Patents Examined by Mary Beth O. Jones
  • Patent number: 4640404
    Abstract: A telescoping roller conveyor is disclosed wherein interwoven rollers are provided on axles. The axles are linked to adjacent axles within siderails. The links allow the axle separation to expand a limited distance longitudinally as siderails are telescopically extended. The links are enclosed in channel-shaped telescoping siderails and do not project above the level of the rollers in any position and thus do not provide any obstruction to items moving over the rollers along the conveyor. The axles are seated into special round plastic bushings that aid the movement of the telescoping longitudinal siderails and the relative movement of the axles to and from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1987
    Inventor: Jeffry J. Bigott
  • Patent number: 4640403
    Abstract: A rectangularly-shaped debris-conveyor chute section (10) which can be nested with other sections to form a debris chute has a side opening (30) for receiving items to be conveyed by the chute. The side opening (30) has a rotatable door/ledge assembly (32) mounted thereat which can be rotated, as a unit, into the chute opening to bring a ledge thereof flat against a sidewall (22) of the chute section covering the opening (30) or out of the chute opening to bring the ledge perpendicular to the sidewall (22) of the chute and the door over the opening in the sidewall. A baffle (62) is placed on the inside of the sidewall immediately above the side opening to protect the door/ledge assembly (32) from items falling through the chute. Hoisting eyelets (64) are located on the interior of each chute section so that they can be reached through the opening. The conveyor chute sections are mounted inside a building by means of screw jacks (72) attached to the rotatable door/ledge assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1987
    Inventor: Daniel R. McDermott
  • Patent number: 4630771
    Abstract: The presently invented three tier fountainhead comprises several assembly orientations of modified standard Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) plumbing parts to form three separate pressure chambers, each of which feed a different tier of water spray. Larger sized standard caps are joined to form the low pressure chamber; one or more intermediate sized caps are employed to form an intermediate pressure chamber; and a length of smaller standard sized PVC pipe is used to form the high pressure chamber which passes centrally through the low and intermediate pressure chambers and is modified with appropriate orifices to feed the low and intermediate pressure chambers. The high pressure chamber is capped at the upper end with a standard PVC cap with appropriate outlet orifices to form the upper tier. The low and intermediate pressure chambers include outlet orifices to form the lower and middle tiers respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1986
    Inventor: Bill R. Hall
  • Patent number: 4629124
    Abstract: A hand shower, for optional hard-jet and soft-jet operation in which the water paths provided for the hard-jet and soft-jet operations extend behind a change-over device completely separately from each other. In the water path associated with the soft-jet operation there is arranged a central device for enriching the through-flowing water with air, the area of which device is small compared to the entire outlet area of the water on the perforated plate of the shower. Both the water enriched with air and the water intended for the hard-jet operation are guided via a water distribution chamber; the two water distribution chambers communicate with two separate sets of outlet ports in the perforated plate of the shower (FIG. 4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: Hansa Metallwerke AG
    Inventor: Walter F. Gruber
  • Patent number: 4629059
    Abstract: A roller conveyor is designed for transferring a load from a departure station where the load sets off to an arrival station where it is stopped by a buffer.The latter comprises a stop plate mounted on a shock absorber associated with a position detector, to ensure that the load and its support are stopped in the correct position and that they are displaced from the arrival station of the conveyor towards the departure station of another conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Inventor: Fernand M. Allinquant
  • Patent number: 4627571
    Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle of the present invention has an accumulating chamber in a body in which high pressure fuel fed from the fuel injection pump is stored using a non-return valve. A needle valve is arranged in the body to inject the fuel in the accumulating chamber. A nozzle needle of the needle valve and a valve member are arranged coaxially and in series with each other. Those end portions of the nozzle needle and valve member which are adjacent to each other are slidably and liquid-sealingly fitted together to define a damping chamber between the valve member and the nozzle needle. Further, a damping plunger is coaxially fitted into the valve member. A passage which connects the damping chamber with the side of the fuel injection pump is coaxially formed in the damping plunger and has a reduced area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1986
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Kato, Hirotaka Nakatsuka, Shigeki Tojo, Kazuyoshi Arai
  • Patent number: 4627526
    Abstract: Conveyor system with spaced rollers, including a main body formed with bores which contain plungers that are movable by means of inflatable bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1986
