Patents Issued in September 27, 1994
  • Patent number: 5349828
    Abstract: A freezer having a freezing compartment and a porous conveyor belt for conveying articles through the freezing compartment. A vaporizer is provided to vaporize a stream of liquid cryogen. Vaporized cryogen is directed against the belt as a plurality of jets to blow accumulated ice off the belt. The vaporizer is located within the freezing compartment so that the cooling potential of the cryogen is not wasted and the vaporizer can serve as a preferential condensation site for the moisture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ron C. Lee, Mark J. Kirschner
  • Patent number: 5349829
    Abstract: An air cooling method and apparatus in which air to be cooled is directed through the dry channel to sensibly cool the air. Wet channels are arranged adjacent the dry channels and a portion of the air exiting the dry channels is provided as cooled supply air and a portion is redirected through the wet channels countercurrently to the flow in the dry channels. Heat exchange elements extend between the wet and dry channels. A portion of the dry channels includes an adiabatic cooling zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: AOC, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexandre Tsimerman
  • Patent number: 5349830
    Abstract: A lock system has lock cylinders (5) in which the rotor (9) is lodged as usual in the cylinder housing, (11) as well as lock cylinders (6) in which the rotor (10) is rotated through 180.degree. about its longitudinal axis relative to the other rotors (9). The security keys for the lock system are flat keys and not turning keys and, in the event that these are priority keys, have two completely independent key codes. The invention also provides a further possibility for increasing the number of variations of the lock and thus for increasing its security.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Inventor: Ernst Keller
  • Patent number: 5349831
    Abstract: An apparatus for cooling heat generating members such as semiconductor devices on a multichip module. A discharge device discharges cooling liquid for contacting the heat generating members and cooling them. A mixing device mixes the now high temperature cooling liquid, which has cooled the heat generating members, with another portion of the aforesaid cooling liquid still at a lower temperature. As a result, the temperature of the high temperature cooling liquid, which has been heated because it had cooled the heat generating members, can be lowered because the high temperature cooling liquid is mixed with the low temperature cooling liquid. Furthermore, a cooling liquid discharge device is provided for each heat generating member and a mixing device is located between the cooling liquid discharge devices or between heat generating members. In addition, the mixing device has a guide member for guiding the flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Daikoku, Hiroshi Inouye
  • Patent number: 5349832
    Abstract: A mullion bar assembly having enhanced heat transfer barrier characteristics is disclosed wherein the liners defining the freezer and the fresh food compartments define non-magnetic gasket sealing surfaces against which the magnetic door gaskets seal. Since the liners are typically made of plastic material, permanent magnets are disposed behind the liners so as to attract the magnetic gasket seals into sealing contact with their respective non-magnetic sealing surfaces. The non-magnetic sealing surfaces are spaced apart and the mullion bar is located between them such that it extends between opposite sides of the refrigerator cabinet and only between the spaced apart, non-magnetic sealing surfaces. No part of the mullion bar is exposed to either the freezer compartment or the fresh food compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas M. Johnson, John C. Ellingwood
  • Patent number: 5349833
    Abstract: A cryotrap for an air pollution analyzer having a core with an axial opening for receiving a cooling gas expander, a length of tubing carried on the core defining a gas flow path around the gas expander, and an electric heater on the core, with the tubing disposed between the heater and expander. The core has a helical groove around the exterior thereof, with the length of tubing positioned in the groove, and the heater positioned around the core over the tubing. A Stirling linear drive cooler charged with helium and having a gas compressor connected to one end of the gas expander with the other end of the expander positioned in the axial opening of the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Xontech, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Pardee, Matthias J. C. Yoong
  • Patent number: 5349834
