Patents Represented by Attorney Martin & Miller LLC

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  • Axially sealing system for connecting fluid-passed conduits
    Patent number: 8025317
    Abstract: A system for connecting fluid-passed conduits which can be integrated into a refrigerant circuit of a heating, ventilation and air condition system of a motor vehicle. The system includes two connection blocks, wherein the connection blocks are joined together by a fastener having an elastically deflectable transfer component, the elastically deflectable transfer component compensates for a thermal expansion of the fastening means and the connection blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Dominik Prinz
  • Apparatus for fastening and/or separating container portions
    Patent number: 8020751
    Abstract: An apparatus for at least partially separating at least two container portions includes first and second container portions. At least one tear line extends at least partially between the first and second portions and at least partially defines the first portion. The first portion is at least partially separable from the second portion along the tear line(s). At least one releasable adhesive spot at least partially holds the first portion down prior to the at least partial separation of the first portion from the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Inventor: Gary Emmott
  • Pressure sensor with nonlinear characteristic curve
    Patent number: 8020448
    Abstract: A pressure sensor adapted to provide a high resolution at a low pressure and a high pressure of an operating range is provided. The pressure sensor includes a body having an interface sur ace, a membrane sealingly disposed in the cavity adjacent the interface surface, and a sensing element in communication with the membrane. A fuel cell system including the pressure sensor is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Harald Schlag
  • Elevator installation, a guide rail of an elevator installation, brake equipment of an elevator installation and a method for guiding, holding and braking an elevator installation
    Patent number: 8020671
    Abstract: An elevator installation includes a guide rail and brake equipment for guiding, holding and braking the elevator installation. The brake equipment has a brake lining which co-operates with a brake surface, advantageously with the brake surface of the guide rail, for the purpose of the braking and holding. The brake surface has at least one longitudinal wedge groove or wedge elevation which is oriented in the braking direction and on which the brake lining acts in case of need. An amplification of the braking force is achieved by the longitudinal wedge groove or wedge elevation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Hans Kocher, Josef A. Muff
  • Elevator drive brake device monitor
    Patent number: 8016081
    Abstract: An elevator drive with a brake device has compression springs that act on brake levers, whereby brake linings generate a brake force on a brake drum. The more the brake linings wear due to abrasion, the smaller the distance of the plunger from the brake magnet housing becomes. Should the plunger come into contact with the brake magnet housing, the braking capacity of the brake linings is completely eliminated creating an operating condition that is dangerous for elevator users. A switch is provided that detects a minimum distance. The switch can be arranged on the plunger of the brake magnet and detect the minimum distance to the brake magnet housing or, in the case of a retrofit, the switch can be arranged on the brake magnet rod and, for example, detect the distance of the second joint from the brake magnet housing, and at the minimum distance the switch switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Karl Weinberger, Rudolf Eckenstein, Rene′ Hermann, Luc Bonnard
  • Load sensor apparatus and method for an elevator car
    Patent number: 8011480
    Abstract: An elevator installation and a method for arranging a load sensor in the elevator installation includes a car, a support device for supporting the car, the load sensor and a deflecting roller unit. The deflecting roller unit is arranged at the car and has at least two deflecting rollers which are rotatable about a common axle. The load sensor is arranged on the common axle between the two deflecting rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Daniel Fischer
  • Actuator system for a lighting system
    Patent number: 8011813
    Abstract: An actuator system for a lighting system includes a shape memory alloy coupled to a component of the lighting system to control an actuation of the component and thereby produce a plurality of light patterns and an electrical control circuit in electrical communication with the shape memory alloy to selectively provide an electrical current to the shape memory alloy for controlling a physical property of the shape memory alloy and thereby the motion of the component of the lighting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Masoud Hashemi, Dylan Schickel
  • Low noise gear set for gear pump
    Patent number: 8011910
    Abstract: A low noise gear set for use generally and preferably with a power plant having an engine driving a pump connected to a low pressure fluid source, generating high pressure fluid at an output. The idle gear meshes with the drive gear along two points of the profile of the corresponding gears. The first point being the root of one gear tooth meshing with the tip of the opposite gear tooth creating an initial first contact point and a subsequent second point along the profile when the teeth are disengaging at the first point and engaging at the second point, forming a sealed area, allowing the fluid to hydrostatically escape between the points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Limo-Reid, Inc.
