Patents Examined by Jay H. Woo
  • Patent number: 5951729
    Abstract: An air filter for an for an air intake of an internal combustion engine. The filter includes a housing with a raw air inlet and a clean air outlet and an annular filter element having a pleated filter medium disposed therein. At least one buttressing element is provided to support the filter medium at the clean air side. The buttressing element has a knife-edge buttress disposed on the housing that extends to a position of maximum flexure of the filter element. The knife-edge buttress is further provided with a support shoe disposed thereon such that the shoe supports the filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Filterwerk Mann & Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Ernst, Arthur Klotz, Rudolf Leipelt, Bruno Sommer
  • Patent number: 5951727
    Abstract: An air-permeable filter material for use on doors, door frames, windows or window frames and a method of using the filter material to protect against the ingress of pollen and dirt particles in the environment. The filter material may be composed of fabric or film or a combination of film and fabric, the material having perforations of a diameter of 2-250 .mu.m, and a fixing material for applying the filter material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Beiersdorf AG
    Inventors: Manfred Spies, Heike Rademacher, Zygmut Kozaczka, Klaus Eberhard Papon
  • Patent number: 5951859
    Abstract: An acid water obtained by electrolysis is used for wash disinfection inside an artificial dialyzer, thereby completely eliminating the bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other deposits inside the dialyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignees: Miura-denshi Kabushiki-kaisha, Toshiyuki Miura, Kouken Kabushiki-kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Miura, Tetsurou Miura
  • Patent number: 5948259
    Abstract: A process for treating oils and solvents contaminated by radioactive substances includes a step of subjecting the oils and solvents to the action of pre-selected micro-organisms in the presence of air and a very large volume of water, relative to the volume of oils and solvents to be treated. The micro-organisms destroy organic molecules, and in particular transform them into CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O. Further steps of the process include preparing a predetermined volume of water having predetermined characteristics of dissolved oxygen concentration, pH and redox potential and adding a predetermined charge of oils and solvents contaminated by radioactive substances to this volume of water, the charge corresponding to a volume of oils and solvents which is a predetermined fraction of the predetermined volume of water. The charge is subjected to the action of micro-organisms at a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Richmond Agency Limited
    Inventors: Joanes Deguitre, Maurice Stingre
  • Patent number: 5948249
    Abstract: A sealing device 2 for forming a seal against an object such as a pipe surface 12 comprises a sealing strip 6 having a deformable inner pad 8, which is held tightly on the object by a slide fastener 18. The fastener 18 is preferably a hermetic zip fastener. A sealing device of the present invention may be used with a filter bag and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventor: Michael H. Scott
  • Patent number: 5948127
    Abstract: A cyclone dust collector wherein the interior of a cyclone body is divided into an upper space and a lower space by a partition member provided with a plurality of cylindrical filters, a suction port is so provided as to communicate with the lower space, a common discharge port is so provided as to communicate with the upper space, a collected dust recovery box is fixed to the lower end of the cyclone body, and a discharge blower is connected to the discharge port of the cyclone body. The dust collector is further provided with backwashing stop valves capable of opening and closing upper end portions of the filters and having backwashing nozzles, stop valve driving mechanisms adapted to open and close the stop valves, compressed air hoses connected to the backwashing nozzles of the stop valves, and backwashing electromagnetic valves for controlling the supply and cutoff of backwashing compressed air to the compressed air hoses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute
    Inventors: Susumu Minakawa, Takao Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 5948273
    Abstract: A water purification process comprises applying electrical energy to water to be treated in a treatment chamber having a cathode and an anode opposing each other and deactivates or destroys microorganisms in the water. Water in the vicinity of the anode is caused to flow away from the anode by subjecting the water and/or the anode to vibration. The water purification apparatus includes a treatment chamber (2) having a cathode (9) and an anode (3) opposing each other. Electrical energy is applied to microorganisms contained in the water. The anode and/or the water in the vicinity of the anode is vibrated and debris inside and outside the chamber is removed (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignees: Remodeling 21 Co., Ltd., Kanji Yoshida
    Inventors: Kanji Yoshida, Teruaki Sumioka, Haitao Xu
