Patents Issued in May 30, 2000
  • Patent number: 6067787
    Abstract: An open-end spinning device (1) with a spinning rotor (17) which is mounted with its rotor shaft (8) in the V-slots of a support-disk bearing (5) and whose spinning cup (17) rotates at a high speed in a rotor housing (6) which is open to the front and can be loaded by suction. The rotor housing (6) can be closed by a pivotably mounted cover element (10) which comprises a sliver opening device and is arranged so that it can be disengaged if required. The cover element (10) comprises a locking and unlocking device (20) with locking bolts (23) which can be controlled in a defined manner and which are movably mounted in bearing brackets (22) of the cover element (10). The locking bolts (23) engage during spinning operation in bearing locations (34) on the spinning box frame (2). The cover element (10) can be readily taken off the spinning box frame (2), if required, by appropriately actuating the locking and unlocking device (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: W. Schlafhorst AG & Co.
    Inventor: Heinz-Georg Wassenhoven
  • Patent number: 6067788
    Abstract: The subject of the invention relates to a chain link for an energy guide chain. The chain link has two spaced-apart, mutually oppositely disposed chain side plates (2) and at least one transverse portion (5). The transverse portion (5) has at both ends a releasable hinge (10) which can be connected to the chain side plate (2). The transverse portion (5) is lockable to the chain side plate (2). For the purposes of latching the transverse portion (5) to the chain side plate (2) the hinge (10) has a pivot pin (7) and a recess (15) which cooperates with the pivot pin (7) and which has undercut configurations (14). The pivot pin (7) has a latching projection (9) engaging into an opening (16). The opening (16) extends over a part of the periphery of the recess (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Kabelschlepp GmbH
    Inventor: Willibald Weber
  • Patent number: 6067789
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to produce a method, for operating a gas turbine installation combustion chamber with liquid fuel, by means of which the NO.sub.X figures obtained when liquid fuel is employed are similar to those for gaseous fuels. The size of the burner is then also reduced. It is also an object of the invention to provide a corresponding appliance for carrying out the method.This is achieved in accordance with the invention in that the liquid fuel (38) is evaporated in at least two steps in a separate evaporative reactor (12). In this arrangement, the liquid fuel (38) is first atomized to a fuel vapor/liquid fuel mixture (61) by direct heat exchange with a first heat exchange medium (21) and is instantaneously evaporated in this process. The evaporation of the remaining residue of the liquid fuel (38) then takes place by indirect heat exchange with a second heat exchange medium (51).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Klaus Dobbeling, Lothar Reh, Yunhong Wang
  • Patent number: 6067790
    Abstract: A fuel combustion chamber, and a method of and a nozzle for mixing liquid fuel and air in the fuel combustion chamber in lean direct injection combustion for advanced gas turbine engines, including aircraft engines. Liquid fuel in a form of jet is injected directly into a cylindrical combustion chamber from the combustion chamber wall surface in a direction opposite to the direction of the swirling air at an angle of from about 50.degree. to about 60.degree. with respect to a tangential line of the cylindrical combustion chamber and at a fuel-lean condition, with a liquid droplet momentum to air momentum ratio in the range of from about 0.05 to about 0.12. Advanced gas turbines benefit from lean direct wall injection combustion. The lean direct wall injection technique of the present invention provides fast, uniform, well-stirred mixing of fuel and air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Inventors: Kyung J. Choi, Robert Tacina
  • Patent number: 6067791
    Abstract: A turbine engine having interior cavity sealed by a thermally controlled valve is disclosed. The cavity is defined by at least one cylindrical wall portion. The valve comprises an opening in the cylindrical wall portion and a cylindrical band, coaxial and interior to the wall portion. The cylindrical band is made of material having a higher thermal coefficient of expansion than the wall portion. As the temperature of the engine increases, the band expands at a higher rate than the wall, thereby sealing the valve. As the temperature decreases, the band contracts thereby opening the valve. The valve may be used to permit a cavity to be pressurized at low temperatures. The pressure in the cavity may exert a forward load on a thrust bearing, suspending the engine shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Inc.
