Patents Issued in March 6, 2001
  • Patent number: 6195998
    Abstract: A method of operating a Kalina cycle power generation system includes directing a stream of vaporized binary working fluid to a turbine where it is expanded to produce power. At least a portion of the expanded binary working fluid is directed to a regenerative heat exchanger where it is transformed into a feed binary working fluid. The feed binary working fluid is directed to a vapor generator where it is vaporized. The binary working fluid flow within the regenerative heat exchanger is actively regulated to balance the expanded binary working fluid and the feed working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: ABB Alstom Power Inc.
    Inventors: Paul L. Hansen, Paul D. Kuczma, Jens O. Palsson, Jonathan S. Simon
  • Patent number: 6195999
    Abstract: An electrochemical engine for a vehicle comprises a storage tank containing hydrogen-retention material which reversibly takes-up and stores hydrogen at a hydrogen-storage temperature and releases it upon heating to a release temperature. A fuel cell stack using the released hydrogen produces electricity and heat by-product. A primary coolant flow circuit extends from a radiator, through the fuel cell stack and the storage tank, and back to the radiator, and has a coolant-distribution valve intermediate the fuel cell stack and the storage tank. A bypass coolant flow line extends from the coolant-distribution valve to the radiator. During operation, the heat by-product of the fuel cell stack is transferred via the primary coolant flow circuit to the storage tank for heating the hydrogen-retention material to release hydrogen for fueling the fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Gerd Arnold, Jonas Bereisa, Michael A. Stratton, James V. McManis, William S. Wheat, Lee Curtis Whitehead, Daniel B. O'Connell, Steve McIlwaine
  • Patent number: 6196000
    Abstract: An elevated pressure power plant or system is disclosed that provides for cleanly and efficiently oxidizing or combusting a fuel, such as a fossil fuel, as follows. The fuel and an oxidant are passed to a reaction chamber, and the fuel is oxidized in the chamber at a pressure that is preferably substantially within a range of from approximately 700 psia to approximately 2000 psia and that is more preferably substantially within a range of from approximately 850 psia to approximately 1276 psia. A coolant is passed to the reaction chamber in a heat exchange relationship with the fuel and oxidant. The pressure of the reaction chamber is selected so that it is greater than or equal to a liquid-vapor equilibrium pressure of carbon dioxide at the temperature at which the coolant is passed to the reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Thermo Energy Power Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Alexander G. Fassbender
  • Patent number: 6196001
    Abstract: A transportable cart assembly is described which controls various environmental conditions within an enclosure while transporting items such as semiconductor wafers or flat panel displays. A fan and filter unit is used to control the spread of small particles within the cart and a heating and cooling unit, such as a thermoelectric heater, is used to control the temperature within the enclosure. The fan and filter unit works in conjunction with the heating and cooling unit in a single-pass flow or recirculating cycle to maintain the temperatures within the enclosure at predetermined levels. The cart also has lighting and an ionization unit to control electrostatic discharge. The cart assembly is powered by an external power supply through a retractable power cord or through its on-board power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: Adel G. Tannous, Paul E. Lewis
  • Patent number: 6196002
    Abstract: A package for housing a device (e.g., an integrated circuit chip or die) is disclosed including a ball grid array substrate and a thermoelectric cooler (e.g., a Peltier effect device). The thermoelectric cooler is housed within the package. The thermoelectric cooler is coupled to the ball grid array substrate and includes a hotter portion and a cooler portion in response to an electric potential difference. The thermoelectric cooler receives the electric potential difference from the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Newman, Chu-Chung Lee
  • Patent number: 6196003
    Abstract: A computer enclosure cooling unit adapted to current dimensional standards which is capable of controlled cooling of individual semiconductor devices as well as of the air circulated within the computer housing. The disclosed invention utilizes Peltier devices, a controller unit, both liquid and gaseous heat exchangers, and low cost construction methods to provide a compact, effective computer enclosure cooling system meeting the cooling needs of current high-speed, heat producing computer systems and components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: PC/AC, Inc.