    Inventor: James A. O'Brien, II
  • Side spring compression retention system
    Patent number: 8012648
    Abstract: A compression retention system for a fuel cell system is provided. The compression retention system includes a first end unit and a second end unit configured to hold a fuel cell stack therebetween. A spring configured to apply a compressive force to the fuel cell stack is disposed between a first spring plate and a second spring plate. The first spring plate has an aperture formed therein. The compression retention system further includes a pair of sheets coupled to the first spring plate and the first end unit, and a spring strut disposed through the aperture of the first spring plate and coupled to the second spring plate and to the second end unit. A fuel cell system and method for assembling the fuel cell system with the compression retention system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Todd D. Bogumil, Eric J. Connor, Anthony G. Chinnici, Paul F. Spacher, Mark W. Keyser
  • Vibration resistant fastener
    Patent number: 8011631
    Abstract: A fastener having a capture body including a cavity formed therein and a retainer clip including an elongate capture support and a pawl for engagement with the capture body. The fastener being resistant to vibration and able to be installed and removed without the use of special tools, while providing consistent fastening through thermal expansion cycles, and supporting assembly “stack-up” tolerances is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jan Gregus Kollar, Eric Neal Sheppard
  • Ion exchange cartridge for fuel cell applications
    Patent number: 8007948
    Abstract: An ion exchange cartridge for a coolant system of a fuel cell stack is provided. The ion exchange cartridge includes a housing with an ion exchange resin disposed therein. The housing includes an inlet and at least one fluid-permeable outlet window configured for coolant to flow therethrough. The ion exchange cartridge is adapted to be removably disposed in the coolant system. An ion exchange cartridge assembly and a coolant tank assembly having the ion exchange cartridge are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ralph T. J. Hobmeyr, Marlene Rinner, Mario Naretto Rosso
  • Fuel cell compression retention system using compliant strapping
    Patent number: 8007951
    Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided including a fuel cell stack having a first end and second end. The fuel cell stack includes at least one fuel cell having a membrane-electrode assembly disposed between adjacent gas diffusion layers. The fuel cell system further includes a compression retention system having a plurality of compliant straps adapted to apply a compressive force to the fuel cell stack. The plurality of compliant straps are further adapted to accommodate an expansion of the fuel cell stack during an operation thereof and maintain the compressive force within a desired range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Benno Andreas-Schott, Anthony Chinnici, Yeh-Hung Lai, Gerald W. Fly
  • Flexible connection of teaching devices to programmable controllers
    Patent number: 8005572
    Abstract: An apparatus provides selective communication between multiple programmable robot controllers and one or more teaching devices connected by a network. The network controls communication between the teaching devices and the controllers including active tasks and passive tasks for preventing communication of active tasks between any of the controllers and more than one of any of the teaching devices. The network permits communication of the passive tasks between any of the controllers and one of the teaching devices communicating active tasks with another one of the controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Fanuc Robotics America, Inc.