    Abstract: A security device is described that is simple and reliable. It includes a base member which is adhesively attached to the surface of a large object such as a motor vehicle. A protective knife-edged boss surrounds and protects the adhesive attaching means to defeat attempts to pry the base member off the vehicle. Housed within the base member is a steel tube, and a locking cable extends through the tube to secure personal property. A cavity is provided for easy installation of the tube within the base member, and a flange is attached to the tube for preventing extraction of the tube from the base member, as well as defeating removal of the base member from the vehicle. A three-way system of adhesion is employed which provides superior results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Tortoise Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory M. Davidge
  • Patent number: 5349835
    Abstract: An improved cylindrical lock comprising a housing, a lower pin seat mounted on the housing, a spindle, a plurality of springs, and plural sets of upper and lower pins. The spindle is constructed by a cylinder and an upper pin seat which is annular and circumferently provided with a plurality of holes. The upper portion of the upper pin seat is provided with an annular wall having a slit for accommodating the outward protruding wing of a key. The inner portion of the wall is provided with a plurality of semicircular grooves diametrically opposing the holes in the upper pin seat, so that one end of each semicircular groove communicates with the corresponding hole in order to form a longitudinal circular hole for receiving a set of springs and cylindrical pins and the other end of each semicircular groove is formed as a groove wall which can prevent the pins from being popped out. Thus, the cylindrical pins can only move between the semicircular grooves and the holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Inventor: Wu-chang Liao
  • Patent number: 5349836
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for spin flow necking-in a D&I can is disclosed wherein an externally located free spinning form roll is moved radially inward and axially against the outside wall of the open end of a trimmed can. A spring loaded interior support slide roll moves under the forming force of the form roll as the latter slides along a conical forming surface of a second free roll mounted axially inwardly adjacent the slide roll. To minimize the plug diameter variation between successively necked cans, the axial retracting movement of the slide roll is halted at a predetermined location via contact with a spacer to prevent further radial inward movement of the form roll which would otherwise occur as a result of only cam controlled form roll movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Reynolds Metals Company
    Inventor: Harry W. Lee, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5349837
    Abstract: A drawn and ironed container (C) that includes a cylindrical side wall, a smoothly-tapered neck (134) with an open end and an integral bottom wall (137) at the opposite end has a plurality of inwardly-deformed panel segments (130) located in the side wall between adjacent arcuate segments (132) with the panel defining generally chordal bottom walls for the panel segments. The container is formed using a multi-station processing apparatus that consists of a plurality of identical stations (30) located around the periphery of a rotating turret (26). Each station includes a support mandrel (50), a container loading means (52, 53) and an impression mandrel (54), with the impression mandrel being pivoted into and out of pressure engagement with the support mandrel to deform the side wall of the container. The support mandrel has a cylindrical peripheral surface (102) that conforms to the inner diameter of the container side wall and has circumferentially-spaced, axially-extending pockets (104.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Inventors: Andrew Halasz, Sylvan Praturlon
  • Patent number: 5349838
    Abstract: Apparatus for bending metal wires is disclosed including a cylindrical housing enclosing a rotatable cage which is mounted on a longitudinally extending arm pivotable about the axis of the wire itself, the rotatable cage being rotatable about a cage axis which is perpendicular to the axis of the wire. The apparatus includes a motor for rotating the rotatable cage about its axis, a plurality of tool carrying shafts which are mounted within the rotatable cage for slidable movement along their longitudinal axes between a rest position within the cage and an extended position in which the tool carried by the tool carrying shaft projects from the cage into the path of the metal wire, a jackscrew mounted on the housing for selectively actuating one of the tool carrying members and moving it from its rest position to its extended position, and a geared motor for rotating the selected one of the tool carrying shafts about its longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Latour & Fils S.A.
