Patents Examined by Patrick Brinson
  • Patent number: 6550500
    Abstract: A plastic pipe provided with a socket and a method of providing a plastic pipe with a socket, whereby the socket comprises at least two layers. The orientation of at least one socket layer is different from the orientation of another layer and the orientation of at least one layer is different from the orientation of a body portion of the plastic pipe. The socket is made for instance from a plastic pipe comprising at least two layers. The orientation temperatures of at least two different layers are different. The plastic pipe is heated to a temperature at which the material of at least one layer is oriented during expansion and the material of at least one layer is substantially not oriented during expansion. The end of the plastic pipe is expanded at said temperature so as to provide it with a socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Uponor Innovation Ab
    Inventors: Jyri Järvenkylä, Esko Hippeläinen
  • Patent number: 6546963
    Abstract: A ship including a multi-layer composite piping system formed from a laminated pipe structure comprising: (a) a metal tube; (b) a bonding layer disposed on both sides of the metal tube; and (c) an internally cross-linked polymer layer disposed on both bonding layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Halter Marine, Inc.
    Inventor: W. Philip Nuss
  • Patent number: 6543489
    Abstract: A unitary annular reduction duct suitable for joining pipes comprising an annular entrance collar of a given diameter, a corrugated and gradually inwardly tapered reduction portion that is contiguous with the collar section and a corrugated and substantially vertical annular exit portion contiguous with the reduction portion whereby the reduction portion has a diameter less than the collar section. The reduction duct may also be used to join pipes of different shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Building Materials Investment Corporation
    Inventors: Clair A. Luce, Ronald D. Shuck
  • Patent number: 6543488
    Abstract: A flexible metal hose formed by a helically wound metal having an “S” shaped cross-section. The strip is provided with projections and recessions, with projections and recessions of adjoining convolutions meshed, enabling hose flexure without unwrapping. First and second resiliently engaged sealing surfaces extend helically along the hose to block leakage via the projections and recessions. In one embodiment the sealing surfaces are formed on a lip of one convolution and a body portion of the adjoining convolution. A second embodiment is a “smooth bore” hose having a first helical strip, constructed as described, and a second helical strip with first and second smoothly cylindrical axially spaced radially inner and outer regions. One region forms the smooth bore and the other is resiliently engaged between the radially outer lip of the first strip and the radially outer first strip body portion of the adjoining convolution to form the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Hose Master, Inc.
    Inventors: Sam J. Foti, Santo Foti
  • Patent number: 6539975
    Abstract: A gas container has a gas inlet, a gas outlet, a variable-volume chamber connected to the gas inlet and the gas outlet and a constant force applicator acting on the variable-volume chamber so that constant gas pressure prevails in the variable-volume chamber, regardless of variations in the chamber's volume. The constant force applicator is formed by a spring and a force transfer mechanism that interact with each other through a center of rotation (14) and an application point. The force transfer mechanism varies the distance between the center of rotation and the application point according to the variation in the volume of the variable-volume chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Elema AB
    Inventor: Håkan Hedenberg
  • Patent number: 6539976
    Abstract: A water hammer arrestor having an insert molded plastic body with a metal attachment at one end to install to the supply line. A piston disposed inside the bore of the plastic body includes a flexible skirt that faces the water supply. The skirt includes a sharp edge that provides a scraping/cleaning action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Mifab, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Whiteside
  • Patent number: 6539979
    Abstract: A process for lining an existing pipeline or conduit with a flexible resin impregnated cured in place liner by pulling in the liner and inflating an eversion bladder with air and curing the liner with flow-through steam without loss of pressure is provided. The bladder is stored in a pressure bladder canister coupled to a pressurized downtube and eversion elbow. The bladder is everted by introducing pressurized air into the canister As the bladder reaches the distal manhole, it enters a receiving canister where it is punctured while maintaining air pressure within the bladder a pinch valve between the downtube and elbow isolates the inverted bladder so that steam can be introduced into the bladder to cure the resin and exhaust through the receiving canister. The bladder is then removed and lateral service reinstated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Insituform (Netherlands) B.V.
