Patents Represented by Law Firm Christel, Bean & Linihan
  • Patent number: 4703280
    Abstract: A circuit for sensing the electrical conductivity of fluid comprising a pair of electrodes adapted to be exposed to the fluid, a voltage source connected to one of the electrodes, a load connected to the other of the electrodes, a firing circuit branch including a firing capacitor connected to the other electrode, a conductivity sensing circuit branch including a sensing circuit capacitor connected to the other electrode and to the voltage source, and characterized by a switch connected in controlled relation to the sensing circuit branch and in controlling relation to the firing circuit. In response to the electrodes being exposed to fluid having a predetermined condition of electrical conductivity, current flows in the sensing circuit branch which operates the switch to connect the firing circuit in a manner preparing it for firing, i.e. charging the capacitor therein. After a predetermined time, i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Assignee: Conax Florida Corporation
    Inventor: Francis M. Miller
  • Patent number: 4702472
    Abstract: A training dummy for combat sports incorporates a chest portion having a longitudinal frame component and a transverse plate secured thereto. A support structure comprises a tubular sheath rotatably mounted on a fixing element and a support leg having two ends, one of the ends being joined to the sheath by a coupling and the other end of which is connected to the frame component. The coupling allows the frame component to rotate about two perpendicular axes which are in turn perpendicular to the lengthwise axis of the fixing element. A spring is disposed between the sheath and the plate to urge the frame component away from the sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Inventor: Jacques C. V. Anquetil
  • Patent number: 4698634
    Abstract: A radar system for subsurface inspection comprising a short pulse transmitter, an antenna for radiating signals to and receiving external reflections from the surface and from below the surface being inspected, a receiver connected to the antenna for generating an output signal in response to the external reflections, and a clutter cancellation circuit for eliminating internal reflections developed in the system to prevent interference by such internal reflections with the desired external reflections to enhance the system detection capability and reliability of evaluation of such external reflections. Clutter cancellation is accomplished by storing the internally generated clutter and subsequently subtracting it from each incoming radar range sweep consisting of surface and subsurface signals plus unwanted clutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Inventors: Anthony V. Alongi, Anthony J. Alongi
  • Patent number: 4697646
    Abstract: An earth engaging implement comprising an earth engaging portion located forwardly and below an integral socket portion which socket is tapered in cross-section from its top toward its junction with the earth engaging portion and includes strengthening adjacent the upper end of the socket. The socket is formed by a single piece of metal formed into a partial socket with opposing flanges defining the near face of said socket. The flanges may be closely spaced or if the tine is wide the flanges will be arranged to encompass the edges of the base of the tine. The strengthening may be an increase in the thickness of the flanges and the adjacent portion of the socket located in the top portion of the socket. Preferably, a rib is formed in the flanges just below the top portion of the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: Ralph McKay Limited
    Inventors: William M. Johnson, Ilmar Mere
  • Patent number: 4693646
    Abstract: A workpiece cutting apparatus including a spindle-supporting assembly, a rotatable spindle mounted within the assembly and a cutting tool supported by the spindle utilizes a network of passages defined in the spindle-supporting assembly, the spindle and cutting tool for effectively introducing a lubricating and/or cooling fluid into the region of a workpiece being cut by the cutting edge of the cutting tool. The spindle-supporting assembly includes a collar having an opening through which a portion of the spindle is rotatably received, and the surface of the opening defines an annular groove encircling the spindle into which fluid is directed. The surfaces of the groove and spindle define an annular cavity, and the spindle defines a passageway defining an opening which is in constant communication with the annular cavity. The cutting tool defines a conduit having an entrance in flow communication with the spindle passageway and an exit positioned adjacent the cutting edge of the cutting tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1987
    Assignee: Gemcor Engineering Corp.
