Patents Issued in March 9, 1999
  • Patent number: 5878621
    Abstract: In a motor vehicle starter, a pivoted control lever acts on a starter head, the free upper end of the control lever being attached to the free rear end of a draw bar for actuating the lever. The draw bar is part of the starter contractor. The front end of the draw bar has a thrust head engaged with a compression spring mounted in a movable core of the contractor. The attachment means coupling the draw bar to the control lever include a hook portion at the rear end of the draw bar, this hook portion being received in a complementary recess formed, in facing relationship with it, in the upper end of the control lever. The draw bar is generally in the form of a plate lying in a plane containing the direction in which the draw bar is displaceable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur
    Inventor: Gilles Vadin-Michaud
  • Patent number: 5878622
    Abstract: An actuating device for automatically operating a manual transmission of a vehicle includes at least two gear and shift actuators for moving by rotation and translatory movement a selector shaft of a manual transmission in order to select a gate and a gear of the manual transmission. Each one of the gear and shift actuators includes a first piston that upon displacement moves by rotation or translatory movement the selector shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Hydraulik--Ring Antriebs- und Steuerungstechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Dieter Tischer
  • Patent number: 5878623
    Abstract: A control mechanism is coupled to a gearshift lever which is adapted to control a reversing gearbox having neutral, forward and reverse operational modes. The control mechanism includes a pivot lever which is connected to the gearshift lever and which is pivoted about a first stationary axis, a reset lever which is pivoted about a second stationary axis, a resetting element which is connected to the reset lever and a spring which urges the reset lever into a neutral position. The pivot and reset levers are slidably and rotatably coupled to each other so that a buckling of the pivot and reset levers from their neutral position against the force of the spring is possible. A detent mechanism permits the levers to remain in their buckled position against the bias of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Michael Teich
  • Patent number: 5878624
    Abstract: A transfer case having a two-speed drive assembly includes a directly coupled shift operator with feedback. The shift operator includes an electric, pneumatic or hydraulic motor which directly, rotatably drives a shift rail. The shift rail includes threads and receives a shift fork having complementary threads. The shift fork engages a dog clutch. Bi-directional rotation of the shift rail correspondingly bi-directionally translates the shift fork to select direct drive (high gear), reduced speed drive (low gear) or neutral operation of the two-speed drive assembly. A shift rail position sensor provides data to associated logic and command circuitry regarding the actual position of the shift fork.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Borg-Warner Automotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan J. Showalter, Ronald A. Schoenbach
  • Patent number: 5878625
    Abstract: An actuating device comprising a bracket and an operating device is provided. The front end portion of the operating device is provided with an anchoring portion and a first operating portion. The first operating portion defines a first, a second and a third edge which are connected with each other. The bracket is provided with a first post which passes through the receiving chamber. The operating device can be moved such that the first operating portion is contacted with the first post. Wherein when the operating device is moved upward, a temporary braking function is effected; and when the operating device is moved downward, a continuous braking function is effected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Fong Hsiang Metal Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nai Shing Hu
  • Patent number: 5878626
    Abstract: A compensating device (7) for a brake system driven by brake cables (4, 10), in particular a handbrake system for motor vehicles, wherein a drive lever (1) is connected by a first brake cable (4) to a first brake (21) and wherein a tube (5) of the first brake cable (4) rests on a drive-side support (6) and against the compensating device (7). A second brake cable (10) comprises an inner rope (9) connected at one end to the compensating device (7) and at the other end to a second brake (22). The compensating device (7) comprises a step-up gearing (20) and the first brake cable (4) comprises an inner rope (3, 3a) divided in two. One inner rope (3) is connected at one end to the drive lever (1) and at the other end to the input of the step-up gearing (20) and the other inner rope (3a) is connected at one end to the output of the step-up gearing (20) and at the other end to the first brake (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Kuster & Co. GmbH
    Inventor: Carmelo Gutierrez
  • Patent number: 5878627
    Abstract: A two-piece handle for use in positioning a vehicle lifting jack beneath a vehicle and for rotating a spindle of that jack, which handle comprises a jack handle rod, a jack handle rod extension, and a jack handle coupling for releasably interconnecting the jack handle rod and the jack handle rod extension in co-axial alignment. The jack handle coupling comprises a sleeve mounted over and fixedly secured to a knuckle joint of the jack handle rod and adapted to receive a knuckle joint of the jack handle rod extension. A spring wire engageable with the knuckle joint of the jack handle rod extension secures the two pieces of the rod in coupled engagement. Preferably, the knuckle joints of both sections of the jack handle are formed by bending the ends of the rods 180.degree. into a J-shaped configuration shaped to be permanently secured to the knuckle joint of one of the rods and to slidably receive the knuckle joint of the other rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Wald Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: David K. McMurtrey
