Patents Examined by Houston S. Bell, Jr.
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Patent number: 4655266Abstract: A beverage vending machine having a cup magazine for delivery of cups individually to a readiness position for receiving a metered amount or quantity of a beverage ingredient, either in liquid or solid form, for formulation of a beverage. A metering device in the form of a metering slide valve delivers a metered quantity to individual cups successively. The slide valve has a valve gate that is provided with a metering space, formed as a through opening, for cyclical registry with an open lower opening of a receptacle containing the beverage ingredient. The slide valve is operated to deliver the metered quantity to a cup delivered from a cup magazine. The cup with the beverage ingredient is delivered via a chute to an access recess in the machine at which a liquid is added to the cup to formulate the beverage mixture. A mixer mixes the formulated beverage mixture.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 1985Date of Patent: April 7, 1987Assignee: Societe de Fabrication d'Appareils Automatiques et Sirops dite F.A.A.S (S.a.r.l)Inventor: Francois Ciekanski
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Patent number: 4655123Abstract: A system is disclosed for transferring a predetermined charge of water between a bottled water container and a coffee maker. The system comprises a pump and a timer which operates the pump for a preset period of time while a charge of water is transferred through a series of conduits from a bottled water container to a coffee maker, the quantity of the charge being substantially independent of bottled water level.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 1985Date of Patent: April 7, 1987Assignee: Tru-BrewInventor: W. Charles Schrader
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Patent number: 4653552Abstract: A fuel tank cap having a fuel inlet passage therein includes an arrangement automatically closing the fuel inlet passage when the cap is removed from the tank. A valve in the fuel inlet passage is spring biased toward a closed position. A valve actuator engageable with the edge of the tank inlet serves to open the valve against the spring force when the cap is seated on the tank inlet.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 1985Date of Patent: March 31, 1987Assignee: Outboard Marine CorporationInventor: Dennis J. Friedle
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Patent number: 4653551Abstract: In a filling machine for filling liquid into containers, such as bottles or the like, the lower end of a return gas tube inserted into the container determines the filling height. Rapid adjustment of the position of the lower end of the return gas tube can be provided when different sized containers are used in the filling machine. Two different adjustment devices are used, one for the movement of the return gas tube with a centering device which holds the container during the filling operation and another one for producing precise adjustment of the lower end of the return gas tube with respect to the desired filling height and with such movement being relative to the centering device in the container holding position.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 1985Date of Patent: March 31, 1987Assignee: Holstein Und Kappert GmbHInventor: Siegmar Sindermann
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Patent number: 4653549Abstract: A nozzle for dispensing a viscous fluid into a container at a high flow rate. The nozzle has a body for receiving a fluid flow and a nozzle tip for causing a substantially continuous fluid wall to be ejected from the nozzle. A fluid flow breaker in the nozzle is place in the fluid flow to create a reduced thickness portion in the fluid wall. Air trapped between the fluid wall and rising fluid in the container exits the wall through the reduced thickness portion thereby reducing the amount of splattering which may occur. A drip-limiting cup is provided in the nozzle to reduce the amount of dripping from the nozzle which may occur after the fluid flow to the nozzle is discontinued.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 1985Date of Patent: March 31, 1987Assignee: C. M. Ambrose CompanyInventor: Clarence M. Ambrose
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Patent number: 4653550Abstract: The portable refillable inflator for air mattresses, inflatable balls, pneumatic tires and the like, in the form of a tubular vessel provided at each end with an inverted domed wall. One wall is provided with a conventional tire inflation valve for filling the vessel with compressed air, and the other domed wall is provided, with an outlet valved nozzle having a flexible tubular body through which extends a stem attached to a disk disposed within the vessel and normally fitting against an annular seat. Upon deflection of the flexible nozzle body, lateral displacement of the stem causes the valve disk to uncover a portion of the seat thus permitting air to escape from the vessel through the outlet nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 1985Date of Patent: March 31, 1987Inventor: Joseph R. Crowley
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Patent number: 4653554Abstract: A head piece for movable or stationary fueling systems, in particular for aircraft fueling, includes a filler-neck coupling for connecting it to a tank which is to be filled or emptied, is easily handleable, is exposed to little wear, and permits quick refueling and defueling without any need for hoses. It includes a line having five pipe sections which are movably connected with one another by swivel joints which have a degree of freedom. At the end of the line remote from the filler-neck coupling, there is a further swivel joint for connecting the head piece to the fueling system. Of the five swivel joints, three are arranged with axes of rotation which are parallel to one another, and the axes of rotation of the remaining two joints are perpendicular to the axes of rotation of the other three joints.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 1986Date of Patent: March 31, 1987Inventors: Wolfgang Von Meyerinck, Dietz Von Meyerinck
