Patents Examined by Charles C. Compton
  • Patent number: 4465141
    Abstract: A fire sprinkler including a valve retained by a tubular body that defines an inlet for connection to a supply of pressurized fire extinguishing fluid and an outlet for placement in a fire protected zone. The valve is movable from a closed position to an open position by a primary force produced by the pressurized fluid at the inlet. In the closed position, the valve provides a fluid tight seal between the inlet and the outlet and in the open position allows fluid flow therebetween. Retained by the valve and movable therewith is a locking mechanism reciprocably movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The locking mechanism is adapted in the engaged position to transfer between the valve and the tubular body a substantial first component of the primary force and to thereby prevent relative movement therebetween and is adapted in the disengaged position to substantially eliminate the first component of force and thereby allow relative movement therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1984
    Assignee: U.S. Fire Control Corporation
    Inventor: Wilfred V. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4458828
    Abstract: An electronic reset circuit is provided for a fluid dispenser of the type including a fluid pump and a meter, wherein upon deactivation of the fluid pump, the meter must be reset in order to reactivate the pump and a resetting device normally actuatable for accomplishing meter resetting. The electronic reset circuit comprises a reset control switch actuatable only by a fluid dispenser attendant and an electronic circuit coupled with the resetting device and with the reset control switch for preventing resetting of the meter in response to normal actuation of the resetting device until actuation of the reset control switch by the attendant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1984
    Inventors: Ollie J. Allen, Kelly M. Allen
  • Patent number: 4457451
    Abstract: An apparatus for feeding electric circuit elements has a hopper for accommodating a supply of such elements, a capture tube or pipe extending substantially vertically through a bore in the bottom of the hopper which is movable relative to the tube in the direction of the axis of the latter so that the electric circuit elements in the hopper are captured one at a time by the tube and fed therethrough to a predetermined position at the outside of the hopper, and a separating plate disposed above the opening of the tube in the hopper for shielding the electric circuit elements under the separating plate from at least part of the weight of the electric circuit elements thereabove whereby the hopper can be provided with a large vertical dimension for accommodating a correspondingly large supply of the electric circuit elements without the danger that elements near the bottom of the hopper will be damaged by reason of the relative movement of the capture tube under the weight of the superposed circuit elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1984
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Iwao Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 4456151
    Abstract: An apparatus for melting and dispensing thermoplastic material including an open top melter tank, a dispenser for dispensing the molten material, and a pump for supplying the molten material from the tank to the dispenser. The tank and pump are contained within a housing which includes a cover over the tank. A tank lid is suspended from the cover by a snap-fit connection such that the housing including the attached cover may be removed from the tank and pump while the tank lid remains attached to the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1984
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventor: Richard R. Lewellen
  • Patent number: 4456152
    Abstract: A hand-held measuring and dispensing device for liquids employing a novel adjustable cam mounted inside of the device which limits the movement of a plunger to control the amount of liquid withdrawn from a reservoir on the device upon one movement of the plunger and discharges a like measured amount from the device upon another movement of the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1984
    Inventors: Don H. Young, Austin E. Elmore
  • Patent number: 4448332
    Abstract: This invention provides an improved vibratory storage pile discharger unit for promoting the downward flow of material from a storage pile of a flowable material, such as coal, limestone, woodchips, sulphur and the like, through an opening in a generally horizontal surface on which the pile is supported and into another area located beneath that pile-supporting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1984
    Assignee: Vibranetics, Inc.
