Patents Examined by Henry Yuen
  • Patent number: 8656828
    Abstract: An electric oven includes a cooking chamber having at least one heating member and at least one support member for supporting food, the cooking chamber being provided with a movable pressing member for pressing the food against the support member to cook the food while kept pressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: De' Longhi S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giuseppe De' Longhi
  • Patent number: 8656826
    Abstract: Systems and methods for an improved espresso coffee machine are described. In one aspect, the improved espresso coffee machine includes one or more operating units, each of which at least includes a boiler, a pump, a heating unit, and a unit for aroma extraction and dispensing of the espresso coffee brew, including related conduits. Each unit is equipped with a system for controlling and adjusting the espresso coffee brewing parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: La Marzocco, SRL
    Inventors: Roberto Bianchi, Jacob Ellul-Blake
  • Patent number: 8658951
    Abstract: In-plane temperature of each substrate is uniformly controlled at the time of heating substrates placed on a plurality of susceptors, respectively. A heat treatment apparatus is provided with susceptors, i.e., conductive members for placing wafers thereon, having an induction heating body electrically divided into a center portion thereof and a peripheral portion thereof; a quartz boat supporting the susceptors arranged in a row; an induction coil, which is arranged inside a processing chamber to surround the circumference of each of the susceptors and configured such that the temperature of the induction coil can be freely adjusted; and a control unit which performs temperature control by changing the ratio between heat value at the center portion of the induction heating body and that at the peripheral portion, by controlling two high frequency currents of different frequencies to be applied to the induction coil from a high frequency current circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Tomihiro Yonenaga, Yumiko Kawano
  • Patent number: 8658953
    Abstract: An antenna cover assembly for a high-temperature operating environment has a cover plate, gasket portions, and a retainer plate. The cover plate has an inner side and an outer side, the cover plate being translucent to at least one selected frequency of electromagnetic energy. The gasket portions are each located adjacent one of the inner and outer sides, each gasket portion being configured for sealingly engaging the adjacent side. The retainer plate is configured for attachment to a structure located in a high-temperature operating environment. The retainer plate has a sealing flange adapted for clamping the cover plate generally adjacent an antenna portion of a waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Turbochef Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David H. McFadden, David A. Bolton
  • Patent number: 8653414
    Abstract: A wireless controller (14) comprises a housing including a first portion (20a) and a second portion (20b) moveably attached to the first portion (20a). The first portion (20a) supports the controller (14) relative to an external surface and is adjustable between an elevated position and a collapsed position, wherein a first end of the first portion (20a) is elevated relative to a second end of the first portion (20a) when the first portion is in the elevated position. A sensing element (22) senses a position of the second portion (20b) relative to the first portion (20a) and provides a corresponding position signal. A transmitter (24) is coupled with the sensing element (22) and wirelessly transmits the position signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Lincoln Global, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A Long, Hermann Brian Falter, Hans Noack
  • Patent number: 8653418
    Abstract: A device for connecting welding wires for CO2 gas welding includes a base frame, first and second electrode plates that are disposed apart from each other on the base frame and including disposing grooves to which an old wire and a new wire are respectively disposed, and clampers that are disposed to each electrode plate and that clamp the used wire and the new wire disposed to the disposing grooves, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sungwoo Hitech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin-Gun Kim
  • Patent number: 8653417
    Abstract: A method and system to start and use a combination wire feed and energy source system for any of brazing, cladding, building up, filling, and hard-facing overlaying applications. High intensity energy is applied onto a workpiece to heat the workpiece. One or more resistive filler wires are fed toward the workpiece at or just in front of the applied high intensity energy. Sensing of when a distal end of the one or more resistive filler wires makes contact with the workpiece at or near the applied high intensity energy is accomplished. Electric heating current to the one or more resistive filler wires is controlled based on whether or not the distal end of the one or more resistive filler wires is in contact with the workpiece. The applied high intensity energy and the one or more resistive filler wires are moved in a same direction along the workpiece in a fixed relation to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Lincoln Global, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven R. Peters
  • Patent number: 8653415
    Abstract: A system, in one embodiment, may include a portable unit having an engine, a generator coupled to the engine, a compressor coupled to the engine, and a priority load controller. The controller may be configured to adjust various loads on the engine, the generator, or the compressor, or a combination thereof, in response to sensor feedback and a priority control scheme. A computer-implemented method, in another embodiment, may include adjusting power output to various loads on an engine, a welding generator coupled to the engine, or an air compressor coupled to the engine, or a combination thereof, in a portable welding unit in response to sensor feedback and a priority control scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel C. Fosbinder
  • Patent number: 8653421
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for heating weather masts on wind turbines. The object of the invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art and to keep the weather masts of a wind turbine free of ice. The device according to the invention for heating a weather mast on a wind turbine is that the weather mast comprises interconnected pipings. In the pipings, there is arranged a heating system which is formed by one or a plurality of electric heating wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nordex Energy GmbH
    Inventor: Sebastian Kathoefer
  • Patent number: 8651018
    Abstract: A combination food smoker and grill system that is an effective ellipsoid shaped food smoker designed to prevent direct contact of the meat to be grilled with an open flame thereby preventing the creation of carcinogenic, carbonized meat. More specifically, the combination food smoker and grill system is a pedestal smoker and grill assembly having an upper portion grill chamber with a hinged dome cover having at least one lift handle, an adjustable heat discharge vent, a lower portion grill chamber with a first comestible grill-screen, a second comestible grill-screen, a plurality of first comestible grill-screen supports, a plurality of second comestible grill-screen supports, a smoker screen assembly, a heat portal, and a heat column assembly having a base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Inventor: Charlie Loud, III
