Patents Issued in January 11, 1994
  • Patent number: 5277028
    Abstract: A hydraulic flow control apparatus has shape memory alloy springs which develop substantial actuating forces only at relatively high temperature. As a result of these forces, an only relatively slightly throttled connecting path between delivery side and intake side of a pump is opened directly or indirectly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Gunter Worner, Arno Rohringer, Heiko Bublitz, Peter Lindeckert
  • Patent number: 5277029
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine with a dual turbocharger system includes an air bypass conduit connecting a downstream portion of a first turbocharger compressor with an upstream portion of a second turbocharger compressor so that the length of the air bypass conduit is relatively long. When a throttle is rapidly closed, an air bypass valve installed in the air bypass conduit is opened and the compressed air downstream of the throttle valve is returned to the upstream of the turbocharger compressor to suppress occurrence of a surging at the turbocharger compressor. Since the air bypass conduit is relatively long, the compressed and circulated air is effectively cooled when flowing through the air bypass conduit and melting of an impeller of the turbocharger compressor is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toru Kidokoro, Mamoru Yoshioka, Toshihisa Sugiyama, Kunihiko Nakata, Yuji Kanto, Keizo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5277030
    Abstract: A cooling stand for preconditioning a cooling probe containing a refrigerant that includes a well in which the probe is removably mounted against a heat transfer interface and a heat pump in the stand for removing energy from a thermal storage material to pre-cool the probe prior to use. In one embodiment of the invention, a cold reservoir containing a phase change material is mounted in the stand which acts as a heat sink for the heat pump. The heat pump is reversed when the probe is removed to cool the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Welch Allyn, Inc.
    Inventor: William R. Miller
  • Patent number: 5277031
    Abstract: A vacuum cooling system is provided with controls for reliably and consistently controlling the cooling system for a chamber that holds produce provided with a vacuum pump, a refrigeration system, a vent valve, a bleed valve, first, second and third pressure detectors or pressure set points and a programmable logic controller for starting the pump and then automatically operating the refrigeration system in response to operation of the first pressure detector and then momentarily and repeatedly opening the bleed valve in response to operation of the second detector and wherein the third detector detects a pressure above the second level detector and the control system closes the bleed valve in response to operation of the third pressure detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Western Precooling Systems
    Inventors: Floyd E. Miller, Craig A. Miller
  • Patent number: 5277032
    Abstract: Apparatus for recovering and recycling refrigerant fluid includes an external or open drive compressor having a suction side and a discharge side, an inlet port for receiving refrigerant fluid from a refrigeration unit, a suction conduit communicating between the inlet port and the suction side of the compressor, an outlet port for expelling refrigerant fluid from the apparatus and a discharge conduit communicating between the discharge side of the compressor and the outlet port. The apparatus further includes a filter for filtering moisture and other contaminants from the incoming refrigerant and an evaporator for substantially completely vaporizing the incoming refrigerant before it reaches the suction side of the compressor. The apparatus does not include a dedicated condenser, but rather the refrigerant discharged by the compressor is condensed in a series of heat exchange processes, whereby the warmer refrigerant discharged from the compressor gives up heat to the cooler incoming refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: CFC Reclamation and Recycling Service, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold J. See, Kenneth D. Turner
  • Patent number: 5277033
    Abstract: A self contained mobile refrigerant recovery and purification system in which refrigerant is withdrawn through a filter/dryer in liquid or vapor phase and then to a holding tank through a heat exchanger located within the tank. The flow of the recovered refrigerant through the heat exchanger is utilized to regulate the pressure within the tank, reducing the pressure to effect withdrawal and elevating the pressure to effect recharging of the serviced refrigeration system. After refrigerant withdrawal is complete, liquid refrigerant within the holding tank is cycled from the holding tank through the filter/dryer and back to the holding tank. The reclaimed refrigerant can then be transferred back to the serviced system in either liquid or vapor form as desired. Between recovery jobs the recovery system can be cleansed out by cycling a cleansed and pumped out by cycling a clean refrigerant through the filter/dryer and the holding tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Inventors: Clyde E. Sanford, James D. Maxey
