Patents Examined by Patrick R. Scanlon
  • Patent number: 4576107
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an increase to a selected level of the height of a bed of particulate solids in a shuttle car for the transportation of particulate solids. The apparatus including a support member adapted to be rotatably supported through or on a wall of the shuttle car for rotation about its longitudinal axis with its first end inside the shuttle car and its second end outside the shuttle car, a relatively flat plate member positioned on the first end of the support member in a plane generally parallel to the longitudinal axis on the support member so that the plate member is biased to extend vertically downwardly from the support member and a level indicator operatively connected to the second end of the support member so that when the plate member is rotatably urged toward a horizontal position by the increased height of particulate solids an indication of such increased height is provided to the shuttle car operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1986
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventor: John K. Brasher
  • Patent number: 4573276
    Abstract: A tool guide for directing hand tools over a workpiece at an angle perpendicular to one edge of the workpiece is disclosed. The guide has two perpendicular legs equipped with flanges for aligning the guide and directing a hand tool along the guide. Measuring units are provided along surfaces of the guide to allow it to be used alternately as a carpenter's square and to facilitate carpentry operations without premeasuring. The flanges are shorter than the legs to provide cutouts for clamp removal and a cross brace enables the guide to be optionally stabilized without clamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1986
    Inventor: David J. Torczon
  • Patent number: 4571095
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a temperature comprises a first resistance, the resistance value of which depends on the temperature to be measured, a second resistance, a multiple switch with a plurality of inputs and an output, wherein the resistances each are connected to a corresponding input, a supply source which can be coupled with both resistances through a switch and a processing unit for controlling the switch and the multiple switch and for determining the temperature in dependence on the voltages measured at the supply source being switched on and off respectively, in the subsequent positions of the multiple switch. The output of the multiple switch is connected to an input of a voltage/frequency converter through a voltage source, an output of the voltage/frequency converter being connected to the processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1986
    Assignee: B.V. Enraf-Nonius Delft
    Inventor: Johannes Stoffels
  • Patent number: 4570482
    Abstract: A load-sensitive level detecting device for detecting the level of a powder or liquid comprises a piezoelectric vibrator (3), a case (1) which separates the object whose level is to be detected from the latter, the case (1) being formed with an opening (1b), which is closed by an elastic sheet (2) serving as a movable detecting section, whereby when the load exerted by the object is applied to the elastic sheet (2), the vibration of the piezoelectric vibrator (3) is constrained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1986
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michihiro Murata, Akira Kumada
  • Patent number: 4567846
    Abstract: A magnetically operated door chime adapted for mounting on a door and door frame. The door chime includes a casing adapted for mounting on the door frame and having a plunger assembly mounted for reciprocation along a horizontal path perpendicular to the plane of the door when the door is closed. The plunger assembly includes a first magnetic unit on its outer end arranged in face-to-face contact with a second magnetic unit on the door, when the door is closed. A chime bar extends across the path of movement of the other end of the plunger assembly and a spring yieldably biases the plunger assembly in a direction toward the chime bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1986
    Inventor: Thomas D. Kurtz
  • Patent number: 4566805
    Abstract: A device for determining or checking the condition, state, or other parameters of a pressure fluid contained in a hydraulic system substantially comprises a body which may be screwed into the wall of a chamber or of a line of the hydraulic system, which at its front face having contact with the pressure fluid has a measuring or testing device, and which at its part accessible from the outside has an electric contact which is in communication with the measuring and testing device via a line passed through a central bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1986
    Assignee: ITT Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Hans-Christof Klein, Hans Hohmann
  • Patent number: 4565151
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for indicating a range position for an automatic transmission installed in a vehicle. The apparatus includes a slide cover whose thickness is varied to accomplish a smooth slide on rounded corner portions. The slide cover has a range position indicating member which indicates the selected position to an operator when an operator moves a manual control lever to select another range position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1986
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuuichi Buma
  • Patent number: 4561293
    Abstract: An apparatus measuring the matric suction of soil moisture free from adverse effects due to changes in the salinity and temperature of the soil having first and second water-sensitive resistors and circuit electrically connected to the resistors for measuring the ratio of resistance of the resistors as affected by matric suction. A circuit is provided which includes electrodes proximate opposite sides of each resistor and separate layers located between the water-sensitive resistors and at least all of the electrodes but the electrode furthermost from the soil. The separate layers are chemical inert, electrically conductive, finely divided particles which are wettable by an aqueous solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1985
    Inventor: Lorenzo A. Richards
  • Patent number: 4559895
    Abstract: A positioning device capable of positioning a rod with a first piston fixed thereto into one of four positions selectively by means of a second piston disposed within a chamber A formed in a large-diameter cylinder portion and first, third and fourth pistons disposed within chambers B and C formed in a small-diameter cylinder portion. It is convenient to apply this positioning device to a select mechanism of a transmission or the like having four select positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1985
