Patents Examined by Arthur O. Hall
  • Wire butt welder with adjustable alignment
    Patent number: 9908197
    Abstract: A wire butt welding apparatus includes at least two clamps, individual ones of the at least two clamps configured to hold a respective wire. The individual ones of the at least two clamps are positioned within the wire welder such that the ends of individual ones of the respective wires, when held by the respective clamps, will contact each other. One or more individual ones of the at least two clamps are associated with an adjustment axis about which the individual ones of the at least two clamps are configured to rotate. An adjustment mechanism is operatively coupled to fix one or more of the at least two clamps corresponding to the associated adjustment axis at an angular orientation with respect to a second clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Automated Industrial Machinery, Inc.
    Inventor: Tony Suto
  • Onboard polymer gel preparation system for aircraft with snorkel intake
    Patent number: 9908622
    Abstract: The system includes a snorkel leading from an intake up to a tank borne by an aircraft. A feed pump in the intake draws water up the snorkel to the tank. A polymer gel emulsion reservoir supplies polymer gel upstream of the feed pump for addition and activation of the polymer gel emulsion with the water. A separate pump within the tank provides for selectable recirculation within the tank and/or discharge out of the tank, such as out of a nozzle. Polymer gel emulsion can optionally be supplied at the tank pump rather than the feed pump for delayed addition of polymer gel emulsion to water carried by the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Inventor: Leonard E. Doten
  • Snow making method and apparatus
    Patent number: 9909796
    Abstract: A snow making system, suitable for making man-made snow for ski-runs or ski-slopes, uses a snow making machine, where ice is converted into snow-like particles and directed in an upwardly-directed stream, into which a spray or mist of water droplets is introduced. The snow-like particles operate as nucleating agents for the water droplets to convert the droplets into flakes of snow. The flakes of snow may be introduced into the snow making machine, converted into snow-like particles and be incorporated into the stream to produce further flakes of snow. The flakes of snow can be “recycled” to the snow making machine until the desired quantity of snow has been produced. The system enables snow to be made at ambient air temperatures just above, or below, the freezing point of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Inventor: Alfio Bucceri
  • Sanitization mist shower apparatus
    Patent number: 9907877
    Abstract: A sanitization mist shower apparatus includes a water tank that stores water, a plasma generator that causes a plasma discharge in water inside the water tank and generates reformed water, an air blower that blows pressurized air, and a mist nozzle that spouts fine mist obtained by mixing the reformed water supplied from the water tank and the pressurized air supplied from the air blower. A liquid pressure of the reformed water supplied to the mist nozzle and air pressure of the pressurized air are substantially the same as each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Minamio, Akira Isomi, Daisuke Tabata, Yukiko Kitahara
  • Multifunctional shower head
    Patent number: 9901939
    Abstract: A multifunctional shower head, has a fixed seat, a driving mechanism, a water diversion plate rotatably connected to the fixed seat and a water diversion body. The water diversion body has a plurality of water diversion holes that are used to connect to the outlet functions of the shower head. The water diversion plate has an outlet hole. The driving mechanism drives the water diversion plate to rotate on the water diversion body, so that the outlet hole is alternately connected to part of the water diversion holes to switch the outlet functions of the shower head. A sealing ring is clamped between the water diversion plate and the fixed seat. The sealing ring defines a separating area on the upper surface of the water diversion plate, each water diversion hole has an O-ring, the bottom surface of the water diversion plate is pressed and contacts the O-ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: XIAMEN SOLEX HIGH-TECH INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fengde Lin, Mingfu Zhang, Wencong Xu
  • Minimal contact modular laser cutting table system
    Patent number: 9902019
    Abstract: A laser workpiece cutting system for performing a laser cutting operation on a workpiece. The laser workpiece cutting system includes a modular support unit configured to be easily assembled and disassembled. The modular support unit includes a plurality of individual components, which when assembled, are configured to support one or more workpieces for laser cutting. A frame includes siderails configured to support a plurality of support rails, each of which includes a plurality of pins configured to support and align one or more workpiece fixtures. The workpiece fixtures, in different embodiments, are adapted to support a wide variety of different types of workpieces including, glassware, writing instruments, leather products, novelty items, toys, and utensils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Hoosier Laser, Inc.
