Patents Represented by Attorney Ralph F. Crandell
  • Patent number: 6769242
    Abstract: The invention is a coolant system for a rocket engine. The rocket engine includes an injector, a fuel supply, an oxidizer supply, a pump for feeding fuel from the fuel supply to the injector, a pump for feeding oxidizer from the oxidizer supply to the injector, a combustor, and a nozzle, the combustor and nozzle forming a combustor and nozzle assembly. The coolant system includes a cooling jacket surrounding the combustor and nozzle assembly. A coolant fluid is supplied to the combustor jacket by a coolant pump that circulates the coolant fluid through the jacket. The coolant fluid vaporizes to cool the combustor and nozzle assembly. A turbine is operatively connected to the coolant pump and is driven by the vaporized coolant from the jacket. A heat exchanger transfers heat from the vaporized fluid to fuel or oxidizer from the supply thereof prior to the feeding of the fuel or oxidizer into the injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: MSE Technology Applications, Inc.
    Inventor: Vladimir V. Balepin
  • Patent number: 6719274
    Abstract: A method and apparatus or tool for pulling wire through a wall or panel formed by spaced apart vertical studs, a plate at one end of said studs, and opposed wall panels mounted on said studs. An opening is cut through one of the wall panels between the studs and a hole is drilled in the plate using a long, flexible drill bit. A wire stringing tool formed by an elongated stiffly flexible rod at least partially covered with an elongated, flexible, expandable and contractible woven sleeve is inserted through the opening between the panels and through the drilled hole. The rod and sleeve is slightly retracted to form a loop in the sleeve at the inserted end of the sleeve-covered rod. The loop in the sleeve is hooked with an elongated hooking rod and the sleeve is pulled through the hole to position its other cut end at a point remote therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Inventor: Roy E. Bowling
  • Patent number: 6668897
    Abstract: A tape and joint compound dispenser is formed by a housing defining an interior chamber for receiving joint compound and joint tape. A valved port in the housing opens into the chamber for supplying joint compound. A tape lifter in the chamber enables the user to lift the tape in the chamber to facilitate supplying joint compound to the chamber through the port and below the tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Inventor: David T. Gunn
  • Patent number: 6629685
    Abstract: A method and apparatus or tool for pulling wire through a wall or panel formed by spaced apart vertical studs, a plate at one end of said studs, and opposed wall panels mounted on said studs. An opening is cut through one of the wall panels between the studs and a hole is drilled in the plate using a long, flexible drill bit. A wire stringing tool formed by an elongated stiffly flexible rod at least partially covered with an elongated, flexible, expandable and contractible woven sleeve is inserted through the opening between the panels and through the drilled hole. The rod and sleeve is slightly retracted to form a loop in the sleeve at the inserted end of the sleeve-covered rod. The loop in the sleeve is hooked with an elongated hooking rod and the sleeve is pulled through the hole to position its other cut end at a point remote therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Inventor: Roy E. Bowling
  • Patent number: 6619031
    Abstract: A multi-mode multi-propellant rocket engine capable of operating in a plurality of selected modes. G f ⁡ ( K X + 1 ) ⁢ C * A * ⁢ P 0 = 1 Propellant components may include liquid hydrogen, liquid hydrocarbon, liquid oxygen, liquid fluorine, and liquid air. The liquid oxygen and the liquid air are stored in separate tanks are mixed in a dedicated mixer prior to their injection into the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Inventor: Vladimir V. Balepin
  • Patent number: 6406020
    Abstract: A method of playing a card game particularly adapted for casino wagering. The game uses one or more standard fifty-two card decks and involves a banker, a dealer and one or more players. The player has the option of wagering against a banker's high hand, low hand or both by placing an ANTE bet or bets. The dealer deals two cards to each player placing an ANTE bet and three cards to the banker. After viewing the dealt hand, a player has the option of surrendering his ANTE bet or bets or placing a PLAY bet or bets. Winning hands are determined by the numerical value of the cards held by the player as compared to the numerical value of the cards held by the banker. Bonus payoffs are paid to the player if the player's hand qualifies as a certain predefined high or low hand. A Jackpot to be paid for a certain defined hand may be employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Inventor: James E. Reed
  • Patent number: 6372451
    Abstract: A novel aurophosphate stain for staining a slide-mounted brain tissue slice or section to label myelin therein, the method of staining, and the method of making the stain. The stain is potassium aurophosphate or sodium aurophosphate produced as the reaction product of an aurochloride and a dibasic potassium or sodium phosphate. Slide-mounted brain tissue slices are stained by immersing the slice in a warn solution of the aurophosphate. The stained slice may be intensified by immersing the slide-mounted stained tissue slice in a potassium tetrachloroaureate solution. The stained or intensified slice can be fixed by immersion in a sodium thiosulfate solution. Large bundles of stained myelin appear deep red-brown, while smaller bundles and individual fibers appear black.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Inventor: Laurence C. Schmued
  • Patent number: 6357158
    Abstract: A gunsight reticle having a system of critically dimensioned and positioned target spanning indicia improves the aiming of a rifle. The indicia include orthogonally intersecting center vertical and center horizontal hairlines, and four horizontal range-marker lines of sequentially incremental length disposed below the horizontal hairline in bisected relationship with the center vertical hairline. The effectiveness of the gunsight is enhanced by a shooter's training program, interactive with the gunsight, which emphasizes the thought processes involving the planning, aiming and execution of a shot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Inventor: Thomas D. Smith, III
  • Patent number: 6325923
    Abstract: A bioreactor for reacting an aqueous heavy metal and sulfate containing mine drainage solution with sulfate reducing bacteria to produce heavy metal sulfides and reduce the sulfuric acid content of the solution. The reactor is an elongated, horizontal trough defining an inlet section and a reaction section. An inlet manifold adjacent the inlet section distributes aqueous mine drainage solution into the inlet section for flow through the inlet section and reaction section. A sulfate reducing bacteria and bacteria nutrient composition in the inlet section provides sulfate reducing bacteria that with the sulfuric acid and heavy metals in the solution to form solid metal sulfides. The sulfate reducing bacteria and bacteria nutrient composition is retained in the cells of a honeycomb structure formed of cellular honeycomb panels mounted in the reactor inlet section. The honeycomb panels extend upwardly in the inlet section at an acute angle with respect to the horizontal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: MSE Technology Applications, Inc.
