Patents Examined by Paul A. Sobel
  • Patent number: 4403811
    Abstract: An apparatus for handling loads by means of a ball bearing-mounted table is disclosed.The ball bearings (3) are returned to the horizontal plate (1) of the table by means of an elevator with ball bearing holder (19), the upper surface of which is a polyurethane lining (34), which, by seating under the edge (2), is inclined and empties the ball bearing onto the plate (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1983
    Inventor: Jean-Benoit Dussud
  • Patent number: 4399905
    Abstract: An improved apparatus for alternately forming a predetermined stack of articles such as disposable diapers in vertically spaced ways, and then forwarding the stack as a unit from between the ways to ancillary downstream apparatus: for instance, packaging apparatus. The apparatus comprises an endless flight of nestable ways which flight is preferably continuously driven through an infeed station, and which flight has cyclical spatial dwell-and-go motion at an outfeed station. Each stack of articles is removed from between the ways at the outfeed station during such a spatial dwell of the portion of the flight of ways then disposed at the outfeed station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1983
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: William A. Lance, Alfred H. Abbott
  • Patent number: 4399907
    Abstract: A shuttle type accumulating conveyor adapted to advance articles located behind an empty station to their next successive stations. The conveyor comprises an elongated support along which the stations are longitudinally spaced apart, a transfer bar movable forwardly and rearwardly longitudinally of the elongated support, pusher type feed units and feed unit setting assemblies mounted on the transfer bar and actuator assemblies for moving the feed units to feed positions so that upon an initial rearward movement of the transfer bar from a start position all feed units behind an empty station are moved to their feed positions. The transfer bar is then moved forward a distance substantially greater than the distance between stations to advance articles from station to station. Binding of the drive mechanism due to the prolonged travel of the transfer bar, during which feed unit setting assemblies contact actuator assemblies, is prevented by cooperating recess and pivot means on the actuator assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1983
    Assignee: LaSalle Machine Tool, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas D. Wiknich, Michael J. Peabody
  • Patent number: 4394899
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming groups of upright-oriented, stacked articles includes a supply conveyor for advancing the articles in a flat-lying, spaced relationship, a conveyor wheel and transfer pushers pivotally secured to the conveyor wheel in a circular array. The transfer pushers extend outwardly from the wheel and are arranged for consecutively lifting off flat-lying articles from the supply conveyor and for conveying the articles in a curvilinear path from an upstream end to a downstream end thereof. A guiding mechanism imparts a pivotal motion to the transfer pushers during their travel along the curvilinear path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1983
    Assignee: SIG - Schweizerische Industrie-Gesellschaft
    Inventor: Rene Fluck
  • Patent number: 4394965
    Abstract: A shower head which provides a pulsating output utilizes a swirl chamber to impart a swirl to the water flow. The use of water driven parts is thereby eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1983
    Assignee: Friedrich Grohe Armaturenfabrik GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Backe, Wolf-Dieter Goedecke, Reinhard Schwenzer
  • Patent number: 4394897
    Abstract: A multiple station transfer machine used in automation equipment wherein multiple work carrying pallets are moved to various stations, located, and clamped for a machining operation. A mechanism for operating a group of clamping members with a common power source but the locating pins and the clamping members are individually actuated by individual internal elastic members acting through high efficiency mechanisms such as levers, pivots and rolling contacts. The invention contemplates a simplified lift and carry type pallet transfer or a vertically moving slide rail system operable by, and in conjunction with, and in proper sequence to, the actuating means for the registry locating and clamping mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1983
    Inventor: John H. Brems
  • Patent number: 4395166
    Abstract: A pulverized material, particularly coal or lignite, is maintained in a fluidized state in a storage container and is released therefrom into a carrier gas stream. The gas for causing fluidization and maintaining a pressure in the container which is greater than the carrier gas pressure is in part obtained by recycling gas vented from the container, the vented gas being filtered and increased in pressure. The vented gas may also be employed to aid in the delivery of the pulverized material into the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1983
    Assignee: Paul Wurth S.A.
