ingvar Hallgren, Torgny Lagerstedt
  • Publication number: 20040107682
    Abstract: Gas-liquid separator comprising two or more vertically spaced rows (11-14) of parallel horizontally spaced upwardly facing gutters, said gutters (4) having an upwardly extending gutter wall, wherein the upper end of the gutter wall is provided with a U-turn deflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventor: Hugo Martijn Letzel
  • Publication number: 20040107683
    Abstract: For transportability, wide machinery such as disk and cycle-bar mowers are often detached from the tractor on which they are used, and loaded onto a truck or trailer. A new method is to make these wide machines retractable such that their width is no wider than allowed for transport on public roads, yet extendable to increase the efficiency of the time and horsepower used to accomplish the intended task, such as mowing. To permit the extension and retraction of a machine such as a mower, a tool-bar is mounted parallel to the tractor's axles. It is stationary with respect to the tractor. A sliding tool-bar is mounted next to and parallel with the stationary tool-bar. A hydraulic cylinder, affixed to the stationary tool bar and the sliding tool-bar, causes the sliding tool-bar to slide in a direction parallel with the stationary tool-bar. The machine is affixed to the sliding tool-bar, so it can be extended and retracted with the sliding toolbar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventor: Gary L. Kelderman
  • Publication number: 20040107684
    Abstract: A cutting platform for a combine harvester is fitted with a crop divider that is pivotable relative to the cutting platform between a forwards projecting operating position and a retracted transport position. The divider is supported on a member that forms part of the cutting platform by means of a link which is secured at one end to the member in a manner to allow the link to pivot relative to the member about a first axis and which is secured at its other end to the divider in a manner to allow the divider to pivot relative to the link about a second axis which is inclined relative to the first axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Freddy Slabbinck, Dirk Vandenbroucke
  • Publication number: 20040107685
    Abstract: A harvesting implement for the harvesting of stalk-like plants comprising an intake arrangement for taking up plants located on a field and a stalk divider arranged ahead of the intake arrangement in the forward direction. The crop divider is supported in bearings so that it is free to move relative to the intake arrangement when it is in its harvesting position. The stalk divider is free to move in the sideways direction, that extends transverse to the forward direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Alfons Resing, Richard Wuebbels
  • Publication number: 20040107686
    Abstract: Arraying the trees of an olive orchard in an espaliered disposition produces enhanced olive yield with efficient harvest. Olive trees are espaliered with confinement of the structurally supporting and nutrient supplying trunks and branches to a foot wide structural support plane centered on the espalier. Tree center to center spacing along the espalier is in the order of 9 feet with the espaliered rows having a 12 feet center to center spacing. The production planes are arrayed on either side of the espalier support plane for a distance of 2½ feet making the entire espalier including the central support plane and the two production planes a six foot wide array. The preferred height of the espaliered array is 12 feet with 12 foot spacing between rows. The two production planes are maintained with first year sprouts, second year fruit bearing branches, third year sprout bearing branches and trimmed clear of the fourth year branches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventor: Antonio Isern
  • Publication number: 20040107687
    Abstract: An adjustable tracked side-delivery hay rake for use in agriculture for is to be employed on the fields for collecting the hay in tidy haycoks, provided with adjustable wheels movable between a raised and narrow position, suitable for transport and based on the presence—on the arms supporting said wheels—of universal joints that allow movements in all directions, with the purpose of obtaining an easy working, a simple construction and a low realization cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: D. & G. INTERNATIONAL S.R.L.
