Patents Represented by Law Firm Kinney, Lange, Braddock, Westman and Fairbairn
  • Patent number: 4403365
    Abstract: A brush assembly is utilized for cleaning pans in which loaves of bread are baked after the pans have been emptied of the bread. The brush assembly is mounted above a conveyor carrying the pans, and includes long bristle brushes rotating about axes oblique with respect to the direction of travel of the pans, and generally parallel to the plane of movement of the pans. The brush assemblies are oscillated up and down as they are rotated so that the brush tips tend to be repeatedly jabbed longitudinally into the corners of the pans to loosen seed, crumbs and other materials left in the pans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1983
    Inventor: Douglas R. Hanson
  • Patent number: 4403855
    Abstract: An apparatus in combination with a photographic printer indicates the position of a selected film frame at a print gate aperture relative to other film frames in a disc-like film unit having a plurality of film frames. The apparatus includes a disc-like film unit holder for rotationally indexing selected film frames to the print gate aperture having a first gear. A second gear provides motive force through a suitable actuating mechanism for rotationally indexing the disc-like film unit on the holder assembly. A third gear having indicia for indicating relative positions of the film frames in the disc film unit is rotatably positioned between the first and the second gear and cooperates with the first and the second gear to rotationally index the disc-like film unit on the holder assembly. Only the indicia that indicates the selected film frame positioned at the print gate aperture is viewable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1983
    Assignee: Pako Corporation
    Inventor: Richard D. Anderson
  • Patent number: 4403872
    Abstract: A device for measuring a parameter such as temperature, humidity, or the like in a fluid stream having a leading portion and a trailing portion forming an elongated longitudinal housing with a bore extending longitudinally through the portions for flow therethrough. The flow rate is internally regulated to a desired rate by a restriction in the bore located in the trailing portion. Where the fluid stream is air, the restriction provides for internal Mach number regulation at various flow rates. A first plurality of ports is located in the leading portion for boundary layer control. The device has one or more annular fluid passageways downstream of the first ports coupled to the bore and ported to the exterior to cooperate with the bore to provide a lower pressure area for flow therethrough, and a sensor disposed in at least one such passageway. The leading portion may incorporate anti-icing for air stream measurement. For temperature sensors, radiation shielding is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1983
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventor: Richard V. DeLeo
  • Patent number: 4404444
    Abstract: A pushbutton switch capable of conversion from alternate action operation to momentary operation includes a housing, an elongated slider with a heart-shaped cam groove, a removable alternate action stop member, and a helical compression spring. The removable alternate action stop member is in the form of a rigid wire with an upturned pivot leg, a downturned detent leg parallel to the pivot leg and a crosspiece . The upturned pivot leg extends upward through a pivot hole in an upper tongue of the housing and the detent leg extends downward into the heart-shaped cam groove in the slider. A top opening in the housing communicates with the pivot hole and provides an area for side-to-side swinging movement of the crosspiece as the slider moves along a longitudinal axis and the lower end of the detent leg follows the heart-shaped cam groove. A raised cover connected to the upper tongue covers a portion of the top opening and protects the stop member from damage during assembly or use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1983
    Assignee: Electronic Components Groupe, Inc.
