Patents Examined by Richard A. Bertsch
  • Patent number: 5449976
    Abstract: A control unit for controlling a strobe light or the like, in particular for use in an alarm system or an emergency locator, is characterized in that a direct current power supply unit is provided which is activated to drive the strobe light when an external power supply unit which is adapted to drive the strobe light is deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Inventors: Raymond J. Kemp, Susan E. Leighton, Philip D. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 5449274
    Abstract: An electronic pump selector system uses a programmable processor to select one of a plurality of pumps to be energized in response to an appropriate feedback signal from the selected pump. A current limited feedback circuit is incorporated which provides a varying voltage in response to a level switch associated with a selected pump indicating a high fluid level. In response to the voltage feedback signal, the selected pump is energized for a predetermined period of time. Subsequently, another pump is selected. The next selected pump is energized also for a predetermined period of time in response to a varying voltage feedback signal therefrom. The next pump is then selected and the sequence continued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: Metropolitan Pump Company
    Inventor: John Kochan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5448982
    Abstract: An intake system includes a supercharger for use with a power train. The power train includes a transverse engine and a transmission disposed transversely behind the engine. The engine has first and second rows of cylinders. Cylinders in each row are intended not to be fired one after another. The first and second rows of cylinders are offset sideways relative to each other. The intake system has an individual downstream intake part, downstream from the supercharger supported by the power train, for each row of cylinders. The individual downstream intake port includes a branch intake passage, branching off downstream from the supercharger and supported by the power train, and an inter-cooler disposed in the branch intake passage. One of the inter-coolers is located on a front side of the engine, and another of the inter-coolers is located above the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yukio Arakawa, Toshimichi Akagi, Kouichi Hatamura, Makoto Kishida
  • Patent number: 5449276
    Abstract: A fluid rotating apparatus includes a plurality of rotors accommodated in a housing, at least one of the rotors having its outer diameter different from that of the other of the rotors. Bearings are provided for supporting rotary shafts of the plurality of rotors. A fluid suction port and a fluid discharge port are formed in the housing. A motor is provides for rotating at least one of the plurality of rotors, and a control system for synchronously controlling the plurality of rotors in a contactless manner is provided for each rotary shaft of the plurality of rotors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruo Maruyama, Akira Takara
  • Patent number: 5448884
    Abstract: A mechanical lock for an airplane engine thrust reverser is connected to an actuator for the thrust reverser sleeve. The mechnical lock includes an electrically operated solenoid which moves a locking pin between an unlocked position and a locked position. When the pin is in the locked position, it engages a toothed wheel which is mounted about a shaft which engages a drive gear for the thrust reverser actuator. In this manner, movement of the thrust reverser sleeve is prevented until commanded operation of the thrust reverser whereby the locking pin is moved to the unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Timothy O. Repp
  • Patent number: 5447417
    Abstract: An actuator for a self-adjusting pump head assembly has a variable position pump shoe slidably attached to a base. The assembly pumps liquids through a tube in a peristaltic pump, including a translator of rotational motion into linear motion and a crank for automatically compensating for the manufacturing tolerances of the tube in the pump pivotally attached to the translator and the shoe. The crank for automatically compensating has a linkage or pair of links, carrying a helical compression spring, pivotally anchored to the translator and the shoe. The peristaltic pump includes a self-adjusting pump head, including a variable position pump shoe slidably attached to a base and a control for positioning, locking and applying a continuous reaction force on the shoe to compress the tube between the shoe and at least one roller located on the periphery of a mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Valleylab Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Kuhl, Joseph N. Logan
  • Patent number: 5447023
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for synthesizing a fuel flow and a metering valve position used in a fuel control system of a turbomachine. Various construction details have been developed which provide a method to manipulate conventional turbine engine parameters to generate a synthesized fuel flow signal and metering valve position signal. In one embodiment, a synthesis means includes means to sense temperature, pressure and high pressure shaft speed, and means to manipulate the sensed signals to generate a synthesized fuel flow. A function generator responds to the synthesized fuel flow signal to generate a synthesized metering valve position signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Meisner, Matthew J. Schryver
