Patents Examined by Benjamin R. Fuller
  • Patent number: 6474154
    Abstract: A flow rate and flow velocity measurement device. A part of a flow 10 in a main flow pipe 1, which is a detection object, is introduced into a passage of a divided flow pipe 2 and becomes a flow 11. The divided flow pipe 2 has a curved portion 2c or rather an inverted arc portion in which the flow is abruptly changed in direction or rather inverted by protuberances 2a, 2b formed preferably in symmetry in upstream and downstream sides of the curved portion 2c. Outside the main flow pipe 1, there is disposed on the bottom portion of the curved portion 2c of the divided flow pipe 2 a detection element 5 fixed to a support body 4 while protruding preferably 0.05-0.3 mm from flow passage faces 2e, 2f in the vicinity thereof. An opposed face 2d opposite to the detection element 5 protrudes toward the detection face so as to throttle the passage and to accelerate a flow speed at the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Kohmura, Shunsuke Maeda, Takio Kojima, Yasuhisa Kuzuya, Masanori Suda, Takafumi Oshima
  • Patent number: 6474149
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of detecting a defective condition on a pressure switch arrangement which at least assumes a defective condition on the said pressure switch assembly whenever a signal arrives at an input of an electronic computing unit which cannot be associated either to the opened or to the closed condition of the pressure switch. Moreover, a defective condition on the pressure switch arrangement mounted in the brake system of a vehicle is assumed, once the pressure switch signal refers to an actuated brake although the vehicle is significantly accelerated. Conversely, a defective condition is also assumed if the vehicle significantly decelerates although the pressure switch signal refers to a lack of brake pressure. Also, an appropriate pressure switch arrangement is provided which, with the pressure switch closed, generates a rectangular signal and, with the pressure switch opened, generates a high level on the input II of an electronic computing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Norbert Ehmer, Thomas Proger, Markus Zenzen
  • Patent number: 6474177
    Abstract: A flow rate and flow velocity measurement device has a divided flow pipe (332) which is attached so as to be orthogonal to an intake pipe (1) of an engine, and into which a flow in the intake pipe (1) is introduced, an inlet plate (334) which extends in a direction orthogonal to a flow direction in the intake pipe (1) and forms a U-shape form pipe passage in the divided flow pipe (332) and a detection element (331) which is disposed so as to be exposed to a flow in the divided flow pipe (332) outside the intake pipe (1) and detects a flow rate and a flow velocity, wherein one end of the inlet plate (334) protrudes into the intake pipe (1) while passing a top opening of the divided flow pipe (332), and the divided flow pipe (332) has a flow passage structure symmetrical with the detection element (331) being made a center, so that an equivalent detection element (331) output is obtained in regard to both cases in which a fluid flows through the intake pipe (1) in a normal direction and a reverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunsuke Maeda, Yoshihiko Kohmura, Takio Kojima, Yasuhisa Kuzuya, Masanori Suda, Takafumi Oshima
  • Patent number: 6474176
    Abstract: A fluid flow device for determining fluid flow rates in soils includes a conduit for receiving a fluid. The conduit has a reduced channel portion to form a reduced channel portion which amplifies the fluid flow rate of the fluid. A sensor device is coupled in sensing relation relative to the conduit and configured for measuring the amplified fluid flow rate as the fluid flows through the reduced channel portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Glendon W. Gee, Jason C. Ritter, Anderson L. Ward, Randy R. Kirkham
  • Patent number: 6474145
    Abstract: A combustion state detection system for an internal combustion engine, in which the engine combustion state is detected by the combustion state parameter calculated from a time signal associated with the rotation of the crankshaft by a predetermined angle. The system comprises a device for compensating for the combustion state parameter and a combustion state parameter compensating permitting condition determining device for permitting or inhibiting the execution of the combustion state parameter compensation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eisaku Fukuchi, Akihito Numata, Takanobu Ichihara
  • Patent number: 6474135
    Abstract: A method of determining and utilizing the improved properties of a solid material that has been subjected to laser shock processing includes the steps of determining a set of desired fatigue tolerances for a work piece, utilizing a known design credit based on enhanced fatigue tolerances due to laser shock processing, and subsequently determining a base material and set of tolerances that meet the set of desired fatigue tolerances for the work piece, with adjustments being made for design credit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: LSP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Allan Clauer, Jeff Dulaney
  • Patent number: 6474150
    Abstract: A testing device for conducting the Initial Terminal Inspection of the air brake system of a made-up train includes a first valve assembly for at least charging and applying the brakes through the test device operable from the location at which the device is coupled between the train brake pipe and a supply of compressed air, and it also includes a second valve assembly for releasing the brakes actuated by receipt of a remotely-transmitted signal. The Initial Terminal Inspection requires that the brakes of a train be inspected in both their applied and their released positions. A testing device is normally connected to the train brake pipe at the locomotive end. The inspection of the brakes in their applied position requires the inspector to walk the length of the train, usually from the locomotive end to the far end of the train. This can be a distance of a half mile or a mile or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Railway Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Norman A. Berg, James F. Foster
