Patents Represented by Law Firm Griffin, Branigan and Butler
  • Patent number: 5101688
    Abstract: In a transmission system having range shift levers mechanically linked to couplers and shiftable between first and second positions to select ranges of gears and electro-hydraulic powershift clutches for selecting a gear within the range selected by the range shift lever, the powershift clutches are located on each side of at least one of the couplers, between the input shaft and the coupler and between the output shaft and the coupler. A dump solenoid is controlled by operation of a clutch pedal to release fluid from the powershift clutches as the clutch pedal is depressed but before it reaches the fully depressed position so that the coupler is not being driven when coupler shifting takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Assignee: Ford New Holland, Inc.
    Inventors: Shairyl I. Pearce, David J. Rutkowski, John H. Tanzer, Rudolf Beim
  • Patent number: 5101943
    Abstract: A method of controlling an inching clutch in response to movement of an inching clutch pedal between up and down positions in a power shift transmission comprises, for clutch pedal positions below a limiting position, applying to the clutch a control signal which is non-linearly dependent upon the position of the pedal and, for clutch pedal positions above the limiting position, applying to the clutch a control signal which linearly increases with time and is entirely independent of clutch pedal position. Within one range of clutch pedal positions below the limiting position, the magnitude of the control signal applied to the clutch is constant when a high gear speed ratio has been selected, and varies linearly with the clutch pedal position when a low gear speed ratio has been selected. Within a range of pedal positions adjacent the fully down position, the control signal remains constant regardless of the position of the pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Assignee: Ford New Holland, Inc.
    Inventor: Garth H. Bulgrien
  • Patent number: 5101603
    Abstract: In order to polish a zone (9) of a surface (2) so as to leave visible marks, the zones of the surface which are not being worked on are covered by a mask (4) having an adhesive face and a face covered with an abrasion-resistant metal layer (7) with the total thickness (e) of the mask not exceeding 40 .mu.m so that the non-polished margin along the edge (8) of the mask (4) has a width (l) of less than about 0.1 mm, thereby making it invisible to the naked eye so that adjacent zones appear to come directly into contact without a visible separating margin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Inventor: Joseph Sevilla
  • Patent number: 5103142
    Abstract: In a circuit arrangement for ignition and operation of a high pressure gas discharge lamp (GEL) for motor vehicles include: a desired power value determining device (LS) coupled to a first input of an integrating comparator (K) whose second input is coupled to an output of a multiplier; a switching device (S) which couples either a phase comparator or the integrating comparator (K) with a voltage control oscillator; and a status recognition device (ST), coupled with a current measuring device, for controlling the switching device which when the high pressure gas discharge lamp is not ignited couples the oscillator with the phase comparator and which when the high pressure gas discharge lamp is ignited couples the oscillator with the integrating comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Assignee: Hella KG Hueck & Co.
    Inventor: Wolfgang Daub
  • Patent number: 5103143
    Abstract: In a process for starting a high pressure gas discharge lamp (GDL) of a motor vehicle of a type for which an alternating voltage is developed from a direct voltage, the alternating voltage being fed to an ignition device to ignite the high pressure gas discharge lamp, a lamp voltage and/or a lamp current is measured, an actual value based on lamp current and/or lamp voltage is compared with a desired value and after ignition of the high pressure gas discharge lamp for a predetermined time span, or period, an additional power is added to an operational power of the high pressure gas discharge lamp by means of changes in the alternating voltage which, on the one hand, is limited by a maximum permissible lamp current and on the other hand is terminated at the end of the predetermined time span.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Assignee: Hella KG Hueck & Co.
    Inventor: Wolfgang Daub
  • Patent number: 5099852
    Abstract: This method for establishing blood pressure in an artery employs the measurement results from two non-invasive sensors (5, 6) of artery diameter at two closely spaced locations (3, 4) separated by a distance .DELTA.x. The method provides for measuring the time spread .DELTA.t(7) between each pair of diameter measurements and establishing the propagation velocity of the pressure wave (9). Next, this value is compared with an expression (11) of the form c(D)= c(D, .alpha., .beta., .gamma., . . . ) which takes into account the physical behavior of the artery. This comparison permits one, following adjustment (12) based on a mathematical procedure for minimizing spreads, to calculate the parameters .alpha., .beta., .gamma., . . . of the relation given hereinabove. By replacing the parameters .alpha., .beta., .gamma., . . . by their values in a relation (10) D(p)= D(p, .alpha., .beta., .gamma., . . .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Assignee: Asulab S.A.
