Patents Examined by Robert E. Garrett
  • Patent number: 4893983
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling rotor blade tip clearances in a gas turbine engine is disclosed. A flow of heat transfer fluid is supplied to the rotor. The temperature of the flow is controlled as a function of the heat carrying capacity of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: William F. McGreehan
  • Patent number: 4893985
    Abstract: A molecular pump of the Hollweck type is composed of a plurality of stages in order to improve the pumping characteristics. Rotor and stator consist of different portions which are provided alternately with helical grooves and with smooth outer and inner surfaces respectively. The cooperating surfaces of the individual rotor and stator portions are tapered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Assignee: Arthur Pfeiffer Vakuumtechnik Wetzlar GmbH
    Inventor: Kurt Holss
  • Patent number: 4893549
    Abstract: An adjustable axial piston machine having a bent axis design having a cylindrical drum rotatably supported on a swivel carriage which has a pair of channels formed therein. One channel is connected with a fluid feed channel and the other channel is connected with a fluid discharge channel. The cylindrical drum is connected to a rotatable shaft and has a plurality of pistons located in cylinders formed in it. A housing for the swivel carriage has a concave guide surface for the face of the swivel carriage facing the guide surface. Support pistons are pivotably connected at one end to the machine housing and supported on the swivel carriage. A plurality of pairs of counteracting servo pistons adjust the position of the support pistons and the cylindrical drum to modify the length of the stroke of the pistons located within the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengelsellschaft
    Inventor: Franz Forster
  • Patent number: 4893990
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a mixed flow impeller with a low noise, to be used for a blower of an air conditioner or the like. The mixed flow impeller of the present invention is characterized in three points, i.e., thin thickness blade member increased in its thickness only at its leading edge, a plate-like triangular protrusion provided at an outer peripheral portion of the leading edge, and blade curvature line having its maximum curvature position deviated toward the trailing edge side through employment of a cubic curve. Since each of the above features may be caused to function independently, noise reduction is possible even if it is executed singly, but the maximum effect is available when the are effected in combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruhiko Tomohiro, Masahiro Atarashi
  • Patent number: 4893472
    Abstract: A hydraulic master cylinder assembly of the type including a reservoir in which a diaphragm is disposed to divide the reservoir chamber into a hydraulic fluid chamber outside of the diaphragm and in communication with the pressure chamber of the master cylinder and a gas chamber within the diaphragm. The diaphragm is generally tubular with an open end and a closed end, and in a cross section transverse to the central axis of the diaphragm, includes a plurality of radially extending arms arranged about the central axis of the diaphragm and each including a pair of side walls defining therebetween a portion of the volume of the gas chamber. The diaphragm is movable between an expanded condition in which it assumes a substantially circular configuration in cross section and a collapsed condition in which each of the pairs of side walls of the arms are collapsed with respect to each other to reduce the volume of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Assignee: Automotive Products plc
    Inventors: David C. Barker, Keith V. Leigh-Monstevens
  • Patent number: 4893473
    Abstract: A fabricated master cylinder having a reservoir part and in interlocked cylinder part defining a cylinder bore and which a slidable piston is supported. The reservoir part that extends into the cylinder bore defines a shoulder that cooperates with a recuperation valve for forming an actuating stop for holding the makeup fluid recuperation valve in an opened position when the piston is at its at rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Patrick H. Hool, Glenn R. Gualdoni
  • Patent number: 4892027
    Abstract: A vacuum brake power booster and method of manufacture is disclosed. The booster includes a guide sleeve in a bore in the control valve casing. A radial flange of the guide sleeve guides the push rod and is supported axially within the axial bore of the control valve casing. The guide sleeve is axially embraced by a retaining member in positive engagement therewith with the retaining member being positively connected to the control valve casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Assignee: Alfred Teves GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Wagner, Lothar Schiel
  • Patent number: 4892462
    Abstract: The blade of composite materials and its manufacturing process according to the invention are such that the spar includes at least one bundle (10a, 10b) extending longitudinally in the shell (4), between the fillings of the leading edge (12a) and the trailing edge (12c) and which adheres directly to the laminated pressure face and suction face coverings, (4a, 4b) of the rigid shell (4). Beyond the blade footing (3), the spar is shaped to form a root loop flexible in torsion (8) and passing round an attaching socket (9) on the hub. Application to variable pitch multi-blade propellers for the streamlined tail rotors of helicopters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Assignee: Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle
    Inventors: Bruno J. M. Barbier, Jean A. Michaud-Soret
  • Patent number: 4891945
    Abstract: The brake pressure generator (1) includes a tandem master cylinder (2) actuable by two booster pistons (19, 32) to which a hydraulic auxiliary pressure is applied and by a pedal actuating mechanism (17,18). A control valve (14, 20) controls the auxiliary boost pressure. The control valve, through an actuator (16), cooperates with the pedal actuating mechanism (17,18). One booster piston (32) is disposed on the bottom of the tandem master cylinder (2) adjacent the push rod (22). Normally-open valve (37) closes when brake pressure exceeds boost pressure to trap fluid in chamber (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Assignee: Alfred Teves GmbH
    Inventor: Horst-Peter Becker
  • Patent number: 4892029
    Abstract: This relates to a positioning device for positioning a member relative to a work piece. In the preferred use of the positioning device, a sealing head is carried by the positioning device with the sealing head having a first lowered position for picking up a lid for a container and a second lowered position for positioning the lid and thereafter bringing the lid into pressure engagement with an associated container and effect the heat sealing of the lid to the container. The positioning device includes an extensible fluid motor of the piston and cylinder type which is mounted within a guide sleeve for selective vertical positioning by way of a cam follower and cam track and which extensible fluid motor is further selectively extensible so as to further move an associated member carried thereby downwardly and into resilient clamping engagement with the work piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Assignee: Continental Can Company, Inc.
    Inventor: John Walter
  • Patent number: 4892028
    Abstract: A fluid operated circuit for controlling the movement of pistons contained in the drive and idler cylinders of a conventional dual post vehicle lift assembly of the type wherein the cylinders are hydraulically connected in tandem so that movement of the idler cylinder piston is dependent upon movement of the drive cylinder piston and wherein the pistons, while operative to lift and lower movable article supporting structures, are not fixedly connected thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Assignee: VBM Corporation
    Inventor: Bernard R. Stivers
  • Patent number: 4891169
    Abstract: The present invention provides a curvilinear transition duct for use with a centrifugal fan that affords optimal fan efficiency without undue duct length. The duct comprises a top section of generally concave planar shape when viewed from above and a bottom section. Side sections join the top and bottom sections to form a four sided structure having an inlet opening at one side and an outlet opening at the other side. The preferred bottom section is of a generally longer longitudinal length than the top section. Further, the preferred duct has a plane in contact with the edges of the inlet opening which intersect a plane in contact with the outlet openings at a level above the duct. The angle formed between the planes would be 1.degree. to 60.degree..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: AMSTED Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Kaplan, Richard H. Harrison, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4890541
    Abstract: A fluid-operated actuator for collets, vises, chucks and other workpiece engagement devices, for example, the actuator having a piston which moves the engagement device toward the workpiece with a force equal to product of the area of the face of the piston times the pressure of a fluid applied to the face. When the engagement device has engaged the workpiece, additional, relatively slight movement of the piston causes a force multiplying mechanism to provide increased engagement force without increasing the pressure of the actuating fluid. The overall travel of the actuator mechanism is not limited by the force-mulitplying mechanism which begins to function only after the unrelated distance of travel of the engagement device to the workpiece. Thus, for example, compressed air at ordinary shop pressures may be used to actuate collets or chucks on automatic lathes or the like to provide relatively high clamping forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Inventor: Richard C. Spooner
  • Patent number: 4890538
    Abstract: The invention relates to a brake cylinder suitable for a hydraulic vehicle brake system, having at least one brake chamber and a brake booster, actuatable by a piston rod, with a brake valve assembly that has an inlet and an outlet for power brake fluid and communicates with a pressure chamber of the brake booster. The pressure chamber is located in a longitudinally bored housing section and is defined in the axial direction by one end of a sealed and displaceable sheath and of a rod that is sealed and displaceable within the sheath. The sheath and rod form two servo pistons for generating brake pressure in the brake chamber. The rod is displaceable in an emergency by means of the coaxially aligned piston rod. In a space-saving manner, the brake valve assembly is built into the rod and piston rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Kehl, Heinz Siegel
