Patents Examined by Gene A. Church
  • Patent number: 4552308
    Abstract: A variable geometry device for use with the turbine nozzle of a turbine engine of the type having a support housing and a combustion chamber contained within the support housing. A pair of spaced walls in the support housing define an annular and radially extending nozzle passageway. The outer end of the nozzle passageway is open to the combustion chamber while the inner end of the nozzle passageway is open to one or more turbine stages. A plurality of circumferentially spaced nozzle vanes are mounted to one of the spaced walls and protrude across the nozzle passageway. An annular opening is formed around the opposite spaced wall and an annular ring is axially slidably mounted within the opening. A motor is operatively connected to this ring and, upon actuation, axially displaces the ring within the nozzle passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1985
    Assignee: Teledyne Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Casimir Rogo, Herman N. Lenz
  • Patent number: 4456406
    Abstract: An air table system which utilizes air jet openings in the table surface of objects, such as a pattern configuration to lift, support and direct movement of containers, to feed same from a plurality of sources to fewer destinations or vice versa. With suitable cover configuration, partially closed and open covers, movement of the containers around or to one side of blockades to accomplish controlled movement of the containers is made possible. A higher air pressure zone is created under the closed portions than under the open portions to act as an air barrier to separate and move the objects away from the higher air pressure zones and along predetermined paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1984
    Assignee: Precision Metal Fabricators, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald A. Lenhart
  • Patent number: 4441654
    Abstract: A unit injector assembly (2, 40) of the cam actuated, open nozzle type is disclosed in which an extremely compact injector body is actuated by a cam lobe (42) having a stepped profile for causing fuel to be metered into an injection chamber (52) of the injector (2) without blow back of gas into the supply passage (66) feeding fuel to the injector. The invention is characterized by an injector body (4) having a minimum number of internal flow passages (66, 72) designed to reduce the complexity and cost of manufacture of the injector and having an exterior shape designed to form a fuel supply flow path (22) and an isolated fuel drain flow path (24) between the exterior surface of the injector body (4) and the interior surface of the recess (6) in which the injector (2) is designed to be received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1984
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Lester L. Peters
  • Patent number: 4429831
    Abstract: An irrigation system is provided wherein a conventional central pivot spray-type system is converted into a ground release system through the use of a plurality of flexible hoses that release the water at ground level. A plurality of perforations at the distal end of the hose provide a spray effect without the water evaporation loss associated with conventional spray systems. Braces also prevent the hoses from swinging sideways and becoming entangled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1984
    Inventor: Gerald H. Maddox
  • Patent number: 4424891
    Abstract: A system for processing masses of heterogeneous machining scrap metal through bulk reception, crushing of the ribbon and wire components of the scrap, separation of the chunk components and stripping the rest of the scrap of its cutting oils by centrifuging including metering the rate of feed of the scrap to the crusher and transporting the crushed component of the scrap to the centrifuge without causing it to become ensnarled and formed into balled up masses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1984
    Assignee: Reclamet, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell D. Dudley, Larry D. Areaux, Robert H. Dudley
  • Patent number: 4422575
    Abstract: A steam distributor to apply steam to a paper sheet moving beneath it. The distributor has a steam supply header. A chamber receives steam from the header. There are outlets in the chamber whereby steam is passed to the paper sheet. Pipes communicate the header with the chamber and there is an outlet for each pipe in the chamber and an inlet for each pipe to allow steam into the paper from the header. A valve member extends to an open end of the pipe and co-operates with the open end to control the flow of steam through the open end. The valve member can be moved towards and away from the open end of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1983
    Inventor: Norman F. Dove
  • Patent number: 4421277
    Abstract: Slaughtered poultry supported on the apparatus are internally cleaned by a spray head which is moved into the bodies of the birds. The spray head has a peripheral outlet slot defined by and located between a conical member and a truncated conical member which are threadedly interconnected. An axial delivery bore in the truncated conical member discharges directly into the outlet slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1983
    Inventor: Rudolf J. Tieleman
  • Patent number: 4421281
    Abstract: A container for the electrostatic spraying of liquids, especially pesticides, having an integral conductive spray nozzle formed from two concentric tubes in which axial ribs and grooves between the tubes provide a liquid pathway to the nozzle mouth. Air is bled into the container in use through an extended pathway provided by a helical thread on the surface of a bung in the upper end of the inner tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1983
    Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries PLC
    Inventors: Ronald A. Coffee, Peter C. Bennett
  • Patent number: 4416362
    Abstract: In a silo chute is mounted a flexible tube that extends from above the uppermost silo doorway to the lower end of the chute and that has a continuous slit extending substantially from top to bottom on the side toward the silo doorways. A zipper permits the slit to be selectively opened from the top so the open discharge end of a transfer conduit which is mounted in an open silo doorway at any level may extend into the flexible tube to deliver into the tube material discharged from the silo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1983
    Assignee: Madison Farm Structures, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold J. Kilts, Laurence J. Swaziek
  • Patent number: 4413783
    Abstract: A coupler for an irrigation system for delivering liquid to the irrigation system from a pressurized pipe line extending along the field to be irrigated. The coupler connects and disconnects to risers or connectors spaced along the pipe line for operating valves associated with the risers for delivering liquid from first one riser and then another for irrigating the field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1983
    Assignee: Valmont Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl R. Ostrom, Dennis R. Theilen
  • Patent number: 4413786
    Abstract: An emitter unit comprises a housing having defined therein an inlet and an outlet, a substantially planar inner wall portion of the unit having defined therein a groove, a recessed cavity communicating with one end of the groove and being of extended dimensions as compared with the width of the groove, a second and opposite end of the groove communicating with the inlet, an outlet bore in a base portion of the cavity communicating with the outlet and having a rim area substantially less than that of the cavity and at least one subsidiary recess, a resiliently flexible membrane juxtaposed with respect to the inner wall portion with one face thereof defining with the groove a flow restricting flowpath, with the cavity an outlet control chamber, and with the or each recess, at least one retaining cell, coupling device for coupling the or each cell with reduced pressure zones; the arrangement being such that with the inlet coupled to a water supply the membrane is exposed to the supply pressure the membrane is di
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1983
    Assignee: Hydro-Plan Engineering Ltd.
