Patents Examined by Stephen J. Ralis
  • Patent number: 7565862
    Abstract: Appliances for cooking food under pressure are disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, a cooking appliance comprises a vessel (1), a lid (2), at least one jaw (4) mounted to be moved by a driving device (5), and an opening/closing control device (6, 7, 8). The opening/closing control device (6, 7, 8) includes an intermediate part (7), which comprises a maneuvering device (7A, 7B) and a clutch device (7C, 19). The intermediate part (7) is mounted to turn freely so that the maneuvering device (7A, 7B) co-operates with the driving device (5). The opening/closing control device also includes a main control member (6) comprising a transmission device (6C), the main control member (6) being positioned so that the transmission device (6C) co-operates with the clutch device (7C). The main control member (6) is mounted to move in translation. Other embodiments disclosed herein are also applicable to domestic appliances for cooking food under pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventors: Michel Pierre Cartigny, Eric Chameroy
  • Patent number: 7560662
    Abstract: An apparatus and/or process for applying a weld overlay to a nozzle or piping spool of complex configuration is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the welding apparatus comprises a mounting assembly having a plurality of magnetic foot pads, a tension support rod attached at one end to one of the magnetic foot pads, an upper attachment pad at the opposite end of the rod, and a bottom attachment pad attached to at least one other magnetic foot pad; a travel guide, the travel guide attached to the upper attachment pad at one end and the bottom attachment pad at the other end; and a head assembly attached to the travel guide, the head assembly having: i) a track ring assembly having an inner ring and an outer ring, ii.) at least two opposed weld heads attached to the inner track ring, iii.) at least one movable wire feed drive mechanism on the track ring, and iv.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Welding Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Pedro Amador, James Sculley, Jeffrey Madill, Jack Stoner, Dixon Parker, Casey Power
  • Patent number: 7557327
    Abstract: A contact tip for a welding gun having a central passage for a welding wire moving in a given direction toward a workpiece and receiving a welding signal by contact of the wire with the tip. The passage has an innermost end, an outermost exit end and a length of at least 1.5 inches and an opening in the contact tip intersects the passage so a pressure block slidably mounted in the opening is biased toward the wire by a spring around the contact tip urging the block against the wire. This tip is dimensioned and constructed to perform pulse welding by a relatively ductile aluminum wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Lincoln Global, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Matthews, Bryan Nelson
  • Patent number: 7554053
    Abstract: A plasma system is disclosed. The plasma system includes a microwave waveguide assembly having a longitudinal axis parallel with a first axis. The plasma system also includes a plasma tube assembly intersecting the microwave waveguide assembly. The plasma tube assembly has a longitudinal axis parallel with a second axis that is substantially orthogonal with the first axis. The plasma tube assembly also has a plasma-sustaining region defined by an upstream plurality of plasma traps and a downstream plurality of plasma traps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Mohammad Kamarehi, Ing-Yann Albert Wang
  • Patent number: 7554056
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing welding-type power include a wire feeder that provides wire to an arc and a power supply that provides power to the arc. A reversible wire feed motor moves the wire to and away from the arc. A controller controls the reversible wire feeder motor to reverse at least once per process cycle, and/or controls the power source to provide a desired mean arc current, and/or controls the reversible motor in response to short detection and short clearing, and/or controls the reversal frequency in response to pool oscillation frequency. A wire feed motor output is slaved to an average of the reversible motor output. The controller may include various control modules, such as a mean arc current control module, and/or a short detection feedback circuit. The reversible motor is a stepper motor, that incrementally turns in a series of steps having a given angle in another embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Gerd Huismann, Peter Hennecke
  • Patent number: 7547860
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus 100 used to execute a specific type of processing such as plasma processing on a workpiece by supplying a processing gas into a chamber 110 while applying high-frequency power to generate plasma includes a stage 108 on which the workpiece is placed and a stage supporting unit 124 that holds the stage 108. Bellows 120 and 122 are disposed above and below the stage supporting unit 124 to support the stage 108 in a horizontal state relative to the chamber 110. Thus, a plasma processing apparatus that does not allow the workpiece stage to become tilted, affords ease of maintenance and is capable of stable processing is provided. In addition, the internal spaces at the bellows 120 and 122 are used as an exhausting pipe to achieve efficient and uniform exhaustion of the chamber 110.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Sumi Tanaka, Jun Yamashita
  • Patent number: 7498541
    Abstract: Each of a pair of side members (4) is located relative to an underbody (3) using two locators (16). Each locator is lowered by a lifter (15) and placed on a slide base (18). The slide base is movable along a slide guide (17) toward and away from a transfer conveyor (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinobu Inoue, Masaharu Saito, Akiyoshi Hazama, Yasuhiro Hosokawa, Takuma Arai, Isao Kita, Takuji Izutani, Kazuto Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7495193
    Abstract: Welders and methods are presented for short-circuit arc welding a workpiece using a modified series arc welding configuration with two electrodes via a sequence of welding cycles, in which each cycle includes an arc condition a short-circuit condition, wherein one or both electrode currents are selectively reversed during a reverse boost portion of the welding cycle to transfer molten metal from the second electrode to the first electrode prior to a short-circuit condition of a subsequent welding cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Lincoln Global, Inc.
