Patents Represented by Law Firm Learman & McCulloch
  • Patent number: 6435077
    Abstract: The invention relates to a piston head (10) of a piston for an internal combustion engine, in particular for diesel engines, comprising an upper part (12) having a piston crown extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis (A) of a piston, and a lower part (14) connected with the upper part (12) and having two pin bosses (26a, b), the mutually facing sides of which are arranged at a mutual distance from one another, the pin bosses (26a, b) each comprising a pin hole (40a, 40b) extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis (A) of the piston and in each case aligned with the other and a cavity being formed in the junction area (28a, 28b) of the upper part (12) and the lower part (14), which cavity adjoins the piston crown (16) on the pin boss side and opens into the area between the pin bosses (26a, b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Wiesbaden GmbH
    Inventors: Philippe Damour, Carmo Ribeiro
  • Patent number: 6435075
    Abstract: A fluid actuator attaches a hinged safety device to a vehicle and pivots the hinged safety device between retracted and extended positions. The housing of the actuator has a base and a removable cover. A sub-assembly is attached to the base. The subassembly includes a generally planar base member with integral right cylinder, lever arm pivot support and stop posts. A piston slides in the right cylinder and forms a fluid chamber between the piston and a closed end of the right cylinder that is fed through a passage through the closed end of the cylinder. A lever arm is pivotally attached to the lever arm pivot support at one end for pivotal movement between retracted and extended positions, the lever arm extending over the cylinder and having a lip at an opposite end that is spaced from the right cylinder. A pivot arm engages the top of the piston at one end and the lever arm at an opposite end to transfer motion from the piston to the lever arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Transpec, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald C. Lamparter, James A. Haigh, Richard J. Iminski
  • Patent number: 6435565
    Abstract: A band clamp is provided making a joint in each of two pairs of closely spaced pipes wherein the pipes in each pair are aligned with each other. The clamp has a single closed loop clamp band for connecting adjoining ends of the first pair to make a sealed joint and connecting the adjoining ends of the second pair of pipes to make a sealed joint. The clamp band encircles both pairs of pipes and overlaps a portion of the adjoining ends of both pairs of pipes. The closed loop of the clamp band has oppositely disposed concave lobe portions spanning the gap between the pipes and a clamping mechanism is provided for drawing the lobe portions toward each other for tightening the band around the adjoining ends of the pipes to provide a mechanical connection and a sealed joint in each pair of pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: BKS Company LLC
    Inventors: Michael R. Potts, Michael E. Amedure
  • Patent number: 6435374
    Abstract: A container (1) for a flowable product comprises a first wall (2) and a second wall (3) joined along their respective edges by means of a peelable weld (4) and defining a cavity (7) for the product and an opening zone (5) obtained in the weld (4) defined by peelable parts (9) of the weld; when the container is to be opened, the parts (9) are folded outwards, in such a way as to uncover those faces (10) which were inside while the container was closed, making them accessible to contact by the mouth of a user. Arresting embossments (14) delimit the extent of peeling open of the parts (9). Releasably snap-fitting embossments (18 and 16) respectively permit maintaining open of the parts (9) and r-eclosing of the parts (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Unfill International A/G
    Inventor: Roberto Tabaroni
  • Patent number: 6435937
    Abstract: The toy figure has at least two force sensors. The total force applied to all the sensors by a person is measured by a force measuring device. One or more force measuring device output signals are sent to a data bus. Data bus signals are sent to a microcontroller. The microcontroller identifies a message group based on the maximum force signal received from the data bus and filters out data bus outputs that result from secondary force measuring device signals. The microcontroller sends a message group identification signal to the information storage device. The storage device broadcasts one of a plurality of messages from the message group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Inventor: Michael A. Naegele
  • Patent number: 6437860
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for angle measurement or for the determination of an angle of position for an object. The method comprises the use of a beacon having a known position and rotating around its axis, which emits light or reflects light focused thereon. The light emitting from the beacon being determined either previously or for the start of each measurement for a given reference bearing. In the method, the light emitted from the beacon is picked up by a receiver present in an object to be measured, which is provided with elements for determining, by means of the light received from the beacon, the rotational speed of the beacon and further an angular position for the object with respect to said reference bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Geopolar Oy
    Inventor: Risto Jäppinen
  • Patent number: 6431064
    Abstract: Screen-printing device for printing a substrate (6), comprising at least one printing station (2) for a removable screen (10) and a printing-medium feed; and substrate-conveying means (4, 5) for guiding a substrate (6) past the printing station (2) in which device the following are also provided: a movement mechanism for moving the screen (10) and the substrate-conveying means (4, 5) with respect to one another between a printing position and a free position, a shield (15) which can move between an at-rest position and a shielding position, in which shielding position the shield (15) forms a barrier between the screen (10) and the substrate-conveying means (4, 5) or a substrate (6) which is being guided over these means, and liquid-discharge means (20) for discharging liquids which are deposited on a shield (15) which is located in the shielding position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Stork Brabant B.V.
