Patents Represented by Attorney Thomas F. Shanahan
  • Patent number: 5224386
    Abstract: Grip apparatus for tensile strength testing of geosynthetic materials includes a pair of opposing first and second grip bars slidably mounted in a frame. Selectively operable locking elements carried on the frame and the first grip bar enable selective fixation of the first grip bar at a desired position with respect to the second grip bar when inserting or removing or loading test specimens. Various constructions of grip bars, and grip jaws mounted on the bars, are provided, including replaceable high friction surface rods, grip surfaces with alternating grooves and shoulder surfaces, and easily replaceable L-shaped grip jaws that do not require disassembly of the apparatus. A plurality of actuating shafts impart movement and grip forces to each grip bar, with the actuating pumps for the shafts being operable simultaneously, separately, synchronously or asynchronously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Inventor: John M. Curtis
  • Patent number: 5046491
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for selective, separate or simultaneous collection and analysis of nasal gases and oral gases, and mixtures thereof, respired by a patient, with optional simultaneous delivery to the patient of selected inhalant gases. The apparatus comprises a nasal gas cannula and an oral gas capture member constructed and arranged to avoid or minimize contact with the patient's mouth and other facial surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Inventor: Steven J. Derrick
  • Patent number: 5016380
    Abstract: A combination tool for using, repairing and maintaining muzzle loading firearms includes a ball starter tool member connected to an elongated body member which provides the land and groove setting rod of the ball starter and further provides a housing and carrier for a plurality of additional tool members. The additional tool members include at least a plurality of screwdrivers, a flash hole nipple probe, a plurality of whistle signaling devices, a plurality of powder measures and a plurality of bar or pry members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Inventor: Robert B. Jones
  • Patent number: 4979574
    Abstract: A punch tool for applying force to a work piece includes a body, a grip mounted on one end of the body, a punch connected to the other end of the body, and an anvil pivotally connected to the body between the grip and the punch. A method for disengaging a fastener from an object in a limited work space includes inserting the punch of the tool into the work space in engagement with the fastener and striking the anvil with force sufficient to disengage the fastener. A method for punching a hole in an object at a point within a limited work space includes inserting the punch portion of the tool into the work space in engagement with the point and striking the anvil with force sufficient to punch a hole in the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Inventors: Craig R. Lalama, Carl W. Medsger
  • Patent number: 4962951
    Abstract: A system for correlating one or more books with other related information comprises at least one book cover having preaffixed or preprinted on its front or outer surface prominent indicia of the subject matter of the book, and, companion storage means, such as note books, file folders or other storage means, having the same prominent indicia preprinted or preaffixed on its front or outer surface so that subject identification and the correlation of the several elements is readily perceived.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Inventor: Veronica A. Mechesney
  • Patent number: 4888995
    Abstract: Improvements in test specimen grip apparatus for tensile stress testing machines includes replaceable grip inserts that are able to accommodate wider than usual test specimens, particularly textile test specimens. The specimen grip means or grip inserts are threadedly retained on and may be substantially wider than their supporting jaw members. The grip housing, moreover, is provided with apertures for access to the threaded retainers for ease of grip insert removal and replacement. In addition, fluid actuation is preferably provided for the jaw members of the improved grip apparatus and a thumb screw is also disclosed for temporarily locking the jaw members in a selected open position, when mounting test specimens or removing and/or replacing grip inserts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Inventor: John M. Curtis
  • Patent number: 4802283
    Abstract: A navigation device comprises a flat substrate, a compass rose carried on the substrate, an elongated cord affixed at one end to the center of the compass rose and at least one linear distance scale on the substrate having its origin coincident with the center of the compass rose. In use, the navigation device is placed on a navigation chart, so that the center of the compass rose lies over a predetermined point of origin on the chart and the North compass direction of the rose is in parallel alignment with the North direction indicated on the navigation chart. A taut length of the cord is extended from the center of the compass rose to a predetermined destination point. The desired heading direction is noted where the cord crosses the perimeter of the compass rose. The linear extent of the cord form the point of origin to the destination point is marked and placed along the distance scale. The distance to be traveled is noted on the distance scale at the extremity of the marked cord length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Inventor: Thomas R. Trump
  • Patent number: 4679362
