Patents Examined by Paul A. Sobel
  • Patent number: 4460129
    Abstract: A drip irrigation emitter where turbulent flow and angled ribs in a tortuous channel reduce fluid pressure, providing for minimal variations in outlet flow rate from the emitter, irrespective of emitter inlet pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1984
    Inventor: Donald O. Olson
  • Patent number: 4455110
    Abstract: In a railway hopper car the void space previously provided between the slope sheets of adjacent hoppers is eliminated except for a small area in the longitudinal center of the car. Transversely spaced hopper slope sheets extend downwardly to an outlet mounting frame located in the lower portion of the car, and longitudinally spaced transverse slope sheets extend across the car to divide the car into two large unloading compartments. Two large outlets are attached to the mounting frame extending throughout the lower portion of approximately one-half of the car. Each outlet includes outlet side slope sheets which extend inwardly and downwardly from the outlet mounting frame on either side of the car. In addition, a pair of center outlet slope sheets extend downwardly and away from each other. On either side of the car an outlet side slope sheet and an outlet center slope sheet are laterally spaced to define a discharge opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1984
    Assignee: ACF Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Dennis J. Schipper
  • Patent number: 4453626
    Abstract: An apparatus for orienting and feeding axially elongated articles has a feeder bowl which includes a helical ramp surface which terminates at the upper edge of the bowl. An annular ring supported for rotation around an upper portion of the feeder bowl has an upwardly facing article supporting surface contiguous with a terminal portion of the ramp surface to receive articles therefrom. An annular baffle disposed above the ring and in coaxial alignment with it coacts with the ring to successively release articles from the ring to a guide conveyor which directs the articles tangentially away from the ring. Separate independent drive mechanisms are provided for vibrating the feeder bowl and rotating the ring to enable the feeder bowl to operate intermittently to discharge articles onto the ring which may operate continuously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1984
    Assignee: The Arthur G. Russell Company, Incorporated
    Inventors: William J. Roberts, Robert J. Ensminger
  • Patent number: 4449861
    Abstract: This invention provides an improved system for transporting plastics articles such as containers for foods from one place such as a plastics articles-manufacturing plant to another such as a goods-charging plant and encompasses vehicle means for transporting the articles in large quantities, devices which receive the articles from the vehicle means, convey the articles and discharge them into a pipeline for pneumatic conveyance and a device which is installed at the delivery end of the pipeline, which stores the articles and which is provided with means capable of discharging them therefrom at a predetermined rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1984
    Assignees: Q.P. Corporation, Denka Engineering Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hisatoshi Saito, Shuzo Fujii, Itaru Takase, Akihiko Nakamura, Yoshihiro Hara
  • Patent number: 4448355
    Abstract: A pistol for dispensing a watering liquid to plants and the like has a crenellated pistol grip portion, the crenellations whereof are a latching member for a swinging pawl which is actuated by a handle, an upper projecting portion of said handle having also toothed members and a resilient nature so as to engage corresponding latching portions of a shutter stem adapted to throttle the water jet emerging from said pistol and straighten it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1984
    Assignee: Claber S.p.A.
