Patents Examined by Trevor E. McGraw
  • Patent number: 7963461
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel injection nozzle comprising a cooling duct (6) that is disposed in the final region of a housing (1), which faces the combustion chamber. In order to cool the zones that are subjected to high thermal stress, the cooling duct (6) is positioned closer to the bore (2) of the valve needle than to the external face of the housing (1) and is provided with a cross-sectional area that has a width corresponding to no more than the height which extends in the axial direction of the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: MAN B&W Diesel AG
    Inventors: Dirk Köthen, Gertrud Meggenrieder, Dietmar Pinkernell, Andreas Stichnoth, Hakan Yalcin
  • Patent number: 7959091
    Abstract: A mobile foam producing unit (10) includes a first hose and hose assembly (110) and a second hose assembly (120). Water is provided to the mobile foam producing unit (10) by a supply hose (100). A foam gun (140) provides for the dispensing of a foam. A sanitizer gun (160) provides for a sanitizing solution being dispensed with water as well as, in another mode, a rinse mode wherein only water is dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Joe D. Slone, Nicolas A. Granucci, David E. Sugg
  • Patent number: 7950594
    Abstract: An ultrasound apparatus capable of mixing and/or atomizing fluids is disclosed. The apparatus includes a horn having an internal chamber, containing at least one free member, through which fluids to be atomized and/or mixed flow. Connected to the horn's proximal end, a transducer powered by a generator induces ultrasonic vibrations within the horn. Traveling down the horn from the transducer, the ultrasonic vibrations induce the release of ultrasonic energy into the fluids to be atomized and/or mixed as they travel through the internal chamber. As the ultrasonic vibrations travel through the chamber, the fluids within the chamber are agitated and/or begin to cavitate, while the free member moves about the chamber, thereby mixing the fluids. Upon reaching the front wall of the chamber, the ultrasonic vibrations echo off the front wall and pass through the fluids within the chamber a second time, further mixing the fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Bacoustics, LLC
    Inventor: Eilaz Babaev
  • Patent number: 7942349
    Abstract: A fuel injector body has a fuel chamber and a valve seat around a fuel outlet. A valve body is positioned at the valve seat and a valve stem extends through the fuel outlet and fuel chamber. Engagement (disengagement) of valve body and valve seat closes (opens) the injector. The fuel chamber can comprise primary and secondary chambers connected by a valve passage and a metering member that restricts fuel flow between the chambers, thereby providing a flow-dependent closing force that reduces the dependence of fuel flow through the injector on fuel inlet pressure and that makes that flow dependent on an injector actuating force. The injector body or the valve body can comprise a spray-shaping surface arranged at least partly around the valve seat, which spray-shaping surface is arranged to direct a spray of fuel flowing through the fuel outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Inventor: Andrew E. Meyer
  • Patent number: 7934667
    Abstract: A diffuser for a device for packaging and dispensing a product. The arrangement is particularly advantageous for foaming cosmetic products. The diffuser includes a collar which can be mounted on a container and a product diffusion head extending from the collar and provided with at least one output aperture. Preferably, the output aperture is oriented at an angle, relative to an axis of the collar, lying between 0° and 85°. The diffusion head is movable relative to the collar. Moreover, the diffusion head has an extension axis inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis of the collar, and has a size which is contained within the maximum cross-section of the collar and/or of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventor: Caroline Westrich
  • Patent number: 7926746
    Abstract: An irrigation sprinkler is provided with a housing configured for a fluid flow therethrough. A pressure regulating device having a gasket configured to variably move between a first position to a second position is disposed within the housing. The pressure regulating device includes an outlet with a variable opening formed from the cooperation of fluid passages in the gasket with a portion of the valve bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Thomas Melton
  • Patent number: 7926735
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispersing a fragrance compound. The apparatus includes a fragrance compound impregnated porous carrier with a film wrapped there about to form an envelope hermetically sealed along at least a first seam in the film. The film is perforated with at least a first slit to define a vent opening removable portion retained to the envelope with at least a first tab of film bridging the first slit. A film vent closure is adhesively applied to the envelope about the vent opening removable portion, thereby forming a substantially complete hermetic seal of the interior of the envelope about the porous carrier. Upon removal, the film vent closure adhesively pulls the vent opening removable portion from the envelope, and the first tab of film is torn, so as to form a vent opening in the envelope, and thereby enabling the fragrance compound to disperse through the vent opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Inventor: David D. Mobley
  • Patent number: 7926740
