Patents Issued in January 31, 1995
  • Patent number: 5384975
    Abstract: A new and improved overhead door apparatus is provided for a structure, such as an enclosed trailer or enclosed truck body, and includes a pair of guide channel assemblies connected to a pair of sidewalls of the structure a predetermined distance from the floor of the structure. A pair of central pivot assemblies are connected to the pair of sidewalls. The central pivot assemblies are located on the pair of sidewalls at locations between the pair of guide channel assemblies and the floor. A rigid unitary door panel assembly which contains an interior X-frame assembly includes a pair of top corners, a pair of bottom corners, and a pair of sides separating the pair of top corners from the pair of bottom corners. The pair of top corners of the door panel assembly includes a pair of roller assemblies adapted to roll along the pair of guide channel assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Inventor: Joseph J. Yuran
  • Patent number: 5384976
    Abstract: A pile weatherstrip has an elongate base strip carrying a pile of thermoplastic fibres. A zone is formed adjacent the base of the fibres fused together and compressed to reduce their width. This provides a comparatively smooth and narrow zone that does not snag on the flanges of a carrier as the pile weatherstrip is inserted into the carrier. The zone can be produced by passing the weatherstrip through a nip formed by heated rollers. In an alternative embodiment, the fibres are fused together for their whole height. This has the additional advantage of providing an air-impervious barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Linear Limited
    Inventor: Alfred B. Hall
  • Patent number: 5384977
    Abstract: Improved sports footwear which includes an insert positioned at least in the heel region of a shoe, the insert including an elastically deformable cellular structure arranged within an elastically deformable air-impermeable casing provided with inner projections on opposing faces. The casing is pneumatically connected to controllable mechanism, rigid with the footwear, for varying the air pressure within the casing so as to modify the elastic characteristics of the insert. Each projection on one face thereof is connected to a face portion of an opposing projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Global Sports Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Wong K. Chee
  • Patent number: 5384978
    Abstract: A clamp assembly for use in constructing a picture frame consists of two superposed, separate plates. One plate has a threaded aperture for receipt of a jacking screw, and the other has a recess for engaging the tip of the screw, the axes of which are offset when the lateral edges of the plates are in mutual registry. Advancement of the screw separates and shifts the plates, thus exerting lateral as well as a transverse gripping forces upon the frame members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: The Fletcher-Terry Company
    Inventor: Alan R. Peters
  • Patent number: 5384979
    Abstract: A spoon-type artificial fish lure includes three aligned sections pivotally connected together for relative pivotal movement by laterally spaced connectors. The front section is generally triangular having an upwardly cupped front portion and a flat rear portion. The middle section has an upwardly curved profile so that it forms a section of a cylinder curved about an axis of curvature extending longitudinally above and along the axis of the lure. The rear section is upwardly curved like the middle section. The connectors connecting the middle and rear sections are laterally closer together than the connectors joining the front and middle sections. The result is a lure that undulates rapidly in a single plane (i.e., up and down) without spinning when moving through water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Mann's Bait Company
    Inventor: Jack Davis
  • Patent number: 5384980
    Abstract: A gun-aiming device includes a base mount for attaching to a gun barrel having first and second orthogonally arranged passages, a sighting element having a stem portion with an annular groove and a head portion attached to one end of the stem portion with the stem portion removably mounted in the first passage of the base mount such that the head portion extends above the base mount for use in aiming the gun, and a yieldable biasing arrangement disposed in the second passage of the base mount for releasably engaging the annular groove of the stem portion of the sighting element at any location about the stem portion so as to provide a quick release snap-fit type of latching of the stem portion of the sighting element in the first passage of the base mount. A plurality of sighting elements being interchangeable with one another are provided. The sighting elements have respective head portions of different sizes and colors for respectively adapting the gun-aiming device to different distances and backgrounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Inventors: Robert J. Johnson, Jeff A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5384981
    Abstract: Disposable glue traps for catching rodents such as rats or mice are formed by sheets of folded paper or cardboard each provided with a glue layer. Each folded sheet has a self-adherent tear-away border so that a trap forms its own packaging, thereby dispensing with the need for separate outer packaging materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Woodstream Corporation
    Inventor: Leon R. Cohen
  • Patent number: 5384982
    Abstract: A sensing device for use with a door movable in a first direction by an actuator is employed to stop or reverse the direction of movement of the door upon a force being applied to the sensing device by an object in the path of movement of the door. The sensing device comprises a sensing edge for being secured to the door. The sensing edge includes a generally flexible elongated sheath and a pair of generally parallel spaced contact members disposed within the sheath. The contact members are electrically connected to the actuator. A termination circuit is electrically connected to the contact members for generally continuously generating an installer selected predetermined output which is applied through the contact members to the actuator to enable operation of the actuator for movement of the door in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Miller Edge, Inc.