    Inventors: Jose Javier Macias, Rogelio Hernandez Silva
  • Patent number: 6196004
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for condensing water and a plurality of hydrocarbons entrained in a pressurized gas stream leaving a separator at a well location. The pressurized gas stream leaves the separator during a first time period and enters the vortex tube. Through the cooling action of the vortex tube, a first plurality of hydrocarbons and water are condensed and sent to a first reservoir. The temperature in the vortex tube is not low enough to condense a second plurality of hydrocarbons, which remain in the gaseous state and are sent to a second reservoir for sale. Through the warming action of the vortex tube, methane, ethane, propane and some butane may immediately be passed to a gas sales line. The pressurized gas stream is terminated during the well recharge phase. This termination period occurs for a second time period. The ratio of the second time period to the first time period is chosen to be greater than zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventors: W. Stan Lewis, Roderick L. Lindberg
  • Patent number: 6196005
    Abstract: Cryostat systems comprise first and second liquid interconnected helium baths, and a magnet structure which is immersed in one of the baths. The liquid helium is cooled by means of a pumped refrigeration means. The pumped refrigeration means is replaced with a pulse tube refrigerator which can be located directly within the two baths. The pulse tube refrigerator has a “cold finger” having cold and warm ends. The cold end extracts into the bath housing the coil structure and has heat exchange connected thereto. The pulse tube refrigerator can also serve to cool the radiation shields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Oxford Magnet Technology Limited
    Inventor: Wolfgang Stautner
  • Patent number: 6196006
    Abstract: A higher temperature end of a pulse tube is connected to a lower side of a supporting member so as to position at a lower temperature end of the pulse tube at a lower position. Such a structure prevents free convection of a working gas in the pulse tube, which is a cause of reduced refrigerating efficiency. If a cold head is desired to be contacted with a member to be cooled down from its (lower) side, such a need can be satisfied by mounting the cold head on the lower temperature end of the pulse tube (a lower temperature end of a regenerator).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shin Kawano, Shaowei Zhu, Masafumi Nogawa, Tatsuo Inoue
  • Patent number: 6196007
    Abstract: An ice making machine has a water system, including a pump, an ice-forming mold and interconnecting lines therefore; a refrigeration system, including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, an evaporator in thermal contact with the ice-forming mold, and a receiver. The receiver has an inlet connected to the condenser, a liquid outlet connected to the expansion device and a vapor outlet connected by a valved passageway to the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Manitowoc Foodservice Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Schlosser, Cary J. Pierskalla, Scott J. Shedivy, Michael R. Lois
  • Patent number: 6196008
    Abstract: A method for taking custody of, transporting and installing an air conditioner having an outdoor unit which uses a flammable refrigerant and includes a refrigeration cycle comprising a compressor, an expansion device and an outdoor heat exchanger which are connected to one another through pipes, wherein the outdoor unit is shipped from a factory while the refrigeration cycle is evacuated to produce a vacuum, the outdoor unit is kept in custody and transported in a state in which the vacuum in the refrigeration cycle is maintained, and when the outdoor unit is installed, the flammable refrigerant is charged into the refrigeration cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Fujitaka, Yoshinori Kobayashi, Yuichi Yakumaru, Yukio Watanabe, Hironao Numoto, Shigehiro Sato, Kanji Haneda
  • Patent number: 6196009
    Abstract: A freezer/refrigerator vehicle equipped with a refrigerating apparatus driven by a drive source which is an engine, mounted on a vehicle, for running the vehicle, comprising an idle-up means for operating a fuel feeding device of the engine under a first idle-up condition or under a second idle-up condition between the first idle-up condition and the no-load condition, and a control means. After the defrosting cycle is conducted for a predetermined period of time while the idle-up means is in operation under the second idle-up condition, the control means operates the idle-up means under the first idle-up condition and thereafter, brings the refrigerating apparatus back to the refrigerating cycle after the passage of a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Nishi, Minori Higuchi, Masato Doi
  • Patent number: 6196010
    Abstract: A temperature control zone enclosure for exterior compressor/condensers has been developed to serve as a means of protecting the compressor/condensers from inclement weather and to automatically allow those units to operate at optimum temperature. The enclosure is comprised of a back, two sides and partial front and top walls with rigid insulation sandwiched between an outer and inner layer of material impervious to atmospheric conditions. The majority of the front and slanted top of the enclosure is comprised of two movable dual-glazed panels. Those movable panels are equipped with automatically operating interior light-reflecting horizontal slat blinds that change position in concert with the moveable dual-glazed panels that are operated by a non-electric temperature sensing operating device connected to the panels by a set of fulcrum advantaged rigid members activated as temperatures rise or fall within the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventor: John Harry Mohrman
