Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Davis and Bujold
  • Patent number: 7911672
    Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) micromirror for use in high fill factor arrays which includes at least one stationary body and a movable body. The movable body has opposed ends and is secured to the stationary body at each of the opposed ends by a resilient primary axis pivot. A mirror support is supported by and movable with the movable body. The mirror support has a first unfettered side and a second unfettered side. A primary axis actuator is provided including a fixed portion connected to the stationary body, and a movable portion corrected to the movable body. The movable portion is adapted to move away from the fixed portion in response to an electrical potential difference between the fixed portion and the movable portion, such that the movable body rotates about the primary axis resilient pivot. A mirror is supported by the mirror support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Inventor: Tiansheng Zhou
  • Patent number: 7908914
    Abstract: An arrangement for determining the rotational speed of a transmission shaft (3) featuring a transmission shaft (3), a rotational speed transmitter that is connected in a rotationally fixed manner with the transmission shaft (3) and a stationary rotational, speed sensor (34), via a rotational speed that can be detected from the rotational speed transmitter. The rotational speed transmitter is provided on the periphery of a shift collar (20) of a coupling device (19) that is axially displaceable and arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the transmission shaft. The invention also relates to a transmission with an arrangement of this kind, as well as to a method of determining the rotational speed of the transmission shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Kim Führer
  • Patent number: 7909982
    Abstract: A single anode system used in multiple electrochemical treatments to control steel corrosion in concrete comprises a sacrificial metal that is capable of supporting high impressed anode current densities with an impressed current anode connection detail and a porous embedding material containing an electrolyte. Initially current is driven from the sacrificial metal [1] to the steel [10] using a power source [5] converting oxygen and water [14] into hydroxyl ions [15] on the steel and drawing chloride ions [16] into the porous material [2] around the anode such that corroding sites are moved from the steel to the anode restoring steel passivity and activating the anode. Cathodic prevention is then applied. This is preferably sacrificial cathodic prevention that is applied by disconnecting the power source and connecting the activated sacrificial anode directly to the steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Inventors: Gareth Glass, Adrian Roberts, Nigel Davison
  • Patent number: 7908761
    Abstract: A method and system for installing shakes on a building comprising a ledger board and a shake jig for assisting with installation of shakes. The shake jig comprising a base member supporting an adjustable member with a releasably fastener facilitating releaseable retention of the adjustable member in a desired relative position with respect to the base member. The base member has a shake shelf for abutting against a surface of a shake to prevent further insertion of the base member, between an installed topmost shake and an at least partially overlapped shake, and facilitate desired alignment of the shake jig with respect to the installed topmost shake. The adjustable member has a ledger shelf for engaging with the ledger board and retaining the ledger board in a desired horizontal orientation with respect to the shake shelf and assisting with installation of shakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Inventors: Dan R. Duquette, Gerald F. Briggeman, III
  • Patent number: 7905311
    Abstract: A fork lift truck (10) has a truck body (12), a lift mechanism (14) connected to the truck body (12) by means of a vertically extending pivot (52) and means (24) for turning the lift mechanism (14) relative to the truck body (12) about said pivot (52) to steer the truck (10), the truck body (12) having a pair of rear ground engaging wheels (16) mounted on transverse axes, the lifting mechanism (14) having a single ground engaging front wheel (40) mounted centrally on a transverse axis, the front wheel (40) having independent drive means (44, 46).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Translift Bendi Limited
    Inventor: Frederick Leslie Brown
  • Patent number: 7905249
    Abstract: An electromagnetic proportional pressure-control valve of a vehicle transmission which includes a magnet part, a hydraulic part and a spring operatively connecting the magnet part to the hydraulic part. The magnet part includes a coil, an armature and an armature bar. The hydraulic part includes first and second closing elements. The first closing element forms a flat seat and the second closing element a ball seat and the closing elements are opened and/or closed via a tappet rod. When no current is applied to the valve, the second closing element is closed and an gap (ü) in the first closing element is larger than one seventh a nominal width (NW) of the valve. The second closure area (A_2) is larger than a circular area having a diameter corresponding to double the gap and the diameter (s) of the tappet rod is smaller than 0.7 times the diameter (b) of the orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichsafen AG
