Patents Examined by Patrick Brinson
  • Patent number: 6732808
    Abstract: This invention relates to a fire extinguishing device, with at least one supply line (4) that is dry with the device in an idle state, through which at least one extinguishing nozzle (1) is connected with an extinguishing fluid supply unit, which fills the supply line (4) with an extinguishing fluid if a fire breaks out. The device according to the invention makes it possible to improve a device of the kind mentioned at the outset with simple means in such a way that the air contained in the supply line can rapidly escape while filling with a high operational safety. This is achieved by connecting the supply line (4) with a discharge channel (6), in which a bursting disk (11), which seals the discharge channel (6) in an idle state, and a valve (9), which closes at a pressure higher than the bursting pressure of the bursting disk (9), are situated one after the other in the discharge direction (F).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Fogtec Brandschutz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Dirk K. Sprakel
  • Patent number: 6732764
    Abstract: A rotary holder for a corrugated tube is formed such that an inner rotary body containing a corrugated tube is received in an inner portion of an outer fixing body, and an outer peripheral sliding surface of the inner rotary body may rotate relative to the outer fixing body. The inner rotary body is formed by assembling two divided rotary members, each having a round arch surface on an outer periphery thereof. The outer peripheral sliding surface is formed by abutting a surface of each divided rotary member against each other. Further, a cut surface retracting inside from a rotation locus of the round arch surface in each divided rotary member is formed in each end portion of the round arch surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignees: Yazaki Corporation, Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaji Miyamoto, Ryoichi Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 6732762
    Abstract: An improved plug device 10 for sealing an internal tubular passageway in a predetermined location against pressure and flow applied from one side. The plug 10 is selectively inserted and retrieved from the tubular passageway using an installation tool 200. The plug 10 has an elastomeric seal 72 and multiple latch dogs 40 that reciprocate in an axial direction to engage or not engage the tubular passageway. An elastomeric seal 72 of the plug 10 is manipulated to cause it to recess during the installation and retrieval of the plug device 10 to minimize scuffing the seal 72. Multiple latch dogs housed in the plug are radially moved outward to engage a prepared internal groove in the tubular passageway, then the elastomeric seal 72 is relaxed to bias against the interior of the bore of the tubular passageway. The plug is easily installed and removed by robots or remote manipulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Inventor: Larry R. Russell
  • Patent number: 6732766
    Abstract: Pipe (1) for conveying a fluid. It comprises a metal tube (2). The inner wall of the metal tube is coated with a layer (3) of a porous material permeable to the fluid conveyed. The fluid circulates in layer (3) in order to limit the pressure drops generated by the flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventor: Yves Charron
  • Patent number: 6729355
    Abstract: A reinforced flexible hose, especially a shower hose, being comprised of a thin-walled reinforced inner hose, at least one outside outer hose, at least one helical support between the inner hose and the outer hose, and reinforcement bands which are oriented in the hose's axial direction radially outside the helical support; and the reinforcement bands being connected to neighboring elements of the hose. In order for the hose to have a high-gloss metallized appearance over essentially the entire surface and to be light and highly flexible and also not to fatigue or tear when it is frequently bent, the reinforcement bands are made of an essentially unstretchable, high-gloss metallized film. They are arranged in the area radially between a top side of the helical support and below an outside surface of the outside outer hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Vohran Patentverwertungs-GmbH
    Inventor: Christoph Vohrer
  • Patent number: 6722392
    Abstract: The invention concerns an assembly comprising a tube in composite material including carbon fibers embedded in a resin, an extremity of which is equipped with a sleeve in plastic material such as polyamide, optionally equipped with a jointing thread. According to the invention, the tube comprises at least one layer of composite material, and the sleeve is obtained by overmolding injection of material on the tube. Preferably, the composite material constituting the tube comprises two adjacent layers of carbon fibers embedded in carbon, the inner layer being a layer whose fibers are substantially longitudinal, whereas the outer layer comprises helically arranged fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Gitzo Holding Societe Anonyme
