Patents Examined by Charles Frankfort
  • Dynamic current interruption-type indicators and method therefor
    Patent number: 4566401
    Abstract: An improved dynamic current interruption-type flashover indicator responsive to lightning strikes for releasing from the tip of arc horns located on power transmission towers and for interrupting the resulting dynamic current. The present invention utilizes a uniquely designed propellant having a formed center hole extending the longitudinal length of the propellant and containing therein a fuse wire extending from a separation plate at one end and engaging an inserted pin at the other end. When lightning strikes, the resulting arc is lead into and throughout the formed center hole by the fuse wire, the fuse wire melts and the temperature of the arc causes the propellant to vaporize uniformly into steam and the resulting gaseous force causes the indicator to become rocket-like and to suddenly leave the tip of the arc horn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1986
    Assignee: Kinki Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masao Tomita
  • Apparatus for indicating a range position for an automatic transmission installed in a vehicle
    Patent number: 4565151
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for indicating a range position for an automatic transmission installed in a vehicle. The apparatus includes a slide cover whose thickness is varied to accomplish a smooth slide on rounded corner portions. The slide cover has a range position indicating member which indicates the selected position to an operator when an operator moves a manual control lever to select another range position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1986
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuuichi Buma
  • Electronic thermometer
    Patent number: 4565456
    Abstract: The electronic thermometer comprises a temperature sensor which senses the temperature of an object, a prediction temperature computing apparatus for deriving a converged temperature according to the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor, apparatus for providing a range of error associated with the predicted converged temperature computed by the prediction temperature computing apparatus, and a display for displaying the range of error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1986
    Assignee: Omron Tateisi Electronics Co.
    Inventors: Takayuki Iida, Tamio Miyake
  • Device for the electric measurement of a liquid level
    Patent number: 4562733
    Abstract: A device for the electric measurement of the level of a liquid within a container has a protective tube (1) within which a conductive foil (2) is helically arranged. The conductive foil (2) is wound with such a pitch that sufficient space remains between its longitudinal edges (3, 3') to provide a helically extending flexible protective-tube region (16, 16') within the protective tube (1). This protective-tube region has inwardly and outwardly directed U-shaped tube sections (17, 18, 19). As a result of this development the protective tube (1) bends exclusively in those regions which are located between the longitudinal edges (3) of the conductive foil (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1986
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Bernhard Kant
  • Method of evaluating cooling performance of heat treatment agent and apparatus therefor
    Patent number: 4563097
    Abstract: A method of evaluating the cooling performance of a heat treatment agent, wherein a sensor (1), in which the relationship between the electric resistance value and the temperature is known, is immersed in the heat treatment agent, a voltage and a current are applied to the sensor, the voltage and the current are made variable to change the temperature of the sensor, and a predetermined relationship is sought between the temperature and the dissipated heat value on the basis of the change in temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1986
    Assignee: Idemitsu Kosan Company Limited
    Inventor: Tadashi Katafuchi
  • Matric suction sensor
    Patent number: 4561293
    Abstract: An apparatus measuring the matric suction of soil moisture free from adverse effects due to changes in the salinity and temperature of the soil having first and second water-sensitive resistors and circuit electrically connected to the resistors for measuring the ratio of resistance of the resistors as affected by matric suction. A circuit is provided which includes electrodes proximate opposite sides of each resistor and separate layers located between the water-sensitive resistors and at least all of the electrodes but the electrode furthermost from the soil. The separate layers are chemical inert, electrically conductive, finely divided particles which are wettable by an aqueous solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1985
    Inventor: Lorenzo A. Richards
  • Liquid sight gage cover
    Patent number: 4561305
    Abstract: A liquid level sight gage has an elongated chamber block with a liquid chamber, a lens covering the liquid chamber, and a cover with an elongated viewing slot secured to the block with the lens interposed therebetween. Side beams of the cover, through which bolts securing the cover to the chamber block extend, have ovate configurations, providing greater mass at their centers, thereby providing greater support towards the centers of the chamber block sidewalls where the tendency to bulge is greatest. The bolts extend through longitudinally spaced holes in the side beams in contact with the chamber sidewalls and are transversely supported by the side beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1985