    Inventor: Wilhelmus J. A. L. M. Claassen
  • Patent number: 6431717
    Abstract: An illumination assembly and a method for making it. The basic assembly includes an elongated waveguide and an enclosure operative to support an illumination source, where the enclosure defines at least one opening. The waveguide includes light-directing structure operative to direct light out of the waveguide in a pre-determined direction. The end of the waveguide and the opening of the enclosure are each shaped so that the waveguide may be inserted into the enclosure in only one rotational orientation. The method includes the basic steps of: modifying the waveguide to include light-directing structure along the waveguide to direct light out of the waveguide in a predetermined direction; forming an opening having a predetermined shape; and forming the end of the waveguide to have a corresponding shape, where the shapes of the opening and the end permit mating of the end into the opening in only one rotational orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc.
    Inventors: James Burr Anderson, George Robert Hulse
  • Patent number: 6431527
    Abstract: A rotary throttle valve carburetor for a two cycle engine reroutes a portion of intake air and introduces the air around the circumference of a fuel feed tube. A rotary throttle, rotatable and vertically moveable, fits into a cylindrical chamber intersecting an air intake channel through a carburetor body. A needle supported by the rotary throttle fits into the fuel feed tube which extends from a fuel metering chamber within the carburetor body into a throttling bore extending laterally through the rotary throttle. An intake portion of the air intake channel expands conically toward an upstream side. An air guide tube is aligned co-axially and radially outward from a fuel feed tube forming an air passageway there between. The intake air portion flows through the air passage from the intake portion of the air intake channel and into a bottom space of the cylindrical chamber beneath the rotary throttle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Walbro Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Suzuki, Tamio Aihara
  • Patent number: 6428017
    Abstract: A plug, for use in sealing the ends of a drive shaft the ends of which have been reduced in diameter, has an annular skirt coupled by a conical web to a central core, the web and the skirt being elastically deformable thereby enabling the plug to collapse radially inwardly as the plug is drawn through the reduced diameter ends of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Arrow Paper Products Company
    Inventors: David A. Galonska, Gary A. Conger
  • Patent number: 6430339
    Abstract: A method of illuminating an object with a waveguide system includes directing a beam of light into a waveguide. The waveguide includes a light input region, a front lenslet array having individual lenslets with a radius of curvature, and a rear surface. The beam of light directed into the waveguide is reflected off of the front lenslet array. A portion of the beam of light passes to the rear surface so that the portion leaks out of the waveguide. The portion that leaks out is reflected laterally through the waveguide by an external reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc.
    Inventors: George Robert Hulse, James Burr Anderson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6427349
    Abstract: An electronic compass is described for use in vehicles. The compass employs a magnetoresistive sensor for sensing the earth magnetic field and the sensor is operated in alternate set/reset bias modes. In a first embodiment, the compass is provided with deviation compensation by a closed loop system including measurement of the sensor output signals and an offset current strap for nullifying the vehicle deviation field. In a second embodiment, deviation compensation is provided by operation in an initial calibration mode and by operation in a normal compensation mode to adjust compensation, as needed, on a long term basis during normal operation of the compass. In the initial calibration mode, while the vehicle is being driven, the signal peak values are adjusted to a nominal earth field level by changing the offset current. Then, compensating signal reference values for each axis are determined as each peak for that axis is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Rodney K. Blank, Richard J. Gahan, Howard J. Haselhuhn, Jr., Kenneth L. Schierbeek, Kenneth Schofield
  • Patent number: 6427996
    Abstract: Workpiece transfer support apparatus has a housing having a chamber therein for the removable accommodation of a support body which may be equipped with a workpiece engaging and supporting member. That portion of the support body which is accommodated in the chamber is engaged by and urged into a seating position with seating surfaces within the chamber. A locking bolt is movable into and out of engagement with the support member when the latter is within the chamber and acts on such support member to maintain it in snug engagement with the seating surfaces. A safety latch is provided to avoid inadvertent removal of the support body from the chamber of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Atlas Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: James H. Niedzielski
  • Patent number: 6428739
    Abstract: A parison handling device has a pair of opposed arms with each arm having at least a pair of grippers to selectively engage an extruded parison and transfer it to a second location such as to a mold of a blow molding machine. At least one gripper on each arm is both slidably and generally pivotally movable relative to the arm to facilitate initially engaging and gripping the parison and subsequent closing and stretching of a gripped end of the parison to more efficiently distribute the material of the parison such that after blow molding of the parison, the molded product has a substantially uniform wall thickness throughout. Preferably, a follower attached to each movable gripper is responsive to a profile or contour of a cam carried by each arm to guide the movement of the gripper corresponding to the profile of the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Walbro Corporation