    Inventors: Jean J. Meister, Yanik Tardy
  • Patent number: 5098027
    Abstract: In a forage harvester having a motor driven sharpening stone driven back and forth along a path parallel to the axis of a rotating cutterhead to sharpen the knives of the cutterhead, and a door which normally prevents access to the knives, a control circuit is provided for controllig the opening of the door, the movement of the sharpening stone to sharpen the knives, and the closing of the door after the knives have been sharpened. The circuit is controlled by switches located at an operator's control panel and accessible to the operator while he is in the driver's seat of the harvester so that the operator does not have to leave his driving position to accomplish the knife sharpening operation. The circuit includes visual indicators lcoated on the control panel for indicating the status of the circuit during the entire operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: Ford New Holland, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. McClure, Mark K. Chow
  • Patent number: 5097857
    Abstract: An electro-hydraulic valve-actuator system (30) includes an electric motor (58) for driving a hydraulic pump (60), with an electrical control circuit (68) energizing the electric motor to thereby furnish hydraulic fluid to a valve actuator (16). A timer (90, 92) times activation of the electric motor and extinguishes such activation at expiration of a time period required to approximately move a valve (22) to a desired position. A four-way electric solenoid valve (66) is coupled to the electrical control circuit for channeling pumped hydraulic fluid to either close or open the valve. An adjustable hydraulic bypass relief valve (76) is coupled to the hydraulic pump for establishing a hydraulic-fluid pressure provided by the pump. Individual electro-hydraulic valve-actuator systems of this invention can replace a pneumatic valve-actuator system, or electro-mechanical valve actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Inventor: John Mayhew
  • Patent number: 5095754
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for detection of icing onset and ice thickness upon an accretion surface utilizing ultrasonic echo ranging techniques, including propagation of ultrasonic waves through a buffer block. A portion of the wave energy is reflected by reference reflection means and another portion of the wave energy is propagated to the ice accretion surface and to a reflecting interface. The reflecting interface is represented either by the accretion surface in absence of icing, or by a thin ice layer at the icing onset, or by the ice/air interface of an ice layer accreted upon the accretion surface. Reflected waves are transduced to electrical signals. Relative signal amplitudes and time delays provide measures of particular icing conditions upon the accretion surface, and are appropriately resolved into calibrated signals indicating icing onset, ice thickness, and ice accretion rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignees: Jeffrey A. Simpson, Theodore A. Johnson
    Inventors: David K. Hsu, Frank J. Margetan, Samuel J. Wormley, Jeffrey A. Simpson
  • Patent number: 5095897
    Abstract: An orthopedic splint (10) comprises a neoprene rubber tube having an internal surface forming a curved splint passage (50) for snugly fitting on a joint (14, 16) to be treated and defining a radially directed internal ridge (52) extending lengthwise along the tube for pressing against the joint. The splint is constructed by folding in half a flat sheet of neoprene rubber (18), attaching free end portions (26, 28) of the sheet to form a transition tube (44) having a transition internal passasge (46), sewing a seam (40) in said free adjacent free edge portions to define a wedge shaped angle pointing away from the transition internal passage having an angle of between 140.degree.-160.degree., cutting away excess neoprene sheet so as to leave a V-shaped seam allowance (42) at the free edge portions beyond the seam to form the ridge, and turning the transition tube inside out to form the splint (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Inventors: E. Nelson Clark, Gretchen Maurer
  • Patent number: 5096651
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a large-sized, thin-walled object of fiber reinforced synthetic resin, using inner and outer mold parts, which bound a mold cavity. A reduced pressure is created in the cavity by means of at least one vent in one of the two mold parts communicating with a vacuum source. A hardenable resin is supplied to the cavity via one or more openings in at least one of the two mold parts. The inner mold part is form retaining. A first reinforcement fiber layer is applied to the inner mold part, and then at least one foam core extending in a longitudinal direcetion and having at least one supply duct provided in it is placed on the first reinforcement layer. A second reinforcement layer is placed over the foam core, followed by applying to the second layer foam strips in which a passageway is provided. The whole arrangement is then covered with a flexible outer mold part at whose circumference a plurality of vents are provided for communication with a vacuum source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Inventor: Adolf le Comte
  • Patent number: 5093993
    Abstract: A utility knife (A) having a blade (C) retractable into a handle (B) is provided with a clipper (1) for clipping a dull end segment (E) from the blade along a score line. (F). The clipper includes an insertion portion (2) which may be inserted into the knife handle when the clipper is not in use, a hanger portion (3) which permits the clipper and knife to be hung on a garment pocket, and a connecting portion (4) connecting the insertion portion and hanger portion. The connecting portion includes a slit (5) for receiving the end segment of the blade and a movable means (14) permitting pivoting of a cover member (8) relative to a body member (7). The clipper is characterized in that a storage space (6) communicates with the slit (5) for storing blade segments clipped from knife blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Assignee: NT Incorporated
    Inventor: Mizuhiko Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 5094337
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for transferring objects from a first conveyor to a second conveyor which is arranged substantially perpendicularly to the first conveyor, the objects being transferred in parallel relationship to themselves. The first conveyor travels at a higher speed than the second conveyor. The transfer may be effected by means of one or more transfer members adapted to make an oblique movement in such a way that the component of velocity in the direction of travel of the first conveyor is approximately the same as the speed of the first conveyor and the component of velocity in the direction of travel of the second conveyor is approximately the same as the speed of the second conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Assignee: Terpa Poultry B.V.