  • Patent number: 5277034
    Abstract: An air-conditioning system for a cooling operation and a heating operation comprises a first heat exchanger to which a high-pressure and high-temperature refrigerant which has not been substantially cooled and adiabatically expanded after being compressed is supplied to heat the inside of a room to be air-conditioned during both of the cooling operation and the heating operation, a second heat exchanger to which a low-pressure and low-temperature refrigerant which has been substantially cooled and adiabatically expanded after being compressed is supplied to cool the inside of the room during both of the cooling operation and heating operation, and an air flow generator for generating an air flow which passes the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, wherein the second heat exchanger is arranged at an upstream side of the first heat exchanger in the air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Hojo, Kenji Tokusa, Kensaku Oguni, Susumu Nakayama
  • Patent number: 5277035
    Abstract: A refrigerator having multi-compartments and having a heat pipe which transfers heat from a heat source in the refrigeration system to surfaces on the refrigerator which are prone to sweating such as the mullion between compartments. The refrigerator has a gas absorption refrigeration system and the heat pipe is routed from the generator in the system, between the inner and outer shells of the cabinet to the mullion. The heat pipe minimizes condensation of moisture on the external surface of the mullion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: John E. Fristoe, David B. Kueterman
  • Patent number: 5277036
    Abstract: A modular air conditioning system with adjustable capacity includes a cooling module, a heating module, and a blower module which can be assembled in any of a plurality of configurations, including a vertical downflow configuration, a vertical upflow configuration, or a horizontal configuration, using the same set of modules. The same set of modules can be operated over a range of cooling capacities by employing a condensing unit of the required capacity connected to the cooling module and by adjusting the airflow volume rate of air transported through the system. A movable restrictor plate is positioned in partial covering relation to a discharge opening of the blower module and is adjusted to achieve the required airflow volume rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Unico, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Dieckmann, Joseph Intagliata
  • Patent number: 5277037
    Abstract: A plant for preparing over-run ice-cream includes a freezing apparatus for freezing mix supplied to the freezing apparatus via a feeding pump, an air supply apparatus for adding air to the mix before the mix is fed to the freezing apparatus, a mix mass flow meter for determining the mass flow rate of mix prior to addition of air, a computer which controls the air supply apparatus dependent upon the mix mass flow measured. The air is intimately mixed with the mix by means of a mixing apparatus arranged immediately before the freezing apparatus. The product in completely or partly melted condition has a cream-like thick consistency and an increased percent over-run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Brodrene Gram A/S
    Inventor: Klaus Gram
  • Patent number: 5277038
    Abstract: A thermal storage system for cooling and/or heating the passenger compartment of a vehicle has a heat exchanger arranged for fluid communication with a vehicle engine. The thermal storage system also has thermal energy storage means for storing thermal cooling and/or heating and being in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger on the vehicle. The thermal storage system further has fluid control means for controlling the flow of fluid from the heat exchanger selectively between the thermal storage means and the vehicle engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Instatherm Company
    Inventor: Peter Carr
  • Patent number: 5277039
    Abstract: A cabinet refrigeration system suitable for use in a wide variety of refrigeration cabinets is disclosed. The system includes a cabinet for storing or displaying refrigerated food and a thin, self-contained refrigeration unit of unitary construction removably mounted on the inner surface of one of the walls of the cabinet thereon by making it easily replaced, repaired or moved to a different cabinet. The cabinet may have drawers, shelves, bins or other food storage or display receptacles that may be accessed either through the front or the top of the cabinet. The refrigeration unit operates by drawings warm air into the bottom of the unit and expelling cold conditioned air out of the top of the unit. Adjustable deflectors are mounted on the outside of the refrigerator unit at the unit's output vent for precisely controlling the direction of flow of the cold air exiting the refrigeration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Omnimet Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Hans Haasis