  • Patent number: 6196011
    Abstract: A refrigeration system is disposed within an outer cabinet having a freezer compartment and a fresh food compartment connected via a mullion opening. A compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and a freezer evaporator are connected in series to expand and condense a refrigerant to cool the compartments. A freezer compartment temperature sensor and a fresh food compartment temperature sensor are provided to sense compartment temperatures. A discrete speed freezer compartment fan directs cooling air throughout the freezer compartment and through the mullion opening to the fresh food compartment. A controller generates control signals to the discrete speed evaporator fan to operate at high speed if either the fresh food compartment or both the freezer and fresh food compartments demand cooling and at a low speed if only the freezer compartment demands cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Warren Frank Bessler
  • Patent number: 6196012
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring and controlling an electrically driven transport refrigeration unit under varying operating conditions while maintain the system generator within its electric current and temperature limitations is disclosed. Specifically, the present invention the management of generator power through the combined use of controls for a suction modulation valve (an “SMV”), for diesel engine speed control, and for electronic expansion valve (“EXV”) superheat settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: John Robert Reason, Joao Eduardo Navarro de Andrade
  • Patent number: 6196013
    Abstract: A fan casing for a window type air conditioner adapted to change improve the flow of external air sucked through the fan. The window type air conditioner has an outer panel formed with a plurality of draft holes for suction of external air, and an outdoor casing disposed at an exterior space of the air conditioner for sucked air to be dispersed and discharged into a condenser in response to rotation of an outdoor fan. The outdoor casing is so formed as to be smoothened in corners thereof in slow curvatures. This enlarges the length of the draft holes, thereby increasing a sucked amount of external air and reducing disturbance and resistance of air flow to decrease eddy currents and noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae-Soon Kim
  • Patent number: 6196014
    Abstract: A high efficiency air conditioning system is proposed, in which, while operating on a batch system, desiccant regeneration and process air dehumidification can be carried out simultaneously with a simple configuration. The air conditioning system comprises at least two desiccant members, a process air passage for providing a process air to one of the desiccant members for dehumidification of the process air, and a regeneration air passage for providing a regeneration air to the other of the desiccant members for regeneration of the regeneration air. The desiccant members are movable with respect to the process air passage and the regeneration air passage to alternatingly switch each of the desiccant members from one of the regeneration air passage and the process air passage to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventor: Kensaku Maeda
  • Patent number: 6196015
    Abstract: A built-in box (1) for the feeding of inner units of air conditioning systems having a hollow element (2) substantially shaped as a parallelepiped, the hollow element having open base and the inside of the bottom (22) provided with a plurality of ribs (24). The built-in box (1) also has a small tank (3) for the drainage of the condensate, the tank (3) being positioned in correspondence with the open base of the hollow element (2) and being provided with at least a section of pipe (33) connecting it to the drain pipe (8) of the building main system. A substantially flat cover (4) can be fixed to the edge of the tank (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventor: Nicola Pignolo
  • Patent number: 6196016
    Abstract: Devices and methods for multiple-dose injection of a liquid, e.g., a leak detection dye or a compressor lubricant, into a closed system, e.g., a refrigeration system, are disclosed. Fluid flow through the closed system is used to flush the liquid into the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Bright Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Knowles, Terrence D. Kalley
  • Patent number: 6196017
    Abstract: A cooling insert for insertion into a wine bottle cooler for cooling a bottle of wine therein. The cooling insert includes a housing for holding a cooling material therein and which includes a bottom wall, a perimeter side wall upwardly extending around the bottom wall of the housing, and an open top defined by a top edge of the perimeter side wall of the housing. A lid is inserted into the open top of the housing. The lid has a plurality of holes therethrough. The perimeter side wall of the housing has an inner surface with a shoulder therearound adjacent the top edge of the perimeter side wall of the housing. The lid rests on the shoulder of the perimeter side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventor: David H. Chapman
  • Patent number: 6196018