  • Patent number: 5878628
    Abstract: A marine control arm formed from an elongated arm member having a hollow shell with first, second, third and fourth internal guides. Each of the internal guides extends from an outer surface of the hollow shell to an inner surface of the hollow shell. The first and second internal guides are separated by a first distance, and the third and fourth internal guides are separated by a second distance. The control arm includes an insert having a plurality of knurls for mating with grooves in a throttle assembly. The insert has first and second wings for positioning the insert within the hollow shell. The first wing has a first width corresponding to the first distance, and the second wing has a second width corresponding to the second distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Inventors: Frank Ongaro, Rosalyn Jean
  • Patent number: 5878629
    Abstract: An attaching system for a steering wheel assembly including a ring portion, a plurality of spokes, as well as integrally formed ring and spoke covering layers, and a pad portion. A steering shaft is formed at its distal end with external screw threads, a portion of which project beyond the upper surface of a boss plate. A nut includes a wheel gear having a plurality of teeth that are engagable with screw threads as a fastening tool. The nut is screwed onto or off from the steering shaft by the fastening tool that engages and rotates the nut, relative to steering shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Nagata, Akio Hosoi, Tooru Koyama
  • Patent number: 5878630
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cooling of a controller (16) of a transmission of a motor vehicle (6). A motor vehicle (6) has a transmission (2) in which or on which is provided a control mechanism (16, 18) actuated by a control fluid (40). The control electronic system (30, 32, 38) of the controller (16) is compulsorily cooled by a ducted supply of a control fluid (40) to the electronic system (30, 32, 38) or through the control electronic system (30, 32, 38). The control fluid (40) may be driven by a conveyor mechanism through a cooling channel (36) upon which the control electronic system is mounted with optimum heat conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Fessler, Josef Schwarz, Gerhard Birkenmaier
  • Patent number: 5878631
    Abstract: A wiper device has a tubular plate and a wiper drive mounted on the tubular plate and having a drive shaft guided in a bearing support. The wiper drive with the bearing support is inserted in a tubular element arranged on the tubular plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Kurt Muehlpforte, Henk Becker, Claus Fleischer, Tino Boos
  • Patent number: 5878632
    Abstract: The automatic transmission, which is intended for motor vehicles in particular, has an internal gear pump for supplying a hydrodynamic converter, a lubricating device and control and actuation devices of the automatic transmission, via a main pressure valve. An excess flow returns from the main pressure valve back to the internal gear pump via a feed channel (18). The feed channel (18) has a cross section which is steadily reduced in the direction toward the internal gear pump and has a feed nozzle (20) on its end facing the internal gear wheel pump. The feed channel (18) with its feed nozzle (20) terminates near the suction zone of the internal gear pump in a suction channel (14) connected with a reservoir. To simplify manufacture and to improve the function, the latter, in particular with a view to an advantageous charging of the internal gear pump, the feed channel (18) and the feed channel (20), are cast in the pump housing (1) by the lost-wax method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Hubler, Gerhard Martin, Peter Tiesler
  • Patent number: 5878633
    Abstract: A machine tool comprises a turntable that has a table plate, pivotable about a rotation axis with respect to a machine frame, onto the upper side of which lead lines, coming from beneath the table plate, that are connected to stationary supply connections. The lines are attached to the table plate from below, by means of downward-pointing connector pieces that are joined nonrotatably to the table plate in its center region, in such a way that they hang freely downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Chiron-Werke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Peter Grund, Anton Schweizer
  • Patent number: 5878634
    Abstract: A method for making an earth boring drill bit which includes an outer shell having an external surface adapted to carry cutting elements and a unitary shank and bit core which is fitted into the outer shell. The shell and bit core are threadably engaged with one another or are interferingly engaged. The shell and bit core may be welded, secured with brazing alloys or with high temperature adhesives. In one embodiment, a ridge formed on the shank is received in a groove formed on an interior surface of the shell to prevent relative rotational movement of the shank and shell during drilling. In another embodiment, the shell is formed using matrix infiltration techniques. After the shell is formed, it is heated to braze cutters thereto. While still hot from the brazing process, the shell and shank are fitted together. After cooling the shell contracts to form heat shrink connection between the shell and the shank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Gordon A. Tibbitts
