Patents Examined by Edward Brown
  • Patent number: 5029362
    Abstract: A furniture hinge has a first hinge arm and a second hinge arm which are interconnected by inner and outer pivot levers. The inner pivot lever carries a control cam within the first hinge arm for cooperating with an internal coil spring so that the hinge can snap between open and closed positions. A transverse pin within the first hinge arm transmits force between the spring and the control cam. The pin is carried in elongate slots which are inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the coil spring. In the closed position of the hinge, the pin engages a snapping section of the control cam and in the open position of the hinge the pin engages a radiused sliding section of the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: Lama Okovje
    Inventor: Marino Prodan
  • Patent number: 5029631
    Abstract: A process for bonding a mixture of substances together. The process includes the steps of forming a mixture of substances; heating the mixture of substances until the mixture is molten; pouring the molten mixture of substances into a mold; and forming a magnetic field around the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Inventor: David S. Grant
  • Patent number: 5027474
    Abstract: A concealed self-closing hinge for mounting a door for swinging on a fixed frame. The door member of the hinge includes a cup which is concealed within a pocket formed in the inner side of the door. A durable plastic cam on the arm of the frame member of the hinge receives a hinge pin which is disposed in slots in the cup. A leaf spring is supported by the base of the cup and is bowed around a bridge to bear against and ride on the cam to effect the self-closing action and also to hold the hinge pin assembled in the slots in the cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: Amerock Corporation
    Inventor: Michael J. Bowers
  • Patent number: 5027471
    Abstract: A door prop device for the purpose of maintaining a hinged door in a propped-open position against the forces of spring tension, wind, gravity, or other causes, which will effectively function without damaging either the door or any adjacent structure and which will function on doors which pivot on vertical axes, horizontal axes, or any pivot axes orientations between vertical and horizontal. The device comprises a block-shaped prop member and a retainer member attached to the prop member. The retainer member is adapted to be placed over and engage with a hinge pin of an opened door hinge whereby the prop member is caused to assume an obstructing position in the space between the separated plates of the opened hinge. When it is desired to close the door, the door prop device is simply removed from the hinge and the door may then be closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Inventor: Larry Barnes
  • Patent number: 5027889
    Abstract: A dummy bar for use in a strip steel casting machine of the type including a continuous casting mold having a sealing plane between a pair of broad side walls and a pair of narrow side walls, and at least a first set of driven rollers or rolls located in spaced relation to and downstream of the outlet of said mold. The dummy bar is formed of a single piece of steel plate, and includes an upper contour adapted to form a cast connection with the leading end of the strip being cast, a sealing portion, and means for supporting and withdrawing the forward end of the strip from the mold. The bar, measured from the upper end of the sealing portion to the bottom of the lower portion, is longer than the spacing between the sealing plane of the mold and the common axle plane of the first roller or roller pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: SMS Schloemann-Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans-Otto Thorner, Hans Streubel
  • Patent number: 5025530
    Abstract: A hinge, in particular for furniture doors, of the type in which a wing is designed to be fitted to a base secured to the piece of furniture, comprises an intermediate element for connecting the wing to the base having a substantially U-shaped transverse configuration to determine two rigid sides which laterally embrace the base.The intermediate element is provided with fastening means for securing it to the wing, and unfastenable means connecting it to the base comprising members yieldingly fitted onto the intermediate element in two portions spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the wing. The yielding members are elastically biased to move into a position in which they engage with complementary housings in the base in order to couple the intermediate element to the latter, the movement of approach between the base and the wing for the coupling being amply indeterminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Assignee: Franco Ferrari
    Inventors: Franco Ferrari, Carlo Migli
  • Patent number: 5024422
    Abstract: A one-piece refractory stopper rod has an axial bore formed therein for the introduction of inert gas into molten steel within a tundish. A metal bushing insert is copressed into the refractory stopper rod and has a threaded bore which is positioned coaxially with the bore of the stopper rod body. A metal attachment rod having an axial bore therethrough and a threaded lower shank portion is secured within the threaded bore of the metal bushing insert. The metal attachment rod has an upper threaded shank which is adapted to be secured to a stopper rod lifting mechanism associated with the tundish. The metal rod further includes a flanged portion intermediate the upper and lower shank portions which carries an annular chamfered surface. The annular chamfered surface faces a like annular chamfered surface formed in the bore of the stopper rod to define a gas-tight seal at a sealing interface therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1991
    Assignee: Vesuvius Crucible Company
    Inventors: Mark K. Fishler, Jean-Marie Koten, Pascal Dubois
  • Patent number: 5022118
    Abstract: A ladder joint with an engagement spring member on it for locking/unlocking the ladder joint into position. The ladder joint has a fixed member and a movable member. The movable member has a circular portion with fixing slots on its outer circumference. The fixed member has an annular track which slidably receives the circular portion of the movable member. Both the fixed and the movable members have a straight portion for connecting with the ladder pieces. The engagement spring member is a rounded flat spring which has an extended edge on one of its ends which normally spring loads the rectangular slug into one of the fixing slots as set by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Assignee: Wan Dean Industry Co.