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuo Kijima, Yukio Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 4555852
    Abstract: A hand-held device for the determination of the momentary position of a vehicle, especially an airplane, moving at least approximately in a straight line and at about constant speed, has two compass legs each having a compass point and a lock movement having a drive shaft for driving at least one of the compass legs which is pivotable about a pivot pin. In order to largely eliminate the chord defect, the pivot pin of the drivable leg of the compass is movable in a straight line in a guide slot as a function of speed and the drive shaft moves the drivable leg as a function of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1985
    Inventor: Jens Brazel
  • Patent number: 4554743
    Abstract: A gauge for use in measuring the protrusion of a head from the surface of a video recorder is disclosed. The gauge is a universal gauge which can accurately and reproducibly measure head protrusion on any video recorder without the need of precision aligned mounting holes. The necessary accuracy is achieved by a unique double pivot design along with a universal mounting scheme. A novel mechanism is also provided to aid in visual alignment of the gauge and to provide a positive indication of misalignment by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1985
    Assignee: Tentel Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne B. Graham, John Bonn
  • Patent number: 4554885
    Abstract: A flag support assembly coupled to a halyard/pulley combination secured to an upper portion of a flagstaff for raising and lowering a flag includes a pivoting member which is free to rotate about the flagstaff so as to maintain the flag downwind relative to the flagstaff and in an unfouled, unfurled condition. With the flag fully raised, the pivoting member extends above the top of the flagstaff and may be rotated by wind direction changes about a vertical axis clear of the flagstaff. With the flagstaff positioned downwind of the halyard/pulley combination, the pivoting member extends over and straddles the flagstaff so as to maintain the flag downwind with respect thereto. The lower end of the flag support assembly is coupled to the halyard by means of an elastic or tension member which permits the tension applied to the support assembly to be varied in a controlled manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1985
    Inventor: Camille J. Burny, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4541731
    Abstract: A temperature sensing transducer has a mechanically vibrating member whose rigidity varies with temperature, changing the resonant frequency. An output signal is generated having a frequency controlled by the vibrating member. The rigidity is caused to vary with temperature by making the vibrating member from a material whose modulus of elasticity is sensitive to temperature changes in the desired measurement range. Also by making the vibrating member of a bimetal shaped as a frusto-conical disk, the rigidity of the disk changes with temperature due to internal strains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1985
    Assignee: Technar, Incorporated
    Inventors: Lon E. Bell, William P. Gruber
  • Patent number: 4541179
    Abstract: A sighting device for a bow which is fixedly mounted on a bow and which is provided with a lever and link arrangements such that a sight unit thereof is tilted at a progressively increasing rate as the sighting device is adjusted for longer distances so as to compensate for gravity effect on arrows. Also, the sight unit is so mounted whereby it tilts relative to the bow in a manner wherein the sight unit generally lies in a plane which is normal to the sighting axis therethrough for all adjustments of the sighting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1985
    Inventor: Robert A. Closson
  • Patent number: 4530160
    Abstract: A multicoordinate sensing head is disclosed which includes a sensing pin and a tappet. Both the sensing pin and the tappet define respective 90.degree. conical recesses which serve to capture a ball therebetween. This arrangement converts both axial and radial movement of the pin into axial movement of the tappet at a constant 1:1 ratio. A position measuring system is used to measure the axial position of the tappet. This position measuring system therefore can be used to measure both axial and radial deflection of the sensing pin. The sensing pin is mounted in the sensing head by means of an axial guide and a two-dimensional guide such that the axis of the sensing pin is maintained parallel to the axis of the tappet. This arrangement allows simultaneous radial and axial deflections of the sensing pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1985
    Assignee: Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventor: Kurt Feichtinger
  • Patent number: 4525933
    Abstract: An adjustable T-square comprising an elongated blade with measuring indicia on its top surface and an elongated cross member having angular measurement indicia on its top surface. The blade and cross member are coupled together to provide precise relative perpendicular positioning, relative movement of the cross member along the longitudinal axis of the blade while maintaining the perpendicular relationship, and relative angular adjustment. The perpendicular orientation between the cross member and blade is provided by a notch within the top surface of the cross member which receives the blade. A threaded member and knob are employed for attaching the cross member and blade to permit relative positioning angularly and linearly while coupled, and to secure the blade and cross member in a desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1985
    Inventor: Richard M. Patterson
  • Patent number: 4519241
    Abstract: An automatic testing apparatus is described for testing the circumferential spacing of gears, for testing deviations in tooth thickness and tooth gaps as well as deviations in gear concentricity, in which with a single revolution of the gear the spacing testing is effected for both the right and the left flanks of the wheel and the values for the gear concentricity deviations, tooth thickness deviations, and tooth gap deviations are preferably ascertained simultaneously, so that a separate measurement apparatus is not required for that purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1985
    Inventor: Willy Hofler