Patents Represented by Law Firm Chilton, Alix & Van Kirk
  • Non-metallic precision fluid transfer devices
    Patent number: 5454491
    Abstract: A device for delivering precisely measured, minute quantities of liquid has no metal parts which contact the liquid. The device employs a barrel defining member with a bore which receives a polymer coated glass or ceramic fiber which functions as a piston. Fluid is drawn into and discharged from the bore via a needle in the form of a polymer coated glass or ceramic capillary tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: World Precision Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Su Y. Liu
  • Means for lifting heat transfer element baskets
    Patent number: 5454418
    Abstract: A heat transfer element basket assembly for a rotary regenerative heat exchanger having a splitter plate or stiffening member mounted between the heat transfer plates at a position intermediate between the inner and outer ends of the basket. The stiffening member includes elongated slots adjacent the top surface which accommodate lifting lugs. Elongated slots and lifting lugs also may be included adjacent the bottom surface of the basket. These lugs slide up and down within the elongated slots to an extended position partially above the surface of the basket when in the lifting mode and to a retracted position fully below the surface when not in use. Since the lugs are retracted when the basket has been placed in the rotor, they will not interfere with the vertically adjacent baskets. This means that the baskets have a low profile and can be tightly packed in the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: ABB Air Preheater, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Brophy, Steven M. Gustin
  • Stuffing-box packing
    Patent number: 5452904
    Abstract: A stuffing-box packing for establishing a seal between a housing bore and a rotatable shaft which has at least one packing ring comprising expanded graphite and a pair of disc-shaped stripper elements which are comprised of a suitable plastic or metal. To ensure high tightness over a long service life, the packing ring is inclined relative to the radial plane of the shaft, is covered on both sides by a stripper element having an edge which makes coaxial and circumferential contact with the shaft, the laminate of packing ring and stripper elements is arranged between two support rings-which have oblique support surfaces inclined corresponding to the angle of inclination of the packing ring, and the thickness of the packing ring is such that the area of the shaft swept by the packing ring is at least almost completely subjected to the stripping action of the stripper elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: Klinger AG
    Inventors: Richard Huber, Peter Wirz
  • Charged-particle analyser
    Patent number: 5451783
    Abstract: A charged particle analyzer which irradiates a specimen and analyzes charged particles emitted therefrom, for example a photo electron spectrometer, having a flood-source which emits charged particles to neutralize the charge which develops on a specimen. The analyzer is provided with electrostatic and magnetic lenses which may be used separately or in combination. The flood source is provided within the lens column of the analyzer and is arranged such that when the electrostatic lens is in use, the charged particles emitted by the flood source pass around the outside of the objective electrostatic lens element, whereas when the magnetic lens is in use, or when both lenses are in use, they pass through that element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: Fisons plc
    Inventors: Peter Coxon, Bruce J. McIntosh
  • Delivery system for book-sewing machine
    Patent number: 5450940
    Abstract: A delivery system for receiving book blocks discharged from a book-sewing machine on a transverse stack conveyor, the book blocks on the transverse stack being supported on their front edges and thus being vertically oriented, and rearranging the book blocks so as to be horizontally oriented. The delivery system subsequently reorients the horizontally arranged book blocks and collects the reoriented book blocks into stable stacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: Kolbus GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Horst Rathert, Ansgar Rohe-Krebeck
  • Suction drain for the aspiration of discharges
    Patent number: 5451215
    Abstract: A suction drain for the aspiration of fluids from a body, comprising an elongated, tubular first portion to be introduced into a body, the first portion having a generally constant outer diameter and a plurality of openings along substantially its entire length, an interior portion, an exterior surface, and a terminal end supporting an antibacterial material, wherein the antibacterial material is in the form of an end-cap which extends longitudinally outward from the terminal end of the first portion and which has an outer diameter that is no larger than the outer diameter of the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Inventor: Dietmar Wolter
  • Electronic life detection system
    Patent number: 5448501