    Inventor: David L. Schwartz
  • Pressure washer gun with chemical injection and foaming capabilities
    Patent number: 9901943
    Abstract: A pressure washer spray gun includes a spray gun body configured to be fluidly coupled to a source of pressurized water, a chemical container coupled to the spray gun body, wherein the chemical container is configured to contain liquid chemical, a venturi including a converging section, a throat, and a diverging section, wherein the venturi is coupled to the body, and wherein the chemical container is fluidly coupled to the throat, an air inlet port formed in the diverging section and configured to fluidly couple the diverging section to a source of air, and multiple nozzles, wherein each nozzle has a different orifice diameter, and wherein only one nozzle at a time can be selected to provide a fluid output from the spray gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventor: Jacob Schmalz
  • Water spray gun having breakproof function
    Patent number: 9901948
    Abstract: A water spray gun includes a gun body, a handle, a control valve and a retaining cap. The gun body has a water control compartment which is provided with two rotation channels. Each of the rotation channels has two closed ends forming two stop walls. The handle has two connecting arms. Each of the connecting arms is combined with a limit block which includes a root portion mounted in and covered by each of the connecting arms and an operation portion protruding outward from each of the connecting arms. Thus, when the handle is pivoted relative to the gun body, the operation portion of the limit block is moved in each of the rotation channels of the gun body, and is stopped by one of the two stop walls of each of the rotation channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Shin Tai Spurt Water of the Garden Tools Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chin-Yuan Chen
  • Electrode assembly for an electrostatic atomizer
    Patent number: 9901942
    Abstract: Various exemplary illustrations of an electrode assembly for an electrostatic atomizer, for example for a rotation atomizer, and exemplary methods of making and/or using the same, are disclosed. An exemplary electrode assembly may include an electrode holder arrangement for holding at least one electrode creating an electrostatic field about a symmetrical axis, wherein there is a dielectric material for influencing a discharge current component extending in the direction of the symmetrical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Duerr Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Jürgen Nolte, Andreas Fischer, Peter Marquardt, Jürgen Berkowitsch, Joachim Schneider
  • Apparatus and related methods for dispensation of a liquid
    Patent number: 9901947
    Abstract: A dispenser apparatus is disclosed herein. A dispenser is disclosed herein. In various aspects, the dispenser includes a piston slidably sealingly engagable with a container containing a unit dose of liquid therein. The dispenser includes a cutting edge disposed about a piston face of the piston, the cutting edge configured to open a covering of rigid construction sealingly engaged with the container, in various aspects. A passage is formed between a piston face of the piston and a nozzle outlet of a nozzle to communicate fluid from the container through the nozzle outlet by sliding of the piston within the container, in various aspects. Methods of use of the dispenser are disclosed herein. This Abstract is presented to meet requirements of 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b) only. This Abstract is not intended to identify key elements of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein or to delineate the scope thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: INGENIERIO, INC.
    Inventors: Martin Krauss, Loo T. Yap
  • Fuel injector
    Patent number: 9903329
    Abstract: A fuel injector is provided that includes various precise configuration parameters, including dimensions, shape and/or relative positioning of fuel injector features, resulting in improved efficiency of fuel flow through the fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: CUMMINS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC.
    Inventors: Lester L. Peters, Jeffrey C. Huang, David L. Buchanan, Corydon Edward Morris, Gary Gant, Denis Gill, Heribert Kammerstetter, Ernst Winklhofer
  • Current applying apparatus, current applying method and direct resistance heating apparatus
    Patent number: 9907118
    Abstract: A current applying apparatus includes a pair of electrodes configured to contact a workpiece to apply an electric current to the workpiece, and a bus bar arranged to extend along the workpiece. At least one of the electrodes includes a moving electrode configured to move relative to the bus bar and the workpiece such that an electric current flows between the bus bar and the workpiece through the moving electrode, the moving electrode being connected to the bus bar so as to be movable relative to the bus bar, and the moving electrode being configured to contact the workpiece so as to be movable relative to the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: NETUREN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hironori Ooyama, Kunihiro Kobayashi
  • Multi-wire feeder method and system for alloy sample formation and additive manufacturing
    Patent number: 9902018
    Abstract: Systems and methods, comprising a directed heat source coupled to a multi-wire feed-head configured to feed one or more wires having diverse compositions into a heat affected region, are provided for the synthesis of alloy samples having defined compositions, combinatorial alloy sample series and libraries, and shaped alloy components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY
    Inventors: Wayne Eric Voice, David John Jarvis, Nicholas John Elsworth Adkins
  • Fuel injector