    Inventors: Russ K. Myers, Timothy M. O'Donnell, Timothy P. Rosiek
  • Patent number: 7465904
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hair iron adapted to reduce hair damage, strengthen hair and facilitate hair styling by blowing air toward the hair. The hair iron of the present invention is further adapted to provide hair with anions or moisture during hair styling. The hair iron includes a pair of cases hinge-jointed at each one end and being freely opened or closed, wherein each case has a heater plate for generating heat at the other end. A fan assembly for blowing air is coupled to the one end of one of the cases. An air passage through which the blown air is passed is formed inside the hair iron. An anion generator is located in the fan assembly, thereby mixing the anions with the air being transferred. Means for providing moisture is disposed adjacent to the heater plate and means for supplying the moisture-providing means with water is received in the recess formed in lower side of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: K.I.C.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Tai Cheul Kim, Hyun Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 7411156
    Abstract: An electric arc welding system for creating a first AC welding arc with a first current waveform between a first electrode and a workpiece by a first power supply and a second AC welding arc with a second current waveform between a second electrode and a workpiece by a second power supply as the first and second electrodes are moved in unison along a welding path, where the first and second power supply each comprising a high speed switching inverter creating its waveform by a number of current pulses occurring at a frequency of at least 18 kHz with the magnitude of each current pulse controlled by a wave shaper and the polarity of the waveforms is controlled by a signal. The first AC waveform has a positive portion substantially different in energy than its negative portion and/or has either a different shape and/or a synthesized sinusoidal portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Lincoln Global, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell K. Myers, William S. Houston
  • Patent number: 7375303
    Abstract: An electrode for a plasma arc cutting torch which minimizes the deposition of high emissivity material on the nozzle, reduces electrode wear, and improves cut quality. The electrode has a body having a first end, a second end in a spaced relationship relative to the first end, and an outer surface extending from the first end to the second end. The body has an end face disposed at the second end. The electrode also includes at least one passage extending from a first opening in the body to a second opening in the end face. A controller can control the electrode gas flow through the passages as a function of a plasma arc torch parameter. Methods for operating the plasma arc cutting torch with the electrode are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Hypertherm, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter J. Twarog
  • Patent number: 7375302
    Abstract: An electrode for a plasma arc cutting torch which minimizes the deposition of high emissivity material on the nozzle, reduces electrode wear, and improves cut quality. The electrode has a body having a first end, a second end in a spaced relationship relative to the first end, and an outer surface extending from the first end to the second end. The body has an end face disposed at the second end. The electrode also includes at least one passage extending from a first opening in the body to a second opening in the end face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Hypertherm, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Twarog, Charles M. Hackett, David J. Cook, Bruce P. Altobelli, David L. Bouthillier
  • Patent number: 7372005
    Abstract: A water heater having a powered electrode and a method of controlling the water heater. The water heater includes a tank to hold water, a heating element, an electrode, and a control circuit. The control circuit includes a variable voltage supply, a voltage sensor, and a current sensor. The control circuit is configured to controllably apply a voltage to the electrode, determine the potential of the electrode relative to the tank with the voltage sensor when the voltage does not power the electrode, determine a current applied to the tank after the voltage powers the electrode, determine a conductivity state of the water in the tank based on the electrode potential and the current, and define the voltage applied to the powered electrode based on the conductivity state. The control circuit of the water heater can also determine whether the water heater is in a dry-fire state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: AOS Holding Company
    Inventors: Ray Oliver Knoeppel, Thomas Gerard Van Sistine, Mark Allan Murphy
  • Patent number: 7358464
