Patents Examined by Kevin Weldon
  • Patent number: 6123269
    Abstract: A non-contact electrostatic liquid dispensing system and method for dispensing continuous, high viscosity viscoelastic nonconductive liquid strands in a controlled manner onto a substrate. An applicator or gun having a charging electrode introduces an electrostatic charge to the high viscosity viscoelastic nonconductive liquid and as charged continuous fibrous strand of high viscosity viscoelastic nonconductive material. One or more electric fields are generated about the discharge path to impart a variety of movements or patterns to the charged continuous fibrous strand of high viscosity viscoelastic nonconductive liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Schmitkons, Jeffrey S. Noss
  • Patent number: 6123145
    Abstract: Briefly described, the present invention is concerned with cooling heated bodies and/or heated fluid with synthetic jet actuators in either open or closed systems. A first preferred embodiment of a cooling system of the present invention comprises a synthetic jet actuator directed to impinge directly on a heat producing (or heated) body. The synthetic jet actuator generates a synthetic jet stream comprised of cool ambient fluid that impinges on the heated surface thereby cooling this surface. As an example, the heated surface/body could be a microchip array in a microcomputer. After coming into contact with the heated surface, the fluid moves along the surface and is finally rejected to the ambient where it mixes and cools down. The synthetic jet may be incorporated into a modular unit that may be clipped on to a circuit board or other heat producing element to provide added, `ad hoc` cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Ari Glezer, Mark G. Allen
  • Patent number: 6116520
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fire-fighting nozzle integrated with a lighting apparatus. The lighting apparatus is integrally set within the housing of the nozzle so as to illuminate a target area at the scene of a fire without failure, thus allowing a firefighter to precisely spray water to the target area. The lighting apparatus comprises a bulb housing holding a bulb therein. An interior housing is longitudinally set within the nozzle housing, with the bulb housing being fitted into the front end of the internal housing. A connector is fixed to the inside surface of the nozzle housing at one end thereof without closing the water passage of the nozzle housing. The above connector is also assembled with the rear end of the internal housing through a screw-type engagement so as to allow the internal housing to be longitudinally positioned along the central axis within the water passage of the nozzle housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Shilla Fire Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeong Kyu Lee
  • Patent number: 6116517
    Abstract: In a pump chamber connected to a liquid supply, an overlapping piezoelectric flexural transducer is disposed so that when voltage pulses are applied to produce an excursion, a number of droplets can be expelled from a nozzle array in the housing wall of the pump chamber using a plurality of nozzles. Gaps are formed between the edges lateral to the direction of overhang an the free end of the piezoelectric flexural transducer ad adjacent section of the housing wall. The nozzle array can be disposed in the projection of the plate surface of the piezoelectric flexural transducer in its direction of motion or in the extension of the piezoelectric flexural element or in another suitable pattern. As part of a combustion device the droplet mist generator is excellent for producing a combustible fuel-oxidant mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Joachim Heinzl
    Inventors: Joachim Heinzl, Ingo Ederer, Josef Grasegger, Wolfgang Schullerus, Carsten Tille
  • Patent number: 6113012
    Abstract: A fuel injector nozzle assembly includes a nozzle body that defines a nozzle outlet. A needle valve member is positioned in the nozzle body and moveable between a first position in which the nozzle outlet is blocked and a second position in which the nozzle outlet is open. At least one of the nozzle body and the needle valve member define a first chamber fluidly connected to a second chamber by at least one dual flow rate orifice. The needle valve member displaces fluid from the first chamber into the second chamber through the at least one dual flow rate orifice when moving from its first position to its second position. The dual flow rate orifice is sized and shaped to produce a flow restriction and to slow the movement of the needle valve member when moving from its closed position to its open position, but permit relatively unrestricted displacement flow in the opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry A. Wear, Lianghe Zuo
  • Patent number: 6109540
    Abstract: A fuel injector comprises an injector body which defines a nozzle chamber that is separated from a plurality of outlet orifices by a conical valve seat. An outwardly opening valve member, which is at least partially positioned in the injector body, includes a closing hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure outside the injector body. The valve member is movable between a closed position, in which the conical valve seat is closed, and an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dana R. Coldren, John D. Manahan, Adrian Hsieh
  • Patent number: 6109539
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device for releasing a volatile substance. The device includes a housing having an interior region, a volatile substance contained within the interior region, and the ability to controllably release the volatile substance from the housing. Such controllable release can be accomplished by the housing being substantially permeable to ambient air, yet substantially impermeable to the volatile substance contained within the interior region of the housing. Additionally, the invention contemplates the use of one or more porous plugs for diffusing the volatile substance therethrough and eventually into atmosphere in a vapor form. To assist such diffusion, the invention likewise contemplates the use of an electrochemical gas generating cell, a heating element and/or other features which allow air to controllably enter into the interior region of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Ceramatec, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashok V. Joshi, Truman Christian Wold, II, John Joseph McEvoy