    Inventor: Yves Latour
  • Patent number: 5349839
    Abstract: Disclosed is apparatus and methods for the stretch forming of an elongated hollow metal section, such as an aluminum extrusion. The apparatus and methods use a flexible constraining means which surrounds at least a portion of the outer periphery of the elongated hollow metal section to constrain and support the walls of the elongated hollow metal section against the forces produced within the interior of the hollow metal section during the reshaping of the extrusion by the stretch forming operation. The apparatus and methods disclosed herein resist wrinkles, crimps and bulges being formed in the walls of the elongated hollow metal section during the stretch forming and reshaping thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Robert E. Weykamp, Robert P. Evert
  • Patent number: 5349840
    Abstract: A battery terminal with high torque resistance utilizing three sided frusto-conical recesses and mating protrusions extending from the battery terminal and method of making the terminal by a cold forming process that forms a finished battery terminal from a preworked lead slug by driving one end of a punch through the slug to remove excess material and form an axial through hole, a second and third portion of the punch to close the die chamber and a fourth portion of the punch to radially expand the lead slug into a finished battery terminal. The dies for forming the battery terminal include a movable multiple-segmented die for collapsing radially inward around the slug and a frusto-conical die for forming the top portion of the battery terminal. An ejector sleeve removes the finished battery terminal after the cold forming process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Water Gremlin Company
    Inventors: Robert W. Ratte, Ronald Cain, Norman E. Peterson
  • Patent number: 5349841
    Abstract: A feeding apparatus for a metal belting has a basic plate being capable of supporting the metal belting, which has a plurality of through-holes in a feeding direction. The basic plate has slit formed in the feeding direction and a plurality of traveling plates are provided beneath and in parallel to the basic plate. The traveling plates are movable in the feeding direction of the metal belting. A driving mechanism for moving the traveling plates in the feeding direction of the metal belting is provided as well as a plurality of feeding pins which are vertically pierced through the traveling plates. Springs bias the feeding pins downward. A plate cam is provided beneath the traveling plates. The plate cam is capable of applying force to upwardly move the feeding pins, against the springs, in a prescribed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Hidaka Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kensaku Honma, Masahide Sakaguchi, Toshiki Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 5349842
    Abstract: A cooling device for pressing tools of an upsetting press for the width reduction of rolled material, particularly of the width of slabs in hot-rolled wide strip roughing trains. The upsetting press includes two tool carriers which are arranged on both sides of the slab edges. The tool carriers receive the pressing tools and are movable relative to each other. The upsetting press comprises at least one cooling agent nozzle which is directed toward the front edge of each pressing tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: SMS Schloemann-Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Gerhard Heitze
  • Patent number: 5349843
    Abstract: An end discharge system is disclosed for quickly removing blanked and formed end closures from a forming press, the end discharge system including rotating overhead belts mounted closely adjacent the press tooling, and operable to receive air-blasted or otherwise-ejected pre-curled end closures from the forming tooling and then rapidly draw the discharged end underneath the belt along a guide track in a discharge plate away from the tooling area, for subsequent delivery to associated cross conveyors or other end collection equipment. The belt discharge apparatus allows the container ends to be quickly deposited in a uniform, consistently spaced line or pattern upon the associated cross conveyors, all without any substantial damage to the ends and any coated surfaces thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Buhrke Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin M. Hubball
  • Patent number: 5349844
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring particulate concentrations. The system includes a substantially planar, peripherally supported filter for capturing the particulates, an oscillator for oscillating the filter substantially perpendicular to its planar surface, and a sensor for measuring the frequency of oscillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: TRC Companies, Inc.
    Inventor: Pedro Lilienfeld
  • Patent number: 5349845
    Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring apparatus for measuring the condition of a felt in a paper machine, comprising a measuring head (1) connected to a vacuum source. Air is sucked into the measuring head through the felt, and the air and the water carried with the air are removed through separate conduits. The measuring head comprises a microwave head for measuring the water content of the felt, and a temperature detector for measuring the temperature of the sucked air concurrently with the vacuum measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Tamfelt Oy Ab