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic life detection system, in particular for the searching for buried persons and the surveillance of buildings, having a microwave transmitting/receiving device for generating and radiating microwaves into an area to be investigated and for registering the microwave signal reflected from the area under surveillance and modulated with the frequencies corresponding to the life functions of any living beings present in the area, which device has a first signal-conditioning device, and a second signal-conditioning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: BORUS Spezialverfahren und-gerate im Sondermachinenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Dimitri V. Hablov, Oleg I. Fisun, Lev N. Lupichev, Viktor V. Osipov, Viktor A. Schestiperov, Richard Schimko
  • Flexible circuit wiring board and method of producing the same
    Patent number: 5446245
    Abstract: A flexible circuit wiring board having protruding, closely spaced leads, which are intended to be attached to a circuit device, is fabricated by forming a conductor pattern on a first surface of an insulating substrate, adhereing a protection layer to the conductor pattern and employing a laser to selectively etch away the substrate. The etching process leaves a reinforcing coating of the protective layer on the leads at least in the portions thereof which lie at the boundary of the area from which the substrate has been removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: Nippon Mektron, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Iwayama, Atsushi Miyagawa, Masaichi Inaba
  • Method of and apparatus for moving documents
    Patent number: 5445369
    Abstract: A paper transport is formed by a plurality of substantially identical conveyor modules which are arranged end-to-end and separated by gaps selected as a function of active devices which are to be installed along the paper path defined by the transport. The conveyor modules each include plural conveyor belts and documents are held against the belts for transport there through the creation of a small pressure differential thereacross, the pressure differential resulting from establishing a large volume air flow through the conveyor modules, the same air flow being employed for cooling the electronic components of the active devices associated with the transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Inventors: Roman M. Golicz, Mark K. Lohrs
  • Dual zone refiner with separated discharge flow control
    Patent number: 5445328
    Abstract: In an apparatus (10,100,300,400) for refining a low consistency fibrous slurry, which includes a plurality of refining zones (38,40; 188,128; 324,334; 411,413) within a casing, the improvement comprises providing a unique discharge flow path from each refining zone to a respective unique discharge line (56,58; 130,142; 308,310; 411,413) out of the casing, and means (57,59; 141,143; 344,346; 432,434) for differentially adjusting the flow rate in each discharge line. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, a divider (42,132,340) is provided between the casing and the rotor member, thus dividing the discharge between the two refining gaps, into two separate flow streams. The first and second gaps are monitored in any conventional manner. Under operating conditions, the flow control valves are adjusted for combined flow from the refiner casing as required by the production demands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: Andritz Sprout-Bauer, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald L. Musselman
  • Apparatus for coupling a telephone line to a telephone line subscriber device
    Patent number: 5446784
    Abstract: The telephone line has a multiple ringing patterns capacity, and the apparatus couples the telephone line to the telephone line subscriber device when a particular one of the ringing patterns is present at the telephone line. The particular ringing pattern consists of at least two ringing bursts separated by a gap which is equal to or less than a predetermined time interval. The apparatus includes logic circuitry which is set by the first burst and which, when the gap between the first burst and the second burst is equal to or less than the time interval, effects a low resistance path between an input jack and an output jack of the apparatus. The input jack is connectable to a wall socket for the telephone line, and the output jack is connectable to a socket on the telephone subscriber device. Preferably, the telephone subscriber device is a telefax machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Inventor: Donald MacTaggart
  • Flexible circuit wiring board and method of producing the same
    Patent number: 5444188
    Abstract: A flexible circuit wiring board having protruding, closely spaced leads, which are intended to be attached to a circuit device, is fabricated by forming a conductor pattern on a first surface of an insulating substrate, adhereing a protection layer to the conductor pattern and employing a laser to selectively etch away the substrate. The etching process leaves a reinforcing coating of the protective layer on the leads at least in the portions thereof which lie at the boundary of the area from which the substrate has been removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Nippon Mektron, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Iwayama, Atsushi Miyagawa, Masaichi Inaba
  • Micro chemical analysis employing flow through detectors
    Patent number: 5444807