    Assignee: Houdaille Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Tremain, Burt L. Beach, David J. Rimington
  • Safety case for the medical glass thermometer
    Patent number: 4560287
    Abstract: A protective case for a conventional capillary fever thermometer which includes at the bulb end of the capillary fever thermometer a rigid cap which is partially spaced from the bulb. A transparent securing portion enclosing the graduated part of the capillary stem of the thermometer. The rigid cap and the securing portion held together by a recess in the securing portion receiving a protrusion on the cap. Also connecting the cap and securing portion is thermoplastic material of the securing portion in radial apertures in the side wall of the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1985
    Inventor: Ahmed M. Tantawi
  • Thermometer for measuring cryogenic temperatures
    Patent number: 4560288
    Abstract: A thermometer comprises a first sample space having a liquefiable gas sealed therein and a second sample space partitioned from the first sample space by a pressure difference detecting element and having a liquefiable gas sealed therein in conjunction with an adsorbent. As this thermometer is cooled to cryogenic temperatures, the second sample space is vacuumized by the action of the adsorbent. As the pressure difference detected by pressure difference detecting element at this is equal to the vapor pressure in the first sample space, the temperature can be accurately measured from the detected pressure difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1985
    Assignees: Agency of Industrial Science & Technology, Ministry of International Trade & Industry
    Inventor: Koichi Nara
  • Siren
    Patent number: 4558656
    Abstract: A siren comprises a compressed air supply which is deflected by stationary deflectors to exit radially through stator ports. A rotor with spaced ports rotates between the stator and deflector thereby opening and closing the stator ports. Stationary vanes are disposed at circumferentially spaced locations, and constitute together with the deflector plate and stator and rotor housing, plenums. There are fewer rotor ports than stator ports, which generates an out-of-phase acoustical pattern which creates an acoustic combination from the stator ports of an acoustic output at a distance from the siren which is more uniform spatially. The thermoplastic seal between the stator and the rotor has minimal clearance under operating conditions having been run-in and plastically deformed at a temperature higher than for normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1985
    Assignee: Southern California Edison Company, Inc.
    Inventor: John G. Powell
  • Capacitance monitoring bridge circuit for an enthalpy responsive device
    Patent number: 4558595
    Abstract: An enthalpy control circuit has a humidity responsive capacitive element in one leg of a bridge circuit and a temperature responsive resistance element in another leg. The circuit is powered by a pulsating DC voltage of 1 kilohertz frequency for providing DC output, from an integrator connected to the output of the bridge circuit, indicative of enthalpy. A feedback from an integrator output to the bridge circuit is provided by chopping the DC output into appropriate AC for rebalance. Another feedback circuit around an amplifier provides a reference point compensated for offset voltages brought about by conditions such as temperature affecting circuit components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1985
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventor: Arlon D. Kompelien
  • Contact thermocouple assembly
    Patent number: 4558959
    Abstract: A thermocouple, for measuring the temperature of flat strip moving horizontally through a furnace, extends vertically into the furnace and can move vertically within a fixed guide assembly. The ceramic insulated thermocouple element, inside an outer thermocouple member, can move within the outer thermocouple member, in response to the urging of a spring, and has a contact pad composed of a metal with a melting point such that a layer of molten metal forms on the contact pad from frictional heat from the moving strip. In a second embodiment, for measuring vertically moving strip, with the thermocouple assembly horizontally positioned, the thermocouple assembly includes a second spring to urge the thermocouple assembly horizontally into the furnace against the moving strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1985
    Assignee: Bethlehem Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Dean G. Thomas, Robert J. Kopnicky
  • Device for indicating the current score when participating in sport
    Patent number: 4557215
    Abstract: A counting device to indicate a current score and intended to be worn by an individual participating in a sport. The device comprises annular indicator organs (1,2) provided with symbols (5) to indicate the score and an organ (7) with a read-off point (15). The indicator organs can be moved in relation to the read-off point so that different symbols can be advanced to that position. The main part of the device consists of soft, flexible material, preferably being some form of textile material. The device thus forms a soft, flexible, annular loop having a circumference such that it may be worn around the wrist, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1985
    Inventor: Bengt Petersson
  • Safety sight
    Patent number: 4557216