  • Patent number: 5878635
    Abstract: A ratchet wrench having an annular wheel mounted within one box end thereof, the annular wheel having a plurality of longitudinal teeth equiangularly spaced around the inside for grasping and turning nuts, bolts, etc., and two symmetrical pairs of grooves longitudinally disposed on the outside at two oppoiste locations, two pairs of stop plates respectively mounted in the grooves within the box end, and four springs respectively connected between the stop plates and the grooves to forced into engagement with the teeth of the box end when the wrench is turned in one direction, causing the annular wheel to be turned with the box end; the stop plates are forced backwards into the V-grooves when the wrench is turned in the reversed direction, causing the wrench to run idle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Inventor: Chih-Ching Hsieh
  • Patent number: 5878636
    Abstract: An open-end ratcheting-type wrench for use in driving a hexagonal nut has a handle and a wrench head that is joined to the handle. The wrench head has upper and lower jaws that are rigidly joined together by a web. The jaws have several faces that allow the wrench to be ratcheted about the nut to different drive positions without removing the wrench from the nut. The faces are configured to prevent corner contact with the nut so that the corners are not rounded off. A lock face is provided on the wrench to prevent the removal of the wrench from the nut during use. The lock face has a concave arcuate surface to allow ratcheting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: David Baker, Inc.
    Inventor: David R. Baker
  • Patent number: 5878637
    Abstract: A driving tool includes a barrel and a handle secured to one end of the barrel for rotating the barrel. The barrel includes an engaging opening formed in the other end for engaging with a tool bit and a fastener. A telescopic pipe is engaged in the bore of the barrel and has one end secured to the handle and has a magnetic member secured to the other end for allowing the magnetic member to be extended outward of the barrel to attract and to fetch the fasteners engaged in a deep hole of an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Inventor: Kuo Zhen Liu
  • Patent number: 5878638
    Abstract: A positioning device for a driving shaft of a lathe chuck includes a casing, a motor received in the casing with a driving shaft of the motor extending through a first end and a second end of the casing, and a disk disposed to the first end of the casing and threadedly mounted to the driving shaft. The disk has at least one hole defined therethrough and the first end of the casing has a plurality of holes defined therethrough so that a pin is removably extending through the hole in the disk and received in one of the holes in the first end of the casing to position the driving shaft to which the lathe chuck is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Colovos Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chin Feng Wang
  • Patent number: 5878639
    Abstract: A cutting apparatus in one form comprises a base attachable to one surface of a sheet of drywall or the like. An elongate blade assembly is rotatably attached to the base to permit blade assembly rotation along the drywall. A cutting blade is attached to the distal end of the support member to cut into the drywall along a circular profile as the blade assembly is rotated. An advancer interconnects the base and the blade assembly along which the blade is advanced deeper into the drywall sheet as the blade assembly is rotated. The advancer may be a threaded shaft extending from the base onto which the blade assembly is rotatably threaded, so that the progressive advancement is proportional to the rotation of the blade assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Inventor: Antonio Armando Murua Martinez
  • Patent number: 5878640
    Abstract: A pair of numerically controlled feed devices are successively operated, with the second feed device taking over from the first feed device when two or more punching steps have been performed. A trailing row of punching tools performs the first punching step with respect to a fresh plate at the same time when a leading row of tools performs the last punching step with respect to the preceding plate. There are provided sensors to determine plate length and/or angularity of the late edges in order to enable a numerical control to compute correction data for correcting the feeding of the plate whereby punching through the trailing and leading edges of the lates is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Inventor: Thomas Haar
  • Patent number: 5878641
    Abstract: A cutting machine for cutting elongated workpieces, having a work loading mechanism with a number of inclined, parallel supporting rails for supporting a plurality of elongated workpieces each having a longitudinal axis, the workpieces standing by on the supporting rails parallel to each other and with their longitudinal axes perpendicularly to said supporting rails, said supporting rails each inclining toward a work conveying path for longitudinally carrying workpieces seriatim toward the front end of the work conveying path to a cutting position, a work carrying reciprocating drive including a vise, a carriage and a drive motor for reciprocating along the work conveying path to move the workpieces toward the front end of the work carrying path, the supporting rail closest to the front of the work carrying path being disposed within the range of said reciprocation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Tsune Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryoichi Tsune