  • Patent number: 5277040
    Abstract: This invention relates to purification of a multicomponent gas while purifying and circulating a gas medium, such as a laser gas medium or the like. An object of the present invention is to provide a gas laser apparatus operating method and a gas laser apparatus in which it is easy to keep the laser output power constant for a long time. Disclosed is a method which performs laser oscillation while circulating a laser multicomponent gas medium containing a rare gas and in which the laser gas medium is circulated through an absorbent (10) which has been refrigerated to a temperature where all the components of the laser gas medium necessary for laser oscillation are not solidified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin Mitsui
  • Patent number: 5277041
    Abstract: Described is a drain board (100) for a device for applying a liquid film to a web (8) of textile material. The drain board (100) comprises a support (1), on which a strip (10), which constitutes the draining surface (A) and is made of planar material is held flat, for example by magnets (3), by means of a vacuum or by a contact adhesive. The liquid is poured out at point (4) on to the draining surface (A); it flows down and falls off the lower edge (6) of the strip (10) in a falling film (7) or veil on to the fabric web (8). As a result of the magnetic retention, the strip cannot be replaced (FIG. 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Eduard Kusters Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Ahrweiler, Alfred Blasius, Wolfgang Kurschatke
  • Patent number: 5277042
    Abstract: A mechanical anti-theft device of the type applied to the steering wheel of an automotive vehicle which automatically ratchets to it's applied position without necessity of key lock actuation is provided with several security enhancing features which cumulatively prevent or make the device exceedingly difficult to unlock using conventional burglary tools or lock picking techniques. The features include configuring the ratchet teeth of the telescoping rod member in a way which minimizes any attempt to deactivate the lock unless the key is used. In combination with the ratchet teeth configuration, the lock pawl mechanism is configured to include an arcuate, transversely extending apex edge line or surface which cooperates with or is sized to be coincident with the rod members circumference to prevent a wedge, shim or pick from being readily easily inserted between pawl and ratchet tooth to force a retraction of the pawl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Winner International Corporation
    Inventor: Marc W. Tobias
  • Patent number: 5277043
    Abstract: An anti-theft device for vehicles has a member which is mountable above the upper surface of the seat portion of the driver's seat so that an unauthorized person cannot sit in the driver's seat when the device is mounted in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Inventor: Alexander Inashvili
  • Patent number: 5277044
    Abstract: A wire drawing machine having a watching system of the wire diameter at one or more watched locations in the machine. The diameter is measured by measuring the wire speed as compared to the reference wire speed at a reference location where the diameter is accurately known and held in a register. This value, together with both speed values, are sent to a computer module for calculating the wire diameter and sending this to the computer output. When a new wire enters in the drawing machine, the operation is temporarily inversed that is the lastly computed diameter is temporarily taken as the reference diameter and stored in the register, and from there the new reference diameter at the entrance is calculated and entered in the register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: N.V. Bekaert S.A.
    Inventor: Johan Samyn
  • Patent number: 5277045
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for effecting superplastic forming of metal workpieces at temperatures greater than 1000.degree. C., wherein both oxidation and creep deformation of the tooling are minimized. The process is achieved by heating forming surfaces of ceramic forming dies to temperatures in excess of 1000.degree. C., and using metal housings to impart high loading conditions to seal the workpiece within a chamber for superplastic forming. More specifically, the metal housings are used not only for load bearing purposes, but also for creating an evacuated chamber within which superplastic forming can take place. The ceramic dies, on the other hand, are positioned on opposing sides of the workpiece region to be superplastically formed, and are insulated from, while being contained within, the metallic dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corp.