    Inventors: Dwayne R. Kinney, Herman H. Sinn
  • Patent number: 4402590
    Abstract: A multiprocess photographic processor has a plurality of tanks through which photosensitive material is transported. Different photosensitive materials are transported through different combinations of the tanks to provide different processing while utilizing the same processor. An automatic replenishment control system stores replenishment rates for each type of photosensitive material, as well as pattern information indicating those tanks which require replenishment during a particular process. During the processing of photosensitive material, replenishment is provided to selected tanks based upon the type of photosensitive material being processed, the stored replenishment rates, and the stored pattern information associated with the particular process being used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1983
    Assignee: Pako Corporation
    Inventor: Barry P. Rubin
  • Patent number: 4400969
    Abstract: An apparatus secures a damaged vehicle for straightening with a vehicle straightening device. The apparatus includes a base and a mechanism for securely attaching the base to a support in a plurality of positions such that the base is in a fixed spatial relationship with respect to the vehicle straightening device in each position and is easily transferable from position to position. A clamping mechanism securely holds the vehicle by clamping a portion of the vehicle. A vertical positioning mechanism positions the clamping mechanism along a substantially vertical axis between the base and the vehicle portion to be clamped and a preferred horizontal positioning mechanism positions the clamping mechanism along a substantially horizontal plane. The clamping mechanism is pivotable about two separate pivot axes located between the base and the clamping mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1983
    Assignee: Align-Tech, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald A. Specktor
  • Patent number: 4399577
    Abstract: A machine for cleaning a grate over dairy barn manure troughs uses a rotating cylindrical brush with dense, fibrous, resilient bristles to scrub manure from the grate. The cylindrical brush is mounted in a housing which rides on a pair of wheels. The cleaner is moved forward and backward by the contact of the rotating brush through the barn floor. An electric motor drives the brush through a chain drive. A pair of flexible protective flaps mounted in front and behind the rotating brush prevent splashing of manure. Water nozzles are mounted on the front end and rear end of the machine for spraying the grate. A nozzle is also mounted inside of the housing for spraying the brush as it rotates. A handle extends from the rear of the machine and is offset to the walkway side wall of the machine to keep the operator away from kicking animals. The animal stall side wall of the machine is strengthened to withstand kicks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1983
    Inventors: Clayton C. Pyle, Bobby R. Wigelsworth
  • Patent number: 4399407
    Abstract: An engine analyzer for an internal combustion engine includes an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter which digitizes an analog electrical input waveform representing, for example, a secondary or primary voltage waveform of the ignition coil of the internal combustion engine. The digitized input waveform is stored in the form of digital data in a data mamory. Upon request by the operator of the apparatus, a microprocessor selects digital data stored, and supplies that digital data to a display, which displays a visual representation of the waveform based upon the selected digital data. The engine analyzer apparatus produces a constant width waveform regardless of engine RPM, by determining the period of the waveform to be stored, and then varying the sample rate at which the A/D converter samples the analog waveform and converts the sampled waveform to digital data. As a result, the number of data samples, and thus the width of the displayed waveform, is constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1983
    Assignee: Bear Automotive Service Equipment Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Kling, Joseph A. Marino
  • Patent number: 4398347
    Abstract: A tool for severing a thermoplastic sheath forming the outer layer of an electrical cable includes an elongated flexible sheath-severing line having an outer sleeve of woven polyester fabric covering a center core of polyester filaments. This line is stored on a spring-loaded reel inside of a case, and is provided with a handle grip outside of the case. The method for using the tool includes the steps of wrapping the line around the thermoplastic sheath at the point where it is to be severed, supporting the cable firmly against the case, and pulling briskly and firmly on the cable grip to cause the line to move out of the case against the action of the reel biasing spring, thus generating sufficient friction as it slides around the thermoplastic sheath to cut through the sheath to the paper underneath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1983
    Inventor: Eugene P. Duffy
  • Patent number: 4399170
    Abstract: A finishing tool is used to smooth tape joints of interior walls and ceilings constructed of plasterboard or drywall. The tool includes a handle, a resilient polyester foam pad, and a wettable abrasive surface of short, stiff coarse nylon fibers bonded to the resilient foam pad so that they are oriented perpendicular to the surface of the foam pad. In use, the abrasive surface is wetted, and then is moved over the surface of the tape joint to moisten the joint cement. The tool is then moved in a scrubbing-type movement to work the joint cement to a creamy consistency. The surface of the joint cement is then smoothed by stroking the tool along the length of the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1983
    Assignee: Padco, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig R. Janssen
  • Patent number: 4398322
    Abstract: A hitch pin assembly for connecting a hitch of a towing vehicle (e.g. an agricultural tractor) with a tongue of a towed vehicle (e.g. an agricultural implement) includes a coupling pin having a pinhead and handle at its upper end. The coupling pin is inserted through the hitch and tongue, and is held in place by a collar, which is connected to the lower end of the coupling pin. The collar and the pin are locked together by a locking mechanism which includes a pair of L shaped channels at the lower end of the coupling pin, a pair of locking pins carried by the collar which cooperate with the channels, and a bias spring carried on the collar. The bias spring provides an axial bias force which holds the locking pins in locking seat portions of the channels during normal use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1983
    Inventor: Warren E. Ewen
  • Patent number: 4398579
    Abstract: A lathe work center device centers a workpiece about an axis of rotation on a lathe. The lathe has two tool centers with at least one tool center being driven and both tool centers coaxially positioned about the axis of rotation. The work center device includes a substantially flat main ring portion having an outer periphery. A plurality of spurs integral with the main ring portion project toward and are embedded within the workpiece. The spurs are positioned on a side of the ring portion that is adjacent to the workpiece, proximate the outer periphery. A centering portion integral with the main ring portion projects outwardly therefrom on a side of the main ring portion opposite the spurs. Preferably, the centering portion has a frusto conical configuration and engages the tip of a tool center, locating the workpiece about the axis of rotation. A plurality of lugs proximate the outer periphery engage cooperating slots in the driven tool center for rotating the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1983
    Assignee: Toolmark Co.