    Inventors: Karlheinz Mayr, Thilo Schmidt, Markus Moosmann
  • Patent number: 7905370
    Abstract: A simple, inexpensive, reliable and maintenance-free dispenser in which the stored products are offered automatically on the outside of the dispenser where they can be grasped by a hand without further manipulation. The dispenser includes housings in which the products, stacked in a column, are stored and moved by gravity and, at the base of each housing in front of the first product of the column, outlet orifices are closed by a closing membrane with slits. A slope is provided, in the lower rear part of each housing, to automatically advance the first product a predetermined distance through the outlet orifice so that the product partially emerges and can be grasped by hand on the outside of the dispenser. The dispenser can be used to automatically dispense consumable products, such as drinks, without prepayment, and for all types of industrial, commercial, home and other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Inventor: Philippe Leonetti
  • Patent number: 7900732
    Abstract: A fork lift truck (10) has a truck body (12), a lift mechanism (14) connected to the truck body (12) by way of a vertically extending pivot (52) and mechanism (24) for turning the lift mechanism (14) relative to the truck body (12) about the pivot (52) to steer the truck (10), the truck body (12) having a pair of rear ground engaging wheels (16) mounted on transverse axes, the lifting mechanism (14) having a single ground engaging front wheel (40) mounted centrally on a transverse axis, the front wheel (40) having independent drive mechanism (44, 46).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Translift Bendi Limited
    Inventor: Frederick Leslie Brown
  • Patent number: 7900869
    Abstract: Controlling the pitch of individual rotor blades of a helicopter to reduce control loads, vibration and noise in or from the rotating rotor control elements. The system generates blade dynamics signals representing dynamic forces acting on either or both of the rotating and non-rotating elements of the helicopter, including rotor blades of a rotating assembly. The system extracts information representing at least one dynamic force, generates a dynamic force compensation output that represents a compensation for the dynamic force, and generates, from flight control signals and the dynamic force compensation output, a compensated pitch actuator control signal for each rotor blade wherein the compensation factor of the pitch control signal compensates for the dynamic force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christoph Keβler, Daniel Fürst
  • Patent number: 7900858
    Abstract: A material reducing apparatus comprising a feed conveyor, for conveying material to be reduced, and a feed roller cooperating with the feed conveyor. An upwardly rotatable rotor carrying a plurality of strikers which facilitate reduction of the material to be reduced and an anvil cooperating with the plurality of strikers to facilitate further reduction of the material to be reduced. A grate assembly, located adjacent an arcuate path of the rotor, which permits sufficiently reduced material to pass therethrough. The material reducing apparatus further includes a failsafe system which comprising an accelerometer supported by the rotor and coupled to a control system such that the accelerometer, upon detection of the rotor contacting a hard material, sends a signal to the control system. If the signal indicates a sufficiently large material, the control system reverses a rotational direction of the feed roller so that the feed roll rotates to withdraw the hard material from contact with the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Inventor: Anders Ragnarsson
  • Patent number: 7897898
    Abstract: A heat generator comprising a magneto-caloric material and a method for generating efficient and reliable thermies enabling of substantially limiting displaceable inert masses in order to produce a magnetic field variation required for obtaining a magneto caloric effect and usable by individuals and/or industries. The generator (10) comprises magneto caloric thermal elements (Ti) which are circularly arranged and crossed by conduits containing coolant flowing therethrough and magnetic elements (Gi) exposing the thermal elements (Ti) to a magnetic field action. The generator (10) also comprises magnetic divergence (mj) elements arranged between the thermal elements (Ti) and the magnetic elements (Gi) and coupled to displacement mechanism (not represented) for moving from one thermal element (Ti) to another thermal element (Ti+1) and initiating the magnetic flux variation in the thermal elements (Ti), thereby promoting the calorie and/or frigorie generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: CoolTech Applications S.A.S.
