Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Kendal M. Sheets
  • Patent number: 6561767
    Abstract: A method for converting a pump for use in a flow stream containing a mixture of highly compressed gas, compressible liquid or supercritical fluid wherein the pump delivers a compressible fluid against a back-pressure regulator which in turn delivers a controllable flow rate downstream of the regulator without performing variable compressibility compensation adjustments on the pump. By using a pressurized source of compressible fluid combined with isocratic conditions, the delivery pressure from the pump is controlled at a rate higher than the downstream gradient with the back-pressure regulator, and an inexpensive pump may be used in place of specialized, expensive pumps and compressibility compensation systems for use in stems operating at or near supercritical fluid levels of compressible fluids. Significant capital and operating laboratory costs are saved through a simpler and cheaper system for accurately delivering compressible fluids into mobile phase flow streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Berger Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry A. Berger, Kimber D. Fogelman, L. Thompson Staats, III, Mark Nickerson, Paul F. Bente, III
  • Patent number: 6558540
    Abstract: An efficient and safe method and apparatus for collecting exhaust gasses in an open-air sample collection container in a supercritical fluid chromatography system is claimed. The invention uses a vacuum force to evacuate the gaseous phase and vapors separated from liquid mobile phase in a sample collection device. The invention is portable to use on a series of collection containers, such as test tubes or wells in a titration place. Embodiments are claimed for capture of gasses and vapors either internally or externally to a collection container. The invention removes the gasses from the collection container that are then safely vented to a waste collector, thereby creating a safer environment for the laboratory and properly removing and disposing potentially hazardous chemicals instead of venting these chemicals into the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Berger Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry A. Berger, Kimber D. Fogelman, L. Thompson Staats, III, Mark Nickerson, Paul F. Bente, III
  • Patent number: 6499994
    Abstract: To save a space for heating remarkably than that of a conventional case, to apply main heating at a high temperature only to portions of chips to be soldered and to perform heating operation in a short period of time, a heating apparatus is composed of a preheating zone and a main heating zone. In the preheating zone, support pallets are rotated in the vertical direction within a vertical heat insulating chamber like a Ferris wheel. Also, heat at a temperature such that cream solder is not molten by heaters is applied to a printed circuit board by fans. In the main heating zone, a pattern mask is fixed within a heat insulating chamber, sleeve bodies are fitted in necessary through-holes, blind plugs are fitted in unnecessary through-holes and heat at a temperature such that the cream solder is molten by a heater is applied to portions of chips to be soldered by fans through sleeve bodies, coil springs and other sleeve bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Minami Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takehiko Murakami
  • Patent number: 6496698
    Abstract: A computer implemented process compares signals communicated between a known position and a plurality of base stations in a cellular telephone system to determine the level of interference with a signal on a channel expected to serve the known position, and determines a value indicating a probability of interference with a signal on a channel expected to serve the known position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: ScoreBoard, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Jensen
  • Patent number: 6496697
    Abstract: A computer implemented process compares signals communicated between a known position and a plurality of base stations in a cellular telephone system to determine the level of interference with a signal on a channel expected to serve the known position, and determines a value indicating a probability of interference with a signal on a channel expected to serve the known position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: ScoreBoard, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Jensen
  • Patent number: 6491029
    Abstract: To feed stably fuel through a fuel injection valve for a long period and to stabilize pressure controlling characteristics of a fuel pressure controlling valve, a fuel case is partitioned to form a fuel introduction chamber, a pump receiving chamber and a fuel discharge chamber. A fuel pump is received in the pump receiving chamber, an intake passage thereof communicates to the fuel introduction chamber and a discharge passage is opened to the inside of a filter in fuel discharge chamber. Fuel discharged from the fuel pump is fed into the inside of the filter from the discharge passage and clean fuel is fed into a cleaned fuel discharge chamber. The clean fuel within the cleaned fuel discharge chamber is fed from a fuel discharge passage to a fuel distribution pipe and fed from a fuel introduction passage of the fuel pressure controlling valve to the fuel chamber thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Keihin Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Kondou, Toshinobu Ueoka, Hiroshi Yamazoe
  • Patent number: 6451273
    Abstract: A method of extracting active mineral liquid from a rock such as granite is described. This method comprises charging an extraction vessel with finely divided granite at ambient temperature and pressure; introducing an aqueous ammonia solution with agitating and then diluted sulfuric acid into the vessel; introducing 98% ethyl alcohol at below 80° C. into the vessel to elevate the inner pressure of the vessel to 2-3 kg/cm2 for facilitating the formation of complexes; and agitating the resulting reaction mixture for 20-160 minutes at 80° C. to 85° C. while maintaining the internal pressure of the vessel. The active mineral liquid is advantageously used as a mineral source for soils, animals, plants, the human body and so forth, and as an agent for the purification of waterworks as well as for the treatment of wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Inventors: Dae-Kyu Jung, Kyu-Heon Lee
  • Patent number: 6446617
    Abstract: An induction manifold for an internal-combustion engine, comprising an elongate main body having longitudinal inner cavity provided with an opening adapted to communicate with the intake orifices of the engine, an inlet duct provided with an air-inlet opening and communicating with the cavity, a feed duct for EGR gases formed integrally with the manifold and comprising a first portion extending inside the main body from an inlet orifice for EGR gases to the air-inlet duct and from a second portion extending inside the inlet duct and provided with an outlet opening in the inlet duct itself, and a baffle disposed in the inlet duct between the air-inlet opening and the outlet opening of the feed duct for directing the air and the EGR gases towards a mixing zone inside the inlet duct and situated at a predetermined distance from the cavity of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Iveco Fiat S.p.A.
