Patents Represented by Law Firm Bachman and LaPointe
  • Patent number: 4460418
    Abstract: In order to improve the weldability of aluminum strip or sheet by spot welding and to promote the use of these materials, in particular in the bodywork of automobiles, the strip or sheet, after being hot and cold rolled to an intermediate thickness of 1.5 to 2.5 times the final gauge, is etched in an alkaline solution, then cold rolled to final gauge using cold rolling lubricant and finally, if desired, heat treated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1984
    Assignee: Swiss Aluminum Ltd.
    Inventors: Werner Horn, Jurgen Hennings
  • Patent number: 4458427
    Abstract: A gas flows through a pipe employed for intensive heat and material transfer, wherein the pipe has a length equal to 0.5 to 100 meters. The pipe features a gas inlet and two gas outlets. A solid body charge interacting with the gas flow enters at an inlet position in the pipe, passes a plurality of baffles which reduce the cross section in the pipe, and emerges from the pipe at the end position. Together with the surface of the solid body charge, the baffles form gaps of 3-50 mm which reduce the boundary layer of gas on the charge limiting the heat or material transfer. Between each pair of neighboring baffles are chambers in which the gas rotates and thus strikes the charge repeatedly. As a result the efficiency of material and heat transfer is further improved. With this countercurrent system the solid body can take up and release heat during its passage through the pipe and can take up or release material according to the character of the gas flowing in the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1984
    Assignee: Swiss Aluminium Ltd.
    Inventor: Rudolf Akeret
  • Patent number: 4457314
    Abstract: A urine collection device and method for females comprising a cup-shaped receiving chamber provided with a flexible lip on the periphery thereof for sealing around the urethral orifice and a duct section leading to a section of flexible tubing. The flexible tubing which leads to a compressible collection reservoir. A two way anti-back flow mechanism is provided to prevent inadvertent flow of the collected urine out of the reservoir but which upon intentional compression by a user a specimen may be obtained by forcing fluid back through the anti-back flow valve. The receiving chamber and collection reservoir are mounted in a housing of soft absorbent material which is provided with an adhesive strip for securing the collection device to the undergarment of a female.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1984
    Assignee: Comfy Catch-A-Spec Company
    Inventor: Adrienne Knowles
  • Patent number: 4455531
    Abstract: This application teaches a probe for detecting immiscible components in an aqueous system, particularly pollutants that contaminate ponds, rivers and aquifers. The probe includes a casing having an open bottom and electrical terminals adjacent the open bottom. Means are provided remote from said casing for detecting change in electrical characteristics, and connecting said remote means to said electrical terminals. The probe registers electrical characteristics on said remote means when said casing is immersed in water, and a variation in said characteristics when said casing passes through a dissimilar fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1984
    Assignee: First Taxing District, Water Department of the City of Norwalk, Connecticut
    Inventor: Orlan M. Arnold
  • Patent number: 4455221
    Abstract: A process for upgrading heavy hydrocarbonaceous materials for making coke suitable for metallurgical purposes comprises mixing the heavy hydrocarbonaceous materials with a diluent having a closely controlled boiling range so as to facilitate transport, dehydration and desalting of the crude oil. In addition, the diluent aids in controlling temperature and residence time of the crude thereby avoiding premature decomposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1984
    Assignee: Intevep
    Inventors: Jose L. Calderon, Ignacio Layrisse
  • Patent number: 4453832
    Abstract: The apparatus serves for the continuous mixing and suspending of material to be extracted, particularly seed material, such as soy material, with solvent or extractant, particularly hexane and other suitable hydrocarbons, provision being made for preventing the influence of atmospheric oxygen on the extraction material as well as the formation of solvent vapors throughout the entire plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1984
    Inventors: Heinz O. Schumacher, Heinz H. Thiem
  • Patent number: 4452029
    Abstract: A method for joining panel members into walls or dividers is provided which allow thermal expansion of the panel members to be absorbed by the joints. The panel construction includes turned down edges having grooves on the inside faces of the edges. Each edge is sized to fit side-by-side in a channel with the edge of an adjoining panel and with their grooves over ridges on the inner walls of the sides of the channel. An insert member having protrusions on its sides is wedged between the side-by-side edges for maintaining the grooves over the ridges while allowing pivotal movement of the edges around the ridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1984
    Assignee: Carl Dunmon & Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald D. Sukolics
  • Patent number: 4450952
    Abstract: A fire grate for a combustion furnace having a pair of parallel spaced apart frame walls and a plurality of alternately arranged stationary and movable grate bars extending between and secured to the frame walls. The grate bars are formed of a plurality of grate members wherein at least two neighboring grate members are connected together by means of a removably secured clamping element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1984
    Assignee: Widmer & Ernst AG
    Inventor: Hansruedi Steiner
  • Patent number: 4450053
    Abstract: Device and process for automatic, process-controlled feeding of electrolytic cells for producing aluminum. Besides a low degree of wear on the feed pipes, a fast and accurate feeding of fluxing agents to a particular cell is assured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1984
    Assignee: Swiss Aluminium Ltd.
