Patents Examined by Charles Frankfort
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Patent number: 4681061Abstract: A flush mounted indicating button assembly and operating button assembly each connected to a cover having a pair of holes which receive identical buttons of the assemblies. Each button includes a circular head portion having a flat top surface and a circular base portion having a lesser diameter than the head portion which has a flat bottom surface and defines a collar portion at the bottom of the head portion. The base portion of each bottom is provided with a circumferential channel adjacent the bottom surface which carries a retaining ring. The indicator button is positioned within the hole by a leaf spring member which is connected to the bottom surface of the cover and includes an opening shaped and dimensioned to permit passage of the base portion while preventing passage of the head portion of the button. The opening is in registration with the hole in the cover and a helical coil encircles the base portion intermediate the leaf spring member and the retaining ring.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 1985Date of Patent: July 21, 1987Assignee: Square D CompanyInventors: Robert F. Dvorak, Charles E. Netolicky, Neil R. Palmer
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Patent number: 4680562Abstract: An integral circuit interrupter characterized by an assemblage of interconnected electrical units including a circuit breaker, a thermal-magnetic overcurrent detector, an electromagnetic actuator, and a modular sensor; the circuit breaker comprising first and second separable contacts and a releasable lever for releasing the first contact to an open position when the detector trips the lever in response to a first predetermined current condition; the electromagnetic actuator for moving the second contact to an open position; the modular sensor for monitoring current flow and for actuating only the electromagnetic actuator in response to a second predetermined current condition; and the electromagnetic actuator being operable from a remotely controlled source.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 1985Date of Patent: July 14, 1987Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.Inventors: Walter V. Bratkowski, John A. Wafer
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Patent number: 4679430Abstract: A sensor for detecting an interface of a liquid in a container comprises a transmitter and a receiver of ultrasonic waves, each situated outside the container, and coupled to the wall of the container by a strip waveguide. The transmitter is arranged to cause surface acoustic waves to propagate through a portion of the wall, and the receiver is arranged to detect waves derived from the transmitter. When the liquid is adjacent to the portion of the wall, mode conversion of the surface acoustic waves in the wall of the vessel into compression waves in the liquid causes a change in the energy of waves reaching the receiver.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 1984Date of Patent: July 14, 1987Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy AuthorityInventors: Colin B. Scott-Kestin, Roger B. Pike, Roger D. Watkins, Arthur B. Gillespie, Michael O. Deighton
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Patent number: 4679947Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring steam quality of wet or two-phase flowing steam includes a flow-through densitometer comprised of two parallel tubes connected to two common nodes, a vibrator for causing the tubes to vibrate, and a transducer for detecting the frequency and amplitude of the vibrations. A temperature probe detects the temperature of the steam, and a computer is used to monitor the vibrations and temperature and to calculate steam quality. The computer can also be used to control the vibrator. An intake sampler is positioned in a flowing steam line to divert a representative sample of the wet steam into the densitometer. The bulk density of the steam is determined as a function of the fundamental frequency of the densitometer with the steam flowing therethrough, and the steam quality is determined as a function of the bulk density and vapor density, which is a function of temperature.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 1985Date of Patent: July 14, 1987Assignee: Engineering Measurements Co.Inventors: Charles E. Miller, Gerald L. Schlatter, Louis T. Yoshida
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Patent number: 4679326Abstract: A height gauge has a touch signal probe provided on a slider vertically movably supported on a support for the purpose of measuring the dimensions or the like of an object by bringing the probe into contact with the object. A rack is formed on the support, and a driving shaft is disposed on the slider, the driving shaft having a pinion engaged with the rack. To the driving shaft are secured a pulley to which the turning force from a motor is transmitted and a control wheel for manually rotating the driving shaft. A clutch member is interposed between the pulley and the control wheel. When the clutch member is engaged with the pulley, the slider is automatically moved up and down, while when the clutch member is engaged with the control wheel, the slider can be manually moved up and down. The height gauge further includes a control circuit which stops the drive of the motor when the touch signal probe generates a touch signal and which holds the indication of a measured value being displayed at that time.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 1985Date of Patent: July 14, 1987Assignee: Mitutoyo Mfg. Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kinji Takizawa, Ichiro Mizuno, Iwao Sugizaki
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Patent number: 4679523Abstract: A flag assembly has a pedestal frame which contains a miniature phonograph recorder that is battery operated and which has two contacts that are connectable together to activate the recorder. One contact is connected to the conductive base of a flag staff and the other contact is connected to a flexible flap which can be bent into engagement with the base to activate the recorder. A shuttle having a sleeve and a flange is slidable along the staff. In its lower position the flange presses the flexible flap against the base to activate the recorder. A flag is engaged around the sleeve. A rope has one end connected to the sleeve at an opposite end engaged around a pulley at the top of the staff and extending downwardly into the pedestal frame. A spring-loaded spool in the pedestal frame is connected to the opposite ends of the rope for winding and unwinding the rope.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 1985Date of Patent: July 14, 1987Inventors: Francisco O. Orero, Augusto M. Garcia