    Abstract: Articles and a method are disclosed useful for providing a lift insert for a cast concrete product, such as a cast concrete slab or panel. The articles include a threadless plug for temporary insertion into an insert for receiving a lifting device in a cast concrete product, an insertion tool therefor, and the insert assembly. The threadless plug is characterized by an elastomeric tubular member having closure and/or abutment means on each end and dimensioned such that, in its operative position in the lift insert, such as a coil insert, the portion of the tubular member between the ends is placed in tension to positively seal against ingress of concrete into the top of the coil or insert and between the void plug and the coil during casting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1987
    Assignee: Koppers Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard C. Mess
  • Patent number: 4447011
    Abstract: A disc type refiner, for paper pulp processing and the like, is provided with an automatic control mechanism to prevent contact-clashing of the refiner plates on short term losses of feed and to sense the long term losses of feed so as to open the refiner plates before contact-clashing occurs. The control mechanism includes a counter-force-producing means acting in opposition to the refining or attrition force-producing means such that, on either short or long term loss of feed, resistance to plate clashing is provided. Moreover, the counter-force-producing means is monitored and the monitor provides signals to actuate, in cooperation with other control devices, a desired sequence of operative steps to effectuate either the continuation or the discontinuation of the refining operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1984
    Assignee: Koppers Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Stanley Prew
  • Patent number: 4424099
    Abstract: Enclosure and exhaust apparatus is provided to enhance control and removal of coke-side emissions during a push in the operation of a coke oven battery. The gaseous and entrained particulate emissions are initially confined to a first longitudinally extending containment zone where the emissions are directed, under the influence of its gaseous thermal drive, upwardly and laterally outwardly away from the coke-side face of the battery. The emissions are then transferred, at the peak of the first containment zone, laterally, through a gas expansion throat, into a second longitudinally extending containment zone that is adjacent and parallel to the first containment zone. Contemporaneously with entering the second containment zone, a portion of the emissions is removed therefrom through an exhaust conduit located at the upper reaches or peak portion of the second containment zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1984
    Assignee: Koppers Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Kozy
  • Patent number: 4373936
    Abstract: A filter bag tensioning device for use in a bag house is disclosed. The tensioning device comprises a straight lever arm adapted to be pivotally mounted in the upper reaches of a bag house and carrying, on the end of the lever arm opposite that of filter bag attachment, a semi-fixed counterweight. The semi-fixed counterweight is prevented from rotating as its end of the lever arm moves in an ascending direction from a horizontal position but is free to rotate as its end of the lever arm moves in a descending direction from horizontal, to thereby continuously maintain a desired design tension on an attached filter bag. In a preferred embodiment, the lever arm can also be rotated to a vertical position and then moved longitudinally of its pivot to substantially lower the filter bag attachment point, thereby greatly facilitating attachment and replacement of filter bags and, in a further preferred aspect, to permit these operations to be performed by a workman having both hands free.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1983
    Assignee: Koppers Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew R. Becker
  • Patent number: 4344524
    Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and method for removing the fines that fall through the load run and accumulate on the return run of a foraminous, endless conveyor. In accordance with the invention, the fines are collected on the return run, conveyed on the load run to the discharge end of the conveyor and then passed through the conveyor at its discharge end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1982
    Assignee: Koppers Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn H. Falck, James R. Boose
  • Patent number: 4338715
    Abstract: Articles and a method are disclosed useful for providing a lift insert for a cast concrete product, such as a cast concrete slab or panel. The articles include a threadless plug for temporary insertion into an insert for receiving a lifting device in a cast concrete product, an insertion tool therefor, and the insert assembly. The threadless plug is characterized by an elastomeric tubular member having closure and/or abutment means on each end and dimensioned such that, in its operative position in the lift insert, such as a coil insert, the portion of the tubular member between the ends is placed in tension to positively seal against ingress of concrete into the top of the coil or insert and between the void plug and the coil during casting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1982
    Assignee: Koppers Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Billy G. Capers
  • Patent number: 4315605
    Abstract: A rotor for a hammer mill and the like comprising a rotor body and a hammer secured to said rotor body, said hammer being comprised essentially of flexible wire rope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1982
    Assignee: Koppers Company, Inc.
