Patents Examined by Kevin Weldon
  • Patent number: 5992767
    Abstract: An injector is disclosed which comprises a valve needle engageable with a seating. A spring urges the needle towards its seating, the spring engaging a spring abutment. A pressure backing member positioned within the injector is slidable relative to the spring abutment under the action of the pressure of fuel applied thereto. The pressure backing member is engageable with a surface associate with the needle to urge the needle towards its seating. The slidable pressure backing member reduces the pressure in the pumping chamber both prior to and after termination of the injection process. Also, the backing member maintains the pressure in a fuel supply passage of a low level to enhance the efficiency of the injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Lucas Industries plc
    Inventors: Ronald Phillips, Anthony John Williams
  • Patent number: 5992532
    Abstract: The fire suppression system includes a system piping, with at least one sprinkler, a flow control valve, a fire suppressant delivery line in fluid communication with the flow control valve, at least one fire detector adapted to detect temperatures associated with fire, and a control system. The control system is in communication with the fire detector, the flow control valve and the system piping. The control system is adapted to detect a flow condition and a no-flow condition in the system piping and actuates the flow control valve between a normally open condition and a closed condition when the fire detector is in a no-fire condition state and the control system detects a flow condition in the piping system and may cycle the flow control valve to open when the flow control valve is closed in response to the fire detector being in a fire condition state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: The Viking Corporation
    Inventors: John B. Ramsey, James G. Retzloff
  • Patent number: 5992531
    Abstract: A fire extinguisher including a spring biased plunger controlled by a trigger mechanism wherein the plunger is mounted in a flame retardant compound container and the spring and plunger cooperate, when the trigger mechanism is activated, to discharge flame retardant compound from the container toward a fire. The extinguisher has a handle end and an outlet end at opposite ends of its length such that a user can hold the outlet end in a remote location away from the user when compound is discharged. The extinguisher can also be mounted and provided with a heat sensor for automatic activation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Inventor: Conrad S. Mikulec
  • Patent number: 5992764
    Abstract: A nozzle for dispensing a liquid or semi-liquid substance (P) and designed to be mounted on a tank (R) suitable for being put under pressure. The nozzle is of the type comprising a thimble (1) and moving shutter (2) housed inside the thimble. The thimble (1) is provided with a coupling end (11) for coupling to the tank (R) and an ejection orifice (10). The shutter (21) is constituted by a rod (21) carrying a plug (20) at an outer end thereof. The plug (20) cooperates with the ejection orifice (10) to form a delivery valve. The rod (21) also carries a transverse wall (22) at an inner end thereof. The wall (22) leaves a passage for the substance (P) and cooperates with a resilient return means (3) for returning the moving shutter (2) towards a closed position in which the plug (20) is engaged in sealed manner in the ejection orifice (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Sofab
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Bougamont, Pascal Hennemann
  • Patent number: 5992018
    Abstract: An electromagnetically actuatable valve, including a connecting piece, which is connected to an armature. The valve needle has a connecting piece with a circular cross section with an armature head formed by cold forming in which the armature head is welded together with the armature. The valve needle permits a weight reduction and therefore a more rapidly closing valve. The valve needle is particularly suited for injection valves in fuel injection systems of mixture compressing internal combustion engines with externally supplied ignition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Ferdinand Reiter
  • Patent number: 5992758
    Abstract: A proximity detecting system for use with an agricultural equipment or implement such as a crop sprayer, for determining the position of the implement, e.g. the end of a spraying boom relative to the edge of the previously cultivated or sprayed area. The system has an electronic imaging device, e.g. a CCD array, mounted at the end of the implement or sprayer, which shows the location of a marker placed at the edge of a previously cultivated or processed swath. The position of the marker is shown on a visual display located in the operator's cab. A deviation of the marker from a predetermined position on the display alerts the operator of an overlap with, or miss, of the boundary of the previously processed swath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Agro-mack Enterprises Ltd.
