Patents Examined by Philip Coe
  • Patent number: 6668410
    Abstract: Method for controlling a full automatic washing machine, the method comprising a washing cycle, a rinsing cycle, and a dewatering cycle, wherein the washing or the rinsing cycle includes the step of rotating an inner tub at a high speed higher than a preset speed in one direction, thereby making a centrifugal force caused by high speed rotation of the inner tub, to push laundry against a wall of the inner tub, to enforce washing water in the inner tub to penetrate through the laundry at a speed higher than required to make the washing done, and to pump the washing water penetrated through the laundry and discharged into an outer tub upward, to recirculate to the inner tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Cheol Lyu, Sung Jin Cho, Hyung Dae Ryu, Chang Sik Kang, Ji Maeng Kim
  • Patent number: 6626195
    Abstract: An assembly for rotating and axially directing a high pressure spray hose and spray head to clean residue from the bores of thermal transfer tubes. The assembly includes a number of subassemblies that are concentrically aligned and mounted to rotate in synchrony and direct a high-pressure hose and spray head. A hose cleaning subassembly washes and/or brushes the hose exterior with a low-pressure spray. A hose drive assembly controls axial hose movement via driven gears and chains and four polyurethane pinch wheels that abut the hose. Spring tensioners control the wheel-to-hose pressure. A layering arm extends from a driven reel axle and stacks the hose in uniform layer onto an adjustable hub at a driven reel. The diameter of the reel hub can adjusted relative to an outer cage. The hose reel, axial hose drive and hose cleaner assemblies can be operated at speeds rotational speeds of 60 rpm to 650 rpm and whereby tubes from ½ to 6-inch diameters can be cleaned at rates of 1 to 80 feet per minute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Aqua Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel T. Garman, Eugene R. Valentine
  • Patent number: 6598611
    Abstract: Dishwashing machine comprising an outer casing (1) and a loading door (6) which is adapted to only close by means of sliding motions in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the open front face of the washing vessel of the machine. Within the thickness of the door (6) there are accommodated functional and hydraulic component parts (30, 15, 20, 25, 35, 5, 22, 36). Of some of these component parts, the portions requiring to be reached by the user are arranged along the upper edge (10) of the door (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Electrolux Zanussi S.p.A.
    Inventor: Piero Durazzani
  • Patent number: 6591638
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for washing fabric loads without water or using water only as a co-solvent are disclosed. One method of non-aqueous clothes washing includes the steps of disposing clothing in a wash container, delivering a wash liquor to the fabric load, the wash liquor comprising a substantially non-reactive, non-aqueous, non-oleophilic, apolar working fluid and at least one washing additive, applying mechanical energy to the clothing and wash liquor for a sufficient amount of time to provide fabric cleaning and, thereafter, substantially removing the wash liquor from the fabric load. The working fluid may be selected from the group consisting of perfluorocarbons, hydrofluoroethers, fluoronated hydrocarbons and fluoroinerts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt A Estes, Daniel C. Conrad, Mark Bradley Kovich, Tremitchell L. Wright
  • Patent number: 6591639
    Abstract: The apparatus for dyeing including simultaneous dye fixing and drying of a textile product web has a device for applying dye solution to a product web; a steam-tight housing having one or more steam treatment chambers for heat treating the moist product web; a transporting device for conveying the moist product web horizontally through the steam treatment chamber or chambers: at least one circulating device for circulating hot steam in the treatment chamber or chambers and nozzle boxes arranged in the steam-tight housing above and below the horizontally conveyed product web for blowing superheated steam at the horizontally conveyed product web. In arrangements with two treatment chambers the transport device includes a roller conveyor arranged in the region between the treatment chambers and has two guiding rollers and a pulling roller. A method of heat treatment of the textile product using the arrangement is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Babcock-Textilmaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Marc-Aurel Voth
  • Patent number: 6592681
    Abstract: A floating cleaning device that cleans marine growth from float and skirt type oil booms. The cleaning device is a floating platform with ramps at the front and rear with tracks that guide the movement of the oil boom past a series of spray washers supplied with pressurized water to remove the marine growth from the oil boom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Kevin L. Hackett
  • Patent number: 6578224
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process of cleaning carpets and other large fabric coverings with a product dispensed from a device. The device comprises a reservoir for the product, means for dispensing the product, a spray arm and at least one dispensing opening. The reservoir is a removable non-refillable cartridge. Preferably, the reservoir comprises at least one compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: John Russell Lawson, Marcel Vanderbroek, Jelle Dankert Vuijk