    Inventor: Raphael Mehoudar
  • Patent number: 4413782
    Abstract: To achieve rapid mixing between a jet flow and its surrounding medium a v is mounted in the jet downstream of the jet nozzle exit. The vane is oscillated in either pitch or plunge by an appropriate excitation mechanism at a constant frequency. The amplitude of oscillation is typically only a few degrees. The oscillation frequency may be varied to control the entrainment rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Maximilian F. Platzer, John M. Simmons
  • Patent number: 4411388
    Abstract: An improved apparatus for conveying friable lightweight particulate matter without destruction or excessive powdering is disclosed. A jet suction nozzle permits a gradual transition of pressure in the critical zone in which the material is acted upon by the jets. This is accomplished by a low jet duct angle and by the use of greater than usual quantities of air at lower than the usual pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1983
    Inventor: Jack E. Muck
  • Patent number: 4411350
    Abstract: This disclosure depicts a novel reversing conveyer track for changing the orientation, direction and spacing of books for use with book construction machinery. The reversing conveyor track first comprises a means for accepting the books and for establishing a predetermined spacing of the books. The means for accepting the books outputs the books with a predetermined velocity. The conveyor track further comprises a means for orienting and directing the books which is attached to the means for accepting the books. The orienting of the books is a change from an edge position to a side position and the direction of the books is a direction of movement different from the input movement direction of books to the means for accepting the books.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1983
    Inventor: Frank Wolfram
  • Patent number: 4410076
    Abstract: A dust suppressor for reducing or substantially eliminating dust in the loading of a particulate commodity, operating on a "dead box" principle but without the use of power operated valves. The dust suppressor normally operates on a three-stage principle, the first stage utilizing an adjustable damper valve which slows the velocity of flow, the second stage comprising a fixed deflector which directs and initially smooths the flow, and the third stage comprising a counterweighted, automatically operating butterfly valve which finally shapes and smooths the flow. Maximum dust suppression is obtained because dust cannot escape the dust suppressor without being forced back into the grain flow, because the velocity of the grain flow is reduced and because the grain flow discharged from the dust suppressor is smooth, non-turbulent and shaped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1983
    Assignee: Metcalf Construction Company
    Inventors: Joe B. West, Donald G. Van Camp
  • Patent number: 4407457
    Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle for internal combustion engines is proposed in which a valve needle receives an auxiliary needle in a blind bore opening toward the side on which injection occurs, and in which two injection locations each having at least one injection opening are controllable in accordance with the stroke, and in which the valve needle controls the passage of fuel from a pressure chamber of the injection nozzle selectively to the injection areas. The auxiliary needle is urged in the opening direction of the valve needle by a spring and is displaced in the flow direction at a first, lower fuel pressure, whereby it hydraulically separates the two injection areas. At a second, higher pressure the auxiliary needle is carried along as a drag member by the valve needle so as to reestablish communication between the two injection areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1983
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Kurt Seifert
  • Patent number: 4407454
    Abstract: In a spray system that facilitates its usage by the exterminator including a reservoir for holding an ample supply of the insecticide or other fluid, with the reservoir being held by a pouch to the belt or to other locations upon the user, a spray actuator coupled by means of a length of coiled hose to the reservoir, so that the operator need only manipulate the actuator to attain either a spray fogging or stream application of the insecticide; the hose connects to the reservoir through a valve member that attaches by means of a clamp and adaptor to the upper arranged port of the insecticide reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1983
    Assignee: Whitmire Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Billy G. Massey
  • Patent number: 4405086
    Abstract: In an atomizer wheel for the atomization of liquid color, particularly a lacquer sprayer, having an atomizer bell which is rotatable around a central axis and on its axially front end side has an annular coaxial overflow surface and on its base a central axial opening and is provided above its base with a deflection part of rotational symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1983
    Assignee: Hans Behr
    Inventor: Kurt Vetter
  • Patent number: 4403741
    Abstract: An electromagnetic fuel injection valve including a valve seat of the conical shape located at one end of a fuel injection passage, movable valve means including a ball cooperating with the valve seat of the conical shape, a rod rigidly connected to the ball and a plunger rigidly connected to the rod, and an electromagnet for moving the plunger. The movable valve means is guided during the movement thereof in an axial direction in two positions, one position being on the outer periphery of the ball and the other position being on the outer periphery of the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1983
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisanori Moriya, Masakichi Momono, Masahiro Souma, Masami Nagano
  • Patent number: 4403686
    Abstract: A modular chute assembly for transportation and removal of parts and scrap from production operations in a manufacturing facility. The modular chute assembly is designed to be readily adapted to a variety of special chute configuration requirements and needs. Many complex chute layouts can be attained using the same relatively few basic chute components or modules. The modular chute system is also strong, lightweight, and inexpensive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1983
    Inventor: Jacob L. Rycenga