  • Patent number: 5878642
    Abstract: A tool retention apparatus for retaining a cutting tool in a tool holder which has a wedged shaped securing arrangement to hold the cutting tool against a pair of precision ground supports. The securing member provides both a vertical securing force and a radial location of the cutting tool to facilitate installation and removal of the cutting tool from a machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Utica Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Roseliep
  • Patent number: 5878643
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a curl type sandwich cutting device which is comprised of a lift means, a cutting means, a feeding means and a rotation means; a chassis which may be controlled to rise and descend is installed on the body frame. The right and left flat surfaces are on the two ends of said body frame and are higher than the body frame, the lead device of a jig saw means is located across the flat surfaces, by the rotation of a motor and the swing of a jib arm of an eccentric arm, the jig saw may move left and right continuously. A rotation means is installed on the adjacent side, by chain wheel and other components to drive the axle rod of said cutting means, the jig saw may revert 180 degrees. The bottom of said chassis has installed a guiding screw and a nut which are controlled by a motor so as to move forward. A feeding device is installed on the chassis, and the feed device has a lead bar to control the bread box to rotate 360 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Inventor: Ber-Fong Hwang
  • Patent number: 5878644
    Abstract: A vertical band saw machine in which a carriage assembly is mounted for pivoting on a base by rotational pivot points. Pivoting of the carriage assembly enables the band saw machine to make miter cuts to a workpiece. The head frame of the band saw machine travels on a guide on the carriage assembly and moves only in the direction of the plane of cut. A vise assembly is preferably attached to the carriage assembly and pivots with the carriage assembly for keeping the vise assembly close to the line of cut at all times, regardless of carriage assembly orientation. A driving wheel and driven wheel are attached to the head frame and may be tilted with respect to the head frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Hyd-Mech Group Limited
    Inventor: Chris F Jasinski
  • Patent number: 5878645
    Abstract: A method for forming a ready-to-hang lace curtain and a lace curtain comprising stiffen vertical panel of woven fabric. Each panel being joined to an adjacent panel by an integrally woven vertical zone of open mesh. The open mesh zones formed from a plurality of threads twisted into a single vertical strand. The strand being joined to adjacent vertical panels at evenly spaced intervals by a single loop of thread draw from the vertical strand and extending generally horizontally. The loops being interwoven at spaced locations into the edge of the adjacent vertical panel. Forming an accordion-folding of the plurality of the vertical panels along the mesh zones into aligned and compact stacked assembly and simultaneously die-cutting an opening through the assembled panels while they are in the stacked aligned configuration. The opening configured to receive means for hanging the curtain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Inventor: Carl Streit
  • Patent number: 5878646
    Abstract: A pneumatic brake booster having a casing (10) with an axis of symmetry (X-X') and divided in leaktight fashion by a movable wall structure (12,20) into a front chamber (14) and a rear chamber (16). The front chamber (12,20) is permanently connected to a source of partial vacuum while the rear chamber (16) is connected selectively to the front chamber (14) or to the outside atmosphere by a three-way valve (36). The three-way valve is actuated by a plunger (28) which slides in a bore (26) of the movable wall (12, 20) in response ton an input applied to an axial control rod (30). The three-way valve (36) is located in a rear tubular part (22) of the movable wall structure (12, 20) which projects outside of the casing (10) and including a valve element (36). Valve element (36) interacts via a first annular surface (A) with a first valve seat (28a) formed on the plunger (28) and via a second annular surface (B) with a second valve seat (20a) formed on the movable wall (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Bosch Systems de Freinage
    Inventor: Jorg Schewe
  • Patent number: 5878647
    Abstract: A pilot operated control valve has a housing defining an inlet and an outlet. A main valve poppet selectively engages a valve seat to control flow of fluid between the inlet and outlet. An aperture in the main valve poppet opens into a control chamber on a side of the main poppet remote from the valve seat. A pilot passage is formed in the main valve poppet with an inlet section between the inlet and the control chamber, and an outlet section between the aperture and the control chamber. A pilot poppet has a body that selectively seals communication between the control chamber and the aperture, and a pressure balancing stem attached to the body extends into the aperture. The pressure balancing stem having a recess which is acted upon by pressure in the outlet section and having an end which is acted upon by pressure in the inlet section. The pilot operated control valve also incorporates a compression check valve and/or a reverse flow check valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: HUSCO International Inc.