    Inventor: Mario Magnini
  • Publication number: 20040107688
    Abstract: For an air spinning frame, reluctance motors are provided for each spinning place to drive the pairs of rollers of the drafting unit, the drawing-off means, and the friction roller. Thereby, for the run-up of a spinning place, e.g., after a thread break, a specific frequency converter is provided. After reaching the stationary operating speed, a switch over onto a further frequency converter takes place, at which time, the corresponding reluctance motors of the other spinning places are driven in parallel. By the use of reluctance motors it can be done without a complex speed regulation means. A specific dimensioning of the reluctance motors permits a very fast run-up and a particularly good efficiency during the stationary operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: MASCHINENFABRIK RIETER AG
    Inventors: Olivier Wuest, Wolf Horst
  • Publication number: 20040107689
    Abstract: A jewelry chain link suitable for intertwining with other jewelry chain links to form a jewelry chain comprises an inner periphery, an outer periphery, a thickness defined between the inner and outer peripheries and a gap extending between the inner and outer peripheries for intertwining one jewelry chain link with another. First and second outermost edge dimensions along the outer periphery are defined relative to a plane extending through the gap, such that the distance from the plane to each of the first and second outermost edges is different.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: David Rosenwasser, Avraham Moshe Rosenwasser
  • Publication number: 20040107690
    Abstract: A gas turbine exhaust diffuser includes a substantially cylindrical outer casing provided with a forward casing flange; a substantially cylindrical liner spaced radially inwardly of, and secured to, the outer casing; and ceramic fiber insulation supported radially between the outer casing and the liner. A plurality of liner closeout segments are secured to the liner and include radial flange portions extending toward the forward casing flange. A plurality of spacer rings are supported between the forward casing flange and the liner closeout segments such that one of the spacer rings and the liner closeout segments present a flat face for direct attachment to an aft flange component of a gas turbine exhaust frame. This arrangement provides a thermally compliant load bearing interface between an air cooled gas turbine flange and an internally insulated diffuser casing flange in the high velocity section of the exhaust diffuser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Nicholas Philip Poccia, Franklin Timothy Wendell, Jacques Leo Amyot, Carlos Serafim Albuquerque Fernandes, Laurence Ambrose Kenny
  • Publication number: 20040107691
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel system for an engine including a water supply source for providing water and a fuel supply source for providing fuel. A centrifugal pump is fluidly connected to the water and fuel supply sources, respectively at water and fuel inputs. The pump receives the water and the fuel from the inputs and produces a homogeneous mixture without using other pumps or mixing devices. A metering device is arranged between the pump and one of the supply sources, preferably the water supply source, to produce the desired ratio of water and fuel. The speed of the pump is varied to deliver the desired total volume and pressure of fuel and water to the engine through the pump output. The water metering device may be closed to deliver only fuel to the engine during special conditions such as engine startup and rapid load dumps. Operation of the system is simplified because only one pump and metering device is used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Douglas A. Parsons, Kenneth Marks
  • Publication number: 20040107692
    Abstract: A system to provide a two piece robust fluid injector. According to various embodiments, the fluid injector is a fuel injector for a combustion engine. The injector includes two coaxially formed annuluses. One annulus is formed in a face plate and the second annulus or hole is defined by a tube extending through the face plate. The tube extends through the face plate in a portion of a through bore which also is used to define the second annulus. The second annulus is formed using a throughbore through which the tube extends. This allows the second annulus to always be formed inherently and precisely substantially coaxial with the first annulus. Moreover, the second annulus can be formed with a much greater tolerance than if other independent components needed to be added.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Mark D. Horn, Shinjiro Miyata, Shahram Farhangi
  • Publication number: 20040107693
    Abstract: The internal combustion engine has at least two partly separate exhaust systems in each of which are disposed a catalytic converter, and upstream thereof, a lambda probe. There is provided a secondary air pump and a number of individual secondary air lines, corresponding to the number of exhaust systems, for delivering secondary air to the respective exhaust systems. From the signal of at least one air mass meter, a value is determined for the total air mass flow introduced into the exhaust systems. In order to determine the air mass actually introduced into the individual exhaust systems, the output signals from the lambda probes in the exhaust systems are used to identify an uneven distribution of the air mass fed to the individual exhaust systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Klaus Bayerle, Frank Hacker, Hong Zhang
  • Publication number: 20040107694