  • Patent number: 8654813
    Abstract: The invention relates to a safety device (1) for detecting electrode breakage in an electric arc furnace, wherein an electrode (6) is secured on an electrode support arm (4), and wherein a conduit is filled with a medium under a constant pressure and a pressure drop is produced at an electrode breakage, which is detected as an alarm signal. Here, the conduit (7a-d,3) is integrated in a protective component that is arranged beneath the electrode support arm (4) thereon, wherein in case of an electrode breakage, the conduit (7a-d,3) is damaged by a produce electric arc and the pressure drop takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: SMS Demag AG
    Inventor: Manfred Schubert
  • Patent number: 8653419
    Abstract: A window defroster assembly having a transparent panel and a defroster. The defroster includes a conductive layer applied over the panel and an electrically conductive heater grid formed integrally with the transparent panel. The heater grid includes a series of grid lines and at least a portion of the conductive layer is located between adjacent ones of the grid lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Exatec LLC
    Inventor: Keith D. Weiss
  • Patent number: 8651014
    Abstract: A fire containment system and method is disclosed. The fire containment system is designed to assist in temporarily containing a fire within a semi-enclosed space having an open side for operator access. An exhaust air blower exhausts air from the semi-enclosed space through an exhaust vent. An inlet air blower provides air to the semi-enclosed space through an inlet vent. In the case of a fire in the semi-enclosed space, the fire will be drawn away from the open side and toward the inlet vent due to the air supplied by the inlet air blower. The fire is thus encouraged to remain within the semi-enclosed space, allowing additional time for a fire suppression mechanism to be activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: C. Cretors & Company
    Inventors: Nenad Vidojevic, Gilbert J. Evers
  • Patent number: 8651012
    Abstract: A beverage forming system that includes a capsule for containing beverage ingredients and having an outer surface; a capsule-based beverage producing device provided with a member for injecting a liquid under pressure into the capsule, a member for draining a beverage from the capsule, and an enclosing member transferable from an opened state to a defined closed state, in which the enclosing member encloses the outer surface of the capsule; and a sealing member associated with the capsule and which is compressible when engaged by the enclosing member in the closed state, wherein the sealing member is effective to compensate for the clearance between the enclosing member and the capsule which would otherwise exist when the enclosing member is in its defined closed state. Also, a method for producing a beverage using such a system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Alfred Yoakim, Gilles Gavillet, Jean-Paul Denisart
  • Patent number: 8653411
    Abstract: A pulsed machining method for the optimized machining of a contour which is characterized in that the instantaneous frequency ratio of ? of the pulse frequency of tool fL and of the rotational frequency of tool fCNC is optimized to achieve a highest possible degree of coverage of the individual machining pulses in the context of a shortest possible machining duration and without a direct concatenation of the machining pulses. It is especially preferred that this be achieved in that frequency ratio ? is an irrational number, thus cannot be expressed by the ratio of two whole numbers. By applying the method according to the present invention, a considerable time savings is achieved since there is no longer a need for time-consuming preliminary trials to ascertain an at least sufficient frequency ratio ?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventor: Mark Geisel
  • Patent number: 8651016
    Abstract: The unitized vacuum fryer is capable of low atmosphere vacuum cooking and has an elongate cooking tunnel having an upper portion separable from a base portion for cleaning and maintenance. When hermetically sealed together the two portions function to retain a high vacuum for an enclosed fry cooking system. Hermetic sealing locks at each end of the tunnel afford product entry and exit. The vacuum fryer does not require a separate enclosing pressure vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Heat and Control, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew A. Caridis, James A. Padilla, Anthony A. Caridis, Thomas John Miller, Donald Giles
  • Patent number: 8648283
    Abstract: An insulator for an electric heater is configured to allow a heater coil to expand/contract uniformly, and permit an easy fitting of the heater coil thereto. The insulator includes a body part formed of an insulating material, a coil seating part at an end of the body part for supporting the heater coil, and a seating slot between the coil seating part and the body part for inserting the heat coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Ki Chul Cho, Jong Chul Bang, Dong Beom Lee
  • Patent number: 8646379
    Abstract: A beverage appliance includes a housing having a liquid reservoir, a brewing station disposed within the housing and in fluid communication with the liquid reservoir, a grinding station disposed within the housing and being functionally separate from said brewing station, and a brewing carriage being selectively movable between a first position adjacent the grinding station and a second position adjacent the brewing station. Movement of the brewing carriage between the first and second position shifts a beverage ingredient in the brewing carriage from the first position to the second position and when the brewing carriage is in the in said second position, liquid is dispensed from the liquid reservoir and directed to the brewing carriage to produce a brewed beverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Conair Corporation
    Inventors: Kin Man Lai, Kam Fai Fung, Barbara Lynn Schnabel
  • Patent number: 8646383
    Abstract: A spiral oven and a method of cooking a food product in a spiral oven using a cooking medium wherein (a) the food product is conveyed within the oven cooking chamber by a spiral conveyor having a plurality of spiral flights and (b) the cooking medium is discharged either upwardly and/or downwardly within, or laterally into, one or more vertical gaps between adjacent pairs of spiral flights using one or more delivery duct structures which extend inside the interior of the cooking chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Inventor: David Howard
  • Patent number: 8642923
    Abstract: A weld data acquisition system collects data from the weld controller according to user selected collection parameters. The weld data acquisition system is able to transmit the data at high frequency to a weld data software utility that provides a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Lincoln Global, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward D. Hillen, Dmitry Brant, Stephen R. Cole, Stephen M. Kainec