    Inventors: Raud A. Wilke, Xiaolong Yang
  • Patent number: 5878648
    Abstract: An adjustable radial piston machine (pump or motor) is described whose drive mechanism (10) has a comparatively compact structure and an especially good mechanical efficiency. The drive mechanism (10) has a bearing ring (19) which is arranged concentric to a rotor (11) and which can be swung or pivoted about a symmetry axis (Q,H) different from its rotation axis for adjustment of the radial piston machine. An adjusting device (22) for pivoting the bearing ring extends axially parallel to the bearing ring (19) and acts on a facing surface of the bearing ring (19). Working pistons (13) guided in the cylinders in the rotor perform two motion cycles per revolution of the rotor, which are equal, but in opposite directions, over respective 180.degree. angular intervals. Cylinders (12) on opposite sides of the rotor are acted on by identical pressures so that the forces on the rotor are balanced and the rotor rotates largely free of friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Wilhelm Dworak
  • Patent number: 5878649
    Abstract: A pressure transformer is provided having a housing, with a rotating group disposed therein, an adjustable port plate is disposed between a barrel of the rotating group and a head portion of the housing. The barrel has a plurality of pistons slideably disposed in cylinders defined in the barrel. The cylinders each define a cylinder port that is in intimate contact with the port plate. Each cylinder port has a predetermined circumferential length. The port plate has three arcuate slots defined therein and spaced from one another along a predetermined circumference. Each arcuate slot has a leading edge and a trailing edge. Likewise each of the cylinder ports has a leading edge and a trailing edge. The shape and orientation of the leading edges and trailing edges of the cylinder ports and the arcuate slots are the same. The circumferential length of the space between adjacent ones of the arcuate slots is less than the circumferential length of the respective cylinder ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Francis J. Raab
  • Patent number: 5878650
    Abstract: A power booster includes a housing with a rear housing section and a front housing section defining an internal cavity. A housing wall separates the internal cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber with an opening formed in the housing wall, wherein it is desirable to extend a component through the opening. A tube has an end secured in the opening in the housing wall. The tube's end includes a radially directed wall extending from the end of the tube that extends to an axially extending wall positioned concentrically with the tube and terminating with an outwardly turned segment. The axially extending wall is positioned within the opening in the housing wall with a seal positioned between the axially extending wall and the housing wall wherein the distance between the front housing section and the rear housing section is minimized, by extending the component through the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignees: General Motors Corporation, Delphi France Automotive Systems
    Inventors: Craig Alan Osterday, Timothy Allen Haerr, William Lee Van Doren, Philippe Castel, Joseph Genaudeau
  • Patent number: 5878651
    Abstract: A tandem brake booster having a housing with a first front chamber separated from a first rear chambers by a first wall and a second front chamber separated from a second rear chamber by a second wall. The first and second front chambers are connected to the first and second rear chambers through passages in a hub which retains a control valve. In a first or ready mode of operation, the first and second front and rear chambers have a substantially identical first fluid pressure while in a second or actuation mode of operation, the control valve responds to an input force to allow a second fluid pressure to be communicated to the first and second rear chambers and create a pressure differential with the first fluid in the first and second front chambers. The pressure differential develops an output force which moves the first and second walls as a function of the input force applied to the control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Robert Bosch Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence Robert Myers
  • Patent number: 5878652
    Abstract: In the embodiment shown, the body is formed of cast aluminum, and is devoid of clean-out holes in the upper and bottom ends thereof. Instead, the clean-out holes are formed in the outer, annular wall, through an annular recess formed in the outer wall, To close off the clean-out holes, a steel band is nested in the recess, in circumscription of the body. Further, the steel band has grooves formed therein in which to accommodate piston rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Dresser-Rand Company
    Inventor: Richard Kottke
  • Patent number: 5878653
    Abstract: An apparatus for brewing and pouring coffee or tea in unit doses has an upwardly and downwardly moveable extraction chamber, a filter unit with an exchangeable filter, and a collection chamber. The collection chamber is covered at the top by a grating, which abuts the filter paper, and is closed at the bottom by an impermeable membrane, which is coupled to a displacement mechanism that moves the membrane up and down. A pouring-out tube is connected to the underside, and it is closed by a valve. During a working cycle, in a first phase, hot water and coffee or tea are introduced in the extraction chamber; in a second phase, the membrane moves up, pressing air through the filter into the extraction chamber; in a third phase, the membrane moves downwardly, suctioning extract brewed in the extraction chamber through the filter into the collection chamber; and in a fourth phase, the valve is opened and the brewed coffee or tea is poured through the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Veromatic International B.V.