    Abstract: A motor 51 is attached on the bottom surface side of a motor base 52 with a pinion gear 54 and an output gear 55 housed in a gear housing portion 521 thereof, and an output shaft 553 of the output gear 55 is inserted through a side plate 25L of an air outlet and is coupled to a flap 30 while the output shaft 553 is supported by a bearing hole 526 formed on the bottom portion of the motor base 52, and by a burring hole 251 formed at the side plate 25L. Therefore, the configuration of a flap driving means is simplified, the size is reduced, and the backlash of driving gears is controlled to smoothly drive the flap without rattling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Fujitsu General Limited
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Mori, Osamu Nakamura, Yoshimi Kawai
  • Patent number: 6196019
    Abstract: An accumulator includes a tank, a refrigerant inlet port provided at an upper portion of the tank, a refrigerant outlet port provided at the upper portion of the tank, a dryer unit disposed in the tank at an intermediate portion along a direction of height of the tank, and a separating wall extending upwardly from the dryer unit and dividing an upper inner space of the tank above the dryer unit into an inlet side upper space located at the refrigerant inlet part side and an outlet side upper space located at the refrigerant outlet side port. The separating wall has a plurality of apertures formed in a scattered state for communicating the inlet side upper space and the outlet side upper space each other. The accumulator includes an oil returning tube having a lower inlet opening and an upper outlet opening. The oil returning tube is disposed in the tank such that the lower inlet opening and the upper outlet opening are located at a bottom portion of the tank and at the refrigerant outlet port, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Showa Aluminum Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Higo, Keiji Yamazaki, Takayuki Fujii
  • Patent number: 6196020
    Abstract: When not only integrating the compressor and expander, but also the heat exchanger in one single rotor, a machine working according to the gas turbine process can be simplified. The gas turbine process in such a machine can also be run in reversed mode as a refrigeration machine or heat pump. Lower relative velocities between the working fluid and the components of the machine can be used which should lead to lower frictional losses and a higher efficiency. In order to further reduce the friction the rotor should rotate in a chamber with low pressure or in a medium with lower friction than air. The medium that exchanges heat with the working medium here called the heat carrying fluid is also taken into the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventors: Jan-Erik Nowacki, Eric Granryd
  • Patent number: 6196021
    Abstract: A high pressure nitrogen pipeline, oxygen or plant air is diverted around a pressure letdown station to liquefy the gas or a portion of the gas for storage or air separation assist, with the remaining unused gaseous portion being returned to the pipeline downstream the letdown station. One or more heat exchangers and one or more expanders are used to cool down the gas and liquefy it. A generator or compressor may be coupled to the expanders employing companders for generating power or for further compression of the pipeline gas. In a further embodiment, natural gas is cooled to assist in liquefying the nitrogen by drying the natural gas and forming two streams wherein carbon dioxide is removed from a smaller stream which is applied to cascaded heat exchangers and the larger stream is expanded to further cool it. The two streams are applied to the heat exchangers for cooling and liquefying nitrogen gas or other merchant gas applied to the heat exchangers from a pipeline or other source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventor: Robert Wissolik
  • Patent number: 6196022
    Abstract: For recovering high-purity oxygen by low-temperature separation of air in a rectification system that has a high pressure (4) and a low-pressure column (5), feed air (1, 3) is introduced into the high pressure column (4) and an oxygen-containing liquid fraction (411) is removed from high pressure column (4) and fed into low-pressure column (5). Gaseous nitrogen (18) from the low-pressure column (5) is at least partially condensed in a top condenser (17) by indirect heat exchange with an evaporating liquid (457). Oxygen-containing liquid fraction (411) is removed from at least one theoretical or actual plate above the bottom of high pressure column (4). At least a portion of the bottom liquid (457) from the high pressure column (4) is directed into the evaporation chamber of the top condenser (17) of the low-pressure column (5). A high-purity oxygen product (459, 460, 461, 563, 564) is removed from the lower part of the low-pressure column (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Corduan Horst, Rottmann Dietrich
  • Patent number: 6196023
    Abstract: The process and the apparatus serve to produce pressurized nitrogen by low-temperature fractionation of air in a rectification system which has a pressure column (4) and a low-pressure column (5). Feed air (1, 3) is passed into the pressure column (4). An oxygen-containing liquid fraction (11) is taken off from the pressure column (4) and fed into the low-pressure column (5). Gaseous nitrogen (18) from the low-pressure column (5) is at least partially condensed in a top condenser (17) by indirect heat exchange with an evaporating liquid (13). Nitrogen from the low-pressure column is produced as gaseous pressurized nitrogen product (24, 25, 29) at a pressure which is higher than the operating pressure of the low-pressure column (5). Liquid nitrogen (20) withdrawn from the low-pressure column is brought (21) in the liquid state to a pressure which exceeds the pressure of the low-pressure column (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Horst Corduan, Dietrich Rottmann, Juergen Voit, Christian Kunz, Wolfgang Haag
  • Patent number: 6196024
