Patents Represented by Law Firm Deveau, Colton & Marquis
  • Patent number: 5997972
    Abstract: Filling material for percolating filters used in the biological treatment of fluids are provided with strips which are made of plastic and are connected to one another via a transversely directed holding web. The strips are arranged one above the other in a plurality of layers in order to increase the strip density. In the filling material according to the invention, the strips are provided with different cross-sections over their length. For example, the strips may be reduced in width in regions adjacent to their connection to the holding web. As a result, the strips can be arranged in one layer with an increased strip density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Norddeutsche Seekabelwerke Aktiengesellschart
    Inventor: Hartwig Basse
  • Patent number: 5988469
    Abstract: A holder for retaining an item, particularly a turkey call, other game call, clipboard, pad or the like on the limb of a user while leaving his or her hands free. The holder includes a base having a hollow center. Rubber feet are arranged about the hollow center to support the item. The item is held against the rubber feet by an elastic band. A nylon web strap, provided with a snap buckle, is used to secure the holder to the user's limb. A belt attached tether may be provided to assist in retaining the holder on a limb (e.g., the thigh) of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Muzzy Products Corporation
    Inventor: John Musacchia
  • Patent number: 5982117
    Abstract: A method for estimating and controlling the rotor position of a SRM comprises the steps of sampling phase currents and estimating phase fluxes from at least one excited phase of the SRM, sampling phase currents and estimating phase inductances from at least one unexcited phase of the SRM, and estimating the rotor position by determining a rotor position that is common to the estimated phase flux and the estimated phase inductance solutions to predetermining flux and inductance models. The estimation of rotor position can be less sensitive to measurement noise by applying a least squares technique. Once the rotor position has been estimated by the above method, the position of the rotor can be controlled so as to provide an overall effective control of the SRM. In particular, once the position of the rotor is estimated, the excitation provided to the motor is then adjusted to urge the rotor from its current position, velocity or torque toward a desired position, velocity or torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corp.
    Inventors: David G. Taylor, Saeed Ur Rehman
  • Patent number: 5975248
    Abstract: A communications system for an elevator system has a master control unit located close to the lift controller and connected via a bus to a number of local modules, each connected to one or more announcement devices. The announcement devices may be of various types including alphanumeric display of elevator position or other messages, lanterns indicating direction of travel, electronic gongs and passing chimes. The bus consists of only two conductors which carry both power and output signals from the master control unit to the respective local modules, the signals being encoded by modulation of the power supplied. The system reduces the amount of wiring required for new installations of elevator systems and also facilitates retrofitting to existing systems to install dot matrix display devices or audible announcement devices without the need for additional wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Drucegrove Limited
    Inventor: David Llewellyn Lewis
  • Patent number: 5974869
    Abstract: A non-vibrating capacitance probe for use as a non-contact sensor for tribological wear on a component. The device detects surface charge through temporal variation in the work function of a material. A reference electrode senses changing contact potential difference over the component surface, owing to compositional variation on the surface. Temporal variation in the contact potential difference induces a current through an electrical connection. This current is amplified and converted to a voltage signal by an electronic circuit with an operational amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corp.
    Inventors: Steven Danyluk, Anatoly Zharin, Elmer Zanoria, Lennox Reid, Kenneth M. Hamall
  • Patent number: 5964185
    Abstract: A feeding installation has at least two feed containers from which feeds of different composition are conveyed by means of a feed conveying device to feeding devices. The feeding devices are connected to the feed conveying device by way of valves. The valves have two or more slide elements which are slidable relative to each other and are provided with an opening, for allowing or blocking the passage of feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Roxell, N.V.
    Inventors: Christophe Roger Antoon DeBonne, Antoine Achiel Vandaele
  • Patent number: 5952307
    Abstract: Peptidyl derivatives of diesters of .alpha.-aminoalkylphosphonic acids with basic substituents, their use in inhibiting serine proteases with trypsin-like specificity and their roles as anti-inflammatory agents, anticoagulants, and anti-tumor agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corp.
