Patents Issued in January 9, 2001
  • Patent number: 6170988
    Abstract: A self-acting air bearing wherein an abrasion-generated substance is generated by rotation of a shaft and a bearing and is used as a lubricant. As a result, a motor of low cost and stable rotation in which it is not necessary to insert special lubricant into the shaft or the bearing previously can be achieved. Moreover, in a polygon motor having such a lubrication structure, since polluting of a writing system is not feared, reliability for a long time period can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Ohkubo, Yuzuru Kudoh, Kenichi Hiratsuka
  • Patent number: 6170989
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing is constructed having a modular bearing pad support system which provides flexure pivot motion about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the supported shaft to provide hydrodynamic performance and a rocking motion about an axis transverse to the axis of rotation of the supported shaft to provide tolerance to misalignment and bending of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: KMC, Inc.
    Inventor: Fouad Y. Zeidan
  • Patent number: 6170990
    Abstract: Corrosion is avoided in variable stator vanes through the use of an outer trunnion bushing that eliminates the galvanic corrosion potential of conventional bushings. The bushing has a plurality of layers arranged concentrically so as to include an innermost layer and an outermost layer. The innermost layer is made of a braided graphite composite laminate material, and the outermost layer is made of a non-galvanic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: James T. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 6170991
    Abstract: A propeller thrust bearing assembly includes a spherical rolling bearing provided on a shaft and abutting against a shoulder, and a spherical thrust bearing, incorporating a shaft washer fitted on the shaft, a housing washer provided in a housing surrounding the shaft and a set of rolling bodies provided between the shaft washer and the housing washer. A spacing sleeve is provided between the spherical rolling bearing and the spherical thrust bearing, and a lid member is attached to the housing. The lid member is adapted to urge the housing washer against the set of rolling bodies and via the rolling bodies against the shaft washer. The axial distance between the two bearings is such that their force lines meet at a point situated on the center axis of the shaft. The spherical rolling bearing has a taper bore and is mounted on a withdrawal sleeve, and the spacing sleeve has internal threads and is screwed onto the withdrawal sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF AB
    Inventors: Nils Manne, Christian Bildts{acute over (e)}n
  • Patent number: 6170992
    Abstract: A rolling contact bearing has a rotating unit to be integrally assembled to a rotating race (11) of the bearing, comprised of a first metallic annular insert (19) which forms a substantially disc-shaped radial wall (22) and a non-rotating unit to be integrally assembled to the non-rotating race (10) of the bearing, comprised of a second metallic annular insert (15) which has a sealing covering (14) with at least one sealing lip (18) suitable for sliding against the axially inner side of the disc-shaped wall (22); the rotating unit forms at least one substantially radial rotating surface (25) of a given minimum diameter (DR) and the non-rotating unit forms at least one substantially radial non-rotating surface (25) with a maximum diameter (DS) lesser than the minimum diameter, where the units are reciprocally positioned in such a way that the rotating surface (25) is facing the non-rotating surface (23a) from an inner axial position to form an axial stop for the non-rotating surface (23a), so as to provisional
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: SKF Industrie S.p.A.
