Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm George L. Boller
  • Patent number: 6871834
    Abstract: A circuit (10) for operating a bi-directional air motor (12) of a valve closure system for enabling a tank valve to be discretionally operated to either open or closed condition either at the tank by attending personnel or from a remote location, with the capability of closing the tank valve in the event of emergency from a remote location in the absence of attending personnel. The circuit can be constructed using two commercially available valve assemblies ((24, 26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Powell Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Richard D. Fortino, David N. Maniez, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6851315
    Abstract: An in-tank fuel level sender (26) for signaling the level of liquid fuel in a motor vehicle fuel tank (22). An enclosure (31) forming a hub of the sender provides an interior that is sealed against intrusion of fuel. An actuator (110, 122) is positionable on an exterior of the enclosure in correlation with liquid fuel level. A movement (52) within the interior of the enclosure follows the positioning of the actuator. An electric circuit element (62; 86) within the interior of the enclosure is operated by the movement to provide an electric characteristic for transmission through the enclosure to signal the liquid fuel level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignees: Rudolph Bergsma Trust
    Inventors: Rudolph Bergsma, Gary D. Cochran
  • Patent number: 6840503
    Abstract: An air motor (34) is arranged at a right angle to the valve stem (54), through a right angle gear drive (36) that provides torque amplification. A bracket (40) associates the motor with the valve body (48), having a flat ring (68) that fits over the valve body and has clearance notches (94) providing circumferential indexing. Semi-circular locking plates (66) are axially adjacent the ring and pivoted for swinging between a locking position where they fit in a groove (59) in the valve body and an unlocking position where they are free of the groove. Each locking plate has several through-holes through any of which a locking pin (42) can pass to lock the locking plate in locking position. Each locking pin protrudes axially beyond the ring to present interference with the valve body preventing the bracket from turning when the motor operates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Powell Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Richard D. Fortino
  • Patent number: 6773606
    Abstract: A system for limiting the size of particulate matter entering a septic tank pump contains a strainer that has a straining screen through which the pump draws liquid from the septic tank. A nozzle receives some of the effluent being pumped by the pump and is aimed toward the screen for directing effluent toward the screen to dislodge particulate matter from an area of the screen while the pump draws liquid through the screen. The screen and nozzle are arranged for relative movement so that the area of the screen being acted on by the effluent from the nozzle changes as the pump operates. Various embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Perfection Sprinkler Co.
    Inventors: Charles A. Wilkins, James O. Stoneburner
  • Patent number: 6555007
    Abstract: A fiber-based medium and method for binding chlorine gas utilizes sphagnum, a fibrous wetlands plant that is commercially available in dried form as sphagnum moss and sphagnum peat moss. It has been discovered that sphagnum moss is capable of binding up to 10% of its dry weight in chlorine gas, making it significantly more effective than activated carbon as a binding medium for chlorine gas. Sphagnum, sphagnum moss, and sphagnum peat moss each possesses the ability to bind chlorine gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: AgResearch International, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter C. Bilkey
  • Patent number: 6508933
    Abstract: A strainer for immersion in liquid, especially shallow water, to prevent debris from entering a pump connected by a suction pipe to the interior of the strainer. The strainer has a cylindrical housing that is closed at the bottom and covered by a circular screen at the top. As the pump sucks water, the screen prevents debris from being sucked into the strainer interior along with the water. Debris drawn against the screen's exterior is dislodged by a rotating spray arm that contains nozzles and is disposed within the strainer interior to spray water against the screen. The water is fed under pressure to the spray arm through a separate supply line tapped into the pump's outlet. The spray arm nozzles are aimed to direct water generally upward through the screen to dislodge the debris and to cause the spray arm to rotate. Hence, as the spray arm spins, the water washes substantially the full face of the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Perfection Sprinkler Co.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Wilkins, Charles A. Wilkins, James O. Stoneburner
  • Patent number: 6363834
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multipurpose fryer that can be used for cooking various foods. The fryer is composed of; a heater arranged in lower portion in the fryer; a net screen arranged over the heater; and a control unit arranged at an upper portion on the fryer, which is connected to both terminals of the heater to control the power supply; characterized by a space formed on an inclined mid-bottom of the fryer, which has an outlet communicated with a valve provided on an outer side of the fryer; and an auxiliary container defined as space beneath the mid-bottom and upper portion of end-bottom of the fryer and is extended to vertical direction along the side wall of the fryer, wherein its open portion is disjointably fitted by the control unit, its inside is provided with a auxiliary heater connected to the control unit, and a side of its lower portion is communicated with another valve provided on another side of the fryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Inventor: Young Joo Song
  • Patent number: 6363840
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fryer that can supply suitable moisture for oil therein, as well as refine the used oil conveniently. The oil contained a frying vessel can keep sufficient moisture through two connecting pipes connected with both the frying vessel and a water vessel, by sharing the water during flow or by difference of pressure of water head and oil head and the difference of specific gravity between two materials. The fryer also can refine and recycle the used oil so that the foods to be fried can be fried with fresh oil always.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Inventor: Young Joo Song