    Inventor: Franklin Thomas Driver
  • Patent number: 6539980
    Abstract: The flexible tube is filled with a substance which expands on contact with water. The tube is wholly or partly of a material which loses consistency on contact with water, enabling the substance to expand. The filled tube is insertable into an energy transportation or telecommunications cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Tarfil S.r.l.
    Inventor: Carlo Tartufoli
  • Patent number: 6536480
    Abstract: High-pressure pipe element made of a hooped tube for making lines referred to as kill lines and choke lines that equip oil production installations, notably offshore. The high-pressure pipe element is an assembly consisting of two connections (3) and (4) respectively welded to the two ends of a metallic tube (1). The metallic assembly is hooped. Hooping (2) covering tube (1) comprises a sufficient number of hooping layers to withstand a determined internal pressure. Transition zones (5) and (7) in the vicinity of the welds comprise additional hooping layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignees: Institut Francais du Petrole, E.A.D.S. Composites Aquitaine
    Inventors: Jean Guesnon, Christian Gaillard, Pierre Schaeffner, Christophe Blois
  • Patent number: 6536478
    Abstract: A multilayer fluid conduit for use in motor vehicles includes a first layer and a second layer surrounding the first layer. The two layers are essentially composed of thermoplastic materials and are integrally connected to one another. Electrically conductive particles are mixed into the plastic material of the first layer. For increasing a long-term elasticity and flexibility even at higher temperatures of up to 90° C. when coming into contact with a liquid fuel and fuel vapors, the plastic material of the first layer is a functionalized cross-linked polyolefin or a functionalized cross-linked thermoplastic elastomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Rasmussen GmbH
    Inventor: Janos Kertesz
  • Patent number: 6536479
    Abstract: A hose comprising a core layer, at least one reinforcement layer, and a cover layer, the core layer is comprised of inner and outer core layers, the hose being characterized by the inner core layer and the outer core layer being formed from different non-plasticized polyamides and are co-extruded at the time of formation. The hose has a permeation rate of less than 0.5 g/m/day.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Reji Paul Wilson, Brian Henry, Pradeep Dattatraya Nadkarni
  • Patent number: 6532993
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention is a kit for installing an underground piping system. The kit includes a protective conduit having flexible piping contained therein and a plurality of sealing members. The installer positions the protective conduit and flexible piping as a single unit thereby facilitating installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Omega Flex, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Albino
  • Patent number: 6532992
    Abstract: A pipe flange cover for temporarily covering a pipe opening and a pipe flange at an end of a pipe, the cover having a front face and a rear face, the rear face having a center portion surrounded by a peripheral portion of the rear face, the peripheral portion formed with a plurality of axially projecting spring lugs; the center portion adapted to engage a front side of the pipe flange and to seal the pipe opening, the spring lugs adapted for insertion into bolt holes on the pipe flange. The center portion is axially offset from the peripheral portion, and connected thereto by an integral bellows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventor: James Elliott Holden
  • Patent number: 6527014
    Abstract: A flame resistant insulation product comprises a fibrous mineral material that has been rotary fiberized, preferably a fibrous glass. The composition of the mineral material has a softening point of at least about 699° C. An insulated duct includes a tubular wall that defines a hollow interior for conducting a fluid, and a layer of the insulation product wrapped about the wall. The mineral material reduces the number of samples of the insulated duct failing the flame penetration test of a UL 181 Standard compared to the same insulated duct with a mineral material having a softening point of less than 699° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick F. Aubourg
  • Patent number: 6527012
    Abstract: A hydropneumatic pressure accumulator, includes a gas chamber, an oil chamber, and a pair of metal bellows separating the chambers. An end plate is displaced according to volume changes in the gas chamber and oil chamber. A valve releases and blocks the flow of hydraulic fluid out of and into the oil chamber and has a valve lifter that controls the valve. During the displacement of the end plate, corresponding to a volume expansion in the gas chamber exceeding a predetermined maximum value, the valve lifter can be displaced by the end plate into a position which blocks the valve. The valve lifter is connected in a fixed manner to the end plate of the metal bellows. The valve can be blocked in two opposing directions by the displacement of the valve lifter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Hydac Technology GmbH