    Inventors: Christian Muller, Jean-Louis Dupin, Jean-Claude Heitzler
  • Patent number: 7891306
    Abstract: A stool includes a seat board, a plurality of legs, and a connecting board. The plurality of legs is attached to the seat board so as to protrude from the seat board in a downward direction, and to support the seat board such that the seat board is horizontally held. The connecting board is disposed such that one surface thereof faces a bottom surface of the seat board. The connecting board is surrounded by and secured to the plurality of legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kawai Gakki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Mitsuo Yamashita
  • Patent number: 7892139
    Abstract: A method is proposed for controlling and/or regulating a starting process in a hybrid drive arrangement of a vehicle, in which at least one control unit (8) is used by means of which a combustion engine (1), at least one electric machine (3), a transmission (4) and a first clutch (2) arranged between the combustion engine (1) and the electric machine (3) and a second clutch (5) arranged between the electric machine (3) and the transmission (4) are controlled so as to carry out a starting process, such that to change from electric starting to at least partially combustion-engine-powered staring the clutch torque that can be transferred is adjusted to the nominal driving torque so that the torque of the electric machine (3), the torque of the combustion engine (1) and/or the clutch torque of the first clutch (2) are matched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Johannes Kaltenbach
  • Patent number: 7891111
    Abstract: A goniometer including an arcuate rotor plate rotatable about an axis of motion spaced apart from the rotor plate for supporting a device and a base having an arcuate base plate The rotor is rotationally coupled to the base by shaft and a resilient shaft bearing mounting exerting a resilient force on the shaft to maintain a positive engagement between the roller and rotor body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Inventor: George Edward Mauro
  • Patent number: 7892144
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle drivetrain with at least an automatic transmission and a drive motor. The automatic transmission includes at least five shifting elements to transmit torque and/or power. In each forward and reverse gear a maximum of two shifting elements are disengaged while the remaining shifting elements are engaged. Two consecutive gearshifts are carried out through selection of the five shifting elements. During a first gearshift, implemented as a multiple gearshift, a subsequent second gearshift, implemented as either a single or multiple gearshift, is prepared. During the first gearshift, a first shifting element is disengaged, a second shifting element is engaged, a third shifting element is prepared for disengagement in a subsequent second gearshift and a fourth shifting element is prepared for engagement. Further, during the first gearshift and the subsequent second gearshift, a fifth shifting element is retained in at least a substantially engaged state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Klaus Steinhauser, Christian Popp
  • Patent number: 7883480
    Abstract: A motion monitoring apparatus and method for monitoring a patient under medical care. A sensor arrangement is provided in the form of a pad which the patient lies on. The sensor arrangement provides a signal which can be monitored to observe motion of the patient and provide an alarm should the motion meet certain predetermined conditions. The invention is particularly applicable for monitoring patients under sedation, recovering from anaesthesia, or in intensive care. The device is particularly useful for veterinary patients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Inventor: Colin Dunlop
  • Patent number: 7880576
    Abstract: An electromagnetic noise absorber to be attached around an electric cable to attenuate noise transmitted through the electric cable. The electromagnetic noise absorber comprises a strip-like base material and a plurality of ferrite pieces fixed to the strip-like base material. The plurality of ferrite pieces are formed by fixing a sheeted ferrite sintered body to the strip-like base material, and subsequently splitting the sheeted ferrite sintered body along split lines oblique with respect to a longitudinal direction of the strip-like base material. The electromagnetic noise absorber is wound around a circumference of the electric cable such that the split lines are parallel to an axial direction of the electric cable, thereby being attached in a spiral manner around the circumference of the electric cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Kitagawa Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 7878305
    Abstract: An oil-bearing shaft (1) through which the lubrication for components of a transmission is provided, comprising at least one longitudinal bore hole (2) and at least one oil supply bore hole (2) with one longitudinal bore hole (2), each fluid-mechanically connected, whereby the oil supply bore hole (2) is oriented with a setting angle ? is proposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Gabor Diosi, Josef Haupt, Martin Brehmer
  • Patent number: 7878708
    Abstract: A temperature sensor arrangement in an automatic transmission in which the temperature sensor (1) is arranged such that oil leaked from the hydraulic system permanently flows around it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Anton Fritzer, Tobias Pfleger, Georg Ege
  • Patent number: 7878942
    Abstract: A method for shifting an automated transmission situated in a drive train of a motor vehicle between an engine and a drive axle and having at least one multi-speed main transmission and a two-speed range change group rear-mounted thereon. The main transmission has at least one counter-shaft with an transmission brake. A clutch engages the prime mover and the main transmission and the range change group is shifted via unsynchronized dog clutches, which are combined in pairs in a common shift set having two shift positions and one neutral position such that during a range change gearshift, both in the main transmission and in the range change group, a change between two ratio stages occurs. A range change up-shift and down-shift each include active synchronization of the dog clutch by way of the transmission brake and of the separating clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Josef Bader, Andreas Graf, Martin Miller, Mario Steinborn, Thomas Hafen