Patents Represented by Attorney Michael B. K. Lee
  • Patent number: 5705218
    Abstract: The invention provides a rotary processor, which uses magnetic fields to increase the heating or cooling of containers. The invention provides the magnetic fields along the sides of the rotary processor before or after the containers are rotated under the force of friction due to gravity. The magnetic field increase the number of transition phases of rotation, by creating a force of friction caused by the magnets which will rotate the containers and then removing the magnetic fields so that the containers stop rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: Joost Veltman
  • Patent number: 5705127
    Abstract: The invention uses a lost motion clamping system to provide variable height clamping from the top of a one or more stacks. The variable height clamp is then locked in place. A second clamping means then provides additional clamping from the bottom of the stacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Norman A. Planck, Jr., Eduard Hendrikus Johannes Damhuis, Sherman Howell Creed
  • Patent number: 5702301
    Abstract: The invention provides an improved method and apparatus for separating fruits, such as tomatoes, from vines. The invention uses feeder bars to provide tomatoes to a shaker brush a first time. The vines are allowed to fall out of the shaker brush to a shaker conveyor. The shaker conveyor conveys the vines into the shaker brush a second time, and then to a vine reel, thus providing an improved separation of tomatoes from the vine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: David Jeffrey Meester
  • Patent number: 5695776
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling termites. The invention provides a more attractive and durable termite bait by providing a thin flat block of wood with grooves and impregnating the surface of the wood with a slow acting toxicant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: James Bruce Ballard, Sherman H. Trimm
  • Patent number: 5693331
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus dispensing a liquid bait in a refillable manner. The invention provides a transparent bait station in which is mounted to a structure. A liquid bait is injected into the bait station to initially fill and then refill the bait station. The bait is a slow acting toxicant and attractant. The bait station is formed to allow access by bugs, but not by larger animals. The bait station is also able to protect the bait from wind and rain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: James Bruce Ballard
  • Patent number: 5687639
    Abstract: The invention uses a lost motion clamping system to provide variable height clamping from the top of a one or more stacks. The variable height clamp is then locked in place. A second clamping means then provides additional clamping from the bottom of the stacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Norman A. Planck, Jr., Eduard Hendrikus Johannes Damhuis, Sherman Howell Creed
  • Patent number: 5685773
    Abstract: The invention provides a shaker with a set of primary eccentric weights and secondary eccentric weights. The invention rotates the primary and secondary eccentric weights at the same speed, but may on the fly change the rotational phase between the primary and secondary eccentric weights, causing an on the fly change of amplitude of the inventive shaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: David Jeffrey Meester, Franklin Paul Orlando
  • Patent number: 5685216
    Abstract: The invention provides a rotary processor which uses a linear motion detector to measure the deflection of the rotary processor as the rotary processor is heated. The linear motion detector measures the deflection of the rotary processor to prevent damage caused by excessive vessel deflection. The linear motion detector is placed to measure deflection near the center of a rotary processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Joost Veltman, Andrew Carl Prins, Scott R. Cavanaugh
  • Patent number: 5682812
    Abstract: The invention provides an improved peeler of fruits such as tomatoes. The peeler passes the tomatoes through a pressure inlet valve to a high temperature stem in a pressurized system. The tomatoes then are passed through a pressure outlet valve to a flexible cable peeler, which helps to remove the peels from the tomatoes. A chute passes the tomatoes from the flexible cable peeler to a pinch roller, which removes the remainder of the peels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffery A. Dahl, Robert L. Frenkel
  • Patent number: 5676047
    Abstract: The invention uses a lost motion clamping system to provide variable height clamping from the top of a one or more stacks. The variable height clamp is then locked in place. A second clamping means then provides additional clamping from the bottom of the stacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Norman A. Planck, Jr., Eduard Hendrikus Johannes Damhuis, Sherman Howell Creed
  • Patent number: 5671870
    Abstract: The invention provides a container for holding dry products. The container is a container portion mounted to a base. The container portion has sloping sides with a slope greater than the angle of repose of the dry product. The container and base form a box shape that allows maximum packing and stacking of containers. The invention minimizes hazardous waste and dust produced by conventional paper sacks used for storing pesticides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: William Francis Megargle, Wayne Michael Bruhn, Steven Lee Clements
  • Patent number: 5670734
    Abstract: The invention provides elastomeric clamps for providing a compliant mounting surface which protects the edges of brittle materials, which can be constituent components in armor panels. Thus the invention prevents concentrated loads around the armor. The invention is modular and allows for modular placement of a plurality of spaced apart armor panel layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: United Defense, L.P.
