Patents Examined by Patrick Brinson
  • Patent number: 6478053
    Abstract: A conduit for supplying a fluid and damping pressure pulsations in the fluid, the conduit having an outer pipe and an inner pipe housed inside the outer pipe, and the outer pipe having a small-diameter intermediate portion cooperating in fluidtight manner with the inner pipe; the inner pipe therefore defines with the outer pipe a first annular chamber and a second annular chamber located on opposite sides of the intermediate portion, and has a number of intermediate holes connecting the inner chamber of the inner pipe to the first and second annular chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Dayco Fluid Technologies S.p.A.
    Inventor: Mariofelice Zanardi
  • Patent number: 6478054
    Abstract: A method for repairing pipelines includes impregnating a liner material capable of absorbing a fluid with a fluid uncured and unhardened resin requiring a catalyst for activation to cure and harden. The impregnated liner material is inserted within the pipeline and a catalyst is applied within the pipeline. Resin is then allowed to cure and harden to form a repaired surface for the interior of the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Blue Sky Forever, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry W. Kiest
  • Patent number: 6474364
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flow deflecting device 5, comprising a substantially planar baffle adapted to be disposed in a conduit 2 having a first part 3 defining a first flow direction 3a and a second part 4 defining a second flow direction 4a deviating from the first direction, to promote substantially uniform flow in the second part 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Thames Water Utilities Limited
    Inventors: Tuan Ta, Jo Hague
  • Patent number: 6474366
    Abstract: A flexible-pipe (10). for high pressure is provided with. a sublayer (11) made of natural or synthetic rubber or man-made polymers in general, and with a first and a second stiffening layer (12, 14), which are superimposed and both consist of a high-resistance metal spiral, whereby the spiral can have one or more wires. Between the first (12) and the second (14) layer there is interposed a skim coat (13) made of natural or synthetic rubber or man-made polymers in general. The flexible pipe (10) for high pressure is also coated with a coating (15) made of natural or synthetic rubber or man-made polymers in general.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Cidat S.p.A.
    Inventor: Annibale Bruno
  • Patent number: 6474365
    Abstract: A system for covering drain pipe outlets, particularly, as they exit a building. The system includes a band that is tightened around the exterior of a pipe as it protrudes through the side of a building. Attached to the band is a hinged cover which is sized to entirely cover the pipe and hidden hinge. The cover may be covered with material to match or complement the building exterior surfacing, such as paint or stucco. In addition, the band portion may also include one or more restictors, such as bars, to prevent unauthorized access or debris from entering the pipe. The system provides for multiple size covers and bands for a wide variety of pipe sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Brown, Cindy K. Brown
  • Patent number: 6471669
    Abstract: One form of the invention provides a needle-free injection system including the following components: a nozzle portion having a glass wall defining a drug storage space, and an injection wall defining a drug injection space, the injection wall being coaxial with the glass wall and defining a plurality of drug bypass conduits disposed adjacent a forward end of the drug injection space; an injection orifice defined at the forward end of the injection space; a drug plunger defining a rearward end of the storage space; a drug plug initially disposed between the storage space and the injection space, and being displaceable into the injection space adjacent the bypass conduits; and a pierceable gas cartridge for providing injection power to the drug plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Bioject Medical Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Sergio Landau
  • Patent number: 6467510
    Abstract: In a pipe forming process using bending rolls, load applied to an upper roll is reduced to suppress the deflection of the upper roll, thereby suppressing creation of large end gap at the longitudinal center of the pipe, thus enabling production of high-strength, thick-walled elongated pipes. This is achieved either by (1) setting the roll spacing L between lower rolls to a value greater than the sum of the diameter Dwu of the upper roll 34 and the diameter Dwl of each of the lower rolls 32, and setting the amount S of tightening of the upper roll 34 with respect to the lower rolls 32 to a value greater than the radius Rwl of each of the plural rolls; or by (2) effecting pipe forming work on the sheet material such that the spacing L of the lower rolls 32 satisfies the following condition: (Dp+Dwl)>L≧0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Kawasaki Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Michio Yamashita, Hideo Abe, Yoshiharu Daikuzono, Singo Emi, Nobuo Tomizawa
  • Patent number: 6467509