    Inventors: Pietro Bianchi, Claudio Sparti
  • Patent number: 6428702
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for safely introducing sample into a flow stream of a supercritical fluid chromatography system is described. The sample injection method improves safety of injection by eliminating the risk of injecting sample into a high-pressure system containing liquids and gasses at or near supercritical ranges. The method improves the efficiency and significantly shortens the time of the injection process by using a check valve placed between a fill port on an injection valve and sample port where sample is injected by a syringe. After sample injection from a sample loop into a high-pressure flow stream, an injection valve is reset to receive a subsequent sample. High-pressure flow stream mixtures become trapped within the sample loop when the valve is reset. The check valve prevents the mixtures from expanding into the sample port and blowing out a syringe and flow stream mixtures from the fill lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Berger Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry A. Berger, Kimber D. Fogelman
  • Patent number: 6424643
    Abstract: A computer implemented process which utilizes actual received signal level data gathered from closely spaced locations covering an entire CDMA system to calculate interference levels at each location, determines those base stations which most probably communicate with a mobile unit at each particular location, compiles a list of neighbor base stations for each base station at each location throughout the system, and determines the transmit power necessary for each base station to communicate with a mobile unit at each location, calculates interference levels at each base station, and determines the transmit power necessary for a mobile unit at each location to communicate with each base station which most probably communicates with a mobile unit at that particular location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: ScoreBoard, Inc.
    Inventor: Stanley Gutowski
  • Patent number: 6413428
    Abstract: A fractionated sample collection process and device having at least one pressurized chamber used to gather and store liquid samples generated from a flow stream containing a mixture of highly compressed gas, compressible liquid, or supercritical fluid and a relatively incompressible liquid. A bank of multiple collection chambers is secured together in a frame to form a cassette unit. Each collection chamber may house a replaceable liner such as a test tube vial, to hold a fractionated liquid phase sample. After filling with sample, a collection chamber is returned to a clean state and ready for refilling with a new sample by manually or automatically replacing the liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Berger Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry A. Berger, Kimber D. Fogelman, L. Thompson Staats, Mark Nickerson, Paul Bente
  • Patent number: 6411819
    Abstract: A computer implemented process which determines those base stations which most probably communicate with a mobile unit, determines a probability for each base station to communicate with a mobile unit at a location based on the actual received signal level compared to the interference level of signals received at the location, then computes for each set of base stations a probability of that set of base stations communicating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: ScoreBoard, Inc.
