Patents Represented by Law Firm Learman & McCulloch
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Patent number: 6388445Abstract: A capacitor discharge engine ignition system that includes an ignition coil having a primary winding and a secondary winding for coupling to an engine ignition spark plug. A first electronic switch has primary current conducting electrodes in circuit with an ignition charge storage capacitor and the primary winding of the ignition coil, and a control electrode responsive to trigger signals for operatively connecting the ignition charge storage capacitor to discharge through the primary winding of the ignition coil. A charge/trigger coil arrangement generates periodic signals in synchronism with operation of the engine. The charge coil generates a charge signal to charge the ignition charge storage capacitor, while the trigger coil generates a trigger signal for triggering discharge of the capacitor through the ignition coil.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2000Date of Patent: May 14, 2002Assignee: Walbro CorporationInventor: Martin N. Andersson
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Patent number: 6382598Abstract: An improved fuel flow control device of a diaphragm-type carburetor having a lever which can be easily coupled to a flow control valve body. The lever has a resilient portion which flexes to permit a cooperating portion of the valve body to pass thereby and into an opening in the lever. After the valve body is received in the opening, the resilient portion returns at least in part to its unflexed position to retain the valve body and prevent its separation from the lever.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2000Date of Patent: May 7, 2002Assignee: Walbro Japan, Inc.Inventor: Hitoshi Terakado
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Patent number: 6382462Abstract: A plastics pour spout fitment (3) has not only a pour spour (4) thereof welded to plastics-coated paperboard packaging material (2), but also has a plunger (14) welded to a disc (8) of the material (2), the disc (8) being defined by a ring of weakening (6) in the material. Following purely linearly axially inward displacement of the plunger (14) relative to the pour spout (4), preferably followed by rotation of the plunger (14) about the axis A of the fitment (3) relative to the spout (4), to detach the disc (8) from the remainder of the material (2), the plunger (14), and thus the disc (8), are removed from the pour spout (4) as a screw cap (12) is removed from the spout (4).Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2000Date of Patent: May 7, 2002Assignee: Elopak A.S.Inventors: Mogens Ostergaard-Nielsen, Nigel David Harrison, Steen Markfoged Petersen
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Patent number: 6384721Abstract: A brake wear sensor in which a body of electrical insulating material mounts a pair of electrically conductive plates such that edges of the plates are spaced from each other at a surface of the body. The body has an external thread adapted to be received within an internally threaded opening in a brake pad to position the surface of the body and the edges of the plates adjacent to a braking surface of the brake pad. Electrical circuitry is connected to the plates for monitoring wear at the surface of the body as a function of changes in capacitance between the plates, and a gauge is coupled to the circuitry for indicating brake wear as a function of such changes in capacitance.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2001Date of Patent: May 7, 2002Assignee: Dana CorporationInventor: Perry M. Paielli
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Patent number: 6378271Abstract: An apparatus and method for securing a pour spout fitment to a panel of a filled and sealed thermoplastic-coated carton, wherein a machine 10 is mounted over a conveyor 12 conveying a line of cartons. Within the machine 10, a selected panel surface of each filled and sealed carton is heated to a predetermined temperature; next, at least an annular surface of a flange of the fitment is heated to a predetermined temperature. When the heated surface of the fitment is applied to the heated surface of the carton, the heat energy is transferred to the latter surface to an extent capable of activating the thermoplastic coating thereon. Upon pressing and cooling, the fitment and the carton surface are bonded together, without the need for a back-up or support mechanism, such as a mandrel or anvil. Alternatively, the fitment may be secured to the carton by way of a jetted-on, circular bead of hot melt adhesive.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 1998Date of Patent: April 30, 2002Assignee: Elopak Systems AGInventors: Edward Albert Skinner, Robert E. Rochelle, John A. Weber
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Patent number: 6380680Abstract: An inductively driven gas discharge lamp assembly (20,40) which includes an electrodeless lamp (12,12′), an inductive drive coil (14), and a flux concentrator (22,42) disposed about the drive coil. The drive coil (14) is wound about the lamp (12,12′), which has a neon or other ionizable gas fill that provides a visible plasma discharge upon energization by the drive coil. The flux concentrator (22,42) can comprise a sleeve (24,44) of magnetically permeable material, such as ferrite, which confines the magnetic field generated by the drive coil (14). The flux concentrator (42) can include an end piece (46) that further confines the magnetic field at one end of the drive coil and c include a core piece (48) that extends into a central recess (50) within the lamp (12′) to concentrate the magnetic flux at a particular region within the lamp where the plasma discharge is primarily located.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 1998Date of Patent: April 30, 2002Assignee: Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc.Inventor: John E. Troxler