    Abstract: In an exhaust emission control apparatus having an NOx catalyst disposed on an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine, the present invention is intended to suppress deterioration in exhaust emissions when the temperature of the NOx catalyst is raised. In case where the temperature of the NOx catalyst need be raised, an amount of nitrogen oxides occluded in the NOx catalyst is decreased in advance to the raising of the temperature of the NOx catalyst, whereby the amount of nitrogen oxides to be discharged from the NOx catalyst upon raising the temperature of the NOx catalyst can be decreased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kohei Yoshida, Shinichi Takeshima
  • Publication number: 20040107695
    Abstract: A sidestream located hyper-plasma reactor having an axially discrete pattern of alternating regions of active and passive electric field along the axial direction. The hyper-plasma reactor has great efficacy in terms of ultra low power consumption and copious production of NOx converting aldehydes in the absence of NO by applying plasma power only to an air and hydrocarbon mix sidestream gas flow. Only a small fraction (1% to 2%) of plasma power is required as compared to that for a conventional plasma reactor to treat the full exhaust gas stream. The hyper-plasma reactor produces ozone which reacts subsequently with hydrocarbons to produce aldehydes (“ozonolysis”). The sidestream location of the hyper-plasma reactor allows for the full exhaust stream to bypass it, without significantly affecting the overall NOx conversion performance in the catalytic converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Byong Kwon Cho, Steven Jeffrey Schmieg, Se Hyuck Oh
  • Publication number: 20040107696
    Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for controlling the air-fuel ratio demanded by a fuel controller in order to maintain optimum performance of a catalytic converter. Provided is an open loop fuel controller comprising a detector arranged down stream of a catalyst for detecting rich breakthrough; a catalyst model having an estimator for estimating a stored oxygen level in the catalyst; a comparator for comparing an estimated stored oxygen level with a plurality of predetermined thresholds; demand adjusting means for adjusting an air fuel ratio demand in dependence upon a received signal from said comparator and upon a received signal from said detector. A method of open loop fuel control is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Clive Harrison, Garon Nigel Heslop, Jon Dixon, Mark Paul Guerrier
  • Publication number: 20040107697
    Abstract: Oxides of nitrogen are adsorbed onto the surfaces of gas passages (68) in a bed (57, 100) that has relative rotation with respect to a gas inlet distributor (76, 101). The manifold has a baffle (85) or ribs (121, 122) that causes constantly flowing engine exhaust (53) to enter the gas passages over a large portion of a revolution of the adsorption bed or the distributor, and causes constantly flowing regeneration gas (54) to thereafter pass through those passages during a small portion of each revolution. The passages may be formed by planar (66a) or helical (66b) radial walls (66), a serpentine wall (70), a monolith (126), or a honeycomb (127). Either the distributor (101) or the bed (57) may be rotated to distribute the gases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Ke Liu, Peter F. Foley, Eric A. Rohrbach, Wayne G. Wnuck
  • Publication number: 20040107698
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic torque converter which has at least a hydrodynamic circuit including at least one pump wheel and one turbine wheel, wherein each of these wheels is provided with an outer shell to accept a set of vanes which form flow chambers, the inner edges of the vanes away from the outer shell being connected to an inner shell, which acts as part of an internal torus. At least the vanes of the turbine wheel have connecting elements both on the inner edges and on the outer edges, which connecting elements pass through openings in the shells to fasten the vanes to the shells, being provided for this purpose with a predetermined minimum overhang with respect to the edge of the associated vane, this minimum overhang making it possible for the connecting elements to be plastically deformed in such a way that they can grip the rear surfaces of the shells, i.e., the surfaces facing away from the vanes, and thus fasten the vanes to the shells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Hermann Schleicher, Jurgen Ackermann
  • Publication number: 20040107699
    Abstract: A fluid control system may include a pump, a tank, and an actuator. A valve assembly may be configured to control fluid communication between the actuator, the tank, and the pump. An energy recovery circuit, including a pressure transformer, may be fluidly coupled to the actuator in parallel with the valve assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Clayton Fales, Francis J. Raab
  • Publication number: 20040107700
    Abstract: A simple, compact, and relatively efficient thermodynamic power cycle system and process for extracting heat from a heat source stream and converting a portion of the heat to mechanical power. The system and process are composed of the same series of four processing units or steps found in the most basic form of a Rankine power cycle: (1) heating (means) of a pressurized working fluid to produce a superheated gas, (2) expansion (means) to a lower pressure to produce power, (3) condensation (means) of the low pressure gas to a liquid, and (4) pumping (means) of the liquid to high pressure to complete the cycle. The working fluid is heated under pressures above critical. The working fluid must have a critical temperature more than 40° F. lower than the temperature of the heat source stream and a normal boiling point less than 32° F.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY
    Inventors: Timmons S. McClanahan, Michael C. Crim
  • Publication number: 20040107701