    Abstract: The invention is an improved safety sight for liquid level detection in containers of liquids. The safety sight provides a means for such detection of the liquid level in automobile radiators, water tanks, oil tanks and other such vessels. The safety sight is composed of an insert for the vessel containing the liquid, a transparent lens or window piece to observe the liquid level, a retainer to hold the lens or window piece in the insert in the vessel and a seal under the lens or window piece to prevent leaks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1985
    Inventor: Thomas R. Demyon
  • Method and device for structural, superficial and deep analysis of a body
    Patent number: 4557607
    Abstract: A method for the structural, superficial and deep analysis of a body is disclosed. The method includes scanning the body to be examined using a modulated excitation radiation beam so as to impart a thermal modulation to the body. The thermal modulation is then measured on the side of the body distal to the side exposed to the beam. The amplitude as well as the phase of the measured thermal modulation is used to determine the thickness and structure of the body. A device for accomplishing the above described method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1985
    Assignee: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung, Heidenheim/Brenz
    Inventor: Gerhard Busse
  • Temperature averaging thermal probe
    Patent number: 4556327
    Abstract: A thermal probe (10) for averaging temperature fluctuations over a prolonged period is formed with a temperature sensor (22) embedded inside a solid object (12) of a thermally conducting material. The solid object is held in a position equidistantly spaced apart from the interior surfaces of a closed housing (16) by a mount (14) made of a thermally insulating material. The housing is sealed to trap a vacuum or mass of air inside and thereby prevent transfer of heat directly between the environment outside of the housing and the solid object. Electrical leads (24) couple the temperature sensor with a connector (26) on the outside of the housing. Other solid objects of different sizes and materials may be substituted for the cylindrically-shaped object to vary the time constant of the probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Lou F. Kalil, Victor Reinhardt
  • Method for testing and treating stored fuel
    Patent number: 4556326
    Abstract: A method for testing and treating distillate fuel being stored for long periods of time for emergency power generation applications and the like, including measuring the percent transmittance of a fuel sample with ultraviolet before and after heating at a preselected temperature below the boiling range of the distillate fuel for a sufficient period of time to accelerate polymerization where the sample is made to reach such preselected temperature within about five minutes; and comparing the percent transmittance measurements to determine the suitability of the fuel for continued storage with or without the addition of further polymerization inhibitors and/or depolymerizers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1985
    Inventors: George H. Kitchen, III, Nancy E. Kitchen
  • Hand device for determining vehicle position
    Patent number: 4555852
    Abstract: A hand-held device for the determination of the momentary position of a vehicle, especially an airplane, moving at least approximately in a straight line and at about constant speed, has two compass legs each having a compass point and a lock movement having a drive shaft for driving at least one of the compass legs which is pivotable about a pivot pin. In order to largely eliminate the chord defect, the pivot pin of the drivable leg of the compass is movable in a straight line in a guide slot as a function of speed and the drive shaft moves the drivable leg as a function of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1985
    Inventor: Jens Brazel
  • Universal head protrusion gauge for video recorders
    Patent number: 4554743
    Abstract: A gauge for use in measuring the protrusion of a head from the surface of a video recorder is disclosed. The gauge is a universal gauge which can accurately and reproducibly measure head protrusion on any video recorder without the need of precision aligned mounting holes. The necessary accuracy is achieved by a unique double pivot design along with a universal mounting scheme. A novel mechanism is also provided to aid in visual alignment of the gauge and to provide a positive indication of misalignment by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1985
    Assignee: Tentel Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne B. Graham, John Bonn
  • Rotatable flag support
    Patent number: 4554885
    Abstract: A flag support assembly coupled to a halyard/pulley combination secured to an upper portion of a flagstaff for raising and lowering a flag includes a pivoting member which is free to rotate about the flagstaff so as to maintain the flag downwind relative to the flagstaff and in an unfouled, unfurled condition. With the flag fully raised, the pivoting member extends above the top of the flagstaff and may be rotated by wind direction changes about a vertical axis clear of the flagstaff. With the flagstaff positioned downwind of the halyard/pulley combination, the pivoting member extends over and straddles the flagstaff so as to maintain the flag downwind with respect thereto. The lower end of the flag support assembly is coupled to the halyard by means of an elastic or tension member which permits the tension applied to the support assembly to be varied in a controlled manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1985
    Inventor: Camille J. Burny, Jr.