    Patent number: 9903327
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes a valve with a needle that is movable along a longitudinal axis between an open position and a closed position, for opening or closing the valve. The fuel injector also includes an actuator including an armature and a pole piece, the armature being axially movable and operable to interact mechanically with the needle, such that the needle is moved towards the open position by a movement of the armature in axial direction towards the pole piece. The fuel injector also includes a first spring for biasing the armature in axial direction away from the pole piece. The spring force of the first spring is configured to stop said movement of the armature when the needle is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Ivano Izzo, Marco Mechi
  • Atomizers
    Patent number: 9901944
    Abstract: An atomizer includes an atomizer body with a plurality of air passages defined therethrough from an upstream end of the atomizer body to a downstream end thereof. The air passages together define an air circuit through the atomizer body. A fuel circuit is defined in the atomizer body extending from a fuel inlet to a respective fuel outlet opening into each air passage. The air passages can be arranged circumferentially about a central axis defined by the atomizer body. The fuel circuit can include a manifold extending circumferentially about the atomizer body in fluid communication with a fuel opening in each respective air passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: DELAVAN INC
    Inventors: Jason A. Ryon, Philip E. Buelow, Steven L. Smith, Lev A. Prociw
  • Orifice plate flow path stabilizer
    Patent number: 9896984
    Abstract: An orifice plate for an injector is provided, which includes a base portion disposed along a base plane. An offset portion is unitarily formed with the base portion. The offset portion is at least partially disposed outside of the base plane. The offset portion defines a flow entry side and a flow exit side, and the offset portion defines a plurality of exit apertures therethrough. A plurality of projections extends from the flow entry side of the offset portion. The plurality of projections is configured to contact an injector surface. An injector and a reductant delivery unit incorporating such an orifice plate are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin A Shank, Dean L Spiers
  • Air assistance and drift reduction technology for controlled droplet applicator
    Patent number: 9898012
    Abstract: A controlled droplet applicator (CDA) system comprising a CDA nozzle cup having an open end; a shroud covering all but a portion of the open end; and an air assist device disposed proximal to the open end, the cup and the air assist device separated by at least a portion of the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: John Peterson, Justin Bak, Jeffrey Zimmerman
  • High pressure, high speed regulating switch valve
    Patent number: 9897033
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a fuel injector for an internal combustion engine with a fuel injector body having a valve chamber, a first conduit in fluid communication with the valve chamber for a first flow of fuel having a first pressure, and a second conduit in fluid communication with the valve chamber for a second flow of fuel having a second pressure. The fuel injector further includes a valve member configured to move between the first conduit and the second conduit. Additionally, an actuator of the fuel injector is configured to move the valve member during a fuel injection cycle. The fuel injector is configured to operate in at least three modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventors: Lester L. Peters, David L. Buchanan, Bradlee J. Stroia, William David Daniel, Rajesh K. Garg, Richard D. Thomas
  • Agricultural crop application system
    Patent number: 9894892
    Abstract: A movable agricultural product applicator system for dispensing various agricultural-related products along the ground surface of agricultural crops is provided. The application system provides a hose assembly interconnecting a supporting boom and an applicator, wherein the applicator drags along the ground surface dispensing product as the supporting boom moves by a carrier. The application system may include a swivel connection facilitating a rotational and pivotal connection of the hose assembly to the supporting boom, wherein a mounting assembly removably mounts the application system to the supporting boom. The hose assembly is designed with bending properties that enable the applicator to self-center and locate rows between crops as it is being dragged along the ground surface, as well as enable the applicator to surf above obstacles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Inventor: Rick Eugene Lawrence
  • Single pushbutton device for switching to output water with multiple spray patterns
    Patent number: 9895702
    Abstract: A single pushbutton device includes a housing, a bushing, a water channel assembly, and a rotary assembly. The bushing and the rotary assembly are mounted inside of the housing, the water channel assembly is mounted around of the rotary assembly, and a button is through a hole of the housing. When push down the button, a rotary sleeve of the rotary assembly is rotated, a bump of the rotary sleeve is rotated along multiple noses of the multiple abutting inserts of the water channel assembly to sequentially press down the abutting inserts, further open different waterways, and output water with different spray or bubbling forms. Given the foregoing structure, the single pushbutton device is compact, facilitates quick and convenient operation, and requires less force exerted thereon for operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: XIAMEN RUNNER INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Zheng-zhen Lei