    Abstract: Process for separating air by cryogenic distillation and apparatus including a high pressure column, an intermediate pressure column, a low pressure column having a bottom reboiler and an argon column having a top condenser, a conduit for sending air to the high pressure column, a conduit for sending at least part of a first oxygen enriched liquid from the high pressure column to the intermediate pressure column, a conduit for sending a second oxygen enriched fluid from the bottom of the intermediate pressure column to the low pressure column, a conduit for sending a second nitrogen enriched fluid from the top of the intermediate pressure column to the low pressure column or to a top condenser of the argon column, a conduit for sending a heating gas to the bottom reboiler of the low pressure column, a conduit for removing a third oxygen enriched fluid from the low pressure column, a conduit for sending a nitrogen enriched liquid from the high pressure column to the low pressure column, a conduit for sending a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Bao Ha
  • Patent number: 6196025
    Abstract: An item of jewelry includes a first generally planar element having engraving thereon, and a second generally planar element joined to the first generally planar element and including a peripheral portion overlying a peripheral portion of the first generally planar element and having a stone setting mounted thereon and extending inwardly thereof so as to overlie part of the first generally planar element inwardly of the peripheral portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventor: Isac M. Moshkovitz
  • Patent number: 6196026
    Abstract: A method of making a glass multiwell plate for use in biological or chemical laboratory applications whereby the plate is formed by a single ribbon of molten glass passing twice over a mold such that the first section of glass takes the form of the mold and thereby forms the wells of the plate while the second section of glass covers the wells and forms a top surface of the plate. Holes are cut through the top surface, above each well to enable access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: James G. Anderson, Thierry L. A. Dannoux
  • Patent number: 6196027
    Abstract: The invention is a method of making silicate based glass compositions with phosphorus compounds included in the composition as spectral modifiers to impart desirable color and improved energy absorbance properties. The phosphorus compound is generally a metal phosphide which is added to the batch glass composition in amounts greater than 0.05 weight percent prior to melting. The composition and method result in a finished glass suitable for use in architectural and automotive glazings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Libbey-Owens-Ford Co.
    Inventors: Srikanth Varanasi, Michael B. Purvis, Paige L. Higby, Kevin V. Goodwin, Gwendolyn A. Young
  • Patent number: 6196028
    Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for supporting a preform manufactured in an installation for manufacturing or building up preforms having supporting cores, said installation including at least rotation means having a horizontal axis of rotation and two mounting points between which the supporting core of the preform to be manufactured or built up is mounted, plasma-torch and material-supply means disposed radially relative to said supporting core and being mounted to move in axial translation relative to and parallel to the supporting core so as to make said preform around said supporting core, said apparatus being wherein it includes controlled support means constituting additional localized abutment points between said mounting points for said preform being manufactured or built up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Alcatel Fibres Optiques
    Inventors: Patrick Humbert, Pierre Ripoche, Joël Landi, Jacques Goudeau
  • Patent number: 6196029
    Abstract: A precious metal bushing used for fiberizing molten glass through nozzles protruding from the lower surface of an orifice plate in the bottom of the bushing requires a substantially reduced investment in precious metal by having very short sidewalls and endwalls such that the distance from the bottom surface of a flange at the top of the bushing to the top surface of the orifice plate is more than about 0.2 inch, but less than about 0.65 inch and preferably less than about 0.5 inch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Johns Manville International, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt George Melia, Russell Donovan Arterburn
  • Patent number: 6196030
    Abstract: The knit article is provided with several spatially overlapping structures. It is made by a continuous knitting process on a knitting machine with at least two opposing needle beds (H,V) as a seamless tubular manufactured product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: H. Stoll GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Thomas Stoll, Wolfgang Rempp, Hansmartin Schwarz
  • Patent number: 6196031
    Abstract: A knitted loop fabric comprising: a ground of warp yarns or wales (8,11) of stitches forming a network of wales parallel to one another and of weft connecting yarns or weft yarns (6), the latter being connected to the warp yarns to form the ground, and loops (14) knitted into the ground and each consisting of two legs (12, 13)) knitted into the ground and of two strands starting from the legs and of an apex connecting the two strands, the connection between the weft yarns (6) and the wales (8, 11) being such that each weft yarn (6) is first knitted into a first stitch of a first wale (11) in a weft connection, then into a second stitch (7) of a second wale (8) in a stitch connection, then into a third stitch (15) of a third wale in a second weft connection, then into a fourth stitch (9) of a fourth wale (8) in a stitch connection and then into a fifth stitch (10), which corresponds to the first stitch of a subsequent cycle, in a further weft connection, the second wale and fourth wale being disposed in the wa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Aplix