    Inventors: Murray W. Mahoney, Clifford C. Bampton
  • Patent number: 5277046
    Abstract: Vibrations that arise during the winding of a coil of wire onto a rotating mandrel are damped by surrounding the coil with a tube such that the tube is spaced from the coil and by supplying fluid to the tube. The tube extends in the axial direction of the coil along at least a part of its length and, due to the spacing between the tube and the coil, conducts fluid such as water in a confined manner towards at least one end of the tube and releases the fluid from the end of the tube, for example in a region of the coil adjacent to and/or remote from the winding of the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Zortech International Limited
    Inventors: Ali Paybarah, Joseph A. McWilliams
  • Patent number: 5277047
    Abstract: The residual of an easy open can end is controlled by a band heater mounted on the anvil in conversion system tooling. The separation at closest approach of the score and anvil in the conversion tooling is altered as necessary by thermal expansion and contraction of the anvil as determined by the power supplied to the band heater. An electrical circuit supplies power to the heater and includes a thermocouple for maintaining the anvil at a set temperature. A loop control periodically diverts a finished end from the conveyor, measures the residual and adjusts power to the heater if necessary to bring the residual into specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Service Tool International, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank J. Herdzina
  • Patent number: 5277048
    Abstract: A process for cold working an elongated form of a steel alloy includes the step of forming a matte texture on substantially all of the surface of the elongated form. The matte texture is characterized by a plurality of random, minute, shallow indentations, uniformly distributed on the elongated form's surface. The process provides an elongated form of steel alloy that has a significantly improved capability to carry lubricant into a cold working tool or die, thereby benefiting the cold workability of the elongated form. An apparatus for carrying out the process according to the invention, in line with one or more other processing operations is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: CRS Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Lubas
  • Patent number: 5277049
    Abstract: A pneumatic cylinder and piston assembly is provided with a piston rod on the end of which is mounted a punch. The cylinder is provided with an extension tube through which the piston rod and punch extend. The assembly is mounted on a support frame have a bored body and a pair of spaced lateral brackets. The assembly is held in the body with the extension tube passing freely through the brackets. A die is mounted on the frame at a position in counter opposition to said punch whereby a rivet may be driven into materials to be joined and clinched by said punch on driving of said piston. The apparatus includes a stopper mounted about the piston rod to limit the movement of said piston rod in said cylinder and restrict the maximum protruded position of the punch, a spacer mounted about the extension tube and located between the body and the lower bracket to define the optimum driving of the punch, and a nut threaded over the extension tube for securing the extension tube to the lower bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Tokai Metallic Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Itsuo Endo
  • Patent number: 5277050
    Abstract: A crimping tool is provided for compressing a terminal onto an electrical wire. The tool includes an anvil having a terminal engaging surface area. A ram is reciprocally movable toward and away from the anvil and has a terminal engaging surface area opposing the terminal engaging surface area of the anvil for compressing the terminal therebetween. A second ram is movably mounted on one of the anvil and ram in the respective terminal engaging surface area thereof for selectively compressing the terminal to an extent greater than that afforded by the anvil and the ram alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert DeRoss, Ronald Dudek
  • Patent number: 5277051
    Abstract: A terminal positioning device of crimping tool comprises mainly a base and an elastic member. The base is provided with a pair of clamping members mounted thereon. The elastic member is mounted on a predetermined location of the crimping tool and provided with a pressing portion of a length extending downwards to form jointly with the base and the clamping members a receiving space for accommodating and holding securely a terminal of any shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Inventor: Lien H. Liu
  • Patent number: 5277052
    Abstract: A apparatus for moldng a stainless steel sheet into a complex airfoil-shaped cover for the leading edge of a jet engine blade wherein the sheet is positioned between a male and female mold having an airfoil-shaped protrusion and recess, respectively, on either side of which are disposed a plurality of pairs of complementary tongue and grooves of shorter length than that of the recess and protrusion. After the sheet is removed from between the molds the portion formed between the recess and protrusion is trimmed to the shape of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Inventors: Braunheim, David A. Janes
  • Patent number: 5277053
