Patents Examined by Roland G. McAndrews, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5395215
    Abstract: A support structure for the rotatable housing of a liquid ring pump includes a stationary structure disposed circumferentially around the housing, and a plurality of rollers rotatably and removably mounted on the stationary structure. The rollers support the housing for rotation, and they are distributed axially along and circumferentially about the housing so that any one roller can be removed (e.g., for repair or replacement) without disturbing operation of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: The Nash Engineering Company
    Inventors: Thomas R. Dardis, Christopher D. Boczer
  • Patent number: 5395217
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gear pump for oil for an internal-combustion engine, in particular for motor vehicles, comprising a pump housing mounted on the motor and an outer rotor which is arranged in the pump housing, an inner rotor additionally being arranged within the outer rotor or within the pump housing and at least one suction and/or at least one pressure passage being provided in the pump housing, a drive further being present; the pump according to the invention is integrated in a drive wheel or guide pulley of the internal-combustion engine and the outer rotor or the outer rotors are driven by the drive wheel or the guide pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Schwabische Huttenwerke GmbH
    Inventors: Kurt Hoffmann, Franz Maucher
  • Patent number: 5393201
    Abstract: A synchronous rotating apparatus synchronously rotates a plurality of rotary shafts independently driven by corresponding driving devices. The apparatus includes: a mechanical regulating member, arranged on the shafts, for maintaining relative rotating positions of the shafts at a predetermined angular difference; a rotation velocity and phase-detecting member, arranged on each shaft, for detecting rotation velocities of the shafts and phases within a regulated angular difference of the regulating member, and a driving control device for controlling the driving devices of the shafts so as to synchronously rotate the shafts based on a phase difference detected by the detecting member. The apparatus is applied to a fluid rotary apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norio Okutani, Teruo Maruyama
  • Patent number: 5391057
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) is provided for compressing gas, the apparatus comprising a conduit (3) provided with a non-return inlet valve (10) arranged at the upstream inlet (5) end of the conduit (3), a localized ignition source (20) arranged in the conduit (3) downstream of the non-return inlet valve (10), and means (23) for intermittently supplying secondary fluid into the conduit (3) between the non-return inlet valve (10) and the localized ignition source (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Stephen G. Bryce, Christopher Morley, Leslie C. Shirvill
  • Patent number: 5383256
    Abstract: A cinching device for tightening a rope being restrained at opposite ends includes an elongated rigid rod-like member and first, second and third elements mounted on and spaced along the elongated rod-like member. The elongated rod-like member has a handle defined at one end. The first element defines a first surface portion around which to extend a flexible rope in a first direction. The second element defines a second surface portion around which to extend the flexible rope in a second direction being generally opposite to the first direction so as to form a section of the flexible rope into a substantially serpentine-shaped configuration thereby reducing the rope in length and taking up any slack in the rope so as to place the rope in a tightened condition. The third element defines a third surface portion around which to extend the flexible rope so as to retain the flexible rope section in the substantially serpentine-shaped configuration and thereby retain the rope in the tightened condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Inventors: Leslie S. Wachi, Jeremy J. Kelley
  • Patent number: 5383769
    Abstract: A strainer attachment for the inlet fitting of a submersible pump. A threaded rod carries two retainer elements, one of which is rigidly mounted on one end of the rod and the other of which is threaded onto the rod. With the rod held in a skewed position, the stationary retainer element can be passed through the inlet passage formed in the inlet fitting. When the rod is then oriented in alignment with the pump axis, the retainer elements span the inlet opening. When the movable retainer element is threaded toward the stationary element and against the inlet plate of the inlet fitting, the two retainer elements grip the inlet plate between them to secure the rod in place. A strainer body having mesh openings for straining the liquid that is being pumped can be threaded onto the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: The Marley Pump Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey R. Williams
  • Patent number: 5382142
    Abstract: A backwash valve for use in a sucker-rod actuated fluid pump, may be selectively actuated to permit both the standing and traveling ball valves to be unseated at the same time permit the pump to be backwashed and/or the production tubing string drained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Spears Speciality Oil Tools, Inc.
