Patents Examined by James L. Wolfe
  • Patent number: 4817240
    Abstract: A hinge for a range door and the like having a frame bracket (18) adapted to be mounted to a range housing, a hinge arm (40) adapted to be mounted to a range door and pivotably mounted to the frame bracket (18) and a cam follower arm (16) pivotably mounted to the frame bracket (18). A cam follower element (76) on the cam arm (60) is biased by a tension spring (80) against a cam surface on a cam arm portion (46) of the hinge arm to counterbalance the weight of the range door. The cam surface has indentations (50, 52) which define equilibrium positions of the door for an ajar and fully open position. A tab stop (34) is struck out from the frame bracket (18) to stop the pivotable movement of the cam follower arm (60) as the hinge arm (40) reaches the fully open position (FIG. 5). The cam follower arm (60) has a number of indentations (64) for receiving one end (84) of the spring (80) to adjust the counter-balancing force on the oven door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: Ace Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Milo D. Sovis, Jr., James A. Parker
  • Patent number: 4817733
    Abstract: In a hydraulic pile driver (10), the lifting cylinder (34) acting on the driving weight (12) has an attached position indicator (46, 50), which produces a signal corresponding to the momentary position of the piston rod (32) of the lifting cylinder (34). This signal is used for reversing a 4/3-valve, by which the two working chambers of the lifting cylinder can be connected to a pressure line or return line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: Delmag Maschinenfabrik Reinhold Dornfeld GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Rudolf Hennecke, Achim Kehrberger
  • Patent number: 4815546
    Abstract: A top head drive assembly includes a tubular quill having a central passageway aligned with an axis. The quill is supported for rotation on a load beam included in the top head drive assembly such that the quill is movable along the axis through a range of travel sufficient to provide thread protection to the down hole tubulars during tubular handling operations. Splines drivingly connect the quill with a transmission such that the transmission is operative to rotate the quill throughout the range of travel of the quill along the axis. A blowout preventer valve is mounted in an upper part of the quill to move axially and rotationally with the quill in order to eliminate sliding or rotary seals between the blowout preventer valve and the drill string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: W-N Apache Corporation
    Inventors: Keith M. Haney, Clyde A. Willis
  • Patent number: 4813494
    Abstract: A stake driver having a first rod that has at least one solid end for driving a stake. The other end may be pointed. A second larger diameter rod is slidably insertable over the first rod. One of the open ends of the second rod is located over a stake. Then the first rod is moved upward to allow the stake to be encircled by the open end of the second rod. The end of the second rod may be slotted to accomodate a rectangular stake or marker fastened to the top of the stake. With one hand grasping the second rod, the other hand lifts the first rod and then releases it so that the first rod can free fall and drive the stake into the soil. If additional force is required to drive the pointed end of the first rod into the soil, a third rod is slid onto the second rod and screwably connected to it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Inventors: Larry D. Beard, Larry L. Brigman, John C. Roderick
  • Patent number: 4813492
    Abstract: The invention provides a low pressure shut off device contained within a pneumatic tool that senses the air pressure of an air stream supplied to a pneumatic motor and shuts off the air flow when the pressure falls below a predetermined level set to maintain consistent performance of the tool and to avoid damage to the tool or to the workpiece. The invention includes a throttle valve, a throttle piston that moves to open and close the valve, and a device for sensing the air pressure of the supply stream, holding the throttle valve open when the pressure is sufficient and closing it when the supply pressure is insufficient. The invention may also be used in combination with an air control system within a pneumatic tool such that the sensing device shuts off the flow of air to the air control system as well as the motor when the air control system pressure is insufficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Dresser Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul A. Biek
  • Patent number: 4813493