    Inventors: James C. Powers, Delwin S. Jackson, Liming Ni
  • Patent number: 5947807
    Abstract: A cleaning and polishing assembly having a compressible main body with a releasable attachment material on one face and a fibrous working surface on its other face. The fibrous working surface is composed of fibers having a trilobal cross-section. The cleaning and polishing pad can be mounted on a power drive tool, or in a hand-actuated embodiment, can be mounted to a gripping pad specially adapted for hand use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventor: Elmo R. Overseth
  • Patent number: 5942198
    Abstract: The beneficiation of an electric arc furnace (EAF) dust waste stream comprising zinc compounds by collecting and combining dust from two or more EAF batches with coal fines to form briquettes, adding the briquettes to a final EAF batch with the charge, and collecting the dust from the final EAF batch, so that the zinc in the beneficiated dust is of a greater proportion than in a typical batch of EAF dust. Alternatively, the EAF dust can be split into two dust streams, one of which is returned to the EAF, while the other is treated in a hydrometallurgical process. Either waste stream preliminary can be treated by adding carbon and an ammonium chloride solution, separating any undissolved components from the solution, displacing undesired metal ions from the solution using zinc metal, treating the solution to remove therefrom zinc compounds, and further treating the zinc compounds and the undissolved components resulting in zinc products and an optional iron-carbon feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Metals Recycling Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Allan S. Myerson, Peter Robinson
  • Patent number: 5939172
    Abstract: A screen material is described which is formed by cladding, using electroplating, a structure composed of strands or fibers. The structure may incorporate a knit, woven or nonwoven material or, alternatively, of strands or fibres welded together, wound strands or fibers. The structure may be subjected to a calendering operation. The screen material, after having been provided, if required, with an electrically conductive cladding, is provided with a metal layer in an electroplating operation under conditions in which an overgrowth ratio R greater than 1 is achieved. The invention also describes a method for manufacturing such a screen material which preferably involves making use of an electroplating bath for depositing a metal cladding on a starting material in which a chemical compound is present which increases the overgrowth ratio R. The method can be implemented using a variety of conditions which can lead to an overgrowth ratio R of a desired value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Stork Screens B.V.
    Inventors: Johannes T. Snakenborg, Johannes Korsse
  • Patent number: 5931612
    Abstract: A hob cutter (4) for machining face or crown gears comprises a disc-like cutter body having an axis of rotation (6) and a number of hob teeth groups (1, 2, 3, . . . ) which are uniformly distributed over the circumference and which are each bounded at the front by a cutting face (S) and at the cirumferential side by a clearance face (V). The cutting face and the clearance face of each hob teeth group intersect one another in a cutting edge (9) which determines the shape of the face gear to be machined. The clearance face of each hob teeth group is made up of a number of generatrices (L, m) which are each situated in a machining plane which is determined by a line which intersects or crosses the axis of rotation (6) perpendicularly and intersects the generatrix at the position of the cutting edge. The extensions of the generatrices (L, m) determining the clearance face run at a minium spacing over the outside of the downstream hob teeth group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Crown Gear, B.V.
    Inventor: Augustinus F. H. Basstein
  • Patent number: 5931633
    Abstract: An appliance for collecting orders in warehouses wherein various goods are stored on pallets, which appliance includes a scoop having a support blade and a handle mounted to a bracket, and also being provided with equipment for suspending the scoop from a hoist mounted on an order-collection truck. A spring-operated clamp can be provided, which serves to engage the top surface of an article carried by the scoop. The clamp may be configured to actuate automatically upon operation of the hoist, through the use of a hoisting wire guided over or attached to an element of the clamp and also attached to or guided over an element of the scoop's bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Cardos B.V.
    Inventor: Franciscus G. A. Weggelaar
  • Patent number: 5928489
    Abstract: A low temperature method and apparatus for removing halides from relatively low temperature gas mixtures (below about 150.degree. C.) using an electrochemical cell provided with inert electrodes and an electrolyte which will provide anions compatible with the halide anions formed at the anode. The electrolyte is elected to provide inert stable cations at the temperatures encountered. The gas mixture is passed by the cathode where the halides are converted to X.sup.-. The anions migrate to the anode where they are converted to a stable gaseous form at much greater concentration levels. Current flow may be effected by utilizing an external source of electrical energy or by passing a reducing gas such as hydrogen past the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corp.