    Abstract: A fuel hose comprising a rubber layer and a fluororesin layer formed on the inner surface of the rubber layer, in which the adhesion to the fluororesin layer is improved by blending from 2 to 15 phr of a phenol-type resin with the rubber forming the rubber layer. Phenol resins of a specific polymeric structure are particularly preferred as the phenol-type resins. A fluororesin layer formed by melting a fluororesin and allowing it to adhere to the inner surface of the rubber layer by powder coating is particularly preferred. The provision of the fluororesin layer on the inner surface of the rubber layer enables simple and effective adhesion of the thinned fluororesin layer to the rubber layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Iio, Hiroaki Ito
  • Patent number: 6467508
    Abstract: Low precipitate polyamide tubing useful to transport fluids such as automotive fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Atofina Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Mehdi M. Emad, Gregory S. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 6467506
    Abstract: An elongated clear fluid orifice device which includes a plurality of different exterior widths for accommodating the mounting of different sized hoses thereon while having a constant interior width. The device may be used in any liquid cooled engine having heated fluid flowing therethrough. The device is best made pressure resistant and high temperature resistant polycarbonate material such as EMS Grliamid TR-55 (clear nylon) compound and having an interior fluid tube with a cylindrical center section having a predetermined, constant interior width. The exterior tube levels have a raised ridge at each level to assist in securing a clamp to hold the hose in place at each level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Inventor: Thanh V. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6467507
    Abstract: A clip for attaching a component to a mounting surface of a container has a generally tubular body with outwardly extending projections and a component retaining aperture. The clip and the container are formed from similar plastic materials with the container material having the same or lower melt index value. The component is assembled with the clip by insertion through a gap in the clip wall widened under a deflecting force. The clip is placed in contact with the mounting surface while the container has latent heat to melt at least one of the contacting projections and form a bond area attaching the component/clip assembly to the mounting surface of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian A. Engle
  • Patent number: 6463960
    Abstract: A secondary conduit for a transmission carrier comprising at least one first arcuate sidewall defining an elongated first conduit, said first conduit providing a means for conveying a fluid, at least one second conduit formed in said at least one first arcuate sidewall, said second conduit being coextensive with said first conduit to define a secondary conduit adapted to receive a transmission carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Nicassio Corporation
    Inventors: Jignesh Madhani, Louis V. Nicassio, Sam Cancilla
  • Patent number: 6460572
    Abstract: In a closure device for closing ducts, which are arranged in a housing and in which pressure fluid is conveyed, by means of a closure member that is attached in a duct by a clinch-type engagement, the said closure member including a first recess at its outside periphery, a particularly safe attachment and sealing of the closure member in the housing and a simple and inexpensive design is achieved because the closure member has at least one further recess at its outside periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., oHG
    Inventor: Michael Jürgens
  • Patent number: 6460571
    Abstract: An accumulator for a fluid system includes a canister and an end cap at one or both ends of the canister. The end cap has a cylindrical peripheral surface, with a groove or channel having gradually rounded or curved sidewalls, formed circumferentially around the cap, and spaced from the axial ends of the cap. An annular, radially-outward projecting flange is provided at the axially outer end of the cap, and serves as a locating feature for the cap when it is inserted into the canister. A forming tool such as a crimping machine is used to mechanically deform the canister into the groove. The rounded shape of the groove creates a permanent, fluid-tight attachment with the canister. The accumulator can include either a piston or bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Bahram S. Rajabi, Allen R. Hansen
  • Patent number: 6460575
    Abstract: Novel thermoplastic pipes which can withstand internally generated and/or applied pressures for utilization within, primarily, underground liquid and gas transport systems are provided. Such pipes are improvements over standard metal (i.e., steel, lead, and the like) pipes due to construction costs, shipping costs, implementation costs (particularly underground), flexibility (and thus modulus strength allowances) to compensate for underground movements (i.e., earthquakes and tremors), non-rusting characteristics, reduced crack propagation possibilities, and ease in manufacture. Such pipes are preferably reinforced with specific textile reinforcement materials that permit a lower thickness of plastic to be utilized than is generally required to withstand high pressure situations and also serve to prevent propagation of any cracks which may develop within the thermoplastic or thermoset materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Willy De Meyer, Michael W. Gilpatrick
