Patents Examined by Lisa Ann Douglas
  • Patent number: 5862995
    Abstract: A fuel injector assembly for an internal combustion engine includes an injector body having a control valve in fluid communication with a source of fuel. A fuel nozzle assembly is employed to disperse fuel from the assembly. A high pressure fuel passage provides fluid communication between the control valve and the fuel nozzle assembly. The high pressure fuel passage has at least one end opening through the injector body and having an inner diameter. A shape memory alloy plug seals the open end of the fuel passage. The plug has a first diameter smaller than the inner diameter when inserted into the open end and a second diameter in sealing engagement with the inner diameter upon undergoing a metallurgical phase change from martinsite to austenite such that the plug generates a seal with the fuel passage. In addition, a method of making the fuel injector assembly employing a shape memory alloy plug to seal the high pressure fuel passage is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Diesel Technology Company
    Inventor: Tong Wu
  • Patent number: 5862989
    Abstract: A cover for a spray gun designed to be placed over a spray gun when spraying to prevent overspray on the spray gun and the user's hand and forearm. The cover is made from a thin panel made of flexible fabric or paper. The panel is of sufficient size and shape so that when its lateral edges are attached together, it forms a partially enclosed structure which covers the assembled spray gun and the user's hand when operating the spray gun. Formed along the front section of the cover is a front opening which enables the tip of the spray gun to extend through the cover when the spray gun is placed inside the cover. The rear edges of the panel are unattached thereby forming a wide rear opening into the cover so that the spray gun and user's hand may be easily inserted into the cover to operate the spray gun. An optional top opening is also created on the panel which allows a hook element on the spray gun to extend through so that the spray gun may be temporarily suspended from a hook in between uses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Inventor: Jeffery C. Cirillo
  • Patent number: 5857621
    Abstract: A tissue paper storage and scenting apparatus having an interior chamber sized to accommodate from multiple rolls of tissue paper in a sealed environment ventilated through an upper portion of the apparatus which is receptive to fragrance producing materials. The tissue paper is maintained in a highly fragrant environment so as to provide a scent to the stored tissue rolls while preventing unwanted bathroom odors from spoiling the tissue paper. The instant invention further provides for scenting of the bathroom environment thereby forming a combination storage container and scenting mechanism that can be placed on a counter or along the floor providing ease of access to a bathroom guest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Inventor: Jon D. Poulos
  • Patent number: 5857624
    Abstract: A windshield washer nozzle with a drain port is disclosed. In the nozzle with liquid inlet and outlet ports, a partition wall is formed in the middle portion of the passage between the two ports, thus branching a drain port from the main passage. A pressure float valve is movably positioned in the middle portion of the main passage. The valve moves upward or downward under the guide of the partition wall in accordance with the pressure of the liquid in the passage, thus selectively closing the drain port or the passage. The drain port automatically drains the liquid from the nozzle at the end of a liquid ejecting operation, thus allowing the nozzle to be free from any deposits and preventing the nozzle from being blocked or unexpectedly frozen up in cold weather.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Kil-Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 5857627
    Abstract: A nozzle arrangement for a medium expansion foam fire extinguisher. The nozzle arrangement comprises a discharge tube with a discharge port for the foam at one end. At the other end there is a full cone supply nozzle for the foam concentrate solution. The tube has air inlets in line with the outlet from the spray nozzle. A mesh screen is located between the supply nozzle and the discharge outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Inventors: Simon Howard Horwell, Philip H. Brice
  • Patent number: 5855324
    Abstract: The serpentine, turbulence inducing path lengths from the inlets to the outlets of the flow regulating passage of a continuous emitter drip irrigation hose are arranged in back to back fashion relative to the outlets in the sense that the chevrons angle away from each of outlets, so there is parallel turbulent flow from two inlets to each outlet. This doubles the flow rate from each outlet without changing the dimensions of the flow regulating passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: T-Systems International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael DeFrank, Wayne Hackman, Shawn Shirvan
  • Patent number: 5850973
    Abstract: A double barrel sprayer for applying a diluted product such as a diluted cleaning solution to a surface for cleaning thereof and rinsing the diluted product from the surface by spraying a water-only rinse onto the surface. The sprayer can include an insert having passages therein for providing a desired product dilution ratio. To provide different spray patterns for the water-rinse or diluted product, the sprayer can include a shroud having suitably shaped exit holes. The sprayer includes separate flow paths for the water-only rinse and the diluted product. The flow path for the diluted product includes a mixing chamber in which concentrated product is siphoned from a container and mixed with water supplied by a garden hose. Prior to mixing with the water, the concentrated product passes through the insert to provide a substantially constant water/product ratio over a wide range of water pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Armor All Products Corporation
    Inventors: Lance Liljeqvist, Edward Kozlowski
  • Patent number: 5850971