    Inventor: Anatoly Galperin
  • Patent number: 5384983
    Abstract: In the process or internally grinding bores with the aid of a slightly conical grinding wheel (15) in a computer controlled manner, the rotational axis (14) of the grinding wheel is adjusted to a small angle (.alpha.) in relation to the rotational axis (3a) of the workpiece (5). The grinding wheel is sharpened along a generatrix which lies opposite the generatrix of the wheel when the wheel is in rough grinding engagement with the bore. The rough grinding operation is carried out at a feed pressure such that twice this angle (i.e. 2(.alpha.) is levelled-out or eliminated and the respective generatrices of the wheel and the bore will substantially coincide. The fine grinding phase of the grinding operation is carried out with substantially coinciding bore and grinding wheel generatrices along an opposite bore generatrix in relation to the rough grinding engagement location. The invention also relates to a grinding machine for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: AB UVA
    Inventor: Lars E. Siggelin
  • Patent number: 5384984
    Abstract: A pad sander skirt which flares out over the periphery of the sanding pad and which is coupled to a lower housing so that it swivels about the body of the sander. The skirt and lower housing can be selectively swivelled in a rotational manner to a position desired by the user. A further sander improvement disclosed relates to the protection of a user's hand. Palm-grip random orbit sanders are sometimes configured so that the sanding pad may begin spinning at high speed when the sander is lifted off of the work. To this end, the present application discloses a protective skirt which flares out over the periphery of the pad in a palm-grip random orbit sander. Also disclosed is an improved dust collection system comprising a filter housing formed of a rigid porous material for entrapping dust, as well as a braking system for use with random-orbit sanders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Porter-Cable Corporation
    Inventor: John C. Smith
  • Patent number: 5384985
    Abstract: A pneumatic rotation grinder comprises a housing (10) with a throttle valve controlled air inlet passage, a rotation motor drivingly connected to an output shaft (12) intended to carry a grinding tool, a safety guard (17) adjustably supported on the housing (10) in a coaxial disposition relative to the output shaft (12), and a lock device (26-28, 33-38) for arresting the safety guard (17) in desired angular positions relative to the housing (10). The lock device (26-28, 33-38) comprises both a latch (26-28) for positive coupling by engagement of teeth (26, 28) of the safety guard (17) relative to the housing (10), and a pressure air activated clamping device (33-38) for frictional arresting of the safety guard (17) relative to the housing (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Tools AB
    Inventor: Rolf A. Jacobsson
  • Patent number: 5384986
    Abstract: A turntable with an abrasive cloth mounted thereon and a top ring positioned above the turntable are independently rotatably provided. The top ring holds a workpiece to be polished and presses the workpiece against the abrasive cloth. The turntable and the top ring are rotated to polish the surface of the workpiece to a flat mirror finish on the abrasive cloth. A rotatable brush pressed against the abrasive cloth is rotated about an axis substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the abrasive cloth, and oscillated substantially radially between radially inner and outer positions over the abrasive cloth. A cleaning solution is sprayed from a nozzle onto the abrasive cloth. The turntable has a bank along an outer circumferential edge thereof for preventing a protective solution, which is supplied to the abrasive cloth to keep the abrasive cloth wet and prevent it, from flowing off the turntable when the turntable is stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Hirose, Seiji Ishikawa, Norio Kimura, Kiyotaka Kawashima, You Ishii
  • Patent number: 5384987
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for accommodating for differential in an ophthalmic lens grinding operation utilizing bevel edger machines. Such machines typically include a lens former assembly which has a former member upon which a particular frame shaped template rides to form the proper shape of the lens. The method includes the steps of adapting the former lens assembly of the bevel edger machine, externally of the differential settings of the machine, to provide a first profile for increasing the differential profile of the former member for a first lens-like material and allowing for providing a second differential for the former member which provides a proper differential for a second lens blank material. This may be accomplished in providing an adapter which is interposed between the former wheel and the lens template or a stepped former member. This provides for a new differential external to the internal adjustments of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Inventor: Ronald C. Wiand
  • Patent number: 5384988