    Abstract: An electrostatically force balanced accelerometer employs electrostatic, single sided square law forcing after filtering and scaling the pickoff signal to determine a restoring force required to bring the pendulous mass (10) of the accelerometer back to its null position. A signal (44,48) proportional to the square root of the restoring force is applied to an electrostatic square law forcing circuit (50) that applies a restoring force to one side or the other of the pendulum (10). A system output signal (42) is proportional to the calculated restoring force, and thus linearly proportional to the sensed acceleration. The transfer function of the forcing circuit (50) is empirically determined by applying a series of known accelerations and measuring the balancing signal required to restore the pendulous mass (10) to its null position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel P. McLane, Robert E. Stewart
  • Patent number: 5277054
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for in-situ calibration of distance measuring equipment. The method comprises obtaining a first distance measurement in a first location, then obtaining at least one other distance measurement in at least one other location of a precisely known distance from the first location, and calculating a calibration constant. The method is applied specifically to calculating a calibration constant for obtaining fluid level and embodied in an apparatus using a pressure transducer and a spacer of precisely known length. The calibration constant is used to calculate the depth of a fluid from subsequent single pressure measurements at any submerged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventor: Melvin D. Campbell
  • Patent number: 5277055
    Abstract: A test stand has a base supporting standards on which are mounted a crossbar and an adjustably locatable header. The header supports an actuator for raising and lowering the crossbar which holds V-blocks for engaging the handles of an impact or impact-rotary tool and which applies downward pressure to the tool. The tool chuck is fitted to the top of a guide rod whose lower end passes with a sliding fit through a disc to which it is keyed and bears against a piston in an hydraulically pressurized cylinder. Sensors detect rotation of the disc and movement of the piston to provide information to a computer as to impact energy and rotary speed. A manifold fitted with sensors for temperature, pressure, and flow rate supplies operating air to the tool. The computer includes a database with stored information as to past history of the tool and the manufacturer's recommended operating specifications to which the measured data is compared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerard T. Pittard, William J. McDonald, Terry P. Clifton, William C. Herben
  • Patent number: 5277056
    Abstract: Process for the continuous monitoring of waste gas from an incinerator plant, which contains volatile mercury halides and optionally metallic mercury in the form of vapor, with respect to the entire mercury content, of the waste gas taking a continuous test gas stream from the waste gas, cooling the test gas stream to form a condensate which contains a reducing agent, continuously passing the test gas stream into contact with the condensate to reduce the mercury halides contained in the test gas stream to metallic mercury by the reducing agent contained in the condensate, and subsequently determining the entire metallic mercury content by analysis of the test gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH
    Inventors: Hartmut Braun, Andreas Gerig
  • Patent number: 5277057
    Abstract: A gasoline detecting device is provided with a suction nozzle arranged adjacent to an element to be inspected, a sensor for detecting gasoline within the sucked air arranged adjacent to the suction nozzle, and a body arranged in relation spaced from the suction nozzle. The body has a sensor drive unit for driving the sensor and for displaying the detection and a suction unit communicating with the suction nozzle. The gasoline detecting device can detect gasoline leakage from the element to be inspected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Hiromasa Takashima, Kazutoshi Angata, Takamitsu Ariyoshi, Hiromi Sonoda
  • Patent number: 5277058
    Abstract: An improved rheometer of the present invention includes an adjustable gap through which a flowing system is forced. The inner cavity dimension of the gap is variable so as to give a user of the rheometer an ability to vary the separation gap and the length over diameter ratio. This, in turn, allows the user to determine the shear rate and shear stress along the wall of the cavity for varying deformation rates. Thus, the shear viscosity of the flowing system can be characterized for non-Newtonian systems without varying the volumetric flow rate. One of the preferred embodiments of the adjustable gap rheometer is a slit rheometer in which the flowing system is forced through a slit having generally more length than width and more width than gap. The slit rheometer is made adjustable by holding the body of the rheometer stationary while moving an adjustable wall which forms one of the sides of the slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Inventors: Dilhan M. Kalyon, Halit S. Gokturk
  • Patent number: 5277059
    Abstract: A method for dynamically balancing golf putters using radius of gyration as the controlling parameter wherein the center of precussion location on the putter club face is re-located so as to coincide with that location where a golfer consistently makes contact with a golf ball during that golfer's natural putting stroke. The present method also allows one to reposition the golf ball contact point on the putter club face to an optimum location such that the golfer will consistently strike a golf ball at or slightly above its horizontal centerline thereby imparting optimum role characteristics to the golf ball when putting. The present method is based upon the dynamic equations describing compound pendulum motion and uses radius of gyration as the controlling parameter to balance a golf putter based upon optimal putter comfort, feel and performance during the putting stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Inventor: Herman A. Chastonay
  • Patent number: 5277060