  • Patent number: 6109536
    Abstract: A fuel injection system includes an injector body that defines a nozzle outlet connected to a nozzle supply passage having a flow restriction. A source of fuel at a supply pressure is in fluid communication with the nozzle supply passage. A needle valve member is positioned in the injector body and is moveable between an open position in which the nozzle outlet is open, and a closed position in which the nozzle outlet is blocked. The supply pressure is of a magnitude and the flow restriction is of a size that the needle valve member moves cyclically between its closed position and its open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Paul R. English
  • Patent number: 6109535
    Abstract: An irrigation machine distribution pipeline is protected against corrosion by a plastic liner within a steel pipeline. Access openings are spaced along the pipeline and aligned with apertures in the plastic liner. The liner extends the full length of the pipeline. The outside diameter of the liner is sufficiently less than the inside diameter of the pipeline to allow the liner to slide into the pipeline during installation of the liner. A plurality of plastic outlet fittings extend through each access opening and aperture. Each outlet fitting is in sealing engagement with the plastic liner and provides fluid communication from the interior of the plastic liner through the aperture to the exterior of the pipeline. With this construction none of the steel components of the pipeline comes in direct contact with the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Lindsay Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Thomas J. Korus
  • Patent number: 6105886
    Abstract: A powder spray gun includes a rotary distributor which is capable of operating at slower speeds than liquid spray gun to reduce the problem of powder fusing, increases bearing life, reduce wear on moving parts while generating larger fan patterns and optimized charge transfer capabilities. The powder spray gun has a powder flow path which extends through a gun body to a powder outlet. The rotatable powder distributor is located at the powder outlet. A drive mechanism in the form of a motor is located within the housing and connected to the distributor the rotate the distributor. A spindle, which is mounted for rotation within the body, has a passageway therethrough which forms a part of the powder flow path. The distributor communicates with the passageway and is attached for rotation with the spindle. The powder thus enters the passageway in the rotating spindle before it passes into the rotating distributor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Hollstein, Jeffrey R. Shutic, Michael Bordner, Darryl Reagin
  • Patent number: 6102127
    Abstract: A temperature sensitive valve, used in drip valves and sprinkler heads includes a core housing the temperature sensitive valve and has a supply conduit entering through the top surface of the core. The temperature sensor activates a motor when the temperature is outside a predetermined range which in turn pushes an activating rod. A piston is attached to the rod. The piston moves from a retracted sealed position to an extended open position which allows fluid to pass around the piston and to an output port which leads to a disposal area or a sprinkler head. The fluid is allowed to flow beyond the piston due to an enlarged diameter section of the core. Alternatively, a piston having an internal channel with an exit hole is aligned with the output port when the piston is in the extended position. Fluid enters the piston channel and passes through the exit hole and through the output port. The valve is most useful in drip valve installments and sprinkler systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Inventor: Lauvon Pierce
  • Patent number: 6102298
    Abstract: An ultrasonic atomizer is provided including an ultrasonic vibrator, a reservoir, and a heat exchanger. The ultrasonic vibrator is connected to an amplifying section. The amplifying section has an exterior surface and a tip thereon. The amplifying section can be elongated and the amplifying section can be inclined at an angle that is preferably between about 5.degree. to 10.degree. from horizontal. The reservoir is in fluid communication with the exterior surface of the amplifying section. The reservoir contains a liquid. A pump can be located between the reservoir and the exterior surface of the amplifying section in order to assure a liquid flow rate of between about 10 to about 30 ml/min. The heat exchanger is provided in order to control the temperature and viscosity of the liquid. The liquid is directed to flow from the reservoir and over the exterior surface of the amplifying section to the tip. A feed tube having a dispensing end can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Stephan Gary Bush, Robert Edward Stahley
  • Patent number: 6102301
    Abstract: A scent-handling device for attracting wild game includes a plug that snugly fits into either end of a receptacle to selectively place the scent-handling device in a sealed mode for tightly containing a scent inside the receptacle and a wide-open aerating mode for releasing the scent. The device includes several well thought out features that allow it to be inexpensively manufactured by way of a straightforward plastic injection molding process. A resilient clip extending sideways from the receptacle allows the clip and the receptacle to be injection molded together as a unitary piece without having to resort to a complicated mold having expensive side-action pulls. The clip includes several teeth that allow both the receptacle and the plug to be firmly fixed to various size branches or other items, thereby avoiding the problem of startling skittish animals with something dangling from the branch, or dangling while in transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Inventor: Larry E. Tiedemann
  • Patent number: 6098895