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Patent number: 4677933Abstract: Stock price tracking apparatus includes a base having at least one side; a chart removably mounted on each side and each chart including a first scale and a second scale; a lever associated with each side for monitoring a stock price to determine when to sell or retain a stock, each lever removably and pivotally mounted on the respective side along the first scale at a selected position corresponding to a stop loss setting, each lever including a pointer for pointing to a second stock price along the second scale as the lever is pivoted on the base about the selected position, and a channel extending along each lever; a retaining spring for releasably retaining each lever in a selected pivoted position; and a ball movable in each channel between a first position when the second stock price is above the stop loss setting and a second position when the second stock price is not greater than the stop loss setting for indicating when to sell or retain the stock.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 1985Date of Patent: July 7, 1987Inventor: Thomas B. Rotella
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Patent number: 4676099Abstract: Apparatus for indicating a preselected condition of material in a vessel which includes a laid wire cable vertically suspended within the vessel so as to contact and be surrounded by material contained therein. The laid wire cable is suspended by a roller-type thrust bearing which permits free rotation of the cable and thus prevents torsional sheer stresses on the suspended cable end due to tension in the cable and consequent unraveling and reraveling of the cable lays. In a preferred embodiment of the invention wherein the upper end of the cable is selectively slackened and material level is determined as a function of weight of the slackened cable end unsupported by material, a spherical head is affixed to the cable to seat against and cooperate with a side-thrust washer slidably carried on the foot of a load cell for isolating the load cell from lateral cable forces due to material or component tolerance variations.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 1985Date of Patent: June 30, 1987Assignee: Berwind CorporationInventor: Hugh R. McGookin
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Patent number: 4676615Abstract: Projecting device for presentation of pictures and of a kind which includes a lockable transport safety device (4, 10, 21) for members (8) which are movable for adjustment purposes and which are of such weight and form that they require the safety against shocks and vibrations. For the adjustment an adjustment device is provided having an operating member (17). The transport safety device (4, 10, 21) is so arranged that it for locking purposes requires a locking element (21). This locking element also is provided to alternatively accomplish a movement of the adjustment device (3) when operating the operating member (17) for the adjustment, whereas the adjustment device (3) being released from actuation from the operating member (17), when the locking element (21) is positioned in the transport safety device (4, 10). In this way no adjustment can take place, when the transport safety device is locked.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 1985Date of Patent: June 30, 1987Assignee: Victor Hasselblad ABInventors: Kennert Hillstrom, Lennart Stalfors
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Patent number: 4676664Abstract: Disclosed are a method and a system for measuring the sea floor temperature gradient several meters into the formation at each of an array of measurement sites, and using these gradients to explore for and characterize hydrocarbon deposits. The measurements can be taken with a special lance driven into the otherwise undisturbed sea floor.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 1983Date of Patent: June 30, 1987Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New YorkInventors: Roger N. Anderson, Michael A. Hobart, William Van Steveninck
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Patent number: 4676663Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for remote ultrasonic temperature measurement. The arrangement employs a sensor, which in turn comprises an electromechanical transducer, a sensing element, and a hollow ultrasonic waveguide for coupling the sensing element to the transducer. The transducer is designed to propagate surface waves of a torsional or a radial shear mode upon the internal surface of the waveguide. The walls of the waveguide are made sufficiently thick, such that supporting clamps applied to the exterior of the waveguide have no adverse affect on interior wave propagation. The sensing element may be of either a hollow construction using internal surface wave propagation for protection of the active interior surface of the sensing element or of a solid construction in which the active outer surface of the sensing element may be exposed to the environment.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 1986Date of Patent: June 30, 1987Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Stephen W. Tehon
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Patent number: 4676614Abstract: An optical apparatus for projecting a pattern on a first plane onto a second plane comprises a projection optical system disposed between the first plane and the second plane to form an imaging optical path, a structure for forming a space independent from the ambient space and filled with a gas between the first plane and the second plane in such a manner that the imaging optical path passes therethrough, the structure including a first transparent flat member perpendicular to the optic axis of the projection optical system and forming the entrance surface of the imaging light beam to the independent space and a second transparent flat member parallel to the first transparent flat member and forming the exit surface of the imaging light beam from the independent space, the gas filling the independent space having a refractive index different from the refractive index of the ambient space, and a device for regulating the distance between the first transparent flat member and the second transparent flat memberType: GrantFiled: June 13, 1985Date of Patent: June 30, 1987Assignee: Nippon Kogaku K. K.Inventor: Koichi Ohno
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Patent number: 4674433Abstract: A correct answer displaying device for an arithmetic practicing device or the like. Plural chambers are arranged in matrix form with partition boards, and a colored transparent plate is placed over the chambers on which numerical problems to be solved are indicated and through which the configurations of the correct answer numbers cannot ordinarily be observed. Answer levers are operated to cause white plates to come near the lower surface of the colored transparent plate to display the correct answers. The white plates are pivotally mounted about one side thereof in which an engaging step is formed. Each answer lever, which has an engaging protrusion engaged with a respective engaging step, is accommodated in a guide frame in such a manner that the answer lever can pass in and out of the corresponding chamber.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1985Date of Patent: June 23, 1987Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Gakushu KenkyushaInventor: Mitate Inada
