Patents Examined by William Wicker
  • Patent number: 5582010
    Abstract: A device with a pyrotechnic gas generator wherein gas pressurizes a hydraulic circuit via a cartridge-case base, a spring and a pressure piston. The pyrotechnic gas generator comprises a propellant charge, which is located in a combustion chamber and is ignited by an electronic igniting unit. The parts of the device are contained in a housing, which is exchangeably inserted into a wall surrounding the hydraulic circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aerospace AG
    Inventor: Peter Lell
  • Patent number: 5575627
    Abstract: A pump includes a high pressure portion and a low pressure portion. During low pressure, high volume operation, pressure produced in the high pressure portion of the pump is applied to drive a large area piston in the low pressure portion of the pump. Once the pressure in the high pressure portion of the pump raises to a cut-off pressure, at which time it takes excessive power to drive the large area piston, a cut-off valve opens to allow the high pressure portion of the pump to directly pump a relatively lower volume of fluid per stroke at a relatively higher pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: HyVair Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Vairin, Ken Vairin
  • Patent number: 5573386
    Abstract: A reciprocating piston pump having a housing, pistons disposed opposite one another in the housing, an eccentric between the pistons, annular grooves that fit around the piston necks machined into piston ends oriented toward the eccentric, and a U-shaped hoop spring curved radially outside the eccentric in the circumferential direction thereof. The hoop spring includes forklike hoop spring ends which engage the annular grooves and press the piston ends toward the eccentric. In the circumferential direction of the substantially U-shaped hoop spring, a continuation is formed on the hoop spring and together with a stop disk aligned transversely to the eccentric shaft, forms a device that limits the pivotability of the hoop spring about the piston necks. The reciprocating piston pump is usable for instance in hydraulic motor vehicle brake systems and in other hydraulic equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Edgar Schmitt, Barbara Schwind-Grellmann, Harald Ott
  • Patent number: 5570580
    Abstract: A gas turbine fuel nozzle and method of fuel flow provide resistance to coking of the fuel by means of a multiple passage heat transfer cooling circuit. Fuel streams to primary and secondary sprays of pilot and main nozzle tips are arranged to transfer heat between the pilot primary fuel stream and each of the main secondary fuel stream and the pilot secondary fuel stream. This protects the fuel in the streams from coking during both low flow, lower engine heat conditions and high flow, high engine heat conditions. This nozzle and flow can protect engines with both single tip and dual tip nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventor: Robert T. Mains
  • Patent number: 5567136
    Abstract: An enclosure is provided for protecting a bag containing fluid used in connection with a pump for pumping the fluid to the patient. The pump closes off the opening into the enclosure. A first end of the pump is positioned within the enclosure adjacent to a retaining lip. A latch structure latches a second end of the pump to the enclosure to mount the pump to the enclosure. A bag spike chamber is provided for receiving a bag spike used to connect the pump to the bag. A platform is provided for supporting the bag above the bag spike chamber. A ridge on the front of the control module of the pump engages the enclosure during mounting of the pump to the enclosure. A ridge on the back of the control module fits into the enclosure. The enclosure further includes a pressure plate support surface for engaging a reciprocally shaped pressure plate to facilitate a mechanical fit of the pressure plate to the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: SIMS Deltec, Inc.
    Inventor: Jay G. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5567119
    Abstract: An enclosure is provided for protecting a bag containing fluid used in connection with a pump for pumping the fluid to the patient. The pump closes off the opening into the enclosure. A first end of the pump is positioned within the enclosure adjacent to a retaining lip. A latch structure latches a second end of the pump to the enclosure to mount the pump to the enclosure. A bag spike chamber is provided for receiving a bag spike used to connect the pump to the bag. A platform is provided for supporting the bag above the bag spike chamber. Alternatively, the enclosure may include a bag post for hanging the bag and/or a syringe holder for securely holding a syringe. A ridge on the front of the control module of the pump engages the enclosure during mounting of the pump to the enclosure. A ridge on the back of the control module fits into the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: SIMS Deltec, Inc.