  • Patent number: 5447422
    Abstract: An air-cooled oil-free rotary-type compressor in accordance with the invention includes a first air cooler including a plurality of cooling pipes, a check valve, and a second air cooler. The first air cooler, the check valve and the second air cooler are provided in a passage of compressed air discharged from a compressor body. The second air cooler is disposed in a first cooling air flow direction and the second air cooler is disposed in a second cooling air flow direction substantially perpendicular to the first cooling air flow direction. The plurality of cooling pipes of the first air cooler are arranged along the second cooling air flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Aoki, Akira Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5447024
    Abstract: A chemical-looping combustion method uses a metallic oxide (MO) as an oxygen carrier. A fuel (RH) reduces MO at a low temperature in a first reactor, a reduced product (M) is oxidized by oxygen in moistened air in a high-temperature region in a second reactor to form MO which is recycled to the first reactor. Heat generated within these reactors is utilized to drive gas turbines. The reactions within the first and second reactors are:RH+MO.fwdarw.mCO.sub.2 +nH.sub.2 O+M (1)M+0.50.sub.2 .fwdarw.MO (2)Moistened air is the oxygen source in the second reaction. The metallic oxides and their reduced products are particulates including an oxygen permeable medium. The loss of energy in the conversion reactions and in heat exchange is reduced, power generation efficiency is improved, CO.sub.2 is recovered and water resources are saved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Masaru Ishida, Hongguang Jin
  • Patent number: 5447415
    Abstract: A motor driven fluid compressor having compression and drive mechanisms within a hermetically sealed housing is disclosed. The compressor includes the compression mechanism, and the drive mechanism. A drive shaft and a motor rotates the drive shaft. A hermetically sealed housing contains the compression mechanism and the drive mechanism. The drive shaft is operatively connected to the compression mechanism, and is rotatably supported by a first inner block and a second inner block which is axially spaced from the first inner block. The first and second inner blocks are integral with first and second portions of the housing, respectively. As a result, the longitudinal axis of holes formed within the first and second inner blocks and the longitudinal axis of the compressor housing are easily and precisely aligned without increasing in the manufacturing cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Fukui
  • Patent number: 5447290
    Abstract: A guard rail for use with linearly-arranged reinforcement bars is provided, the guard rail including a housing for guarding reinforcement bars with the housing including structure for capturing the reinforcement bars therein, and structure on the capturing structure for guiding movement of the capturing structure between a non-secured position and a position wherein the housing is securely maintained in a guarding position over the reinforcement bars extending into the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Deslauriers, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary L. Workman
  • Patent number: 5447416
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pumping device comprising two suction inlet holes spaced a predetermined distance apart by an extension tube. In a variant, the pumping device comprises two pump barrels cooperating each with the two inlet holes. In another variant, the pumping device comprises a pump barrel and control means for controlling the flow rates of the effluents coming from the two inlet holes. The pumping device is used in a subhorizontal drain hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventor: Christian Wittrisch
  • Patent number: 5447414
    Abstract: Air handling apparatus (10) for delivering a volume of air at a generally constant flow rate regardless of changes in the operating conditions of a system with which the apparatus is used. A blower (12) pushes air from one point to another. The blower is operated by a blower motor (14). A switch (16) controls application of power to the motor. Sensors (20) are used to sense the voltage supplied to the motor, the current drawn by the motor, and the motor's operating speed. A flow controller (22) establishes a desired air flow rate to be provided by the blower. A processor (18) is responsive to the sensed voltage (V), current (I), and speed (S), an input (C) from the flow controller, and constants (K1-K4) related to performance characteristics of the blower to determine a torque required by the motor to produce a predetermined air flow rate. The torque value is determined as a function of the combined motor speed input from the sensor and an input from the flow controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Craig Nordby, John S. Thorn, James Skinner
  • Patent number: 5447421
    Abstract: In an hydraulic generator-receiver for power transmission, with an improved hydraulic balancing, balancing of the axial force of the driving gear is effected by varying the value of the surface of the permanent high pressure zone, so that this variation causes an application of the high pressure on a surface of one of the side plates, either greater, or lower, while the value of the permanent high pressure zone has no influence on the other side plate. In addition, the inter-sector zone is incorporated in the sectors of the envelope to balance the tangential force of the driving gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Inventor: Jean Malfit