    Inventor: Mikko Blom
  • Patent number: 5349846
    Abstract: A portable leak detection system. The inventive system (10) includes a portable housing (40). The housing is equipped with a pneumatic circuit including an inlet (12) for receiving fluid from a source and an outlet (36) for communicating the fluid to an external unit under test. A flow meter (30) is disposed within the housing (40) between the inlet (12) and the outlet (36) for measuring the flow of the fluid into the unit under test. A calibration verification mechanism (50) is disposed within the housing (40) for verifying the calibration of the flow meter (30). In a specific implementation, the invention further includes a pressure regulator (22) disposed within the housing (40) between the inlet mechanism (12) and the flow meter (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Erasmo Martinez, Steven E. Walmsley
  • Patent number: 5349847
    Abstract: A stationary plate assembly for a rheometer that selectively provides steady state and dynamic testing of melt viscoelastic characteristics of a material sample. The stationary plate assembly has a stationary sample plate magnetically coupled to its supporting member. Therefore, after the steady state testing is complete, the movable plate, material sample and stationary plate may be moved vertically away from the stationary plate supporting member. Therefore, any spurious, erratic rotations of the movable plate when the rheometer is switched form the steady state test mode to the dynamic test mode will not cause a further working of the material sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Quantum Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Chun D. Lee, Donald L. Broughton
  • Patent number: 5349848
    Abstract: An elastomeric member is disposed in the enlarged opening of an on-line consistency measuring apparatus through which the blade carrier support shaft extends, and the elastomeric member is operative to prevent the solid-liquid slurry of a pulp stock slurry from interfering with the free movement of the carrier shaft or from contacting the "O" ring seal surrounding the shaft, thereby improving the reliability of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Inventor: Benjamin K. Driver
  • Patent number: 5349849
    Abstract: In a liquid flow system including conduit through which liquid is pumped and including an apparatus for determining the level of particulate contamination within the liquid the apparatus includes a valve in communication with the conduit having a valve member moveable relative to a valve housing in which the valve member can be set relative to the housing to define a narrow clearance through which flow takes place. A mechanism is provided for interrupting the normal pumped flow of liquid through the system and, when it is so interrupted, for causing liquid to flow through the valve clearance instead. A monitor is provided for monitoring the volume of liquid so passed, and for deriving a measure of the degree of contamination of the liquid in the system. The flow through the narrow clearance is in direction substantially at right angles to that of the relative movement of the valve member and valve housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: British Technology Group Limited
    Inventor: Roger A. Heron
  • Patent number: 5349850
    Abstract: An instrumentation light probe holder for use in observing and measuring operating characteristics of rotating blades of a gas turbine engine during engine operation or rotating components of a machine during operation is disclosed. The holder includes an elongated cylindrical member for insertion into an opening or bore formed radially through an annular casing of the gas turbine engine or machine housing. The cylindrical member has a hollow interior for receipt of an instrumentation light probe and a first end for insertion into the casing or housing and for holding an operating end of the probe at a selected set-back distance from the rotating blades or components. A grasping mechanism is provided for releasably holding the light probe in the cylindrical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Joseph C. Young
  • Patent number: 5349851
    Abstract: A temperature responsive sensor is located in the airflow over the specified surface of a body and is maintained at a constant temperature. An active thermal isolator is located between this temperature responsive sensor and the specified surface of the body. The temperature of this isolator is controlled to reduce conductive heat flow from the temperature responsive sensor to the body. This temperature control includes (1) operating the isolator at the same temperature as the constant temperature of the sensor and (2) establishing a fixed boundary temperature which is either (a) less than or equal to or (b) slightly greater than the sensor constant temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Scott D. Martinson, David L. Gray, Debra L. Carraway, Daniel C. Reda
  • Patent number: 5349852
    Abstract: A system for controlling the flow of fluid through a line (3). The system may include first and second valves (A, B; and 6, 7) in the line (3). Between the first and second valves is located a chamber (52, 82), part of which may be filled with fluid having a variable volume (52), and another part of which is filled with a measurement gas (82, V.sub.1), such as air. The chamber may be isolated from the pressure effects in the rest of the line by closing both valves. The valves may also permit fluid to flow into or out of the chamber. The second portion of the chamber has a common boundary with the first part in such a way that the combined volume of the first and second parts is constant. A loudspeaker (22, 33, 571) creates sound waves in the gas in the second part of the chamber, in order to measure the volume of the fluid in the first part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean L. Kamen, Joseph B. Seale, Joseph Briggs, Finn Arnold