  • Patent number: 6474174
    Abstract: An ultrasonic flow rate measuring method comprises steps of measuring an inner diameter of a pipe in a manner to subtract a corrosive resistance layer and its possible thickness deviation from the maximum deviation of an inner diameter presented as a pipe size within the range of being able to be estimated, measuring a flow rate QI of the ideal circular section having the measured inner diameter based on the ultrasonic multi-channel flow rate measuring method, calculating a flow rate QII of the remaining section according to a flow velocity distribution curve and adding the flow rate QII to the flow rate QI to calculate a total flow rate Q. Therefore, the method can enhance the accuracy of the flow rate measurement, if the section area of a pipe can't be measured, exactly, and the inner diameter of the pipe has a deviation due to an ovalness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignees: International Hydrosonic Co., Ltd., Hydrosonic International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tyan Khak Su
  • Patent number: 6474169
    Abstract: A diaphragm pressure sensor (1) includes a pressure guide member (3) made of fluoroplastics for the admission of liquid chemicals, pressure of which is measured. A pressure frame (4) made of perfluoroalkoxy resin is integrated with the pressure guide member (3) to form a wetted part 6 of the liquid chemicals. A ceramic diaphragm (8) with built-in pressure sensor (7) is bonded to the surface of the pressure frame (4) opposite to the surface to which pressure is applied. A body (2) is provided for housing the pressure guide member (3), pressure frame (4) and diaphragm (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Tem-Tech Lab Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mituyoshi Aizawa, Yoshinori Kawamura
  • Patent number: 6474153
    Abstract: A predicting system configured to predict an inflow volume of rainwater includes a rainfall volume measuring unit for measuring a rainfall volume that has fallen by a present time, a rainfall volume predicting unit for predicting a rainfall volume in a future, and an inflow-volume measuring unit for measuring an inflow volume of rainwater that has flown into an objective facility by the present time. The system also includes a model identification unit, which has a non-linear model having a Neural-Network model for calculating an inflow volume of rainwater from a rainfall volume, and which has a parameter determining part for determining a degree and coefficient parameters of the non-linear model, based on the rainfall volume that has fallen by the present time measured by the rainfall volume measuring unit and the inflow volume of rainwater that has flown into the objective facility by the present time measured by the inflow-volume measuring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Osamu Yamanaka, Akihiro Nagaiwa, Masajiro Nakada, Masahiko Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 6474146
    Abstract: A rotary sensor comprises: a drive shaft having a flat portion at a forward end portion; a rotator provided with an engagement hole having a flat portion in which the forward end portion of the drive shaft is inserted; an elastic member having an elastic contact portion; and a rotation angle sensing member for detecting the rotation angle of the rotator; the rotator having a groove formed in parallel with the flat portion adjacently to the flat portion of the engagement hole, and a partition wall between the groove and the flat portion of the engagement hole; the partition wall having an open portion, through which the engagement hole communicates with the groove, and formed to a specific depth from the opening of the engagement hole; and the elastic contact portion of the elastic member inserted in the groove being projected to the engagement hole side through the open portion, into elastic contact with the flat portion of the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirofumi Okumura
  • Patent number: 6470740
    Abstract: A low speed wind tunnel with an adjustable moving boundary is disclosed. The wind tunnel comprises a wind tunnel test section having at least one movable wall installed therein. The movable wall is capable of moving with the same direction and speed of the air flow. The movable wall may be a roller tread or a roller belt. A nested filter is installed at an inlet site of the air flow for regulating a source air flow into an evenly distributed flow field which is then sent to the wind tunnel test section. The nested filter includes a plurality of nested units arranged in order. Each nested unit has an air flow cross. section adjustable structure for varying the cross section area of the air flow passing through the wind tunnel test section, thereby adjusting the speed of the air flow. The movable wall may be designed to be an adaptive boundary for corresponding with different shapes of objects under test located in the wind tunnel test section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventor: Yu-Chu Li
  • Patent number: 6470741
    Abstract: A hot wire gas flow rate sensor having a bridge circuit with a sensing resistor avoids saturation of the signal processing circuitry at high gas flow rates by increasing a bias signal to a differential amplifier in the signal processing circuitry in a step-like manner as the flow rate responsive signal to the differential amplifier from the sensing resistor increases. The differential input signal to the amplifier is thus maintained at a level that avoids saturation of the amplifier. Appropriate scaling is provided to the output circuitry of the sensor in accordance with changes in the bias signal so that the sensor output correctly indicates gas flow rates. Compensation is provided for changes in gas composition and when the sensing resistor is changed by determining the voltage drop across a first sensing resistor with a gas of known composition at a zero gas flow condition. The voltage drop across a second sensing resistor at the zero gas flow condition for the gas is also determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Instrumentarium, Inc.