    Inventors: Vignotto Angelo, Maldera Carlo
  • Patent number: 6170993
    Abstract: A ball bearing has an outer race, an inner race and a plurality of balls disposed between the races. The balls are spaced on a pitch diameter to provide a rolling medium between the races to accommodate differential rotation between the races. The ball spacing is maintained by a separator having a pocket for each ball. The pockets are distributed around the pitch diameter in a random manner to reduce vibratory impulses which might be imposed by the surfaces of the races.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: George Leonard Hurrell, II, Steven Eugene Meeker, Raymond Beryl Brough
  • Patent number: 6170994
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cylindrical roller bearing which allows the components to be assembled efficiently after they have been mounted in a machine. The cylindrical roller bearing has an inner race and an outer race and a plurality of rollers between the races. A bevel is on the inner race and is formed by a curved surface connecting an end face of the inner race to an outside diameter surface rollerpath of the inner race. The bevel may alternatively be formed of four or more flat surfaces which approximate a curved surface. The bevel can also be configured on the outer race as opposed to the inner race. This enables assembly of the rollers with respect to either the outer race or the inner race without scoring the rollerpath or the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: American Roller Bearing Company
    Inventor: Robert A. Salter
  • Patent number: 6170995
    Abstract: In order to provide a ferrule for an optical-fiber connector used for good organization of an optical communication network, the ferrule for an optical-fiber connector is made of a crystallized glass having a composition which consists essentially of, by weight percent, 60-70% of SiO2, 16-25% of Al2O3, 1.5-3% of Li2O, 0.5-2.5% of MgO, 1.3-4.5% of TiO2, 0.5-3% of ZrO2, 2-6.5% of TiO2+ZrO2, 1-5.5% of K2O, 0-7% of ZnO, and 0-3% of BaO. The crystallized glass includes 30-70 volume % precipitation of &bgr;-spodumene solid solution or &bgr;-quartz solid solution having an average grain size not greater than 2 &mgr;m. In addition, the crystallized glass has a bend strength of 200 MPa or more and a thermal expansion coefficient of −10˜50×10−7/° C. at a temperature between −50 and 150° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignees: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, NEC Corporation, Nippon Electric Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiko Mitachi, Ryo Nagase, Yoshiaki Takeuchi, Takashi Tanabe, Akihiko Sakamoto, Hirokazu Takeuchi, Masayuki Ninomiya, Katsumi Inada
  • Patent number: 6170996
    Abstract: An optical module including a lead frame having a plurality of leads, a substrate mounted on the lead frame and having a plurality of conductive patterns, an optical element mounted on the substrate for making conversion between light and electricity, a sleeve placed on the substrate and having a front end adjacent to the optical element, and a first resin for encapsulating the optical element. The first resin has transparency to the light related to the optical element. The first resin is formed with a convex portion closing the front end of the sleeve. The conductive patterns of the substrate are connected through wires to the leads of the lead frame, respectively. The optical module further includes a molded second resin for enclosing all of the substrate, the optical element, the sleeve, the first resin, the wires, and the lead frame except a part of the sleeve and a part of each of the leads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Kazunori Miura, Seimi Sasaki, Naoki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6170997
    Abstract: A method for executing different sets of instructions that cause a processor to perform different data type operations in a manner that is invisible to various operating system techniques, that promotes good programming practices, and that is invisible to existing software conventions. According to one aspect of the invention, a data processing apparatus executes a first set of instructions of a first instruction type on what at least logically appears to software as a single logical register file. While the data processing apparatus is executing the first set of instructions, the single logical register file appears to be operated as a flat register file. In addition, the data processing apparatus executes a first instruction of a second instruction type using the logical register file. However, while the data processing apparatus is executing the first instruction, the logical register file appears to be operated as a stack referenced register file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew F. Glew, Larry M. Mennemeier, Alexander D. Peleg, David Bistry, Millind Mittal, Carole Dulong, Eiichi Kowashi, Benny Eitan, Derrik Lin, Romamohan R. Vakkalagadda
  • Patent number: 6170998
    Abstract: A processor detects a function which includes no function call instruction and no update of the return address /calculation register from an assembler program. After the detection, the processor outputs a special return address to the end of the function detected, and executes the assembler program. The processor stores a return address not only on the stack but in the return address/calculation register. When the special return instruction has been fetched, the return address is moved from the return address/calculation register without accessing to the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazushi Yamamoto, Shuichi Takayama, Nobuo Higaki, Nobuki Tominaga, Shinya Miyaji
