Patents Represented by Attorney R. J. Steinmeyer
  • Patent number: 4467213
    Abstract: An improved source assembly for use in infrared gas analysis instruments. A rotating reflector having a generally conical shape is provided with a reflective interior surface. An infrared source directs infrared radiation against the reflector from a predetermined number of fixed directions each of which is generally perpendicular to its axis. One or more blocking members, which are aligned generally parallel to the axis of the reflector, pass between the source and the reflective surface as the reflector is rotated. In operation the source assembly generates a plurality of chopped beams of infrared radiation which, because they emanate from a single source and are reflected from the same reflective surface, have a highly uniform intensity. This uniformity of intensity allows the source assembly to illuminate a plurality of sample cells that are distributed circumferentially about the axis of the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1984
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl A. Farren
  • Patent number: 4467435
    Abstract: An improved nondispersive infrared gas analyzer having at least one pneumatic or Luft-type detector and at least one black body type detector located one behind the other along the optical axis of the analyzer. In the preferred embodiment, a black body detector is exposed to radiation from a sample cell through an intervening pneumatic detector. The pneumatic detector absorbs radiation at specific infrared wavelengths, while the black body detector absorbs radiation substantially uniformly at all wavelengths. Signals from the pneumatic detector and the black body detector are combined electronically in an improved signal processing circuit to provide an output signal that is substantially free of the effects of disturbing influences such as infrared source intensity variations, mechanical vibrations and shock, and the presence of interfering compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1984
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale F. Warnke, Carl N. Cederstrand
  • Patent number: 4463615
    Abstract: A liquid transfer valve including a movable valve portion. A second valve portion is movable with respect to a first valve portion to allow probes to extend therethrough to pick up a liquids. Upon probe retraction, the second valve portion is movable to a position which allows the liquids to be injected into the valve where they are diluted, mixed, and carried to a remote detector or delivery point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1984
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Edmund E. Buzza
  • Patent number: 4464727
    Abstract: A function generator responsive to clock pulses for developing an analog signal in the form of a digitally approximated parabola.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1984
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher W. Parkes, Robert C. Franklin
  • Patent number: 4461718
    Abstract: A wavelength calibration solution comprising from about 0.025 to about 0.140 molar neodymium and from about 0.135 to about 0.550 molar samarium, wherein the neodymium is present as a neodymium ionized constituent and the samarium is present as a samarium ionized constituent.A method for checking the wavelength accuracy of spectrometers or spectrophotometers of the type comprising measuring the absorbance (A) or percent transmittance (% T) of a wavelength calibration check solution versus a blank at more than one wavelength. The method is characterized in that the above solution is employed therein as the wavelength calibration check solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1984
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilbur I. Kaye, Lilla S. Sun, John C. Anderson
  • Patent number: 4459533
    Abstract: A variable slip drive system for driving a variable speed induction motor. The system includes a tachometer for providing a signal proportional to the speed of the motor and a slip oscillator. The output of the tachometer and slip oscillator are combined by a motor drive oscillator to provide a motor drive signal. The frequency of the motor drive signal equals the tachometer signal, less the frequency of the slip signal. The motor drive signal is converted into a proportional, three-phase, high power signal for powering the motor. The frequency of the slip signal is controlled so as to be proportional to the motor speed as a means of optimizing the motor's performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1984
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Ehret, Herschel E. Wright
  • Patent number: 4458541
    Abstract: An improved liquid sample injection valve having a metering rod for receiving a sample of a test liquid in a sample loading assembly and delivering that sample to a sample evaporating assembly that is connected to a gas chromatograph. In the sample loading assembly there is provided a sample chamber housing having an improved sealing and mounting arrangement that provides a high degree of thermal isolation between the sample loading and evaporating assemblies. A novel mounting arrangement for the metering rod allows the latter to be conveniently changed without disassembling the valve. The sample evaporating assembly is provided with a flow control element which minimizes deal volume and provides improved sample removal and evaporation characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1984
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip L. Deming, Carl A. Farren
  • Patent number: 4457737
    Abstract: A torque-transmitting connector is disclosed which fits between a spindle and the walls of a bore in a rotating member. The connector includes a sleeve encircling the spindle and two flanges located at its opposite ends. Each flange is initially frustoconical, and is forced into substantially a disc shape to grip the spindle and the wall of the bore. The flange at the bottom of the bore is flattened first by a small diameter punch acting against the other end of the sleeve; and the other flange is then flattened by an annular punch encircling the small diameter punch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1984
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas D. Sharples
  • Patent number: 4454939
    Abstract: Apparatus for transporting elongated sample holders in a sample holder storage compartment past an operating station at which sample tubes contained in the sample holders may be removed and then returned to the sample holders. First and second parallel conveyors on opposite sides of the operating station drive the holders toward and away from the operating station. Lateral drive means engage the holders in longitudinal stop positions at opposite ends of the conveyors and drive them laterally between the conveyors to lateral stop positions, one of the holders during lateral movement being driven into and away from an operative position at the operating station. Encoded label means are displayed on each sample holder for indicating the incremental spacing between the sample tubes carried in the sample holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1984
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard S. Kampf, Chul H. Sohn, Aurangzeb K. Khan
  • Patent number: 4455213
    Abstract: A membrane type amperometric gas sensor is provided with a pressure equalization passage between the exterior and interior of the cell in which the electrodes are located. Cell fluids move into and out of the passage as necessary to maintain the pressure inside the cell substantially equal to the pressure outside the cell over a wide range of pressures and temperatures. A movable fluid plug or seal located in the passage protects the fluids inside of the cell from contact with the gas being sensed and from the atmosphere for all permissible values of pressure and temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1984