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Ducauchuis
  • Patent number: 6196032
    Abstract: A fabric with a patterned velvet on one face and a different patterned velour on the other is formed from a three dimensional fabric using a double bar knitting machine. Preferably, at least either the stitching or backing yarn within the fabrics is made with a bulk high enough so that after the three dimensional structure is knitted and split, the back can be napped to form the velour from such yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Malden Mills Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Moshe Rock, Karl Lohmueller
  • Patent number: 6196033
    Abstract: Keyless restraints similar to handcuffs and leg shackles, which restraints employ conventional ratchet action bundling ties. The restraints include a securing block which has two receptacle each capable of receiving the pawl block of one bundling tie. After the pawl block of each bundling tie is placed in its respective receptacle, the toothed strap of each bundling tie is inserted through aligned slots formed in opposing sides of its associated receptacle. The toothed strap engages the pawl block by conventional ratchet action. The bundling ties are then entrapped within the securing block, and can be drawn around the wrists of a detainee or any other object being secured. Each receptacle has a projection which releasably retains the pawl block of the bundling tie in place within the receptacle. Optionally, the receptacles are connected by a flexible tether long enough to permit a detainee to walk, but too short to permit running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventor: Christopher A. Dowdle
  • Patent number: 6196034
    Abstract: A latch assembly incorporates a pair of overlapping tubular guard projections respectively secured to a pair of opposing structural members, at least one of which is disposed on a slidable partition. As the projections are tubular, the projections isolate the enclosed area within the projections from all sides. Moreover, as one projection overlaps the other, no gaps are present that could otherwise permit access to the enclosed area within the projections. As such, whenever a latch member projects through the enclosed area within the overlapping projections, the latch member is substantially protected from unauthorized tampering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Wirecrafters, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen E. Diebold, H. Neil Lukenbill
  • Patent number: 6196035
    Abstract: A door lock assembly includes a hollow casing, a latch, an actuator rod, and a drive mechanism. The casing has left and right side walls that are opposite to one another, and a rear wall interconnecting the left and right side walls. The left side wall has upper and lower openings formed therein. The latch is mounted movably in the casing in a latching direction between a latched position for allowing extension of the latch out of the casing via the upper opening and an unlatched position for allowing retraction of the latch into the casing. The actuator rod is disposed below the latch, and is movable in the casing along a direction parallel to the latching direction between an extended position outwardly of the casing via the lower opening and a retracted position. The actuator rod has an actuating element formed thereon, and a coiled spring for urging the actuator rod to the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventor: Kai-Liang Tsui
  • Patent number: 6196036
    Abstract: A torque-limited key includes a grip and a lock or latch engaging member. A torque-limiting device connects the grip to the engaging member. The torque-limiting device may include a spring, a frictional engagement, or any other type of resilient member. The torque-limiting device allows a torque applied to the grip to rotate the engaging member, so long as the applied torque is less than a predetermined level. If the applied torque exceeds the predetermined level, the grip will rotate relative to the engaging member in order to prevent breaking the engaging member off inside the lock or latch, and also in order to prevent damaging the mechanism of the lock or latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Jesper Alexander Andersen
  • Patent number: 6196037
    Abstract: A dead bolt lock automatically blocks the extended bolt to prevent externally-applied force from thrusting the bolt back into the lock case, and in the event of physical attack the lock responds by prolonging or perpetuating the dead bolt blocking condition. A push-pull lock has a bolt whose motion in both directions is stopped in response to detection of a rise in motor current above a certain level: a cushioning arrangement allows the current-limiting feature to be implemented without risk of damage to the motor, gear teeth or other drive components. A re-locker arrangement includes an angled flange that is part of a motor-supporting bracket; when forcibly pressed, the flange breaks plastic pins to release a spring-biased re-locker wire to block the bolt from being withdrawn, and when the wire is in the dead bolting position an extension of the re-locker wire engages a ridge in the lock's case to prevent the re-locker from being manipulated back to its original position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Sargent & Greenleaf, Inc.
