Patents Examined by Benjamin L Osterhout
  • Patent number: 11490779
    Abstract: A dishwasher may utilize a multi-level dishwasher rack that in some instances may be reconfigurable into different configurations to optimize the rack for different types and/or combinations of utensils. A movable divider may be used in some instances to selectively expose a deep portion of a rack, and a drawer may be used in some instances to provide access utensils stored underneath a divider. A movable portion of a bottom of a rack may also be used in some instances to provide different support surfaces in the rack at different elevations. A tubular spray element or another rotatable spray tube may also be positioned relative to a multi-level dishwasher rack in some instances to facilitate concentrated washing of different facing surfaces of different utensils stored in the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Robert M. Digman, Mark W. Wilson, Garen Gibbs
  • Patent number: 11486078
    Abstract: A laundry treatment apparatus includes a housing. The laundry treatment apparatus further includes a tub. The laundry treatment apparatus further includes a drum. The laundry treatment apparatus further includes a heater. The laundry treatment apparatus further includes a tub through-portion formed in the tub so that the heater is inserted into a space located between a bottom surface of the drum and a bottom surface of the tub. The laundry treatment apparatus further includes three or more first support members. The laundry treatment apparatus further includes second support members that protrude from a circumferential surface of the tub, a number of the second support members being equal to a number of the three or more first support members. The laundry treatment apparatus further includes a plurality of connectors that are each configured to connect a first support member and a second support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jinwoo Seo, Sangjin Kim, Jihong Lee
  • Patent number: 11484183
    Abstract: Image-based object sensing is utilized in a dishwasher to configure a wash cycle and/or perform other operations in the dishwasher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joel Boyer, Robert M. Digman, Bassam Fawaz, Russell Dietrich
  • Patent number: 11473443
    Abstract: A gas turbine includes a rotational body including a tie rod, a plurality of rotor disks arranged in an axial direction of the tie rod, and a plurality of blades radially arranged on an outer periphery of each rotor disk; a stationary body surrounding the rotational body and defining a working fluid flow space between opposing surfaces of the rotational and stationary bodies, the stationary body including a casing accommodating the rotational body and a plurality of vanes and diaphragms arranged on an inner surface of the casing, the vanes arranged alternately with the blades; and a compressor cleaner disposed at a plurality of compressor positions in the stationary body to spray a cleaning fluid into the working fluid flow space. The compressor positions are separated from each other in the axial direction, and the cleaning fluid is spayed at low pressure to enhance cleaning efficiency while protecting compressor components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Inventor: In Hyung Park
  • Patent number: 11458512
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods related to a handling system used to move a semiconductor substrate within a process chamber during treatment. The handling system moves the substrate back-and-forth between two locations in an arc-like motion around a pivot point, while simultaneously rotating the substrate around its own center point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: TEL MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Jeffery W. Butterbaugh
  • Patent number: 11460257
    Abstract: An apparatus for sensing an obstruction within a tube being cleaned and repetitively advancing and retracting a flexible high pressure fluid cleaning lance within the tube is disclosed. The apparatus monitors drive roller/belt position and actual hose position, compares the belt (expected travel) to hose position (travel) and generates a position difference, or mismatch. If the mismatch is above a predetermined level, the drive motor direction is reversed for a predetermined time interval, and forward operation restored after the predetermined time interval; and the sequence of repeating the reversing and restoring operations is continued until the position difference or mismatch no longer exceeds the predetermined difference threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: STONEAGE, INC.