    Inventors: Laurent David, Michael Mittelstaedt
  • Patent number: 6719011
    Abstract: A fluid flow resistor 10 for use in ophthalmic surgery includes a housing 12 having an inlet 14 and an outlet 16. An elongated turbine 22 is caused to spin within the housing 12 by a flow of fluid which extracts energy from the fluid flow and effectively increases a resistance to fluid flow from the inlet 14 to the outlet 16.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Bausch & Lomb Incorporated
    Inventors: Laurence J. Cull, James T. Perkins, Matthew J. Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 6715511
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multilayer tube comprising, in its radial direction from the outside inwards: a first layer of vulcanized elastomer forming the outer layer, a second layer of EVOH or of an EVOH-based blend, a third layer of a blend of a polyamide (A) and a polyolefin (B) having a polyamide matrix, optionally, an inner layer of vulcanized elastomer, the layers being successive and adhering to one another in their respective contact region. It is also possible to place a tie layer between the first and second layers, and likewise between the optional inner layer and the third layer. The tube of the invention may also include a reinforcing layer of the textile type, for example made of polyester or of metal wires, the said layer being placed between the first and second layers. This reinforcing layer may be between the tie layer and the EVOH layer or between the tie layer and the outer layer or else the tie may be placed in the interstices of the reinforcing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Atofina
    Inventors: Jun Yamamoto, Joachim Merziger, Christophe Maldeme
  • Patent number: 6712098
    Abstract: A straight opposing member insertion section located at the end of a hose tube and has a ring-shaped groove for inserting a sealing ring. The opposing member insertion section has a ring-shaped tongue piece and/or a ring-shaped ring supporting section. Tongue-piece has a sloped surface and an overhang positioned over the ring-shaped groove. Ring supporting section is an indentation on the ring-shaped groove that protrudes away from the end of the hose tube. A sealing ring is tightly inserted into the ring-shaped groove. A ring-shaped engagement projection on the end of the tube-shaped opposing member is pushed into the opposing member insertion section until the engagement projection abuts the sealing ring. Sealing ring and the section of the tube wall with the ring-shaped groove can be constructed to handle seal deterioration. The resulting fuel hose connection structure has superior fuel sealing properties, fuel impermeability and can be contructed simplely and inexpensively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazushige Sakazaki, Koji Hioki, Atsuo Miyajima
  • Patent number: 6712097
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for blocking residual water lingering in pipes after the water has been shut off and substantially drained in a residential or commercial establishment just prior to soldering. A water soluble, able to disintegrate, low density, compressible, resilient, expanded starch based composition is used in combination with a residual water prevention kit which can be stored for extended lengths of time and carried with other soldering tools such as inside a tool box or in a pocket. A mat display apparatus made of the same or similar composition provides a scale of removable plugs for use on pipes having different diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Inventor: Steve Schabel
  • Patent number: 6708729
    Abstract: A reinforced liner for cured in place pipe rehabilitation of an existing pipeline having a plurality of high-strength low-elongation fiber bundles disposed circumferentially around the tubular liner at both inner and outer surfaces of a resin absorbent layer of the liner is provided. The bundles of reinforcing fibers are continuous lengths of high modulus fibers laid circumferentially with the ability to stretch to accommodate variations in host pipe diameter. The fibers on the inner surface are secured to a porous scrim to form an inner tubular reinforcing layer. A resin absorbent layer is formed into a tube about the inner layer. An outer layer of bundles of reinforcing fiber are formed into a tube about the absorbent layer. An outer impermeable tubular layer is wrapped around the inner layers. The reinforcing layer may include longitudinal reinforcing fiber in either or both reinforcing layers to increase the longitudinal strength of the liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Instituform B.V.