  • Patent number: 6170999
    Abstract: A power transmission device comprises a spool gear disposed at a film take-up spool and an output gear that outputs a driving force that has been transmitted to the spool gear. The spool gear acts both to drive a take-up spool in the course of film winding and to furnish power applied thereto in the course of film rewinding to a fork gear associated with a film cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryoji Okuno
  • Patent number: 6171000
    Abstract: An assembly technique has been developed which reliably inserts the outer disk of an exposed film indicator into the crimp diameter of the cartridge end cap. This process gimbals the fixture containing the film cartridge, and rocks it in a manner that creates a circular wobble motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Gary E. Merz, Edward B. Richter, Jeffrey Vanhall, Steven P. Vogel, Garry L. Wohlschlegel
  • Patent number: 6171001
    Abstract: Disclosed are printers capable of easy and precise head gap adjustment. In the printer, a cam mechanism 61 consisting of a fixed cam 62 and a rotatable cam 63 put between each end of a platen 10 and a swing frame 4. The platen 10 is normally biased to the swing frame 4 by a torsion coil spring 14. A driving gear 64 rotatably supported on the swing frame 4 is engaged with a driven gear 63a formed on the rotatable cam 63. The driving gear 64 is rotated by an operating tool 66 inserted from above, whereby the rotatable cam 63 is rotated by gear drive. In accordance with the rotation of the rotatable cam 63, the platen 10 vertically moves with the fixed cam 62, whereby head gap with respect to a printing head is adjusted. The driving gear 64 can be unrotatable by securing a screw 65 as a rotatable axis thereof by operation from above, whereby the platen 10 is secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Star Micronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadashi Nonaka
  • Patent number: 6171002
    Abstract: A magnetic character reader capable of reading information recorded on a record sheet with an optional printer, the size of the magnetic character reader being reduced by use of a shortened record sheet transport passage. The magnetic character reader 50 includes: a reading unit 35 having a magnetic head 33 and a head presser 34; and a transport mechanism section 30 having a paper feed roller 21 and a paper pressing roller 22. The transport mechanism section 30 is arranged at a position adjacent to a reading unit 35 on reference line L which extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to a transport direction of a check P from a reading section of the reading unit 35. A paper feed roller 21 includes three transport sections 21a1 to 21a3. Three paper pressing rollers 22a1 to 22a3 which correspond to the three transport sections 21a1 to 21a3 also are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Momose, Akira Koyabu, Sadao Murata
  • Patent number: 6171003
    Abstract: A key structure of a computer keyboard includes a cap and a post axially extending from an underside of the cap and being movably inserted into and received in a guide channel of the keyboard. The post has a quadrilateral cross section having pairs of opposite first and second side faces. Each first side face forms two first resilient members each having a contacting portion of a V-shaped configuration laterally extending beyond the post for biasingly engaging with a corresponding inside surface of the guide channel thereby stabilizing the movement of the key with respect to the guide channel and thus reducing the noise level thereof. Each second side face forms a second resilient member defining an elongate slot movably receiving and engaging with a corresponding stop block formed inside the guide channel. The engagement between the slot and the stop block limits the stroke of movement of the key thereby preventing the post from severely impacting and thus damaging the keyboard and associated parts thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Behavior Tech Computer Corp.
    Inventor: Chi Lung Lo
  • Patent number: 6171004
    Abstract: A hand held cleaning apparatus for cleaning small jobs that includes a supply of cleaning fluid. The apparatus (10) includes a body (12) with a reservoir (13) for storing a supply of a cleaning fluid (15). The body includes an opening (17) that is sealed with a removable cap (16). The cap includes a loop portion (18) that can be used to hang the apparatus on a hook or other protrusion for storage. The body is in operative connection with a cleaning head (14). The cleaning head includes a scrubber (22) comprised of an absorbent material such as a sponge. The scrubber is secured to the cleaning head with a holder tube (26) that extends through a bore (24) in the interior of the scrubber. The cleaning head further includes a fluid pathway (28) between the reservoir and the holder tube that allows fluid to flow from the reservoir into the holder tube. The holder tube includes a plurality of apertures that allow fluid to flow out of the holder tube and into the scrubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventor: Jennifer Derhammer
  • Patent number: 6171005