    Inventor: Gianfranco Roman
  • Patent number: 4445643
    Abstract: A reel type irrigation system adapted to be connected to a source of liquid under pressure to distribute the liquid on the ground including a reel unit with a rotatable reel and drive means adapted to rotate the reel in a given direction when the drive means is connected to the source of liquid under pressure; a carriage unit movably supported on the ground with a sprinkling gun adapted to discharge the liquid onto the ground when connected to the liquid source; and a flexible pipe connected to the reel and the carriage unit so that the pipe is wound around the reel to pull the carriage unit over the ground to the reel unit. A control system is provided which senses the ground speed of the carriage unit by sensing the speed of the supply pipe with respect to the reel unit and adjusts the drive means to maintain the ground speed of the carriage unit at a preselected rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1984
    Inventors: Grover A. Thorsby, Mark E. Burgess
  • Patent number: 4442977
    Abstract: An improved airless electric sprayer is disclosed having superior balance, portability, receptacle interchangeability, cleanability and a non-tipping stand feature. The user's hand conveniently grasps a piston grip in close proximity to the nozzle for accurate spray control at a position generally above the combined center of mass of a motor housing and receptacle for balanced comfortable use. The invention includes a release and lock arrangement affording handy receptacle attachment and disengagement without need for unscrewing the receptacle from the body of the sprayer, which also prevents spillage. To prevent clogging, any unsprayed liquid is allowed to accumulate around a reduced piston section and drain therefrom back into the receptacle. The housing has an access panel to expose pump assembly for convenient cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1984
    Assignee: Acme Burgess, Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Beiswenger, Frank A. Smiesko, Dhananjay V. Chaphalkar
  • Patent number: 4438883
    Abstract: A dynamic pressure attenuator comprising a housing and a plurality of tubes extending through the interior of the housing and defining wind passages. Each of the tubes has a plurality of radially extending ports. The housing has an inlet to admit a gas to the interior of the housing. When wind passes through the wind passages, the static pressure in the ports is substantially normal ambient static pressure and the dynamic pressure in the ports is essentially zero. Gas from the inlet passes through the ports and the wind passages to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1984
    Assignee: Getty Synthetic Fuels, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley W. Zison, Robert N. Turer
  • Patent number: 4437614
    Abstract: An electrostatic air atomization spray coating system having a hand held spray gun, wherein a flow of air to the gun is sensed to control energization of a high voltage power supply for electrostatically charging spray particles, is characterized by a bypass valve on the spray gun which selectively permits air atomization spraying with or without electrostatics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1984
    Assignee: Binks Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Theodore Garcowski
  • Patent number: 4437798
    Abstract: Valve means are provided in a discharge opening movable between a closed position blocking communication between a hopper compartment and a discharge conduit. The valve means comprises a segment of an arc which in a closed position spans the distance between outlet slope sheets and is rotatable to an open position located generally below one of the outlet slope sheets. Each arcuate segment is actuated by a gear means. Preferably a worm gear is located above the arcuate segment. A worm gear drive extends transversely of the outlet and is journalled for rotation in bearings sealed with respect to the interior of the outlet. Preferably the worm gear drive is hollow and an activating shaft is located within the worm gear drive which extends outwardly of the outlet side wall slope sheet and at this outlet end includes an operating handle. A first inner portion of the actuating shaft includes first gear engaging means such as a non-round portion which is adapted to engage a non-round end portion of the gear drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1984
    Assignee: ACF Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis J. Schipper
  • Patent number: 4437565
    Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor chain intended for use, for example, in wood transporters. In order to be able to securely fasten the sleeves and the trunnions of the chain to their side plates, preferably by welding, projecting edge flanges are formed in the side plates so that the weld in each case is left in the trough formed by the edge parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1984
    Assignee: Lonnstrom Oy
    Inventor: Aulis Vatja
  • Patent number: 4436456
    Abstract: A pneumatic system for banking consists of a pair of upright customer and teller terminals joined at right angles at their lower ends by a carrier transit tube. Each terminal includes a carrier elevator, a blower and a special ducting such that while only one blower propels the carrier from the sending to the receiving terminal both blowers are used to raise the elevator and carrier at the receiving terminal. Air valves at each terminal influence the movement of the carrier, and various controls initiate the sequence of operations by which the carrier is transferred between the terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1984
    Assignee: Kidde, Inc.
    Inventor: William D. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4436457
    Abstract: Each section of telescoping pipe is supported by a hanger depending from a straight, horizontal, elevated, transverse beam. The beam is mounted for traverse travel on overhead structures. A special suction head is carried by a carriage and connected to the last of the telescoping sections. A pick-up pipe depends from the special suction head. The structural support of the suction pipe is separated from the air seals therein. When the pipe is angled forward, an electric motor upon the carriage drives a pneumatic tire pushing against the beam to extend the telescoping sections. When the pick-up pipe angles back, the electric motor is driven in the opposite or reverse direction to retract the sections of pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1984
    Assignee: South Plains Sheet Metal, Inc.