    Abstract: The current invention relates to a lens surfacing assembly and a method for grinding and polishing glass or plastic optical lenses. The assembly is primarily intended for use with a rigid lapping tool and a typical lens grinding machine. The lens surfacing assembly comprises a strippable adhesive member that is attached to the lapping tool for use throughout the grinding and polishing operation for attachment of a reversible, double sided lens surfacing pad having a coarse surface on one side and a fine surface on the other. After the grinding has been completed, the reversible pad is removed and a polishing cloth is attached to the adhesive member. The combined thickness of the pad and the adhesive member is equal to the compensation designed into the radius of curvature of the lapping tool arcuate surface. The combined thickness of the polishing cloth and the adhesive member is also equal to the compensation designed into the lapping tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Practical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: William D. Hernandez
  • Patent number: 5384989
    Abstract: A workpiece to be ground is immersed in a processing solution with abrasive grains suspended therein. The processing solution is contained in an ultrasonic processing tank equipped with an ultrasonic vibrator. Ultrasonic energy is radiated from said ultrasonic vibrator into said processing solution to ground surfaces of the workpiece. The processing solution is drawn from the ultrasonic processing tank, cooled to a temperature lower than a boiling point thereof, deaerated, and then returned to the ultrasonic processing tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Inventor: Yoshihide Shibano
  • Patent number: 5384990
    Abstract: An improved wet blasting process is disclosed wherein the liquid carrier medium contains a dispersed particulate abrasive to enhance the blast cleaning efficiency and wherein the particulate abrasive is soluble in the carrier liquid. To minimize dissolution of the soluble particulate abrasive, the liquid carrier comprises a saturated solution such as the dissolved particulate abrasive in the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Church & Dwight Co., Inc.
    Inventor: William E. Spears, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5384991
    Abstract: An apparatus for grinding molded friction products comprises a rotary indexing table with a substantially horizontal indexing table. The table surface indexes from one indexing position to another. Tool fixtures support friction product parts to be ground on a friction surface thereof. The tool fixtures are disposed on the rotary indexing table at the indexing positions. A grind stone is disposed above the indexing table surface for grinding the friction product part supported in the tool fixture at one of the indexing positions. The grind stone rotates about a grind axis which is substantially parallel to said central axis of said indexing grind table, but can be tilted by a small angle so as to provide a skim cut grind to the product. The method provides for performing operations at all indexing positions simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Leinweber Maschinen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: John T. Lee
  • Patent number: 5384992
    Abstract: Garage extension apparatus comprising a pair of channel section guide tracks, one on each sidewall of the garage, and a movable structure formed of a roof, depending sidewalls and an up-and-over door. The structure is supported on a pair of ground engaging wheels, each mounted at the front of a respective one of the sidewalls by a screw jack, and on a pair of upper wheels which each run in the channel of a respective one of the guide tracks and which are pivotally mounted at the rear of the roof so that the movable structure can follow the slope of the carriageway, up or down, as it is drawn out of the garage. The screw jacks enable the movable structure to be levelled if the ground slopes from one side to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Inventor: Ian Roberton
  • Patent number: 5384993
    Abstract: An apparatus for tying down and anchoring a building structure such as a mobile home (12). The apparatus comprises an elongated threaded rod assembly (16) which is anchored at its lower end (34) to a concrete base (14) and extends upwardly, first through the floor joist (22) and then up to the roof structure where it is connected to the rafters (48). The elongated rod assembly (16) includes a hold-down block (32) that connects upper threaded rod (30) and lower threaded road (28) together in an end-to-end relationship. The hold-down block (32) applies a downward force firmly holding the floor joist (22). The upper threaded rod 30 extends upwardly through a frame board (26) and an elongated bracket (40). An internally threaded lock-block (46) is screwed onto the end of the upper threaded rod (30) extending past the frame board (26) and bracket (40), firmly holding the roof structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Inventor: Belton R. Phillips
  • Patent number: 5384994