    Abstract: A calendar pen has an outer cover having multiple windows and multiple first indicators formed thereon, an inner cover rotatably received in the outer cover and having multiple rows of marks peripherally formed thereon and each corresponding to the windows and a rotator rotatably mounted on the inner cover and having a plurality of second indicators selectively aligning with the arrow of the outer cover, such that a user will have the exact date of the day by just rotating different part of the pen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventor: Wen-Jui Kuo
  • Patent number: 6171006
    Abstract: A permeable bag, and an environmentally friendly composition in the bag, for dispensing by handling to condition the hands of a person is provided. The conditioning is primarily for absorption of excess moisture. The use is particularly suited for participating in a sports activity that requires a natural grip of a disc, ball or the like. The composition is a powder derived from sanding oak flooring; the flooring being approximately 7% moisture content. The powder is preferably extra fine, granulated grade and comprised of particles primarily in the range of 75 &mgr;m-95 &mgr;m in size or diameter and having an irregular outer surface. Other desiccant uses primarily include drying other parts of the body, and in packaging and in protecting electrical equipment. A related method of preparing the composition includes sanding the hardwood flooring, maintaining controlled ambient conditions, screening to size and placement in the bag for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventor: Lawrence B. Woodall
  • Patent number: 6171007
    Abstract: A washing cake of soap, which includes a cake of solid cleaning substance, and a net embedded in the cake of solid cleaning substance. The washing cake of soap is made by putting a net and a liquid cleaning substance in the cavity of a mold, and then letting the liquid cleaning substance to be dried and hardened in the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventor: Wei-Ling Hsu
  • Patent number: 6171008
    Abstract: The album leaf (1) of the present invention includes at least one adhesive layer (2) which is covered by a removable cover leaf (3). Prior to placing a photograph this cover leaf (3) can be simply removed and the photograph thereafter placed onto the adhesive agent area (2). Preferably, no additional mounting means are needed for placing the photographs onto the album leaf (1) and the manufacturing can proceed in a relatively simple manner and poses no extreme high demands regarding the precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Ochsner & Co. Ing. G Ochsner
    Inventor: Gusti Ochsner
  • Patent number: 6171009
    Abstract: A joint between materials having disparate coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) is compensated by a collar which extends a dimension of that one of the different materials which has the lesser CTE. A set of different collars provides compensation for sheets of material of different thicknesses when used with fasteners of a given material. The joint is assembled by selecting the sheets of various thicknesses to be juxtaposed, applying the fastener with a compensation collar corresponding to each one of the different sheets, and tightening the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Joseph Wright
  • Patent number: 6171010
    Abstract: A male coupling portion of a first split portion on one side of a split boot is coupled to a female coupling portion of a second split portion using a plurality of spaced male and female coupling portions. A worker can simply couple the split portions of split boot without using any machine while enhancing the coupling force of split faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: NOK Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Nagashima, Mitsuru Kitaura, Katsuhiko Aramaki, Yoshiaki Taka
  • Patent number: 6171011
    Abstract: A pivot joint includes two mounting plates respectively fixedly fastened to two parts of an apparatus and coupled together by a rivet for enabling the two mounting plates to be turned relative to each other, an axle sleeve mounted on the rivet between the two mounting plates, a first washer and a second washer respectively mounted on the rivet and attached to one mounting plate at two opposite sides, wherein the axle sleeve has an embossed end edge at one end disposed in contact with the second mounting plate and a recessed coupling hole at an opposite end; the rivet is a stepped rivet having a shoulder from the head thereof and fitted into the recessed coupling hole at the axle sleeve, an annular groove at the head around the shoulder, and a plain end axially extended from the shoulder and inserted through the axle sleeve and the first and second mounting plates and hammered down to form another head; the second washer is made of friction rubber and mounted in the annular groove at the head of the rivet, hav
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventor: Yu-Chih Wu
  • Patent number: 6171012
    Abstract: A radial ball-and-socket joint for a motor vehicle with a housing and a ball pivot, whose joint ball is mounted movably in all directions in a bearing shell, is presented, in which the bearing shell (1) has a two-part design and the joint ball (3.1) of the ball pivot (3) is radially progressively pretensioned by at least one damping element (2) between the upper shell (1.1) and the lower shell (1.2). The damping element is inserted into the housing (4) and has a lower Shore hardness than the bearing shell (1), wherein the bearing shell is only in punctiform or linear contact with the joint ball (3.1) of the ball pivot (3) in the unloaded state of the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Lemförder Metallwaren AG (DE)
