Patents Represented by Law Firm Rankin, Hill, Lewis & Clark
  • Patent number: 5810029
    Abstract: An ice preventing device for use with an outside gas pressure regulator that has a pressure vent and a downwardly opening vent tube. The device includes a skirt connected to and surrounding the vent tube. The upper end of the skirt has an opening that communicates with the passage in the vent tube. The skirt also has an enlarged, flared-out lower end with an opening substantially greater than the area of the opening at the upper end. Located within the skirt is a baffle positioned in a generally horizontal plane. The baffle is positioned below the vent tube opening of the pressure regulator to prevent rain or freezing rain from splashing back upwardly into the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Bennett Regulator Guards, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip C. Speros, Brian Fullerton
  • Patent number: 5791531
    Abstract: A fluid dispenser for dispensing various types of viscous fluids has a valve which is capable of operating at high speeds. The valve has a stiff diaphragm spring which moves an armature which has a relatively large pole face area directly opposite the end faces of an inner and outer core. So that movement of the armature is not interfered with by the fluid material above or below the armature, openings are provided through the armature for the flow of the fluid material. The armature is positioned close to the cores, and is provided with a short stroke, so that the air gaps in the flux loop between the armature and the cores are small, reducing the reluctance of the magnetic circuit and thus increasing the amount of force produced by the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventor: William T. Hassler, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5739429
    Abstract: A system for monitoring the flow rate of particulate material entrained within an air stream includes a feed hopper providng a source of the particulate material, and a hose for conveying the particulate material within the air stream. A pump draws the particulate material from the feed hopper and transports the particulate material with the air stream through the hose. A flow meter is associated with the hose and measures the mass flow rate of the particulate material through the hose to provide a first flow indication. A device is associated with the feed hopper and measures the change in weight of the feed hopper over a predetermined interval to provide a second flow indication. A controller corrects the first flow indication from the flow meter according to the second flow indication from the gravimetric device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Schmitkons, Richard P. Price, John R. Askew, Jan L. Shanaberger
  • Patent number: 5731650
    Abstract: A brush wear sensor for a dynamoelectric machine having a rotating commutator and brushes which contact the commutator detects movement of the brush a predetermined distance inwardly which indicates excessive wear of the brush. The brush wear sensor is normally electrically isolated from the brush and from the brush holder in which the brush is mounted. When excessive brush wear occurs, the brush wear sensor contacts the spring which moves the brush as it wears and urges the brush into contact with the commutator. The brush wear sensor is then electrically connected to the brush holder and the brush, providing an indication that the brush has moved the predetermined distance inwardly. The brush wear sensor allows the detection of excessive brush wear without disassembling and visually inspecting the brushes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Lucas Aerospace Power Equipment Corp.
    Inventor: Walfried F. Scheucher
  • Patent number: 5722761
    Abstract: A lamp assembly comprises an elongate lamp 1 which emits both ultraviolet and infrared radiation. The lamp is disposed within a reflective housing which serves to direct radiation from the lamp towards a moving substrate which is to be dried occurred. An infrared radiation filter is provided in the form of a quartz tube containing flowing water. The housing is provided with two reflector elements which can be pivoted about respective axes so as to enable the relative proportions of ultraviolet and infrared components in the radiation which emerges from the lamp assembly to be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald Edward Knight
  • Patent number: 5718216
    Abstract: The cutting wire consists of a wire rope (4) with cutting beads (6) affixed thereto that contain bonded superabrasives such as diamond and a cutting wire connector which connects the cutting wire to produce an endless wire loop for use in a wire sawing machine. The cutting wire connector consists of a double joint which has two joint axes intersecting each other at an angle of 90.degree.. The cutting wire connector consists of two forks (1) at the wire ends (4), an intermediate part (2) and two joint pins (3) which connect each form (1) with the intermediate part (2) in such a way that the connection can be opened easily. The cutting wire connected by means of the joint connector has a long service life while exhibiting increased cutting performance and increased utilization of the operating time of the facilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Inventor: Josef Plattner
  • Patent number: 5715972