    Inventor: Virgil C. Plummer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4446990
    Abstract: A device for spraying a noxious powder includes a housing for a CO.sub.2 cartridge, and a moveable barrel which carries a firing pin by which the cartridge can be punctured to explosively release the gas. The barrel has a nozzle at its outer end, and contains the noxious powder in a chamber defined between the barrel and the firing pin. When the barrel is released from an outwardly extended position it is thrust by a spring against the rupturable end of the cartridge, thereby releasing the gas which in turn propels the active agent through the nozzle and toward the assailant at whom it is aimed. Generally, a powdered tear gas will be employed in the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1984
    Assignee: David J. Stevenson
    Inventors: David J. Stevenson, Robert E. Domian
  • Patent number: 4441631
    Abstract: A combined opener, pouring spout and installation device for flexible wall liquid container bags, including apparatus to perforate first one wall and then the opposite wall in the process of installing a pouring spout inner member and including a device serving as an outer member to retentively engage the inner member in a clamping arrangement that seals the bag around the pouring spout opening in its wall. Withdrawal of the carrier member leaves the first opening in the bag wall opposite the pouring spout available as a breathing spout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1984
    Inventor: Alistair M. Hosie
  • Patent number: 4440313
    Abstract: Vending machine for flat articles having a housing at a portion of which there is an article delivery slot. Within the housing there is an ejection plate which can be moved by an actuating handle and by which one article at a time can be carried through the delivery slot from the stack of articles which is standing on an inclined supporting plate within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1984
    Inventor: Manfred Krassnig
  • Patent number: 4440326
    Abstract: A dispenser device is described having a metering chamber provided with inlet and outlet ports. Independently mounted, angularly disposed valves are associated with the ports. An activator comprising a cam wheel driven by an electric motor operates the valves in predetermined sequence through valve control arms respectively associated with each of the valves. The valve control arms are pivotally mounted and co-operate with an extension of the valve stem extending externally of the metering chamber. The electric motor is actuated by a button operating through a lever so as to close a switch. The cam wheel includes a switch cam track which holds the switch closed for a full cycle of the dispenser. Also a deactivating cam track is arranged to displace the lever so that manipulation of the button cannot effect the dispenser operation once the cycle has been initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1984
    Assignee: Peter Bayly Associates Australia Pty.
    Inventors: Peter K. Bayly, John E. Oretti
  • Patent number: 4438871
    Abstract: A dispenser for pasty substances and/or liquids has two coaxially arranged metering pistons 11,24 which supply charges of material from two coaxially arranged pump chambers 14,23 through ejection channels 19,26 into an ejection chamber 20. The material can emerge from ejection chamber 20 through an outlet 4. This outlet 4 is controlled by means of plug 21 biassed in closing direction. When the metering pistons 11,24 are on their suction strokes material passes from the supply tanks 17,27 which are likewise arranged coaxially one inside the other. Such a configuration yields a dispenser which consists in essence of two separate dispensers, one inside the other. The two streams of material combine directly ahead of the outlet 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1984
    Assignee: Wischerath and Schreiner KG
    Inventor: Josef Eckert
  • Patent number: 4433733
    Abstract: A snuffer is provided for putting out fires in oil tanks or oil wells which consists of a framework for maintaining an asbestos or the like covering, forming a cap which can be lowered over the fire. A fire retardant fluid may be injected within the snuffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1984
    Inventor: Byron H. Cunningham
  • Patent number: 4427132
    Abstract: A liquid storage and measurement system particularly applicable to the volumetric measurement of siquid hydrocarbon fuel and to the dispensing of the fuel via a fuel dispensing unit, includes a liquid measurement/storage vessel of known dimensions arranged to be partially filled with liquid, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1984
    Assignee: Avery-Hardoll Limited
    Inventor: John A. Thomson
  • Patent number: 4427074
    Abstract: An impeller is connected to a liquid-powered motor to be driven thereby. The impeller is of a type capable of moving a large volume of air of the order of as much as several thousand cubic meters per minute, which is ten or more times the volume of liquid used to power the motor. Some or all of the liquid applied to the motor to be transformed into mechanical energy is carried by a conduit to a point where it can suitably enter the air stream provided by the impeller. The conduit can carry the liquid to a point between the motor and the impeller so as to be picked up along with air and included in the stream forcibly projected from the impeller. Alternatively, the conduit can be routed around the impeller to discharge the liquid into the already formed air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1984