    Abstract: Well apparatus including a top drive assembly having a hollow drive stem driven through a gear assembly by a plurality, two or more, of hydraulic motors, the drive stem adapted to be attached to a well swivel at upper end and an intermediate sub or a string at the lower end, the rotary motion of the drive stem to power the string during operations. A shut off valve to shut off well fluid and a link adapter can be located between the lower end of the hollow drive stem and the upper end of the drill string. The vertical axis of the drive stem can be aligned coaxially with the vertical axis of the wellbore and with the vertical axis of the drill string. The top drive can be mounted to a wheeled support frame contained within two elongated members mounted in a derrick. Pivotably mounted to the support frame is a manipulator arm adapted on one end to grasp and support a tubular member and pivotable in a horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Triten Corporation
    Inventors: Danial G. Shaw, Billy MacCline
  • Patent number: 4811797
    Abstract: An impact wrench has a casing accommodating rotatable anvil and shaft, the shaft supporting a hammer having a body with longitudinally extending passages in which pins are received for axial reciprocations which pins are engaged with the anvil in one position. A driving member received in an axial passage of the hammer body is coupled to the shaft to perform rotation and axial movement, the driving member being connected to the hammer body for rotation together therewith, and cooperating with a spring for moving the pins into a position, in which they are engaged with the anvil. The longitudinally extending passages open into the axial passage of the hammer body. Each pin has a bearing surface engageable with a respective bearing surface of the driving member during movement of the pins into the other position, the bearing surface being located on a portion of each pin protruding into the axial passage of the hammer body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Assignee: Nauchno-Proizvodstvennoe Obiedinenie Po Mekhanizirovannomu Stroitelnomu Instrumentru I Otdelochnym Mashinam
    Inventors: Georgy A. Antipov, Mikhail L. Gelfand, Boris G. Goldshtein, Gennady A. Korniliev, Nikolai S. Lavnikov, Yakov I. Tsipenjuk, Petr S. Yakubovsky
  • Patent number: 4809788
    Abstract: A drilling mast assembly (20) mounted on a vehicle (24) for operation in a vertical position and comprising an elongated main mast (44), a secondary mast unit (46) swingably mounted on the main mast (44) for movement from a locked position aligned and contiguous with the main mast (44) to a position swung away from the main mast (44), percussive unit (48) mounted on the secondary mast unit (46) and having a sinker drill (48) movable vertically relative and parallel to the main mast (44) for forming an initial opening in a surface therebelow, and an auger unit (49) having an augar drill (51) mounted on the main mast (44) for vertical movement relative and parallel to the main mast (44) along a longitudinal axis aligned with the longitudinal axis of the percussive sinker drill (48).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Inventor: Ivan L. Nelson
  • Patent number: 4809899
    Abstract: The automatic apparatus for the stapling of covering cloths to mattress springs comprises a base plane, jack-like members for comprising the mattress springs between two apposed covering cloths on said base plane, a carriage slideable laterally to respective sides of the base plane and provided with devices for folding the borders of said cloths on the end coils of the outermost springs, devices for stapling the folded borders of the covering clothes and carried by the slidable carriages and finally motorized equipments for reciprocating the slideable carriages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Assignee: Resta Commerciale S.r.l.
    Inventors: Rodolfo Resta, Mario Resta, Roberto Resta
  • Patent number: 4809898
    Abstract: An explosive powder charge operated tool for driving nails includes a housing with a muzzle part mounted in and projecting axially outwardly from the housing. By moving the muzzle part rearwardly into the housing, the tool is in the ready-to-fire condition. A magazine is supported at one end within the muzzle part and extends generally radially outwardly from it. A slide in the magazine feeds individual nails in a nail strip into the bore in muzzle part into position to be driven by a piston located within the housing. When all of the nails in the strip have been driven from the tool, one end of the strip projects into the muzzle bore. A stop shoulder on the one end of the strip faces toward an end face on the housing and contacts the end face when the muzzle part is pressed into the housing, preventing the placement of the tool in the ready-to-fire condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Theo Gassner, Peter Von Flue
  • Patent number: 4809787
    Abstract: An ice breaking attachment for impact hammers. The main component is a rigid metal beam used to transfer the blows of the impact hammer to the ice surface and then when the beam breaks through the ice distribute the impact of those blows over a large enough area to prevent damaging the underlying surface. The beam has a convex lower edge that also helps prevent damage to the underlying pavement. A vertical metal sleeve welded at the center of the beam accepts the blunt end of the impact hammer bit, and tether cables or chains attach the apparatus to the frame of the impact hammer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Inventor: McCauley Leo P.