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Radhakrishna M. Neti, Kenneth B. Sawa
  • Patent number: 4454167
    Abstract: A process for generating high resolution conductive patterns on an insulating substrate. A photosensitive resin coating applied to the surface of a substrate is exposed to a suitable light source through a mask. The unexposed portion of the coating defines the desired conductive pattern which is then coated with a low temperature melting glass powder. The substrate is fired to sinter the glass pattern and fuse it to the substrate. The substrate is then coated with a slurry of fine metal particles suspended in a volatilizable carrier. The substrate is again fired to sinter the metal into a united mass and causing it to fuse only with the low temperature melting glass pattern. The unadhered portions of the metal coating are removed by a washing operation. An exclusively metallic layer is thereby formed on a high resolution glass pattern intermediate layer supported by the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1984
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Bernot, Kenneth Brown
  • Patent number: 4451122
    Abstract: An electro-optic display device having at least two separate compartments for receipt of electro-sensitive material that is utilized in the formation or establishment of a display symbol as a result of an electrically imposed field. One compartment in the display contains the electrodes which form the various segments of the variable symbol to be displayed. The other compartment is the background area that will contrast visually with the segment portions that make up or establish the symbol to be displayed. The choice of material makes the background compartment optically equivalent to the portion of the symbol compartment that is not displaying a particular symbol. The electro-optic device preferably has a liquid crystal material with a dye to create a light absorption type of electro-optic display rather than a light modulation type of display. This invention allows dye displays that normally portray light characters on a dark background to be portrayed as dark characters on a light background.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1984
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Chan S. Oh, Gordon Kramer
  • Patent number: 4450064
    Abstract: An improved method for producing an electrode assembly for use in electrochemical gas sensors. A plurality of conductors are attached to one surface of a generally circular electrode blank. These conductors are passed through respective conductor routing holes in an electrically nonconductive mounting member. After the electrode blank is attached to the mounting member, predetermined sections of the electrode blank are cut away to divide the blank into a plurality of electrically isolated regions that are connected to respective conductors. The cut-away sections may then be filled with an electrically nonconductive filling material to provide the electrode assembly with a smooth, flush surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1984
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: John N. Harman, III
  • Patent number: 4449966
    Abstract: Balancing bosses integrally forged in a centrifuge rotor. The plurality of balancing bosses in the rotor establish noncritical areas in the rotor for machining to accomplish the precise balancing necessary for high speed ultracentrifugation. The balancing bosses are located away from the high stress periphery of the rotor so that machining a portion of the bosses for balancing purposes will not degrade the integral strength of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1984
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Alireza Piramoon
  • Patent number: 4449965
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a shell type centrifuge rotor formed as a frustoconical shell having a circular rim adjacent at least one end thereof. The lower end of the shell is open, whereas the upper end has a conical recess and a central opening. The recess has an inverted frustoconical sidewall, with a plurality of apertures equally spaced therein and disposed an equal distance from the central opening.A tube holder is mounted in each of the apertures for receiving a centrifuge test tube. The tube holder has a flange configured so as to fit the surface contour of the conical recess so that the flange fully contacts the wall of the conical recess when the tube holder is mounted in the aperture. A hub is mounted in the central opening of the conical recess and couples the frustoconical shell to the centrifuge drive shaft. Means are secured to the hub for partially enclosing the lower end of the frustoconical shell to reduce the windage of the rotor to a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1984
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: David H. Strain
  • Patent number: 4444469
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for implementing a narrow band rejection filter utilizing a liquid crystal cell. A liquid crystal cell is positioned in the path of a light beam between a pair of crossed or parallel polarizers with the optical axis of the cell at a 45.degree. angle to the optical axes of the polarizers. A voltage is applied to the cell to tune the cell to reject a given wavelength and to pass other wavelengths. In order to reject the given wavelength and pass all other wavelengths, the order of the cell is stepped to maintain rejection of a fixed wavelength and the detected signal from the light passing through the cell is averaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1984
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Wilbur I. Kaye
  • Patent number: RE31586
    Abstract: A fluid pump mechanism for delivering a smooth output of fluids to a system utilizing at least one piston in a chamber reciprocative therewithin. The piston has strokes that fill and empty the chamber in conjunction with the action of valve means located at the inlet and outlet of the chamber. Motive means causes reciprocation of the piston within the chamber. Control means is also included for minimizing the time during the piston cycle in which the piston is not emptying the chamber. The invention's scope also encompasses a pressure metering device for a fluid forcing means motivated by an electrical motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1984
    Assignee: Altex Scientific, Inc.
    Inventor: Haakon T. Magnussen, Jr.
  • Patent number: RE31606
    Abstract: In a digital test instrument such as a digital ohmmeter for measuring and digitally displaying the resistance of an unknown circuit element, there is included an electrical continuity tester coupled to the input of the digital ohmmeter for instantaneously and digitally indicating electrical continuity. Connection of the electrical continuity tester to the input of the digital ohmmeter is achieved in a manner such as to not overload or otherwise affect the accuracy of the resistance measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1984
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: John B. Crosby
  • Patent number: RE31608
    Abstract: A fluid pump mechanism for delivering a smooth output of fluids to a system utilizing at least one piston in a chamber reciprocative therewithin. The piston has strokes that fill and empty the chamber in conjunction with the action of valve means located at the inlet and outlet of the chamber. Motive means causes reciprocation of the piston within the chamber. Control means is also included for minimizing the time during the piston cycle in which the piston is not emptying the chamber. The invention's scope also encompasses a pressure metering device for a fluid forcing means motivated by an electrical motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1984
    Assignee: Altex Scientific, Inc.
    Inventor: Haakon T. Magnussen, Jr.
  • Patent number: D274700
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1984
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Lilla S. Sun, John C. Anderson