    Abstract: A wheel centering device for use in a motor vehicle test platform employs mechanically synchronized centering rolls to position the driven wheel of a vehicle to be tested at the top center of the dynamometer roll. The centering rolls may be pivotally supported on a pair of lift brackets which are provided with toothed gear sections at their pivot ends for mechanical synchronization. Alternatively, the centering rolls may be supported on carriages disposed on opposite sides of the vertical centerline and movable on carriage tracks extending in upwardly sloping inclined planes disposed on opposite sides of the vertical centerline of the dynamometer roll. Movement of the carriages may be synchronized by means of a drive shaft consisting of two oppositely threaded ball screw sections and ball nuts, each attached to one of the carriages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Burke E. Porter Machinery Company
    Inventors: James R. Lehman, Walter S. Smith
  • Patent number: 5277061
    Abstract: A method for determining the rotation speed of the drill bit arranged at one end of a rotating drill string. According to the method, the axial acceleration at one point on the drill string is measured, this measurement is processed with a multiplying coefficient which depends upon the point on the drill string where the measurement is taken to determine the rotational speed of the drill bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Societe Nationale Elf Aquitaine (Production)
    Inventor: Elyes Draoui
  • Patent number: 5277062
    Abstract: A method for measuring the azimuthal strike orientation of induced fractures in subterranean formations from which the maximum and minimum in situ stress direction can be inferred. The method utilizes an oriented core of a formation and computed tomography imagery for measuring the azimuthal strike orientation of induced fractures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: Matthew E. Blauch, James J. Venditto
  • Patent number: 5277063
    Abstract: A method for balancing a rotor of an alternator in a diesel-electric locomotive in which the rotor is drivingly coupled to a power output shaft of a diesel engine. A speed sensor and a vibration sensor are coupled to the rotor for providing output signals representative of instantaneous rotational velocity and instantaneous amplitude of vibrational motion of the rotor, respectively. In the inventive method, the rotor is accelerated to a first preselected rotational velocity and a first rotor unbalance is determined from the velocity and vibration signals. The rotor is then accelerated to a second preselected rotational velocity and a second rotor unbalance is determined. The first and the second rotor unbalance determinations are combined to identify a first correction weight and position thereof for minimizing the first and the second rotor unbalance. The identified weight is installed and the process repeated until the unbalance is corrected such that vibration is less than a preselected maximum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Thumpassery J. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5277064
    Abstract: An accelerometer is provided which is suitably rugged for use in on-board automotive safety control and navigational systems. The preferred thick film accelerometer is formed from an alumina substrate having an integrally formed U-shaped flexure member which surrounds an intermediate support member. A mass is provided on the unsupported end of the U-shaped flexure member. Deflection is maximum at the unsupported end of the U-shaped flexure member, while strain is maximum at the supported end of the flexure member. Four piezoresistors for detecting the strain within the flexure member corresponding to the acceleration in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the support member are provided on the U-shaped flexure member adjacent its supported ends. The four piezoresistors form a Wheatstone bridge, whose analog output voltage is conditioned and amplified to provide the output signal. The signal conditioning and amplifying circuitry are preferably located on the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignees: General Motors Corporation, Delco Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: Bradley R. Knigga, Dwight L. Schwarz, Maged Radamis, Michel F. Sultan
  • Patent number: 5277065
    Abstract: An ultrasonic detector of the type for determining the level of a liquid within a tank or the magnitude of the flow of liquid within a conduit. The detector includes a transducer that generates bursts of ultrasonic energy and receives echoes of the energy bursts. The frequency at which she transducer transmits energy bursts is automatically adjusted to substantially match the ringdown frequency of the transducer. The detector distinguishes between true echo signals and spurious echo signals by determining whether the frequency of the echo signals generated by the transducer substantially matches the frequency at which the corresponding energy bursts were transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Magnetrol International, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas Leszczynski
  • Patent number: 5277066
    Abstract: A vibration test apparatus for applying simultaneously three equal mutually-orthogonal vibration forces to each of at least two test objects so that each of said forces extends parallel to a corresponding respective one of mutually-orthogonal X, Y and Z axes of each test object. The apparatus comprises a fixture adapted for attachment to a conventional shaker table or a sliptable that has two or four object-supporting plates disposed in a selected angular relationship with the shaker table or sliptable. This angular relationship is selected so that the input vibration force generated by the shaker table is translated into the three equal forces, each of which extends parallel to a corresponding respective one of the three mutually-orthogonal axes of each test object secured to said fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: M/RAD Corporation