    Inventors: Ned Urschel, Cedric Cuenot, Christophe Dexet, Jacques Wicht
  • Patent number: 6196038
    Abstract: A tumbler lock with an additional rotor locking member includes a rotor rotating in a stator bore. The lock includes a slide movable transversely to the key channel, the slide including a key passage orifice and a projection co-operating with a stator housing in a position locking the rotor rotation and elastically returned in the locking position by an elastic return, the slide having at least a notch co-operating with a key member so as to drive the slide transversely towards a position unlocking the rotor rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Ronis
    Inventor: Claude Chappoux
  • Patent number: 6196039
    Abstract: Groove rollers, which are for use with a roll grooving device for forming a groove in an outer surface of a pipe near an end of the pipe, include an outside roller and an inside roller. The outside roller has a peripheral surface that includes a first protrusion configured to form the groove, and a second protrusion having a surface configured to inhibit flaring of the end of the pipe when forming the groove. The inside roller has a peripheral surface that includes a notch configured to receive the first protrusion, and may have a second notch configured to receive the second protrusion. A pipe abutment surface against which the end of the pipe is positioned when forming the groove is formed on one of the inside or outside rollers. In another feature, the outside roller includes a first aligning element and the inside roller includes a second aligning element configured to interact with the first aligning element to align the outside and inside rollers when forming the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Anvil International, Inc.
    Inventors: James O. Williams, Bruce M. Platusich, Sandra M. Lippka
  • Patent number: 6196040
    Abstract: A negative angular forming die having a lower die for supporting a workpiece. An upper die is lowered with respect to the lower die to abut against the workpiece for forming the workpiece. A columnar body is rotatably mounted on the lower die, and a groove is formed in the columnar body in the axial direction of the lower die. A slide cam is supported on the upper die and is opposed to the columnar body. An automatic returning tool is provided on the lower die for rotating and retracting the columnar body to a position at which the workpiece can be taken out from the lower die after the forming process is completed. The workpiece is placed on the supporting portion of the lower die with the columnar body being turned, and the slide cam is slid to form the workpiece by an entering forming portion of the columnar body. The columnar body is turned and retracted by the automatic returning tool after forming so that the formed workpiece can be taken out from the lower die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Umix Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuo Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 6196041
    Abstract: Guide means interposed between a blade-holder (20) and the frame (12) of a bending press comprise a slide (40) slidable along an axis (Z) perpendicular to the plane of the metal sheet (P) to be bent. The blade-holder (20) is coupled to the slide (40) so as to be slidable along an axis inclined to a plane perpendicular to the plane of the sheet (P). First means (38) for bringing about movements of the blade-holder (20) along the axis perpendicular to the plane of the sheet (P) are interposed between the frame (12) and the blade-holder (20). Second means for bringing about movements of the slide (40) along the inclined axis are interposed between the slide (40) and the blade-holder (20) in order to produce movements of the blade-holder (20) towards and away from the blank-holder (16, 18), parallel to the plane of the sheet (P). These movements can be brought about in preselected combinations, preferably under the control of a numerical-control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventor: Antonio Codatto
  • Patent number: 6196042
    Abstract: A tool having a coining projection is operative for forming a frangible portion in a lead of a microelectronic connection component by application of a compressive force. The coining projection is supported on a pedestal formed from a tool body. In an alternative embodiment, the pedestal is formed on a backing plate for use in circuits up construction. The pedestal is sized and shaped so as to be received within a gap formed in a support layer for the leads. By application of the compressive force, the coining projection will penetrate the lead within the region of the gap to form the frangible portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Tessera, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas H. Distefano, Joseph Fjelstad, Belgacem Haba
  • Patent number: 6196043
