Patents Examined by Kevin P. Weldon
  • Patent number: 5501569
    Abstract: A non-contact type moving table including a guide table having a flat guide surface at the top and a moving table which is placed on the guide table and has a moving surface which faces the guide surface of the guide table. The moving table has air blowing openings that blow out compressed air towards the guide surface of the guide table and air suction openings sucking air from the guide surface of the guide table, thus obtaining a single plane, non-contact type bearing or supporting system via the guide surface and the moving surface. As a result, the structure is simple and overall size can be small with low manufacturing costs. In addition, a wide range of materials can be used to build the moving table system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Shinkawa
    Inventors: Nobuto Yamazaki, Minoru Torihata, Shinji Maki
  • Patent number: 5497945
    Abstract: A suction apparatus seal for portable paint spray guns having a suction apparatus received via mating conical surfaces in a salient inlet port, the seal formed of resilient, low-density polyethylene and having a radially inwardly directed lip sized to seal around the suction apparatus and a cylindrical mediate section sized to seal around the salient inlet port and a radially outwardly flared flange to aid in installing the seal on the inlet port of the spray gun. The seal also provides positive engagement of the suction apparatus when it is initially loosely engaged with the paint inlet of the gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: Wagner Spray Tech Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy D. Steinberg, Mark E. Snetting, John M. Svendsen
  • Patent number: 5495985
    Abstract: Jet regulator and aerator for attachment to a faucet contains a circular perforated plate for producing individual jets, and a coaxial sleeve downstream. The sleeve supports--deflection slopes which are inclined at an angle to the flow direction. The deflection slopes may be in the form of conical-pointed pins aimed at the plate. The pins are mounted on a tiered-wedding-cake shaped wall. An axial cone in the sleeve may also comprise a deflection slope. Additional obstacles consist of pins and/or ribs located at intervals from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: Dieter Wildfang GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Nehm, Hermann Grether
  • Patent number: 5494221
    Abstract: A variable geometry exhaust nozzle for a turbojet engine is disclosed having an array of outer flaps and an array of inner flaps radially spaced apart and extending about a central axis of the exhaust duct structure. The array of outer flaps comprises a plurality of outer flaps each having an upstream end pivotally attached to the engine duct structure. The array of inner flaps comprises a plurality of upstream inner flaps, each having an upstream edge pivotally attached to the engine duct structure and a plurality of downstream inner flaps each having an upstream edge portion pivotally attached to a downstream edge portion of a corresponding upstream inner flap. A control annulus is movably attached to the engine structure so as to be movable axially along the central axis and is connected to an actuator which moves the control annulus between upstream and downstream limit positions along the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Societe Nationale d'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation (S.N.E.C.M.A.)
    Inventors: Fabrice M. O. Cot, Guy J.-L. Lapergue
  • Patent number: 5490633
    Abstract: Relatively low resistivity liquids are formed into sprays under the influence of an applied electric field acting between a nozzle and the nozzle surroundings which may be at earth potential. The liquid issues from the nozzle as a ligament which undergoes necking to a diameter smaller than that of the nozzle orifice, thereby producing droplets with a volume median diameter less than the orifice diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries PLC
    Inventors: Andrew Jeffries, Michael L. Green, Timothy J. Noakes
  • Patent number: 5487502
    Abstract: A decorative device includes a main body for holding a decorative article in the main body, a container for filling a compressed fluid for producing odors or fragrance in the container, a driving device for opening and closing a releasing valve of the container as controlled by a control device, a discharge pipe connected to the container, a plurality of nozzles divergently branched from the discharge pipe and widely distributed in the decorative article, and a sound generating device electrically connected to the control device and mounted in the main body, whereby upon actuation of the control device, the releasing valve of the container will be opened by the driving device to spray vapor or gas of the fluid through the nozzles distributed in the decorative article for providing a smell (preferably a fragrant smell) from the decorative article and also for producing sound from the sound generating device for enhancing a decorative effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Inventor: Ming-Kang Liao
  • Patent number: 5485963
    Abstract: A granular fertilizer spreader which may be attached to a lawn mower (1). The spreader includes a hopper (44) which is secured to the mower handle (3), the spreader including drive wheels (9,10) which frictionally engage the rear mower wheels (7,8). An impeller (99) is rotated by the drive wheels (9,10), thereby urging fertilizer or other granular material contained within hopper (44) to exit through a series of orifices (73-84) located along the bottom surface (54) of the hopper (44). A discharge chute (134) entrains the fertilizer as it exits the orifices (73-84) and guides the fertilizer along a series of open channels (138-149), each channel terminating with an outlet orifice (152-163 ) through which the fertilizer is ultimately deposited upon the ground behind the mower deck (2). The drive wheels (9,10) are urged into positive frictional contact with the mower wheels (7,8) by a spring (187) that is secured to the mower handle (3) at a user selected point by a clamp (196).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Joseph J. Walto, Nathan J. Friberg, Floyd D. Niskanen
  • Patent number: 5485961