  • Patent number: 5948279
    Abstract: In general terms, the present invention includes an apparatus for controlling macrofoulers and larvae thereof in an on-demand water conduit, and a method for controlling macrofoulers and larvae thereof in a water conduit having an intake opening. The apparatus comprises generally: a water conduit having an intake opening, the water conduit adapted to conduct a flow of water on demand; and a vacuum device adapted to receive water, the vacuum device adapted to produce oxygen-depleted water from the received water, the vacuum device also adapted to provide a flow of the oxygen-depleted water to the water conduit when no demand exists for a flow of water through the water conduit. The invention also includes a method for controlling macrofoulers and larvae thereof in a water conduit having an intake opening, such as through use of the apparatus of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Ohio University
    Inventors: Tiao J. Chang, Timothy A. Bartrand
  • Patent number: 5948144
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for lyophilization of protein and/or pharmaceutical products, wherein said apparatus utilizes a dry vacuum pump for the direct removal of water vapor, rather than a cold trap condenser. A freeze dryer has a vacuum pump which is connected directly to a drying chamber without the use of a cold trap condenser. The exhaust of the vacuum pump is vented directly to atmosphere. Water vapor generated in the process is directly removed from the chamber by the vacuum pump. The apparatus permits lyophilization of pharmaceuticals e.g. antibiotics, vitamins products, vaccines, and biological protein solutions. The dryer operates on a batch basis or may be designed to perform continuous production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Genetics Institute, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles G. Cifuni
  • Patent number: 5947462
    Abstract: A pump and filter assembly comprising a filter cover secured onto a filter body by a locking ring. A one-piece latching mechanism, integral to the locking ring and composed of flexible material, biases a latching end of the latching mechanism against the locking ring, causing the latching end of the latching mechanism to project through a slit in the locking ring into a notch on the outside of the filter body when the filter body is completely threadably engaged with the locking ring. The latching portion of the latching mechanism is easily biased away from the slit and the notch, facilitating disengagement of the locking ring from the filter body and filter cover. The entire latching mechanism is itself easily removed from the locking ring, facilitating repair or replacement of the latching mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Jacuzzi, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeff Roussel
  • Patent number: 5948245
    Abstract: A skimmer for a swimming pool includes a weir which extends outwardly from the skimmer face plate to divert a portion of the flowing pool water into the skimmer for subsequent treatment and recirculation. The weir is preferably attached to the skimmer face plate by a flexible lip formed around a peripheral edge of the weir which selectively snaps onto and off of a flange formed around the perimeter of the skimmer face plate. The leading edge of the weir extends outwardly from the pool sidewall to exert an enlarged field of influence on the water flowing along the surface of the pool to skim debris from the pool in less time than conventional skimmer devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventor: Michael L. Hodak
  • Patent number: 5948313
    Abstract: A mold assembly including an outer mold and an associated inner mold, the inner mold being organized to engage in the outer mold, the outer mold having a curved main portion with a central opening and an outer rim extending in a plane, and the inner mold having a curved main portion with a central chimney shaped to pass with small clearance through the opening and an outer rim which, when the molds are mutually engaged, is coplanar with the outer rim of the outer mold and co-operates therewith to close the molding space defined between the curved portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Sarl "OPTOS-OPUS"
    Inventor: Philippe Cahen
  • Patent number: 5948250
    Abstract: A portable berm for use in and out of doors. The berm includes a impervious flexible synthetic floor which has a berm wall formed about its periphery. The berm wall comprises a plurality of elongated plastic strips which are attached to the floor along their inner and outer edges each forming a cavity which extend around the floor. A plurality of openings are formed in the strips adjacent at least their edges. An adsorbent and absorbent hydrophobic material which allows water to pass through but absorbs chemical contaminants is positioned within the cavities to extend about the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Basic Concepts, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis G. Middleton
  • Patent number: 5944991