    Inventor: Mark J. Andrews
  • Patent number: 4692584
    Abstract: Plasma arc welding apparatus including a plasma torch having a body defining a flow passage for plasma gas an orifice through which plasma gas exits the torch as a high-temperature jet stream utilizes an actuatable slope control valve operatively connected in relatively close flow proximity with the torch orifice. By controlling the adjustment of the actuatable valve, the flow of plasma gas through the torch orifice is accurately controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Inventor: Clifford Caneer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4691652
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and device for automatically carrying out an end portion of stitching so that this latter is finished at a constant distance from the edge of the material whose passage in front of a fixed point is detected by a sensor (20, 21). In accordance with the invention, during a recording operation, the number of pulses (33) counted on the appearance of the signal delivered by the sensor (20, 21) as well as the final number of pulses are recorded and during reproduction, the number of pulses recorded (33) when the signal appears from the sensor (20, 21) is substituted for the number of pulses (37) counted and the number of pulses thus reinitialized are compared with the final number of pulses (35) for controlling the sewing machine (10) forming complete stitches and possibly a last reduced stitch depending on the results of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Assignee: Prouvost S.A.
    Inventor: Charly Leclaire
  • Patent number: 4690357
    Abstract: A free standing frame and lid assembly for supporting plastic garbage bags during filling and containing the odors. The stand consists of a metal frame having a top rectangular section over which the opening of a plastic bag may be stretched, a similar bottom rectangular section which rests on the floor and two vertical legs rigidly connected to the preceeding two sections by a continuation of the same material. The lid is hinged to one side of the top rectangular section of the frame by a circular clip attached to the lid. The continuity of the material in the connections of the top and bottom sections to the legs provides the rigidity to the frame. The stretched bag over the frame opening forms an effective seal with the attached lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Inventor: James N. Webster
  • Patent number: 4688719
    Abstract: A cast rail clip support of the kind used in concrete railway sleepers wherein one portion (17) of the rail clip is held in the rail clip support (19) and a second portion of the clip (16) bears down on the rail flange. The recess (26) of the rail clip support has slots (32) shaped to accommodate in a neat fit the base portion 17 of the rail clip. The clip when held in the recess 16 abuts the lower contact surface 33 and the end of the base portion 17 abuts the upper contact surface 34 which is inclined 3.degree. above the horizontal. This arrangement presents the clip from being accidentally knocked from its position in the rail clip support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Assignee: Ralph McKay Limited
    Inventors: Hartley F. Young, John L. Collins
  • Patent number: 4687640
    Abstract: A chlorine gas filtering material suitable for use in a high temperature oxygen environment, and a method of making the filtering material. The filtering material is prepared by impregnating a porous manganese dioxide and copper oxide hopcalite catalyst prepared by the carbonate method with sodium hydroxide. The process of making includes the steps of mixing the catalyst into a sodium hydroxide solution and then vacuum baking the impregnated catalyst for at least 8 hours, and preferably for 16 hours at a temperature of 240.degree. F.-260.degree. F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1987
    Assignee: Figgie International Inc.
    Inventor: Samuel P. Schillaci
  • Patent number: 4685618
    Abstract: An elastic rail fastening system for use with wooden rail ties in which the rail is seated on a rail plate which in turn is secured to the wooden rail tie by two pairs of spikes which also serve to support two rail clamps. The recessed portions of the spikes are adapted to receive the base portion of the rail clamp. The rail plate has an upstanding rib lying parallel to the rail flange and between each pair of spikes. The arrangement is such that the base of the rail clamp abuts the rail plate rib before it contacts the end of the recess which is adjacent the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Assignee: Ralph McKay Limited
    Inventor: Hartley F. Young
  • Patent number: 4680537
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing a circuit which senses the condition of an electrical quantity, the sensing circuit having a sensing portion which indicates a predetermined condition of the electrical quantity of a load connected between a pair of sensing terminals, and having a current conducing device which is activated a given time after the sensing portion indicates the predetermined electrical condition. The testing apparatus includes a network which is connected to the sensing circuit terminals for simulating a load having the electrical quantity to which the sensing circuit is responsive, the network having at least one branch which simulates the existence of the predetermined condition in the load, and the network having a timing component causing the predetermined condition to be simulated for a time adequate to test the sensing circuit response but inadequate to provide sufficient energy to activate the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1987