    Inventor: Kiritkumar Patel
  • Patent number: 6067792
    Abstract: In a gas turbine engine, compressor delivery air is fed into air inlets in hollow turbine nozzle guide vanes, and then ejected into the gas stream via holes in the vane walls. Valving is provided so as to provide modulation of the cooling airflow over and above the modulation achieved by compressor output when it changes with engine power setting. Excessive cooling of the gas stream is thus prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventor: Henry Tubbs
  • Patent number: 6067793
    Abstract: Axisymmetric nozzles of variable geometry and orientation of flow intended for gas turbine engines, especially for aircraft. The nozzle comprises control means for adjusting the throat area and vectoring the thrust, which means are formed by three rings concentric to the longitudinal axis of the engine, an inner ring, an intermediate ring, and an outer ring, and by a plurality of linear actuators. The outer ring includes two ring segments interarticulated to each other and swingable independently or in unison to vector the thrust of the aircraft, said swinging and corresponding thrust vectoring being limited to a single plane corresponding to the pitch of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Sener, Ingenieria y Sistemas, S.A.
    Inventors: Jose Rivacoba Urruela, Kepa M. Aldecoa-Otalora
  • Patent number: 6067794
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling fuel injected into an internal combustion engine fitted with a catalytic converter. A signal outputted by a first feedback loop and derived from the output of a first probe upstream from the catalytic converter is corrected in a corrector circuit by a value determined by another circuit on the basis of the output of a second probe downstream from the catalytic converter. The second circuit includes a comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Renault
    Inventors: Edouard Simon, Bernard Givois
  • Patent number: 6067795
    Abstract: A hydraulic continuously variable transmission for use on a vehicle comprises a hydraulic closed circuit, first and second pressure controlling means, brake operation detecting means and deceleration detecting means. The hydraulic closed circuit includes a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic motor, a first oil passage connecting a port of the hydraulic pump with a port of the hydraulic motor and a second oil passage connecting another port of the hydraulic pump with another port of the hydraulic motor, and first and second pressure controlling means control the pressures of the first and second oil passages, respectively. If the deceleration of the vehicle is greater than a standard deceleration when the operation of the brake is detected, then the pressure of the first or second oil passage whose pressure is higher than that of the other is lowered to a predetermined low pressure that is higher than the pressure of either oil passage which is lower by either the first or second pressure controlling means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Iino, Yoshihiro Katagiri, Shigeru Morimoto
  • Patent number: 6067796
    Abstract: A gas driven oscillator (10) comprising an engine (11) having a cylinder (12) and a pair of expansion chambers (13, 14) on either side of a floating piston (15) adapted to reciprocate within the cylinder (12). The piston (15) is mounted on a piston rod (16) extending through the cylinder (12) and into a compressor (17). Compressed air is delivered from a tank (20) to the engine (11) via a pair of valves (22, 23) mounted on an adjustment screw and slidably disposed on the piston rod (16). The spacing between the valves (22, 23) can be adjusted in order to vary the amplitude of the piston (15) within the cylinder (12). The piston rod (16) includes spaced slots (24, 25) which alternate align with passages inside the respective valves (22, 23) to deliver a pulse of compressed air to the respective chambers (13, 14) of the cylinder (12). Mercury is added to or discharged from a tank (42) which is rigidly secured to piston rod (16) to vary the inertia of the oscillator (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Linear Energy Corporation Limited
    Inventor: Anthony Maurice Hansen
  • Patent number: 6067797
    Abstract: An improved form of thermal actuator suitable for use in a MEMS device. The actuator includes a first material such as polytetrafluoroethylene having a high coefficient of thermal expansion and a serpentine heater material having a lower coefficient of thermal expansion in thermal contact with the first material and heating the first material on demand. The serpentine heater material is elongated upon heating so as to accommodate the expansion of the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 6067798
    Abstract: A turbocharger control apparatus has an exhaust turbine including an exhaust gas introducing port having a variable nozzle which can vary a passage area of the port by adjusting its opening degree, an engine load detection device which detects a load of an internal combustion engine, an idling state detection device which detects an idling state of the engine, and a control device which adjusts the opening degree of the nozzle in a region equal to or greater than a predetermined opening degree when the load detection device detects the engine load, and which adjusts the opening degree of the nozzle in a region smaller than the predetermined opening degree when the load detection device detects the non-engine load and detects that the internal engine is in the idling state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Okada, Takashi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6067799
