Patents Represented by Attorney Nicholas T. Bokides
  • Patent number: 4756327
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for head control of irrigation waters in above-ground gated pipe located on a gradient. The method includes the steps of: measuring the elevation drop over the length of said pipe; providing an in-line container at predetermined elevation drops along said pipe, said container having an inlet for receiving water from the upstream portion of said pipe and an outlet for discharging water to the downstream portion of said pipe; dividing each of said containers with a height adjustable partisan located between said intake and said outtake; and adjusting the height of each of said height adjustable partisan to provide the desired flow from the openings in the pipe upstream of said partisan being adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Inventor: Robert D. Krause
  • Patent number: 4333246
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a way of separating and treating the covered surfaces of stacked articles in abutting face-to-face contact. It is particularly applicable to stacked planar articles, those having a relatively small width dimension and at least two substantially parallel surfaces in abutting contact, such as metal beverage container closures. The articles are pushed through a curvilinear path defined by a constant width trackwork of a herein specified design, allowed to pivot on the portions of the articles in proximity to the shorter radius whereby fan-like separation of the portions in proximity to the longer radius occurs, and treating medium, such as heated air, is directed toward the separated portions. Greater uniformity in treatment may be obtained by rotating the articles, at least once, as they traverse the curvilinear path. A preferred embodiment designed to dry the sealant on metal beverage container closures is disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1982
    Assignee: Ball Corporation
    Inventors: Richard W. Sullivan, Tuan A. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 4330705
    Abstract: A stellar tracking device for providing increased interpolation accuracy for locating the centroid of a stellar image on a charge transfer device (CTD) array. A beam splitter splits the beam from a star being tracked into two separate and distinct beams which are focused by a lens as separate images on the surface of the CTD array. The beam splitter and lens are configured so that the two beams are spatially phase shifted (interlaced) in each axis of the array by one half of a cycle of the transfer function of a group of pixels made up of individual CTD elements. By combining the signals derived from separate subsets of pixels associated with the two separate images, a more linear transfer function for interpolation of the centroid of the beam is achieved than can be obtained by using only a single image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1982
    Assignee: Ball Corporation
    Inventor: Jerome C. Kollodge
  • Patent number: 4320401
    Abstract: Variable impedance devices (e.g., series resonant circuits and/or transmission line tuning stubs) are connected to predetermined locations on a microstrip radiator patch for effectively changing the effective resonant dimensions of the antenna as a function of frequency and thereby permitting effective operation over a broad range of frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1982
    Assignee: Ball Corporation
    Inventor: Frank J. Schiavone
  • Patent number: 4318808
    Abstract: The present invention relates to inspection devices for containers such as glass bottles. In prior art inspection devices, it has been a problem to automatically inspect bottles with concave side panels for sunken or bulged panels. The present invention provides an inspection device (10) that includes an optical gauging device (24) for automatically gauging the side panels of a container (74); and a digital signal actuates an ejector actuator (54) for ejecting defective bottles from a conveyor (12). The optical gauging device (26) includes a light beam detector (28), and a transducer (30) that is optically interposed between a light source (48) and a photoelectric sensor (50) of the light beam detector (28). The transducer (30) is connected to a mechanical contactor (32) that is actuated into contact with a concave side panel either with or without stopping movement of the conveyor. Principle uses include inspection of flat and concave side panels of glass bottles and other containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1982
    Assignee: Ball Corporation
    Inventor: David A. Atkinson
  • Patent number: 4315188
    Abstract: One end of an electrode wire is doubled back at least once forming a teardrop shaped loop around a connector with the terminal end of the wire placed adjacent the wire inwardly of the connector. A rounded conductive mass encapsules said terminal end and the wire. This mass suppresses the field generated at the terminal end of the wire, provides mass dampening inwardly of the connector and distributes the load over both sides of said teardrop shaped loop. A converging restraining means may be disposed over and in contact with both sides of said loop intermediate said mass and said connector thereby providing additional dampening and an ultimate limit on loop movement. The connector has a circular groove within which the base portion of the loop is tightly accommodated by crimping the connector thereover. Preferably, the connector should be constructed from a metal having a substantially lower modulus of elasticity than the wire to preserve the cross-sectional stress area of the wire in so crimping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1982
    Assignee: Ball Corporation
    Inventors: Daryl D. Cerny, Kurt Lining
  • Patent number: 4278709
    Abstract: A method of applying a water soluble epoxy resin to the interior surface of a heated beverage can of the lightweight design is disclosed. The epoxy, in a low viscosity solution, is directed against the interior surface of the can while the can is rotated. Centrifugal forces act on the epoxy solution causing a flow of the solution from the center portion of the can bottom to the difficult to access inner frustoconical surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1981
    Assignee: Ball Corporation
    Inventors: Richard W. Sullivan, Robert N. Warwick
  • Patent number: 4278711
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for applying a light coating of fluid to the outer surface of a circumferential strip of one end of a cylindrically shaped article. The article is stabilized against angular axial movement while being advanced and rotated, in a planar path, through a treating zone. An airborne mist containing fine particles of the fluid is produced. This mist is transported to the treating zone and directed to impinge upon said circumferential strip. The impinged fluid mist is then leveled to achieve a uniform coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1981
    Assignee: Ball Corporation
    Inventor: Richard W. Sullivan