    Inventor: Paul Westphal
  • Patent number: 6171013
    Abstract: A device comprising a corner strut (1) which has folding planes (2) and (2′) therein, a connecting plane (3) and bolt holes (4, 5, and 5′), solid coupling stands (6 and 6′) having a bearing face (7) therewith, and lateral struts (11 and 11′) having supporting projections (14 and 14′) therein. The coupling stands (6 and 6′) are connected with the lateral struts (11 and 11′) by inserting bolts (15 and 15′) into bolt holes (9 and 9′) and tightening them to flutes (12, 12′, 13, and 13′) of the lateral struts. Then, the coupling stands having the lateral struts connected therewith are combined with the corner strut by connecting the bearing face (7) of the coupling stands with the connecting plane (3) of the corner strut (1) by tightening bolts (10) wherein the coupling stands are facing the folding planes (2 and 2′) of the corner strut (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventor: Yaun Hi Lee
  • Patent number: 6171014
    Abstract: The clip includes a body and a lid slidably mounted on tracks on the sides of the lid. A trough formed in the body receives a cylindrical item, such as a rod, pipe or conduit. The lid slides between an open or pre-driven position wherein the lid does not cover the trough, and a closed position wherein the lid covers the trough. The tracks are somewhat inclined with respect to the body so that the lid does not contact the rod in the trough until immediately prior to the closing of the lid. Sloped stop ramps on the body detent engage apertures in the lid in both the open position and the closed position. The underside of the body includes a second trough with a “rabbit ear” detent mechanism to engage a second cylindrical item, such as a rod, pipe or conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Meyer
  • Patent number: 6171015
    Abstract: An anchoring of outdoor traffic areas provided with cobblestones or paving stones made of a plastic or natural stone material is cited, in which the stones are laid in a bed of sand and/or grit. The anchoring method provides for the stones to be further supported by an extensive supporting structure provided with openings and laid on top of the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: F. Von Langsdorff Licensing Limited
    Inventors: Gunter Barth, Michael Schmitz
  • Patent number: 6171016
    Abstract: A tubular reinforcing dowel system includes a plurality of fiber composite hollow, tubular dowel tubes comprising a first material and each including a longitudinally-extending bore. The dowel tube bores are filled with a second material, such as hydraulic cement, to form dowel members. The dowel members are mounted on a basket assembly which includes a pair of horizontal runners and multiple, longitudinally-aligned pairs of stands mounted on the runners. Each stand is connected to a respective dowel member end. A reinforcing method includes the steps of mounting multiple reinforcing dowel members on a basket assembly, placing the basket assembly on a crushed rock base of a roadway and pouring a cement slab on top of the base and encasing the dowel members underneath a transverse construction joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Concrete Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis A. Pauls, John Thomas Whiteman
  • Patent number: 6171017
    Abstract: A roadway crack repair system includes a crack cleaning module and a crack sealing module. Each module includes a steerable vehicle for navigating the roadway, a platform being laterally movable on the vehicle in response to a control signal, a sensor being mounted on the platform for detecting local variations in the roadway during movement of the vehicle, a sensed continuous local deviation indicating a roadway crack. A controller is responsive to the sensor for generating the control signal as a sensed lateral position of the crack relative to the sensor, causing the sensor to accurately follow the crack when the vehicle is generally driven along the crack. A router is mounted on the platform behind the sensor of the crack cleaning module for cleaning and widening the crack, and a vacuum system removes loose material from the roadway behind the router.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventor: Paul A. Watkins
  • Patent number: 6171018
    Abstract: An automatic control system for a construction machine includes the construction machine provided with a ground leveling implement, a target, and a laser sensor; a survey unit that has a coordinate position measuring element and projects a beam of tracking light indicating a finished-plane height toward the target; a storage unit for storing finished-plane height data in correspondence with a horizontal coordinate position in the coordinate position; and a computation unit for computing the finished-plane height data. The survey unit is equipped with a rotation unit for rotating the laser beam in a vertical direction so that a height of the laser beam at the horizontal coordinate position becomes a height from a determined finished plane. The construction machine is provided with a control unit for controlling the ground leveling implement so that it reaches the finished-plane height, based on a position at which the laser beam is received on the laser sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
    Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Kazuaki Kimura, Vernon J. Brabec, Satoshi Hirano, Makoto Omori
  • Patent number: 6171019
    Abstract: An apparatus, and related method, for laying sand and/or a sand reinforcement matrix onto a pre-prepared surface, includes an apparatus having a hopper for providing a matrix to be laid, a plunger at the forward end, in the sense of direction of movement of the apparatus, of the hopper and an element for reciprocating the plunger for taking material from the hopper and delivering it through an extrusion aperture in the rear thereof to an extrusion mold. The extrusion is effected by moving forwardly as pressure is applied to the matrix to be extruded and as the mold passes over the matrix. The extrusion of a sand, or a sand reinforcement, is compacted in the extrusion by using the weight of the apparatus against which the extrusion plunger acts together with the impaction of previously extruded material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: StrathAyr Pty. Limited
    Inventors: Gabriel (Bill) Casimaty, Lee Simonis, Ronald John Lowry
  • Patent number: 6171020
    Abstract: A pressure adjustable, soil-cleating attachment for front of bulldozers, designed for erosion control by cleating the ground in the area between the bull dozer tracks, thus facilitating one pass cleating of the entire area under the bull dozer. The present invention may also be used to crimp straw and when reseeding land. A cleated roller is connected to two support arms, which releasably mount to the bottom of the bulldozer push arms. A protective shield is connected to each support arm, and covers the upper visible portion of the roller as the roller rotates, thereby reducing flying debris during cleating of the ground. Roller stabilization arms are designed to compensate for movement of the support arms as the bottom of the bulldozer blade wears during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventors: Dan Pikna, Rick Reidl
  • Patent number: 6171021
    Abstract: A method and apparatus involving forming a transition area along the bed of a body of water in which the natural water depth is altered, and operating a vessel in the course of passage through the transition area such that the vessel speed instantaneously changes from supercritical speed to subcritical speed while substantially avoiding the critical speed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventor: Mats H. Feldtmann
  • Patent number: 6171022
    Abstract: The method for engaging a geosynthetic or erosion mat including a soil engaging layer to underlying ground includes the steps of feeding a length of twine out over the soil engaging layer of the mat, and pressing a loop of the twine into the ground at intermittent points therealong. If required, an enhancing step of compressing the ground over the pressed in twine may be incorporated into the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventor: Stephen W. Decker
  • Patent number: 6171023
    Abstract: A water control gate assembly comprises a self-actuating top-hung gate for controlling the flow of water in a waterway. The gate is pivotably mounted on a pair of piers located above an upstream of the gate for allowing the gate to pivot between a closed position and an open position in which water flows beneath the gate. The gate includes a ballast tank having an upstream inlet for charging the ballast tank and a downstream outlet for discharging the ballast tank. The upstream inlet is arranged to start charging the ballast tank with water in the event of the upstream water level reaching a first lower level. The downstream outlet is arranged to start discharging the ballast tank in the event of the upstream water level reaching a second upper level, with the ingress of water into the ballast tank between the first and second levels progressively increasing the closing moment of the gate and maintaining it closed against the progressively increasing opening moment of upstream water pressure against the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventor: Peter Douglas Townshend
  • Patent number: 6171024
    Abstract: A material injection hopper is adapted for mounting on a movable working arm of a self-propelled vehicle. The injection hopper is carried downwardly by the working arm into a waste storage lagoon to deliver waste-processing material to a predetermined subsurface target area in the lagoon. The injection hopper includes a hopper body including an inlet for receiving the material to be delivered to the lagoon, and an outlet downstream of the inlet for discharging the material. An auger conveyor is located within the hopper body and arranged between the inlet and the outlet for moving the material entering the hopper body downstream and outwardly through the outlet to the subsurface target area in the lagoon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: J. A. Jones Environmental Services Company
    Inventors: Don V. Curtis, Edward J. Labus
  • Patent number: 6171025