    Abstract: A flow control device for mounting on a plural component spray gun for controlling the flow of short segments of fiberglass, liquid or powder, into a fan spray pattern of mixed components ejected from a nozzle of the spray gun. An internal passage in the flow control device is provided with a pair of resilient, rectangular plate members movable between open and throttling positions, so as to precisely control the flow of material into the fan spray pattern emitted by the spray gun. The pair of resilient plates are movable by adjusting screws passing through threaded openings formed in opposed side walls of the flow control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Inventor: Gary L. Smith
  • Patent number: 5850976
    Abstract: A spray gun for applying powder to coat a work piece uses triboelectric and optionally a corona discharge electrode to charge powder particles electrostatically. The gun communicates with a source of pressurized air through a handle with an air valve controlling flow of the air. Powder in a container in fluid communication with the air flow is fluidized and entrained when the valve is opened. A nozzle with an internal surface defining a passageway to an open end communicates with the powder container. The internal surface of the nozzle frictionally imparts a net electrical charge of a first polarity to part of the powder by frictional contact during spraying. A plurality of discrete tubes are disposed in the central passageway and impart a net electrical charge of a second polarity to another part of the powder due to frictional contact as that part flows around and through the tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: The Eastwood Company
    Inventor: Mark Alan Robidoux
  • Patent number: 5850975
    Abstract: A material spreader which is adapted to be towed behind a tractor includes a chassis mounted on at least one pair of wheels positioned toward its rear. A box for transporting and dispensing materials is pivotable from a horizontal position to a substantially vertical position and is provided with a rotatably driven beater mounted to its rear. The interior of the box is devoid of any material moving mechanism except for the beater. A vertical support member extends upwardly from each side of the chassis adjacent to the pair of wheels. Each vertical support member is provided with a pivot point adjacent to its upper end for pivotally supporting the box at an elevated location above the rear axle. The box is pivotally supported at a location spaced forwardly from its rear a distance at least equal to the height of the box. The beater and a hydraulic cylinder for raising the box is adapted to be coupled to the hydraulic system of a towing tractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Inventor: Lloyd Bauer
  • Patent number: 5848752
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to an improved foam aeration nozzle comprising a peripheral jet nozzle, a spray collector which receives the jet and produces a fully filled spray, and an aeration device which agitates and aerates the spray and produces the foam. In use, the peripheral jet nozzle produces an annular cone-shaped spray or sheet of water. A collector is attached to the nozzle, the collector including a tubular wall in the path of the conical spray. The collector further includes an annular obstruction, and the water, as it moves along the wall surface, strikes the obstruction. At least a portion of the water is deflected toward the axis of the nozzle by the obstruction to produce a fully filled spray. An aeration device downstream of the obstruction is located to be impinged by the fully filled spray and to convert the spray to a foam and to discharge the foam on an intended target at a useful distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: Task Force Tips, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Kolacz, Robert W. Steingass
  • Patent number: 5845851
    Abstract: A hose nozzle comprising a housing with a water inlet and at least one wa outlet and a water duct intermediate the water inlet and each of the at least one water outlet and a flow regulator associated with each water outlet and is operable between a closed position in which water flow is prohibited and an open position in which water flow is admitted. Each flow regulator is provided with an adjustable activator on a surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Netafim Irrigation Equipment and Drip Systems Kibbutz Hatzerim (1973)
    Inventor: Adi Shfaram
  • Patent number: 5845850
    Abstract: A sprinkler includes a tube rotatably secured in a base for receiving water. A pipe has an extension rotatably secured to the tube and has a number of annular recesses and ports. A number of sleeves are rotatably engaged in the annular recesses of the pipe and each has one or more outlets adjustable to different angular position relative to the pipe for allowing the pipe to be rotated by water flowing out through the outlets. A bar may secure the pipe to the tube for allowing the tube and the pipe to be rotated in concert with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Inventor: Wen Li Guo
  • Patent number: 5842640
    Abstract: The opening and closing motion of a control piston effectively connected to an injection valve element is optimally designed in that in addition to a first control space, there is a second control space whose volume and fuel control pressure can be changed by the piston motion. During the opening motion, the pressure in the second control space retards the opening procedure. During the closing motion, the control piston is additionally accelerated by the system pressure when there is a predetermined pressure in the second control space in order to effect rapid closing of the injection openings. Relief elements ensure a pressure balance between the second control space and the high-pressure region. One of the two control spaces is connected to the high-pressure region when there is a predetermined pressure in the second control space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Ganser-Hydromag
    Inventor: Marco A. Ganser
  • Patent number: 5839662
    Abstract: A water-saving diffuser for which a user perceives a relatively higher flow rate than the actual flow rate includes a lower chamber portion housing a distributor disk therein, and an accelerator portion attached to the lower chamber portion, the accelerator portion having a plurality of apertures for producing a multiple-stream output from the water-saving diffuser. A central aperture of the distributor disk can be custom-tailored to produce a specific flow rate for a given water supply pressure. The water-saving diffuser may be used in a water distribution system to provide a predetermined uniform flow rate to all regions of a single- or multi-story building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Water Management Equipment Ltd.
