Patents Examined by Fadi M. Dahbour
  • Patent number: 6349688
    Abstract: An overhead valve engine including a cylinder bore having an outer end; and a crankshaft assembly including a substantially straight crankshaft, a substantially cylindrical journal eccentrically mounted on the crankshaft, a one-piece connecting rod rotatably mounted on the journal, and a counterweight mounted on the crankshaft. The engine also includes a cam shaft having at least one cam surface and an axis inward of the outer end of the cylinder bore; two valves having opened and closed positions; two valve stems, each valve stem being attached to a valve; and two generally L-shaped and pivotably mounted valve operating levers, each lever including a first lever arm having a cam follower in contact with the cam surface, a pivot axis about which the lever pivots, and a valve arm in contact with a valve stem, where movement of the lever caused by the cam surface causes the lever to pivot and the valve arm to depress the valve stem and thus open the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Gary J. Gracyalny, Richard J. Fotsch, David Procknow, Art Poehlman, Scott A. Funke
  • Patent number: 6201223
    Abstract: A humidity regulating unit including a heating element housed inside a covering that has a porous retaining wall through which water does not pass but steam or gas passes. In one embodiment, the covering has several bulges along the circumference of the heating element that protrudes outward from the outer surface of heating element to form several water routes along the outer surface of heating element. The covering and the outer surface of heating element are bonded between adjacent water routes so that the outer surface of heating element is used as part of the wall of the water routes. As a result, the size of heating element does not restrict making the cross section of each water route as small as possible, and even if the covering breaks, the amount of water leaking from the humidity regulating unit is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Respironics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazufuku Nitta