    Abstract: The boost pressure in a turbocharged internal combustion engine is regulated by closed-loop control. A current performance graph value u(k), corresponding to a desired boost pressure, is determined from a speed/load-dependent performance graph. After that, the current performance graph value u(k) is compared with a previous performance graph value u(k-1). If the current performance graph value u(k) is greater than or equal to the previous performance graph value u(k-1), then the current performance graph value u(k) is transmitted as the process parameter x(k). Conversely, if the current performance graph value u(k) is less than the previous performance graph value u(k-1), then the current performance graph value u(k) is filtered by a PT.sub.2 member after an idle time elapses and is transmitted as the process parameter x(k).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dirk Heinitz, Achim Przymusinski, Christian Birkner
  • Patent number: 6067800
    Abstract: A method of estimating the actuator position of a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) of a compression ignition engine having an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system. The method includes the steps of determining the exhaust manifold temperature (T.sub.2), determining the mass flow rate (W.sub.2t) through the turbocharger turbine, determining the exhaust manifold pressure (p.sub.2), determining the turbine back-pressure (p.sub.exs), and generating a VGT actuator position estimate (.alpha..sub.vgt) as a function of W.sub.2t, T.sub.2, p.sub.2, and p.sub.exs. The estimated VGT actuator position is then used to generate an error term indicative of the difference between the estimated and desired VGT actuator position. The error term can then be used to drive the VGT actuator to its desired position to regulate the intake manifold pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ilya V. Kolmanovsky, Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, Paul Eduard Moraal
  • Patent number: 6067801
    Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle, there is a shock in a transient period when a driving condition of an internal combustion engine is shifted from a loaded driving state for power generation, in which a load is applied to the internal combustion engine by a motor generator, to a non-loaded driving state for idling or motoring, in which no load is applied to the internal combustion engine. A hybrid power output apparatus of the present invention, in which the motor generator is mechanically linked with the internal combustion engine, prevents an abrupt change in output torque from the motor generator in the transient period from the loaded driving state to the non-loaded driving state. One procedure to attain this object sets the minimum revolving speed of the internal combustion engine in the loaded driving state to be greater than the revolving speed in the non-loaded driving state by approximately 200 rpm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Harada, Katsuhiko Yamaguchi, Yasuyuki Shibata
  • Patent number: 6067802
    Abstract: A heat pump system based on the Peltier effect, built around a transparent or translucent material element and formed by two sheets (1) in which chains of thermoelements (3, 4) are embedded, trapped or inserted, said thermoelements being connected along their respective alternate ends with the aid of parts (2) made of a material with good thermal and electric conductivity properties, which chains are liable of being supplied with external electric energy so that heat transport is based on the direction of the current flowing through said thermoelements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Universidad Pontificia Comillas
    Inventor: Antonio Arenas Alonso
  • Patent number: 6067803
    Abstract: A portable flexible cooling pouch for cooling and storing vials containing medication. The pouch comprises opposed web members made of a water permeable material which are connected at the edges thereof. At least one of the web members comprises a plurality of compartments which contain a water-absorbent granular material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Inventors: Henry Garnet Wolsey, Althea Wolsey
  • Patent number: 6067804
    Abstract: Oil cooling is accomplished in a refrigeration chiller by flowing hot oil into heat exchange contact with liquid refrigerant which is sourced from the chiller's condenser and returned thereto. The rejection of heat from the oil to the refrigerant in an oil-cooling heat exchanger causes vaporization of the refrigerant and, in turn, creates a density difference in the refrigerant flowing from the condenser and refrigerant in and downstream of the oil-cooling heat exchanger. This density difference is responsible for inducing and maintaining refrigerant flow through the heat exchanger for oil cooling purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventors: Shane A. Moeykens, Benjamin E. Dingel, James W. Larson
  • Patent number: 6067805