    Inventor: Philip Marshall
  • Patent number: 5277067
    Abstract: An improved pressure sensor element and pressure sensor array is formed by a cathode layer, a cathode tip attached to the cathode layer, and an anode layer opposing the cathode layer. The magnitude of the electron current flowing between the cathode tip and the anode layer is dependant on the field strength at the cathode tip, which is dependant on the separation between the cathode tip and the anode layer. As a deflectable anode layer is deflected towards the cathode tip, the field strength increases, causing a corresponding change in the magnitude of the flow of electrons. The cathode tip is separated from the anode layer such that electron current is produced at relatively low voltages by tunneling or field emission. The exact method of current production is selected by controlling the initial separation between the anode layer and the cathode tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Colin Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Christopher E. Holland, Peter J. Hesketh
  • Patent number: 5277068
    Abstract: In a capacitive pressure sensor and a method of manufacturing the same, first and second grooves are formed in one and the other surfaces of a substrate, respectively. A first sacrificial layer is embedded in the first groove. First insulating films are formed on the substrate in which the first sacrificial layer is formed. The first insulating films have a first film electrode stacked therebetween. A second sacrificial layer having a predetermined shape is stacked on the first insulating film. Second insulating films are formed on the first insulating film on which the second sacrificial layer is formed. The second insulating films have a second film electrode stacked therebetween. A pressure introducing hole is formed in the second groove formed in the other surface of the substrate to reach the first sacrificial layer. First and second hollow portions are formed by removing the first and second sacrificial layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Yamatake-Honeywell Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Fukiura, Shigeo Kimura, Yoshiyuki Ishikura, Ikuo Nishimoto
  • Patent number: 5277069
    Abstract: A device for low temperature bend-testing of a test piece is disclosed. The device of the present invention comprises fixed and movable units. The fixed unit includes a base which includes at least one substantially vertical stanchion. A tank for holding a volume of low temperature liquid, such as liquid nitrogen, is secured to the base. The movable unit includes a support and a pin. The support structure includes an arch portion and at least one projection. The test piece under test is supported by supports included in the arch portion. The pin is slidably mounted in the structure so as to be displaceable in a direction perpendicular to the test piece when supported by the supports. The device also includes means making the fixed and movable units operable together to permit the test piece to be bend-tested in the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle
    Inventors: Michel Cussac, Jean F. Fuchs
  • Patent number: 5277070
    Abstract: A transit time gas flow meter comprising a pair of transducers mounted at an oblique angle to gas flow in a duct for measuring the transit time of an ultrasonic pulse in both directions between the transducers and computer determines the difference between transit times as a measure of the velocity of a gas stream flowing in the duct. Each transducer is carried in a mounting assembly which is comprised of a U-shaped frame member having a base and leg members and an ultrasonic reflection surface formed on the base of U-shaped frame member. A transducer is mounted between said legs and at a predetermined oblique angle to said reflection surface. A reference target carried on the U-shaped frame member is positioned at the edge of said gas and the ultrasonic transit time to each said reference target is subtracted by the computer means from the transit times from each of transducer to the other transducer, respectively, to zero flow calibrate transit time flow meter and to improve the accuracy measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Xecutek Corporation
    Inventor: John A. Dorr
  • Patent number: 5277071
    Abstract: A hydrometric vane has a housing, an upstream casing and a downstream casing provided in the housing, an impeller rotatably supported in the housing and axially movable between the casings. The impeller has a hub which forms an annular chamber and extends into the downstream casing to form a gap therebetween so that when a fluid flows through the gap an underpressure loading the hub is caused and compensates a hydrodynamic pressure acting on the impeller. The hub has a central part and a cylindrical casing between which the annular chamber is formed. The downstream casing has at least one opening communicating with the annular chamber so that the liquid which leaves the annular chamber can flow through the at least one opening. A closure member is arranged on the central part and movable to a closing position in which it interrupts a communication between the annular chamber and the downstream casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: H. Meinecke AG
    Inventor: Herbert Pieper
  • Patent number: 5277072