    Inventors: Travis Watkins, Jeffery R. Barnes, Daniel Szabo, Cody R. Montoya
  • Patent number: 11459697
    Abstract: A clothes care apparatus comprises a main body including a clothes care compartment, a clothes support member disposed in the clothes care compartment and including an air supply port provided to allow air to flow therein, a blower configured to form an airflow to be supplied to the clothes support member, and a nozzle provided to guide the airflow formed by the blower to the clothes support member, and including an airflow outlet disposed to face the air supply port, the airflow outlet provided to supply an airflow to an inside and an outside of the clothes support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Geon Ung Lee, Hyun Joo Kim, Eung Ryeol Seo, Dong Woo Shin, Seung-Mok Lee, Hwang Mook Cho
  • Patent number: 11452431
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes: a case; a tub; a door; a sump disposed below the tub and configured to store washing water; a spray nozzle configured to spray washing water into the tub; a heater configured to heat washing water and generate steam; a steam nozzle disposed at the door or the tub and configured to discharge steam to the tub; a first rack disposed in the tub and configured to receive a washing target to be washed by washing water sprayed from the spray nozzle; and a second rack disposed in the tub and configured to receive a washing target to be washed by steam supplied from the steam nozzle. The steam discharged from the steam nozzle is supplied to an inside of the second rack through one of a lower surface or a circumferential surface of the second rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Sangwoo Woo
  • Patent number: 11449040
    Abstract: A cleaning device for a display panel is configured with a sensor corresponding to a water jet nozzle, and a control switch which suspends an operation of the device when the water jet nozzle is detected as working abnormally, thereby preventing abnormal products from being produced due to the failure of finding an abnormal condition of the water jet nozzle in time, ensuring the normal process of the product, and preventing the nonessential economic loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignees: HKC CORPORATION LIMITED, CHONGQING HKC OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventor: Chung-Kuang Chien
  • Patent number: 11448091
    Abstract: A washing tool for washing the engine core of a gas turbine engine has: a fluid connector, configured to be connected to a supply of engine washing fluid; a nozzle, in fluid communication with the fluid connector and configured to direct the engine washing fluid into the engine core; a fan blade fixture, configured to engage with a fan blade of the gas turbine engine and fix the position of the washing tool relative to the fan blade; and a second fixture, configured to engage with a part of the gas turbine engine that does not rotate about the axis of the gas turbine engine and fix the position of the washing tool relative to said part of the gas turbine engine. A washing system, a waste water collection system, a method of washing an engine core of a gas turbine engine, and a gas turbine engine, are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: David Munton
  • Patent number: 11441856
    Abstract: A system and an apparatus for positioning a plurality of flexible cleaning lances includes a frame removably fastened parallel a tube sheet of a heat exchanger. The apparatus includes a smart lance tractor drive for advancing and retracting one or more lance hoses through one or more lance guide tubes into tubes penetrating through the heat exchanger tube sheet, a controller, one or more AC induction sensors on the tubes operable to sense holes in the tube sheet, and a tumble box connected to the controller operable to generate electrical power to the AC induction sensor from an air pressure source, supply electrical power to the controller and distribute pneumatic power to pneumatic motors for positioning the tractor drive on the positioner frame. The tractor drive includes sensors for detection of mismatch between expected and actual lance positions and automated drive reversal operation to remove blockages within tubes being cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: STONEAGE, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy Schneider, Adam Markham, Joseph A. Schneider, Scott Howell, Daniel Szabo, Cody R. Montoya
  • Patent number: 11419489
    Abstract: A cleaning tool for insertion instrument includes: a cleaning cap configured to be attachable to and detachable from a distal end component portion provided on a distal end side of an insertion portion in an endoscope and covered by a tubular cover when the endoscope is used, attachment and detachment of the cleaning cap to and from the distal end component portion being performed in a state where the cover is removed from the distal end component portion; and a cap-side engaging portion provided on the cleaning cap and configured to be engaged with a distal end component portion-side engaging portion provided on an outer peripheral surface, at least a part of which is covered by the cover, of the distal end component portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomokazu Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 11414801
    Abstract: A washing machine comprises a housing including a main inlet on a front surface thereof, a main washing unit disposed in the housing, a main door opening and closing the inlet, and a sub-washing unit disposed in the main door and provided with a pulsator. A large amount of laundry can be washed through the main washing unit and a small amount of laundry can be washed through the sub-washing unit, so that washing can be efficiently performed according to the amount of laundry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dae Wook Park, Dong Woo Lee, Valeriy Prushinskiy, Igor Ivanov, Hyung Sok Yeo, Jun Young Lee
  • Patent number: 11417542