    Abstract: A method for temperature measurement in a household appliance includes generating a high-frequency electromagnetic excitation wave of a predefined transmit frequency. The transmit frequency is selected from a frequency band including temperature-dependent resonant frequencies that occur in a surface wave device incorporated in a temperature measuring probe and which respectively correspond to temperatures expected at the temperature measuring probe during operation of the household appliance. During a first phase, the excitation wave is wirelessly transmitting to the surface wave device. During a second phase following the first phase, an electromagnetic response wave generated by the excitation wave in the surface wave device is wirelessly transmitting to a processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Miele & Cie. KG
    Inventors: Dominic Beier, Wenzel Meierfrankenfeld
  • Patent number: 7351935
    Abstract: A method for producing a ceramic heater. Firing is conducted such that an element green body in which at least a portion containing a conductive ceramic that is to become a heating element after firing is held on a powder or green body of an insulating ceramic that is to become a substrate after firing. The ceramic heater includes the substrate and the heating element. The method includes a molding step, a holding step, and a firing step as defined herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Konishi
  • Patent number: 7342201
    Abstract: A ceramic heating element arrangement in which a ceramic heating element made of SiC having electrical NTC (negative temperature coefficient) properties is provided for a circuit. At least one segment is provided in the circuit, whose resistance saturates at least quasi-asymptotically at the current flow required for a desired heat development.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Nanogate AG
    Inventors: Martin Heuberger, Michael Kuntz, Rüdiger Nass
  • Patent number: 7332694
    Abstract: A heating resistance 1 comprises a shaped body of a band made of a conductive material obtained by bending the band in a shape of a wave. The heating resistance 1 is fixed to a substrate made of an insulating material to obtain a heater. Alternatively, the heating resistance comprises a wound body of a band made of a conductive material. According to the present invention, the heating value per a unit length can be easily designed and changed, and the reliability can be improved and abnormal heat generation can be prevented at the interface where the heating value per a unit length is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Goto
  • Patent number: 7319208
    Abstract: There is provided a control device for a glow plug, capable of controlling the energization of a resistance heater of the glow plug by a resistance control process while attaining good resistance control response under cooling of the heater by fuel injection and combustion gas and thereby stably controlling the amount of heat generated by the heater. The resistance heater includes a resistive heating element having a ratio of electrical resistance R1000 at 1000° C. to electrical resistance R20 at 20° C. of 6 or larger, and the glow plug is mounted with at least part of the resistive heating element being protrudingly located in an engine combustion chamber. Under such a condition, the control device controls energization of the resistance heater in a steady control mode to adjust electrical power supplied to the resistance heater in such a manner as to keep a resistance of the heater within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunsuke Gotoh, Chiaki Kumada, Hiroyuki Kimata, Seigo Muramatsu, Takayuki Sakurai
  • Patent number: 7312421
    Abstract: A detachable heat sealing apparatus includes a size-adjustable unitary externally-attached electric heating device and a power supplier, wherein the electric heating device is coupled to the external front side of a power supplier holding casing by means of a detachable coupling arrangement such that the electric heating device or the power supplier can be replaced when damaged or, a different model of electric heating device can be fastened to the casing to substitute the original electric heating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Inventors: Ammy Chou, Richard Chang
  • Patent number: RE40181
    Abstract: The invention relates to an infrared radiator with a heating element containing carbon fibers disposed in a quartz glass tube, with its ends connected to contact elements running through the wall of the quartz glass tube. The known radiators are improved by the fact that the heating element is spaced away from the wall of the quartz glass tube and it is centered on the axis of the quartz glass tube by means of spacers. The invention furthermore relates to a method by which the infrared radiator is operated at heating element temperatures greater than 1000° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Heraeus Noblelight GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Scherzer, Siegfried Grob