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Patent number: 4674431Abstract: A traffic control drum is disclosed as an upright member having upper and lower ends, a support base adapted to rest on a support surface and an operator releasable mechanism for attaching the lower end of the member to the support base, so that the member is oriented in an upright relation to the support surface. The support base has an element exposed to be stepped on by the operator to hold the support base still on the support surface. The member has a mechanism disposed to be manually grasped by the operator, whereby the operator may urge the member away from the support base, while the operator holds the support base still with respect to the support surface to thereby effect release of the upright member from the support base.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 1986Date of Patent: June 23, 1987Assignee: Radiator Specialty CompanyInventor: Milton T. Cory
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Patent number: 4674432Abstract: A collapsible barricade comprising a rigid cross-member coupled by an elastic joint to at least one pair of rigid legs. The elastic joint is developed by a flexible, elastic, resilient connecting member which is attached at one end to the cross-member and at the other end to the rigid leg in a manner such that the formed elastic joint is capable of stretching under stress to allow the pair of legs and attached cross-member to deform from a sturdy configuration when subjected to an impact by a vehicle or other moving object. The collapsible barricade can then be restored to its sturdy condition by merely repositioning or reattaching the connecting members to the respective legs and cross-member and by repositioning the deformed structure to its original configuration.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 1984Date of Patent: June 23, 1987Assignee: Carsonite International CorporationInventor: Donald W. Schmanski
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Patent number: 4674325Abstract: A microwave moisture sensor operates on the principle that an emitted microwave is attenuated in rotary resonance with water molecules. The microwave moisture sensor includes measurement and reference signal systems sharing a microwave oscillator, a detector and other components, means for calculating the ratio of the signals from the respective systems, and an AGC circuit means for keeping the reference signal from the reference signal system at a predetermined level, so that drifts of the microwave oscillator, detector and other components will be cancelled and thus increased measuring accuracy will result. Furthermore, the microwave moisture sensor measure the basis weight and temperature of a material being measured, and processes the measured values according to predetermined moisture percentages free from adverse influences of the basis weight and temperature and thus increase the degree of measurement accuracy.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 1985Date of Patent: June 23, 1987Assignee: Yokogawa Hokushin Electric CorporationInventors: Seiichiro Kiyobe, Tokio Hirano
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Patent number: 4674329Abstract: A gauge for measuring the height of a liquid in a vessel comprises a measuring electrode (M) and a compensation electrode (R) in the vessel, and a circuit which measures the capacitance C.sub.M of the measuring electrode and the capacitance C.sub.R of the compensation electrode, each with respect to a wall of the vessel as counter-electrode, using the liquid in the vessel as dielectric. The quotient C.sub.M /C.sub.R varies with the height of the liquid in the vessel. The measuring electrode and the compensation electrode are parallel and of the same length, but differ in surface area and shape to such extent that such quotient varies as a linear function of the height of the liquid in the vessel.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 1984Date of Patent: June 23, 1987Inventor: Richard Mulder
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Patent number: 4673300Abstract: A temperature probe using a first thermocouple junction at the end of a metal tip for measuring the temperature of an object is also provided with a second thermocouple junction on the metal tip at a predetermined distance from the first thermocouple for detecting heat flow in the tip from the first thermocouple toward the second thermocouple. Electronics responsive to both themocouples drive a heater which maintains the second thermocouple at substantially the same temperature as the first thermocouple, thereby to eliminate heat loading by the probe on the object being measured. A single adjustable resistance temperature detector electronically connected in series with the metal tip is used to calibrate the probe and compensate for errors in the temperature readings of the first and second thermocouples. The resistance temperature detector is made up of a wire located in the handle of the probe and is adjusted by stretching the wire to reduce its diameter and bulk resistance.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 1985Date of Patent: June 16, 1987Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.Inventors: Jack L. Wilhelmson, Lester B. Postlewait
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Patent number: 4672845Abstract: A well polish rod temperature sensing system, for use at a well head, comprising(a) first sensor located in proximity to the polish rod to sense its temperatures T.sub.1,(b) second sensor for sensing temperature T.sub.2 of the environment near the well head,(c) and circuitry operatively connected to the first and second sensor to provide an output signal which is a function of the difference between T.sub.1 and T.sub.2.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 1985Date of Patent: June 16, 1987Assignee: Production Monitoring and Control Co.Inventors: Michael Hirsch, Peter D. Kristensen, William W. Dunn
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Patent number: 4671120Abstract: A combined heading and depth sensor for acquisition of both compass heading and depth data and transmission of the combined data over a two wire communication link as a single packet of information to a remote data acquisition unit. The sensor includes a remote reading compass assembly, a depth sensor and circuitry to interface the compass and depth sensors to the communication link. A communication protocol is defined permitting addressable interrogation of a plurality of combined heading and depth sensors over the two wire link.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 1983Date of Patent: June 9, 1987Assignee: The Laitram CorporationInventor: John T. Fowler