    Abstract: A gas turbine system is composed of a gas turbine engine, and a controller. The gas turbine engine includes an annular combustor, and a turbine driven by combustion gas from the annular combustor to rotate on a longitudinal centerline axis of the gas turbine engine. The annular combustor is comprised of an outer casing, a liner disposed in the outer casing, and a plurality of dilution air regulators introducing dilution air into the liner. The plurality of dilution air regulators are circumscribed about the longitudinal centerline axis and spaced apart at substantially equal intervals. The controller controls the plurality of dilution air regulators to individually adjust dilution air flows through the plurality of dilution air regulators into the liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Miyake, Tomoyoshi Nakae
  • Publication number: 20040107702
    Abstract: A method of operating a combustor in a gas turbine that receives combustion air from a compressor includes a) controlling combustion temperature as a function of compressor discharge air bled from the compressor by determining a minimum amount of compressor discharge air required for maintaining a predetermined minimum combustion temperature; and b) bleeding compressor discharge air in excess of the minimum amount from the compressor via a control valve
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Richard Lee Nichols, Bruce G. Norman, Kevin Michael Elward, Roointon Erach Pavri, Benjamin Rush, Robert Edward Boettner, John P. VanDevelde
  • Publication number: 20040107703
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine system includes an electric starter motor which utilizes a partially hollow or cupped shaped rotor. Space is provided inside the rotor to fit the required clutch, bearings, and drive shaft. A short package is provided due to the telescoped architecture while retaining the maximum length for electromagnetics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventor: James R. Gustafson
  • Publication number: 20040107704
    Abstract: A workpiece chuck and method for supporting a workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer are described. The workpiece chuck includes an upper surface for supporting the wafer and a temperature control assembly in thermal communication with the upper surface to control temperature in the wafer. The temperature control assembly includes one or more thermoelectric modules between an upper and lower layers. One or more spacers between the upper and lower layers provide a space between the upper and lower layers such that the one or more thermoelectric modules vertically float in the space. That is, the upper and lower layers of the temperature control modules do not mechanically constrain the thermoelectric modules in the vertical direction. As a result, mechanical stresses on the thermoelectric modules due to temperature effects are substantially reduced or eliminated, resulting in much higher reliability of the chuck and the thermoelectric modules over temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Douglas E. Hudson, Dana G. Butcher, Richard B. Gates, James Pelrin
  • Publication number: 20040107705
    Abstract: A pulse tube refrigerator system comprises a pulse tube refrigerator (1) and a compressor (2) coupled together via a high pressure line (3) and a low pressure line (5), wherein cryogenic fluid is transferred to the PTR via the high pressure line and returned to the compressor via the low pressure line. The system further comprises an acoustic tuning device (7, 9) coupled to the low pressure line between a low pressure output (8) from the PTR and a low pressure input to the compressor, such that noise and vibration in the PTR system are reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventor: David Michael Crowley
  • Publication number: 20040107706
    Abstract: A storage container (1) for cryogenic media (2), especially for liquid hydrogen, having an outside container (3), an inside container (4) and at least one extraction and fill line (6, 6′) is described. According to the invention in the storage container (1), there is at least one additional storage space (5, 5′) for a medium and at least the extraction line (6, 6′) is dynamically connected to the additional storage space (5, 5′). A shield (12) that preferably at least partially surrounds the inside container (4) can be assigned to the additional storage space (5, 5′) and can be in thermal contact with it. The additional storage space (5) can also be made in the form of a hollow chamber section and can at least partially surround the inside container (4). The invention makes it possible to greatly reduce the evaporation rate in storage containers (1) that are used to store cryogenic media (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Wilfried-Henning Reese, Joachim Wolf
  • Publication number: 20040107707
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a method, apparatus and system for cooling goods, such as, for example, agricultural products, in a substantially sealed chamber. A method of the invention includes placing goods on a surface; forming a chamber over the goods on the surface; positioning a cooling apparatus having a first portion and a second portion proximate to the goods; enclosing the first portion of the cooling apparatus in the chamber; substantially sealing the chamber; and cooling the goods. A cooling system of the invention comprises a first support having a carrier; an evaporation coil mounted to the first support; a second support having a carrier; a compressor mounted to the second support, the compressor coupled to the evaporation coil; and a substantially sealed enclosure positioned over the evaporation coil and such that the compressor is positioned without the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Roy Richardson, John Achzet, Robert Dickinson, Alan McFoy
  • Publication number: 20040107708