    Abstract: A refrigeration system for cooling or heating an area includes a condenser for removing heat from the system to an external environment, an evaporator for receiving heat from the area to be cooled or delivering heat to the area to be heated, and a compressor for raising the pressure and the temperature of a refrigerant. Prior to placing the system in a cooling or heating/defrost mode, it is desirable to run a pretrip routine to determine the operational condition of the refrigeration system. In the present invention, a pretrip device determines a refrigeration system parameter, and from this parameter selects one of at least two possible pretrip routine variations. Finally, the pretrip device executes the selected pretrip routine in order to determine the operational condition of a refrigeration system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin J. Porter, Thomas J. Dobmeier
  • Patent number: 6067806
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling of a refrigerator automatic ice machine is disclosed. A first detection plate is installed on another end of the rotation shaft of the ice transfer motor, for detecting an initial position of an ice tray, the ice-fullness of the ice box and rotation angle of the ice transfer motor. A second detection plate is installed on one end of the ice-fullness lever, for detecting the ice-fullness of the ice box. A pulse generator generates pulse trains by the combination of movements of the first and second detection plates according to the driving of the ice transfer motor. A controller generates a forward or a reverse rotation control signal according to the pulse trains provided from the pulse generator and provides the forward or the reverse rotation control signal to the motor driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyung Nam Park
  • Patent number: 6067807
    Abstract: A refrigerant management system for use in an absorption cooling and heat machine that includes a holding tank for storing a given amount of refrigerant that is bled from the refrigerant supply line for bringing refrigerant from the evaporator sump into the evaporator header. A return line is located in the top of the tank which returns refrigerant from the tank to the sump when the tank is filled. A drain line containing a control valve is located in the bottom of the tank which, when opened, rapidly discharges the contents of the tank into the sump when the system demands additional refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Robert C. Reimann
  • Patent number: 6067808
    Abstract: A method for reducing overall workload of a vehicle air conditioning (a/c) system takes into account the humidity conditions. A high humidity condition can be detected by monitoring windshield wiper operation for a threshold period of time. High humidity exists during rain or fog and wiper operation for more than three minutes can indicate high humidity. The method includes operating the vehicle heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system with the a/c on in a recirculation or partial recirculation mode when the wipers have been on for longer than the threshold period to remove moisture from cabin air thereby reducing the amount of moisture condensed by evaporator core and decreasing overall workload of the a/c system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Gerhard Allan Dage
  • Patent number: 6067809
    Abstract: A control circuit for supplying current from an electrical power source to a damper motor and an evaporator fan motor of a two compartment refrigeration unit. The control circuit includes a first and second thermostatic switches to regulate the temperature in respective first and second refrigeration compartments. The control circuit further includes a first mechanically actuated switch having a first common contact electrically connected to the damper motor. A first contact of the first switch connects the damper motor to the power source via the second thermostatic switch in response to a decrease in temperature in the second compartment. A second contact of the first switch connects the damper motor to the power source via the second thermostatic switch in response to an increase in temperature in the second compartment. The control circuit further has a second mechanically actuated switch with a second common contact connected to the evaporator fan motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: France/Scott Fetzer Company
    Inventor: David R. Whited
  • Patent number: 6067810
    Abstract: A chilled item server is disclosed including an outer barrel formed of thermoplastic material that has a generally cylindrical shape, substantially vertical sides, a generally flat, closed bottom, and an open top having an annular ledge. An inner liner fits within the outer barrel and has a generally elongated truncated pyramidal shape, a generally flat bottom, an open top with an extended rim formed to compliment the generally square opening shape of the outer barrel and to rest on the annular ledge. A chamber is located between the inner liner and the outer barrel and is filled with polystyrene foam. At least one freezer panel is formed of appropriate size and shape to fit within the inner liner. The freezer panel is formed of thermoplastic material and arranged in a syncline. The freezer panels have cavities within each freezer panel that is filled with 2% saline solution. Casters are mounted to the generally flat bottom of the outer barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Decision Point Marketing, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Jennings, Theodore A. Pierce, Eugene C. Pierce, Christopher A. Onufrik
  • Patent number: 6067811