    Inventor: Harry L. Spears
  • Patent number: 5382877
    Abstract: Disclosure is a vehicle headlamp control system having a control circuit which can control the operation and the intensity of illumination of headlamps with ease. The vehicle headlamp control system has a control circuit for controlling the operations of headlamps on a vehicle at the start of the engine. The control circuit operates to adjust the duty ratios of driving pulse currents applied to the headlamps through transistors, thereby to adjust the intensities of illumination of the headlamps. The control circuit has elements for adjusting the duty ratios. With the system, the intensities of illumination of the headlamps can be adjusted with ease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Shuichi Katsumata, Akira Kawabata, Hironori Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 5380079
    Abstract: A storing device (5) for flat articles such as cardboard, card, paper or the like or articles made therefrom includes a cabinet (10) housing a lower (22) and an upper (24) separator. Each separator (22, 24) comprises a plurality of rods (26) which extend from the base and top of the cabinet, respectively, to the back of the cabinet. The cardboard and like articles are stored between the rods (26) of the separators (22, 24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Inventor: C. E. Hamilton
  • Patent number: 5380175
    Abstract: A fluid feed pump which prevents fluid from leaking or flowing back from a discharging side section into a suction side section when fluid sucked into the pump from the suction side section is to be fed into the discharging side section is disclosed. When a piston in a cylinder moves in a sucking/discharging direction, fluid flows into an inlet port side section in the inside of the cylinder through an inlet port while the inlet port side section and an outlet port side section of the inside of the cylinder are separated in an axial direction by a tubular enclosing member. Thereupon, since a lower portion of the tubular enclosing member is expanded in a radial direction to contact an outer circumferential face thereof in a water-tight condition with the inner face of the cylinder, the inlet and outlet port side sections of the cylinder are isolated in a high sealing condition from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox
    Inventor: Katsushi Amarume
  • Patent number: 5379490
    Abstract: A belt clip assembly (10) comprises a hook shaped feature (18 and 20) having a void (17) and which appends from a housing (12), a latch member (14 and 15) pivotably retained within the void of the hook shaped feature, and a spring (30) for biasing a bottom portion (15 and 16) of the latch member in a closed position against the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Motorola
    Inventors: Henry Wandt, Gerald E. Brinkley
  • Patent number: 5379489
    Abstract: A bag closure for sealing bags. The closure comprises a sheath having a trough which matingly engages a blade-like body of a wedge-shaped member. A roof portion of the sheath is dimensioned so as to be permitted to carry intelligible indicia thereon. An upper edge of the blade-like body is provided with a designated location for receiving a bag. The blade-like body slightly smaller in width than the trough, enabling the closure to clamp the bag tightly therein. A hinge strap which pivotally connects the sheath and the wedge-shaped member is dimensioned to be durable and to ensure that the blade-like body remains in proper alignment with the trough. A latch retains the closure in a closed position. In the closed position, a tip of the latch forms a protuberance is easily displaced to enable the closure to be easily opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Struckmeyer Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Delk, Michael L. Bowen
  • Patent number: 5378111
    Abstract: A fuel pump-suited for a Demand System motor vehicle fuel injection system includes a lower pressure vapor separating pump stage, a roller vane positive displacement high pressure pump stage, and a variable speed electric motor for driving an impeller in the vapor separating stage and a rotor in the roller vane stage. The roller vane stage has a bleed orifice therein located on an inlet side plate of the roller vane stage to intercept succeeding ones of a plurality of vane pockets on the rotor between a downstream end of a discharge port of the roller vane stage and an upstream end of an inlet port of the roller vane stage when the vane pockets are isolated from both ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Brian J. Christopher
  • Patent number: 5378119