    Inventor: Kees Verhoef
  • Patent number: 5878654
    Abstract: In a coffee extracting apparatus in which an extracting container (51) extracts coffee essence from coffee powder with being supplied with hot water of substantially normal pressure and elevated temperature, a water control valve (48) controls a feed of the hot water to the extracting container. The hot water is fed to the extracting container with being pressed in a water feeding device (43). The coffee essence is taken out from the extracting container together with the hot water through a filter member (53, 54) supported by a support member (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Kobayashi, Isao Katou, Karin Okamura, Akio Kawabata
  • Patent number: 5878655
    Abstract: An automatic convection heating baking apparatus for bread or cake making with greatly improved automatic-baking quality is disclosed. Baking in this apparatus is achieved by two hot air streams each covering about half of the baking chamber space. Hot air circulation is produced by forming suction and blowing regions within the baking chamber by placing an electric fan within a single ventilation compartment. The machine is compact and low-cost since only a single electric fun is needed to cause circulation and to produce two hot air streams, premature hot air return to the ventilation compartment is prevented by using air-regulating means. Dual timer for mixing and baking is provided to improve cake fluffiness by controlling heating during ingredient mixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: China Packific Trade Ltd.
    Inventor: Wing Kin Chan
  • Patent number: 5878656
    Abstract: A disposable and interchangeable roasting pan/cover features a base panel with a side wall about its perimeter. A platform for supporting a food product is positioned on the interior surface of the base panel. A handle recess may form the platform so as to define a handle upon the exterior surface of the base panel. Alternatively, a pair of side wall recesses in the interior surface of the side wall may define handles on the side wall exterior surface while enhancing the structural strength of the pan/cover. A rim is disposed about the outer edge of the side wall and features an even number of staggered tongue and groove features. Two of the pan/covers may be oriented with their rims abutted so that one pan/cover serves as a cover for the other serving as a pan. The tongue and groove features of the two pan/covers engage one another so that the cover oriented pan/cover does not slide off of the pan oriented pan/cover holding the food product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Handi-Foil Corporation
    Inventors: Carl R. Fletcher, Norton Sarnoff
  • Patent number: 5878657
    Abstract: A device for cooking food, in particular a grilling or baking device, includes a system for heating the air, optionally a grate, and hollow sections through which a coolant flows, arranged on two different levels above the air-heating system. The hollow sections on at least one of levels have upper faces in the form of channels which act as drainage channels for the juices from the food being cooked. The hollow sections on the two different levels are horizontally mutually offset and means are provided to prevent the juices from the food being cooked from reaching the glowing grate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Inventor: Ernst Gschwind
  • Patent number: 5878658
    Abstract: A pellet-shaped article marking system marks two sides of a pellet-shaped article. A hopper is disposed over a ramp-type conveyor and feeds pellet-shaped articles onto the conveyor. A first marking device marks a first side of the pellet-shaped articles. A pickup drum receives the pellet-shaped articles from the conveyor and transports them to a second marking device so that a non-marked side of the articles faces the second marking device. The second marking device marks the non-marked side of the articles. The pickup drum then discharges the pellet-shaped articles into a bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Ackley Machine Corporation
    Inventor: E. Michael Ackley
  • Patent number: 5878659
    Abstract: A template for marking golf balls with identifying indicia includes an elongated, rectangular-shaped main body member which is foldable into a cylinder for encompassing the golf ball, a central body portion having a plurality of apertures in the form of letters, numbers, and other symbols arranged thereon, a first end having a flexible tongue formed from a U-shaped slot, and a second end having a transverse slot. When the main body member is rolled into a cylinder for receiving a golf ball for marking, the tongue is inserted through the slot for maintaining the cylindrical form, whereupon the point of a pen can be successively inserted through the appropriate apertures on the central body portion in order to mark the golf ball with an identifying name, symbol, expression, monogram or moniker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Inventor: Ronald E. Hatter
