Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Marshall & Melhorn
  • Patent number: 8110782
    Abstract: Heated architectural panel temperature control systems and methods are provided for heating windows that are formed from heated architectural panels. The control system comprises the heated architectural panel that produces heat when connected to external AC power, a panel frame disposed around the panel periphery, and a temperature control circuit that is electrically connected to the window. The temperature control circuit, which may be disposed in the panel frame, controls the temperature of the panel by utilizing a Hall effect sensor and the panel temperature coefficient of resistance ?. The panel may comprise insulated glass panels, laminated structures, or combinations thereof, where the window is disposed in an opening of a building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Engineered Glass Products, LLC
    Inventors: Dillon R. Ashton, Peter F. Gerhardinger
  • Patent number: 8104573
    Abstract: An insulating isolator for a heat shield has a unitary first land, a bead portion, a second land and a half bead. The first land defines a fastener aperture. In one case, a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart petals is formed in the isolator. The petals may be separated by gaps. In another case, a set of circumferentially spaced apart apertures are formed in the isolator. The heat shield may have at least two disk apertures. Two metallic disks are located in the area of at least one of the two disk apertures. The metallic disks are connected to each other, have aligned fastener openings that are smaller than the disk apertures and they are smaller than the metallic sheet. One of the metallic disks may have a bead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Ernest Oxenknecht, Franz Schweiggart, Oliver Schimmele, Giacomo Giaimi
  • Patent number: 8100342
    Abstract: A rail seal for sealing the gap between a rail and a concrete panel in a railroad crossing so as to provide a generally even or level surface for vehicular or pedestrian traffic while still providing an appropriate rail structure for receiving and guiding the train wheels along the tracks is provided. More particularly, the upper surface of the rail seal is formed with a recessed portion or flangeway for receiving the flanged-end of a train. The flangeway or recessed portion, however, is formed so that the surface of the flangeway lies in a plane above the bottom of the rail head but below the upper surface of the rail head, thereby providing a “shallow” flangeway. The provision of a “shallow” flangeway helps to reduce the risks associated with vehicular and/or other pedestrian traffic that must access or cross the railroad tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Polycorp Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce E. Burkhardt, Richard T. Ellis
  • Patent number: 8091588
    Abstract: A metallic tubular structure having an inner surface providing a passage for conveying fluid or vapor, an outer surface, a multi-layer, strength-enhanced first end segment, a multi-layer, strength-enhanced second end segment, and a flexible segment intermediate the multi-layer, strength-enhanced first end segment and the multi-layer, strength-enhanced second end segment, the metallic tubular structure comprising: a first inner metallic tubular member, the inner surface thereof providing a fluid- or vapor-conveying passage for conveying fluid or vapor therethrough, the first inner metallic tubular member longitudinally extending the entire length of the metallic tubular structure, the first inner metallic tubular member comprising one or more metallic layers; a second metallic tubular member circumferentially disposed on the outer surface of a first end of the first inner metallic tubular member, the second metallic tubular member longitudinally extending a predetermined distance on the first inner metallic tu
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Fluid Routing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles S. Burke, II
  • Patent number: 8092413
    Abstract: An improved tubing device, preferably for use in the medical industry is provided. The tubing device provides a seamless transport path by using the tubing itself as the transport means without any other internally wetted parts, or connections, to provide a substantial reduction in the number of fluid contact components, and eliminate the need for cutting tubes into segments to be later bonded via tubing connectors. This can reduce the risk of contamination of the transported materials and can also reduce the use of chemicals such as adhesives and bonding agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Inventors: Majid Zia, Anthony J. Angelo, Craig M. Wilson
  • Patent number: 8087191
    Abstract: An apparatus for the pixel-integrated return of fluid in the pixel of a fluidic display is characterized in that the fluid with which the desired information is to be displayed and/or the carrier fluid in which the fluid is optionally embedded can be returned in a particularly compact manner and in a manner which is invisible to an observer past the visible part of a pixel (image compartment) into a reservoir (reservoir compartment) through or out of the reservoir. The device comprises an image compartment, a reservoir compartment, a connecting duct and at least one return duct, whereby the at least one return duct is formed by the fact that the connecting duct has at least one area with an uninterruptedly enlarged cross section which transitions in a specified manner into the cross section of the original cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: advanced display technology AG
    Inventors: Frank Bartels, Andriy Bitman, Dieter Jerosch
  • Patent number: 8088535