    Inventor: John V. Vargo, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4312265
    Abstract: An extruder screw for use in the processing of a food mash is disclosed, in which, the mash is introduced into an inlet opening in an extruder barrel and conveyed by a substantially coextensive screw to an outlet or discharge opening and then through an extrusion die. The extruder screw comprises a single flight helical screw section initiating at the inlet opening and terminating within the extruder barrel, with a flightless section immediately following thereafter, and, a further helical screw section immediately following the flightless section and extending to the proximity of the outlet opening of the extruder barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1982
    Assignee: Koppers Company, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Enterline, Dennis G. De Wald, James R. Boose
  • Patent number: 4285271
    Abstract: A seal plate drive assembly for use with apparatus for pressure cooking a farinaceous product is disclosed, in which said apparatus includes a pressure feeder assembly, a seal plate and seal plate drive assembly for compacting and regulating the flow of product mix in a terminal portion of the pressure feeder assembly and a pressure cooker assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1981
    Assignee: Koppers Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn H. Falck, James R. Boose
  • Patent number: 4253857
    Abstract: In paper-making operations and the like, fibers of wood are frequently transported through piping as an entrainment in steam. An apparatus is disclosed for separating such entrainment and removing the fibers at one station and the steam at another station. Rotating blades give the entrainment a circular or rotating action whereby the heavier fibers move outwardly by centrifugal force to contact the wall from which the blades scrape the fibers and hurl them to discharge. The fiber-free steam is removed along an axial line perpendicular to the direction of movement of the separated fibers under the influence of a second set of blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1981
    Assignee: Koppers Company, Inc.
    Inventor: C. Donald Fisher
  • Patent number: 3934996
    Abstract: In forming heat-softened sheets by the roll forming method, continuously moving sheets of heat-softenable material, such as glass sheets, are conveyed continuously along a conveyor into a roll forming station, where a pair of sets of rotating shaping rolls move relatively toward one another to provide rolling engagement against the opposite surfaces of each moving glass sheet in succession in spaced relation to the conveyor for sufficient time to shape the sheets. The sets of rotating shaping rolls then move relatively away from one another to redeposit the shaped sheet onto the conveyor. The sheets are flat entering the roll forming station and shaped to a curved configuration on leaving the roll forming station. The present invention relates to a system of conveyor rolls capable of supporting heat-softened sheets that enter the roll forming apparatus in a flat condition and that leave the roll forming apparatus in shaped condition after they have been shaped by roll forming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1974
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1976
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert G. Frank
  • Patent number: RE33409
    Abstract: Grip apparatus for use with tensile stress testing apparatus includes a housing having connecting means on the top of the housing for connecting the grip apparatus to the tensile stress testing apparatus. A first elongated bore extends from the bottom of the housing through a portion of the housing parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing to form a receptacle for a test piece. A pair of second elongated bores extend from the top surface of the housing, converging toward the bottom surface of the housing, with the lower end of each second bore opening into the first bore. Each of said second bores contains a slidable grip bar extending into the first bore and having a grip insert secured on the lower end of the grip bar. A spring loaded release mechanism normally retains the grip bars and grip inserts in a closed position and can be manually operated to release the inserts and grip bars by sliding the grip bars upwardly through the second bores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Inventor: John M. Curtis