  • Patent number: 5878660
    Abstract: A printing drum of a stencil printing machine is formed of a base member having two annular members spaced apart from each other and a transverse bar connecting the two annular members; a flexible multi-porous sheet having a filled portion at at least a part of a peripheral portion except a central portion thereof and being wrapped into a cylindrical shape around the outer peripheral surface of the base member, and around which a stencil sheet is wrapped; a spring member situated between one end of the flexible sheet and the base member to attach the flexible sheet resiliently on the base member; a stencil clamping device provided on the transverse bar for selectively clamping one end part of the stencil sheet; and an inner pressing device situated inside the flexible sheet for supplying ink outwardly. The inner pressing device pushes the flexible sheet radially outwardly when the base member and flexible sheet assembly rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Takahashi, Katsuro Motoe, Hideo Negishi
  • Patent number: 5878661
    Abstract: There is disclosed herein a self-shearing stencil for use in applying solder paste or other bonding material atop a printed circuit board (PCB) in a predefined pattern. The stencil 50 has a top surface 12, a bottom surface 14, a first surface cavity 16 in the top surface, and a second surface cavity 18 in the bottom surface proximate the first surface. The cavities 16/18 overlap in a predefined manner so as to be in open communication with each other. When the stencil is placed on the PCB, the cavities are filled with solder paste and the PCB is then lowered away from the stencil, whereupon a bottom ledge 26 (defined by the stencil material underneath the first cavity) shears off the solder paste in the first cavity from the paste in the second cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Andrew Zachary Glovatsky, Vivek Amir Jairazbhoy, Jeff Lin, John Trublowski
  • Patent number: 5878662
    Abstract: A method of preparing a screen printing screen is provided whereby a screen with a printing surface is provided, along with a printing mechanism capable of movement in at least two directions. The screen is positioned so that a selected position of the screen is located at a specific reference point. The printing mechanism is then provided with the data which defines an area of the screen which is desired to be blocked with a liquid stencil material. The liquid stencil material is then printed onto the area defined above utilizing the printing mechanism. A barrier coating or a barrier backing may be applied to or against the screen before the liquid stencil material is applied thereto. Thereafter, the stencil coating is applied utilizing the print mechanism and the stencil coating is hardened. After the stencil coating has been hardened, the barrier coating, if used, is removed by spraying the screen with water or air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Inventor: Geoffrey A. McCue
  • Patent number: 5878663
    Abstract: The subject invention is directed to a dampening system including a two-roller continuous type dampener, a solution recirculator, and a recirculator adapter. The solution recirculator is configured to supply solution through a supply conduit and to receive solution through a return conduit. A pressure regulator receives solution from the supply conduit and regulates the solution flow. A feed conduit provides fluid communication between the pressure regulator and the dampener's solution reservoir. A venturi receives solution from the supply conduit and induces a vacuum in a suction conduit. A first end of the suction conduit is positioned at a predetermined level within the reservoir and has a portion proximate the first end extending upwardly and away from the reservoir. A second end of the suction conduit is in fluid communication with the venturi. The venturi is in fluid communication with the return conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Varn Products Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike Krzyzak, Patrick Maiello
  • Patent number: 5878664
    Abstract: A printing system has a print cylinder on which a raised printing surface is formed in situ preferably by a "rapid prototyping" or "fused deposition modelling" machine operating with electronic images from a computer image processing system. After a printing operation has been completed, and it is necessary to print another image for the next printing operation, the former printing surface is removed in situ from the print cylinder by abrading, scraping, cutting, etc. and the next printing surface with the new image is formed in situ on the same printing cylinder in the same manner described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Inventor: Theodore J Hartka
  • Patent number: 5878665