    Inventor: Stanley J. Gutowski
  • Patent number: 6405712
    Abstract: The invention provides a fuel distribution pipe which can restrict an increase of temperature of a fuel flowing within a fuel distribution path of the fuel distribution pipe, whereby it is possible to improve an operation property of the engine. In the fuel distribution pipe, the fuel distribution path is pierced along a line X—X in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the fuel distribution pipe and an injection valve supporting hole for inserting and supporting a rear end portion of the fuel injection valve and a fuel introduction path for supplying a fuel having a pressure increased by a fuel pump are continuously provided in the fuel distribution path of the fuel distribution pipe, and a cooling water flow path extending along the line X—X in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the fuel distribution path and sectioned from the fuel distribution path is provided on an outer periphery of the fuel distribution path, thereby introducing a cooling water into the cooling water flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Keihin Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi Nomura
  • Patent number: 6405043
    Abstract: A computer implemented process compares signals communicated between a known position and a plurality of base stations in a cellular telephone system to determine the level of interference with a signal on a channel expected to serve the known position, and determines a value indicating a probability of interference with a signal on a channel expected to serve the known position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: ScoreBoard, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric H. Jensen, John E. Arpee
  • Patent number: 6397868
    Abstract: A seat suspended between two crutches in the manner of a sling, to provide the user of the crutches with a place to rest. The seat is attached to both crutches of a pair of crutches used by an individual needing crutches. The seat is attached by one or more adjustable straps and/or release clips. The seat allows the user to rest his body weight on the seat thereby relieving the arms of the user without placing weight on the lower limbs. The crutches are fully usable in the normal manner for walking while the seat is attached and suspended from the crutches. The seat hangs below and behind the user when the crutches are used by the user for walking. The feet of the crutched are placed adjacent one another, while the tops of the crutches are spread apart to raise the seat into a usable height, while providing a stable base for supporting the user. The crutches are then angled slightly forward with the tops of the crutches in front of the user and the crutch feet behind the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Inventor: John E. Smith
  • Patent number: 6342080
    Abstract: A candle is disclosed, containing a candle-forming component including a paraffin wax and stearic acid, added and mixed with Tetrahydro methylabietate and dihydro Methylabietate, Isopropyl Myristate, &agr;-Amylcinnamic Alcohol, Iso Bornyl Cyclohexanol, and Tri Ethyl Citrate. The candle has an effect for suppressing the exhalation of a nasty odor (an odor at extinguishing) generated when a flame has been extinguished, as well as an effect that, when the odor at extinguishing is vaporized by heat and diffused into air, molecules of various odors hanging in the air are trapped, whereby the air in the whole of a room is made refreshed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Nippon Kodo Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayoshi Konaka
  • Patent number: 6257258
    Abstract: A seat suspended between two crutches in the manner of a sling, to provide the user of the crutches with a place to rest. The seat is attached to both crutches of a pair of crutches used by an individual needing crutches. The seat is attached by one or more adjustable straps and/or release clips. The seat allows the user to rest his body weight on the seat thereby relieving the arms of the user without placing weight on the lower limbs. The crutches are fully usable in the normal manner for walking while the seat is attached and suspended from the crutches. The seat hangs below and behind the user when the crutches are used by the user for walking. The feet of the crutched are placed adjacent one another, while the tops of the crutches are spread apart to raise the seat into a usable height, while providing a stable base for supporting the user. The crutches are then angled slightly forward with the tops of the crutches in front of the user and the crutch feet behind the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Inventor: John E. Smith
  • Patent number: 6246176
    Abstract: A safety switch for a lamp is disclosed. The safety switch comprises a pair of electrodes having cylindrical shapes. Each electrode comprises an internal face with a conical cavity therein. The electrodes are arranged so that they are adjacently mounted with an aperture formed between the two conical cavities. In addition, there is a metal ball placed within the conical cavity. The metal ball forms a connection or disconnection of the electrodes. In one embodiment of the invention, the electrodes are horizontally mounted, and when the lamp is displaced from an upright position, the ball rests along the aperture formed between the two electrodes, thereby providing a connection of the electrodes and power and luminescence to the lamp. When the lamp is displaced from the upright position, the ball moves away from the aperture, thereby disconnecting the electrodes and power and luminescence to the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Catalina Lighting, Inc.
    Inventor: Chan K. Fai
  • Patent number: 6144160
    Abstract: A lamp with a temperature-controlled automatically protecting circuit which includes a temperature induction circuit and a sampling circuit with its input end to connect with an output end of the temperature induction circuit, wherein the temperature control automatically protecting circuit further includes: a comparing circuit which has an input end to connect with an output end of the sampling circuit and when a positive voltage drop across the sampling resistance of the sampling circuit is lower than a reference voltage, the comparing circuit will have a high electrical level output; a trigger circuit which has an input end to connect with an output end of the comparing circuit and a thyristor which can be triggered by the high electrical level output of the comparing circuit to have the trigger circuit in the on state; and a maintaining circuit which has a capacitance in parallel with the thyristor in the trigger circuit and which, after being in series with a resistance, have a low electric level output
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Catalina Lighting, Inc.
    Inventor: Chan K. Fai
  • Patent number: D463915
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Asahi Irika Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoru Toyama