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bipolar plate (1) for electrochemical systems which contains a first plate (2) with a first flowfield (2a) for media distribution as well as a second plate (3) with a second flowfield (3a) for media distribution. This first plate in the region of the first flow field at least in regions comprises a plane surface section (4) from which discrete projections (5) distanced to one another project arranged in a distributed manner. Furthermore a method for manufacturing this bipolar plate is suggested as well as an electrochemical system which contains this bipolar plate. According to the invention it is possible in an inexpensive manner to manufacture a bipolar plate which permits the construction of fuel cells functioning with a low peripheral consumption (pumps, compressors) and which are safer with regard to their operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Reinz-Dichtungs-GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Sommer, Bernd Gaugler, Claudia Kunz, Raimund Ströbel, Christian Schleier, Joachim Scherer
  • Patent number: 8087171
    Abstract: A method of installing an axially adjustable driveshaft assembly in a drive train system is described. Two hollow driveshaft sections, where one has a valve through an aperture in it and each has an end fitting, engage each other to form an axially adjustable driveshaft assembly that has a sealed internal chamber within. When a pressurized air or vacuum source is connected to the valve, air fills the chamber or air is removed from the chamber, which correspondingly increases or decreases a drive train system length. This results in facilitating the installation of the driveshaft assembly between a transmission and an axle assembly in a drive train system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Eric M. Fischer, Johnny N. Smith
  • Patent number: 8087699
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cover bracket for holding a clamp having a screw housing in place on a hose without contaminating the screw housing with adhesive. The cover bracket includes a cover portion configured to receive a screw housing and a first runner and a second runner connected to one another by the cover portion. Each of the first and second runners includes a hose contacting surface and the first runner includes a channel in the hose contacting surface. The channel including an aperture extending through the first runner to an exterior of the first runner. Also disclosed is a method for attaching the cover bracket to the hose having the clamp thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Fluid Routing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Ben F. Holt, Christopher W. Smith, Andrew Norman, John E. Mobley
  • Patent number: 8083209
    Abstract: A valve that includes a housing defining first and second bores having a central axis, and a peripheral valve seat. An actuator is located in the first bore and has a reciprocating seal disposed for movement along the central axis for engaging the valve seat and closing the valve. A coiled return spring is mounted in the housing for urging the reciprocating seal towards the chamber to open the valve, the return spring having a first end connected to the reciprocating seal and a second end engaging a spring support in the housing facing the first bore. The return spring may have a larger diameter at its second end than its first end. The housing may include a third bore in communication with the second bore and having a different cross-sectional area than the second bore. The return spring could be supported by a discrete spring support located in one of the bores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Dana Canada Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Stephen Kozdras, Jeff Sheppard, Robert Arundine, Silvio Tonellato, Dario Bettio
  • Patent number: 8080687
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the granulation of a concentrated urea solution whereas the granulation produces a urea granulate and a dust laden air, which is then fed into a dust scrubber which removes the coarser dust with a less concentrated urea solution and which releases a residual air comprising air with ammonia, carbon dioxide water and an aerosol comprising mainly ammonium isocyanate and a part of very fine urea sublimate, whereas the aerosol is then separated off and fed into a isomerisation unit which comprises a stripping where the ammonium isocyanate reacts with steam to form urea which is then redirected into the dust scrubber as a less concentrated urea solution, and the residual air is directed into an acidic scrubber which releases clean air into the atmosphere which finally leads to a recycling of the aerosol of ammonium isocyanate into urea. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the related process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Uhde Fertilizer Technology B.V.
    Inventors: Paul Niehues, Harald Franzrahe, Matthias Potthoff, Roland Monstrey
  • Patent number: 8075050
    Abstract: In a sunroof system (3) for a vehicle using a push-pull cable (22) for actuating a sunroof panel (4), the push-pull cable is received in a drive pipe (25), and a sunroof frame (12) is provided with a drive pipe retaining feature (16, 18). Therefore, the drive pipe may be made of flexible material, and firmly held in place by the pipe retaining feature even when the push-pull cable is subjected to significant tensile and compressive load. The pipe retaining feature may include a pipe retaining groove (16) for receiving the drive pipe and clips (18) for resiliently retaining the drive pipes in the pipe retaining groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Yachiyo Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouichi Hotta, Ayumi Mihashi
  • Patent number: 8066573
    Abstract: A driveshaft assembly includes a tubular slip member having a first spline member having a plurality of splines formed thereon having a first tolerance and a second spline member having a plurality of spline sections. The plurality of spline sections includes a plurality of splines formed thereon having a second tolerance. The second spline member cooperates with the first spline member. A zone is disposed on the second spline member and has a first profile. The zone is disposed adjacent to at least one of the plurality of spline sections of the second spline member, and the first profile defines a clearance relative to the first spline member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Nelson Wagner, Bradley S. Jones, Eric M. Fischer, Samuel K. Simons
  • Patent number: 8056231