    Abstract: A cold storage includes a room having a peripheral wall, and a plurality of cold storage container modules each received in the room and each including a plurality of hollow cold storage containers each having an open end wall attached to and flush with the outside of the peripheral wall of the room. Each of the cold storage containers includes a drawer slidably mounted therein and extending outward from the open end wall thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Inventors: Shu-Yen Peng Shih, Chao-Chang Shih
  • Patent number: 6067812
    Abstract: A rotating shroud is located on the suction side of the tips of a propeller fan and coacts with an inlet orifice to provide the physical separation between suction and discharge when the unit is in operation. The pressure differential across the fan tends to cause the condensate to move towards the suction side and into the path of the slinger (rotating shroud). The slinger then becomes wetted by the condensate, thereby picking up the condensate and slinging it into the region between the fan and the coil. The condensate is then evaporated upstream or within the coil, improving coil effectiveness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Peter R. Bushnell, David M. Rockwell
  • Patent number: 6067813
    Abstract: A portable modular cooler system for beverages which includes one or more bottles containing a freezable coolant refrigerant. The bottles define recesses for receiving the housed beverage containers. An insulated casing extends about the bottle to maintain and contain containers in a cooled condition for an extended period of time. The bottles and casing are inserted into a carrying case for convenience of the user. The case may have exterior pockets specially configured and located for specific sport and recreational activities. The carrying case, bottles and insulative casing may be configured so that the cooler may be comfortably carried by the user in a manner similar to a "fanny pack". In other embodiments, the bottles containing the refrigerant are identical one to the other and are positioned in face-to-face relationship to form a plurality of cooling chambers. The cooler may also be placed in another article for transportation such as within the large side pocket of a golf bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Inventor: Ronald W. Smith
  • Patent number: 6067814
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for cooling containers, wherein cold is generated in a primary circuit containing a cooling medium. Cold is supplied via a heat exchanger to a cold carrier in a secondary circuit. The secondary circuit's cold carrier flows into a container through pipes with releasable couplings, transferring cold to the container through a heat exchanger. Cold is stored in one or more cold stores in the secondary circuit, in or outside the container, for subsequent emission in the event of an interruption in the cold supply. The invention also concerns a cooling system for implementation of the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Kvaerner ASA
    Inventor: K.ang.re Bjorn Imeland
  • Patent number: 6067815
    Abstract: A low-cost and thermodynamically efficient implementation of a two-stage refrigeration system applied to a retail refrigerator. The invention includes a simple and easily manufactured thermally efficient and low-cost evaporation unit. The invention further includes a thermal energy storage module and an energy efficient control protocol to maintain steady temperatures in the fresh and frozen food sections, to permit energy efficient defrosting of the heat exchange surfaces in the freezer section, and minimize losses associated with condensing unit on-and-off cycling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: TES Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy W. James
  • Patent number: 6067816
    Abstract: A portable insulated case is provided which has insulative properties and which can function as a socalled cooler in order to help maintain a temperature within the container which is lower than room temperature. Such devices can also be used for maintaining a warmed environment. The top panel of the case has at least one receptacle or pocket depending from it and into the container. This receptacle closely holds a can, bottle or the like. The case thus functions as a holder for an open drink can, for example, while also having an externally accessible receptacle which assists in keeping it cool or warm as the case may be.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: California Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Marc A. Hodosh
  • Patent number: 6067817
    Abstract: Air is supplied to an air separation apparatus via a heat exchanger in which the entering air is cooled against an air gas separated in the separation apparatus. The air is first compressed in an adiabatic compressor. The air gas separated in the separation apparatus is humidified after it leaves the separation apparatus but before it reaches the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour L'Etude et L'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Didier Magnet, Emmanuel Garnier, Bernard Saulnier, Jean-Louis Girault
  • Patent number: 6067818
    Abstract: A mount for fixing a gem into a through-hole of a thin-walled carrier includes a band curved in an annular shape. The band has a cylindrical area of contact with the through-hole. A lower edge area of the band is conically tapered towards a central axis of the annular band. The band has at least one notch at least in the lower edge area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: D. Swarovski & Co.
