Patents Examined by Eric K. Nicholson
  • Patent number: 6846021
    Abstract: A tube end having an outwardly projecting ridge is secured in a fitting having a body formed with a seat centered on an axis and open axially rearwardly. The tube end is coaxially engageable in the seat, and a retaining clip on the body extends secantally across the seat and can move between an outer spread position engaging a respective inner surface of the seat and an inner retaining position spaced radially inward from the respective inner surface. The tube end when fully axially inserted in the seat is engaged axially outward of the ridge by the clip. A latch element can move between an outer freeing position generally clear of the clip and an inner locking position engaged outward of the clip between same and the respective inner surface and preventing the clip from moving from the inner retaining position to the outer spread position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Ti Automotive (Fuldabruck) GmbH
    Inventors: Reiner Rohde, Andreas Rose, Torsten Thomke, Andreas Szczepaniak, Kurt Apel
  • Patent number: 6843515
    Abstract: A cooling system in an aircraft has fluid flow pipe sections that are mounted to the aircraft structure. The pipe sections have pipe ends that form part of pipe junctions. The two pipe ends of a pipe junction are facing each other and are surrounded by a shrunk hose member of a shrinkable material which overlaps both pipe ends in a fluid- and pressure-tight manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Kornrumpf
  • Patent number: 6843507
    Abstract: A tube joint includes a body into which a fluid tube is inserted, a chuck which is arranged in the body and which engages with an outer circumferential surface of the fluid tube to retain the fluid tube, fastening pawls which are disposed on an inner circumference of the chuck facing the fluid tube and which protrude while being inclined by predetermined angles, curved sections which are depressed by predetermined lengths in a direction in which the fluid tube is pulled, recesses which are formed in the curved sections, and a release bush which releases the fluid tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaaki Muto
  • Patent number: 6843031
    Abstract: A bonded monostrand post-tension system including an anchor having a tubular extension extending therefrom, a duct having an interior passageway formed therein, a coupler having a one end affixed to the tubular extension of the anchor and another end affixed to the duct, and a single tendon secured to the anchor and extending through the duct and the coupler. The coupler has a first internal thread at one end thereof and a second internal thread at an opposite end thereof. The internal threads are in interference-fit relationship with unthreaded surfaces of the duct and the tubular extension of the anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Inventor: Felix L. Sorkin
  • Patent number: 6843506
    Abstract: A safety device (23) for a fluid hose (14) having at one end one part (19) of a separable connector (18) by means of which the hose (14) may be connected to another pipe (21) carrying the other part (20) of the connector, the connector parts separating when the connector (18) is subjected to a tensile load. The device (23) includes an elongate tether (24) having one end attached to the hose (14) at or adjacent the one connector part (19) and its other end attached to the pipe (21) at or adjacent the other connector part (20). The tether (24) is arranged to break when the connector parts has exceeded a pre-set distance, the breaking strain of the tether (24) being lower than the load required to separate the connector (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Inventor: Graham William Osborne
  • Patent number: 6843511
    Abstract: Mechanical lock system for preventing disengagement of a marine loading arm from an inlet/outlet port of a marine tanker by physically restraining rotation of a collar of a quick-connect coupler relative to a main body of the quick-connect coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventor: Leon K. Barry
  • Patent number: 6843508
    Abstract: A hydraulic device having a nut part with a threaded hole which has an internal screw thread with a defined nominal diameter and with a defined, uniform pitch, and having a screw part which has an external screw thread with the same nominal diameter as the threaded hole and with a defined, uniform pitch, which is screwed into the threaded hole. (In hydraulic devices, screw parts, in particular nozzle bodies, are generally adhesively bonded in place, in order to prevent them from becoming detached. Adhesive bonding has certain drawbacks, since the screw threads have to be free of grease, and in the case of nozzles there is a risk of blockages, adhesive can enter the hydraulic circuit and also process reliability is not ensured during application.) There is provided a slight difference between the pitch of the internal screw thread of the nut part and the pitch of the external screw thread of the screw part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Bosch Rexroth AG
    Inventors: Karl Cords, Frank Hofmann, Peter Lauer, Götz-Dieter Machat, Karl Meyer, Konrad Schneider, Hans Wölfges