    Inventors: Marek H. Zaluski, Kenneth R. Manchester
  • Patent number: 6258261
    Abstract: A permeable wall for the in situ treatment of groundwater flowing therethrough is formed by a plurality of hexagonal cells removably placed in a frame in watertight relation to the frame and each other. The frame is mounted in a gate between barriers or pilings in the flow path of the groundwater. Each cell is formed by a hexagonal shell of water impermeable material defining a central chamber opening therethrough and containing a permeable water treatment material. Sealing tongues project from a portion of the shell, and sealing grooves are defined in another portion. The tongues on one cell are received in sealing grooves on an adjacent cell when the cells are mounted in the frame. Removable panels are mounted on the frame to prevent water flow when the cells are being inserted or removed. The same construction can be utilized for other fluid-solid reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: MSE Technology Applications, Inc.
    Inventors: Marek H. Zaluski, Thomas M. Malloy, Martin J. Moe, Creighton J. Barry
  • Patent number: 6257655
    Abstract: A protective skirt for an open frame trailer adapted to transport vehicles. The trailer includes a wheeled chassis supporting a frame and track assembly. The trailer has a front-end adapted to be mounted in towing engagement on a tractor truck, a rear end adapted for receiving vehicles to be carried, and a middle section including the frame and track superstructure for supporting the vehicles. The protective skirt includes a pair of first skirt sections mounted one on each side of the chassis in screening position at the trailer front end, a pair of second skirt sections mounted on the chassis one on each side thereof in screening position at the trailer middle section, a pair of third skirt sections mounted in screening position one on each side of the chassis above the wheels, and a pair of fourth skirt sections mounted on the chassis one on each side in screening position at the trailer rear section. The skirt assembly protects vehicles carried on the trailer against damage from rocks and road debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Inventors: Glen L Selby, Darrell D. Hepner
  • Patent number: 6229024
    Abstract: An anionic fluorescein homologue capable of selectively staining degenerating neurons in brain slices, the method of making the anionic fluorescein homologue, and the method of using the same for detecting neuronal degeneration. Two anionic fluorescein based fluorescent stains are the water soluble tribasic salt of a mixture of the fluorescein isomers 5-carboxyfluorescein and 6-carboxyfluorescein, and the water soluble tetrabasic salt of 5,6 dicarboxyfluorescein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Inventor: Laurence C. Schmued
  • Patent number: 6217266
    Abstract: A drilling guide or jig for guiding an elongated drill bit for drilling a long hole through a panel such as a door from one edge to a point adjacent another edge thereof. The guide is formed by a rigid, elongated, rectangular base plate defining an elongated slot and positionable along one edge of the door. A pair of arms are mounted one on each long side edge of the plate at about the midpoint thereof and extend generally perpendicularly to the plate. The arms define at one end a pair of spaced apart jaws extending from said plate and adapted to hold the plate on the door or panel. The arms further define a pair of spaced apart support members extending from the plate opposite to the jaws. A drill guide block is pivotally mounted between the free ends of the support members in spaced relation to the plate, and adjustably supports a drill guide tube extending between the arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Inventor: Roy E. Bowling
  • Patent number: 5611634
    Abstract: A pivotal device for a playpen which has at least two siderails pivotally connected to the pivotal device comprising a connector with two open ends for the corresponding siderail to be pivotally engaged therein by a first pin extending therethrough, a resilient element received in each of the siderails and having a first protrusion extending through a fifth hole defined in the siderail, the connector having a first elongated slot, a second hole below the first elongated slot and two third holes respectively defined therein, a locking member slidably mounted to a top of the connector and having a sixth hole and a second elongated slot defined therein, a second pin extending through the first elongated slot and the sixth hole, a third pin extending through the second hole and the second elongated slot, when folding the playpen, the first protrusions are pushed inwardly by being pressed, each of the siderails can be rotated about the corresponding first pin and the second pin is moved downwardly by the siderail
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Inventor: Kun Wang
  • Patent number: 5580175
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing journaling a shaft includes a rotatable bushing journaling the shaft and thrust plates on the shaft at opposite ends of the bushing. The bushing is encased in a cylindrical sleeve. Lubricant containing clearance spaces are formed between the shaft, bushing, sleeve, and thrust plates. An internal radial chamber in the sleeve between the bushing and sleeve stores lubricant and collects foreign particles. Radial ports through the bushing provide for flow of lubricant between the journal bearing and the shaft and thrust plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Quantum Corporation
    Inventors: Ewaryst Z. Polch, Carl D. Williams
  • Patent number: D456057
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Inventor: Thomas D. Smith, III
  • Patent number: D468100
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Inventor: Roy E. Bowling
  • Patent number: D425957
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Inventor: Martin L. Smith
  • Patent number: D428089
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Inventor: Martin L. Smith
  • Patent number: D429514
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Inventor: Martin L. Smith