    Abstract: A pipeline strainer having a body defining a rectilinear flow passage between an inlet and an outlet and a cylindrical cavity centrally located therebetween. A removable cover of cup-like configuration is secured in a sealed relation to the body subtending the body cavity in which a dual layered strainer assembly is supported in the flow passage in a sealed relation between an interior surface of the cover and an interior surface of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Dresser Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Shellenbarger, Charles J. Glover
  • Patent number: 5944860
    Abstract: A frame supports a deep filter element to allow the filter element to be installed in a duct's conventional air intake opening as a replacement for a conventional shallow filter element. The frame has a flange to mate with a surface of the intake opening's interior flange. In one embodiment, two identical side panels are assembled with the relatively stiff end panels of a particular filter element to form the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Mack, Wallace Ronald Saldin, Brad A. Terlson, Edward L. Schwarz
  • Patent number: 5945141
    Abstract: A screw head device 1 for an injection molding machine includes a ring valve 3 set on a stem portion 2 of a screw head for movement in back and forth direction and for defining a rear side resin passage Rr between its own inner peripheral surface and the stem portion 2, a front side resin passage Rf extending axially and communicated with the rear side resin passage Rr, and a surge preventing mechanism, in which the front end of a screw main body Sm acts as a valve seat for mating with the rear end face of the ring valve 3. At a rear side of the head portion 4, a spacer guide 6 is provided. The outer peripheral surface 6s of the spacer guide 6 is located radially inside of the outer peripheral portion 4s of the head portions end racially outside of the bottom portion Rfd of the front side resin passage Rf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Nissei Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Shirota, Hiroshi Koizumi, Masahide Miyagawa
  • Patent number: 5942109
    Abstract: An apparatus for the treatment of liquids, particularly of cycled water of fish tanks or of ponds with an irradiation unit which is intended to act upon the liquid with light, particularly UV light, and includes at least one lamp which is disposed in a dry space that is separated from the liquid to be irradiated by a transparent glass shield, has at least one cleaning element which faces the glass shield and is disposed movably on the side of the glass shield in contact with the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: OASE-PUMPEN Wuebker Soehne GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Josef Wuebker, Dieter Hoffmeier
  • Patent number: 5942127
    Abstract: A fuel oil treatment unit and associated method for removing undesirable contaminants from a fuel oil, such as diesel oil, being delivered to an associated engine, such as a vehicle diesel engine. The invention includes, inter alia, a unit for treating contaminant-containing fuel oil, comprising means for heating the fuel oil to a temperature sufficient to volatilize at least some of the contaminants and, also, means for filtering the so-heated fuel oil, to remove therefrom at least some of the remaining, unvolatilized contaminants. Optionally, the previously-heated and filtered fuel oil is passed to a temperature control means for maintaining or returning the temperature of the fuel oil to a desired level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Inventors: Steven Ian Wilcox, James Robert Wilcox
  • Patent number: 5942110
    Abstract: A water treatment apparatus (10) comprising an elongate metallic brace (12) mounted to a wall (14). Components (16) are for connecting the elongate metallic brace (12) to an inlet water pipe (18) and an outlet water pipe (20), so as to electrically ground the inlet water pipe (18) to the outlet water pipe (20). The elongated metallic brace (12) will also reinforce and stabilize the apparatus (10) in an in line installation to the inlet water pipe (18) and the outlet water pipe (20). A housing assembly (22) has a lamp entrance (24), a water inlet port (26) and a water outlet port (28). The housing assembly (22) is prefabricated, so that it can be completely dismantled for cleaning and easily reassembled for use. A facility (30) is for fluidly attaching and detaching the inlet water pipe (18) to the water inlet port (26) and the outlet water pipe (20) to the water outlet port (28) of the housing assembly (22) for a quick in line installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Inventor: Samuel C Norris
  • Patent number: 5942016
    Abstract: The invention relates to a travelling cleaner (1) for textile machines, in particular spinning and weaving machines, which has a blowing and sucking device (3) and also a filter device (4). The filter device (4) has a tubular filter cartridge with at least one lateral casing opening, via which the filter interior space is connected to the blowing and sucking device (3) by a lateral air connection (12). The casing opening (14) is formed as a longitudinally running, preferably I-shaped, slit. For cleaning the filter, a filter-cleaning apparatus (20) is provided, which travels axially over the filter casing (11) with a suction tube (22a) and a plurality of blowing nozzles (23a) and cleans it zone by zone with an intense air jet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Inventor: Ulrich I. Steinike