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for pipeline leak detection in which a vacuum is maintained in the annulus of a pipe-in-pipe flowline with a vacuum pump having a discharge reservoir which is monitored for the appearance of water and hydrocarbon vapors. In another aspect of the invention pipeline leak detection is accomplished through maintaining a gas at a nominally constant pressure in an annulus of a pipe-in-pipe flowline and monitoring the annulus for pressure increase indicative of water or product intrusion into the annulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Carl Gottlieb Langner, Ronald Marshall Bass
  • Patent number: 6171026
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for replacement of an existing non-frangible pipeline includes creating open access to opposite ends of an pipeline and threading a cable having a wedge mounted thereon through the pipeline so that the wedge is positioned proximate one of the ends of the pipeline. The wedge is pulled through the pipeline from the other end of the pipeline so that the wedge slits the pipeline to form a slit pipe in a borehole. The slit pipe is removed from the borehole and a rear end portion of the slit pipe is attached to a front end portion of the replacement pipe . As the slit pipe is pulled out of the borehole, the replacement pipe is drawn into the borehole. The boring apparatus has a braided cable and a boring head having an expander sleeve and a lengthwise bore of sufficient diameter so that the cable can pass therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Earth Tool Company, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Robert F. Crane, Steven W. Wentworth
  • Patent number: 6171027
    Abstract: A drilling rig, in particular for the offshore industry, in the form of a jack-up platform on which a cantilever is mounted so as to be movable at least substantially horizontally and in a first direction, with the cantilever projecting more or less outside the jack-up platform. On the cantilever a drilling platform is present, which drilling platform is movable relative to the jack-up platform in a second direction, different herefrom. This drilling platform is fixedly mounted on the cantilever while the latter is movable relative to the jack-up platform in both abovesaid directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Marine Structure Consultants (MSC) B.V.
    Inventor: Enrico Pedro Blankestijin
  • Patent number: 6171028
    Abstract: A device for lifting a sea-going structure (C), such as a drilling platform consisting of a superrstructure (B) and a jacket (J), which device consists of a flotation body (1) such as a boat provided with one or more laterally slidable lifting devices (2), wherein each lifting device (2) is provided with a coupling member (5) for fixing on a part of the substructure which is arranged for movement in all directions relative to the lifting device (2), whereby the device adapts better to the swell and the relative displacement of the flotation body (1) relative to the drilling platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Allseas Group S.A.
    Inventor: Klaas Boudewijn Van Gelder
  • Patent number: 6171029
    Abstract: A method of retrofitting an underground storage tank (UST) wherein the sump is installed without first excavating the tank backfill away from the top of the UST or cutting existing piping associated with the turbine pump and UST. The containment sump wall is a prefabricated cylinder or ring of fiberglass-reinforced plastic. The ring is pushed downward into the tank backfill around the turbine pump as backfill material inside the ring is removed. During the installation process, vertical slots are cut into the ring as needed to allow the ring to clear the piping associated with the turbine pump. When the ring is in position around the turbine pump, a sump floor is constructed in place, and bonded to the ring using conventional fiberglass layup technology. Moreover, any piping that penetrates the sump is isolated from the sump wall and floor by means of FRP sleeves, which are bonded to the wall or floor of the sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventors: Milton D. McGill, Thompson W. Wyper
  • Patent number: 6171030
    Abstract: A vehicular soil treating machine having a base carrier with a crawler type vehicle drive, an upper rotary body rotatably mounted on the base carrier, and an excavation means mounted on the upper rotary body and equipped with a soil excavating bucket. Provided on the base carrier is an elongated continuous soil processing trough having a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction of the base carrier and internally provided with a tumbling/mixing means for uniformly mixing additive soil improving material into sand and soil which is fed from the excavation means. A soil hopper is provided over one end of the continuous processing trough, and an additive feed means is located behind the soil hopper to feed additive soil improving material to the continuous processing trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigehiko Miyake, Hisayoshi Hashimoto, Toshikazu Murai, Takami Kusaki, Tetsushiro Miura, Hiroyosi Itaya, Fumiki Nakagiri, Satoshi Sekino
  • Patent number: 6171031
    Abstract: A method of altering an insert blank by disposing one or more of four shapes at a predetermined location on the blank to provide at least one sharpened edge. The blank can be either a new insert or one that has been dulled and is due to be discarded. The four shapes are a compound shape, a radius and flank shape, a bias helical shape and a helical rake shape. The bias helical shape and the helical rake shape can be either positive or negative. The radius and flank shape can be either concave or convex. The shapes can be ground on a blank using standard grinding machinery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventor: Robert LaFlamme