    Inventor: Chang Wan-Li
  • Patent number: 5022457
    Abstract: This invention relates to a casting control system of a die cast machine, and more particularly to a system for controlling a high speed injection real stroke of an injection plunger and controlling valve closing timing for degassing gas in a mold cavity. The high speed injection real stroke is measured by an arithmetic unit from a signal output from a position detector, and the high speed injection real stroke is then compared with a certain preset value. When arithmetic unit determines that the high speed injection real stroke and the preset value do not coincide with each other, a pretest action delay time of the injection plunger is .+-. incrementally or decrementally corrected until both values coincide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Assignee: Toshiba Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihiro Iwamoto, Hiroyuki Tsuboi, Toshihiko Kaneko
  • Patent number: 5020585
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for predicting the likelihood of a break-out during continuous casting of molten metal in a vertical mold. A continuous determination is made of (a) the location within the mold of the molten metal level and (b) the peak temperature location within the mold, both in relation to the top of the mold. The vertical distance between (a) and (b) is noted, and that distance is continuously monitored to detect any increase therein. A substantial increase indicates the likelihood of a breakout unless corrective action is taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: Inland Steel Company
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Blazek, Ismael G. Saucedo
  • Patent number: 5020189
    Abstract: A door closure mechanism for use upon a door of a cabinet includes a housing formed from two co-mating first and second members, a drive cam rotatably mounted within the housing, a cam follower mounted within the housing for reciprocating movement relative to the drive cam, and a coil spring mounted within the housing for resiliently biasing the cam follower in a reciprocal manner against the drive cam. The drive cam is formed with cam surfaces which radially engage the cam follower so as to control the relative reciprocal movement of the cam follower with respect to the drive cam. As a safety feature, ther is provided a set of spring pre-load clips which engage the ends of the coil spring so as to prevent full decompression of the coil spring in the event of a housing failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Donald C. Grome, Kurt H. Lundstedt, William Olson
  • Patent number: 5018244
    Abstract: A hinge device having a bearing member and a shaft. The bearing member has a sleeve section having a through hole, in which the shaft is inserted. The inner circumferential surface of the sleeve section contacts the circumferential surface of the shaft. The sleeve section has slits which extend parallel to the axis of the sleeve section. Ring springs are mounted on the sleeve section. In their non-expanded state, the springs have an inside diameter smaller than the outside diameter of the shaft. The ring springs tighten the sleeve section onto the shaft, thus generating a frictional force between the sleeve section and the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Isao Hino
  • Patent number: 5014392
    Abstract: A self-orientatable twin wheel which includes a support which supports a pivot upon which are mounted a pair of wheels. The pair of wheels are provided with hollow tangs into which the pivot is inserted. Bushes with inner and outer collars are interposed between the pivot and tangs. The inner and outer collars engage with grooves provided in the pivot and tangs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Emilsider Meccanica S.p.A.