  • Patent number: 6569254
    Abstract: An apparatus and method permits unattended cleaning of a surface. A clamping mechanism engages features around a contaminated surface and is connected to a dome-shaped receptacle containing a gelled acid compound. The gelled acid compound is pressed and held against the contaminated surface during cleaning. Gelled acid ensures that the acid component for dissolving does not readily disburse into the ambient environment. Contamination exposed to the gelled acid compound is dissolved, and the clamping mechanism is disengaged for other cleaning tasks. More reliable attachment of instrumentation and other packages can be made to the cleaned surface. The uncomplicated apparatus and method of the invention allow a single diver to quietly attach packages underwater in the harsh marine environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Billy Courson, Felipe Garcia, John Shelburne
  • Patent number: 6568408
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for removing a liquid, i.e a wet processing liquid, from a surface of at least one substrate is disclosed. A liquid is supplied on a surface of substrate. Simultaneously or thereafter besides the liquid also a gaseous substance can be supplied thereby creating at least locally a sharply defined liquid-vapor boundary. The gaseous substance and the liquid can be selected such that the gaseous substance is miscible with the liquid and when mixed with the liquid yields a mixture having a surface tension lower than that of the liquid. According to the invention, the substrate is subjected to a rotary movement at a speed to guide said liquid-vapor boundary over said substrate thereby removing said liquid from said substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Interuniversitair Microelektronica Centrum (IMEC, vzw)
    Inventors: Paul Mertens, Mark Meuris, Marc Heyns
  • Patent number: 6564413
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for operating a front-loading washing machine with a washing aggregate comprising a tub holding a rotatably-mounted drum suspended in the machine housing so as to be able to oscillate with a midaxis descending from front to back and equipped an imbalance sensor that changes the rotation of the drum by means of a control program when an imbalance occurs in the spin cycle. In many cases of operation an improved spin result can be achieved for a small loads of cotton laundry and the related laundry absorbency by disabling the imbalance sensor and running the spin cycle at the programmed maximum speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Walter Braun, Michael Laue
  • Patent number: 6564814
    Abstract: An engine decarbonizing system comprises a manifold with one central and four lateral bores. Pressurized air and decarbonizing fluid in separate containers are adapted to be co-mingled and fed to and through the manifold. A tube assembly has an output tube and two parallel input tubes operatively coupled. The output tube is coupled to the central bore and the two parallel input tubes are coupled to the containers for dispensing pressurized decarbonizing fluid. Four short tubes are coupled to the lateral bores and second ends have a rigid cylindrical nozzle selectively positionable within a spark plug for the delivery of a spray of pressurized decarbonizing fluid. Four switches are coupled to the manifold adjacent to the interface between a short tube and a short bore for selectively allowing or precluding the flow of decarbonizing fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Inventors: Shelba F. Bowsman, Peter Cosentino
  • Patent number: 6560806
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process of treating carpets and other large fabric coverings with a product dispensed from an appliance. This appliance comprises a reservoir for the product and means for dispensing this product which comprises a detachable and extendible spray arm. Preferably, this appliance is a portable electrical sprayer, and the spray arm comprises a handle, a telescopingly extendible wand connected to this handle, and a dispensing tube that is attached outside the extendible wand, and at least one portion of the detachable and telescopingly extendible wand is arranged inside the handle, when the spray arm is in the collapsed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: John Russell Lawson, Marcel Vanderbroek, Jelle Dankert Vuijk
  • Patent number: 6554008
    Abstract: Disclosed are a system and a method for cleaning a trash bin. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes nozzles coupled to lifting means. The nozzles are aimed at the inside of the trash bin. The method includes the steps of lifting the trash bin, inverting it to empty its contents, spraying the inside of the trash bin, and returning the trash bin to the ground. An additional step may include spraying the trash bin when it is returned to the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Inventors: Dustin Dewey, Ed Mosley
  • Patent number: 6553596
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for controlling a washing machine according to absorption characteristics of the laundry. The washing machine performs washing, rinsing and spin-drying steps in sequence. In the washing machine control method, first of all, a washing mode for absorption characteristics of laundry is set. A preset plural number of intermittent spin-drying operations are performed in the washing and rinsing steps in accordance with the set washing mode for absorption characteristics of the laundry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyung-Sook Kim, Jong-Hun Won