    Inventors: Robert A. Holdahl, Paul S. Petersen
  • Patent number: 4399459
    Abstract: A circuit which accepts a variable horizontal frequency input signal and an independent variable vertical frequency input signal and generates a combined video synchronization signal including horizontal synchronization pulses and serrated vertical synchronization pulses preceded and followed by equalization pulses in accordance with specifications established by the National Television Standards Committee. The circuit is useful for generating a combined video synchronization signal from the variable frequency horizontal and vertical synchronization pulses supplied by programmable cathode ray tube controller integrated circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1983
    Assignee: Nicolet Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Mulvanny, Scott Bartky
  • Patent number: 4398194
    Abstract: A differential pressure transducer is a body with a pair of opposed sensing chambers bounded by diaphragms and associated surfaces of the body. The surfaces have conducting layers and form capacitors with the metal diaphragms. The chambers are connected together and fitted with a fixed mass of oil. A signal generating circuit produces electrical signals representing the values of the two sensing capacitors which are fed to a computer to calculate the differential pressure independent of temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1983
    Assignee: Rosemount Engineering Company Limited
    Inventor: James S. Johnston
  • Patent number: 4396283
    Abstract: A neghold assembly permits withdrawal of a disc-like film unit from a clamping aperture assembly stationarily positioned on the photographic printer that holds a selected film frame at the print gate aperture. The disc-like film unit is held on a movable film transport assembly which engages a switching mechanism that actuates the clamping aperture assembly to an open position, releasing the disc-like film unit before the transport assembly can be moved from a print exposure cycle position. The film transport assembly includes a film transport base that is slidably attached to the printer and is positionable in the print exposure cycle position. A disc film holder, positioned on the transport base, holds the disc-like film units and rotationally indexes selected film frames to the print gate for clamping by the clamping mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1983
    Assignee: Pako Corporation
    Inventors: Richard D. Anderson, Larry M. Karjala
  • Patent number: 4396282
    Abstract: A disc film holder holds a generally disc-like photographic film unit having a plurality of image frames and indexes and disc-like photographic film unit to position selected image frames at a predetermined position, such as a print gate aperture in a photographic printer. The disc-like film unit is held coaxially about a central post and is rotationally indexed about a central axis. When the film unit is rotated for indexing a selected image frame to the print gate aperture, the film unit is biased upwardly to an indexing position so that both the top and bottom surfaces of the film is maintained out of contact with any surface during rotation. When the disc has been indexed so that the selected image is in alignment with the print gate aperture, the film unit is forced downwardly to a non-indexing position and the frame to be printed is clamped at the print gate aperture for transferring an image to photographic print paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1983
    Assignee: Pako Corporation
    Inventor: Richard D. Anderson
  • Patent number: D270230
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1983
    Assignee: Communications Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Meyer
  • Patent number: D270231
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1983
    Assignee: Communications Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Meyer
  • Patent number: D270247
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1983
    Assignee: Communications Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis A. Sampson, Ronald W. Wiseheart, Daniel Meyer
  • Patent number: D270682
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1983
    Assignee: Drag Specialties, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas H. Rudd