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Patent number: 6378846Abstract: A throttle valve lever for controlling the rate of fuel flow in a rotary throttle valve type carburetor is proposed, wherein the throttle valve lever has increased stiffness to help prevent structural deformation due to excessive force exerted and applied to the lever over time. The throttle valve lever basically includes an oblong structure comprising synthetic resin and an oblong reinforcement plate comprising metal. The resin structure has a hole defined therethrough, which is capable of fitting around the shaft of a throttle valve of a carburetor, and also has a lever portion at one end of the resin structure. The metal plate has a hole defined therethrough, which is capable of fitting around the shaft of a throttle valve of a carburetor, and also has a lever portion at one end of the metal plate.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2000Date of Patent: April 30, 2002Assignee: Walbro CorporationInventors: Hitoshi Terakado, Shinichi Ohgane, Teruhiko Tobinai
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Patent number: 6376061Abstract: A composite multilayer material is described which exhibits relatively high wear and delamination resistance without impairment of the coefficient of friction in the presence of oil. The composite multilayer material contains at least one powder-form polyaramid in its overlay, the content of PTFE or of PTFE together with the other fluorothermoplastics which form the matrix material amounting to 55-90 vol. %, the content of further fillers amounting to 9.5-44.5 vol. % and the content of polyaramid amounting to 0.5-10 vol. %.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 1999Date of Patent: April 23, 2002Assignee: Federal-Mogul Wiesbaden GmbHInventor: Achim Adam
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Patent number: 6375878Abstract: An instrument panel of an automotive vehicle includes a rigid retainer preformed with an air bag opening and a recessed ledge extending about the opening. A separately formed door is installed on the opening and hinged to the retainer along one edge. The remaining three edges overlie the ledge to prevent inward movement of the door. The retainer and door are placed in a cavity of a mold tool in spaced relation to an outer skin and foam constituents are reacted therebetween to develop a foam layer. A foam seal is provided at the interface of the ledge and door to prevent the escape of foam past the ledge.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2000Date of Patent: April 23, 2002Assignee: Textron Automotive Company Inc.Inventors: John D. Gray, C. Christopher Griggs, David M. Smoger
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Patent number: 6376062Abstract: An overlay material is described which extends the advantages of materials containing PTFE to the extent that they may be more heavily loaded without its being necessary to resort to the use of lead or lead compounds. The overlay material, which may comprise as its matrix material PTFE or PTFE combined with other fluorothermoplastics or a matrix material not comprising PTFE, contains at least one powder-form polyaramid, the content of which, based on the total amount of PTFE or of the mixture of PTFE and the other fluorothermoplastics and the polyaramid, amounts to 10-50 vol. %. A composite multilayer material is also described which comprises an overlay consisting of an overlay material of the above type.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 1999Date of Patent: April 23, 2002Assignee: Federal-Mogul Wiesbaden GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Achim Adam
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Patent number: 6374810Abstract: A method of reducing gaseous phase presence in the liquid fuel metering chamber of a diaphragm by providing a “High-Point Pick Up” hole positioned in the optimal metering chamber location (highest) to assure maximum purge evacuation of air and/or other gases prior to engine start-up and during running. This optimal location is dependent upon first determining, in advance of carburetor fuel feed circuitry and/or air purge system design, the orientation of the carburetor as mounted on the engine in its primary operator usage position, or so-called “standard operating position” (SOP). This SOP in turn is determined in the first instance by the engine manufacturer and/or the manufacturer of the portable engine-driven handheld appliance on which the engine is mounted.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2000Date of Patent: April 23, 2002Assignee: Walbro CorporationInventor: George M. Pattullo
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Patent number: 6375156Abstract: A weld gun cylinder and piston assembly includes a common center end wall interposed between two cylinders. The common center end wall functions as a manifold with bores extending therethrough. The manifold houses two spool valves. The spool valves control the passage of pneumatic pressure through passages of the manifold to and from the cylinders to extend and retract two piston rods for controlling jaws and a weld tip on a robotic arm.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2001Date of Patent: April 23, 2002Assignee: Numatics, IncorporatedInventor: Donald E. McGeachy
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Patent number: 6371061Abstract: A piston assembly includes a piston head having an open bottom cooling gallery and a pair of pin bosses depending from the head and supporting a wrist pin of a connecting rod. A skirt is coupled to the pin bosses for reciprocation with the piston head. A stationary oil spray nozzle extends into the piston skirt from below and cooperates with an oil splash deflector which, at a lowered position of the piston head, directs the flow of oil onto the pin bosses for direct cooling, and at raised position of the piston head, moves out of the way to allow the cooling oil to enter the cooling gallery and cool the piston head.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2001Date of Patent: April 16, 2002Assignee: Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc.Inventor: Mark S. Lash