    Abstract: A semiconductor processing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a body portion, which includes at least one semiconductor processing unit. Each semiconductor processing unit includes a recess formed on an upper surface of the body portion, wherein a bottom surface of the recess has at least one location and a peripheral. The bottom surface ascends from the at least one location toward the peripheral against a direction of gravity or descends from the at least one location toward the peripheral following the direction of gravity. Each semiconductor processing unit also includes a first channel that connects to the recess at the at least one location, as well as at least one second channel connecting to the recess at the peripheral. Each of the first channel and the at least one second channel serves as an inlet or an outlet via which a fluid enters or exits the recess. A method according to the present disclosure may control a flowing direction of a fluid flowing across a substrate surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Wuxi Huaying Microelectronics Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Sophia Wen, Zhikai Wang
  • Patent number: 11414054
    Abstract: An electromagnetic valve includes a solenoid; a sealing portion provided on a movable element; an urging member; a first pipe including a first outlet side end portion; and a second pipe including an inlet side end portion and a second outlet side end portion. The first pipe includes a receiving seat being in close contact with the sealing portion. In a first state where the sealing portion is separated from the receiving seat, a liquid flows to the first outlet side end portion. In a second state where the sealing portion is in close contact with the receiving seat, the liquid flows to the second outlet side end portion and does not flow to the first outlet side end portion, and a pressing force by the urging member and a hydrostatic pressure of the liquid in the merging portion act to press the sealing portion against the receiving seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akinobu Kubota, Masaaki Sato
  • Patent number: 11399692
    Abstract: A dishwashing appliance may include a cabinet, a tub, a spray arm, a fluid pump, an electric motor, a wireless power receiver, and a wireless power transmitter. The tub may define a wash chamber within the cabinet. The spray arm may be movably disposed within the wash chamber. The spray arm may define one or more orifices to direct wash fluid to the wash chamber. The fluid pump may be in fluid communication with the spray arm to motivate wash fluid thereto. The electric motor may be mounted apart from the fluid pump in mechanical communication with the spray arm to direct a spray position thereof. The wireless power receiver may be in electrical communication with the electric motor. The wireless power transmitter may be spaced apart from the fluid pump in operable communication with the wireless power receiver to transmit an electromagnetic field thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: John Edward Dries
  • Patent number: 11404295
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a container carrying in/out section on which a substrate conveyance container accommodating a substrate is placed; a processing unit that performs a process on the substrate; a conveyance space through which the substrate is conveyed; a substrate conveyor that conveys the substrate between the container carrying in/out section and the processing unit through the conveyance space; a first gas supply passage that supplies an atmosphere adjusting gas to the processing unit; a first gas discharge passage that discharges the atmosphere adjusting gas from the processing unit; a circulation passage that returns the atmosphere adjusting gas flowing out from the conveyance space to the conveyance space; a second gas supply passage that supplies the atmosphere adjusting gas to a circulation system constituted by the conveyance space and the circulation passage; and a second gas discharge passage that discharges the atmosphere adjusting gas from the circulation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Junya Minamida, Tatsuya Ito, Yasunori Toyoda, Daisuke Aoki
  • Patent number: 11401860
    Abstract: A method of using an exhaust system includes activating an oscillating assembly connected to an exhaust line, wherein the oscillating assembly is configured to vibrate the exhaust line. The method further includes measuring a value indicating a flow of particles through the exhaust line. The method further includes comparing the value with a predetermined threshold value. The method further includes increasing a rate of vibration of the exhaust line in response to the value being below the predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Po-Hsuan Huang, Tung-Lin Yang
  • Patent number: 11390984
    Abstract: A fabric treating apparatus including: a cabinet defining a treating chamber in which clothes is accommodated; a first conveyer and a second conveyer for conveying the clothes in one direction; a first fixing member to which the first conveyer is fixed, and which is rotatably installed in the cabinet; and a second fixing member to which the second conveyer is fixed, and which is rotatably installed in the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jihyun Yoon, Jeongjoon Roh, Ayeong Lee, Taehee Lee
  • Patent number: 11390982
    Abstract: A portable apparatus for washing and drying clothes, and a method of manufacturing said apparatus, are described. In one aspect an apparatus includes a washing unit and a drying unit. The washing unit includes a washing compartment configured to be collapsible, a water tube connected from a top washer end to a bottom washer end of the washing unit, a water hose extending from a side wall of the washing unit, and a wringer coupled to an end of the washing compartment. The drying unit includes a drying compartment, a power compartment, a fan assembly at the top dryer end and coupled to the drying compartment, a heating assembly, and an air vent. In one aspect the drying unit is coupled to the washing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Inventors: Aaron Hammond, Shedra Hammond