  • Patent number: 6843516
    Abstract: A coupler for a low pressure piping system has a hollow metal tube terminating in a pair of end portions defining open ends for slidably receiving and joining together sections of other metal tubes in a substantially air tight relationship. Slots are formed in at least one of the end portions to aid in the crimping of the hollow metal tube by an annular clamp. A radial flange is formed adjacent the end portion and receives an annular seal therein. A stop for limiting the insertion of a tube section into the end of the hollow metal tube is formed on the inside of the coupler adjacent the radial flange opposite the slots. The annular clamp encircles the slots and is tightened to clamp the end portions to form metal to metal contact between the metal tubes and to form a seal between the annular seal and both metal tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: H-P Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Bishop, Gregory A. Calderone, Leland J. Dick, James F. Smith
  • Patent number: 6840549
    Abstract: A threaded riser adaptor is threadedly engaged to a liquid storage tank riser and a structure to provide a liquid-tight seal between the riser and structure. The adaptor is particularly useful when employed with field threaded risers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Inventor: Philip E. Smith
  • Patent number: 6837522
    Abstract: A manually operated tool engages and draws towards one another opposed spaced flanges of a repair clamp disposed about a leaking pipe for securely maintaining the clamp in position on the pipe over the leak allowing plural nut and bolt combinations on the clamp to be tightened in sealing off the leak. A movable handle has attached thereto first and second pivoting arms adapted for respectively engaging a slot within the clamp's first edge flange and the outer edge of the clamp's second opposed edge flange when the handle is in a first non-use position. Moving the handle to a second use position urges the clamp's edge flanges toward one another drawing the clamp securely about the pipe, while still allowing the clamp to be moved along the pipe over the leak and plural nut and bolt combinations to be securely tightened in sealing off the leak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Cascade Waterworks Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Jerry E. Elliott
  • Patent number: 6837525
    Abstract: A tube connecting structure is formed with first and second cylindrical sections. The first cylindrical section includes: a joining cylinder with engagement holes disposed at a first end; a ring-shaped flange projecting radially inward from a second end; an inner cylinder extending co-axially toward the first end; and an inner cylindrical member separated axially from the inner cylinder. An O-ring is disposed co-axially between the inner cylinder and inner cylindrical member. Large and small diameter sections of the joining member align with a large-diameter section and small-diameter cylindrical section of the first tube, respectively, and are fitted into the space between the joining cylinder and the inner cylinder and inner cylindrical member. A second tube supported within the second cylindrical section is prevented from slipping out. The O-ring provides a fluid-tight seal between the first and second tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsuo Miyajima
  • Patent number: 6834891
    Abstract: A pipe connecting device includes a female connecting member and a male connecting member. The female and the male connecting member can be restrained from turning relative to each other without using additional locking cover or the like and without being subject to various restrictions placed by actual piping conditions. A retainer (46) is provided with retaining parts (56a, 56b) that engage with an annular ridge (54) formed on the male connecting member (44) to restrain the male connecting member (44) from axial movement relative to the female connecting member (42), A noncircular part of the male connecting member (44) and the retaining parts (56a and 56b) of the retainer (46) constitute a locking structure for restraining the male and the female connecting member (44, 42) from turning relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Sanoh Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Matsubara, Mitsuo Kaishio
  • Patent number: 6834889
    Abstract: This invention relates to a torque release coupling for use in drill strings comprising an outer string part (1) rotatably mounted outside a radially inner string part (2), and a rotation lock (3) positioned between them. The rotation lock (3) is coupled to a first of said string parts (1, 2) with a coupling device (4, 9) adapted to allow axial shifts relative to the first string part, and comprising axial gripping organs (5) adapted for releasable engagement with cooperating gripping organs in the second string part, the rotation lock (3) comprising a spring (6) or similar adapted to apply an axial force on the rotation lock (3) directed against the cooperating gripping organs (5) from the first string part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Den norske stats oljesselskap A.S.