    Inventor: Goesta Wollin
  • Patent number: 4410045
    Abstract: A firefighting vehicle comprises a pick-up truck of the type having an open bed, a housing mounted to the floor within the bed and having a plurality of compartments, a tower pivotally mounted to the top of the housing, a rigid conduit pivotally mounted to the top of the housing and extending within and supported by the tower, and a plurality of stabilizing outriggers for stabilizing the truck during operation of the firefighting equipment. The rigid conduit terminates in a nozzle at an upper end and includes a swivel connector proximate the housing to permit rotation of the nozzle to permit water spray to the left or right of the vehicle. When pivoted to a horizontal position, the base of the tower is exposed so that lights mounted on the base shine rearwardly of the truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1983
    Assignee: Fire Pro, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard W. Whitman
  • Patent number: 4405018
    Abstract: The invention features improved fluid deflection techniques for a pendent-type fire-protection sprinkler head. A first deflecting surface facing generally upward is positioned in the path of fluid emerging from the body of the sprinkler and includes a portion spaced to circumferentially redistribute the fluid to improve uniformity of distribution and deflect at least some of the fluid generally outward. A second deflecting surface positioned radially outward and away from the first deflecting surface receives and controls the distribution of a portion of the outwardly moving water from the first surface; the path of emerging fluid from the sprinkler head body to the first deflector surface extends through an interior opening in the second deflector surface; and the second surface is separated from the first surface by a circumferentially unobstructed region so that the circumferential distribution of the fluid leaving the first surface is not divided as it moves between the first and second surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1983
    Assignee: Grinnell Fire Protection Systems Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael A. Fischer
  • Patent number: 4403661
    Abstract: An automatic spray nozzle for use in a fire extinguishing system includes an apertured body member, a closure cap, a frame supporting a novel deflector, and a cylindrical ferrule positioned below the novel deflector and spaced with respect thereto. A strut holds the closure cap and a lever bearing against the strut is releasably retained by a transversely disposed fusible element engaging spaced apertured arms on the strut. The combination of the cylindrical ferrule and the novel deflector including a conical portion provides a water distribution pattern which is much more uniform than the spray patterns produced by the prior art devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1983
    Assignee: A-T-O Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Tokar
  • Patent number: 4402436
    Abstract: In a discharge gate arrangement for cargo hoppers for bulk cargo, a cover is guided for sliding in its own plane between a closed and an open position. The cover is also mounted for movement towards and away from the plane of the discharge opening at the end of the closing movement and the beginning of the opening movement, respectively. In the closed position the cover presses against a gasket laid around the opening, providing a gas- and liquid-tight seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1983
    Assignee: AB Nordstroms Linbanor
    Inventor: Leif A. Hellgren
  • Patent number: 4401165
    Abstract: A system for increasing the fire resistance of support ceilings and limiting damage caused by water as a result of fire-extinguishing operations to the respective localities. The system including a suspended fire resistant covering with sprinkler elements, the covering being composed of arched ceiling elements along which the liquid travels, the ceiling elements having side edges accommodated by collecting channels which receive the liquid coming from the sprinkler elements. A distance is maintained between side edges and the walls of the collecting channels for liquid flow into the channels and exhaust air flow upward through the covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1983
    Inventors: Paul Gutermuth, Heinrich Oetjen
  • Patent number: 4401234
    Abstract: Automated apparatus for applying integrated circuits to a circuit board in which the integrated circuits are fed to the apparatus through the open end of a tubular magazine which holds them in a linear array, and which is positioned in registry with a feeding aperture of the apparatus. By this invention, a casing is provided for holding a plurality of the magazines in side-by-side relation, with the first of the magazines of the plurality occupying the position of registry with the feeding aperture. A spring loaded platen member is provided for biasing the magazines toward the position of the first magazine, so that when the first magazine is emptied of its integrated circuits it may be removed from the casing, and another of the tubular magazines moved by the resilient means into the position of registry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1983
    Assignee: Universal Research Laboratories, Incorporated
    Inventors: Diego I. Droira, Richard J. Sikorski