    Inventors: Mark Albert Middione, Ron Eugene Musante, James Robert Turner
  • Patent number: 5667018
    Abstract: A fire control foam distribution system wherein foam is distributed to the area below a passenger boarding bridge includes a telescoping pipe system to get the foam to delivery manifolds at intermediate and at an outboard location of the passenger boarding bridge. Multiple foam delivery discharge nozzles are attached to the delivery manifolds to assist in directing the foam to the area below the passenger boarding bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: George Dean Hone, Gary Ronald Mitchell
  • Patent number: 5661963
    Abstract: A harvester for harvesting fruits from plants such as trees or bushes. The harvester uses a shaker head, which rotationally oscillates a vertical brush. A shaker frame is able to rotate around a wide arch which allows more than half the tree to be reached in a single pass. The other half of the tree may be reached by the brush in a pass in the opposite direction. The harvester also uses lifts to raise the brush to a height suitable for harvesting fruits from trees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: Phillip Ray Scott
  • Patent number: 5647194
    Abstract: A harvester for harvesting grapes or other fruits from plants. The harvester uses elastomer spring to support the closure wings of the harvester. The elastomeric spring may be a block of elastomeric material connecting a closure plate to the frame of the harvester. The elastomeric spring allows movement of the closure plate in many different directions. In addition, the elastomeric spring has fewer parts and is easier to assemble than conventional spring systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Phillip Ray Scott, Marty Dean Youman
  • Patent number: 5634793
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for simulating a system, which provides a recording of steps taken in operation of the system. The invention provides teaching and evaluation for the use and repair of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: Paul L. Hasse
  • Patent number: 5628272
    Abstract: A transom flap can be deployed from the transom of an amphibious vehicle when the vessel is water borne. The transom flap is pivotally mounted and can be extended to extend into a position relatively acute to the transom of the vessel the transom flap can be extended to impinge the propulsion jet of a jet propulsion drive system of the vessel or it can be deployed to extend out of the jet stream but at a less acute angle such that it will be helpful in trim adjustment of the vessel at speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: United Defense, L.P.
    Inventor: Mark A. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5598953
    Abstract: The invention provides a container for holding dry products. The container is a container portion mounted to a base. The container portion has sloping sides with a slope greater than the angle of repose of the dry product. The container and base form a box shape that allows maximum packing and stacking of containers. The invention minimizes hazardous waste and dust produced by conventional paper sacks used for storing pesticides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: William F. Megargle, Wayne M. Bruhn, Steven L. Clements
  • Patent number: 5596580
    Abstract: A transmit-receive station connected to a high speed ring bus carrying data signals that may be received from and sent to each station on the ring bus has two sources of transmit clocking signals. One source is based on the frequency and phase of data signals received on the ring bus from another station and the other source is a local crystal oscillator having essentially the same frequency as the first source but in an indeterminate phase. When changing the source of clocking signals for transmission of data originating at the station, bit slippage may be minimized by providing the local oscillator output signal in four phases and using the phase most nearly aligned with the other clocking signal when the change is made. Control of access to transmit by a station employs a token having a message field of seven bits and a access control bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Walser, Earl E. Rydell
  • Patent number: 5579711
    Abstract: A transom flap can be deployed from the transom of an amphibious vehicle when the vessel is water borne. The transom flap is pivotally mounted and can be extended to extend into a position relatively acute to the transom of the vessel, the transom flap can be extended to impinge the propulsion jet of a jet propulsion drive system of the vessel or it can be deployed to extend out of the jet stream but at a less acute angle such that it will be helpful in trim adjustment of the vessel at speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: United Defense, L.P.
    Inventor: Mark A. Thomas