    Abstract: The chemical properties of a flowing liquid analyte, the analyte comprising a solvent having an index of refraction which is the same as or closely approaches that of water, are determined by liquid chromatography or capillary electrophoreses wherein the analyte is caused to flow through an optical waveguide. The waveguide is a rigid capillary having a refrctive index of less than 1.33. Measurement light is launched axially into the analyte by inserting an optical fiber, coupled to a light source, into one end of the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: World Precision Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Su Y. Liu
  • Connecting apparatus
    Patent number: 5443328
    Abstract: Apparatus (1) for connecting first (9) and second (33) parts of an under-water connector comprises a first carrier (2) adapted to receive the first connector part (9) and having an axial guide socket (10), and a second carrier (3) adapted to receive the second connector part (33) and having a plug (4) arranged to engage axially in the guide socket (10) for connection of the first (9) and second (33) connector parts. The plug (4) has a nose portion (14) which tapers forwardly to a front end (15) having a lateral dimension less than that of the guide socket (10), and a waisted portion (16) rearwardly of the nose portion (14) with a lateral dimension less than that of the guide socket (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Tronic Electronic Services Limited
    Inventors: John M. Alcock, Joseph A. Nicholson, Trevor J. Thistlethwaite, Fred D. Myers
  • Method and apparatus for pulling a vehicle
    Patent number: 5443225
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for pulling a vehicle free from mud, etc. using a vehicle drive wheel as a windless or winch and employing an elongated flexible strap, a gripper plate mounted on a leading end of the strap and an anchor plate mounted on a trailing end of the strap. The gripper plate is inserted between the tire and its support surface with upstanding teeth of the gripper plate engaging the tire. The drive wheel is then rotated with the vehicle engine to draw the gripper plate around the tire and wrap the trailing strap around the tire. The gripper plate is then secured to the overlapping strap, the anchor plate is anchored at a remote point aligned with the drive wheel and the vehicle is driven towards the anchor point using the strap to pull the vehicle free.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Inventors: John J. Tracy, Robert A. Tracy
  • Reheater protection in a circulating fluidized bed steam generator
    Patent number: 5442919
    Abstract: The final reheater in a circulating fluidized bed combustion system which is located in a separate fluidized bed heat exchanger and which would be subjected to hot solids without any cooling after a blackout or turbine is cooled by bleeding a portion of the steam from the superheater outlet through a normally closed high pressure drop valve and into the final reheater. A valve downstream from the final reheater is also opened to permit flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce W. Wilhelm
  • Fibrous bonded sheet material
    Patent number: 5439010
    Abstract: A fibrous bonded sheet material, suitable for conversion into plug wrap for the filter plug in a filter cigarette, is formed by treating a fibrous base web with a polymeric binder (e.g. polyvinyl alcohol), a wet-strength resin (e.g. a polyamide-polyamine-epichlorohydrin resin) and a ketene dimer (e.g. an alkyl ketene dimer). The wet-strength resin may be wholly or partially replaced with a cross-linking agent (e.g. glyoxal). The resultant sheet material exhibits favourable characteristics of air permeability with resistance to the bleedthrough of adhesives used in the production of wrapped filter plug material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Dexter Speciality Materials Ltd.
    Inventor: Derek W. A. Ross
  • Electron accelerator having a coaxial cavity
    Patent number: 5440211
    Abstract: A toroidal cavity-type electron accelerator is provided with a pair of electron beam sources. The beams from the two sources are respectively injected into the accelerating cavity at the mid-plane thereof and at a point displaced from the mid-plane whereby the electrons comprising the beam injected on the mid-plane will be accelerated while the electrons comprising the beam injected at the off mid-plane location will be decelerated and contribute their energy to producing a field for accelerating the electrons of the other beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Ion Beam Applications Societe Anonyme
    Inventor: Yves Jongen
  • High-shelf storage apparatus
    Patent number: 5437530
    Abstract: A multi-tier storage unit is defined by vertical array of rotary conveyors. Independently operable transfer devices for transferring devices to be stored onto selected conveyors and retreiving stored products from the conveyors are positioned at a pair of spaced points along the sides of the storage unit. The retrieval apparatus includes one or more distributors in the form of trolley systems which operate at preselected vertical levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Alfred Schmermund GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Harald Beckmann
  • Multi-socket electrical connector
    Patent number: D360873
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Light on Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Rado Starec, Antonino Schiavello, James G. Cowhey