    Inventor: Camillo Masciarelli
  • Patent number: 4627573
    Abstract: A pressure compensating flow control device includes a generally elongated, collapsible tubular body of flexible material such as silicone rubber having a teardrop shaped inlet orifice for extending into a high pressure supply line, an outlet end for distributing a flow of liquid with the inlet orifice and tubular body collapsible in response to pressure to maintain a generally predetermined uniform flow rate over a predetermined pressure range. The inlet end of the tubular member tapers down to a reduced teardrop inlet orifice with the outlet opening in one embodiment comprising a crescent shaped slit in the wall of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1986
    Assignee: Havens International
    Inventors: Glenn G. Havens, deceased, by Richard C. Thompson, executor
  • Patent number: 4625913
    Abstract: A sprinkler of the impact drive type is constructed substantially of plastic and includes a separate cap which is snap-fit over a pair of upwardly extending legs from a sprinkler body to form a bridge for an impact mechanism window. Provision of the separate bridge-forming cap facilitates automated assembly of the sprinkler, and also allows protective bearing-surface shields to be formed integrally with other sprinkler components and positioned about critical wear regions of a fulcrum pin for pivotally supporting an impact drive arm. When a plastic fulcrum pin is used, these bearing-surface shields protect the pin from abrasives, such as dirt, which can otherwise become lodged between the pin and the drive arm to cause accelerated pin wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Assignee: Rain Bird Sprinkler Mfg. Corp.
    Inventor: Hans D. Christen
  • Patent number: 4624412
    Abstract: A reversible turbine driven sprinkler unit includes a sprinkler head incorporating a nozzle that is continuously driven by a reversible turbine which continuously oscillates the head between selectable reversing stops for covering a selected part of a circle. A water turbine which is driven by the water supply to the nozzle includes a reversible stator for alternating the direction of rotation of the turbine which is drivingly connected through a gear train to the sprinkler head. A reversing mechanism includes a shifting shaft extending axially from the turbine stator through the turbine, the drive train and the sprinkler head terminating in a cylindrical cavity formed in the top of the sprinkler head in which it is positioned, in an adjustable position, reversing stops for alternately engaging a reversing arm mounted on the shifting shaft for shifting the stator of the turbine to its selected alternate positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1986
    Inventor: Edwin J. Hunter
  • Patent number: 4624411
    Abstract: A self-propelled, rotary liquid atomizer having a feed tube and a rotor operably connected at the bottom thereof. The feed tube is hollow and is affixed to the inlet line of a pressurized liquid source. This liquid source is not only atomized but serves as the motor force for the atomizer. A plurality of slits are formed at the bottom of feed tube and they are juxtaposed a plurality of cup-like openings and holes formed in the rotor. As the liquid under pressure is passed through the feed tubes it exits from the slits at the bottom of the feed tube and impinges upon the cup-like openings within the rotor to cause the rotation thereof. This high speed rotation causes the rotor to act as a fly wheel spinning at such high speed that it increases the momentum of the liquid forcing it up and along the walls of the rotor and out through the openings therein. As the liquid reaches the openings at the top of the rotor, it is sheared into fine droplets and sprayed/atomized at 360.degree. around the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1986
    Inventor: Vann Y. Won
  • Patent number: 4623056
    Abstract: An apparatus for distributing material flow having a distribution chamber defined by an upper receiving section and a lower discharge section integral therewith. The lower section is defined by a plurality of fixed downspouts arranged in a circle and communicating with each other at a portion of their upper end to form a cone with a common apex extending slightly into the receiving section at the central axis. A rotatable chute is positioned axially within the chamber to selectively distribute material flow to any one of the fixed downspouts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1986
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventor: Ronald R. Flaugher
  • Patent number: 4621770
    Abstract: A portable plant spraying/watering device includes a reservoir holding liquid to be dispensed, a hand-held dispensing device, and structure for delivering the liquid to the dispensing device. The dispensing device includes a housing, first and second variable flow valves fluidly connected to the liquid-delivering structure, a spray nozzle fluidly connected to the first valve, and a stream nozzle fluidly connected to the second valve, so that the liquid may be dispensed in spray or stream form selectively by opening the first or second valve, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1986
    Inventor: Michael D. Sayen
  • Patent number: 4621768