    Inventor: Jay G. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5564908
    Abstract: A pump includes a housing defining a cavity, an axial bore coaxially communicating with the cavity, at least one radial bore radially extending between the cavity and an outlet, and an inlet communicating with the radial bore intermediate to the cavity and the outlet. A crankshaft having a longitudinal axis is disposed in the axial bore for rotation about the axis and includes an eccentric portion disposed in the cavity. A piston having a base is disposed in the cavity, and has a head disposed in the radial bore for slidable reciprocation between a discharge position proximate the outlet and an intake position at the inlet between the cavity and the outlet. A cage structure including a cage and a slider block connects the piston base to the eccentric portion of the crankshaft for transforming rotation of the eccentric portion in the cavity to reciprocation of the piston in the radial bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Phillips Engineering Company
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Phillips, John Roeder, Jr., Michael N. Harvey
  • Patent number: 5564905
    Abstract: A variable displacement axial piston hydraulic unit includes a flat port plate disposed between a stationery head and a rotatable cylinder barrel. An arcuate actuator piston extends from the port plate and is slidably disposed within an arcuate pocket in the head to define an actuator chamber. Similarly, an arcuate biasing piston extends from the port plate and is slidably disposed within an arcuate pocket defining a biasing chamber which continuously communicates with a discharge passage in the head. By selectably rotating the port plate relative to the head, the amount of fluid pressure carryover through TDC and BDC can be varied, thereby changing the swivel torque acting on the swashplate so that the swivel torque can be utilized to actually control the position of the swashplate. The rotational position of the port plate is controlled by controllably introducing pressurized fluid into the actuating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Noah D. Manring
  • Patent number: 5560277
    Abstract: A variable displacement hydraulic motor having a swash plate angle adjusting structure. This hydraulic motor has a main case, a rotary shaft rotatably supported in the main case, a plurality of cylinder blocks rotatable with the rotary shaft and including axial plungers, a swash plate member for contacting distal ends of the plungers, pivot shafts for pivotally connecting the swash plate member to the main case such that the swash plate member has a pivoting angle adjustable relative to the main case, and a first and a second hydraulic cylinders arranged at opposite sides of the pivot shafts as seen in a direction parallel to the rotary shaft. The first and second hydraulic cylinders are secured in a region of the main case opposed to the cylinder blocks across the swash plate member. The hydraulic cylinders are operable to contact the swash plate member to adjust the pivoting angle thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Nomura, Manabu Yamanishi, Syunryou Hayashida, Akira Tsuda, Tetsuo Ishioka, Hiroya Hanano
  • Patent number: 5555719
    Abstract: A method of operating a combined-cycle gas and steam turbine power generating system on a single shaft 16 uses as a feedback to the speed control or governor a signal 22 representing the total power output of the generator less the total output of the steam turbine 12, which is then correlated with the error signal between the actual and reference speeds to alter the fuel flow to the gas turbine. By compensating the measured generator output by subtracting a value 24 representative of the steam turbine output so that the compensated signal 26 represents the contribution of only the gas turbine 10 to the generator output, a constant settable droop speed control system may be used in a single-shaft combined-cycle steam turbine and the gas turbine system to compensate for variable heating fuel value and/or changing combustion efficiency in dry low NO.sub.x combustion systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: William I. Rowen, Jens Kure-Jensen
  • Patent number: 5556260
    Abstract: A multiple-cylinder piston type compressor is disclosed. The compressor has a cylinder head fastened to the rear end of a cylinder block assembly of the compressor with a valve plate interposed therebetween and having formed therein a suction chamber formed in a radially outer peripheral region thereof so as to surround a central discharge chamber. The compressor further includes a refrigerant gas intake passage extending along a straight line and radially through the axial center of the compressor and having at least two holes for providing direct communication between the gas intake passage and the suction chamber at positions that are radially spaced. The refrigerant gas intake passage may include a combination of at least two passage portions having different cross-sectional areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kenji Takenaka, Hiroaki Kayukawa, Masafumi Ito, Osamu Hiramatsu, Suguru Hirota, Taro Ozeki
  • Patent number: 5551848
    Abstract: A portable hand pump includes a housing having a hole for rotatably engaging with an extension of a tube. A hose and an attachment member are secured to the tube such that the attachment member may rotate about the extension and may be easily engaged with the air valves. A lock member is secured to the hose and a connector is fixed on top of the lock member. A barrel is rotatably engaged on the connector. The attachment member is fixed to the barrel such that the attachment member may rotate relative to the connector and may be easily engaged with the air valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Inventors: Louis Chuang, Scott Wu
  • Patent number: 5544479
    Abstract: A gas turbine power plant operating on a dual Brayton cycle and utilizing a circulating pressurized fluidized bed combustor is disclosed. An open Brayton cycle is provided in which the hot flue gas from the fluidized bed combustor is expanded to extract work to drive compressors to supply combustion air for the fluidized bed combustor and to drive an electric generator to produce electricity. The residual heat of the flue gas exhausted from the open Brayton cycle can be utilized for heat cogeneration at high power-to-heat ratios. A closed Brayton cycle is also provided, the working medium of which is heated in an indirect heater of the circulating pressurized fluidized bed combustor and expanded to extract work to drive another electric generator. The air supplied by the open Brayton cycle is also used to fluidize the heated particles in the indirect heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Longmark Power International, Inc.