    Inventors: Walter Merz, Hans Friedli
  • Patent number: 4448661
    Abstract: The temperature measuring device comprises a rod which passes approximately vertically through the anode block and terminates at the level of the working face of the anode. Fitted over the rod at the top is a light plug which provides an optical connection to the fiber bundles with the minimum of reflection. This optical connection is usefully in a coupling fluid which, like the rod and the bundle of fibers, is able to transmit infra-red radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1984
    Assignee: Swiss Aluminium Ltd.
    Inventor: Rolf Roggen
  • Patent number: 4446942
    Abstract: A device for conducting away exhaust gases from internal combustion engines comprises at least one sleeve-shaped silencer which encloses an exhaust pipe and forms an enclosed space around said exhaust pipe. The silencer is made up of at least two sleeve-shaped parts, or of a sleeve-shaped part and base part, which are joined together. The portion of the exhaust pipe in the space inside the silencer features perforations and/or sound absorbing elements. The inside of the silencer may be fitted with sound absorbers. The sleeve-shaped parts of the silencer and, if desired, the exhaust pipe and/or the sound absorbers are made of aluminum and/or an aluminum alloy.The sleeve-shaped parts of the silencer are manufactured by impact extrusion, deep drawing or a similar method and are joined together preferably radial to their longitudinal axis. The ends these parts taper down to tube-shaped extensions which fit over the exhaust pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1984
    Assignee: Swiss Aluminium Ltd.
    Inventors: Jean Hardt, Jakob Widrig
  • Patent number: 4445849
    Abstract: A device for thermally treating scrap employs a charging facility for conveying scrap to a furnace chamber. The charging facility is fitted with a waste gas flue and a loading port and has a pre-loading space in which the scrap is pre-heated. The device is easily operated and can be run with relatively little loss of energy by having the pre-loading space of the charging facility releasably connected to the furnace chamber and/or waste gas flue such that the pre-loading space is fed with waste heat from the furnace chamber. Preferably the pre-loading space is part of a waste gas or waste heat circuit. The pre-loading space is also provided with an extendable unit which can be pushed into the mouth or loading port of the furnace for feeding the scrap to the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1984
    Assignee: Swiss Aluminium Ltd.
    Inventor: Bernard Bouille
  • Patent number: 4444996
    Abstract: A capping member and method are provided for hermetically sealing a cable end; in a particular embodiment the capping member includes a generally tubular, rigid main body, closed at one end and with a plurality of inwardly deflectable fingers extending from the other end; an injection port, which is suitably located in the closed end, permits injection of sealing material under pressure into the void between the capping member and a cable end over which it is telescoped; in this way the void is substantially filled so that entry of moisture into the cable is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1984
    Assignee: Plastics Maritime Ltd.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Robertson
  • Patent number: 4441646
    Abstract: Manufacture of a light metal shock absorber by impact extrusion of a light metal blank whereby, during the impact extrusion process itself, a steel strip is brought into contact with the base of the part which becomes free of obstructive light metal oxide as a result of impact extrusion and is as a result metallically bonded to the said base. The steel component of the composite body is provided with a steel ring which is welded or otherwise appropriately joined during or after the extrusion step. The light metal sleeve can be welded or otherwise appropriately joined to light metal after impact extrusion. The production of a light metal shock absorber is a special case of plastic deformation of light metal and the principles which lead to metallic bonding between light metal and steel or another metal are also valid here.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1984
    Assignee: Swiss Aluminium Ltd.