  • Patent number: 6171032
    Abstract: A cutting tool [10] for use in forming circular and non-circular holes in a workpiece [16] includes a boring shaft [12] that is rotatable about an axis [15] and a boring head [14] that is secured to the boring shaft [12]. A cutting blade [46] extends beneath the bottom surface of the boring head [14] and is spaced apart from the axis [15]. A slug pin [58] extends from the bottom surface of the boring body to pierce and retain the slug after it has been cut to prevent it from falling into the workpiece [16].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Leo Forche, Thomas Elwwod Moore, Vern Charles Osenbaugh, Erich James Vorenkamp
  • Patent number: 6171033
    Abstract: A hand drill extender kit has components which are used with a length of electrical conduit to make an extender, a near end of which can be held in the chuck of a hand drill and a far end of which can hold a tool such as a hole saw, the components comprising a chuckable part, a tool holder part, a coupler for coupling two lengths of the electrical conduit, a jig to drill holes diametrically through the electrical conduit for fastening the electrical conduit to the other components, an auxiliary tool holder for tools with larger shafts, and a sample length of electrical conduit with the holes pre-drilled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventor: Robert B. Wrobel
  • Patent number: 6171034
    Abstract: A combination tie-down and locking device for a motorcycle having a plurality of forks. The device has a cut-resistant shackle for clamping around the fork of the motorcycle, a flexible, cut-resistant tie-down strap having one end securely fixed to the shackle, a quick-connect chain link for tensioning the strap and releasably connecting the free end of the strap to a trailer, and a lock for releasably locking the free end of the strap to a trailer. A method of tying down and locking a motorcycle to a trailer includes the steps of providing a pair of combination tie-down and locking devices, tightening the devices on each of the forks of the motorcycle, locking the device on each of the forks of the motorcycle, tensioning the tie-down strap and connecting the free end of the tie down strap to the trailer, and locking the free end of the tie down strap to the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: R-B Machine, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Burgoon, Vincent Ricci
  • Patent number: 6171035
    Abstract: A securement device uses a pedestal secured to a support structure and comprising an outer casing with securing brackets. A receiving area is proximate one end, A mid-brace is secured at both ends to the interior. A release bar is pivotally affixed at one end with the other end extending through the casing. A vertical sleeve is secured between the mid-brace and the partially open top and contains a receiving area and an open channel. A spring is placed within the vertical sleeve and a capture rod, having a wedged receiving area, retained within the sleeve, resting on the spring. A draw rod is permanently secured to the capture rod at one end and slideably connected to the release bar at the other end. A locking member has a locking rod pivotally connected to the mid-brace and a locking bar affixed at a right angle. A release rod is affixed to the locking bar and extends into the partially open first end. A spring bar maintains pressure on the locking rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventors: Colin McLaurin, Greg Shaw
  • Patent number: 6171036
    Abstract: A tie-down system for a vehicle transporter comprises a tie-down apparatus for securing a vehicle to a longitudinally-extending elongate vehicle transporter, comprising a vehicle support assembly, including a front deck and further including a rear deck that is variably positionable with respect to said front deck. At least four variably positionable securement devices are associated with the vehicle support assembly and attachable to the vehicle. A respective flexible tension member portion is interconnected with a respective one of each of the four securement devices to enable nonuniform variations in relative positions of the securement devices, each tension member portion capable of exerting a pull-down force on a respective one of the securement devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Boydstun Metal Works Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Boydstun, IV, John T. Huey, Todd Papasadero, Michael Pritchard
  • Patent number: 6171037
    Abstract: The flexible link is a securing strap (2) which rests on the tire (5) and is tightened with respect to two fixed points on a carrying structure (7) by which the ends of the strap are retained with fixing pieces. The surface in contact with the running tread comprises successive groups (25) of a plurality of transversal support elements (26) in the form of rollers with a central rod and widened ringed tips (28) and (29) forming contiguous rail wheels by which the strap rests on the tire. This invention is applicable in the field of transport when the load consists of road vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Lohr Industrie
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Andre