    Abstract: A force that causes tensile stress in a thread must be measured, for example in the textile industry, to avoid overstretching of the thread. Thus, small thread tensions must be maintained for many threads moving at high speeds. For this purpose a device for measuring thread tensions up to about 0.1 N (Newton) has a rod type metal component, one end of which forms a mounting member while the other end forms a thread engaging lever arm connected to the mounting member by a flat leaf spring carrying at least one strain gage. The lever arm is, e.g., conically tapering away from the leaf spring and carrying a thread engaging cylinder or extension at its end remote from the leaf spring. The signal provided by the strain gage is proportional to the force. The device forms a thread tension sensor having an eigenfrequency of about 3 kHz for measuring tensile stress on threads travelling at high speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Hottinger Baldwin Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Julius Ort
  • Patent number: 5277073
    Abstract: An on-line gas chromatographic liquid inject valve which comprises (a) a sampling shaft having a channel defined therein which is reciprocal between a sampling position wherein a liquid stream flows across the shaft and through the channel and an inject position wherein the channel traverses a length of a seal and delivers a liquid sample carried from the liquid stream in the channel to a gas chromatograph for analysis, (b) a fluid-driven piston- or plunger-type arrangement at an outer end of the shaft for causing the sampling shaft to reciprocate between the sampling position and the inject position, (c) a seal around the sampling shaft and between the liquid stream and the gas chromatograph in use of the valve, and (d) a fluid-driven piston having a central opening defined therein in which the sampling shaft reciprocates, and which bears against the seal for placing and maintaining a constant pressure against the seal as the seal wears from frictional contact between the sampling shaft and the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Frank A. Ruiz, Oscar C. Everitt
  • Patent number: 5277074
    Abstract: Apparatus for volumetric sampling of a particle-laden gas includes a housing defining a sample chamber, a piston movable in the sample chamber so as to vary the volume of the sample chamber and a drive assembly for moving the piston in the sample chamber. The housing includes an inlet for admitting a particle laden gas into the sample chamber and an outlet for carrying the particle-laden gas from the sample chamber. The piston draws a predetermined volume of the particle-laden gas into the sample chamber through the inlet at a first flow rate during an intake phase, and exhausts the predetermined volume of the particle laden gas from the sample chamber through the outlet for analysis at a second flow rate during an exhaust phase. The outlet of the sample chamber is typically connected to a particle sizing instrument for measuring particles in the particle laden gas. The sample volume and the flow rate during the intake phase can be selected to match the parameters of the device or process being analyzed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Amherst Process Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Trent A. Poole, Charles E. Lisowski
  • Patent number: 5277075
    Abstract: A starting motor with an intermediate gear wherein rotation of a rotating shaft of a DC motor is transmitted to a pinion in a one-way rotational direction by an overrunning clutch, and an intermediate gear supported rotatably and forward-and-backward slidably by an intermediate shaft retained by a front bracket through a bearing and in mesh with the pinion, meshes with a ring-gear of an internal combustion engine by a forward movement thereof thereby starting the internal combustion engine, characterized by that; a storage for a lubricant is provided at a middle portion of the intermediate gear in the axial direction, which is fixed to an inner diameter portion of the intermediate gear; and dust seals are provided in a bearing with metal back supported by the intermediate shaft and at both ends of the inner diameter portion of the intermediate gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki K.K.
    Inventors: Toshio Sakamoto, Shuzou Isozumi
  • Patent number: 5277076
    Abstract: Pivotal platform apparatus (10) includes a frame member (12), a platform member (14) being pivotally attached to the frame member and having a first rotational inertia, and a reaction member (20) being pivotally attached to the frame member and having a second rotational inertia. A pair of crossed taut elements (40a and 40b) provide means for transmitting reverse rotation pivotal movement between the platform member and the reaction member so that the inertia of the reaction member balances the reaction of the platform member to provide a reactionless scan mechanism. A pair of motors (26a and 26b), each having pole pieces (30a and 30b) attached to the reaction member, and each having motor coils (28a and 28b) attached to the frame member, provide means for rotationally positioning the reaction member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Ball Corporation
    Inventor: Miroslaw Ostaszewski
  • Patent number: 5277077
    Abstract: A modular vehicle transmission shifter mechanism and method of manufacture in which the shifter mechanism is so constructed that it is adapted for use with different transmissions of different vehicles by providing standard components for supporting a pawl detent member and a position feel detent member. The standard components include a detent support member having attachments cooperating with attachments on the detent members, such attachments for each pawl member and said attachments for each position feel detent member being identical requiring only the change in configuration in the notches of the pawl detent member and the undulations in the position feel detent member. This shifter includes a unique shifting handle assembly and an improved support structure for the detent support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Grand Haven Stamped Products, Div. of JSJ Corporation
    Inventor: Charles Osborn