  • Patent number: 6244603
    Abstract: A hand truck for transporting a craft such as a jet ski, snowmobile, or sailboat has a frame that is open at one lengthwise end, having lengthwise extending sides for placement alongside a craft that is to be transported. Wheels on the sides of the frame proximate the open end of the frame provide for the frame to be rolled on an underlying surface and for the frame to pivot relative to the wheels. Lift bars extend from the sides of the frame proximate the open end of the frame, including lifters for engaging a craft, to support the craft on the frame. A handle is at a lengthwise end of the frame opposite the open end of the frame. The lift bars and lifters are constructed and arranged to provide a mechanical advantage for lifting the craft when the handle is forced in a generally downward direction to pivot the frame about the wheels. Various embodiments of lifters are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: James W. Rizzardi
  • Patent number: 6231764
    Abstract: A system for pumping effluent out of a septic tank contains an electric pump unit disposed coaxially within a tube. A rotary self-cleaning strainer has a cylindrical filter screen that filters certain solid material from the effluent flow through the tube upstream of the pump inlet port. Effluent is conveyed out of the septic tank through a pipe connected to the pump outlet port. A portion of the pumped effluent is conveyed to one or more nozzles arranged to wash the filter screen. In certain embodiments, the cylindrical screen is stationary and the nozzles rotate, while in other embodiments, the nozzles are stationary and the screen rotates. Depending on particular embodiment, the nozzles may be either inside or outside the screen. Effluent flow through the screen is opposite the direction of spray from the nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Perfection Sprinkler Co.
    Inventor: Charles A. Wilkins
  • Patent number: 6220181
    Abstract: A computer workstation stand has a platform having a generally horizontal support surface large enough to support a monitor. A table is disposed frontally of the platform and has a flat support surface with a center expanse large enough to support a computer keyboard and wings extending from laterally opposite sides of the center expanse that are themselves sufficiently expansive to support auxiliary computer equipment that requires manual manipulation by a user while allowing a user who is situated frontally of the table and facing a monitor supported on the horizontal support surface of the platform to rest his or her forearms on the wings while manipulating auxiliary equipment supported on the wings. A mechanism operatively relates the table to the platform to allow the table to be positioned in a desired spatial relationship to the platform. Specifically the mechanism allows the table to be tilted and elevated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: Marek Horski
  • Patent number: 6170801
    Abstract: A valve closure system for rotating a rotatable actuator of a valve relative to a body of the valve to operate the valve from open to closed. The system contains a motor having a rotatable shaft, a mounting that comprises plural parts including a bracket, for associating the motor with the valve, and a coupling for coupling the motor shaft to the valve actuator to impart rotation of the motor shaft to the valve actuator to operate the valve closed. The bracket comprises a plate having a surface defining a notch that has a) an entrance at a perimeter of the plate and b) a shape enabling the plate to associate with the valve body by i) disposing the plate alongside the valve body with the notch entrance aligned with the valve body and ii) then moving the plate laterally of the valve actuator axis to cause of the valve body to pass through the notch entrance and enter the notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Powell Fabrication & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Duane Powell, Robert B. Bebow
  • Patent number: 6142490
    Abstract: Improved support and adjustment of the frame on the boot are obtained by providing mounting brackets that extend transversely outwardly and beyond the underlying side walls between which the roller wheels are mounted and that contain transverse mounting slots whose transverse extents are at least as great as the spacing distance between the underlying side walls. Improved parallelism of the axles is obtained by providing diametrically opposed lobes in a mounting hole in one of the side walls at each wheel mount and by providing the corresponding axle head with a complementary shape fitting to that portion of the mounting hole containing the lobes. A tool for installing and removing the wheels from the frame is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Inventors: Mario F. Monroy, Craig A. Justice
  • Patent number: 6131564
    Abstract: This invention relates to a watering means for a fryer to supply suitable moisture required during frying operation. A fryer including a watering means for a fryer according to the invention comprises a heating device such as a heating pipe or a heater for heating oil in frying vessel to a temperature suitable for frying food, a net positioned above said heating means and a bottleneck-shaped accumulating portion positioned at lower portion of the fryer vessel to collect bits of fried batter. An injector having a plurality of perforation is provided in the frying vessel to supply water or vapor to frying oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Inventor: Young Joo Song
  • Patent number: 5993652
    Abstract: A novel all-wheel journaling of the rotary portion of a rotary self-cleaning strainer on a stationary central core. Respective sets of circumferentially spaced wheels are provided on respective end closures of the rotary portion that close opposite axial ends of a strainer screen to the central core. A first set of wheels on one end closure rides on a wear sleeve around the suction pipe of the stationary core, and a second set on the other end closure rides on a ring disposed around the supply pipe of the stationary core. Two additional rings sandwich the ring on the supply pipe to axially capture the second set of wheels and thereby axially capture the rotary portion on the central core. The rotary portion has a frame, including the end closures, for supporting the screen. Novel tie rod structures extend between the end closures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Perfection Sprinkler Co.