    Inventor: Wilhelm Winkler
  • Patent number: 6067819
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a glass container and an apparatus therefor capable of providing the container by pressing of a glass substrate using a die while keeping the glass substrate uniformly heated and softened. The glass substrate is heated while being kept lifted from a lower mold of a forming die and then subject to integral forming by the forming die. This permits the glass substrate to be integrally formed into the glass container in the form of a finished product, resulting in the number of steps and time required for processing being reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Futaba Denshi Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Gentaro Tanaka, Takeshi Tonegawa, Yuuich Kogure, Naoya Takagi
  • Patent number: 6067820
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the heat-soak treatment of tempered glass panels. After tempering, the glass is heated or cooling of the glass is stopped for maintaining the temperature for the duration of e.g. a good minute within the range of 340-370.degree. C., such that the glasses, which break spontaneously in time as a result of NiS-stones, can be broken already in a so-called heat-soak treatment. During the heating sequence or the cooling stop sequence and during the subsequent cooling sequence, the glass panel is carried in a horizontal plane, e.g. back and forth on rollers in an oscillating fashion. The process is a continuous-action process and the apparatus for implementing the same can be hooked up with a tempering machine for an on-line operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Tamglass Ltd. Oy
    Inventors: Kai Silander, Esko Lehto
  • Patent number: 6067821
    Abstract: A process for making mineral wool fibers having high-temperature stability consisting essentially of: (a) preparing a mixture containing basalt and a quantity of uncalcined raw bauxite sufficient to provide the resulting fibers with an alumina content of at least 18 weight percent, preferably of from 19 to 23 weight percent; (b) heating the mixture to a temperature sufficient to form a substantially homogeneous melt, e.g., in a cupola furnace using coke in a quantity of from about 11 to 25 percent by weight of the mixture; and (c) forming the melt into fibers. The mixture may optionally contain a flux, e.g., limestone and/or dolomite, such as a flux providing a weight ratio of limestone plus dolomite to basalt of less than about 0.6, e.g., 0.1-0.4. The mixture may also contain slag in a weight ratio of slag:basalt of less than about 1.0, more preferably about 0.6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James Roger Jackson, Charles F. Rapp, George D. Baybutt, Harry Pennington
  • Patent number: 6067822
    Abstract: A concrete ring as a balancing weight for a washing solution container of a washing machine includes a ring part which is U-shaped in cross-section, open at one side and filled out with a mass containing concrete. The outer periphery of the ring part has a connecting device to be connected with the washing solution container. This structure makes a continuous production of the concrete ring possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Lothar Heinzel, Lorenz Claussen
  • Patent number: 6067823
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement for a locking mechanism comprising a lock bolt spring-assisted in the intended direction of locking, which is contained inside a lock casing connected to a plate capable of attachment along the side of a door. An actuating arm projects laterally form said lock bolt and capable of actuation by means of a handle connection extending through a door of the intended kind and a handle projecting on either side of the door. A pivoting follower acts between said handle and actuating arm for the purpose of actuating the actuating arm and the lock bolt. The arrangement has a lock component capable of being caused to move in a linear direction arranged in such a way as to be capable of displacement by means of a pivotally mounted lock component carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Inventor: Arnold Ostergren
  • Patent number: 6067824
    Abstract: A lock for an automobile ignition system includes a sleeve having a cylindrical inner surface. A lock cylinder is provided which is rotatably mounted within the sleeve and has a cylindrical outer surface defining a cylindrical interface with the inner surface of the sleeve. The cylinder includes a keyway adapted for receiving a key used to rotate the cylinder between an off and start position. A differential magnetic comparator having a pair of magnetically sensitive areas is mounted on the sleeve for detecting when the cylinder is rotated to the start position to generate an ignition signal. A magnet is mounted to the cylinder interface for generating a magnetic flux and for activating the comparator when the cylinder is rotated to the start position. A difference in the magnetic flux density present on the pair of magnetically sensitive areas causes the comparator to generate the ignition signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Optek Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas G. Osborne
  • Patent number: 6067825