    Abstract: A shelter which repays its construction costs in energy savings over a period of five to seven years. Except for entryways, the shelter is enclosed and has no vented attic or similar spaces below its roof. Roof and walls are skin-stressed panels having a closed cell insulation core between selected structural facings, for example steel. Interior insulation is at the walls and the roof line. Any ceiling below the insulated roof line is at nominal room temperature. Natural lighting enters the shelter via sun-tracking, sun-reflecting skylights. Preferable a plurality of air conditioners, concentric about the skylights, heats and cools the interior of the shelter. An energy program manager monitors and controls electrical usage. The shelter lends itself to many building types and functions.Those skilled in the art will conceive of other embodiments of the invention which may be drawn from the disclosure herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Inventor: Paul A. Borba
  • Patent number: 5384995
    Abstract: A motor vehicle glazing (1) prepared for installation according to the adhesive process is provided with a profiled spacer (8) produced by extrusion of an extrudable polymer directly onto glazing (1) and subsequent setting. During installation of glazing (1) in the window opening of the motor vehicle body, profiled spacer (8) acts as an intermediate member between glazing (1) and assembly adhesive extrudate (13). Profiled spacer (8) is provided along its outer periphery with a lip portion (10) projecting beyond peripheral area (3) of glazing (1). In the installed position of glazing (1), lip portion (10) rest against the window frame flange (4) running parallel to peripheral area (3) of glazing (1) and acts, upon insertion of the glazing during the setting process of assembly adhesive (13), as a support and centering element for glazing (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: St. Gobain Vitrage International
    Inventors: Heinz Kunert, Gerd Cornils, Heinrich Schnitter
  • Patent number: 5384996
    Abstract: An architectural joint system is disclosed, which incorporates a slidably supported arched cover plate to span the open space between two relatively movable structural units. The edge margins of the arched cover plate are slidably received in housings, mounted at the adjacent corners of the structural units. The housing assemblies are formed of base members and cover members assembled to define a narrow gap for the reception of a thin cover plate, and an enclosure for receiving the edges of the plate. The cover members are uniquely designed to have an outwardly and upwardly convergent taper, extending over a substantial distance of at least about two times the thickness of the cover member. The arched plate is of a shallow, upwardly convex contour, closely conforming to the long convergent taper of the cover member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Pawling Corporation
    Inventor: John D. Nicholas
  • Patent number: 5384997
    Abstract: Glazed masonry building unit is provided for constructing a stanchion or turning a corner. The front face of each such masonry building unit is glazed with a resinous composition and is intended to be exposed. the front face comprises a planar portion, a first angled segment that intersects the planar portion at one end thereof to thereby form an obtuse angle, and a second angled segment that intersects the planar portion at the other end thereof to thereby form an obtuse angle. Also provided is a stanchion constructed of a plurality of the glazed masonry building units. Moreover, there is provided a mold for producing the glazed masonry building units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: The Burns & Russell Company
    Inventor: John McClinton
  • Patent number: 5384998
    Abstract: A curved panel including a panel body and a pair of reinforcing members fixed to the panel body and arranged so that a planar restorative force of the panel body is balanced by a resilient force of each of the pair of reinforcing members so as to keep the panel body at a predetermined curvature. The panel body is made of resiliently deformable material including a face portion at (a) each of a first pair of opposite sides to which a deformable bent portion is attached which allows the face portion of the panel body to be curved to the predetermined curvature and at (b) each of a second pair of opposite sides to which a reinforcing bent portion is attached which keeps the second pair of opposite sides linear. The reinforcing members have a curvature greater than the predetermined curvature and are fixed to the deformable bent portions of the panel body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Kokuyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mamoru Tanaka, Shinichi Kaneda
  • Patent number: 5384999
    Abstract: A display board, panel, or wall section comprising a penetrating object permeable panel and a ferromagnetic apertured material, preferably a wire mesh, disposed on a surface of the permeable panel, the apertured material being exposed to view and being adapted to receive magnetic means for securing an item to be displayed on the display panel and further having an aperture size such that the permeable panel is adapted to receive a penetrating object, such as a tack, for securing an item to be displayed on the display panel through an aperture of the apertured material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Bonnie Roche