  • Patent number: 6551415
    Abstract: A vehicle loading system for the wash bay of an automatic vehicle wash system that eliminates the use of a floor-mounted target to capture the front tire of the vehicle to be washed. The vehicle wash system includes a pair of side position sensors that detect and create a side profile of the vehicle as the vehicle enters into the wash bay. The vehicle wash system includes a front sensor array that includes a plurality of through-beam sensors that detect the front bumper of a vehicle and signal the vehicle operator to stop when the front bumper is in the correct position. An overhead sensor contained on the overhead gantry detects the top profile of the vehicle positioned within the open wash bay. A control unit receives the information from the variety of sensors and operates the overhead gantry based upon the detected parameters of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation
    Inventors: Allen S. Jones, Mark Cuddeback
  • Patent number: 6546942
    Abstract: The invention addresses the need for an automatic dishwasher that can accommodate various shapes and sizes of utensils. The invention relates to an automatic dishwasher comprising a cabinet that defines a washing chamber. The cabinet has an access opening, which is closeable by a door that is moveably mounted to the cabinet between an open position and a closed position. A first basket is moveably mounted within the washing chamber and capable of movement between a use position and a load position. An auxiliary basket assembly comprising an auxiliary basket and an auxiliary basket support for support the auxiliary basket above the first basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: John I. Smith, Jeffrey R. Taylor
  • Patent number: 6546762
    Abstract: A washing machine includes a washing shaft for rotating agitating blades disposed in a dewatering tank, and the washing shaft is disposed coaxially on a hollow dewatering shaft for rotating the dewatering tank. The washing shaft is connected to the output side of a reduction mechanism, and a washing side input shaft is connected to the input side of the reduction mechanism to rotate the washing shaft by decelerating the rotation of a drive motor. A rotor of the drive motor is coupled to the lower part of the washing side input shaft. Therefore, the rotating torque of the agitating blades can be increased without increasing the torque of the drive motor. In addition, if the laundry collides against the agitating blades, the eccentricity to the washing side input shaft is suppressed, thereby the increase of the washing capacity can be handled without increasing the size of the drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Koshiga, Shinichi Nakajima, Junichi Morinaka, Shinichi Matsuda, Toshihiko Ura, Kenichi Akasaka, Norimasa Kondo
  • Patent number: 6544342
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing contaminants from the surface of a metallic article comprises a continuously flowing acid bath whose level of acidity and temperature is controlled and over which a purging gas flows to continuously remove hazardous gases generated during the removal of contaminants from the metallic article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: William K O'Keefe, Pierre Pinet
  • Patent number: 6539958
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for servicing a vehicle's transmission cooling system, where the apparatus includes a source valve with inlet and outlet ports, a pump with inlet and outlet ports, and a return valve with inlet and outlet ports. The pump inlet is connected to the source valve outlet. The pump pumps fluid from the source valve inlet through the source valve outlet and the pump inlet to the pump outlet for servicing the transmission cooling system. The fluid returns from the return valve inlet to the return valve outlet and the pump then re-pumps the fluid into the transmission cooling system. The service apparatus may also include a fluid source and a filter interposed between the fluid source and the source valve, where the fluid returns to the fluid source prior to re-pumping the fluid. The service apparatus may also include a flowmeter interposed between the return valve and the fluid source and a filter interposed between the return valve and the flowmeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Motorvac Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eduardo Betancourt, John Rome
  • Patent number: 6539962
    Abstract: The present invention 10 discloses a device which can be used to remove waste material and debris from the holding tank 26 of a recreational vehicle 14. The present invention 10 comprises an outlet element 36 being T or Y-shaped having an end cap 34 on one end and a locking cap 38 on the other end which locking cap 38 connects by using a locking element to the tank coupling valve 22 of the recreational vehicle. An extension wand 32 which is connected to an inlet water hose 20 at the inlet hose coupling element 24 passes through O-rings 44 disposed in the end cap 34 and the locking cap 38 whereby the extension wand travels or passes into the inner area of the holding tank 26. The extension wand 32 has water outlet perforations 35 on its end which are disposed interior of the holding tank so as to disperse the pressurized fluid throughout the inner tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Inventors: David M Paper, Elizabeth J Paper