    Abstract: The development of an alternate refrigerant composition which is free from a possibility of causing depletion of the ozone layer and capable of maintaining the performance of a conventional refrigerating circuit without modifying the circuit is desired. An object of the present invention is to provide such a refrigerant composition and a refrigerating circuit using the refrigerant composition. A refrigerant composition of the present invention comprises R245fa (CF3CH2CHF2), R125 (CHF2CF3), R508A (R23/R116:39/61) and R14 (tetrafluoromethane: CF4). Thus, the refrigerant composition has no possibility of causing depletion of the ozone layer. Further, since the composition is noncombustible, possible combustion can be prevented even if it leaks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicants: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD., SANYO ELECTRIC BIOMEDICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jiro Yuzawa
  • Publication number: 20040107709
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for operating a plurality of compressors of an air conditioner in accordance with a cooling or heating load in a room, in which a power supply unit for supplying power to the compressors is protected when a cooling or heating load in a room is the highest grade. The method comprises the steps of: (a) determining the cooling or heating load in the room; and (b) sequentially operating the plural compressors when it is determined as a result of the step (a) that the cooling or heating load in the room is in the highest grade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Won Hee Lee, Cheol Min Kim, Yoon Jei Hwang, Ji Young Jang
  • Publication number: 20040107710
    Abstract: Disclosed are an air conditioning system, in which the total operating capacity of compressors is variably controlled in accordance with a cooling or heating load in a room, and a method for controlling the air conditioning method, thus improving comfortableness in the room, reducing an electric power consumption rate, and increasing cooling or heating efficiency. The air conditioning system includes an indoor heat exchanger for cooling a room by heat-exchanging a refrigerant with air in the room; an outdoor heat exchanger for condensing the refrigerant; a plurality of compressors for compressing the refrigerant; and a control unit for controlling operation of the plural compressors in accordance with the cooling or heating load in the room.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Won Hee Lee, Cheol Min Kim, Yoon Jei Hwang, Ji Young Jang
  • Publication number: 20040107711
    Abstract: The present invention is a confined space conditioning system, which is used to provide conditioning to localized zones of an enclosure. The confined space conditioning system consists of a conditioning unit and an enveloped space, enveloping the localized zone, connected to the conditioning unit. The conditioning unit uses a low wattage compressor and a heater element to generate cool, dehumidified air or warm conditioned air to the enveloped space, as is required by a user of the system. The used conditioned air is extracted from the enveloped space and is recirculated to the conditioning unit for reconditioning. The surfaces of the enveloped space are thermally insulated using thermally insulating media in order to minimize the cross flow of heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: SPEX INTERNATIONAL
    Inventor: Kal Sastry
  • Publication number: 20040107712
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for use in maintaining a temperature in a vehicle or a shipping container. The device includes a roller having a sheet attached to the roller. One end of the sheet is connected to the roller and the sheet can be rolled around the roller and unrolled from the roller. The sheet has a size such that the sheet can extend substantially transversely across the cargo area of the vehicle or shipping container when the device is mounted on the vehicle or shipping container and the sheet is unrolled from the roller. The device allows for a user to simply unroll the unattached end of the sheet from the roller when the user needs to load or unload goods in the cargo area of the vehicle or shipping container in which the device is mounted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Mark Moran, John Pia
  • Publication number: 20040107713
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus preferentially ventilates a space close to a seat and/or a steering wheel on which a passenger directly makes a contact in a passenger compartment while a vehicle is parked. The uncomfortable feeling of a passenger that might occur when he/she is getting into the parked vehicle can be reduced using a small capacity in the air conditioning as compared to the air conditioning apparatus ventilating the whole space in the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventor: Shinji Aoki
  • Publication number: 20040107714
    Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigerator comprising at least one chamber and a temperature adjuster adjusting an temperature inside the chamber, further comprising a first temperature sensor approximately sensing the temperature inside the chamber, a second temperature sensor spaced from the first temperature sensor so as to sense the real temperature inside the chamber; and a controller controlling the temperature adjuster according to the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor when the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor is within predetermined temperature limits of the chamber and the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor is not. With this configuration, the temperature inside the chamber is effectively controlled by an accurate and prompt sensing operation. Though one of the first and second temperature sensors is abnormal, it is possible to replace or repair the abnormal temperature sensor, or to control the temperature adjuster by the other normal temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Sung-Ho Cho, Kyoung-Tae Kim