    Abstract: A pressure washer is provided. The pressure washer can include a frame and a power source coupled to the frame. The power source can include an output shaft. The pressure washer can include a centrifugal clutch. The centrifugal clutch can include an input portion operably coupled to the output shaft and an output portion. The input portion of the centrifugal clutch can be operable to be selectively coupled to the output portion. The pressure washer can include a pump assembly, which can include a pump mechanism operably coupled with the output portion of the centrifugal clutch to pressurize a fluid when the input portion of the centrifugal clutch is coupled to the output portion. The pressure washer can also include an actuator in communication with at least the power source to actuate the power source to drive the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory L. Parris, Daniel W. Rice, Joseph L. Jenkins, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7909111
    Abstract: An outdoor fire prevention system preferably includes an existing roof structure with a plurality of first and second groups of water discharging assemblies. The system may also include a mechanism for automatically distributing water to a target group of water discharging assemblies by selecting assemblies from each of the first and second groups when sensors, located in the roof, indicate that the roof surface temperature, of a target region of is elevated above a maximum threshold temperature. The outdoor fire prevention system may further include a controller that is connected to a primary water shutoff valve in fluid communication with the automatic water distributing mechanism which automatically controls the amount of water transmitted to the system. The outdoor fire prevention system may also include a primary conduit in fluid communication with the primary water shutoff valve and traveling downstream therefrom, directing water where needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Inventors: Andres Hinojosa, Chris Martinez
  • Patent number: 7909265
    Abstract: A wheeled herbicide and/or pesticide carrier incorporates a non-motorized, three wheeled cart including a frame defining a basket for receiving tanks containing a fluid solution. An air compressor and battery are also supported on the cart. A nozzle communicates with the tanks for dispensing the solution. A control panel is mounted on the cart's handle to permit a user to select which tank is to be utilized and the rate for spraying. A second embodiment of the invention is designed to support four tanks thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Inventors: Randy L Adams, Carolyn D. Adams
  • Patent number: 7900854
    Abstract: A filter for use with overhead sprinkler irrigation systems is disclosed. The filter includes a hollow cylindrical body, a removable screen, and a manually-actuated plunger adjacent the screen. The plunger is positioned for reciprocal movement through a debris outlet between an open, debris-discharging position, and a closed filtering position. The plunger defaults to the closed filtering position by pressurized water flowing through the body. The water is simultaneously filtered through the screen and passes out a clean water outlet while debris accumulates within the body. The plunger may be manually retracted to the open, debris-discharging position at any time, whereby accumulated debris is flushed out of the body through the debris outlet by residual water flowing therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: American Agriculture Products, LLC
    Inventor: Gerald Beer
  • Patent number: 7886993
    Abstract: An injection valve for injecting fuel comprises a valve housing (1) inside of which a drive unit (15) controls the movement of a valve needle (5) that is pretensioned by a spring (11). The injection valve also comprises a main chamber (27), which is provided inside the valve housing, is filled with fuel and accommodates the valve needle (5), and comprises a hydraulic bearing for the drive unit (15). The hydraulic bearing has a hydraulic chamber (29) that is connected to the main chamber (27), whereby fuel serves as the operating substance of the hydraulic bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Georg Bachmaier, Bernhard Fischer, Bernhard Gottlieb, Andreas Kappel, Hans Meixner, Enrico Ulivieri
  • Patent number: 7886995
    Abstract: A spray nozzle mechanism capable of forming spray contents into fine particles. A channel setting core is fixedly placed in a space in a button body, between an output hole of a vertical path and a hole for discharging contents to the external space. Swirls in the same swirling direction are formed by upstream recessed paths continuous from the vertical path and downstream recessed paths continuous to the discharge hole. Also, the spray nozzle mechanism has ribs. The ribs move initial swirls created by the upstream recessed paths to the corresponding downstream recessed paths, where the initial swirls are moved in a state where they are separated as far as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Mitani Valve Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Togashi
  • Patent number: 7886837
    Abstract: An external sprinkler system for use on homes is herein disclosed. It is designed to prevent the ignition of the roof structure from glowing ashes or embers from a nearby wild fire or structure fire. The sprinkler system would use a series of nozzles connected to a common manifold and integrated therein a building structure's roof vents. The piping connecting the manifold is connected to a water supply via a control valve mounted at grade level. Control equipment provides switching between a public water supply and home cisterns. Runoff water is captured by the existing gutter system and recycled through the system. During activation, the system soaks the roof and house and makes it very difficult for ignition from an external source to take place. The system provides manual activation and remote activation from a cell phone or fire station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Inventor: Hans E. W. Helfgott