    Inventors: James O. Stoneburner, Charles A. Wilkins, Thomas R. Wilkins
  • Patent number: 5937779
    Abstract: A spinnaker raising and lowering system is provided for a sailboat. The system includes a first pulley mounted in a movable mounting. A second pulley contained in a mounting which is fixed to the deck of the sailboat. A third pulley contained in a mounting that is disposed in a fixed relation to the mast of the sailboat, and is fixed above the deck, and a fourth pulley contained in a mounting that is disposed in fixed relation to the first pulley. A first rope attached to the top of the spinnaker extends around the third pulley, first pulley, second pulley and then is attached to the mounting of the first pulley. A second rope attached to the bottom of the spinnaker extends forwardly around the fourth pulley and then to the mounting of the first pulley. A third rope attached to the leading edge of the spinnaker intermediate the attachment points of the first and second ropes extends aft through a spinnaker sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: M-Yachts, Inc.
    Inventor: Vlad Murnikov
  • Patent number: 5800167
    Abstract: A dental arch bite registration device in the form of a thin disk having a plan shape corresponding to that portion of opposing dental arches whose registration is to be taken. The disk has an outer perimeter frame of polymeric material. Polymeric bite registration material occupies space bounded by the outer perimeter frame, and is joined with and supported by the outer perimeter frame. The device may be made by injection molding the outer perimeter frame, and then injection molding the bite registration material onto the frame. It may also be made extruding bite registration material in a shape corresponding to the plan shape of the bite registration material, applying frame material to the perimeter of the extruded bite registration material, and then slicing a device of desired thickness from the framed bite registration material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Inventor: Loren S. Adell
  • Patent number: 5582517
    Abstract: A multi-laminar impression material is supported in a tray to form an impression tray assembly. The impression material comprises two lamina that are bonded together. One lamina is relatively softer than the other. The one lamina faces the arch while the other lamina is disposed against the tray. The impression material may also be bonded to the tray. In a specific preferred embodiment, the tray and both lamina of the impression material are ethylene vinyl acetate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Inventor: Loren S. Adell
  • Patent number: 5575640
    Abstract: A burner for a gas burning apparatus is disclosed including: a swirl plate in which a plurality of mixing pipe seats having through-holes are formed at predetermined intervals on the same circumference of the central portion; a lowest flame holder having a plurality of flame holes on the sides, and in which mixing pipe seats one fewer than the number of the mixing pipe seats of the swirl plate are formed; a plurality of intermediate flame holders on whose sides a plurality of flame holes are formed, and in which mixing pipe seats one fewer than the number of the mixing pipe seats of the lower flame holder are formed; a highest flame holder on whose sides a plurality of flame holes are formed; mixing pipes interposed between corresponding upper and lower mixing pipe seats of the swirl plate and lowest flame holder, and between corresponding upper and lower mixing pipe seats of the lowest flame holder and intermediate flame holders stacked thereon; a gas chamber spaced apart from the swirl plate with a pluralit
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Frontier, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon W. Fenn, Myeong C. Park
  • Patent number: 5571011
    Abstract: A dental arch bite registration device in the form of a thin disk having a plan shape corresponding to that portion of opposing dental arches whose registration is to be taken. The disk has an outer perimeter frame of polymeric material for peripherally bounding, as viewed in plan, an open space where that portion of opposing dental arches whose registration is to be taken will register. Polymeric bite registration material is joined with, and supported by, the outer perimeter frame, extending across and filling the open space, so that when the device is used to take a bite registration, that portion of opposing dental arches whose registration is being taken will create a bite registration in only the bite registration material, and not in the outer perimeter frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Inventor: Loren S. Adell