    Inventor: Leon Ulveling
  • Patent number: 4393994
    Abstract: An electromagnetic fuel injector includes an electromagnet actuated flexible disc valve that is biased toward a closed position in seating engagement with an associate valve seat by a spring associated with the armature of a solenoid and is biased toward an open position relative to the valve seat by an opposed spring upon energization of the electromagnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1983
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Gerald C. Rieck
  • Patent number: 4393992
    Abstract: Improvements are provided in a sprinkler head assembly including a hollow sprinkler head assembly tube, a sprinkler tip secured in the upper portion of that tube and a valve secured in the lower portion thereof. The sprinkler tip body is secured in the upper portion by cooperation between a securing structure which depends from the sprinkler tip, (e.g., a central tube having an internally threaded bore, the tube having a slit through the walls at its lower end forming bifurcated portions provided with a pair of wings, each having an upwardly facing abutting shoulder thereon), and retainers on the inner wall of the hollow sprinkler head assembly within the upper portion thereof, (e.g., a downwardly facing abutting shoulder spaced downwardly from the upper end of the tube) with an actuator for urging the securing structure into engagement with the retainers (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1983
    Inventors: Norman E. Strunk, Anton P. Pohoreski
  • Patent number: 4392615
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine exhaust nozzle assembly having vertical thrust capability comprises a two-dimensional converging/diverging nozzle and a veer flap for forward thrust operation and a rotatable hood type deflector for vertical thrust operation, wherein the forward edge of the veer flap is attached to the downstream edge of the deflector hood. During forward thrust operation, the hood and rear edge of the divergent flap portion of the converging/diverging nozzle are moved synchronously to maintain the rear edge of the divergent flap portion and the front edge of the veer flap adjacent each other such that the veer flap is aligned with and acts as an extension of the divergent flap portion of the converging/diverging nozzle. Preferably, means are provided to independently trim the orientation of the veer flap to maximize thrust. A movable ventral flap defines the nozzle throat between itself and the deflector hood when the hood is deployed for vertical thrust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1983
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: William M. Madden
  • Patent number: 4392616
    Abstract: A drip irrigation emitter having a body with internal structure for reducing fluid pressure to provide a low pressure trickle output and an inlet member providing a passage for water to the internal structure and adapted to connect the emitter to a supply hose. The inlet member has a frusto-conical barb portion integral with a neck portion that extends between the large end of the barb portion and the emitter body. A cylindrical portion extending from the small end of the barb portion, which has at least one inlet opening, is usable as a mechanical punch to enable the emitter to be attached with one simple operation to a plastic irrigation hose or lateral without prepunching holes therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1983
    Inventor: Donald O. Olson
  • Patent number: 4384680
    Abstract: A fluid flow regulator unit comprising a hollow casing; means of defining inlet and outlet control chambers; flow connection means for flow connecting the inlet chamber to a fluid supply conduit; the casing having a surface containing an outlet aperture for flow connecting the outlet chamber to the exterior of the casing; fluid flow restricting means having an inlet and an outlet respectively connected to the inlet and outlet chambers; and a resilient flexible member responsive to the difference in fluid pressure between the inlet and outlet chambers for elastic deformation into cooperation with the aperture in the casing thereby establishing a flow restriction for fluid passing through the aperture whenever the pressure differential across the member exceeds a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1983
    Assignee: Hydro-plan Engineering Ltd.
    Inventor: Raphael Mehoudar
  • Patent number: 4383605
    Abstract: A control system for an accumulating conveyor having a plurality of zones wherein each zone has a pneumatic logic module that includes a relay limit valve and one or more OR valves. The output of one OR valve is connected to air actuators which affect driving engagement and disengagement of drive rollers with the load carrying rollers of a zone of the conveyor. A pilot operated relay valve is connected to the discharge zone of the conveyor and employed to release an article thereon. The control system can easily be modified to provide accumulation in either direction, as well as single, sequential or train release in both directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1983
    Assignee: Rexnord Inc.
