Patents Examined by Roger J. Schoeppel
  • Patent number: 5603670
    Abstract: An arrangement is proposed for guiding a movable disk (3) in a continuously variable belt-drive transmission. The movable disk (3) is supported on balls (4) embedded in a mounting (5). The mountings (5) are interconnected in a narrow area. The axial travel of the arrangement is determined by bearing surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Herbert Mozer
  • Patent number: 5601144
    Abstract: A multi-point recovery system for recovering fluid from a plurality of wells, including a pumping apparatus which connects a suction pump sequentially to different wells or groups of wells. The apparatus includes a row of ports in a surface above which a carriage moves on wheels to connect the suction pump to different ports or groups of ports in turn. Hoses are inserted into each well and connect to the ports. The hoses have a high point near the well providing a gravity trap to prevent recovered fluid from running back into the well. The wells may be sealed at the top to allow pumping of soil air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Geo & Hydro International Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Ben Keet
  • Patent number: 5601504
    Abstract: A device for protecting bearings of idle pulleys in belt drives includes a cover 22 having a circumferential connecting portion 23 operatively engageable with a terminal edge 13a of a fastening collar 13 positioned on the pulley and housing the bearing 18 inside. Elastic tongues 26 projecting from the cover 22 are provided at their ends with corresponding hooking teeth 24 able to engage into corresponding through engaging openings 25 in a disc-shaped flange 14, which interconnects the fastening collar 13 with a cylindrical rolling portion 13 of the pulley. The tongues 26 are elastically deformable by virtue of centrifugal force so that the interference between the hooking teeth 24 and the interconnecting flange 14 is increased by increasing the rotation speed of the pulley 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Dayco Europe S.p.A.
    Inventors: Carlo E. Rocca, Mark P. Foley
  • Patent number: 5601505
    Abstract: A hydraulic tensioner having a sleeve located in the opening in the tensioner body and a pin to slide within the sleeve to retain the tensioner plunger in a retracted position. In another embodiment, the tensioner includes a support member located around the periphery of the plunger to support a coil spring to bias the plunger in the protruding direction. A male thread formed on the outer surface of the support member engages a female thread formed in the tensioner opening. In another embodiment, the tensioner includes a stopper pin and spring-loaded hook member that retains the plunger in a retracted position. In another embodiment, a check valve located to permit fluid flow into the plunger chamber has a retainer with several extending legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Borg-Warner Automotive, K.K.
    Inventor: Naosumi Tada
  • Patent number: 5601153
    Abstract: A rotary cone rock bit for use in earthen formations with drilling fluid hydraulics wherein diffusion type nozzles are utilized in the outer diameters of a dome portion of the rock bit resulting in fluid, as it leaves the exit end of the nozzle, continues to diffuse outboard creating a larger surface area to entrain fluid. The diffused spray of fluid at a lesser velocity will better clean the rotary cones by moving the fluid closer to the cones without erosive damage to the cones or loss of cutter inserts or milled teeth. The diffused spray will additionally cover a larger area of a borehole bottom resulting in better bottom hole cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry Ensminger, Richard C. Lyon
  • Patent number: 5601382
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for, decontaminating in-situ soil by use of solar energy is provided. A targeted area of contaminated in-situ soil is covered with a substantially sunlight-transmitting, nonporous covering that allows solar energy to penetrate said covering. A greenhouse effect subsequently occurs in which trapped solar energy heats the interior air within the covering and in-situ soil below the covering. As the in-situ soil is heated, contaminants found within the in-situ soil are vaporized. The structure comprises first and second side panels with attached first and second end panels. An exhaust vent is provided such that vaporized contaminants and air can escape the interior of the covering. An exhaust means can be utilized to further assist in removal of vaporized contaminants and air within the covering. A fresh air intake slot allows replenishment of air that is exhausted or vented with vaporized contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: K N Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence J. Corte
  • Patent number: 5599246
    Abstract: A toothed belt includes a rubber composition-molded cured material, a tensile body embedded therewithin, and a tooth sheet. The rubber composition-molded cured material includes 0.38 to 0.91 g of organic peroxide, based on --O--O-linkage amount, to 100 g of a polymer composition in which zinc polymethacrylate and hydrogenated nitrile rubber with hydrogenation rate of 90 to 95% are compounded in the weight ratio of from 4:96 to 20:80, 0.5 to 2.0 g of more than one higher organic acid esters, 0.5 to 2.0 g of maleimide compound, and 20 to 40 g of calcium carbonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Toru Fujiwara, Yoshinori Itoh, Masato Tomobuchi