    Abstract: A system for supplying melted thermoplastic material to a dispenser comprises a hopper for storing solid thermoplastic material. The hopper has interior side walls and an outlet. A reservoir block is located below the hopper. The reservoir block includes a reservoir into which melted material may flow from the hopper. A manifold and pump assembly is connected to the reservoir block for receiving material from the reservoir and pumping the material to a dispenser. A heating grid at the outlet of the hopper heats and melts the solid thermoplastic material in the hopper. The grid comprises a block which is spaced from the interior sidewalls of the hopper. The grid is thus thermally isolated from the exterior of the system resulting in more efficient heating of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventor: Shahid A. Siddiqui
  • Patent number: 5714246
    Abstract: The present invention provides a thermally conductive material which can be used as a heat sink in a multi-chip module or multilayer circuit structure. The material is formed by firing a composition including a solids portion comprising from about 1% to about 30% by weight glass and from about 70% to about 98% by weight silver. The glass comprises in weight percent from about 5% to about 60% B.sub.2 O.sub.3, from about 30% to about 90% SiO.sub.2, up to 10% Li.sub.2 O, up to 10% Na.sub.2 O, up to 10% K.sub.2 O and up to 10% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3. The material may be formed using a second glass selected from the group comprising of (i) a glass comprising in weight percent from about 10% to about 60% CaO, from about 5% to about 55% B.sub.2 O.sub.3 and from about 5% to about 55% SiO.sub.2 ; and (ii) a glass comprising in weight percent from about 35% to about 70% SiO.sub.2, from about 20% to about 45% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, from about 0% to about 8% BaO and from about 5% to about 30% MgO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Ferro Corporation
    Inventors: Aziz S. Shaikh, John H. Alexander, Todd K. Williams, Mark A. Wesselmann
  • Patent number: 5712706
    Abstract: A non-contact laser-based sensor guided by a precision mechanical system scans a thread form producing a set of digitized images of the thread form. The digitized images are analyzed to derive quantitative information about thread characteristics such as pitch, lead, root radius, flank angle, surface roughness, helix variation, and pitch diameter. Thread form data may be stored and later retrieved in order to provide traceability and verification of thread form measurements to a predetermined thread form specification. The apparatus and method of the invention can measure characteristics for shapes similar to threads, such as gears and dies used for cold forming processes. The thread measurement system can be mounted on thread making machines and used for on-line monitoring and control of the thread forming process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: M&M Precision Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Glen M. Castore, Frederick A. Treiber, Barry L. Drake
  • Patent number: 5706982
    Abstract: A system for supplying molten thermoplastic material to a dispenser through a supply hose comprises a hopper for storing the thermoplastic material. A heating grid associated with the hopper heats and melts the thermoplastic material. A reservoir block receives the melted material from the grid. The reservoir block includes a reservoir into which the melted material flows from the grid. A manifold assembly is supported below the reservoir block for receiving material from the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Shahid A. Siddiqui, Jim B. Bassett
  • Patent number: 5706635
    Abstract: A packaging machine (1) is adapted to form a web (8) of packaging material into a tube to surround items (3) to be packed, the tube then being closed, sealed and severed between successive items to produce individual packages (5). The tube is formed by sealing one surface of an edge zone of the web to the same surface of the opposite edge zone of the web so that, in the finished package, the sealed zones form a flap (45) extending longitudinally of the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Burton's Gold Medal Biscuits Limited
    Inventor: Robert Julian Simmons
  • Patent number: 5699938
    Abstract: A system for supplying melted thermoplastic material to a dispenser comprises a hopper for storing the thermoplastic material, the hopper having an outlet. A heating grid is at the outlet of the hopper for heating and melting the thermoplastic material. A reservoir is provided into which the melted material flows from the grid. A manifold assembly is connected to the reservoir. The melted material flows into the manifold assembly from the reservoir. The manifold assembly includes connections for supplying the material to a dispenser. The manifold assembly also includes a pump cavity. A pump is mounted in the pump cavity and is capable of being removed from the pump cavity. A drive assembly is connected to drive the pump. A movable carriage supports the drive assembly. The carriage is capable of movement toward and away from the manifold assembly to remove the pump from the cavity and to replace the pump into the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Shahid A. Siddiqui, Roger A. Ziecker, Karen M. Wagner, Jocelyne Nassar
  • Patent number: 5698163
    Abstract: A control system for a process using supercritical fluid includes a reactor vessel including an agitator for mixing a batch of materials therein a source of supercritical fluid supplied to the reactor vessel, means for introducing into the reactor vessel batch material that is mixed in the presence of the supercritical fluid based on a selectable reaction process, process monitoring means for producing signals representative of the reaction in the reactor vessel; and control means for controlling the reaction in the reactor vessel based on said signals and the selected reaction process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Ferro Corporation
    Inventor: Frederick S. Mandel
  • Patent number: 5699189