    Inventors: Stephen Leon, Eric Leon, David Leon
  • Patent number: 5839669
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for powder spraying can be used, for example, for electrostatic enameling. In order to achieve an easily regulatable high powder output rate, it is proposed to fluidize powder in a closed container, extract it in the region of the fluid bed and cause it to emerge through a nozzle on the container. The container is subdivided by a frit into a first chamber to which air is fed and a second chamber which contains the powder and out of which air is discharged through a valve. A powder output rate can be regulated by the regulation of air pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Gunter Borner, Hans-Christoph Nienburg, Helmut Bohme, Jorg Sopka, Wolfgang Kleber
  • Patent number: 5839658
    Abstract: A method of retrofitting existing irrigation systems is disclosed. An irrigation system having a control circuit of water supply and a plurality of valve assemblies including communication with the water supply is provided. The control circuit has a centralized controller, a plurality of independent valve control lines extending between the controller and each of the valve assemblies and a return line extending from each of the valve assemblies to the controller. According to the method, a terminal strip is installed within the controller and connects each of the valve control lines together, wherein each valve control line receives the same signal from the controller. An encoder is installed within the controller and a decoder is installed in series with each valve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Inventor: Larry C. Sarver
  • Patent number: 5839663
    Abstract: An exhaust nozzle for a gas turbine engine is provided which includes a plurality of flaps and an abradable coating. Each flap includes seal surfaces with depressions disposed therein. The flaps are disposed about a structure within the engine, and are pivotly attached to that structure. Adjacent flaps overlap along the seal surfaces, and movement of the nozzle causes relative motion between the adjacent flaps. The abradable coating is attached to the seal surfaces, and contact between adjacent flaps causes the abradable coating to abrade. The remaining abradable coating fills the depressions within the seal surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: D. Andrew Broadway, Raymond J. Bruchez, Jr., Martin C. Lady
  • Patent number: 5839668
    Abstract: A flat panel display spacer metering apparatus comprises a motor-driven rotatable disc, having a plurality of cavities distributed around a first surface of the disc. As the disc is rotated, its cavities are filled with spacers from a storage and fill device, configured as a hollow cylinder installed in a bore of a metering block. To facilitate transfer of spacer elements stored in the storage cylinder into cavities in the disc, an axially biased plunger continuously pushes the spacer elements against the first surface of the disc. As a result, whenever rotation of the disc exposes one or more of its cavities to the open end of the cylinder, spacers are forced into and fill the cavities. As the disc is further rotated and successive ones of its cavities are filled with spacers, the filled cavities are brought into alignment with a spacer element ejection head. The ejection head continuously directs a fluid, such as dry nitrogen gas against the cavity-containing surface of the disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Accudyne Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Varney, Judson P. Costas, Paul R. Nemeth, Ty R. Olmstead
  • Patent number: 5836519
    Abstract: A portable wheeled apparatus for storing and spraying liquids includes a low center of gravity liquid container having generally elliptical shape horizontally extended center section with integral end caps and attached wheels, a pump for supplying air pressure into the container, a carrying handle, and a threaded outlet fitting. A removable handle is provided that adjusts for user height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Inventor: Robert S. Brown