  • Patent number: 5349853
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring ballistics in a firearm is disclosed. The apparatus comprises (a) a device for measuring pressure in a firearm-firing-chamber disposed at least in part at the strain sensitive region, and for producing analog signals indicative of the pressure, and connected to digitizing circuits which record the amplitudes of the signals representing pressure as a function of time; (b) a plurality of muzzle bullet sensors for measuring the relative times at which the bullet passes the plane of each sensor and for producing analog signals indicative of these times, the analog signals being converted to digital signals and connected to digital timing circuits; and (c) an acoustic target located downrange and including (i) sensors arrayed at corners of a triangle for sensing acoustic energy emitted by a passing bullet and (ii) a device for generating analog signals representative of the acoustic energy sensed at the triangle corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Oehler
  • Patent number: 5349854
    Abstract: An elevator speed and positioning device includes an elongated member and a rotating disk. The elongated member includes an apparatus for indicating position along the member and the disk includes an apparatus for communicating the indicating apparatus. A constant relationship exists between the elongated member and the disk such that relative positions between the two are repeatable. The relative motion between the elongated member and the disk may be quantified to determine the relative position of the elevator car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Alfonso Garrido, Jose Sevilleja
  • Patent number: 5349855
    Abstract: A microfabricated tuning fork rate sensitive structure and drive electronics in which vibrational forces are communicated through a set of meshing drive and driven finger electrodes associated with each of two vibrating elements. The vibrating elements are supported in a rotatable assembly between first and second support electrodes which are in turn suspended by flexures for rotation about an axis passing through the flexures and through a point midway between the vibrating elements. Additional masses are formed onto the vibrating elements to improve overall sensor sensitivity. Sense electrodes for detecting capacitive changes between the support electrodes and the sense electrodes are positioned at each end of the support electrodes. Drive electronics are connected between the driven fingers of the vibrating elements and the drive electrode fingers which mesh with them to cause vibration. Excitation is provided between the support electrodes and the sense electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan J. Bernstein, Marc S. Weinberg
  • Patent number: 5349856
    Abstract: A vibratory gyroscope comprises, for example, a regular triangular columnar vibrating body, and on two side faces of the vibrating body, two driving and detecting piezoelectric elements are formed. To the piezoelectric elements, an output terminal of an oscillation circuit is connected. Further, the piezoelectric elements are connected respectively to two input terminals of a differential amplifier as a detection circuit which detects outputs thereof. An output terminal of the differential amplifier is connected to one input terminal of a differential amplifying circuit as a composite circuit through a synchronized detection circuit, a smoothing circuit and so on. Furthermore, the output terminal of the differential amplifier is connected to the other input terminal of the composite circuit through an integration circuit, an amplifying circuit and so on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5349857
    Abstract: The vibrator includes, for example, a triangular prism shaped vibrating body. On each of three side faces of the vibrating body, piezoelectric elements are formed respectively. The vibrating body makes bending vibration by giving a driving signal to one or two piezoelectric elements. The vibrator is used in a vibratory gyroscope. In this case, for example, one piezoelectric element is used for vibrating the vibrator. When a rotating force is applied to the vibratory gyroscope, a Coriolis force is exerted to produce output voltages on the remaining two piezoelectric elements corresponding to the rotational angular velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tohru Kasanami, Takeshi Nakamura, Keiichi Okano, Yoshiko Morishita
  • Patent number: 5349858
    Abstract: An angular acceleration sensor has a weight member, a resilient member for supporting the weight member from the both sides thereof, the resilient member being disposed on a predetermined rotational axis and supporting the weight member for rotation about the rotational axis, and an opposed member opposed to the weight member, an angular acceleration applied to the weight member being detected from a variation in the spacing between the opposed member and the weight member resulting from the rotation of the weight member