    Inventors: Vladimir Franjo, John F. Kenyon, Laszlo Papp
  • Patent number: 6427647
    Abstract: A two stroke combustion engine, equipped with fuel injection apparatus and ignition timing controlled by throttle position, has a charge forming device which delivers a rich fuel mixture from an integral float-type fuel chamber. The fuel injection apparatus typically comprises a tuned injector tube that communicates between a crankcase injector port and a cylinder injector port. The vast majority of fuel mixes with air in an injector mixing passage of the charge forming device where it is subsequently delivered to the tuned injector tube which directly injects the rich fuel mixture into a cylinder of the engine. The rich fuel mixture supplied by the charge forming device injects into the combustion chamber through the cylinder injector port via a reflected pressure wave generated from the previous combustion cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Walbro Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Galka, Ronald H. Roche
  • Patent number: 6427510
    Abstract: A bending and hemming apparatus configured to both bend and hem a sheet metal panel to form a body closure member at a single station. The apparatus includes a hemming machine movable between a retracted position spaced from a bending machine and advanced positions adjacent the bending machine to assist in the bending operation and to hem the body panel into a finished product. The apparatus also includes an anvil assembly pivotably supported on the hemming machine. The anvil assembly is movable between a lowered position where it engages the workpiece when the hemming machine is advanced to a bending position adjacent the bending machine. In the lowered position, the anvil assembly provides a fulcrum around which the workpiece is bent. The anvil assembly is pivotable to a raised position to allow the hemming machine to be advanced to a hemming position adjacent the bending machine from which the hemming machine can engage the bent workpiece to hem the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Unova IP Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph K. Schlafhauser, Philip V. Wiens
  • Patent number: 6427646
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for a two-stroke small engine has a charge forming device with an injector mixing passage which forms a rich fuel and air mixture supplied to a tuned injector tube connected adjacent one end through a port to the engine cylinder and adjacent the other end to the engine crankcase. The charge forming device has a high speed fuel circuit which supplies at least a majority of the fuel to the mixing passage under wide open throttle operating conditions and preferably a minor portion of the fuel is also supplied by an idle fuel circuit which under engine idle conditions preferably supplies essentially all of the fuel to the engine. A separate inlet air flow passage of the charge forming device also supplies primarily air to the crankcase of the engine for transfer to the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Walbro Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Galka, Anthony M. Kueffner, Dale P. Kus, Kevin L. Williams
  • Patent number: 6425733
    Abstract: An electric motor turbine-type fuel pump having a pair of substantially separate fuel pumping channels on opposed faces of an impeller which has a plurality of circumferentially spaced vanes disposed about the periphery of the impeller. The tip portion of each vane is generally arcuate or curved such that a radially outermost edge of the tip is forward or leads the corresponding radially innermost edge of its base relative to the direction of rotation of the impeller. Preferably, each vane is defined between a pair of radially, axially, and circumferentially extending pockets formed in the impeller, with one set of vanes opening to each of a pair of opposed side faces of the impeller. An axially centered, circumferentially extending rib extends to the radially outermost portion of the vanes and separates the vanes on one face of the impeller from the vanes on the opposed face of the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Walbro Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph M. Ross
  • Patent number: 6425751
    Abstract: Apparatus for molding blocks with laterally projecting, undercut side features includes a mold box having split mold parts defining a mold cavity open at the top and bottom. A top plate overlies the mold parts and is formed with an opening aligned with a cavity. Moldable block material is charged into the cavity from a feed box, and the material is compacted and shaped between a lower pallet and upper stripper head which are moved to close the bottom and top of the cavity during vibration of the mold. The mold parts are retractable beneath the top plate to release the block for stripping through the bottom of a mold. A plurality of fluid outlets in the top plate communicate with problem areas of the recessed mold parts which are prone to accumulate residual block material. Pressurized clean-out fluid, such as air is directed through the outlets onto such problem areas to cleanse the mold surfaces of the block material between mold cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Besser Company
    Inventors: Rene Bergeron, Stanley Nelson, Denelle Shultz
  • Patent number: 6425752
    Abstract: A mold assembly including moveable mold parts, one of which includes a plurality of hollow cavities. Each hollow cavity forms an outer wall of an elongated, generally annular portion of a molded part and the other mold part includes a corresponding plurality of core elements, which form an inner wall of the same portion of the molded part. Each core is disposed within a corresponding cavity to define a generally annular mold chamber portion for receiving molten material to be molded to form the shape of the portion of the molded part. Each core element includes a cooling apparatus and each cavity includes an outside cavity-cooling device. Each core element includes a first portion made of high strength material and a tip portion made of material having a greater heat diffusivity and heat transfer coefficient than said first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventor: John M. Check