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Patent number: 4651788Abstract: In order to be able to simultaneously fill with a liquid, gaseous or solid flowable medium, without it being necessary to measure and monitor the filling volume or weight of each container, the filling plant has a pipeline system (10) for conveying the medium to be filled with a plurality of drawing-off lines (13, 113, 213) leading to the filling valves (20, 120, 220) and in which are arranged volume chambers (40, 140, 240) with rotors rotated by the medium flowing through the same, arranged jointly on a shaft (40) with a system pressure-dependent controlled brake (45). A balance (50) is only associated with a single filling valve (20) of the valves controlled by a control cylinder (25) and is used for controlling said cylinder (25). A feed pump (15) connected upstream of the filling valve (120) associated with balance (50) ensure a uniform exit velocity of the medium in the container when pressure fluctuations occur in the pipeline system (11, 13, 113, 213).Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 1985Date of Patent: March 24, 1987Inventors: Gerhard Grosskreuz, Edith Kleinophorst
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Patent number: 4651789Abstract: A water dispenser having an actuator that is displaced in order to dispense water from an overhead spout and an interlock member that prevents the actuator from being displaced an amount sufficient to dispense water unless a drinking glass is used to move the actuator. The interlock member surrounds the actuator and is slidably movable along the actuator from a first rest position, to a second disengaged position by the lip of a glass pressed against the actuator. In the first position, the interlock member will strike a stationary abutment to prevent the actuator from being displaced. In the disengaged position, the interlock member will not strike the abutment and the actuator can be displaced to dispense water.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 1985Date of Patent: March 24, 1987Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: William J. Linstromberg
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Patent number: 4651787Abstract: A method and apparatus for effectuating a blowout of a tire of a vehicle is provided. A power ram is used to press a cutting member against the tire as the tire rotates relative thereto in order to circularly slice the tire open. A control valve is utilized to activate the ram.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1985Date of Patent: March 24, 1987Inventor: Franklin J. Appl
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Patent number: 4646794Abstract: A refueling system is characterized by the delivery of fuel through a multi-stage telescoping cylinder assembly which uses the fuel as the pressure media for extending and retracting the cylinder assembly. Provision also is made for rotating or pivoting the cylinder assembly about two orthogonal axes which, when combined with telescopic extension and retraction of the cylinder assembly, enables a normally closed nozzle connected to the forward end of the innermost piston cylinder to be positionally directed to the fuel inlet portion of the combat vehicle to be refueled. Another attribute of the system is that when properly seated in the fuel inlet port, the nozzle automatically opens.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 1985Date of Patent: March 3, 1987Assignee: Universal Hydraulics, Inc.Inventors: Nikolay K. Padarev, Dennis W. Simpson
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Patent number: 4646798Abstract: A water pump with which drinking water can be dispensed from a drinking water container. The water pump is equipped with a foldable cup support so that cups can be placed on it, and with a movable cap to seal the mouth of the container, and a dispensing tube which allows the user to easily adjust the dispensing direction of the drinking water.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 1985Date of Patent: March 3, 1987Inventor: Byung Kwon Yoo
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Patent number: 4646795Abstract: A combination scoop/funnel filler utensil particularly adapted for the filling of differently sized bird feeders. The utensil includes a reservoir section and a handle section in communication therewith through a port, the sections being integrally molded from suitable plastic material. A valve plate, pivotable from a location adjacent the handle, is positioned within the reservoir. It can be manipulated to selectively open or close the port between the handle and reservoir, rendering the utensil useful as either a scoop or a funnel.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 1986Date of Patent: March 3, 1987Assignee: Heath Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Lewis L. Hebron, Neal Rampley
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Patent number: 4646797Abstract: An easy to use system for connecting a bottle-type, gas containing pressurized vessel to a gas-withdrawal unit includes a valve assembly mounted on the pressurized vessel. A longitudinal axis of this valve assembly is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pressurized vessel resulting in an offset outlet design. The system also includes a housing with slotted links for guiding and holding the pressurized vessel as well as a centering device located in front of the gas-withdrawal unit for aiding alignment of an outlet of the valve assembly with an inlet port of the gas-withdrawal unit. A pivot lever is also provided to press and hold the outlet of the valve assembly gastight against the inlet port of the control unit.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 1985Date of Patent: March 3, 1987Assignees: The Coca-Cola Company, Bosch-Siemens Hausgerate GmbHInventors: Matthias Aschberger, Karlheinz Farber, Anton Deininger