    Abstract: Very thin films of liquid anti-reflection materials are applied to optical substrates to increase effectively visual clarity and visual acuity by reducing reflection light losses, reducing internal reflections and increasing light transmission. The primary properties of the materials which are useful as anti-reflection films are characterized as non-volatile, optically clear liquids having a refractive index less than the refractive index of the optical substrate to which they are applied. Low cost, effective anti-reflection coatings are thus applied to optical substrates, such as eyeglasses, using a single liquid layer of the anti-reflective material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Inventor: John P. Murphy
  • Patent number: 5686312
    Abstract: A method for reducing residue formation caused by volatile materials during the curing of powder coating compositions which includes the steps of applying different powder coating compositions to separate bases; placing each coated base in a separate extraction chamber; placing each separate extraction chamber in a curing oven; heating the coated base in its respective extraction chamber in the curing oven to curing temperature to cure the coating composition, and simultaneously flowing a stream of air through the respective extraction chamber to capture volatile emissions from the volatile materials in the air stream during the curing process; simultaneously flowing the respective stream of air out of the curing oven and chilling the stream to condense the volatile emissions from each of the compositions to a collectable form; determining the quantity of the emitted product from each of the compositions; and comparing the quantity of emitted product from each of the compositions to determine the composition
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Ferro Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Huff, Susan M. Miller, Joanne M. Szydlowski
  • Patent number: 5680961
    Abstract: A system for supplying molten thermoplastic material to a dispenser has a hopper assembly which is made up of one or more hopper units each having opposite side walls being generally parallel to each other, the inlet and the outlet having generally the same cross section, so that the hopper units can be stacked on top of each other to increase the capacity of the hopper assembly. The hopper assembly might be supported on a plurality of reservoir blocks, with the hopper assembly straddling the plurality of reservoir blocks to supply melted material to all of the reservoirs. At least one isolator may be provided for thermally isolating one of the hopper units from the reservoir block and for thermally isolating the hopper units from each other, the isolator comprising a band of insulating material positioned between the flanges of the hopper unit and the reservoir block. The hopper assembly is preferably attached to the reservoir block by a plurality of clamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: George E. Boccagno, Carl C. Cucuzza, Richard D. Leyva, Shahid A. Siddiqui
  • Patent number: 5680963
    Abstract: A system for supplying melted thermoplastic material to a dispenser a hopper, a heating grid, and a reservoir block providing a reservoir. A support harness is attached to the bottom of the reservoir block. A manifold assembly is supported in the harness below the reservoir block for receiving material from the reservoir. The manifold assembly includes a pump for pumping the material to the dispenser. The manifold assembly is capable of moving vertically within the harness between an upper position in engagement with the reservoir block and a lower position, and the manifold assembly is capable of horizontal movement with respect to the support harness when it is in the lower position, so that the manifold assembly slides horizontally in and out of the support harness. A lifting mechanism connected to the support harness moves the manifold assembly vertically within the harness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Paul S. Brusko, Shahid A. Siddiqui, Carl C. Cucuzza
  • Patent number: 5670946
    Abstract: Apparatus for testing the sensitivity of a smoke detector (12) in-situ, including a head assembly (1) comprising a housing (14) for surrounding a smoke detector in-situ and forming part of a sensing loop (14, 15, 16, 17)through which air carrying an aerosol will circulate, a sensor (25, 26, 27) for sensing the concentration of aerosol in the air circulating in the loop, a fan (20) for causing air to circulate in the loop, an aerosol container (24) for supplying aerosol to the loop and a control unit 2 for controlling the concentration of aerosol in the air circulating in the loop by controlling the fan (20) and the aerosol container (24) in response to the output of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: No Cilmb Products Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Ellwood, David Appleby
  • Patent number: 5661882
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing a low temperature cofired electronic monolithic structure having one or more electronic components integrated therein comprising the steps of:A. providing a green electronic component;B. providing a stack of green low temperature cofired ceramic dielectric tape having an opening formed in the stack for receiving the green electronic component;C. placing the green electronic component in the opening in the stack to form a structure; andD. laminating and firing the structure so as to provide the monolithic electronic structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Ferro Corporation
    Inventor: John H. Alexander
  • Patent number: D383592
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Surgical Specialty Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Albert N. Santilli