    Inventor: Francescantonio Melara
  • Patent number: 5014393
    Abstract: A continuous caster vibrating mold assembly having lever arms each with a pivot pin including a hollow tubular sleeve having open ends for encircling a removable load cell having strain gauges attached thereto for measuring loads on a pivot joint. When loads are placed on a pivot joint the load cell will deflect and its deflections are detected by a strain gauge which measures the axial deflection of the load cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Bethlehem Steel Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas J. Russo
  • Patent number: 5014763
    Abstract: A novel method of making a ceramic core for use in casting a metal component includes freezing a ceramic slurry comprising a ceramic powder filler, a freezable liquid and a gelling agent in a mold to form a frozen core shaped body. The frozen core shaped body is removed from the mold and thawed to room temperature. A high viscosity gel is provided in the core shaped body at room temperature that is strong enough to retain the core shape until the body can be fired to form a porous, sintered ceramic core. The gel present at room temperature may be formed as the ceramic slurry is cooled in the mold cavity to form the frozen article shaped body and/or as the frozen core shaped body is thawed to room temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Howmet Corporation
    Inventor: Gregory R. Frank
  • Patent number: 5012551
    Abstract: A furniture hinge has a hinge arm connectible to the body of a piece of furniture and a lever connectible to a closure for the furniture. The closure is movable between a closed position and an open position. A damping device is disposed between the hinge arm and the lever and includes a housing having a bellows-like first part and a second part secured to the hinge arm. A piston rides in the housing and divides it into first and second chambers. The piston is provided with flow channels which allow hydraulic fluid in the housing to flow between the first and second chambers. The piston is mounted on a rod which extends through, and is coupled to, the first housing part and is articulately connected to the lever. A sealing member likewise mounted on the rod is arranged to seal the flow channels upon movement of the closure to its closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Assignee: Paul Hettich Gmbh & Co.
    Inventors: Ulrich Beneke, Jurgen Gross, Wilfried Oepping, Manfred Schnelle, Gunter Sundermeier
  • Patent number: 5012856
    Abstract: A fluid cooled shot sleeve assembly for transferring molten metals. The shot sleeve is of a three layer construction in which a copper intermediate layer is attached to the outside surface of an inner metal charging chamber. A high strength outer jacket is fitted onto the copper intermediate layer and serves to hold the inner metal charging chamber straight until excessive heat buildup in the charging chamber is dissipated by the copper layer. A heat transfer conduit of semi-circular design is located within the wall of the metal charging chamber and in contact with the intermediate copper insert. This conduit permits a heat transfer fluid such as water to cool both the inner steel charging chamber which is in contact with the molten metal and lower the temperature of the copper layer to increase its ability to transfer heat from the metal charging chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Inventor: Kenneth P. Zecman
  • Patent number: 5012853
    Abstract: An improved process for forming objects such as turbine nozzles (10) with internal geometries without requiring machining of the internal geometry to produce a smooth complex internal surface (16, 18 and 19) is disclosed. The process includes forming a mandrel (30) containing a negative image of the internal geometry; coating the mandrel with a material (32) which is not chemically reactive with the material from which the mandrel is formed, capturing the mandrel in a mold or form (34) which is to receive the material from which the object is to be formed, the material (36) from which the object is to be made not being chemically reactive with the coating; filling the mold or form with the material to capture the mandrel and coating in solidified material contained in the form; and removing the form and the mandrel. If the material is a cast metal, the melting point of the material for forming the object should be below the melting point of the coating on the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: John A. Bihlmaier
  • Patent number: 5012555
    Abstract: A kit comprising various components which are connectable to a first and second member for making a phototool from the first and second members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Inventor: Thomas L. Byers
  • Patent number: 5012855
    Abstract: An industrial robot for casting products by pouring molten metal in a ladle mounted on an arm thereof to successively conveyed molds, comprises a drive mechanism for driving the ladle to incline with respect to the mold, means for measuring a level of molten metal in the mold, means for detecting an inclination rate of the ladle and a central processing unit having a memory for storing an optimum level of molten metal in the mold and inclination rate of the ladle, the central processing unit being adapted to receive a level data from the measuring means and an inclination rate data from the detecting means, compare the data with the optimum level and inclination rate, calculate deviations of the data from the optimum level and inclination, and supply control signals to the drive mechaniam to control the latter optimally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hisao Kato