    Abstract: The liquid to be atomized is uniformly sprayed on the inner surface of a hollow rotating cylinder, for example by means of one- or two-fluid-nozzles and is thus distributed on bores provided in the cylinder wall. The rotation of the cylinder causes the liquid to flow outwards through the bores. Droplets are generated when the liquid flows out of the bores by laminary decomposition of the jet. The flow rate in each bore lies in the range 1.0<V.sub.B (a.sup.3 .rho..sup.5 /.sigma..sup.5).sup.0.25 <16 to prevent the droplets from becoming too large and to satisfy the condition of an adequate flow laminarity, i.e. for the value of the Reynolds number for the continuous liquid flow in the boress not to exceed Re.sub..delta. 400. V.sub.B represents the flow rate of the liquid in each bore, a represents the centrifugal acceleration at the outer surface of the cylinder, .rho. represents the density of the liquid and .delta. indicates the surface tension of the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Niro A/S
    Inventors: Peter Walzel, Christian Reedtz Funder, S.o slashed.ren Birk Flyger, Poul Bach
  • Patent number: 6098903
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes an injector body defining a terminal passage extending between a solenoid cavity and an outer surface. A solenoid assembly is press fit attached to the injector body and received in the solenoid cavity. The solenoid assembly includes a bobbin sandwiched between an upper magnetic flux carrier and a lower magnetic flux carrier. At least one of the flux carriers is plastically deformed when the solenoid assembly is attached to the injector body. A terminal assembly has an external terminal, an electrical conductor and a sealing member surrounding a portion of the electrical conductor. A portion of the electrical conductor and the sealing member are received in the terminal passage. A clamp is in contact with the outer surface of the injector body and the terminal assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew S. Touvelle, Thomas R. Springer, Jeffrey R. Ries, James J. Streicher, David V. Teel, Van A. Flamion
  • Patent number: 6098899
    Abstract: A pulsating spraying device includes a housing having an inlet for a liquid under pressure, and a plurality of discharge openings for discharging the liquid; an inlet chamber communicating with the housing inlet; a plurality of pulsating control chambers each having an inlet passageway on one side communicating with the inlet chamber, and an outlet passageway on the opposite side communicating with at least one of the discharge openings; and a plurality of oscillating members, one located in each of the fluid control chambers, configured to be rapidly oscillated by the flow of liquid into the respective pulsating control chamber via its inlet passageway, and to drive the liquid via its outlet passageway out of the respective discharge opening in the form of pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Inventor: Peretz Rosenberg
  • Patent number: 6095432
    Abstract: A fixed part and a mobile part. The mobile part includes a pipe head offering a curved path with an initial portion that commences axially and is deflected to form a final portion having a certain inclination. The inclined final portion is very short and forms a seat for an interchangeable nozzle selectable from a series of nozzles having tapering through orifices of different inclinations and all connectable to the deflection of the initial portion. Different inclination angles are thus possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Inventor: Antonio Casagrande
  • Patent number: 6095431
    Abstract: A new material applying device for applying material to the inner surface of a confined area. The inventive device includes a spinning plate with a plurality of radial fins that extend radially outward from the spinning plate center. The spinning plate is coupled to a lower end of an elongate spinning shaft. An upper end of the spinning shaft is rotatably mounted to a mounting carriage to permit rotation of the spinning shaft about its longitudinal axis. A motor rotates the spinning shaft about its longitudinal axis. A handle extends from the upper end of the mounting carriage for suspending the material applying device. A top plate is coupled to the mounting carriage and is positioned between a lower end of the mounting carriage and the spinning plate, adjacent the radial fins. An elongate feed tube with a hollow interior is coupled to the mounting carriage. An open bottom end of the feed tube extends through a feed opening in the top plate and faces the upper surface of the spinning plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Inventor: Larry W. Kiest, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6089471
    Abstract: A high volume, low pressure spray gun for use with air atomizable liquids includes a gun handle and a gun barrel. A plenum is defined in the gun barrel. A valve seat defined in the gun barrel communicates with the plenum. A supply air inlet in the plenum feeds supply air into the plenum. An aperture in the plenum directs air flow out of the plenum. A first outlet defined in a wall of the aperture directs fan air flow out of the aperture and a second outlet defined in the wall of the aperture directs atomizing air flow out of the aperture. A third outlet, which is located in the plenum, directs atomizing air flow out of the plenum. The third outlet is located on one side of the valve seat and the second outlet is located on the other side of the valve seat. With this construction, the valve may selectively close one of these outlets and restrict atomizing air flow out of the plenum. At the same time, fan air flow is shut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Accuspray, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles T. Scholl
  • Patent number: 6085992
    Abstract: A hydraulically actuated fuel injector includes an injector body containing an intensifier piston with a hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in a hydraulic pressure cavity. This hydraulic surface includes an annular taper and moves within a bore due to the pressure in the hydraulic pressure cavity. Prior to the injection event, the intensifier piston is in a retracted position that partially blocks at least one actuation fluid supply passage. At the initiation of the injection event, the partial blocking of the actuation fluid passage results in a slower initial movement rate of the intensifier piston. The injection flow rate is a function of the speed of the intensifier piston. The initial rate shaping is accomplished by controlling the initial speed of the intensifier piston by at least partially blocking one or more of the actuation fluid supply passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Chockley, Jeffrey D. Graves