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Patent number: 4644982Abstract: A refrigerant material transfer adapter in the form of an instrument of semi rigid yet flexible plastic having a side tube projection that fits on an aerosol can valve stem of the type that opens the can valve for release of contents when the valve stem is sidewise angle deflected. The adapter has an outlet end with an opening shaped to fit on and over the low pressure suction side valve fitting of a refrigeration system. A center projection within the outlet end opening engages the valve stem of the refrigeration system suction side valve fitting so that when the adapter is pushed toward the refrigeration valve fitting the refrigeration system valve is opened. This is accomplished generally using both hands or with the thumb of the hand holding the aerosol can pressing against the back end of the adapter.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 1985Date of Patent: February 24, 1987Inventor: Jimmie K. Hatch
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Patent number: 4644981Abstract: An electrically controlled filling element, for filling machines, having one or more actuating devices for one or more shutoff valves, which are disposed in the gas-conveying systems of the filling element and are actuated for control of the various filling processes, and/or for the valve actuating device of one or more liquid flow valves. These actuating devices are made insensitive to the penetration of moisture, for example cleaning liquid, by providing one or more of the actuating devices with a diaphragm which is operated by pressure medium, and by disposing the respective pressure medium control valves which control the supply of pressure medium separate and at a distance from the other parts of the filling element at a location of the filling machine which is protected from the entry of liquid. An additional shielding of the pressure medium control valve can be undertaken by providing a housing therefor.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 1985Date of Patent: February 24, 1987Assignee: Seitz Enzinger Noll Maschinenbau AktiengesellschaftInventor: Herbert Bernhard
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Patent number: 4643235Abstract: An oxygen electrode for alkaline galvanic cells. The electrode includes a talyst-containing carbon layer, a current collector, and a preferably foil-like separator for separating a liquid chamber from a gas chamber in such a way that the gas can pass to the carbon layer but the liquid cannot enter the gas chamber. The electrode has a structurally simple construction as a multi-layer, gas diffusion electrode, the current density of which, in the temperature range of between approximately 20.degree. and 80.degree. C., is approximately 350 mA/cm.sup.2 during operation with air, and greater than 1 A/cm.sup.2 during operation with oxygen. The current collector includes a metal grid which is at least partially embedded in a carbon layer. In the method of producing such an oxygen electrode, a catalyst salt solution is mixed with an aqueous activated carbon suspension and is deposited onto the activated carbon to form a catalyst dispersion.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 1985Date of Patent: February 17, 1987Assignee: Accumulatorenwerke Hoppecke Carl Zoellner & Sohn GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Peter Schmoede, Detlef Katryniok, deceased, Jean P. Ruch
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Patent number: 4641692Abstract: An automatic cup-filling control arrangement for beverage dispensers utilizes the spray or mist of liquid droplets, formed by flowing beverage striking beverage already in the cup, to complete an electrical circuit. This electrical circuit extends from an electrically conducting member, such as an actuating lever, to beverage flowing through a dispensing valve. When the mist of droplets permits a pre-established magnitude of current to flow between the actuating lever and the flowing beverage, which occurs when beverage in the cup reaches a pre-determined level, dispensing of the beverage is terminated.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 1985Date of Patent: February 10, 1987Assignee: Alco Foodservice Equipment CompanyInventor: Clay Bennett
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Patent number: 4641693Abstract: A bulk syrup delivery system in which a compartmentized tank delivery truck includes a plurality of separate compartments or tanks, generally one for each of several different types of soft drink syrup to provide for the bulk delivery of syrup to an account. The improvement of the subject invention concerns a three way vent and pressure supply valve designed to be utilized in the bulk syrup delivery system, particularly in an account building terminal housing associated therewith. When the terminal housing is closed, as during normal system operation, a source of pressurized gas, such as a carbon dioxide tank or cylinder, is coupled to supply pressurized gas to each syrup container for the pressurized delivery of syrup during syrup dispensing operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 1985Date of Patent: February 10, 1987Assignee: Pepsi Co, Inc.Inventor: John J. Rakucewicz
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Patent number: 4641690Abstract: Disclosed is a technique whereby when multi-component liquefied gases such as liquefied natural gases (LNG), liquefied petroleum gases (LPG) or the like which are different in composition, density or the like are stored in the same storage tank, any stratification of the liquefied gases within the storage tank is prevented.The introduction of the liquefied gas into the storage tank is accomplished in such a manner that the introduced gas enters the storage tank in the form of a jet of liquefied gas which is shoot out from near the tank bottom obliquely upwardly with an ascending vertical angle in a predetermined range and reaches or comes near to the free surface within the storage tank, and in this way the desired mixing of the introduced liquefied gas with the liquefied gas previously existing in the storage tank is effected as soon as the introduced liquefied gas enters the tank.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 1985Date of Patent: February 10, 1987Assignee: Nippon Kokan Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takeo Ishiwatari, Yasuchiyo Sasaki, Rokuro Misawa, Shingo Takao