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Yagi, Yutaka Hirai, Osamu Takamatsu, Masaru Nakayama, Hiroyasu Nose, Katsuhiko Shinjo, Yasuhiro Simada
  • Patent number: 5349859
    Abstract: The transit time of acoustic waves between a generator and a receiver positioned across a fluid chamber is determined by generating acoustic waves using a self-purging pneumatic sound generator, a transducer adjacent the outlet of the sound generator, and a receiving transducer positioned away from the sound generator outlet so that the acoustic waves received by the receiving transducer pass through a portion of the fluid. The electrical signals generated by the transmitting transducer and the receiving transducer are processed to obtain the impulse response of these electrical signals, and the point of maximum value is determined. This point of maximum value corresponds to the arrival time of the acoustic waves at the receiving location. The transit time determination may be used to calculate the fluid temperature or other parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Scientific Engineering Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Kleppe
  • Patent number: 5349860
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the thickness of a clad material having an outer mother metal and an inner clad metal. The apparatus includes a transmitter crystal and a receiver crystal of a double crystal angle-type probe which contact the outer surface of the mother metal, for receiving a first echo from the boundary surface of the mother metal and clad metal, and for receiving a second echo from the inner, bottom surface of the clad metal. The apparatus further includes an amplifier for amplifying the echo signals, a detector for detecting the zero-crossing points of the echoes, a zero point determining circuit, a calculator for calculating the periods from a zero point in time to the zero-crossing points, and a calculator for calculating the thickness of the clad material and clad metal based on the calculated periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: NKK Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuo Nakano, deceased, Takeshige Katsumata, Megumu Tanaka, Isao Narushima, Yoshiharu Hirano, Kazuko Nakano
  • Patent number: 5349861
    Abstract: The wheel rests upon a rail. A chassis mounted on a lifting and supporting mechanism carries slides arranged on either side of the rail and parallel to the rail. Two carriages are mounted to move translationally on the slides. Grinding devices, an ultrasound checking device and two position detectors are mounted on the carriages to move translationally in a direction perpendicular to the slides. The propagation time for the ultrasound in the rim is measured in two perpendicular directions and the width of the rim is measured. The propagation speeds of the ultrasound are calculated and compared so as to determine the stressed state of the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Valdunes
    Inventors: Bernard Catot, Valerio Del Fabbro, Guy Stevenot
  • Patent number: 5349862
    Abstract: The ultrasonic sound velocity measuring apparatus or ultrasonic microscope moves the sample to be measured or examined relative to a focusing acoustic probe from its focal point to a defocus point closer to the probe; subjects the intensity of a first reception signal in the peripheral portion of the transducer of the acoustic probe as obtained therefrom in response to said relative movement of the sample, the phase difference between the first reception signal and either the signal for driving the acoustic probe or the corresponding reference signal, the intensity of a second reception signal in the central portion of the transducer of the acoustic probe as obtained therefrom in response to said relative movement of the sample, and the phase difference between the second reception signal, and either the signal for driving the acoustic probe or the corresponding reference signal to more than one sampling at time intervals corresponding to positions in the defocus direction; and obtains data on the intensity a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Inventors: Noriyoshi Chubachi, Hiroshi Kanai
  • Patent number: 5349863
    Abstract: Shock or impact sensor which can be fixed to a structure (14) comprising, along a longitudinal axis (AL) perpendicular to the structure (14), a rod (12) which can be joined to the structure (14) by a first end (16), a weight or counterweight (24) joined to a second end of the rod (12) and acceleration detection fixed to weight or counterweight (24) to detect acceleration along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Societe Nationale Industrielle et Aerospatiale
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Dumont, Riviere Daniel
  • Patent number: 5349864
    Abstract: A simple, reliable, compact and inexpensive fluid pressure discontinuity analysis system includes a basic capacitive pressure transducer, made of two closely spaced insulating plates whose opposed faces contain conductive layers, and one of which plates is a flexible diaphragm of low mechanical hysteresis. The transducer is coupled to a variable pressure source which under normal operating conditions remains at a substantially constant pressure level. The output signal from the transducer has its high-frequency AC component attenuated by a low-pass filter, whose output in turn has its DC component substantially removed by capacitive blocking, after which the remaining AC output is then amplified by a circuit including an operational amplifier. This AC-amplified signal is then compared with a "reduced-magnitude average" reference signal (produced by an AC-to-DC conversion side-circuit followed by magnitude-level adjustment).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Kavlico Corporation