    Inventors: Alfred Wagner, Adolf Ames, Ulf Hodel
  • Patent number: 4441589
    Abstract: A controlled wheel braking system for vehicles wherein fluid pressure on the wheel brake cylinder is relieved at the moment of wheel lock up so as to prohibit skidding and at the same time optimize the braking of the vehicle. The system includes a control valve positioned in the brake fluid line between the master cylinder and the wheel brake cylinder which is responsive to imminent wheel lock up. The control valve senses wheel lock up and upon sensing bleeds brake fluid from the wheel brake cylinder to unlock the wheel thereby preventing skidding. Upon sensing the unlocking of the wheel the bled brake fluid is again fed to the wheel brake cylinder to optimize the braking of the vehicle. If the wheel again locks up the cycle is repeated thereby providing a pumping action on the brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1984
    Inventor: Fred C. Stevens
  • Patent number: 4436607
    Abstract: Conventional fused salt reduction cells feature anode conductor sections which are spaced apart and have the function of feeding electric current to the anodes via anode rods. An electrically insulated footbridge positioned over the cell between the anode conductor sections makes it possible to walk above the cell. A housing with slight positive pressure created by the supply of fresh air to it, is preferably provided over this footbridge. Transverse cells are arranged asymmetrically in a pot room. An air-tight, closeable walk-way i.e. gangway is provided on the inside or outside of the long wall of the pot room. Extensions to the cell housings lead to appropriate openings in the long wall of the pot room or to the longitudinal wall of a gangway in the interior of the pot room. The fresh air is passed through the gangway and emerges from the open end of the cell housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1984
    Assignee: Swiss Aluminium Ltd.
    Inventor: Werner K. Fischer
  • Patent number: 4435080
    Abstract: The disclosure teaches a device for measuring the dynamic properties of microparticles including at least two flat measuring bodies or discs spaced from each other, with the distance therebetween being adjustable and the space therebetween being filled with a suspension of microparticles to be measured. At least one of said bodies or discs is movable so that a defined magnitude of fluid shear stress is generated in the suspension. The device also includes means for passing a light beam through both bodies and said suspension so that, during rotation and when rotation is stopped, different diffraction patterns are generated. Means for measuring the diffraction patterns is also included thereby obtaining useful data concerning the dynamic properties of the microparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1984
    Inventors: Zdenek Maly, Vladislav Blazek
  • Patent number: 4431554
    Abstract: 1000 Parts by weight of oil-in-water emulsion contain 10-70 parts by weight of palm kernel oil as reaction layer former, 5-20 parts by weight of poly-ethoxylated sorbitanoleate as emulsifier, 5-25 parts by weight of unsaturated, long chain monocarboxylic acids as inhibitor against hydrogen embrittlement and rusting, 1-25 parts by weight hexamethylenetetramine as stabilizer, fungicide and bactericide, rest deionized water. The emulsion is particularly suitable for cold rolling aluminum and aluminum alloys. The rolled strip materials exhibit excellent surface quality also after high reductions per pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1984
    Assignee: Swiss Aluminium Ltd.
    Inventor: Rudolf Baur
  • Patent number: 4430187
    Abstract: A reduction cell pot used in the production of aluminum by fused salt electrolysis comprising an outer steel shell, a thermally insulating layer and an inner lining comprised essentially of carbon.At least the lower 80% of the floor insulation, preferably at least the lower 90%, comprises a layer of volcanic ash which has been compacted by mechanical means. The rest of the floor insulation consists of a leakage barrier which protects the volcanic ash from bath components which penetrate the carbon lining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1984
    Assignee: Swiss Aluminium Ltd.
    Inventors: Sveinn Snaeland, Ragnar Halldorsson, Alwis Franke, Einar Gudmundsson
  • Patent number: 4428491
    Abstract: The invention relates to freight containers, in particular containers for air transport with a supporting frame which is made of profiled sections or the like, the long sides of which frame comprise polygonal frames which have roof sections and reinforcing vertical struts, and are joined by transverse sections. In spite of being made according to standard, it should be possible to stack these readily on top of one another and secure them to each other. They should also feature facilities which allow access at all times to the freight to be transported. The supporting frame (7) of such an improved container (5) features, between the roof sections (18), clamping elements (21,24) to secure neighboring, stacked containers in place; also for stacking purposes, the roof sections are reinforced and the vertical struts (16) are positioned at the places of greatest load. If desired, the reinforced roof sections house facilities (40,41,42) to guide closure means (35) for stacked freight containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1984
    Assignee: Swiss Aluminium Ltd.
    Inventors: Gerhard Mittelmann, Klaus P. Brodbeck