    Inventor: James T. Willingham
  • Patent number: 4434886
    Abstract: An electrical component positioning apparatus includes a frame with first and second substantially horizontally extending conically tapered rollers rotatably mounted upon the frame. Edges of the first and second rollers closest to each other are arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart so that said electrical components may be received between the rollers and may be engaged with and supported by both of the rollers. This apparatus mechanically positions in sequence at a predetermined position a plurality of electrical components of the type having a body with first and second lead wires extending therefrom. The predetermined position includes a predetermined location in space and a predetermined angular orientation so that the wires extend downward from the body of the electrical components and are spaced apart in a direction parallel to a predetermined horizontal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1984
    Assignee: Xenell Corporation
    Inventor: John Fajt
  • Patent number: 4431137
    Abstract: A source for producing a spray of drops and ions of a liquid material under the action of an electric field, comprises an emitting point in the shape of a cone with a rounded tip, the vertex angle of which is between thirty and forty degrees and which projects beyond a base structure by a distance of between some one and three millimeters, means for supplying a liquid material to be sprayed to the emitting point and a field generating electrode whereby there may be applied to the emitting point an electric field sufficient to disrupt the liquid material at the emitting point and provide a spray of liquid drops and ions, the emitting point being made of a material which is wetted by the liquid material and has a low solubility in the liquid material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1984
    Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
    Inventors: Philip D. Prewett, Leonard Gowland, Keith L. Aitken
  • Patent number: 4428474
    Abstract: A rotating radial unit has bottle receiving recesses on its periphery for accepting bottles from a linear conveyor. A pair of elements are mounted on the unit adjacent each receiver for moving towards and away from the receiver. A belt runs around rolls that are on both elements so portions of the belt grip a bottle on each side when the elements are moved toward each other automatically. A motor can drive the belt to rotate the gripped bottle as it is transported on the unit. A sensing device controls the motor to start and rotate the bottle and to stop when a marker on the bottle is rotated to a preferred orientation or alignment so a series of bottles will be aligned identically as they are released. The elements are automatically spread apart to release the grip of the belt on the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1984
    Assignee: Krones Aktiengesellschaft Hermann Kronseder Maschinenfabrik
    Inventors: George Gau, Erwin Pesold
  • Patent number: 4427106
    Abstract: Disclosed is a conveyor system including a plurality of idler rollers for supporting the return leg of an endless conveyor belt and extending across the full width thereof. Said rollers being carried for free rotation about axle shafts having end portions projecting outwardly of the rollers and located in support means within said frame. Each axle shaft support means being attached to the frame and including a bracket having formed therein a downwardly extending locating slot dimensioned to receive and retain the axle shaft. A reaction member extending outwardly of the frame provides a reaction surface parallel to the axle shaft for co-operation with a flat portion formed in the surface of a disc cam, eccentrically mounted on the end of the axle shaft, to resist rotation of the shaft when the shaft is engaged in the said slot. The flat portion forms a chord of the disc and is bisected by a line passing through the axis of rotation and the center of the disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1984
    Assignee: Brockway Engineering Limited
    Inventor: Lawson C. Wooldridge
  • Patent number: 4424894
    Abstract: A sequencing drop chute apparatus receives a batch of electrical components and feeds them one at a time to a single line conveyor. The sequencing drop chute apparatus includes a support frame with an inclined surface attached to the support frame. A plurality of walls extend upward from an upper portion of the inclined surface and divide the upper portion of the inclined surface into a plurality of chutes. There is at least one chute for each electrical component of a batch of electrical components. A camshaft is rotatingly mounted upon the frame and includes a plurality of eccentric cams one of which is operably associated with each of the chutes for periodically blocking and periodically opening each of the chutes. The cams are arranged so that the plurality of chutes are opened one at a time thereby permitting the batch of electrical components to pass one at a time through the drop chute apparatus to the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1984
    Assignee: Xenell Corporation
    Inventors: John Fajt, James V. Neal, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4421275
    Abstract: Apparatus for applying refractory material to the interior surfaces of vessels adapted to contain molten metal. A pair of concentric conduits separately convey refractory material and water; the inner conduit is stationary and carries the refractory; the outer conduit rotates and carries the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1983
    Inventor: Richard A. Gratton
  • Patent number: 4421226
    Abstract: Rapidly descending articles are decelerated in a segmented walled mechanism which alternately decreases in cross-sectional area to decelerate and restrain an article and subsequently increases in cross-sectional area to permit the article to fall safely to a reception device, such as a conveyor, below. The decrease in cross-sectional area is synchronized with the delivery of the article from an associated fabrication device. The mechanism also includes a synchronously oscillating receiving tube which alternately tracks one moving discharge site on the fabrication device and then returns to engage and track an adjacent discharge site. Orientation of the article is maintained as it passes through the cross-sectional area and onto the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1983
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois, Inc.
    Inventor: Otto Zauner