    Inventors: Kyong M. Park, Niraj Gupta
  • Patent number: 5349865
    Abstract: A radically simple, reliable, inherently accurate, intrinsically wide-pressure-range adaptable, low to ultra-high pressure capable capacitive transducer is made from a reference capacitor and a variable capacitor, one electrode of each of which is formed of a flat conductive layer on a circular insulating plate. The reference capacitor electrode is a peripheral annulus surrounding the central disk constituting the variable capacitor electrode. The insulating plate is rigidly held slightly spaced apart from a flat, flexible metal diaphragm which provides the opposing electrode for each capacitor. The diaphragm is an integral part of a pressure fitting which includes a fluid pressure input coupling and a pressure chamber adjacent to the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Kavlico Corporation
    Inventors: Fred Kavli, Kyong M. Park
  • Patent number: 5349866
    Abstract: A digital pressure gauge includes a casing having a pressure sensitive member which responds when pressure is passed therethrough and a digital display member electrically connected to the pressure sensing member. The gauge includes an insulating rod which engages the pressure sensitive member and which contacts a weight sensing member in response to pressure flowing through an inlet so as to expand the pressure sensitive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Inventor: Tien-Tsai Huang
  • Patent number: 5349867
    Abstract: A resistive pressure transducer wherein a flexible diaphragm is mounted in a spaced apart relationship to the upper surface of a base member. A conductive path is deposited on one surface of the diaphragm. A resistive configuration is also deposited on the same surface of the diaphragm. The resistive configuration includes four separate resistive patterns. The first and third resistive patterns are deposited in close proximity to the outer edge of the diaphragm. The first and third resistive patterns are each comprised of three radially extending resistors, spaced apart along the periphery of the diaphragm, and interconnected by conductive material. The second and fourth resistive patterns are deposited in close proximity to the center of the diaphragm. The first and third resistive patterns measure radial strain, while the second and fourth resistive patterns measure tangential strain. The four resistive patterns each forms a separate leg of a Wheatstone bridge configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Kavlico Corporation
    Inventor: Kyong M. Park
  • Patent number: 5349868
    Abstract: In a bridge circuit of a pressure sensor, resistances are connected in series to the impedances of a pressure detection coil and of a dummy coil for differential provided for deforming and non-deforming parts, and the values of the resistances are smaller than the impedances of the coils. The inductance and the internal resistance of the coils are measured under zero pressure and under the highest rating pressure. The resistance connected to the pressure detector coil is determined so that the sensor output sensitivity, represented as a difference of the sensor outputs under zero pressure and under the highest rating pressure, at the highest temperature agrees with that at the lowest temperature. The resistance connected to the dummy coil is determined so that the sensor output, represented as a difference of the sensor outputs under zero pressure, at the highest temperature agrees with that at the lowest temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rihito Shoji, Hiroyuki Hase, Masayuki Wakamiya
  • Patent number: 5349869
    Abstract: A double-cantilever beam crack growth sensor made from welded alloy, e.g., nickel-based alloy, and a method for fabricating such sensors. The method includes the steps of forming a strongback from a block of a first nickel-based alloy; depositing a suitable thickness of nickel-based weld alloy on top of the strongback to form a bi-metallic test block; welding a second block of the first nickel-based alloy on top of the weld alloy; and machining the final three-layer block to form a double-cantilever beam crack growth sensor consisting of cantilever beams made of the first nickel-based alloy, a crack growth section of weld alloy having a microstructure wherein the direction of dendritic growth is parallel to the direction of crack growth and a third section made of the first nickel-based alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas P. Diaz, Gail E. Dunning, Ronald E. LeBlanc
  • Patent number: 5349870
    Abstract: Apparatus for measuring stress at a point on an object comprising: means for applying a cyclically varying load of period T to the object; detector means for collecting and measuring thermal radiation from said point over a sample time interval t, wherein t<T; means for determining the phase of the first interval t with respect to the cyclic variation of thermal radiation produced by said point in response to said applied load and, from said collected and measured value of thermal radiation and said phase, for providing a measure of stress at said point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Sira Limited
    Inventors: Martin J. Webber, Gordon R. Hopkinson
  • Patent number: 5349871