  • Patent number: 5444980
    Abstract: Electronic control system for a variable geometry turbocompressor applied to a diesel engine provided with a continuous braking device. The system is provided with a selector which may be manually actuated and by of which it is possible to control the engagement/disengagement of the continuous braking device and it is possible to select a first braking mode according to which the speed of the engine is maintained substantially constant by controlling the turbocompressor and a second braking method in which the continuous braking device provides the maximum braking power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignees: Iveco Fiat S.p.A., Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Giancarlo Dellora, Paolo Polverelli
  • Patent number: 5445504
    Abstract: A sealed compressor for use in an air conditioner or a refrigerator. The sealed compressor has an electrically driving portion which includes a rotor having a dust reservoir for collecting and storing dust or the like, which reservoir is formed in the central part of the rotor. Further, the dust reservoir is connected to a through hole, in which lubricating oil flows, of a driving shaft through a horizontal hole. Thus, dust contained in lubricating oil are moved outward by centrifugal force. Further, when dust enter the dust reservoir, such dusts are stored therein. Furthermore, the stored dust cannot get out of the dust reservoir. As the result, dust contained in the lubricating oil can be prevented from getting into the sliding portion. Moreover, the sliding portion can be prevented from being damaged by dust contained in the lubricating oil. Consequently, a sealed compressor with high reliability can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Iwamura, Shigeru Muramatsu, Sadayuki Yamada
  • Patent number: 5445501
    Abstract: A device for feeding liquid under pressure comprises a vessel having an operating fluid inlet, an operating fluid outlet, an inlet opening for the liquid to be fed under pressure and an outlet opening for the liquid to be fed under pressure; a float disposed within said vessel; a change-over valve for alternately switching the operations of opening and closing the operating fluid inlet and outlet in response to the movement of the float; and a link mechanism. The link mechanism comprises a valve operating rod connected to the change-over valve and a compression spring supported at one end thereof by the valve operating rod and adapted not to cross any fulcrum at the time of operation thereof, and operates to move the valve operating rod in a snap motion in response to the movement of the float. The compression spring is supported by the valve operating rod so that the vector of action of the compression spring passes onto the point connecting the compression spring with the valve operating rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: TLV Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki Yumoto
  • Patent number: 5444973
    Abstract: Disclosed is a space launch system having a main engine which uses turbopumps to provide fuel and oxidizer to the main engine combustion chamber, and one or more booster engines that use high pressure fuel and/or oxidizer to pressurize the fuel and oxidizer tanks of the booster engine to obtain the pressure differential necessary to drive fuel and oxidizer from the fuel and oxidizer tanks of the booster engine to the combustion chamber of the booster engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Charles D. Limerick, James R. Brown
  • Patent number: 5444971
    Abstract: A multi-stage method and apparatus for cooling the inlet air of internal combustion engine and gas turbine prime movers with various load applications comprising: generating and providing a multi-stage refrigerated cooling system associated with the air inlet of internal combustion engine and gas turbine prime movers which provides thermodynamic efficiencies in accordance with a divided psychrometric inlet air cooling path enthalpy curve; cascading the cooled refrigerant from a first cooling stage as the liquid feed into a subsequent lower temperature cooling stage for cooling to the desired temperature; energizing power means to drive the prime mover and refrigerant cooling system; and adjusting the power means based on current energy costs to optimize net revenues to produce electricity or useful work from the prime mover application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Inventor: Charles R. Holenberger
  • Patent number: 5445506
    Abstract: A self-loading peristaltic pumping apparatus includes a pump race for receiving a tubing loop, a pump rotor carrying a roller, and a drive mechanism for rotating the rotor within the pump race. The apparatus also includes a roller locating mechanism that moves the pump roller between a retracted position, free of contact with the received tubing loop, and an extended position, at least partially within the pump race for operative contact with the received tubing loop. The apparatus includes at least one tubing guide element carried by the rotor. The guide element extends from the rotor at least partially into the pump race. The guide element serves during rotation of the rotor with the roller in its retracted position, for contacting the received tubing loop to orient the tubing loop within the pump race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Afflerbaugh, Richard L. West, Timothy J. Patno, Arthur S. Chapman