  • Patent number: 5599244
    Abstract: An automatic speed range shifter for bicycles is disclosed which produces a downshift when a predetermined pedal force is exceeded and which produces an upshift when a predetermined pedal rotational speed is exceeded. A pedal force sensor includes a strain gage element on an arm supporting an idler sprocket for the chain. A pedal rotational speed sensor includes a magnet/coil coacting with the pedal crank. A microcomputer receives inputs from the force and speed sensors and produces control signals for the automatic shifter. The automatic shifter includes a front shifter actuator including a reversible electrical servo motor which is coupled by a cable with the front derailleur. It also includes a rear shifter actuator with a reversible servo motor which is coupled by a cable with the rear derailleur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Inventor: Russell A. Ethington
  • Patent number: 5597368
    Abstract: A toothed belt is provided with at least one end attachment part for connecting an end portion of a toothed belt to a housing part or a component to be driven. The end attachment part is a formed strip made of metal or plastic in order to make the attachment of the toothed belt quicker and simpler. The strip has elements or sections which engage in the teeth of the end portion and are securely held therein. In the assembled condition, the end attachment part includes a portion to facilitate a mechanical connection at its end facing away from the end portion of the toothed belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Continental Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hubert Goser, Detlef Harbecke, Helmut Wille
  • Patent number: 5597366
    Abstract: A bicycle rear derailleur is provided for shifting a chain from one sprocket to another of a multiple freewheel which includes a plurality of sprockets each having a lowermost edge portion. The derailleur comprises a control mechanism pivotally mounted to a bicycle frame by a first pivot shaft which is parallel to the hub shaft, and a chain guide pivotally mounted to the control mechanism by a second pivot shaft which is parallel to the hub shaft. The chain guide rotatably supports an upper guide wheel and a lower tension wheel. The chain guide is biased in a chain tensioning direction by a spring and controlled by the control mechanism to move axially of the hub shaft. The guide wheel has an uppermost edge portion located ahead of the lowermost edge portion of each sprocket which the chain engages. The control mechanism is freely pivotable about the first pivot shaft without any spring bias at least within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Inventor: Nobuo Ozaki
  • Patent number: 5597042
    Abstract: A downhole control system for a production well is associated with permanent downhole formation evaluation sensors which remain downhole throughout production operations. These formation evaluation sensors may include, for example, neutron density, gamma ray porosity and resistivity sensors which can, in real time, sense and evaluate formation parameters including important information regarding water entering the production tubing. Significantly, this information can be obtained prior to the water actually entering the producing fluid and therefore corrective action (i.e., closing of a valve or sliding sleeve) can be taken prior to water being produced. This real time acquisition of formation data in the production well constitutes an important advance over current wireline techniques in that the present invention is far less costly and can anticipate and react to potential problems before they occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Paulo S. Tubel, Albert A. Mullins, II, Kevin R. Jones, Frank D. Richardson
  • Patent number: 5595549
    Abstract: The tensioner includes a body (12) defining a blind cylindrical cavity (14) and a piston (20) slidably mounted in the cavity (14) and adapted to bias a pressure shoe (24) into contact with the endless connection element (26) so as to put the latter under tension. The inner end (18) of the cavity defines an orifice (28) for connection to a source of liquid under pressure and closable by a resilient blade (36) constituting a check valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Sachs Industries S.A. (Huret et Maillard Reunis)
    Inventor: Patrick Jarrand
  • Patent number: 5593366
    Abstract: To reduce the generation of noise in a belt drive for auxiliary units in an internal combustion engine, a guide roller for the belt has an approximately cylindrical surface formed with a bead which extends along the surface in a direction oblique to the side surfaces of the guide roller. The resulting variation in the location of the bead with respect to a drive belt engaging the guide roller surface causes the unsupported vibratable length of the belt to vary according to the location of the contact point of the belt with the bead, which varies as the roller rotates. This produces a variation in the natural frequencies of tensile strands in the drive belt, which reduce the sympathetic vibrations of the belt and hence the propagation of noise through the guide roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Alois Puzik