    Inventors: Xinglong Yan, Lawrence M. Lidsky
  • Patent number: 5545014
    Abstract: A durable, single action, variable displacement vane pump capable of undervane pumping, components thereof, and pressure balancing method. The pump comprises a cylindrical barstock rotor member having large diameter journal ends and central vane slots uniformly spaced therearound. The vane slots are elongate and have a central vane-supporting portion of maximum depth surrounded at each end by extension portions having depths which decrease axially to the surface of rotor member. The vaned rotor is rotatably supported within a unitary cam member having opposed faces and a circular bore therethrough forming a cam chamber having a continuous interior circular cam surface. The vane slot extensions in the rotor project outwardly beyond the cam chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Coltec Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Jack G. Sundberg, Bernard J. Bisson, Mihir C. Desai, Martin T. Books
  • Patent number: 5542202
    Abstract: A changeable letter for signs is provided as a part of an illuminated sign or copy board system which provides different appearances when the changeable letters are alternately backlit or frontlit. The letter, understood to include letters, symbols and numerals, includes a translucent plate and first, second or additional layers of opaque, indicia-defining material applied thereto. The second layer is preferably of a lighter color than the first layer, and when superposed thereon, presents the appearance of a lighter colored letter surrounded by a darker border. However, when the letter is backlit as it would appear at nighttime positioned on an illuminated sign, the letter presents a black or otherwise darkened appearance surrounded by the lighted portion of the sign.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Gemini, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph G. Brugger
  • Patent number: 5542825
    Abstract: A turbomolecular pump comprising a stator and a rotor, said rotor comprising a central shaft and a bell-shaped active portion, said stator comprising an outer portion and an inner portion that penetrates into the cavity of said bell-shaped active portion, and that supports the stator portion of the drive motor, the shaft of said rotor supporting the rotor portion of said drive motor, wherein said central shaft and the bell-shaped active portion of the rotor are made in one piece, without any assembly being necessary, and of a non-magnetic material, said shaft being provided with a central bore which receives the rotor portion of said drive motor, which portion is constituted by a cylindrical permanent magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Alcatel CIT
    Inventors: Denis Perrillat-Amede, Didier Pierrejean, Francois Reverdy
  • Patent number: 5540561
    Abstract: An enclosure is provided for protecting a bag containing fluid used in connection with a pump for pumping the fluid to the patient. The pump closes off the opening into the enclosure. A first end of the pump is positioned within the enclosure adjacent to a retaining lip. A latch structure latches a second end of the pump to the enclosure to mount the pump to the enclosure. A bag spike chamber is provided for receiving a bag spike used to connect the pump to the bag. A platform is provided for supporting the bag above the bag spike chamber. A ridge on the front of the control module of the pump engages the enclosure during mounting of the pump to the enclosure. A ridge on the back of the control module fits into the enclosure. The enclosure further includes a pressure plate support surface for engaging a reciprocally shaped pressure plate to facilitate a mechanical fit of the pressure plate to the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: SIMS Deltec, Inc.
    Inventor: Jay G. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5540564
    Abstract: A rotary distributor fuel injection pump with a drive shaft coupled to a pump rotor by a radially offset and axially extending drive pin with a cylindrical head received within a radial slot in the rotor; a coaxial throughbore in the rotor providing a valve bore; a valve member in the valve bore axially shiftable to an open position by a compression spring; an electromagnet with an armature plate fixed to one end of the valve member and a stator operable, when energized, to axially shift the valve member to its closed position; a stop plate on the outer end of the rotor having an outer end face engageable by the armature plate, the end face having a plurality of lands and grooves to hydraulically dampen the axial movement of the valve member to its open position when the stator is deenergized; the armature plate having a hub received within an opening in the stop plate to couple the armature plate and valve member to the rotor; an annular thrust washer and needle bearing between the rotor and a distributor he
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Stanadyne Automotive Corp.
    Inventor: Kenneth H. Klopfer
  • Patent number: 5538399
    Abstract: A method is provided for protecting a bag containing fluid used in connection with a pump for pumping the fluid to the patient. The pump closes off the opening into an enclosure. A first end of the pump is positioned within the enclosure adjacent to a retaining lip. A latch structure latches a second end of the pump to the enclosure to mount the pump to the enclosure. A bag spike chamber is provided for receiving a bag spike used to connect the pump to the bag. A platform is provided for supporting the bag above the bag spike chamber. A ridge on the front of the control module of the pump engages the enclosure during mounting of the pump to the enclosure. A ridge on the back of the control module fits into the enclosure. The enclosure further includes a pressure plate support surface for engaging a reciprocally shaped pressure plate to facilitate a mechanical fit of the pressure plate to the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: SIMS Deltec, Inc.
    Inventor: Jay G. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5538407
    Abstract: Fluid proportions system for proportioning a fluid intermittently at various places. This fluid comes from a storage point and is added by an intermittently operating pump to a proportioner, which feeds a fixed volume of fluid to an outlet more or less independently of the pressure. For returning the reciprocating piston present in the proportioner, use is made of a further fluid which is connected to the proportioner by a further inlet line. A forced return movement of the piston is thereby achieved. Proportioning of fluid is realized by the proportioning fluid itself while return movement in the proportioner of the piston is realized by the control fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Groeneveld Transport Efficiency B.V.
    Inventor: Willem Van Der Hulst