  • Patent number: 4890978
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for vane segment alignment and support in a combustion turbine. The vane segment alignment device is comprised of a rotatable, eccentric bushing and pin which is inserted into a slot of the vane segment. The eccentric bushing is further comprised of a cover plate which is peened to a splined torque plate thus holding the eccentric bushing in place against the vane segment but allowing for fine adjustments of the alignment of the vane segments. The vane segment support and alignment device provides for efficient and economical adjustment of the vane segments especially in electric generating plants where combustion turbines undergo high peak load operation. Additionally, the vane segment support and alignment device transfers torques and moments generated by aerodynamic flow from the vane segments to an inner cylinder thereby reducing the amount of misalignment due to aerodynamic drag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Leroy D. McLaurin, Roland E. Williams, John P. Donlan, Kent G. Hultgren
  • Patent number: 4890543
    Abstract: A light metal piston for internal combustion engines has a pair of inserts on the inside of upper piston skirt made of a material of lower thermal expansion coefficient than that of the light metal, such as steel. Each insert has a pair of bands which are joined by a connecting portion of the insert in the region of the gudgeon pin boss. Each band extends circumferentially away from the gudgeon pin boss, so as to control thermal expansion of the piston skirt. A free end of each band are bent inwardly, so that the insert can be set firmly on the mold core of the piston during casting operation by snapping the bent portions of the insert into the grooves on the mold core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: Izumi Automotive Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Kudou, Tosio Ogiwara
  • Patent number: 4890540
    Abstract: Service/emergency brake actuator mechanism for use with the air brake system of a wheeled vehicle. A plurality of breather holes or openings are provided in the housing section of the emergency brake actuator chamber that houses the emergency actuator spring to maintain the chamber at atmospheric pressure. The openings are arranged such that regardless of the orientation of the brake actuator mounted in the wheeled vehicle, one of those openings will be located in the upper hemisphere of the chamber housing and another opening will be located in the lower hemisphere of the chamber housing. A flow resistant plug member, adapted to fit into any of the openings, is provided to seal whichever opening is oriented in the upper hemisphere of the chamber housing. This arrangement minimizes the amount of dust and dirt particles that enter the chamber and, thus, keeps the chamber free of contamination that could hinder actuator performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: Nuturn Corporation
    Inventor: Tommy D. Mullins
  • Patent number: 4889036
    Abstract: A speed-reducing valve assembly is provided in an air passage through which compressed air is discharged when a pneumatic actuator is decelerated. The speed-reducing valve assembly comprises a three-way valve actuated by a signal generated when the actuator has reached the point where deceleration is started, a relief valve through which the compressed air in the passage is let out when the air pressure has reached the preset level, and a check valve that allows only the admission of compressed air into the same passage. The signal-actuated three-way valve brings the air passage of the actuator into communication with the passage in which the relief valve and check valve are provided. When the signal generated when the actuator has reached the deceleration starting point is fed to the speed-reducing valve assembly, the exhaust passage of the actuator communicates with the relief valve and check valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: SMC Corporation
    Inventors: Akihisa Yoshikawa, Masamichi Tajima, Watanabe Kunio, Toshiharu Sato
  • Patent number: 4889039
    Abstract: The invention, a high-pressure, reciprocating, gas compressor, employs labyrinths to create gas sealing, annular, air dams between the piston and cylinder bore, and piston rod and an aperture in an end wall or closure of the cylinder through which the rod translates, and active magnetic bearings to maintain the piston and rod at their centroids, equally and minutely spaced, fully thereabout, within the bore and aperture. Too, the drive mechanism, a scotch yoke arrangement, has further, active magnetic bearings, to centralize a drive shaft in its housing, and to effect a non-contacting travel of the drive shaft's offset crank, which translates the piston rod, within the yoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Inventor: Bernard F. Miller
  • Patent number: 4889035
    Abstract: A fluid pressure oscillator is provided with a cylinder containing a piston assembly. Fluid actuated reciprocation of the piston assembly is controlled by a valve mounted externally of the cylinder. The valve is alternately shifted between "advance" and "retract" settings by a reciprocating actuating rod removably received in the cylinder. A magnet on the piston assembly cooperates with magnetic elements on the actuating rod to automatically reciprocate the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: Thermo Electron Web Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald F. Goodnow