    Abstract: The invention relates to a nozzle head for a jet cleaning device, the nozzle head having a central axis and a front face, being provided with a central bore aligned with the central axis and further with a multitude of straight supply bores which pass with their axes in an acute angle to the central axis from the central bore to the front face, and the supply bores ending at the front face in receiving holes. One nozzle is inserted into each receiving hole and each nozzle is provided with a bore having a reduced diameter and ending at the front face such that pressurized fluid supplied via the supply bores is emerging jet-like from the front face. The receiving holes and thus the nozzle bore exits are arranged in a regular angular spacing and on different circles around the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: WOMA Apparatebau GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Reitzig
  • Patent number: 5485956
    Abstract: An agricultural sprayer for injecting pesticide into an airstream being directed at foliage to protect the foliage from insects, vermin or the like. The air is generated using fans that pulls in air axially and directs the air outward in a radial direction. The radial outwardly directed air is then fed through a plurality of rotating vertically aligned elliptical paddles to create turbulence in the air. Pre-charged liquid pesticide droplets are then injected through a plurality of nozzles into a second airstream which directs the droplets into the outwardly directed air to regulate the droplet size. An oscillating sensor detects the foliage location and turns nozzles "off" and "on" to spray different foliage locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: Ag-Spray
    Inventor: Theodore F. Lenhardt
  • Patent number: 5484104
    Abstract: A fuel injector is actuated by cylinder compression pressure acting against the exposed face (31) of piston means (30, 35) to compress fuel in high pressure chamber (45) in injector body (10). The piston means (30, 35) moves against spring (36) and controllable fuel pressure in low pressure chamber (37). The high pressure chamber (45) communicates with injection orifice (68) via delivery chamber (65) and non-return delivery valve (56). Fuel delivery is regulated by varying fuel pressure in low pressure chamber (37) and various means are disclosed for controlling this pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Interlocking Buildings Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Ronald Kukler
  • Patent number: 5484108
    Abstract: Multiple stacked orifice disk members cooperatively form a chamber space through which fuel is constrained to pass as it flows from the valve seat to the nozzle. Orifices in one member that communicate the chamber space to the fuel flow are larger and perform primarily a turbulent flow creating function while orifices in another member that communicate the chamber space to the fuel flow are smaller and perform primarily a metering and targeting function. Thus, turbulence and metering functions are segregated from each other. In certain embodiments at least one more orifice disk member is sandwiched between the first two to divide the chamber space in one or more smaller chamber portions while still providing fluid communication between such portions, such added disk member(s) contributing either one or both functions of turbulence or better metering and targeting. In certain embodiments, all orifices are equal so that each contributes to turbulence, metering, and targeting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive L.P.
    Inventor: Debora E. Nally
  • Patent number: 5482213
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve comprises a valve body having a injection port at an edge thereof, a needle valve member interposed in the valve body and opening or closing the injection port, a first spring member for energizing the needle valve member in a one direction, a piezoelectric device being a piezoelectric element having a cylindrical body mounted on the interior of the valve body in a condition that a positive or negative voltage is applied, and controlling the needle valve member in the direction of opening the injection port by applying a voltage changed over positively or negatively at the time of fuel injection while pushing the needle valve member in the opposite direction in response to the energizing direction of the first spring member, and a second spring member for providing a larger energizing force than the energizing force of the first spring member described above and being interposed between the valve body and the piezoelectric device described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanobu Matsusaka, Susumu Sugimoto, Motonobu Akaki, Yasutoshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 5477583
    Abstract: An implement for cleaning mowing machinery, adapted for connection to the end of a hose, which receives a pressurized supply of water. The implement includes a tube, a channel for passage of the pressurized water extending through the tube, a connection mechanism for connecting one end of the tube to the hose, and a scraper element disposed at the other end of the tube. The scraper element has a base section, a hosel-like neck section, connected to one end of the base section, and a water outlet positioned over the base section. Finally, there is a pivot mechanism for adjustably rotating the scraper element about the tube through a range of approximately 180 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Inventor: Thomas L. Deloe
  • Patent number: 5472144
    Abstract: There is disclosed herein a fluid flow apparatus including a discharge nozzle arrangement comprising a single continuous, meandering stainless steel strand to create a planar screen operatively connected at its outer periphery to a diffuser chamber. The screen is adapted to retain a volume of fluid thereabove until the fluid is forced under pressure through the openings between adjacent segments of the strand. Portions of the screen are adapted to flex resiliently downwardly, out of the plane of the outer periphery, to provide additional clearances between adjacent segments of the screen, in the event particulates should tend to build-up, to thereby resist clogging by flushing same. The round cross-section of the strand facilitates continual cleanliness, and serves to produce better-behaved flow out of the nozzle, thereby reducing foaming of the product being discharged during the filling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Elopak Systems A.G.