    Inventor: Jack Winnick
  • Patent number: 5916877
    Abstract: Fluorescent 1-peptidylaminoalkanephosphonate derivatives, and their use in detecting and studying the distribution of serine proteases in cells and biological systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: James C. Powers, Shin Ono
  • Patent number: 5916633
    Abstract: The fabrication of carbon/carbon composite disks using forced flow-thermal gradient chemical vapor infiltration process using propylene diluted with hydrogen as the reagent is disclosed. The independent variables included concentration of the reagent, total flow rate and preform bottom temperature. The response variables included infiltration time, final porosity, rate of weight gain and deposition rate. The infiltration time and rate of weight gain are affected only by the three independent variables. The densification of the composites is monitored by the back pressure. The composites were cut into slices 1 cm long, 4 mm wide and 2 mm deep to measure the uniformity of densification, which varied very little within a composite. Coating thickness as a function of position increased exponentially from the cold side to the hot side of the composite. The coating thicknesses near the cold side and the hot side are used to calculate the rate constant for the pyrolysis of propylene in the preform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Walter Jackson Lackey, Sundar Vaidyaraman
  • Patent number: 5911460
    Abstract: An electro-mechanical jamb pocket latch bolt assembly release which is adapted to be installed in a conventional door jamb behind the strike plate. When activated, a ram element of the apparatus will eject the latch bolt assembly from the door jamb allowing the door to swing freely upon contact with the door. The present invention allows for easy installation without a carpenter or electrician, and without specialized tools and is particularly suited for use by handicapped individuals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corp.
    Inventors: J. Riley Hawkins, Larry Tew, Nicole E. Hawkins, Michael Perdue, Mark Tew
  • Patent number: 5905593
    Abstract: A 3D video viewing system is disclosed, wherein a special lenticular layer is attached on a video monitor which displays at least one interleaved image composed from a plurality of 2D views of a scene. A method of determining the parameters for the lenticular layer is disclosed. In particular, the width of the lenticules on the lenticular layer is determined by many factors, including the thickness, the curvature and the refractive index of the monitor; the number of 2D views to be composed into an interleaved image for display; the normal viewing distance; and the overall viewing angle of the lenticular layer itself. A number of interleaving methods for composing a plurality of 2D views into a composite view are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: 3-D Image Technology
    Inventors: Allen Kwok Wah Lo, Kenneth Quochuy Lao
  • Patent number: 5895214
    Abstract: A closure mechanism (16) for controlling charging of material through a port into a rotary kiln such as a cement kiln comprises a first and second portion (24,26), and a passage (29) which communicates with the port (12) to enable material to pass into the kiln when the mechanism is open. The first portion (24) acts to prevent reactive material passing through the passage and the closure (26) acts to close the port when the mechanism is in a closed position. The mechanism is movable to enable material such as tires to pass into the kiln but helps prevent premature degradation of the material by the heat of the kiln when the mechanism is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: The Ruby Group, PLC
    Inventor: John Warr Nichols
  • Patent number: 5884581
    Abstract: A device for feeding poultry comprises a substantially dish-shaped pan, above which a feed drop tube is disposed, which drop tube opens out above a central part of the pan. At least one grill with bars extends between the feed drop tube and the pan. Provision is made for a second grill with bars, which second grill is fitted adjacent to the first grill. The first and the second grill are movable relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Inventor: Antoine Achiel Vandaele
  • Patent number: 5882510
    Abstract: Contact-filter block (10) for the construction of trickling filters or rotating disc filters such as those used for the biological treatment of waste waters. The tube sections (11) of which the contact-filter block (10) is made up have an outside surface (12) structured in a net-like manner, the outside surfaces of the tube sections (11) being joined by joints (13) to avoid constrictions in the clear cross section of the tube sections (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Norddeutsche Seekabelwerke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hartwig Basse, Hans-Joachim Bittner