Patents Examined by Thomas W. Epting
  • Patent number: 4406548
    Abstract: A mobile concrete mixing apparatus comprising an aggregate storage bin and cement storage bin mounted on a mobile carrier in spaced relation, a water supply tank mounted on the carrier and in operable communication with a water discharge pipe disposed in the proximity of the cement storage bin, a conveyor apparatus movable beneath and between the aggregate storage bin and cement storage bin for moving materials therefrom for discharge into a mixing auger assembly, the aggregate storage bin containing premixed sand and rock materials for achieving a homogeneous moisture and temperature therebetween, the sand-rock mixture, cement mixture and water being mixed together prior to admission thereof into the mixing auger assembly, the auger assembly comprising a plurality of material moving stages and a plurality of mixing stages interposed therebetween to assure a homogeneous mixture for delivery from the mixing auger assembly, all of the operation of the concrete mixing apparatus being initiated by a single lever
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1983
    Inventor: Paul M. Haws
  • Patent number: 4403863
    Abstract: A method for producing concrete in a multi-layer pan type mixer comprising upper and lower mixers having upper and lower mixing tanks driven by separate motors and a discharge gate communicating the upper mixing tank with the lower mixing tank, said method comprising supplying sand, cement and primary mixing water to the upper mixing tank and performing primary mixing therein to obtain a mortar, discharging the mortar into the lower mixing tank, simultaneously supplying gravel and secondary mixing water to the lower mixing tank to disperse the gravel into the mortar, and performing secondary mixing therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1983
    Assignee: Pacific Metals, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Fukushima, Kiyoshi Sakagami, Yoshihiro Ikegami
  • Patent number: 4402200
    Abstract: Means for applying foamed treating liquor to a flat width traveling textile substrate using a cylindrical supporting member extending axially transversely across the width of the substrate and supporting a projecting applicator nozzle. A circumferentially extending distribution chamber is formed on the cylindrical supporting member by a cover plate mounted in spaced relation on the cylindrical supporting member by resilient side strips to which the cover plate is tightened circumferentially in sealing disposition. The distribution chamber diverges from an inlet port adjacent the nozzle circumferentially around a major extent of the cylindrical supporting member to the full width of the nozzle. End closures are slidably manipulated in the ends of the nozzle to limit the transverse extent of the nozzle opening in following relation to variations in the transverse positions of the edges of the traveling substrate in response to a sensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1983
    Assignee: Gaston County Dyeing Machine Company
    Inventors: Graham F. Clifford, James K. Turner
  • Patent number: 4402616
    Abstract: A multi-stage rotary processor particularly useful for processing plastic and polymeric materials. The multi-stage rotary processor includes a rotatable element carrying a plurality of processing channels and a stationary element providing a coaxial closure surface cooperatively arranged with the channels to provide a plurality of enclosed processing passages. Also associated with the stationary element are inlets, outlets and blocking members for each passage and arranged so that material fed to the passage can be dragged forward by the channel walls, and collected at the blocking member for discharge from a passage(s) of one stage to a passage of another. The geometry of the passage receiving material is selected to provide optimum processing efficiency, resulting in a processing rate capability for that passage greater than the rate at which material is supplied to the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1983
    Assignee: USM Corporation
    Inventors: Lefteris N. Valsamis, Gary S. Donoian
  • Patent number: 4402648
    Abstract: A chopper pump for pumping and chopping a slurry which contains fibrous material. The pump includes a housing having a bottom inlet and a tangential outlet. A single vane impeller is mounted for rotation within the housing and a generally square cutter blade is mounted on the vane and rotates in proximity with fixed cutter teeth on the housing to thereby comminute solid materials. Extending downwardly from the vane of the impeller through the inlet opening is a generally curved fin or blade that is concentric with the axis of rotation of the impeller and has a sharpened leading diagonal edge adapted to cut stringy fibrous material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1983
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Harvestore Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen L. Kretschmer
  • Patent number: 4397609
    Abstract: A compressor rotor for a turbine comprises individual segments radially stressed by a bandage of fibre-reinforced material which is under prestress when the rotor is stationary. The bandage cross-section has regions of different stiffness and different tensile strength, constituted by retaining rings arranged one inside another or side-by-side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1983
    Inventor: Richard Kochendorfer
  • Patent number: 4395890
    Abstract: A drive mechanism is provided for converting a rotary input to an oscillatory output. The mechanism includes a housing having axially aligned first and second support members. Input and output shafts are journaled within the first and second support members and are substantially axially aligned one with the other. A drive pinion is mounted on the input shaft within the housing and is rotatable thereby. A bevel gear is mounted within the housing and in driving engagement with the pinion. A coupling is provided which has a first end in journaled association with the bevel gear in a position angularly displaced from the rotational axis thereof. The second end of the coupling is pivotally and drivingly connected to the output member at the intersection of the center lines of the bevel gear and the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1983
    Assignee: The Maytag Company
    Inventor: John D. Goodlaxson
  • Patent number: 4392778
    Abstract: In a double flow section of a steam turbine, the inner web of the diaphragm surrounding the rotor shaft in the region of divergence of the steam flow paths, is fabricated in the form of two cylindrical shells which are held together either in a fixed position or in a relatively fixed position which permits some slight axial motion between the shells. This form of diaphragm eliminates a number of machining and fabrication alignment problems and additionally permits differential axial expansion of the two pieces occurring as a result of internal thermal steam conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1983
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: John M. Hess
  • Patent number: 4390286
    Abstract: A motor-transportable plant for delivering substances for treating roadways or the land, in which a tank is divided by a wall into two separate chambers, each accessible through a manhole, and which can be connected together by opening valves provided in the wall; one of said chambers comprises stirring means for a liquid and a solute contained in the chamber, and means for withdrawing the formed solution and feeding it to the outside of the tank, a motor being provided for said withdrawal and for feeding the solution; the second chamber comprises stirrer means and means for withdrawing a solid material contained in the chamber and for feeding it to distributors therefor; said stirrer and withdrawal means are extractable from the chamber through an aperture closable by means of a suitable cover; the tank is supported by a rigid quadrilateral frame provided with legs which can extend by hydraulic control and are each provided with orthogonal shafts which are inserted into the cross members of the frame to defi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1983
    Inventor: Pietro Regaldo
  • Patent number: 4386780
    Abstract: An apparatus which removes contaminants from the liquid in a centrifugal pump has a housing connected with the pump shaft and having a cleaning chamber connected with a first space containing contaminated liquid and a second chamber connected with a second space for cleaned liquid as well as with the first chamber. The second space communicates with the first space by way of a narrow clearance which further communicates with an outlet of the first chamber. The first chamber can contain a disc separator and its outlet is positioned in such a way that, when the housing rotates, liquid entering the first chamber from the first space is relieved of impurities and flows into the second chamber where it can undergo additional cleaning prior to entering the second space. The contaminants return into the first space via outlet and the clearance, and those contaminants which are contained in the liquid entering the second space are returned into the first space by way of the aforementioned clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1983
    Assignee: Klein, Schanzlin & Becker Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Robert Dernedde