    Inventor: Kiomars Fathollahzadeh
  • Patent number: 6470742
    Abstract: To obtain a flow sensor having excellent responsibility, sensitivity and reliability and high flow detection accuracy by suppressing the deformation of a diaphragm, first additional patterns are formed on a side opposite to connection patterns of a heating element so that thin film patterns formed on the diaphragm become almost symmetrical, thereby suppressing the deformation of the diaphragm caused by internal stress between a base film or protective film and a platinum film forming the thin film patterns and the differences of mechanical or thermal properties therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoya Yamakawa, Motohisa Taguchi
  • Patent number: 6470758
    Abstract: A float-type flowmeter and method for measuring the flow of fluids, incorporates a measuring tube through which measuring tube the fluid can flow against the force of gravity and which is provided with a float capable of moving at least in the direction of the flow, and an acquisition unit capable of tracking the movement of the float, with a motion signal corresponding to the movement of the float being transmissible to a diagnostic unit in which diagnostic unit an oscillation signal corresponding to the oscillation amplitude of the float can be derived from the motion signal and an error or alarm signal can be generated when, for a predefined length of time, the oscillation signal falls below a minimum setpoint value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Inventors: Heinz Bernard, Reinhard Haak
  • Patent number: 6470745
    Abstract: A dispensing spoon comprising a handle, a scoop having an open mouth formed at one end of the handle, a powder leveling means in the form of a wiper part which is coupled integrally and flexibly to an opposite end of the handle remote from the scoop and which can be displaced manually in a sweep plane so as to sweep laterally over the mouth of the scoop for powder leveling purposes, and a counter which is automatically advanced by operation of the powder leveling means. The counter includes a counter disc having a plurality of numbers around its surface and is arranged to be indexed by one number when the wiper part is displaced to sweep over the scoop mouth to perform a powder leveling operation. The counter disk is journalled on the wiper part or the handle for rotation in a plane parallel to the sweep plane of the wiper part so that the numbers are displayed upwardly. The counter disc has on its underside a ratchet wheel having a plurality of teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Inventors: Gavin Reay, Simon David Heap
  • Patent number: 6470743
    Abstract: A heat-sensitive flow rate sensor that is high in productivity, superior in accuracy of flow rate measurement and sensitivity. A bottom face of a concave accommodating portion 18 of an supporting member 16 is provided with an adhesion face 24 for fastening a flow rate-detecting element 14 thereon with an adhesive 15, installation faces 25a, 25b for holding the flow rate-detecting element 14 thereon, and a protruding face 26 for blocking in a raised manner the whole area of a cavity 13 on the underside of the flow rate-detecting element 14. As a result of employing this construction, even when increasing an intake fluid to a large amount of flow, the protruding face 26 blocks the vicinity of the cavity 13. Therefore, the fluid to be measured hardly flows into the gap between the underside of the flow rate-detecting element 14 and the supporting member 16. Consequently, accuracy in flow rate measurement is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumiyoshi Yonezawa, Hiroyuki Uramachi, Shingo Hamada
  • Patent number: 6467360
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a torque sensing apparatus (10) for sensing torque applied to an elongated shaft (12) having a longitudinal axis (14). An elongated magnetoelastic element (16) is connected about a portion of the shaft (12). The magnetoelastic element (16) provides a magnetic field in response to a torque (T) applied to the shaft (12). A magnetic member (28) is positioned adjacent the magnetoelastic element (16). An alternating power source (34) drives the magnetic member (28) into magnetic saturation. The magnetic member (28) has a saturation condition responsive to the magnetic field of the magnetoelastic element (16). A detector circuit (36) detects the saturation condition of the magnetic member. The detector circuit (36) provides a signal indicative of the applied torque in response to the saturation condition of the magnetic member (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Leonid Bogdanov
  • Patent number: 6467359
    Abstract: Improvement in a mass air flow meter having a static pressure manifold disposed upstream from an air flow path for sample air and capable of accumulating a volume of air therein, the flow path constructed to receive an air flow transducer, the static pressure manifold having an inlet arrangement in communication with the kinematic main air flow traveling through the meter so as to be capable of sensing different static pressures thereof, the static pressure manifold having a single outlet serving as the sole inlet for the sample air to be measured by the air flow transducer, the static pressure of the air accumulated in the static pressure manifold being such that it functions as a resultant average of the different static pressures sensed at its inlet arrangement, the static pressure manifold providing substantial immunity for the meter in respect to turbulent air flow upstream therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Best Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert K. Atwood
  • Patent number: 6467338
    Abstract: A position sensor for a motor vehicle, which generates, as a sensor signal, a pulse-width modulated signal that varies as a function of position, has a total measuring range which is subdivided into multiple, similar, sequentially-adjacent, measuring sections. The position sensor of the invention provides error-free transition between the sequentially-adjacent measuring sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Hella KG Hueck & Co.
    Inventors: Henning Irle, Norbert Kost, Franz-Josef Schmidt