    Abstract: To hold the edges of a sheet metal blank during stamping or forming, such as stretch forming, a flange of the blank is clamped between faces of one of the dies and a binder which form a lockbead in the flange that restrains movement of the flange during the subsequent forming operation. A double V lockbead having three alternately angled sharp bends of near 90 degrees and one or two connecting bends totaling near 90 degrees provides improved locking performance, especially where the clamping surfaces of the die are sloped from horizontal. The legs or sides of the beads may have unequal lengths. The bend angles may be varied, in appropriate cases, within a reasonable range of from 75 to 120 degrees more or less as desired. Also, an additional angle or two, forming a third V could be used. The lockbead forming shapes are machined into the mating die and binder to form and retain the lockbead during the metal forming process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph T. Ehardt
  • Patent number: 6196044
    Abstract: A mounting plate (16) for attaching a finger (14) to extend in a cantilevered fashion from a transfer bar (12) in a work piece transfer assembly for a press including a reciprocating member and a series of longitudinally spaced in-line stations wherein each station is a further progression of a work piece forming process. The finger (14) includes a shank (18) and the mounting plate (16) includes a groove (22) for engaging the sides of the shank (18) to prevent the shank (18) from rotating relative to the mounting plate (16). A shank fastener (24) extends downwardly through the transfer bar (12) and the mounting plate (16) to threadedly engage the shank (18) and sandwich the mounting plate (16) between the shank (18) and the transfer bar (12).The mounting plate (16) is L-shaped with a first leg (32) for being sandwiched between the bottom of the transfer bar (12) and the shank (18) and with a second leg (34) for engaging the side of the transfer bar (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: HMS Products Co.
    Inventor: Hugh Sofy
  • Patent number: 6196045
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a powered crimping tool. In the parent application, referenced above, the tool, having a plurality of crimping jaws, is used to secure a cap onto a bottle or vial. In this application, the tool, having a pair of opposed crimping heads, is used to crimp a solderless terminal, splice, butt connector, or the like, having a wire inserted into a shaft and to be retained therein. The powered tool has a housing portion which the user holds and includes switches for the user to control the plunger and the crimping action. Selected mating crimper heads in the plunger and the crimper housing effectuate the crimping of the selected terminal to retain the wire therein. These mating crimper heads can be changed to accommodate a variety of different size and shape terminals, splices, butt connectors, wires, and the like. Terminals may be insulated or not. Wires may be stranded or solid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Chromatography Research Supplies, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn E. Thomas, Paul T. Scherer, Joseph L. Hallock, Edward B. Alcorn
  • Patent number: 6196046
    Abstract: A calibration standard for calibrating a thermal gradient spectrometer. The calibration standard is a structure having a particular glucose concentration which a thermal gradient spectrometer reads for determining whether the spectrometer is in calibration. The structure of the calibration standard properly mimics the physiology of human tissue. A number of such standards, each containing a different concentration of glucose are provided in kit form with a thermal gradient spectrometer for use in calibrating the spectrometer. The spectrometer is provided with a display and internal circuitry for performing self-calibrating adjustments and a communications port for electronically coupling to a remote computer and database for supplying external calibration commands to said spectrometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Optiscan Biomedical Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Braig, Bernhard B. Sterling, Daniel S. Goldberger, Joan C. Godfrey, Kamrava Azizi, David J. Correia, Charles E. Kramer
  • Patent number: 6196047
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for calculating a torque constant, Kt, of an actuator for a computer disk drive by passing the actuator through a magnetic field and measuring the induced change in potential. A stepper motor moves the coil through a magnetic field (either by rotation or linear movement), and a fluxmeter measures changes in flux. The measurements are synchronized using an encoder which commands a digital multimeter to sample the fluxmeter. By passing the actuator in both a forward and a reverse direction, the contribution based on voltage integrator drift is reduced. This method and system are not influenced by the torque from mechanical effects such as friction or torque from the current carrying leads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Ugimag, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Carnegie, James H. Wise