    Inventor: Alexander R. Mack
  • Patent number: 5988531
    Abstract: Present fuel injectors fail to be cost effective and with the complexity of recent fuel injectors tend to be labor intensive. The present fuel injector and method of making the fuel injector provides a cost effective fuel injector which reduces the labor intensiveness of manufacturing. The manufacturing of the fuel injector includes the separate formation of a first unitary component, a second unitary component and a third unitary component by individual castings. The unitary components are positioned relative one to another and welded forming the fuel injector having a preestablished configuration. The unitary components are individually cast and each include an as cast complex configuration verses a plurality of individual components being welded in subassemblies and into a final assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Solar Turbines
    Inventors: Ken Maden, John Lockyer
  • Patent number: 5988526
    Abstract: The invention provides a combination of a nozzle and a vacuum hood. The vacuum hood has a chamber that surrounds the tip of the nozzle and removes residue from the tip by a vacuum which flows in the chamber past the nozzle tip. This vacuum catches and removes residue from the nozzle tip and prevents the reside from interfering with the spraying action or dripping down. The method of the instant invention provides for dispensing a fluid from a nozzle without dripping fluid from the nozzle having a vacuum hood. The method comprises: (a) dispensing a fluid on a rotating semiconductor wafer through a nozzle over the wafer; (b) terminating the fluid flow through the nozzle; (c) creating an upward flow of gas about the dispensing nozzle when the flow of fluid through the nozzle is terminated; (d) capturing any fluid residue from the nozzle in the upward flow of gas; (e) removing the wafer and positioning another wafer; and (f) terminating the upward flow of gas; and repeating the process of steps (a) through (f).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Hao Tzeng, Dong-Shiuh Cheng, Cherng-Yui Chang, Yung-Kai Lin
  • Patent number: 5988532
    Abstract: A valve nozzle for introducing a flowable liquid into a mixing chamber through which flows a gas includes a nozzle head having defined therein the mixing chamber and having a gas delivery conduit which communicates with the mixing chamber, the mixing chamber having at least one nozzle opening through which a mixture of the gas and the flowable liquid pass from the nozzle head; driving device for opening and closing the at least one nozzle opening; closing spring connected to the driving device; an actuating device connected to the closing spring; a closure body which is disposed on the outflow side of the at least one nozzle opening, which is supported on the actuating device, and which is axially movable; a distribution chamber which discharges into the mixing chamber and has a valve seat for the closure body so that the interstice between the valve seat and the closure body, in an open position of the closure body, forms the at least one nozzle opening; a delivery conduit for the flowable liquid which termi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: FEV Motorentechnik GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Norbert Alt, Michael Blaich, Guenter Guerich, Karl-Joachim Schmuecker
  • Patent number: 5988522
    Abstract: In a first preferred embodiment for an improved synthetic jet actuator, the orifice shape is altered by either a flap or adjusting the housing walls. If the flap is deployed outward from the wall just above the orifice of a synthetic jet actuator, the synthetic jet flow will be vectored upward, toward the flap. Similarly, if the upper wall forming the orifice is moved outward from the jet chamber interior with respect to an opposing wall forming the orifice, the flow will also vector upward. In the second preferred embodiment of an improved synthetic jet actuator, an opening in addition to the orifice, may be formed in one or more walls of the housing. A louver is aligned with the opening in the housing and permits fluid flow in only one direction, either into the chamber or out of the chamber. When the louver permits fluid flow into the chamber, the jet actuator can operate at high speeds since fluid can enter the chamber through a greater surface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Ari Glezer, Barton L. Smith
  • Patent number: 5984202
    Abstract: An apparatus providing low volume irrigation from a previously installed sprinkler irrigation system including one or more sprinkler heads connected to a water supply conduit. The apparatus includes a manifold (50) having a water distribution passage (34) therein. The water distribution passage (34) includes an inlet end (35) and an outlet end (36) with the outlet end adapted to receive a conveyance channel (38) for distributing water to an emission point (42, 43). A flow control device (39) is associated with the water distribution passage (34) to control the flow rate of water through the passage to a rate exceeding a local hydraulic loading rate of the soil in the area around the emission point (42, 43). The manifold (50) is connected to receive water which is supplied to the sprinkler head through the water supply conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Nibco, Inc.
    Inventor: Joe D. Byles
  • Patent number: 5984201
    Abstract: A fuel injection valve for internal combustion engines, having a valve member that is guided so that it can slide axially in a bore of a valve body. The valve member has a valve sealing face on one end which cooperates with a valve seat face on the valve body and this valve member, on an end remote from the valve sealing face, is acted on in the closing direction toward the valve seat by a valve spring, as well as having another adjusting member that controls a two-stage opening stroke course of the valve member. In order to control the two-stage opening stroke course of the valve member, the adjusting member is embodied as an adjustable stop, in which the valve member comes into at least indirect contact with after passing through a partial stroke and which in a first position, is locked in its initial position and in a second position, can be moved in the opening direction by means of the valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Hofmann, Wolfram Gerwing
  • Patent number: 5979789