    Assignee: Conax Florida Corporation
    Inventor: Francis M. Miller
  • Patent number: 4674279
    Abstract: A control system for a hydroelectric power plant of the run-of-river type wherein the load on the turbine-generator units is matched to the flow of the river so that the units operate at the maximum head available for existing flow conditions to produce the maximum energy available from the river flow for the installed capacity of the plant and within the allowable, safe operating capability range of the turbine-generator units. Reservoir water level sensors provide a signals indicative of changing water level, sensors for generator electrical and thermal operating characteristics provide a signals related thereto, and a control connected to the water level sensors, to the generator sensors and to the turbine governor adjusts the turbine flow control devices to change the turbine power in response to changing river level within the safe and allowable operating range of the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Assignee: Acres International Corporation
    Inventors: Mohammad A. Ali, George V. Cotroneo, Peter R. Rodrigue, Robert T. Smith
  • Patent number: 4673420
    Abstract: A desiccant dryer utilizes a desiccant containing canister, a housing substantially enclosing the canister and a tubular member mounted within the housing. The canister includes two concentrically-arranged and cylindrically-shaped inner and outer walls and two end walls positioned at opposite ends of the canister and which join the inner and outer walls. A quantity of desiccant is positioned within the space between the inner and outer walls, and the housing defines an inlet opening and an outlet opening for gas entering and leaving the dryer. The tubular member has an open end and a closed end and is supported within the housing so that its open end corresponds with the housing inlet opening and the closed end is positioned within the housing interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1987
    Inventors: Leroy C. Haker, William Kitto
  • Patent number: 4669391
    Abstract: Novel highway trailers can be mounted on railtruck assemblies to form a train of highway trailers, the railtruck assemblies including a conventional railtruck which supports a novel intermodal adaptor. The novel highway trailers include a forwardly extending tongue and coupling structure at the rear to which may be secured the tongue of a following trailer and the intermodal adaptor of a railtruck assembly. The intermodal adaptor is mounted on the center plate bowl of the bolster of the railtruck. The adaptor includes locating structure adapted to be received within the coupling structure of a leading highway trailer, which locating structure permits the leading highway trailer and intermodal adaptor to become aligned with each other upon relative movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Assignee: Railmaster System, Inc.
    Inventors: Harry O. Wicks, Monte P. Riefler
  • Patent number: 4669930
    Abstract: A tap holder e.g. for threading taps, has a drive body (1) intended for connecting to the chuck of a drive motor. The driving power is transferred by a torque-limiting device (2, 9, 11) to a clamping body (8) intended to clamp the shank (12) of the threading tap. By the clamping body having outer (6) and inner (5) jaws with an intermediate elastic member (7), tool shanks of different dimensions may be accommodated by the clamping body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Assignee: S & L Maskin AB
    Inventor: Dag Stenmark
  • Patent number: 4669944
    Abstract: A wheeled truck including a platform defining a planar support surface having first and second opposite ends, two wheels attached to the platform at the first end thereof and two wheels attached to the platform at the second end thereof utilizes hinges for hingedly securing the two wheels located at the second end to the platform and a lever member for raising and lowering the second support surface end to thereby facilitate the loading and unloading of the truck. The hingedly-secured wheels are each pivotally movable relative to the platform between an operative condition at which the hingedly-secured wheels operatively support the second support surface end in an elevated condition for transporting purposes and a non-operative condition at which the hingedly-secured wheels are positioned so as to permit the second support surface end to be raised and lowered between the elevated condition and a lowered condition at which the support surface forms a ramp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Inventor: Robert J. Tarbell
  • Patent number: 4667983
    Abstract: A block or pad comprising a folder with two covers (1,2) joined to each other by a spine (3), on the inside of which a thermosetting binder in the form of a strip (6) has been attached and also comprising a sheaf of papers (8), one side edge of which is joined to the inside of the spine via the strip. At least some of the sheets joined to the inside of the spine (3) are provided with weakening lines (7) parallel to, and at a small distance from portions of the sheet which remain joined to the strip. The invention also relates to a method of producing the block or pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Assignee: Bind-O-Matic AB
    Inventor: Sven I. Spolander
  • Patent number: D290973
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Assignee: McDonald Products Corporation
    Inventor: Robert A. O'Neil
  • Patent number: D292587
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1987
    Assignee: Ralph McKay Limited
    Inventor: William M. Johnson