    Abstract: A control system for controlling the rotational speed of the printing cylinders of a printing machine in order to eliminate register offset or doubling phenomena on the printed matter. The control system uses one or more sensors to determine the operating condition of the printing unit. The relevant operating condition parameters include the frequency of the AC line from which the printing machine operates and the position of the printing cylinders at the time the change in rotational speed is to occur. Based on the operating condition of the printing unit, a controller selects an appropriate timing ramp for increasing or decreasing the rotational speed of the printing cylinders. The various timing ramps are stored on a memory and correspond to the different operating conditions of the printing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Joachim Muller
  • Patent number: 5878666
    Abstract: A printing machine, having side walls and at least one form cylinder with an outer cylindrical surface carrying a removable sleeve-shaped printing form, the form cylinder having journals and being removably mounted in the side walls. A bearing rotatably supports the journals in the sidewalls and at least one of the side walls has an opening. A transport device moves the form cylinder back and forth through the opening in the side wall so that the sleeve of the form cylinder removed from the printing machine can be exchanged for a replacement sleeve and the form cylinder with the replacement sleeve can be moved back into the printing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG.
    Inventors: Josef Schneider, Josef Gottling
  • Patent number: 5878667
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispensing ink to an ink fountain of a printing press. A flexible bag of ink is utilized and is compressed for forcing the ink into the fountain, and a sensor determines the level of ink in the fountain and thus controls the force on the bag, that is, the compressor on the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Walter Stobb Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Garth S. Ryan
  • Patent number: 5878668
    Abstract: On the surface of an ink-permeable sponge material having open cells, a melted portion and an unmelted portion are formed by a thermal head printer controlled by a memory processor for desired imprint data to prepare a stamp having the unmelted portion as an ink oozing imprint surface. Furthermore, a stamp material plate comprising the tape-like sponge material is wound up in the form of a roll and then received in a cassette case, and a stamp material cartridge comprising this cassette case is mounted in a cartridge receiving section of the thermal printer capable of printing in a tape form. A print image set by input from a keyboard or external input is printed on the stamp material comprising the sponge material fed from the cartridge by the thermal head, while the stamp material is pressed, to form a concave having a depth of 0.01 mm or more, thereby preparing a print plate for a stamp having a suitable length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Pencil Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoichi Ando, Hajime Toda, Koichi Hirano, Hisami Tamano
  • Patent number: 5878669
    Abstract: A cleaning device provided on a rotary printing machine for cleaning the outer cylindrical surfaces of cylinders includes a pressing-on bar for pressing a cleaning cloth on a respective outer cylindrical surface, adjusting elements for engaging the pressing-on bar, and an elastic profile rail to guide and press a cleaning cloth onto an outer cylindrical surface over the entire cylinder width. The elastic profile rail receives a plurality of forces from spring elements. The elastic profile rail and the spring elements allow a uniform cleaning of the outer cylindrical surface despite the presence of uneven or rough portions of the outer cylindrical surface that might be encountered by the cleaning device during cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Willi Becker, Jens Friedrichs, Frank Kropp
  • Patent number: 5878670
    Abstract: A method of forming a marking portion on a golf ball. A toner image is formed on a release sheet on its release side by an electrostatic copying machine, and a transfer (adhesive) sheet is then placed on the release sheet under pressure such that the adhesive surface thereof contacts the toner image so as to transfer the toner image onto the adhesive surface. Subsequently, the transfer sheet is removed from the release sheet, and the toner image on the transfer sheet is impregnated with a chemical which dissolves the toner image without causing the toner image to run. The transfer sheet is then pressed against a golf ball such that the toner image on the transfer sheet contacts the marking-portion forming surface of the golf ball so as to transfer the toner image onto the marking-portion forming surface. Subsequently, the transfer sheet is removed from the golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takehiko Yamaguchi