    Abstract: An insert snaps into position in a manifold of a fluid device to perform a baffling function. The insert includes a cradle having a base portion and opposed spring fingers for retaining the insert in position. The base portion can be completely closed to prevent flow through the insert, or have a spring flapper valve or bimetallic flapper valve to permit partial or full flow through the insert under predetermined conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Dana Canada Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Luvisotto, Yuri Peric
  • Patent number: 8057713
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing electrically conducting nickel oxide surfaces made of nickel-containing material. According to the method, the nickel surface is first degreased and is then roughened for approximately ten minutes in a solution containing about one percent of hydrochloric acid, the process being accelerated by adding hydrogen peroxide solution, resulting in the electrolyte turning green. The nickel surface is briefly wetted, the nickel material is introduced into a solution of 3.5 molar lye to which about ten percent of hydrogen peroxide is added and is kept therein for ten minutes, and the resulting nickel hydroxide surface is dehydrated in a subsequent thermal process and is then further oxidized to obtain nickel oxide. The invention further relates to a conductive boundary layer that is produced according to the method, the electrodes therefrom, and the use thereof in chlorine-alkali electrolysis processes, in fuel cells and storage batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignees: UHDE GmbH, Gaskatel Gessellschaft Fuer Gassysteme Durch Katalyse und Elektrochemie mbH
    Inventors: Roland Beckmann, Karl-Heinz Dulle, Peter Woltering, Randolf Kiefer, Frank Holthuis, Frank Funck, Wolfram Stolp, Hans-Joachim Kohnke, Joachim Helmke
  • Patent number: 8057670
    Abstract: A biological fluid processing or fluid filtration system is provided having novel open and closed loop processing systems wherein the gases transferred into and out of the system during processing pass through a porous medium in upstream and/or downstream gas inlet or outlet housings or vents in a manner which precludes the fluid being processed or filtered from ever contacting the housings or vents. Each housing or vent is separated from the fluid by a column of gas in its respective transfer line. The upstream gas inlet housing or vent is in communication with the unfiltered biological fluid, and the downstream gas inlet housing or vent is in communication with the filtered biological fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Hemerus Medical, LLC
    Inventors: Majid Zia, Chaouki A. Khamis
  • Patent number: 8051591
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a guide and tensioning system for a billboard, comprising a facing area surrounded by trim pieces. The trim pieces each comprise a back plate, a side plate and a front plate. Guide groups may be located at various locations along the outside edge of the back plate. The guide groups may comprise an arced guide located between two tab guides or a keeper tab may be centered over the arced guide. The guide group may also comprise a clip that selectively secures to the arced guide. The clip has a complimentary shape to the arced guide and to a gap in the back plate. Hook-like structures on the clip selectively engage with the end edge portions of the arced guide. When engaged with the arced guide, the clip preferably prevents a cable member from falling behind the back plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Tiffin Metal Products Co.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Troiano, Shawn P. Fitch
  • Patent number: 8051940
    Abstract: A steerable vehicle knuckle has an inboard portion defining upper and lower arms, with a kingpin between them, and has an outboard portion defining a spindle that cooperates with a fluid driven motor. The arms define a cavity where an axle end portion is pivotally received. Fluid supply ports, which supply fluid to energize the motor, are located on an upper surface of the knuckle's inboard portion. Fluid drain lines extend within the knuckle from the motor to the cavity and are utilized to drain fluid from the motor. The supply ports and drain lines are each connected to separate hoses formed in a small arc that follows closely the circular curvature of the kingpin. This arrangement of port, lines, and hoses is less expensive to produce, easier to package, more robust, allows for faster steering reaction, and is easier to assemble than conventional arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventor: James F. Ziech
  • Patent number: 8051684
    Abstract: A knitted tulle is disclosed, the tulle comprising a plurality of wales, each with a pillar stitch and at least two pairs of weft threads, each pair of weft threads interconnecting and tying-in at least four wales. Also disclosed is a method of knitting the tulle, preferably using a Raschel machine and an embroidered fabric comprising the tulle. The tulle according to the invention is robust and even and has properties similar to bobbinet tulle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Heathcoat Fabrics Limited
    Inventor: George Keitch
  • Patent number: 8053141
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a contact plate for fuel cells with a coherent active area (11) on at least one side of the contact plate, wherein the active area (11) consists of a contact surface (2) which over the whole surface comprises a coating (4) of an electrically conductive, corrosion-resistant material, and of recesses (3) so that the recesses (3) form a channel structure, wherein the coating (4) furthermore at least in the bottom regions (5) of the recesses (3) is omitted. The invention further relates to a corresponding fuel cell or to a fuel cell stack with at least one such contact plate as well as to various methods for manufacturing such contact plates which may serve as bipolar plates as well as monopolar plates or end plates. With the contact plate according to the invention, one achieves an optimally reduced contact resistance with a minimal material expense for the coating (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Reinz-Dichtungs-GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Grafl, Raimund Stroebel, Lothar Quick, Joachim Scherer, Christian Schleier, Bernd Gaugler