    Inventor: Norbert Weber
  • Patent number: 6523576
    Abstract: A fuel hose should reduce noise during fuel injection into an engine, and should not interfere with other engine components. The fuel hose supplies fuel drawn up from a fuel tank to the fuel injection valves of the engine, and is formed from a resin material which is resistant to fuel. The fuel hose comprises a hose main body having a fuel passage, and an non-circular component formed as a result of at least part of the cross sectional shape of the hose main body being non-circular. The non-circular component has a plurality of ribs running in the axial direction along the hose main body, and absorbs pulsation by the varying of the cross sectional shape of the ribs in response to variations in the pressure on the fuel flowing through the fuel passage, thereby resisting alterations to the shape in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohisa Imaeda, Kenichi Mitsui
  • Patent number: 6523577
    Abstract: An insulation system for shafts through which hot gases flow, especially exhaust gas shafts of gas turbines has an insulation layer (20, 40) as well as a flat cover (26, 39), which holds the insulation layer (20, 40) and covers it against the gas flow. The cover (26, 39) is guided by bearing rails (21, 41). In such an insulation system, the number of spacers (22, 23, 24; 47, 48, 49) by which the bearing rails (21, 41) are fastened to a shaft wall (25, 50) shall be minimized. Furthermore, the insulation system shall be able to be manufactured with a high degree of prefabrication in the workshop and with low assembly effort at the construction site. The bearing rails (21, 41) are fastened to the shaft wall (25, 50) with a fixed mount (31, 51) and at least one movable mount (32, 52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Kaefer Isoliertechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Henning Marwege, Jörg Nordholt, Marcial Navarro, Ernst Wermuth, Stephan Tonne, Josef Haider, Thomas Heuermann, Uwe Naumann
  • Patent number: 6523572
    Abstract: An injection system used to generate an acrodynamically induced force, with accordance to the present invention, serving as an air-cushion non-contact supporting system. The system comprises a high pressure manifold (101), connected by high pressure pipe (103), to a high pressure source (102). A SASO-conduit (1), whose inlet (2) is connected to the high pressure manifold, and the outlet (3) is located on the injection-surface (104), of the injection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Core Flow Ltd.
    Inventors: Daniel Levin, Yuvai Yassour
  • Patent number: 6520213
    Abstract: An arcuate double-layer pipe for a pipeline for fluidic transport of abrasive solids, includes an inner pipe portion made of wear-resistant material, and an outer pipe portion of weldable steel in surrounding relationship to the inner pipe portion. A pair of coupling collars made of weldable steel is placed on opposite ends of the inner pipe portion, with each coupling collar having a ring-shaped insert of wear-resistant material and a rim-like projection so that the inner pipe portion extends between the ring-shaped inserts in the coupling collars and is overlapped on the opposite ends by the rim-like projections of the coupling collars. The rim-like projections of the coupling collars engage interiorly into opposite ends of the outer pipe portion for centering the outer pipe portion, with the opposite ends of the outer pipe portion being welded to the coupling collars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Esser-Werke KG
    Inventor: Alexander Esser
  • Patent number: 6522912
    Abstract: A themometer for measuring a body temperature by using infrared rays and on the basis of a measuring method in which a measurement error fluctuates depending upon the length of the measuring time including computation time. The measuring time is calculated on the basis of a required measurement error, so that a temperature can be measured in a suitable time corresponding to a required allowable error. A probe is formed of a porous structure so as to improve the heat insulating effect thereof, and an auxiliary adapter is provided to permit the thermometer to be fitted better in the earhole in spite of an individual difference in size thereof with the function of reporting a relative ovulation date based on a desired delivery date also incorporated in the themometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naofumi Nakatani, Keiko Noda, Hirofumi Inui, Kazuko Awaya, Kiyoshi Kanazawa, Hirohisa Imai