    Inventor: Kenneth P. McDonald
  • Patent number: 5472142
    Abstract: An accumulator fuel injection apparatus in which a nozzle element is divided into a first nozzle having one end side of said nozzle element and a second nozzle having the other end side of the nozzle element. The accumulator fuel injection apparatus comprises a stopper for setting a maximum movement position of the first nozzle toward the second nozzle, a second pressure control chamber communicating with a first pressure control chamber and forming a predetermined space or interval through which the first nozzle and the second nozzle are spaced away from each other under a condition that the first nozzle is arranged at the maximum movement position, and delay apparatus for delaying reduction of pressure within the first pressure control chamber due to the fact that fluid flows into a low-pressure chamber from the first pressure control chamber upon communication of the first pressure control chamber and the low-pressure chamber with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Iwanaga
  • Patent number: 5462227
    Abstract: An automatic cleaning device for use on a stock farm, including an automatic switching system, a transmission case, a sprinkling system and a water pump. The automatic switching system utilizes water pressure to push a valve seat so as to achieve an automatically switching effect without using electric power. By means of a splined circular rod, a first and a second rotary rods and a one-way bearing in the transmission case in cooperation with a linking lever and connecting arch block of the sprinkling system, a linear movement of a slidable piston is converted into a speeded up and down pivoting and left and right swinging movement of a sprinkling head of the sprinkling system. A flow controlling mechanism of a hydraulic means is used to achieve alternate fast and slow cleaning operation of the sprinkling system. By means of changing pivot holes of a connecting block for pivotally connecting with the linking lever, a starting point of the sprinkling head is adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Inventor: Wu K. Ping
  • Patent number: 5458293
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve for intermittent fuel injection into a combustion space of a combustion engine comprises an injection valve indirectly actuated electromagnetically by a hydraulic amplifier. The opening motion of the injection valve element remains limited at low and medium injection pressure, while the opening motion of the injection valve element is substantially more rapid and the opening path of the injection valve element substantially larger at high injection pressure than it is at low to medium injection pressure. It is possible to operate the engine over the complete load and rotational speed range under optimum injection conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: Ganser-Hydromag
    Inventor: Marco A. Ganser
  • Patent number: 5458290
    Abstract: A sprinkler head support apparatus and pipe support apparatus for an underground sprinkler system. The sprinkler housing support includes an open cage to permit drainage of water from the sprinkler head housing. The pipe support and pop-up sprinkler housing support can be placed completely beneath the soil limiting the exposure of the sprinkler system to above ground activities and possible damage. The pipe supports are made from a durable plastic and hollow inside to permit compact stacking in storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Inventor: Christopher C. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5458294
    Abstract: An apparatus for accurately controlling gas fuel flow to a combustion device is provided to control gas flow to a burner of the combustion device. A variable orifice solenoid operated valve serves as a control element. The valve includes a poppet having a fixed control surface at an end received in an insert element having a variable control surface. The poppet has a plurality of positions within the insert element, including a full open position and a full closed position. Maximum fuel flow is measured in the full open position and minimum fuel flow is measured in the full closed position. Intermediate partially open positions are adjustable by a signal of an electronic controller connected to the solenoid valve operating as a function of actual and desired temperature of the combustion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: G & L Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin J. Zachary, Larry J. Honn, Gerry C. Wolter
  • Patent number: 5456412
    Abstract: A high-pressure surface-washing device has a frame (6) with adjustable-height wheels (17), a spray nozzle (15, 16 and 74) on at least one rotary spray arm (10, 11, 63 and 64) on a rotary axle (9 and 47) positioned on a bottom surface of the frame (6), a fluid conveyance in the rotary axle, a pressure-control valve (4) on a handle (5) attached to the frame (6), a high-pressure fluid conveyance (7) in communication between the pressure control valve and the fluid conveyance (20 and 62) in the rotary axle, a source of fluid (2) under select pressure, and a high-pressure fluid conveyance (3) in communication between the source of fluid under select pressure and the pressure control valve. The spray nozzle on the rotary spray arm is directed downwardly at an impingement angle in relation to rotational axis of the rotary spray arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Inventor: J. Christopher Agee