    Inventor: Warren J. Harwick
  • Patent number: 4383604
    Abstract: During transfer the bars or tubes of circular section are separated from each other and displaced step by step by the device while being propelled laterally and rotated. The device comprises three sets of vertically movable stringers, each having upwardly projecting teeth preferably with plane surfaces symmetrical with respect to the vertical, the teeth being equal to each other and spaced horizontally, the teeth of the stringers of any one set also being aligned, and the sets of stringers being so arranged that a product being transferred is always supported by at least two sets of stringers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1983
    Assignee: Vallourec
    Inventor: Francois G. Grandemange
  • Patent number: 4383602
    Abstract: An unscrambler, to which lightweight cup- or bowl-shaped articles such as the bottoms for plastic bottles or caps for aerosol containers, are fed prior to delivery to another, e.g. a bottle-making or cap-applying machine, for which they must all be presented right-way-up, and which are likely to become "stacked" when scrambled together, comprises a shallow, rotating dish reservoir which can be very big, e.g. up to or even more than 30 feet (10 meters) across, but which can be suspended from a roof or ceiling so as not to take up floor space. The dish has an inclined rim with an outer ledge, the articles being blown up the rim onto the ledge by an air current which puts them on the ledge right-way-up. Any articles that are stacked or not aligned properly on the ledge are removed by further air jets or mechanically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1983
    Assignee: GOM Automation Limited
    Inventor: Brian Giles
  • Patent number: 4382554
    Abstract: To provide two pressure ranges for selective control of the stroke of a fuel injection valve, the valve element has a plate-like rocker coupled thereto, which is engaged at one side by the customary closing spring, for example via a spring disk having a central projection fitting into a matching depression of the rocker element. The rocker element is pivotable about a pivot bearing (22), for example in form of a knife edge, secured to the needle valve, the pivot bearing engaging the side of the rocker element remote from the spring and subdividing the rocker element into two unequal rocker arms (24, 26) which, respectively, bear against shoulders (25, 29a) of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1983
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Karl Hofmann
  • Patent number: 4380318
    Abstract: A drip emitter system and head is disclosed, the system including a line through which water may pass, the line having a series of spaced openings. Drip emitter heads are received in these spaced openings, each head including a bulbous end received within the line, the end being larger than the opening, and a flared top external to the line. A shank connects the bulbous end and flared top of the head, at least a portion of the surface of the shank being tapered and narrowing from the bulbous end gradually towards the top, whereby increased pressure in the line increases the forces on the head, forcing the shank more firmly into the opening in the line and causing it to constrict water flow between the shank and the opening. The surface of the shank may be substantially circular in cross section, or may include one or more longitudinal grooves for water. The undersurface of the head may be oriented generally parallel to the surface of the line so that emitted water will strike it and spray outwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1983
    Inventor: Byron V. Curry
  • Patent number: 4380321
    Abstract: A color change valve structure for rotary head electrostatic spray coating systems, of the type to which a rapid rotation is imparted to a rotary spray head and coating material directed through an orifice against the head for discharge from a peripheral edge of the head in a spray, is characterized by coating material and dump valves behind the head in close proximity with the orifice. The coating material valve controls a flow of coating material from a supply line to the orifice, and the dump valve is operable to establish a passage from the supply line, through the material valve and to a dump outlet. To purge the system of coating material of one color in preparation for spraying material of another, the material valve is closed, the dump valve is opened and a flow of flushing media is established through the supply line, whereby the flushing media cleanses the supply line and material valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1983
    Assignee: Binks Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Samuel W. Culbertson, Charles W. McCulloch, Keith G. Williams
  • Patent number: 4376482
    Abstract: A wafer orienting apparatus having inwardly biased rollers, spaced about the circumferential edge of a wafer in contact with the edge. Two of the rollers are spaced apart a distance less than the dimension of a primary flat registration edge and are mounted to follow the wafer edge upon rotation of the wafer. When a flat registration edge passes these closely spaced rollers they move inwardly, activating switches associated with a coincidence circuit. When both switches are simultaneously activated, the coincidence circuit produces a signal which stops wafer rotation, thereby orienting the wafer. The rollers are mounted so that they can be moved from the path of wafer travel after wafer orientation, permitting a queue of wafers to be oriented, one after the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1983
    Assignee: Tencor Instruments
    Inventors: William R. Wheeler, George J. Kren, David D. Clementson
  • Patent number: 4376511
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for forming CO.sub.2 snow and includes a CO.sub.2 line having an outlet end and an inlet end adapted for communication with a source of liquid CO.sub.2 under pressure. A snow forming head is provided and comprises a generally horizontal elongated laterally and downwardly opening channel member and a CO.sub.2 discharge conduit is disposed in and extends along the channel member. The conduit includes opposite side small diameter outlet openings formed therein and spaced longitudinally therealong opening outwardly toward and spaced inward of the opposing sides of the channel member. One end of the conduit is closed and the outlet end of the CO.sub.2 line is sealingly communicated with the other end of the conduit. At least the portion of the conduit having the small diameter outlet openings formed therein is of a greater internal cross-sectional area than the CO.sub.2 line whereby movement of liquid CO.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1983
    Inventor: Paul R. Franklin, Jr.