Patents Examined by Sarah E. Husband
  • Patent number: 7162759
    Abstract: In order to be able to implement higher rotary spin speeds without structurally endangering the machine, a characteristic value that is as accurate as possible for the currently prevailing drum loading is desirable, for loading-dependent rotary speed limitation. Acceleration to a spin speed is interrupted in order to measure the respective electrical power consumption of the drive motor for a given rotary speed and then for a lower rotary speed that does not lead to the further removal of water from the laundry in the drum. Then the energy requirement and the acceleration period back up to the given rotary speed are measured, before the drum is accelerated to spin speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Diehl AKO Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventor: Martin Weinmann
  • Patent number: 7128075
    Abstract: An apparatus for washing parts includes a cleaning chamber including a spray portion and a reservoir portion. The spray portion includes a support for the parts and a spray bar having at least one orifice for distributing a cleaning solution. The reservoir portion stores and collects the cleaning fluid. A thermal energy source adjusts and maintains the operating temperature of the cleaning solution in the reservoir portion. The thermal energy source retains a transfer fluid and includes a heater for adjusting a temperature of the transfer fluid. A conduit extends through the thermal energy source and defines a passageway for the cleaning fluid. A pump draws the cleaning fluid through the passageway and discharges the cleaning solution through the spray bar, such that the operating temperature of the cleaning solution is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Rudy Publ
  • Patent number: 7124765
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a door, a washing tub closable by the door, and a water softener including an ion exchanger and a salt container. The salt container is disposed in an area of the door and includes a first and a second side wall, a bottom, narrow connecting walls, a water inlet and a brine outlet. Two side walls are disposed in the salt container, the dividing walls extending from the side walls to the bottom, dividing the salt container into a water distribution duct including the water inlet, a salt chamber, and a brine collecting duct including the brine outlet. The dividing walls, each including a respective screen surface in a region adjacent to the bottom, separate the water inlet and a brine outlet from each other. The screen surfaces are arranged in a v-shape relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Miele & Cie, KG
    Inventor: Volker Marks
  • Patent number: 7111478
    Abstract: An engaging groove part 25 is provided at the outer circumferential edge of a rotor 20b of an outer-rotor type motor directly connected to the main shaft 14 of a drum 13, and on the other hand, a drum locking device 21 is provided directly below the shaft. The drum locking device 21 is constructed so that a lock pin moves up and down in response to rotation of a torque motor, and when the lock pin advances and fits into the groove of the engaging groove pan 25, the position of the drum 13 is fixed. Thereby, the stopping position of the drum can be fixed with a simple construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Fukui, Kunioki Honda, Harumi Takeuchi, Yorihisa Funada, Minoru Yoshida, Hiroyuki Hoshino, Yuji Ozeki
  • Patent number: 7100623
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a number of spray arms, a circulation pump with a pump housing, an impeller, a suction port, and a number of discharge ports on the pump housing. The discharge ports are associated with the spray arms. A water diverter is located on a delivery side of the pump and generates a flow leading from the suction port selectably to one or more of the discharge ports. The water diverter includes a blocking element having a number of diaphragm openings positionable to one or more outlet positions by a drive via a rotation of the blocking element in a circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Miele & Cie. KG
    Inventors: Walter Assmann, Ulrich Hettenhausen, Volker Marks
  • Patent number: 7089949
    Abstract: An apparatus for attachment to a commercially available cleaning wand for maneuvering the wand inside a storage tank. Two arms each have an end pivotally connected to a handle and another end pivotally connected to the wand to form a four bar linkage. A gimbal arrangement is supported above a base, which is placed over an opening in the tank, and one of the arms is coupled to the gimbal arrangement to allow movement about three mutually perpendicular axes for directing the wand to various orientations within the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: R. Brian Rogerson, Bobby H. Hux
  • Patent number: 7059336
    Abstract: A cleaning device for a shaving head of a dry shaving apparatus includes a reservoir to store a cleaning fluid, a receptacle adapted to receive the shaving head and the cleaning fluid, the receptacle being configured to direct the cleaning fluid toward the shaving head, a return conduit extending from the receptacle to the reservoir to convey the cleaning fluid from the receptacle into reservoir; and a venting device attached to the reservoir to provide aeration and deaeration of the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Höser, Diana Kappes, Andreas Larscheid, Uwe Ludäscher, Svatopluk Krumnikl
  • Patent number: 6997195
    Abstract: The dishwashing machine has at least two washing vessels (10–12) that are separated from each other and are part of a structural assembly (3) that is capable of being pulled out as a whole from a casing (1) in which it is housed. Each such washing vessel (10–12) has at least a loading lid or door (17) that can be opened when the structural assembly (3) is in its pulled-out position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Electrolux Zanussi S.p.A.
    Inventors: Piero Durazzani, Daniele Favaro
  • Patent number: 6978793
    Abstract: A portable apparatus and method for chemically cleaning a single pass plate and frame heat exchanger allows the cleaning solution to be uniformly distributed across the plate pack. This portable system of one pump of preferably 10-horsepower, capable of 300 gallons per minute flow through a discharge port; at least two distribution/collection tubes with apertures of predetermined diameter and predetermined placement; one reversing manifold; two bag filters; and one circulation tank with a capacity at least on the order of 150 to 200 gallons; attaches to a single pass plate and frame heat exchanger. The single pass plate and frame heat exchanger is configured with at least two removable flanges that, once removed, allow for the installation of the distribution/collection tubes. The apertures in the distribution/collection tubes are placed facing downwards depending upon the direction of the operational fluid to enhance a vacuuming effect for particle and debris removal during cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: PHEX LLC
    Inventor: Kurt Krueger
  • Patent number: 6955179
    Abstract: A motor drive with devices for translating the rotary movement of an output shaft (44) into a reciprocating linear movement, preferably for driving a reciprocating transporting device (4; 5, 6). The latter comprises catches (9; 9.1, 9.2), which engage in one direction and not in the other direction, in order to transport a receptacle (16) for items for washing. The transporting device comprises an articulated transporting frame (4), of which the transporting rails (5, 6) can be moved in opposite directions to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: MEIKO Maschinenbau GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Engelbert Ecker, Joachim Kupetz, Joachim Bruder, Michael Streb
  • Patent number: 6948505
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for medical and/or dental tool provides a possibility to clean the burrs and brushes (files) of the remained tooth material on them after operation on patient. An improved cleaning apparatus for medical and/or dental tool includes a container, comprising a neck with an opening and at least one of a plurality of apertures located in the lower part of the neck, a fluid stream reflector of a lid, which includes a connector comprising a fluid inlet pipe which is coupled by a tubular means with a fluid line via controllable valve, and a cylindrical stand connected to the base, providing a stable position of the container during cleaning process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Inventor: Armen Karapetyan