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Patent number: 6371876Abstract: In an energy guiding chain (1) for guiding cables, hoses and the like between two connection points, with several chain straps which are connected to one another via upper and lower cross-members in detachable fashion and assembled in two parallel strands, and which overlap one another and can be angled, there are alternating chain storage (2) designed as inner straps (3) with inner overlap areas (5) and as outer straps (4) with outer overlap areas (5) in each chain strand. The angling of the chain straps (2) relative to one another is restricted by stops (8, 9, 12, 13) located in the overlap areas (5). The curvature of the chain (1) is defined by the position of the stops (8, 9, 12, 13).Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 1999Date of Patent: April 16, 2002Assignee: Igus SpritzguBteile fur die Industrie GmbHInventor: Gunter Blase
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Patent number: 6370756Abstract: A damped drive shaft is produced by forming a cylindrical tube of selected length and diameter, inserting a damper into the tube and positioning it at a central location within the tube, fitting a deformable plug into each end of the tube, and swaging the ends of the tube to reduce their diameter and deform the plugs to effect a seal at the opposite ends of the tube. Following the swaging operation the reduced diameter ends of the tube may be faced and washed. Thereafter, the plugs may be removed whereupon the drive shaft is ready for further processing.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2000Date of Patent: April 16, 2002Assignee: Caraustar Industrial & Consumer Products GroupInventors: Gary A. Conger, Donald S. Agnew
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Patent number: 6371392Abstract: An irrigating nozzle has a tubular body having a bore closed at one end and open at its other end for coupling to a source of irrigating fluid. The body has at least one slit in its side wall and such side wall is formed of elastically deformable material which, in response to the presence of a predetermined pressure within the body, deforms and opens the slit to form a passage through which fluid may flow from the nozzle to the area to be irrigated. Upon reduction of the pressure to a value less than the predetermined value the side wall recovers and the passage is sealed automatically.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2000Date of Patent: April 16, 2002Inventor: Lee E. Steinman
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Patent number: 6368527Abstract: A process for making articles from perlite material includes grinding raw perlite to a particle size <200 &mgr;m. The ground perlite is mixed with ground silicon carbide powder and moisture added in an amount to achieve a homogeneous mixture having the property of being thixotropic. The mixture is introduced to a mold and agitated to assume the shape of the mold. The agitation is then halted and the material permitted to stiffen to a solidified green molded structure. The molded structure is then removed from the mold and heated at a temperature and time to react the silicon carbide reacts forming carbon dioxide, which induces a foamed structure to the material, and amorphous silicon oxide which fuses with the perlite. The structure is then cooled to yield a resultant fused, foamed perlite article, which may take the form of a building brick, block or panel structure.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2000Date of Patent: April 9, 2002Inventors: Vladimir Gontmakher, Evgueni Pevzner
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Patent number: 6367504Abstract: A diverter valve includes a fixed body (11) with a central inlet connection (12) and several outlet ducts (17) circumferentially spaced about the inlet connection. A rotatable valve member (21) has a center inlet duct (25) in fluid connection with a radially spaced outlet (27) that can be rotatably moved to be aligned with a selected outlet ducts (17) or misaligned to be in a shut off position. The inlet connection (12) and outlet (27) house sealing elements that provide sealing against leakage for the respective ducts.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2000Date of Patent: April 9, 2002Assignee: Masco Corporation of IndianaInventor: Francesco Knapp
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Patent number: 6367618Abstract: A clutch that adjusts the amount of torque transmitted to a transportation roller in a friction roll line shaft conveyor. The clutch includes a driver bevel gear that rotatably mounts on a line shaft of the conveyor and intermeshes with and drives a driven bevel gear that is fixed to a roller shaft of the conveyor. The driver bevel gear and the driven bevel gear couple drive power from the line shaft to the roller shaft. A compression spring is positioned between the driver bevel gear and a first stop collar. A second stop collar is positioned next to the driver bevel gear and opposite the spring. An annular hub supports the driver bevel gear, the spring and the stop collars and is supportable on and rigidly connectable to the conveyor line shaft.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2000Date of Patent: April 9, 2002Assignee: Unova IP Corp.Inventor: Philip S. Szuba
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Patent number: D456163Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2001Date of Patent: April 30, 2002Assignee: Wilkhahn Wilkening + Hahne GmbH + Co.Inventor: Michael Englisch