    Inventors: Egil Sunde, Morten Hyvik, Per Olav Haughom
  • Patent number: 6834888
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a connector, comprising a first connector segment having a laterally extending flange, and a second connector segment having a body and a pair of opposed retainers adapted to releaseably maintain the first and second connector segments in mated relationship. Each of the retainers has a lever spaced laterally from the second connector segment body, the lever being joined to the second connector segment body at a base end and having a latch at a free end. The lever is also joined to the second connector segment body by a fulcrum wall positioned intermediate the ends of the lever, an outwardly facing cam surface is provided on the lever between the fulcrum wall and the base end. A slide ring is disposed over the second connector segment retainers, the slide ring being moveable from a first position adjacent the latch of each retainer to a second position of engagement with the cam surface of each retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Flow-Rite Controls, Ltd.
    Inventor: Daniel N. Campau
  • Patent number: 6832786
    Abstract: A device for coupling tubular members including a sheet member having a first end and a second end where the first end and the second end are operatively arranged to overlap one another to form a substantially cylindrically shaped coupling, an abutment member mounted to the sheet member proximate the second end thereof, a male threaded member, a female member pivotably mounted proximate the first end of the sheet member and arranged for pivoting rotation about a pivot point, where the female member is arranged to threadably engage the threaded male member, and the male member is operatively arranged to abut the abutment member, wherein the male threaded member is operatively arranged to rotate in a first direction to abut the abutment member and expand the substantially cylindrically shaped coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: D.J. Mielke, Inc.
    Inventors: Duane J. Duncan, David W. Mielke, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6832785
    Abstract: A fluid coupling between a fluid carrying first component and a second fluid carrying endform is formed by spin welding induced by a bonding material disposed in a recess in the first component which is spin weld compatible with the materials of the first and second component to spin weld join the first and second components together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael T. Zitkovic, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6832788
    Abstract: Engaging holes are disposed on both sides of an upper surface of a body of a manifold and are spaced from an axis of the body by a predetermined distance. A solenoid-operated valve is installed to the manifold. Shaft sections of a U-shaped connecting pin are inserted into the engaging hole of the body and another engaging hole of an adjacent manifold respectively. A connecting plate is installed to connect engaging projections which are formed at a second end of the body and a second end of the adjacent manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Masami Yoshida, Noriya Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6832784
    Abstract: A retractable tube assembly includes an inner tube movably received in an outer sleeve and both of which extend through a sleeve. An operation member is pivotably connected to the sleeve and engaged with an opening defined through a wall of the sleeve. A protrusion extends from an inside of the operation member and a spring is biased between a cover pivotably connected to the sleeve and an outside of the operation member. The outer tube includes a recessed area defined in an outer surface thereof and a hole is defined through a wall of the outer tube and located below the recessed area. The inner has a groove defined in an outer periphery thereof and a plurality of slots are defined through an inside of the groove. The protrusion is engaged with one of the slots of the inner tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Inventor: Chang-Ying Chen
  • Patent number: 6830269
    Abstract: A pipe boot having a vertical portion adapted to surround a predetermined portion of the pipe to be covered, the vertical portion having a top end and a bottom end, wherein the top end has a top opening and wherein the bottom end has a bottom opening; a base portion, wherein the base portion is connected to a bottom edge of the vertical portion and wherein the vertical portion extends substantially in the vertical direction when the base portion resides on the roof. It is also preferred that the bottom opening of the boot be adapted to accept a pipe to be covered. In the preferred embodiment, the top end of the vertical portion has a slit, the slit running vertically down a predetermined distance of the vertical portion of the boot and wherein the slit allows the top opening of the vertical portion to be adjusted in size to fit around the pipe to be covered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Inventor: Robert L. Mayle
  • Patent number: 6830268
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a repair clamp providing an improved pipe repair clamp. The clamp according to the invention could be used in some cases as a coupling to join two pipe ends. The clamp comprises; a) a metal clamping band to surround 3600 of a pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Krausz Metal Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Eliezer Krausz, Avi Chiproot