    Abstract: This invention relates to a diffusing device for volatile liquids to affect the immediate environment, or perfume or deodorize a room; such device comprising a bottle (1) containing the liquid for diffusion (2), in which a wick (M) is partially immersed; a cover cap (3) fitted to the said bottle by means of a snap-on system (3a), capable of being rotated but not moved in a vertical direction, and provided with slits or ports (F) for the passage of the air; a wick-holder (11-13) fitted to the neck (6) of the said bottle by means of a snap-on system and prevented from rotating, and taking the form of a sleeve provided with slits or ports (V) for the passage of air and with an external screw thread; and an internal cap (10) consisting of an internally-threaded skirt (15) designed to engage with external thread (16) of the said wick holder, and having in addition vertical grooves on the outside (14) designed slidably to engage with a vertical sleeve (9) which forms an integral part of the upper portion of the afo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1986
    Assignee: Reckitt & Colman S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Lhoste, Thierry Delage
  • Patent number: 4619072
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for irrigating plants in a controlled manner. The method includes the alternate steps of moving the irrigating liquid from a reservoir containing the liquid to a plant-accommodating container situated at a level higher than that of the reservoir by using pressurized air to displace the liquid from the reservoir, and then of terminating the flow of displacing air to permit excess liquid to return from the container to the reservoir under gravity. These alternate steps are carried out automatically in accordance with a predetermined cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1986
    Inventor: Eric B. Privett
  • Patent number: 4619402
    Abstract: A spray nozzle has a tubular body, an orifice plate, a tubular nozzle, and a nut for fastening the tubular body, the orifice plate, and the tubular nozzle together. The tubular nozzle is formed at its outer tip with a hole in the shape of an ellipse with a major axis and a minor axis. Inner walls of the tubular nozzle along the minor axis of the ellipse-shaped hole are straight along the entire length of the tubular nozzle and only the inner walls of the tubular nozzle along the major axis of the ellipse-shaped hole are tapered at the outer tip of the tubular nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1986
    Assignee: Yamaho Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenzo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 4619401
    Abstract: An improved controlled droplet applicator for applying fluid in droplet form to a target area. The applicator includes a rotary atomizer for generating fluid droplets of ideal size and density. The improvement includes a fan for rotating with the atomizer and for causing the fluid droplets to move toward the target area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1986
    Assignee: Sprayrite Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Dale G. Hardman
  • Patent number: 4619404
    Abstract: In a gas distribution arrangement the processing gas is admitted from a helical inlet duct through an annular orificial slit into a space between two coaxial guide walls. Guide vanes are provided in the orificial slit to impart a change of direction to the flow of processing gas. Each guide vane is a spatial body with differently extending, vertical limitation surfaces, which between adjacent vanes delimit ducts whose sectional area as measured transversely of the flow direction of the processing gas through the individual duct is substantially of the same size over the extent of the duct. The vertical height of the guide vanes may decrease along their radial extent inwards in the orificial slit, and their vertical limitation surfaces may form an acute angle at the radially innermost ends of the guide vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1986
    Assignee: APX Anhydro A/S
    Inventor: Henning Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 4618094
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine which is used for aircraft propulsion, is provided with a pair of thrust deflecting doors which, when deployed, deflect the exhaust gases onto some path other than axially of the engine, so as to spoil the thrust. The doors are waisted in profile. To prevent some of the exhaust gases from missing the doors, when deployed, and thus reducing their functional efficiency, plane flaps are provided on the jet pipe, which can be moved into the gas stream when the doors are deployed. The gas stream is thus constricted and so remains within the bounds of the deployed doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1986
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventor: Charles R. Palmer
  • Patent number: 4615647
    Abstract: A conveying apparatus includes a casing having a bore therethrough with an inlet for solid particulate material to be conveyed and an outlet. A screw impeller is rotatably mounted in the casing by front and rear bearings with the rear bearings being positioned near the inlet. Material is discharged from the casing through a coaxial outlet into a discharge chamber. Gaseous fluid under pressure is supplied to the discharge chamber for entraining and conveying the particulate material through a pneumatic conveying line which is flow connected to the outlet of the discharge chamber. A valve, which closes the outlet of the casing, is biased closed by a weight and opened by material being advanced by the screw impeller. The valve includes a valve plate with an opening which surrounds the shaft of the screw impeller and provides a seal at the casing to substantially prevent gaseous fluid from entering the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1986
    Assignee: Fuller Company
    Inventor: Stephen A. Lukacz