    Abstract: A vehicle spare wheel lock construction including a lock body having a funnel guide mounted on one end thereof and a multi-fingered spring-type retaining washer mounted on the other end thereof for biting engagement with the internal surface of a handle receptacle of the winch. The lock body has a key-receiving groove in the end thereof and a key adapter is mounted on the end of a winch handle and has a curvilinear ridge on the end thereof which is guided into the curvilinear groove of the lock body by the frustoconical funnel guide and an adjacent internal frustoconical surface within the lock body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: McGard, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul F. Galgovich, Thomas R. Lanham, Andrew D. Trank
  • Patent number: 6067826
    Abstract: A door lock actuator including a single non-reversible drive motor for generating step-wise rotation of an output shaft through an indexing assembly which is decoupled from the motor during periods of operation. The indexing assembly includes an index pin plate coupled to a drive gear for rotation therewith. The plate includes a plurality of spaced pins which are positioned to contact a rotating paddle driven by the drive motor. The paddle successively contacts the pins in a portion of its rotation to cause corresponding rotation of the drive gear and the output gear which is meshingly engaged therewith. The output gear is coupled to an output shaft having twin cams positioned thereon for manipulating door latch pawls to control the door lock state. An override mechanism is provided which includes top and bottom override arms driven by rotation of a key in the key cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Stoneridge, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Holloway, Thomas P. Schregardus, Thomas L. Rorabacher, Francis Hlavaty
  • Patent number: 6067827
    Abstract: A lock including a lock housing, a lock bolt rotatably mounted in the lock housing, an undulating end on the lock housing, a torque plate mounted on the lock bolt for rotation therewith, an undulating face on the torque plate, and a spring mounted on the lock bolt and biasing the torque plate into engagement with the undulating end of the lock housing with the undulating face of the torque plate in meshing engagement with the undulating end of the lock housing. A bracket is mounted on the lock housing, first wings on the bracket, and a key having second wings for engagement with the first wings when the lock is in an unlocked condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: McGard, Inc.
    Inventors: Daryl R. Haseley, Jeffery R. Sullivan, Thomas R. Lanham
  • Patent number: 6067828
    Abstract: A crimping apparatus including a crimping station having a crimping press and at least one set of crimping tools. Each crimping tool includes a wire ram, an insulation ram, an anvil unit and a separating unit. The wire ram and the insulation ram of each crimping tool are associated with a ram holder and each of the ram holders includes crimping height-adjustment means. Crimping pressure-measuring elements that are connected to a control unit are included between the crimping press and the ram holders. During a crimping process a crimping force as determined by the crimping pressure-measuring elements is compared with a preset nominal value range. When the determined crimping force is outside of the range, a corresponding correction signal is produced in the control unit, thereby effecting a corresponding correction of the crimping height-adjustment means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Komax Holding AG
    Inventors: Werner Bucher, Alois Lustenberger, Claudio Meissner
  • Patent number: 6067829
    Abstract: A wire-spiralling machine continuously produces a tubular structure comprising a spiral winding, particularly a pressure-armor layer, from two noninterlocking wires of large cross section delivered from two reels of wire and two locking wires delivered from two reels of locking wire. A motorized rotating circular cage carries the four reels of wire and locking wire at its rear, while the downstream face of the cage supports, on two adjustable-inclination plates, two on-board twin-track caterpillars for dragging the wire. These caterpillars are arranged just upstream of guide and/or bend rolls leading the wires towards their respective lay point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Coflexip
    Inventors: Pascal Harmelin, Rene Maloberti, Jean Guerin
  • Patent number: 6067830
    Abstract: A method of cutting opposing holes in a side wall of a tubular workpiece and removing the cut out slugs, in which first and second axially aligned punches are applied to opposite side walls of a pressurized workpiece. The second punch has a larger width than the first punch, and reciprocates in a passageway extending laterally from the workpiece. The punches are reciprocated so that the first punch passes through both side walls, and first and second slugs are cut out. The end of the first punch is advanced toward the end of the second punch to capture the cut out slugs between the ends of the first and second punches, and the punches are moved so that the ends of the punches and the slugs captured between them progress along the passageway away from the workpiece. The ends of the punches are separated at a region of the passageway spaced from the workpiece, and the released slugs are removed from the ends of the punches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: TI Corporate Services Limited