  • Patent number: 4807330
    Abstract: A pivot hinge has two pivot members for engaging bores in two parts to be rotatably coupled to each other. Each pivot member has a first portion sized for insertion into one of the bores. Either a single continuous rib or a plurality of rib segments are formed on the outer surface of the first portion for gripping the inner surface of the bore. Either one or both of the pivot members has a second portion which provides a thrust bearing between the two joined parts. The two pivot members are coupled to each other by a bearing which allows each member to rotate independent of the other and a releasable lock mechanism which, when engaged, prohibits lateral separation of the two pivot members and, when disengaged, permits separation of the two members to allow separation of the parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: Abra, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Gomes
  • Patent number: 4805823
    Abstract: A guiding pocket for driving staples is described, in which a first set of parallel sides helps form the opening for the guiding pockets. These parallel sides are connected to tapered sides, which are in turn connected to a second pair of parallel sides, creating a hexagonal shaped pocket. The resultant pocket configuration possesses self-centering features, which in turn reduces jamming and misformed staples and allows for simpler manufacturing and inspection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert G. Rothfuss
  • Patent number: 4805707
    Abstract: A wrecking implement for attachment to the lift mechanisms of a loader machine comprises a generally rectangular plate having a mounting tube projecting therefrom. A boom having a hammer head carried on its distal end is telescopingly received within the mounting tube such that it extends outwardly of the plate and loader machine. Resilient pads are interposed between the boom and mounting tube and the boom has a metal tubular sleeve transversely through one end thereof which is secured to the mounting tube by passing a bolt through the metal tubular sleeve facilitating limited pivotable movement of the boom relative to the mounting tube and plate. A resilient tubular sleeve is positioned between the bolt and the metal tubular sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Inventors: Dennis W. P. Davis, Timothy Tough
  • Patent number: 4805706
    Abstract: A rotary impact apparatus comprises an input shaft capable of attachment to an electric drill and arranged to drive an impact assembly through a cone clutch and an output shaft capable of being driven by the impact assembly. The clutch is adjustable by means of a nut and a spring to vary the torque at which drive to the output shaft is disengaged. The impact assembly comprises two rockers adopted to drive the output shaft in respective directions. Each rocker is biased out of engagement with the output shaft by a rocker spring but is unbalanced and rotation of the impact assembly through the clutch by the input shaft creates a centrifugal force on it against the rocker spring whereby it engages the output shaft to rotate the output shaft until resistance to rotation is such that the clutch disengages and rotation of the impact assembly stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Inventor: Alan M. Stone
  • Patent number: 4805263
    Abstract: A finger pull for attachment to intersecting relatively transverse side and edge faces of a panel and which has a main base portion and an auxiliary base portion integrally connected along one edge of the main base portion. The main base portion has a flat mounting face at one side and the auxiliary base portion has a flat mounting face at one side that is disposed coplanar with the mounting face of the main base portion. A layer of pressure sensitive adhesive is adhered to the mounting faces of the main and auxiliary base portions and the connecting portion is made sufficiently thin to bend and allow the auxiliary base portion to be moved to a position extending transverse to the main base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Inventor: Thomas D. Kurtz
  • Patent number: 4805963
    Abstract: A shield advancing machine, comprising cutting tools (15) rotatably supported on cantilever arms (13, 14) being rotatable around an axis approximately extending in advancing direction and being swivellable in transverse direction to this axis, has a carrier (4) which is guided and supported in axial direction of the shield (1). A rotation drive (22, 33) for a rest (9) of the cantilever arms (13, 14) is provided on the carrier (4), and the cantilever arms (13, 14) as well as their swivel drive (16, 17) are linked to the rest (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Kogler, Berthold Scheiber, Wulf Martin, Herwig Wrulich
  • Patent number: 4804048
    Abstract: A hand-held power screwdriver or like tool includes a spindle which is adapted to receive and retain tool bits for rotation thereon. A collet ring is retained with a recess on the housing for slidable movement along the spindle axis. The collet functions as a selectable spindle locking device whereby the tool may be operated as a manual screwdriver or the like by selectively positioning the collet to rigidly lock the spindle in fixed relationship to the tool housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1989
    Assignee: Skil Corporation
    Inventor: Chris H. Porth, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4802538
    Abstract: A hammer for driving a pile into the ground has a cylindrical barrel and an anvil sealed to an end of the barrel, a hammer piston mounted for reciprocation within the barrel towards and away from the anvil, hydraulic cylinders to lift the hammer piston away from the anvil, and a switch, responsive to an increase in fluid pressure in the space between the hammer piston and the anvil, to activate the lift means. The invention includes a method of driving a pile into the ground, in which the pile-driving impact is transmitted to the pile via a confined quantity of hydraulic fluid and the weight by which the impact is applied is lifted, to a position from which to apply a further impact, in response to an increase in pressure in the hydraulic fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Inventors: Brian Hays, Clive Taylor
  • Patent number: 4801063
    Abstract: An apparatus for inserting sticks into ice cream bodies contains a magazine 2, from where the sticks 1 are discharged to a carrier 4, which is provided with pockets 6 for receiving the sticks 1. The sticks 1 are fed from the pockets 6 to mold cavities filled with ice cream, by clamping devices 8 mounted in a pick-up assembly 7, which can be moved between a position in which the sticks 1 are lifted out of the pockets 6 to a position above mold cavities containing ice cream. A piston 3 is placed in the magazine 2. The piston is designed to squeeze the sticks 1 in the magazine against the carrier with an abutment force substantially greater than the weight of the sticks stacked in the magazine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: NTC Engineering APS
    Inventor: Ole C. Morch