    Abstract: An air compressor includes an enclosed housing with a 12-volt electrical motor mounted to a bottom frame within said housing and a compressor pump located vertically above the motor within the housing and operably connected to the motor. A ventilation fan is mounted on the motor adjacent a ventilation panel in one side panel of the housing, to draw air into the housing. The top cover is spaced slightly above the upper edges of opposing side panels of the housing, to form a ventilation space at the upper end of the housing through which air may be circulated around the motor and pump and upwardly out of the housing. The compressor pump is mounted on a base plate which is pivotally mounted along one edge and has an adjustable length leg supporting the opposite edge. The adjustable length leg permits adjustment of the distance between the pump and motor so as to adjust the tension on a drive belt extending between pulleys on the pump and motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Inventor: Dennis D. Goertzen
  • Patent number: 5375980
    Abstract: A liquid-ring pump according to the invention for use as a vacuum pump, e.g. for the aspiration of centrifugal pumps, and for use in the transport of fluids, e.g. mixtures of liquids and gases or solid particles, is of the type where the distance between the internal surface (17) of the pump housing and the rotor (10) varies. Seen in section, the surface is divided into two identical, reverse-image sectors, in relation to which the rotor (10) is disposed in a symmetrical manner. In the transition area between the two sectors the internal surface (17) is provided with a substantially flat surface (44) stretching tangentially in relation to the periphery of the rotor (10). Thereby cavitiation problems are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Berendsen Teknik A/S
    Inventors: Willy Johst, Henrik Elsass
  • Patent number: 5375983
    Abstract: A system for utilizing the expansion of water as the water is transformed from a liquid state to a solid state includes a rigid outer container and a flexible inner bladder received centrally within the outer container. Hydraulic fluid is received within bladder, and water is disposed between the bladder and outer container. The hydraulic fluid is pressurized as the water is lowered in temperature to a freezing temperature. The pressurized fluid may be stored for selective release from the bladder to produce work utilizing the energy of the pressure within the hydraulic fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Inventor: Judson Engels
  • Patent number: 5375979
    Abstract: In a micropump having a working chamber (1), an intake valve (2), and a discharge valve (3), the valves (2,3) are etched out of silicon wafers (4,5). The gas in the working chamber (1) is heated by a heating element (6), so that an overpressure is produced in the working chamber. A partial vacuum is created by cooling the gas in the working chamber (1). The pump action of the micropump is achieved through the succession of overpressure and partial-vacuum cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Hans-Peter Trah
  • Patent number: 5374164
    Abstract: The invention concerns a jet compressor for gaseous media for use in metallurgical or chemical processes having a driving nozzle which is arranged centrically in a jet head and directed toward a mixing chamber with which a diffuser is connected coaxially. In order to avoid the conventional disadvantages and provide a jet compressor which is simple in design and as compact as possible and to achieve improved efficiency and pressure ratios in comparison to jet devices of the same scale while operating in a reliable manner, it is proposed that the driving nozzle (10) be a ring jet nozzle having a conical central body (12) which narrows in diameter conically toward the mixing chamber (31) of the nozzle (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Reiner Schulz
  • Patent number: 5372488
    Abstract: Improvements in a downhole submerged pump assembly having a plunger formed of a cast or machined cylindrical member includes seal ring grooves capable of receiving flat metallic seal rings formed of a plurality of segments which are interlocked in a manner wherein the segments can expand during the upstroke of the pump movement and retract during the downstroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Inventor: Richard L. Turner
  • Patent number: 5370502
    Abstract: Liquid ring pumps with rotating liners supported by a bearing fluid (pressurized liquid or compressed gas) have a bearing fluid distribution system that compensates for the radially unsymmetric load on the rotating liner. If the liner bearing fluid is compressed gas, the axial ends of the liner may be either open and unsealed so that expended bearing gas escapes into the liquid ring in the pump, or the axial ends of the Liner may be partly closed by radially inwardly extending end plates. Various mechanical and/or liquid seal structures may be used in conjunction with the end plates to seal the axial ends of the liner and/or to flush the clearances adjacent the axial ends of the liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: The Nash Engineering Company
    Inventors: Harold K. Haavik, Kaj Holm