    Inventor: E. Peter Smith
  • Patent number: 6708730
    Abstract: A temporary fixing structure includes recesses formed with a mounting hole of a first tubular body to face each other wherein the diameter of the mounting hole extending along the recesses is smaller than that of a flange, and protrusions arranged at the head of an end portion of a second tubular body wherein a spacing between the protrusion and the flange is substantially equal to the thickness of a mounting surface of the first tubular body and wherein the protrusions are arranged inside the fist tubular body through the recesses. The second tubular body is turned with respect to the first tubular body to bring a flat portion of the flange into close contact with the mounting surface of the first tubular body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Chikuma, Takahiro Nakakomi, Hirokazu Yaezawa, Yoshinobu Okuno, Katsumi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6705349
    Abstract: The present invention provides a weep plug for an oil sump having a central vent passage and one or more weep passages parallel to the central passage. The weep passages allow oil to flow back into the sump where it may be recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ramon Themudo, Gary Paul Moscarino, Martin Richard Brown, Duane Howard Anstead, Kenneth Lee Fischer, Christopher Lee Snow
  • Patent number: 6705351
    Abstract: A flexible method that includes a tubular member defining a longitudinal passage adapted to contain a conveyed fluid, and a plurality of layers of flexible material helically wrapped around the tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Wellstream International Limited
    Inventor: Dana J. Fraser
  • Patent number: 6701968
    Abstract: A flexible hose comprising (A) a soft hose main body formed of polyvinyl chloride resin; and (B) a helical rigid reinforcing means embedded in the soft hose main body formed of polyvinyl chloride resin wherein the specific gravity of the helical rigid reinforcing means is less than the specific gravity of the hose main body and the overall specific gravity of the flexible hose is less than 1.0 g/cm3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Mauricio Bolonhezi
  • Patent number: 6701969
    Abstract: A flexible pipe and a method of manufacturing same according to which an inner sheath is surrounded by at least one tensile layer, and an outer sheath of polymeric material consisting of an olefin polymer blended with at least one thermoset elastomer is disposed around the tensile layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Wellstream International Limited
    Inventor: Brian Scott Wilson
  • Patent number: 6701966
    Abstract: An improved apparatus for repairing a pipeline by the insertion of a resin-impregnated tubular liner is disclosed wherein the improvement resides in an end cap that is adhesively attached to one end of the liner, the end cap having a pull tab formed thereon and a rope attached thereto. Once the liner has been inverted into the pipeline being repaired and the resin-impregnated tubular liner has been disposed into intimate contact with the interior surface of the pipeline and allowed to cure, the end cap is easily stripped from the liner by pulling on the rope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Infrastructure Repair Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: William G. Higman
  • Patent number: 6701963
    Abstract: A flow conditioner includes a body composed of an array of vanes generally parallel to the direction of fluid flow. The vanes create a plurality of chambers to effectively reduce large scale vortices in the flow. The vanes have surfaces with perforations to allow pressure regulation between chambers to effectively reduce asymmetric flow and reduce drag. Additional preferred features include an acoustic choke created by a reduction in cross-sectional flow area at the entrance and the exit of the flow conditioner with circular plates. The plates have rough edges to increase production of micro-vortices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Horiba Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: James A. Hill
  • Patent number: 6698456
    Abstract: The invention relates to a protective corrugated plastic tube or pipe, a corrugated piping, wherein according to the invention at least some of the flanks of corrugations of the tube or pipe have extensions (16), which go from one corrugation (11a) towards a neighboring corrugation (11b) and extend in the axial direction of the protective corrugated plastic pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Frankische Rohrwerke Gebr. Kirchner GmbH + Co KG
    Inventors: Tilo Neubauer, Sören Schröter, Peter Winkler
  • Patent number: 6698455
    Abstract: There is disclosed a fluid flow rate economizing device having a tubular body and a reduction in the inner diameter, suitable to install inside residential, commercial or industrial hydraulic tubing at fluid intakes, meters and/or registers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Inventor: Pablo Alvaro Ramirez-Rivera