    Inventors: Gerrald A. Klages, Blair J. Longhouse
  • Patent number: 6067831
    Abstract: A hydroforming process for forming a component from an elongate tubular blank comprised of a deformable metal, the process including placing the blank in a die and sealing opposed ends of the tubular blank, heating the blank to a predetermined deformation temperature which is greater than 350.degree. C. but less than the melting point of the metal, supplying a gas at a predetermined pressure to the interior of the sealed tubular blank to cause deformation of said tubular blank at predetermined regions by drawing/stretching of the metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignees: GKN Sankey, Peter Amborn
    Inventors: Peter Amborn, Alexander Mark Duff
  • Patent number: 6067832
    Abstract: A process for producing a heat exchanger tube (1) with a highly porous surface structure, in particular for evaporating liquids from pure substances or mixtures on the outside of the tube. The process starts from a rolling operation, by means of which helical fins (2) are produced on the outside of the tube, which fins, in turn, are deformed in a plurality of compression steps by means of gearwheel-like compression wheels (6, 7) in such a manner that the projections (12a, 12b) formed in each case form a cover (3a) for the passages (3) which are situated between the fins (2). The high level of porosity is achieved as a result of the remaining pores (13) and/or slots (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Wieland-Werke AG
    Inventors: Karine Brand, Andreas Beutler, Manfred Knab, Gerhard Schuez, Andreas Schwitalla
  • Patent number: 6067833
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming an end portion of a cylindrical member or cylinder includes at least one roller supported on a main shaft to be radially moved to and from the main shaft. The cylinder is supported to position the central axis thereof on the plane including the main shaft. Then, at least one of the cylinder and the roller is driven to be rotated relative to each other about an oblique axis inclined against the central axis of the cylinder, while the roller is moved radially toward the oblique axis, with the roller being in substantial contact with the outer surface of the one end portion of the cylinder. As a result, the one end portion of the cylinder is formed into a reduced diameter portion such as a tapered portion having the oblique axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Sango Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tohru Irie
  • Patent number: 6067834
    Abstract: A method of forming finished piece-parts having a slight but variably adjusted three-dimensional bow from a continuous web. The method comprises the steps of advancing the web axially of its length by bowing the web in the same direction of desired bowing in the piece-part, laterally and/or axially of the web length, operable to impart set bows in the web slightly in excess of the desired finished piece-parts bowing, passing the bowed continuous web through a conventional stamping press, clamping and substantially flattening the bowed web between flat faces of cooperating die block and stripper plate components of the stamping press and stamping the clamped web between cooperating punch and die assemblies to deform the web to the desired configurations of the finished piece-parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Buhrke Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth W. Stone
  • Patent number: 6067835
    Abstract: A wire straightener is provided which uses three roller sets in one plane to apply deflection forces to a wire, which may have bends or coiling memory in more than one plane, so that the wire exits the wire straightener essentially straight, and free of bends or the tendency to coil and kink. The wire straightener adjusts for changes in pull angle as a means of accommodating different sizes of wires, by freely rotating around a pivot point, so that the amount of wrap of a wire around the last roller automatically adjusts. The wire straightener can straighten more then one wire at a time, and has multiple wire guides for feeding the wire onto the rollers. It is designed so that the wire may be threaded onto the wire straightener in the middle of a length of the wire, without having to feed the wire on using the end of the wire. The wire straightener is adapted for use with wire which has been wound onto a cylindrical spool for storage and dispensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Inventor: Michael R. Pollock
  • Patent number: 6067836
    Abstract: A plurality of finishing mills for finish rolling a rolled material are arranged in a row to construct a finishing mill group, 1st to 3rd surface coolers for cooling the surfaces of the rolled material are provided on the entrance side of the 1st to 3rd finishing mills of the fishing mill group, and the range of cooling of the rolled material by the surface coolers are set to be a range of 0.3 to 1.5 m toward the upstream side from a position separated by 1.5 m or less from the center of the work rolls of each of the finishing mills toward the entrance side of each of the finishing mills.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kaya, Keiji Mizuta, Junsou Fukumori, Kyung-Zoon Min, Jae-Young Lee, Young-Gil Seo, Jung-Do Park