    Inventors: Bonnie Roche, Samuel Farber
  • Patent number: 5385000
    Abstract: A rigid body in the form of a truncated cone is dimensioned to fit over the top of a container, such as a can with a beaded top, to allow the opening in a carrier comprised of stretchable or elastic material to be manually expanded by movement of the carrier down the side of the truncated cone, beyond the bottom of the truncated cone, allowing the opening to retract against the body of the container below the beaded top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Inventor: Farshid Bakhtyari
  • Patent number: 5385001
    Abstract: The disclosed packaging invention provides gentle article handling to protect the integrity of thin film wrapping. A turnable roll-off wrapping table tilts and discharges the wrapped article in combination with means for lowering the height of a roll-off article platform or holder on the table as it is tilted such that wrapped article discharge is performed at a reduced discharge height. The reduced wrapped article discharge height is low enough to discharge a large wrapped bale of silage gently to the ground. In one aspect, the large wrapped bale is discharged at a height of less than about 20 inches and at a specified discharge tilt angle from the vertical of about 47 degrees, plus or minus about 5 degrees.Rollers positioned on a front end of the turnable roll-off wrapping table and at least one profile hinge, connected to the rear end of the wrapping table and at its other end to the chassis frame, lower the rear end of a wrapping platform as the wrapping platform extends and tilts along the chassis frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Inventor: William E. Ramer
  • Patent number: 5385002
    Abstract: Baled material (4) is fed into a resilient sheath (4) through an open end thereof with at least the open end portion held in a resiliently expanded condition so that after insertion of the material the sheath can contract around the material, so expelling excess air. The sheath is held by a holding device having members (25; 124) movable on cranks between positions in which the sheath can be readily located on the members in its unstressed condition and in which at least the open end of the sheath is enlarged by stretching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Ag-Bag Corporation
    Inventor: David J. Cundall
  • Patent number: 5385003
    Abstract: In order to prevent spilling the contents or fracturing a package being filled, a rigid tray is moved into a filling area by pushers in which the pusher is advanced under controlled acceleration and then deceleration for gently stopping the pusher in contact with or in close proximity to a filled tray. A short time delay in movement of the tray is provided and then the pusher is advanced along with the tray moved thereby under a controlled acceleration into a sealing station. The tray is brought under controlled deceleration to stop in the sealing station at a predetermined position where another short time delay is provided in the stop position of the pusher. The pusher is then retracted to a safe position out of the way in order to permit the sealing of the tray without the interference of the pusher while the tray is sealed. The sealed tray is then transferred to an outfeed area and the sequence is repeated for filling and sealing a following tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Mahaffy & Harder Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Henry M. Nixon, Jr., Frank Schell, Keith MacDonald
  • Patent number: 5385004
    Abstract: A product packaging machine incorporates a pair of conveyor belts which are continuously driven in a given direction at a selected speed. The conveyor belts are mounted on a reciprocable frame and are arranged such that the product being conveyed resides between the belts and a run of each belt firmly engages and transports the product. The belt runs engaging the product can be made to extend and retract in correspondence with the product being packaged reaching and completing a succeeding stage of packaging such as sealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignees: Ossid Corporation, Ibaraki Seiki Machinery Company
    Inventor: Sidney S. Tolson
  • Patent number: 5385005
    Abstract: An attachment for converting an electric or gasoline powered lawn trimmer into a temporary or permanent lawn edger is described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Inventor: Stephen C. Ash
  • Patent number: 5385006