    Inventors: Willem van Veldhuisen, Henk van Essen
  • Patent number: 5092818
    Abstract: A forage harvester having a feed mechanism for transporting crop material along a feed path to a rotating cutterhead is provided with a first detector for detecting metal objects in the crop material and a second detector for detecting hard objects. The feed mechanism includes a hollow feed roll rotatable about a fixed shaft and both detectors are supported by the fixed shaft inside the feed roll. The first detector is a metal detector mounted inside a housing supported by the fixed shaft. The second detector is a thin film microphone for sensing air-borne sound waves produced when hard objects impact the feed roll. The second detector may be mounted on the housing or, alternatively, mounted on a support member attached to the fixed shaft. In either arrangement, a vibration-absorbing pad is provided to isolate the microphone from mechanical vibrations occurring in its supporting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Ford New Holland, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl E. Bohman, Howard A. Winey, Gilbert W. Linde
  • Patent number: 5091829
    Abstract: A headlamp includes an adjusting mechanism for adjusting a reflector (3) of the headlamp about at least one axis (8). The adjusting mechanism comprises a threaded nut (9) attached to the reflector and a threaded shaft (12) which is rotatably mounted on a stationary part (1) of the headlamp. Adjustment of the reflector is displayed by a scale-like indicator mechanism which includes a fixed part (24) and an adjustable part (15). According to the invention, the adjustable part is formed of an idling toothed wheel (15) that meshes with a pinion (21) of the threaded shaft but which can be disengaged therefrom by axial displacement of the toothed wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Hella KG Hueck & Co.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Hendrischk, Franz Kathmann
  • Patent number: 5090423
    Abstract: A heating apparatus suitable for use in medical heat treatment of an affected portion of a human body employs a cavity resonator supplied with high-frequency energy from a high-frequency power supply unit. The cavity resonator comprises a cavity formed of a conductive material and at least one inner protrusion in said cavity generating a standing wave electric field for heating a body or body part introduced into the cavity. The inner protrusion may be a separate conductor or may be formed by deforming a portion of the conductor forming the cavity. A highly concentrated standing wave electric field and a surrounding electromagnetic field are produced in the cavity resonator when it is energized from the high-frequency power supply unit. The concentrated standing wave electric field intensively heats a desired local portion of the body and deep parts of the body may be heated satisfactorily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignees: Omron Corporation, Jinichi Matsuda, Kazuo Kato, Yoshiaki Saito
    Inventors: Jinichi Matsuda, Kazuo Kato
  • Patent number: 5090546
    Abstract: A gravity conveyor chute section (10) includes a door/ledge assembly (20), having a ledge (30) which is hingedly attached to a sidewall (12) of the chute section below a side opening (16) into the chute section and first and second side supports (56, 58), which extend from side edges (32, 34) of the ledge to the chute sidewall beyond side edges (36, 38) of a front panel (18). The ledge can be moved to a laterally-extending position for forming a ledge below the side opening and to a closed position for closing the side opening. When the ledge is moved to the closed position, the side supports move along side panels (22, 24) of the sidewall beyond the first and second side edges of the front panel. A door (68) is hingedly mounted on the ledge for being selectively rotated to the laterally-extending position with the ledge and to a closed position with or without the ledge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Trihard, S.A.
    Inventor: Daniel R. McDermott
  • Patent number: 5091777
    Abstract: A document monitor for viewing and reading of at least heading portions of bank statements upon occurrence of an error condition during processing of bank statements and associated checks in the preparation of mailing to bank customers in inserted mechinery comprises a video camera disposed beneath a raceway of an inserted machine, the camera being directed upwardly through a transparent window in the inserter raceway to view a bank statement that is disposed face down in the above the window, the statement being conveyed along the raceway during normal operation of the inserter machine. The document monitor further comprises means for illuminating of the state face from beneath and a video monitor screen can be easily seen by an operator. The video monitor is appropriately electronically interconnected with the camera in order to display an image of the bank statement's face seen thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Bell & Howell Phillipsburg Company
    Inventor: Michael E. Gleason
  • Patent number: 5088898
    Abstract: A reciprocating pump comprises a plurality of pump sections, each pump section having a suction inlet and a discharge outlet, the inlets all connecting with a common passageway through which the pumped fluid is supplied and the outlets all connecting with a common discharge passageway through which the pumped fluid is discharged. Each pump section includes a bellows which reciprocates to alternately produce suction and discharge strokes, with a change-over period between strokes. A drive control for the bellows delays the start of strokes by the bellows so that when one pump section is in a suction stroke or a change-over period, at least one other pump section is in a discharge stroke. The arrangement reduces variations in pressure in the discharge from the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: Nippon Pillar Packing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Fukumoto, Ryo Imanishi
  • Patent number: D324730
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Eddie Salter Inc.
    Inventors: Eddie C. Salter, Jackie W. Nichols