    Abstract: A body portion comprises a load bearing portion for being displaced due to a load being applied thereto in a load applying direction, and a plurality of strain portions for being strained as a result of displacement of the load bearing portion due to the load being applied thereto, the plurality of strain portions being respectively integrated with the load bearing portion in positions symmetrical to each other with respect to the load bearing portion. Each portion of the plurality of strain portions respectively has horizontal hole formed in directions approximately perpendicular to the load applying direction. The load sensing device further comprises a strain sensor for sensing strains occurring in the plurality of strain portions so as to sense the load applied to the load bearing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Teac Corporation
    Inventor: Mikio Naganuma
  • Patent number: 5349872
    Abstract: A Coriolis flowmeter having a pair of parallel vibrating flow tubes equipped with a driver and sensors each comprising a fixed non-movable coil and a pair of magnets affixed to the vibrating flow tubes. Each coil magnetically cooperates with a unique pair of magnets. In a first embodiment, the coil is affixed to a non-movable member of the flowmeter. In another embodiment, the non-movable coil is affixed only to a spring sub-assembly which is affixed to the flow tubes which vibrate out-of-phase with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Z. Kalotay, Craig B. Van Cleve
  • Patent number: 5349873
    Abstract: A force transducer comprising: a silicon semiconductor having a crystal face of (110); a pair of input-output shared electrodes mounted on the crystal face of the silicon semiconductor in mutual confronting relationship in a direction of <110> of the crystal or a direction equivalent to the direction of <110>; a force transmission block connected to the crystal face of the silicon semiconductor for transmitting a force W perpendicularly to the crystal face; and a support bed supporting the silicon semiconductor and connected to the silicon semiconductor at a face opposite to the crystal face to which the force transmission block is connected, whereby a voltage corresponding to the force W and to be measured is output from the input-output shared electrodes when the force W is applied perpendicularly to the crystal face of the silicon semiconductor via the force transmission block while a current flows in the silicon semiconductor via the input-output shared electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho
    Inventors: Yoshiteru Omura, Kouji Tsukada, Yutaka Nonomura, Takeshi Morikawa
  • Patent number: 5349874
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for monitoring biofilm formation which comprises incorporating in an aquatic system, a sampler apparatus comprising a duct 1 having a port 5 in which is retained a stud 17 having a test surface 19 which lies flush with the wall of the duct. The invention can also be used to detect Legionellae bacteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Houseman Limited
    Inventors: Simon F. D. Schapira, Robin W. Eycott, William P. Richardson, Jim S. Robinson
  • Patent number: 5349875
    Abstract: A universal sampling device for retrieving samples of high and low viscosity substances at various depths and from specific portions of contained bodies of materials without being completely submerged therein, is disclosed. The sampling device is made of chemically inert material, has manually operable inlet and outlet vent valve means attached to opposite inlet and outlet ends of a relatively long tube into which the sample enters upon opening of the inlet and outlet valve means at the desired point in the substance to be tested. Means are provided for manually closing and opening of the inlet valve means such as pushing and pulling a valve stem by hand into sealingly engagement with an inlet valve body. Another method attaches a valve stem to an adjustable valve control rod extending upwardly through the tube and outlet valve means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Norton Company
    Inventors: Samuel E. Sher, Stephen A. Borgianini, Robert E. Carpenter, Scott Santora, William S. Scavuzzo
  • Patent number: 5349876
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for measuring products, including at least one hopper for feeding the product, at least one cell intended to receive the product and provided with a means for opening and closing for arbitrary evacuation of the product after measurement, and a weighing sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Star Partners
    Inventor: Dominique Le Gigan
  • Patent number: 5349877
    Abstract: A starter head for an internal combustion engine features a starter pinion, a driving head, two half rings and a securing cap. In a method of making this starter head: a set of chamfers is formed on the outer periphery of the securing cap so as to form, by local flow of the material of the cap, a set of internal projecting nibs in alignment with the chamfers; the starter pinion is positioned with respect to the driving sleeve; the two half rings are positioned against a camming cage associated with the driving sleeve, thereby completing a sub-assembly; the securing cap is positioned on the said sub-assembly; and the securing cap is reformed in such a way that the half rings become embedded in the nibs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur S.A.
    Inventors: Viviane Bonin, Jean-Francois Serrano