    Abstract: A friction reducing slip member for the shaker arms of a tree shaking harvester. The slip member in one form is a thin flexible panel structured for placement outward or over a main pad of the shaker head. The slip member includes a peripherally sealed interior chamber fully containing a friction reducing material such as grease, silicone lubricant, powdered or granular lubricants, or coatings having low coefficients of friction such as polytetrafluoroethylene. The lubricant allows the outer surface or side of the slip member to be positioned against a tree and to remain stationary during the tree shaking mode. The opposite interior side of the slip member is allowed to move with the shaker head as the shock waves are carried through the stationary surface of the slip member to the tree. The stationary side wall positioned against the tree protects the bark and cambium layer of the tree from damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Inventor: Ira Compton
  • Patent number: 5385007
    Abstract: A pot spinning device is disclosed for spinning textile yarn in which the spinning pot has an inner wall and the pot is driven by a magnetic bearing device for rotating the spinning pot. The magnetic bearing device provides radial and axial support of the pot. The magnetic bearing device may comprise at least one electromagnet disposed at each end of the spinning pot. At least the ends of the spinning pot may be formed of a magnetic material positioned to interact with the magnetic bearing device. The magnetic material may be formed as an annularly magnetic portion at each end. At least one sensor may be connected to the magnetic bearing device for detecting a displacement of the spinning pot. The magnetic bearing device may have a control device for stabilizing the position of the spinning pot against displacement due to exterior forces. The spinning pot may comprise a rotor of the electric motor. The electric motor may include an annular rotor on the spinning pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: W. Schlafhorst AG & Co.
    Inventors: Robert Hartel, Karl-Josef Brockmanns
  • Patent number: 5385008
    Abstract: A yarn break detecting device for a spinning machine includes detectors, a feed section and a control section. The detectors each include a pair of electrodes having substantially the same area and adapted to electrically induce a potential depending on static electricity charged on a yarn, a differential amplifier, a waveform shaper and an indicator lamp. The induced potential is then amplified and rectified to turn on the indicator lamp and concurrently fed to a microprocessor in the control section for operation processing, resulting in positions at which yarn break occurs and the number of yarn breaks being indicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Nippon Selen Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Syozaburo Makino, Isao Takahashi, Masanori Kishigami
  • Patent number: 5385009
    Abstract: A process for responding to a malfunction at an open-end spinning station of an open-end spinning machine which requires piecing of the yarn at the spinning station. The process is for use in open-end spinning machines having a travelling service unit which travels alongside adjacently dispose spinning stations for servicing the spinning stations. The process includes summoning the traveling service unit to the malfunctioning spinning station and attempting piecing at the spinning station with the service unit for at least 2 attempts. Before each of the piecing attempts, the spinning rotor of the station is cleaned of fiber and debris before each of the piecing attempts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Rieter Ingolstadt Spinnereimaschinenbau AG
    Inventor: Edmund Schuller
  • Patent number: 5385010
    Abstract: A cryogenic cooler system which allows continuous and uninterrupted cooling ithin the system with minimized moving parts. A compressor assembly is included with more than one compressor so that at any one time, one of the compressors is active so as to provide a working gas pressure modulated by piston action. An expander assembly includes an expander associated with each compressor where working gas pressure expansion from the active compressor is expanded within. A conduit line couples each compressor to each expander for working gas connection between each compressor and respective expander. Heat pipe is coupled at one end to each expander for the transfer a coolant fluid to a cooling plate which includes a temperature sensor. Thermal switches within each of the heat pipes control coolant fluid flow to allow the activation of another heat pipe and associated compressor when failure of the currently operating compressor occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Stuart B. Horn
  • Patent number: 5385011
    Abstract: A multifunction integrated power unit (MIPU) for use aboard aircraft provides the functions both of an auxiliary power unit and of an emergency power unit while being smaller, lighter, and less expensive than the two units it replaces. Additionally, the integration of both functions in a single unit allows elimination of duplicated service devices and a further reduction in size, cost, and weight in the aircraft itself. The MIPU includes two turbine engines operable under differing conditions, an integrating gear box receiving power from the two engines selectively, and a plurality of accessory devices receiving shaft power from either of the two engines via the gear box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventor: Donald B. Stewart, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5385012