    Inventors: Judy A. Evans, Kenneth W. Krause, Glenn F Nowak
  • Device for sealing a gap between car door and car wall in an elevator car
    Patent number: 7984794
    Abstract: An apparatus for sealing a gap between an elevator car door and the associated car wall during car travel includes a sealing strip of resilient material with wall portions that can be reversibly stretched to bridge and seal the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Erwin Reinder Kuipers, Alex Oberer, Dario Augugliaro
  • Angular mounted high-pressure vessel
    Patent number: 7984653
    Abstract: A mounting system includes a pressure vessel having a longitudinal axis, a retaining strap disposed around the pressure vessel, a carrier element having an aperture formed therein to receive the retaining strap therethrough to secure the carrier element to the pressure vessel, and a mounting element coupled to the carrier element and adapted to be coupled to a mounting point to secure the pressure vessel, wherein the longitudinal axis of the pressure vessel is disposed at an non-horizontal resting angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Wolfgang Oelerich, Bryan J. Stewart, Mohsen D. Shabana, Steven P. Balgaard
  • Safety equipment for preventing an elevator car collision with an object
    Patent number: 7980362
    Abstract: Safety equipment for an elevator installation with an upper elevator car and a lower elevator car, which cars are both movable substantially independently along a vertical direction in a common elevator shaft of the elevator installation includes a first electro-optical detection system with a first light source in a lower region of the upper elevator car and with a first detector which comprises a light-sensitive first sensor region in an upper region of the lower elevator car. The first light source issues a focused first light beam at a first angle with respect to the vertical direction. The first angle is predetermined such that on approach of the upper and the lower elevator cars the first light beam is incident on the first sensor region and thus is detectable by the first detector. In this case, the first detector triggers a reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Miroslav Kostka
  • Remotely lit optical signature lamp
    Patent number: 7976192
    Abstract: A lighting system and a method for providing a lighting pattern are disclosed, wherein the lighting system and method minimize non-uniform color and intensity in the lighting pattern, offers unique styling features, and provides design flexibility for the LED package and associated heatsinking devices. The lighting system including a light source, a first light bending device disposed adjacent the light source and adapted to receive light rays emitted from the light source and direct the light rays in a first desired lighting pattern, and a second light bending device disposed around the first light bending device, wherein the optical device is adapted to receive the directed light rays from the first light bending device and direct the light rays in a second desired lighting pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeyachandrabose Chinniah, Xiaolu Chen, Edwin Mitchell Sayers, Amir P. Fallahi
  • Quick change over tooling for a welder
    Patent number: 7971769
    Abstract: A weld stack includes a horn having a weld end, a polar mount adapted to receive a portion of the horn therein, a first adjustment ring coupled to the polar mount at a pre-determined distance from the weld end of the horn, and a second adjustment ring coupled to the polar mount adjacent the first adjustment ring, wherein the second adjustment ring includes a fine adjustment device for adjusting a relative position of the first adjustment ring and the second adjustment ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Edgar M. Storm, Paul F. Spacher
  • Resettable thermal pressure relief device
    Patent number: 7971798
    Abstract: A resettable thermal pressure relief device (TPRD) is disclosed. The TPRD includes a piston, a housing adapted to receive the piston and allow movement between an open and a closed position. The housing includes an actuator having a temperature sensitive material disposed therein. The temperature sensitive material volumetrically expands, increasing a length of the actuator and forcing a lever from a first position to a second position. The piston is held in the closed position by the lever in the first position. When the lever moves to the second position, the piston is allowed to move to the open position, allowing a fluid to flow through the TPRD from a high pressure vessel in communication therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Rainer Pechtold
  • Mixed size product handling end of arm tool
    Patent number: 7967354
    Abstract: A mixed size product end of arm tooling is used in conjunction with a robot to pick mixed size product and place the product onto a pallet or layers resting on top of a pallet. The end of arm tooling includes two center rails/forks mounted to a base. Two outer rails/forks are mounted to linear bearings that guide the outer rails/forks when moving inwardly or outwardly from the center rails for pre-sizing to the product. Pusher arms are formed of two outer pusher arms and one center pusher arm. These pusher arms are attached to linear bushings that guide the pusher arms forward and backward. The pusher arms push off the product simultaneously as the robot is withdrawing the rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Fanuc Robotics America, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald A. Faulkner, John R. McLean, Paul A. Santi, Paul Skrna