    Abstract: A fuel injector for effectively preventing excessive loading of a component mounted internal to the injector is provided which includes a one-piece retainer having first and second connector portions for permitting two independent loads to be applied to different internal components of the injector. The second connector portion includes threads for engaging a nozzle assembly to impart a compressive force on the nozzle assembly. The first connector portion also includes threads for engaging an outer barrel for placing a first compressive load on a load sensitive internal component, such as a center tube of an injection control valve. In this manner, the second compressive force can be set at a minimum level independent from the first compressive force to permit the size of the center tube to be minimized thereby reducing the overall size of the injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Sullivan, John D. Crofts, Harry L. Wilson, George L. Muntean, Kevin L. Vogt, Mustahsen Gull, John L. Long
  • Patent number: 5979786
    Abstract: A single solenoid coil controls the movement of a first and second armature respectively. Each armature is connected to a valve element for controlling a fuel supply and for controlling the delivery of the charge respectively. During the period of energization of the solenoid coil, both the first and second armatures are actuated, with the above noted valve elements being caused to open and closed in a predetermined sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Orbital Engine Company (Australia) PTY Limited
    Inventors: David John Longman, Lech Janusz Turno
  • Patent number: 5975427
    Abstract: A device for dispensing volatile material from a reservoir which has a dispensing portion from which the vapor of the volatile material can diffuse into the surrounding atmosphere. The reservoir is retained on a rigid sheet which has a suspending aperture with a slot. There is a removable impermeable layer for sealing the dispensing portion and a detachable portion of the rigid sheet extends over the dispensing portion of the reservoir. In another embodiment, there are two such devices detachably attached by a joint to each other at an edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventor: Alun Harries
  • Patent number: 5971295
    Abstract: An agricultural sprayer unit to be moved by a moving vehicle relative to crops to be sprayed with a chemical agent delivered from said agricultural spray unit includes: a frame connectable to said moving vehicle for connecting said agricultural sprayer unit to said moving vehicle for moving along with said moving vehicle, a tank supported by said frame for storing said chemical agent, a boom linked to and extending from said frame defining a specific orientation relative to said crops, a nozzle supported by and positioned along said boom and communicating with said tank for receiving said chemical agent from said tank for generating an atomized jet of said chemical agent to be expelled from said nozzle and sprayed onto said crops, and air-flow generating apparatus supported by said frame and extending along said boom for generating an air flow directed from said air-flow generating apparatus to said crops, said air flow generating apparatus being divided into a number of subsections positioned along said boom
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Hardi International A/S
    Inventors: Soeren Hartvig Jensen, Henrik Engqvist
  • Patent number: 5967415
    Abstract: An apparatus for delivering a fine spray mist for evaporatively or conductively cooling a localized area. The apparatus consists of a pressurizable container, a valve for activating the release of fluid from the container, a spray nozzle or a plurality of spray nozzles coupled to the valve, a pump for pressurizing the container, a belt for securing the device to a person, and a clip for attaching the mist nozzle in such a fashion that it directs the flow of mist in a hands free manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Inventor: Steven M. Utter
  • Patent number: 5967427
    Abstract: A mobile spreader having a main frame, a tank mounted on the main frame for receiving manure or other fertilizer material, and a ground engaging wheel assembly mounted on the main frame for supporting the tank. A pair of augers rotatably mounted in the tank for conveying material received in the tank to a discharge area where an opening is provided in the tank. An expeller assembly, also mounted on the main frame, receives material conveyed to the discharge area and discharges it from the tank as it is transported over a field. The pair of augers consist of a first auger having a tubular element with continuous flighting extending therefrom, and a second auger mounted parallel and adjacent the first auger. The second auger also has a tubular element. Interrupted flighting elements extends from the tubular element of the second auger to aggressively engage clumpy material and break it up into particles small enough to be transferred to the discharge area by the augers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: New Holland North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Shaun A. Seymour
  • Patent number: 5967422
    Abstract: A water amount controlling switch structure of water injection gun, including a gun housing, a controlling pin, a water sealing gasket, a filter screen, a water sealing washer, an adjustment pin, a trigger, a push button and a large and a small springs. The controlling pin is two-stepped. A small diameter section thereof is formed with a conic head at end portion. The step section of the controlling pin is disposed with an annular engaging slope face. The large diameter section of the controlling pin is disposed with four vanes at equal intervals. The adjustment pin is T-shaped, having a water sealing ring inserted with tail end thereof. The tail end is formed with a conic head. The trigger is U-shaped and an upper section of a middle board thereof is disposed with a push button notch. A lower edge of the notch is formed with a supporting slope face. The inner side of the push button is disposed with a projecting hollow fitting post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Yuan Mei Corp.
    Inventor: King-Yuan Wang
  • Patent number: 5964417
    Abstract: A dispenser for discharging media has a duct (14) including a medium outlet (12), and a dosage carrier (34, 35) mounted on a base body (2) and including receptacles (36, 37) for receiving doses of the medium entirely enclosed in respective reservoir spaces (17), a medium holder (21) disposed beneath the reservoir spaces and adjacent the duct (14) for holding the medium when it is released from one of the reservoir spaces (17), and a device (44, 45) for opening one of the reservoir space (17) to allow the medium to be first deposited in the medium holder (21), and then picked up and conveyed out the medium outlet (12) by a transfer flow through the reservoir space (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Ing. Erich Pfeiffer GmbH
    Inventors: Esther Amann, Karl-Heinz Fuchs