  • Patent number: 5591094
    Abstract: A tensioner with a pivot-arm that is free to move toward a belt of a belt drive system to tighten the belt and is also free to move away from the belt a predetermined amount to slacken the belt and adjust belt tension while avoiding tooth jump in extreme torque reversal situations. An adjustable stop is provided to restrict movement of the pivot-arm and inhibit tooth jump as the tensioner pulley moves to slacken the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: The Gates Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Farmer, Gregory A. St. Denis
  • Patent number: 5591095
    Abstract: A chain includes a plurality of pairs of alternate inside links and first and second outside links, rollers and pins, wherein second ends of the first outside links and first ends of the second outside links each have a diameter greater than that of first ends of the first outside links and second ends of the second outside links, and each of the ends of the respective inside links has a diameter slightly smaller than that of the first end of the first outside link or the second end of the second outside link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Inventor: Chia-long Wu
  • Patent number: 5591093
    Abstract: A lightweight damper pulley is provided which can be produced in a simple manner. The damper pulley includes a central portion, including a cylindrical boss portion to be fixed onto a rotary shaft, a main portion extending radially outwardly from the larger diameter part of the cylindrical boss portion and a central flange bent to extend horizontally from an outer periphery of the main portion. This forms a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional profile. The pulley also includes a belt retaining portion made of metal plate that also has a substantially U-shaped cross section profile. This space is determined between an outer belt supporting wall, an inner belt portion flange and a radially extending connecting wall. The pulley is constructed by reversing the two U-shaped profiles or dissecting the belt retaining flange to the interior of the central flange, with an elastic, damping ring forcefit therebetween. The belt retaining flange can also be moved radially outwardly to compress the elastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohito Asai, Toru Isono, Kazutoshi Miyake
  • Patent number: 5588780
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for laying a pipe-line, wherein pipes are welded to each other along a ring weld and wherein the ring weld is covered with a mastic ring.In the known method of this type the mastic of asphalt bitumen is melted and cast into a mould arranged round the ring weld.Working with a hot substance (180.degree. C.) is dangerous. The vapours from melted asphalt bitumen create an unpleasant and unhealthy work climate. The quality of asphalt bitumen deteriorates the more melted it becomes.The invention has for its object to provide a method wherein the above stated and/or other drawbacks occur either at least to a lesser extent or not at all. To this end the method according to the invention has the feature that the mastic is arranged substantially in plastic condition around the ring weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: All Seas Group S.A.
    Inventors: Dick R. Wolbers, Ronkers Koerse
  • Patent number: 5588774
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a plurality of releasably connected modules adapted to be placed on a road surface for arresting the progress of a vehicle. Each module is equipped with a number of blades which can be protruded or retracted to respectively arrest or allow the passage of vehicle thereover. The modules are interconnected in a manner which enables simultaneous actuation of all the blades and compensates for the camber of the road surface or the misalignment of the modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: CatsClaw Limited
    Inventor: Kevin Behan
  • Patent number: 5588925
    Abstract: This invention relates to a shifter for the actuation of derailleurs on bicycles with an integrated transition distance for shifting the chain from a smaller sprocket to the next larger sprocket by means of a detent element. The detent element interacts with a detent spring which detent spring is permanently fastened to the housing. The return of the shifting system into the correct position of the derailleur over the desired larger sprocket is no longer left exclusively to the return spring of the derailleur by means of a Bowden cable, but is assisted by a transition spring which is coupled to the detent spring in the shifter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG
    Inventors: Markus Arbeiter, Christian Weishaupt
  • Patent number: 5588926
    Abstract: A self-guiding chain assembly includes a silent chain with inner and outer links having depending toes. Traditional guide links are replaced by inverted tooth outer links with a crotch of lesser height than the crotch of the inner links. The outer links perform the self-guiding function and act to maintain the chain on the sprockets. The chain has particular application in engine timing systems that utilize phased chains and sprockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Borg-Warner Automotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip J. Mott, David C. White, Thomas J. Becker