  • Publication number: 20040107715
    Abstract: Disclosed are an air conditioner in which one or more compressors are operated so that the refrigerant compression capacity of the operating compressor(s) is variably changed in accordance with a cooling or heating load for cooling or heating air in a room, and a method for controlling an electronic expansion valve of the air conditioner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Won Hee Lee, Cheol Min Kim, Yoon Jei Hwang
  • Publication number: 20040107716
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method of operating a refrigeration cycle which is capable of preventing oil from staying in an evaporator and ensures high coefficient of performance as well as sufficient circulation of oil. An electronic expansion valve is controlled such that during normal operation, refrigerant is always in a superheated state at the outlet of an evaporator, and the refrigerant is periodically forced to have negative superheat for a predetermined time by a superheat control device. Thus, during normal operation, the refrigerant sucked into a variable displacement compressor always has superheat, whereby the refrigeration cycle can operate with high coefficient of performance and an engine driving the variable displacement compressor can be operated at high fuel efficiency. Also, the refrigerant is temporarily controlled so as to have negative superheat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: TGK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hisatoshi Hirota
  • Publication number: 20040107717
    Abstract: A central control system and method for controlling air conditioners. The central control system performs central control operations for the air conditioners according to an operation schedule or control command inputted from a central controller coupled to the air conditioners through an internal network or a remote controller accessible to an external Internet network. When the air conditioners are simultaneously operated, control signals based on the control command are adjusted to prevent electric power consumption from abruptly increasing and hence the stability and reliability of control can be improved. The central controller includes a touch screen-based monitor. A control program included in the central controller provides a timetable corresponding to a specified period. An operator can conveniently input/edit the operation schedule through a dragging operation performed on the monitor, and confirm the inputted/edited operation schedule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sang Chul Yoon, Duck Gu Jeon, Jae Sik Jung, Jae Hwan Kwon
  • Publication number: 20040107718
    Abstract: A turbomachinery system for cooling a high power density device includes a turbomachine configured to deliver a high flux cooling medium and a high power density device arranged in fluid communication with the turbomachine, the turbomachine having a motor and a compressor driven by the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Michael Bowman, Mehmet Arik, Chellappa Balan, Warren Bessler, Ronald Bunker, Charles Byrd, William Gerstler, Nirm Nirmalan, Daniel Smith, Todd Wetzel
  • Publication number: 20040107719
    Abstract: A service device for a refrigerator having a refrigerating chamber, the device having an electric circuit portion and a mechanical portion. The electric circuit portion is connectable to the refrigerator outside the refrigerating chamber, and the mechanical portion is at least partly insertable inside the refrigerating chamber and cooperates with the electric circuit portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: ITW Industrial Components S.R.L.
    Inventor: Alberto Bassi
  • Publication number: 20040107720
    Abstract: A refrigerant cycling device is provided. The refrigerant cycling device comprises a compressor, an intermediate cooling circuit and a three-way valve device. The compressor is connected to a heat exchanger and a depressurizing means, for performing a cooling operation and a heating operation. The compressor further comprises a first and a second rotary compression elements within a sealed container, and a refrigerant that is compressed and discharged by the first rotary compression element is introduced to the second rotary compression element. The intermediate cooling circuit is used for radiating heat of the refrigerant discharged from the first rotary compression element. The three-way valve device for opening a passage of the intermediate cooling circuit during the cooling operation. In this way, the coefficient of production (COP) during the cooling operation can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Kenzo Matsumoto, Masaji Yamanaka, Haruhisa Yamasaki, Kazuya Sato, Kentaro Yamaguchi, Kazuaki Fujiwara, Akifumi Tomiuka
  • Publication number: 20040107721
    Abstract: An ice making machine having a main body and an auxiliary table which is separable from the main body, wherein the main body of the ice making machine comprises a freezing unit for making ice pieces by freezing water separated into discrete cells; a cooling system connected to the freezing unit; an ice bin for storing ice pieces made by the freezing unit; a first water supply pipe for supplying water to the freezing unit; and a first drain pipe for discharging water remaining unfrozen in the freezing unit. The auxiliary table comprises a feed water receptacle and a drain receptacle, both having a space for containing a predetermined level of water; a second water supply pipe selectively connected to the first water supply pipe to supply water contained in the feed water receptacle to the freezing unit; and a second drain pipe selectively connected to the first drain pipe to direct water discharged from the freezing unit to flow to the drain receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Cheol-ho Choi, Hideo Nakajo