    Abstract: A method and means are provided for operating a bleed to counter surge in the compressor of a gas turbine. A number of engine condition parameters which are precursors to a change of engine running conditions are monitored to detect changes outside predetermined limits. The method includes deriving a measure of heat soakage effects as an engine condition parameter by monitoring a gas flow value such as compressor outlet pressure, and deriving a further engine condition parameter by evaluating changes of engine power-setting by comparing instantaneous power-setting commands with lagged values of power-setting commands. If over-limit values of a monitored engine condition parameter are detected the bleed is opened and the bleed is maintained open if monitored changes of an engine operational parameter (such as compressor speed) exceed predetermined limits within a predetermined period of the opening of the bleed by an over-limit engine condition parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce, plc
    Inventor: Arthur L. Rowe
  • Patent number: 5385013
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine thermal backbone deflection control apparatus to counter the effects of backbone bending due to nacelle aerodynamic, thrust, and maneuver loads by introducing a controlled backbone counter-bending moment by applying an uneven temperature or thermal field around the backbone to induce controlled compression and/or tensioning forces in the backbone or casing between axially spaced apart frames connected by the backbone. One embodiment of the invention provides for flowing thermal control air along an axially and circumferentially sector of the engine casing. The thermal backbone deflection control apparatus is controlled by the engines digital electronic control system using input signals generated by engine thrust load, inlet moment load sensors and/or blade tip clearance sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael L. Barron, James W. Brantley, Thomas G. Wakeman
  • Patent number: 5385014
    Abstract: The present invention provides a valve for preventing contamination of a fuel management system connected to a pneumatic sense line by closing communication of compressed air from a scroll of the engine through a passageway in the valve to the pneumatic circuitry of the fuel management system. A detent is located on one side of the valve for receiving a raised surface on the knob of the valve and for holding the valve in the open position. A pair of stops on a camming surface separately engage a second pin on the valve to stop a handle of the valve from rotating past the selected open or closed position. The valve has all metal surfaces isolated so it may withstand vibrations. A method of washing a compressor of an aircraft engine is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Aeronautical Accessories, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard T. Rathbun
  • Patent number: 5385015
    Abstract: The fuel spray bars and a compressor air bar is disposed in the cavities of the extended vanes of the turbine exhaust case to flow a fuel/air mixture perpendicular to the gas path and the pilot burner encased in the tail cone ejects a hot stream of combustion products adjacent the fuel air mixture to ignite the mixture and the ejected compressor air serves to create a recirculation zone adjacent the apertures of the spray bars to sustain combustion during the actuation of the augmentor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas R. Clements, Charles B. Graves
  • Patent number: 5385016
    Abstract: A system and method of controls air/fuel ratio of an engine having exhaust manifolds from first and second cylinder banks coupled to a single catalytic converter. Fuel delivered to the cylinders of the first cylinder bank and the second cylinder bank are adjusted in response to respective first and second upstream exhaust gas oxygen sensors coupled to the first and second exhaust manifolds, and a downstream exhaust gas oxygen sensor positioned downstream of the converter. An inferred signal is read from a table having the first and second sensors as their inputs. This inferred signal is an inference of an output from a hypothetical exhaust gas oxygen sensor exposed to a hypothetical blended mixture of exhaust gases from the first and second exhaust manifolds. Converter efficiency is indicated by a ratio of a count in transitions between output states of the downstream sensor to a count in transitions between output states of the inferred signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Glenn A. Zimlich, Daniel V. Orzel, Tri T. Truong
  • Patent number: 5385017