  • Patent number: 7883029
    Abstract: An irrigation system includes a radio transmitter station that transmits weather prediction information to a geographic region that includes multiple geographic sub-regions. The weather prediction information includes a respective geographic sub-region code for each of the geographic sub-regions for which a weather forecast predicts rain within a predetermined time period. An irrigation apparatus in a particular sub-region activates to water a watering zone at a schedule time. However, if the irrigation apparatus receives the sub-region code for the particular sub-region where the irrigation apparatus is located, the irrigation apparatus does not immediately activate to water the watering zone in one embodiment. The transmitter station may transmit both program content and data content on a common radio frequency signal wherein the data content includes the weather prediction information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Glen Edmond Chalemin, Indran Naick, Clifford Jay Spinac, Calvin Lui Sze
  • Patent number: 7878427
    Abstract: An injector having an injector body to which a fuel line is connected for delivering fuel at high pressure. A filter bore is formed in the body and a fuel filter is disposed, through which filter the delivered fuel flows. A sealing seat is formed in the filter bore against which seat the end of the fuel line is pressed upon fastening of the fuel line to the injector body. The filter bore discharges at the outside of the injector body. The sealing seat is disposed with its longitudinal axis inclined to the longitudinal axis of the filter bore, and in the injector body, a bore extending at least approximately coaxially to the sealing seat is provided, into which the end region of the fuel line plunges. By the end region, plunging into the bore, of the fuel line, an outer end region of the filter bore, discharging at the outside of the injector body, is separated from an inner end region, subjected to high pressure, of the filter bore, and the fuel filter is disposed in the inner end region of the filter bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Wengert
  • Patent number: 7874502
    Abstract: A control valve arrangement for use in controlling fuel pressure within a control chamber (30) includes a control valve member (32) which is movable between a first position in which the control chamber (30) communicates with a source of high pressure fuel, and a second position in which the control chamber (30) communicates with a low pressure fuel drain and communication between the control chamber (30) and the source of high pressure fuel is broken. The control valve arrangement also includes restricted flow means (55, 70, 86) for restricting the rate of flow of fuel from the control chamber (30) to the low pressure fuel drain when the control valve member (32) is moved from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies Holding S.arl
    Inventors: Anthony Thomas Harcombe, Anthony John Williams, Andy Male
  • Patent number: 7874501
    Abstract: A product dispenser (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610, 710, 720, 730, 740, 750, 760, 780, 800, 810, 820, 830, 840, 850, and 860) for attachment to a surface such as an inner surface of a dryer releasably attaches a product (31, 131, 431, 531, 713, 733, 743, 753, 763, 787, 804, 815, 825, 834, 844, 854, 862) to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory G. Griese, John E. Thomas, Jamie W. Lerbs, Steven E. Lentsch, Stephan M. Hubig, Terry J. Klos, Ronald B. Howes, Jr., Eric R. Balz
  • Patent number: 7854393
    Abstract: A clip on type air freshener device having a housing with openings in walls thereof permitting air flow through a cavity in the housing. A bottle that holds a supply of fragrance bearing liquid is mounted on the housing and has a wick with a portion thereof projecting into the cavity in the housing. An open ended sleeve is mounted on housing in axial alignment with such projecting wick portion and is adjustably moveable axially along the wick selectively in one position to completely cover the wick projecting portion and in another position leave at least a major portion thereof exposed to air flow through said housing openings. The wick cover is exposed through an opening in the housing giving the user a visual indication as to the amount of wick exposed for evaporation of the fragrance during usage of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Ashland Licensing and Intellectual Property, LLC
    Inventors: Anna DiBello, Mark Armstrong, Henri Spaile, David Petarcic, Ed Kopinski
  • Patent number: 7837067
    Abstract: Toy water guns include a housing supporting a liquid storage reservoir, a conduit for establishing fluid communication between the reservoir and a discharge orifice disposed proximate a front end of the housing, a trigger mechanism, a fluid transfer system adapted to develop forces for causing a continuous or pulsed stream of liquid to flow through the conduit and out of the discharge orifice when the trigger is pressed. An illustrative embodiment employs a nozzle translation assembly that is dimensioned and arranged to move the discharge orifice along a time varying path relative to the housing as a stream of liquid is discharged. The time varying path may be circular, as to obtain a helical or spiral flow pattern or non-circular as to obtain, for example, a zig-zagging or figure eight pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Though Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan B. Amron