  • Patent number: 6460576
    Abstract: A pipe insulation jacket comprises two jacket members that can be joined to form a hollow cylinder. Both jacket members are made of a dimensionally stable, thermally insulating material. Both jacket members are provided with an elastic coating layer extending over the inner surface and over one of the radially extending end faces of the jacket members. The outer surfaces of the two jacket members are covered by a common tape linking the jacket members at one side in such a way that they can be spread apart at the other to such an extent that the insulation jacket can be radially moved onto the pipe to be insulated. The tape extends over the jacket member at the side where the two jacket members are spread apart, and its inner side is provided with an adhesive layer to interconnect the two jacket members once the pipe is enclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Aeroflex International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Pawat Vitoorapakorn
  • Patent number: 6460574
    Abstract: A sewer pipe structure and associate method of construction includes a storage tank connectable to an inflow pipe to receive an inflow of sewage and connectable to an outflow pipe through which the sewage can exit the storage tank. The sewer pipe structure is formed from modular prefabricated sections, including a prefabricated storage pipe section having a cross-sectional area greater than the cross-sectional areas of the inflow and outflow pipes and forming at least part of the storage tank, a prefabricated inflow end cap section fastenable to a first end of the sewer pipe structure to thereby close the first end of the pipe structure, and a prefabricated outflow end cap section fastenable to a second end of the sewer pipe structure to thereby close the second end of the pipe structure. The inflow and outflow end caps include respective connecting means for allowing sewage flow through the pipe section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Johnston Pipes Limited
    Inventor: Russell Darling Currie
  • Patent number: 6458105
    Abstract: A disposable syringe assembly 10 including a cylinder body 12, a needle assembly 14, a piston assembly 16, a rear seal assembly 18, a hollow shaft 20, and a valve assembly having a valve port 61 and valve seals 49. The needle assembly may be releasably engaged with the cylinder body. The body and the piston assembly moveable within the body may define each of a fluid chamber 74 and an annular chamber 28. As fluid is drawn into the fluid chamber by movement of the piston assembly, air may be displaced from the annular chamber through the valve assembly. As fluid is discharged from the fluid chamber, the valve assembly may be closed and a vacuum created in the annular chamber. A valve positioner may control connector connectivity and valve port position. Near the end of the fluid discharge piston stroke, a connector 88 engaged with either the shaft of with the piston assembly may engage selectively engage a mating connector on the needle assembly. The needle assembly may be disengaged from the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Maxxon, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayland J. Rippstein, Jr., Martin E. Smith
  • Patent number: 6453949
    Abstract: A plug and sealing system for medical bayonet connectors and drug infusion ports of the type having an interior self-sealing element. A male plug removably installed in the female collar portion of the connector, before or after penetration of the self-sealing element by a puncturing needle, has a shank portion the fits the inner surfaces of the collar portion side wall to provide a substantial sealing relation therebetween to prevent contamination of the interior surfaces of the collar portion from environmental contaminants. The plug has a bottom end that is resiliently engaged on an outer face of the self-sealing element, and a pair of lugs that are resiliently biased against a top wall of diametrically opposed apertures in the side wall of the collar portion to maintain the bottom end in a firm sealing relation with the self-sealing element to prevent leakage and spreading of aerosols and vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Inventor: Sam Chau
  • Patent number: 6450207
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device reinforcing circumferential welds 8 which join two contiguous pipes 6 and 7 in order to increase the fatigue life of said welds by reducing mechanical stresses in them when being subjected to periodic bending. The device comprises a rigidifying element 10 which is firmly joined to said pipes by a connection means 11, 13, said bush being made of the same material as the pipes. The rigidifying element 10 consists of a bush slipped over the two pipes 6, 7 opposite the weld 8. The connection means is a hardening material 11 such as resin or cement which is injected between bush and pipes and which is confined at this site by shaping, in particular cold-forming, the bush's ends. The application is to offshore hydrocarbon conveyance conduits subjected to periodic loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: ITP
    Inventors: Ludovic Villatte, Philippe Marchal