    Abstract: A catalyst heating control apparatus includes a catalytic converter arranged in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine, a heating part for heating a catalyst of the catalytic converter after the engine has started operating so as to promote a catalytic conversion of exhaust gas from the engine, a detecting part for sensing a temperature of engine coolant of the engine and a calculating part for determining a releasing condition based on an engine temperature sensed by the detecting part at the start of the engine operation. The heating of the catalyst of the catalytic converter is stopped when the releasing condition is satisfied. A stopping part stops the heating part from heating the catalyst of the catalytic converter when an operating condition of the engine satisfies the releasing condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichi Harada
  • Patent number: 5385018
    Abstract: A torque transmission device for an automatic power transmission employs a viscous coupling interposed between a crankshaft and a converter cover of a torque converter. The viscous coupling is effective for damping torsional vibration input from the camshaft by viscosity thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Unisia Jecs Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Kohno, Tatsuya Morishita, Shouichi Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 5385019
    Abstract: Increased engine braking is available from a system including an internal combustion engine equipped with a compression release engine brake, a turbocharger, and an intercooler by having the engine inlet air compressed by the turbocharger bypass the intercooler during operation of the compression release engine brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Jacobs Brake Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Frank M. Kulig, Paul J. Spacek
  • Patent number: 5385020
    Abstract: A heating and cooling apparatus having a first gas conduit, a second gas conduit and at least one thermoelectric module. In a first embodiment, structure is provided to introduce moisture into the second gas conduit, upstream of that conduit's association with the thermoelectric module. The introduction of the moisture into the gas within the second gas conduit functions to decrease the temperature between the temperature of the gas in the first conduit and the temperature of the gas in the second conduit, thereby optimizing the operation of the thermoelectric module. In a second embodiment a plurality of thermoelectric modules are arranged in an array and positioned between the gas conduits and associated therewith. The power supplied to each of the thermoelectric modules is adjusted to correspond to an optimum power input calculated for each thermoelectric module respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Pneumo Abex Corporation
    Inventors: Scott B. Gwilliam, Richard A. Pell, Aaron V. Farr
  • Patent number: 5385021
    Abstract: Free piston Stirling coolers and engines are improved by a spring coupling the displacer to the piston and having a variable spring constant. Controllable variation of its spring constant permits controllable variation of displacer stroke, engine power output and cooler thermal pumping rate and thus the invention is useful for stroke limiting and load matching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Sunpower, Inc.
    Inventor: William T. Beale
  • Patent number: 5385022
    Abstract: A method which removes the limitations existing on the cooling capability of ordinary TE coolers provides for thermally connecting in parallel a hierarchy of central and auxiliary thermoelectric couples to provide deep cooling of the central thermoelectric couple to temperatures below 100 degrees Kelvin, and as low as 70 degrees Kelvin or lower. These basic deep TE cooling units may serve as constituent components for the construction of one-stage deep TE modules which are capable of relatively high pumping capacity at very low temperatures. The present invention makes deep TE cooling possible with existing thermoelectric materials, and existing high volume semiconductor manufacturing techniques can be adapted for production of the present invention, so that solid state deep TE cooling becomes available for a wide variety of applications, including deep cooling of solid state electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Inventor: Levy Kornblit
  • Patent number: 5385023
    Abstract: A dry ice pelletizer includes a ram structure that eliminates the need for piston rings to form the pellets thereby eliminating contamination of the pellets from piston ring wear products and piston/cylinder lubricants. The ram structure is pulled down into compression contact with dry ice snow formed in a snow chamber by a pair of hydraulic actuators coupled to a cross-head. The physical separation of the ram and the actuators further eliminates the source of contamination from hydraulic actuator fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Inventors: Arthur A. Montemayor, Karl H. Werr
  • Patent number: 5385024
    Abstract: A cryogenic rectification system wherein nonproduct fluid from a cryogenic rectification plant is compressed and mixed with incoming feed at an intermediate temperature, and the resulting mixture passed into the cryogenic rectification plant enabling production of product with improved recovery especially at elevated pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Roberts, Harry Cheung