Patents Issued in May 1, 2001
  • Patent number: 6223534
    Abstract: In an engine braking arrangement for an internal combustion engine with an exhaust gas turbocharger including a turbine arranged in the engine exhaust duct and a compressor driven by the turbine and arranged in the engine intake duct, a brake valve disposed in the exhaust duct upstream of the turbine and a pressure relief line extending from the exhaust duct upstream of the turbine rotor to an area downstream of the turbine and including a stop valve, the stop valve is a rotationally adjustable rotary valve operable by an actuating device depending on the intake pressure in the intake duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Erdmann, Carsten Funke, Jürgen Lenz, Paul Löffler, Erwin Schmidt, Siegfried Sumser
  • Patent number: 6223535
    Abstract: As geothermal steam containing contaminants such as boron, arsenic, and mercury is passed through a turbine-condenser system, the contaminants preferentially collect in the initial condensate produced from the steam. Collecting this initially-produced condensate and segregating it from the remainder of the steam being condensed ensures that condensate produced from the remainder of the steam is contaminants-lean, preferably containing the contaminants in concentrations allowing for discharge of the contaminants-lean condensate to the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
    Inventor: Kevin R. Kitz
  • Patent number: 6223536
    Abstract: A drum-type heat-recovery boiler (2) forms, together with the feedwater tank/deaerator (6) and condenser/hot well (4), the steam system of a combined-cycle power station. This steam system has a plurality of containers (10, 16, 22, 6, 4) working at different pressure stages. Some of the containers are formed by steam drums (10, 16, 22). The container of the lowest pressure stage is the condenser/hot well (4). The high-pressure steam drum (10) is connected directly to the intermediate-pressure steam drum (16) via a water line (25) and a steam line (39). The intermediate-pressure steam drum (16) is connected directly to the low-pressure steam drum (22) via a water line (27) and a steam line (41), and the low-pressure steam drum (22) is connected directly to the feedwater tank/deaerator (6) via a water line (29) and a steam line (43).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AG
    Inventor: Erhard Liebig
  • Patent number: 6223537
    Abstract: In a catalytic combustor for gas turbines, the dimensions of the preheater and premix duct, the location of the preheater and premix fuel nozzles, and the number and location of air orifices in the combustor can inner liner are configured to result in low NOx production during both preheating combustion and catalytic combustion. Placement of the air orifices helps reduce the potential for autoignition within the premix duct, while enhancing fuel-air mixture uniformity upstream of the catalyst. At the same time, the overall configuration is optimized to result in the relative compactness of the catalytic combustor, making it particularly suitable for applications such as automotive turbine engines and microturbines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Power Systems
    Inventors: John J. Lipinski, Philip J. Brine, Rajesh D. Buch, George R. Lester
  • Patent number: 6223538
    Abstract: The invention relates to a ceramic lining for combustion chambers (8) consisting of several juxtaposed elements (1) that are attached by means of a retention bolt (3) to the inside of a thermally highly stressed metallic support wall (4), whereby at least one insulation body (5) is arranged between the metallic support wall (4) and the ceramic elements (1). It is characterized in that the ceramic elements (1) essentially have the shape of a straight, regular pyramid whose base (2) has n corners, preferably three corners, and faces the combustion chamber (8), and into whose tip the retention bolt (3) is integrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AG
    Inventors: Urs Benz, Armin Heger, Marcel König, Axel Kranzmann, Andreas Pfeiffer, Roger Suter, Hugo Wetter
  • Patent number: 6223539
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for thermally conditioning and pumping a fluid having use as a ventilation system for vehicle seats and other applications. The system includes a thermoelectric heat exchanger having a thermoelectric element configured to pump heat from one body to another body. A pair of heat exchanger elements comprising rotor units are coupled to the thermoelectric element for both transferring heat to and from the thermoelectric element and generating a fluid flow across the thermoelectric element. The conditioned fluid may be placed in thermal communication with a variety of objects, one of which is a vehicle seat to provide localized heating and cooling of a person sitting on the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Amerigon
    Inventor: Lon E. Bell
  • Patent number: 6223540
    Abstract: The present invention provides techniques for processing effluent gases from vacuum fabrication processes. The effluent gases are condensed on cold surfaces (512 and 514) inside a novel pump (220) resulting in a high vacuum. The pump (220) can be connected to a vacuum fabrication processing chamber (210) and to a turbo molecular pump (275). The condensate which is formed on the cold surfaces of the pump (220) is subsequently evaporated to form regenerated gases during the regeneration of the pump. A pressure vessel (280) is removably connected to the pump during regeneration, causing the regenerated gases to fill the pump and the pressure vessel at pressures ranging from about 10,343 torr (200 psi) to about 103,430 torr ( 2,000 psi). The pressure vessel is closed when substantially all condensate has evaporated. The vessel containing regenerated gases can then be connected to an on-site or to a remote gas treatment facility for removal of noxious substances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: John Egermeier
  • Patent number: 6223541
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improving the after-cooling process of preforms from the injection molding process in respect to its efficiency and its economy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Fasti, Farrag & Stipsits GesmbH
    Inventor: Rainer Farrag
  • Patent number: 6223542
    Abstract: A cryogenic processor for liquid feed preparation of a free-flowing frozen product incorporates a gas diffusion chamber that inhibits freezing of a droplet producing feed assembly and pre-cools liquid droplets during the production of the free-flowing frozen product. This is accomplished by providing a regulated flow of ambient air about the feed assembly in conjunction with a vacuum assembly which is used to remove excess refrigerant vapor from the gas diffusion chamber. The vacuum assembly is incorporated into the gas diffusion chamber between the feed assembly and a freezing chamber. The gas diffusion chamber also provides additional physical separation between the feed assembly and the freezing chamber to allow for pre-cooling of the falling liquid composition droplets prior to contacting liquid refrigerant in the freezing chamber therebelow. Additionally, the shape of the processor has been adapted to reduce refrigerant requirements and improve overall production efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Dippin' Dots, Inc.
    Inventors: Curt D. Jones, Milford D. Jones, Stanley O. Jones
  • Patent number: 6223543
    Abstract: A control system for a cooling system for reducing humidity levels in a gas such as ambient air is provided. The cooling unit includes at least one of a compressor and a chiller, and cooling coils are connected to the cooling unit. A fan blows the gas onto the cooling coils. A fan speed controller is connected to the fan and variably controls the speed of the fan. A dry bulb temperature sensor is in thermal communication with the gas and connected to the controller, and a moisture sensor is in communication with the gas and connected to the controller. The speed of the fan is determined by the controller based on signals received from the dry bulb temperature sensor and the moisture sensor. By varying the speed of the fan, the moisture content of the gas can be modified much more precisely than by conventional air conditioning methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Heat-Timer Corporation
    Inventor: David Sandelman
  • Patent number: 6223544
    Abstract: Fault detection is implemented on a finite state machine controller for an air handling system. The method employs data, regarding the system performance in the current state and upon a transition occurring, to determine whether a fault condition exists. The fault detection may be based on saturation of the system control or on a comparison of actual performance to a mathematical model of the air handling system. As a consequence, the control does not have to be in steady-state operation to perform fault detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Co.
    Inventor: John E Seem
  • Patent number: 6223545
    Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining an enclosed space proximate a selected comfort level, and for conserving utilities, the apparatus comprising a housing in communicating relation with the enclosed space and the external environment and having an evaporative cooler for cooling the enclosed space and having a predetermined operating efficiency, and a spaced apart air conditioner for either selectively cooling or heating the enclosed space, having a baffle that restricts airflow to the air conditioner and an operating efficiency different from the evaporative cooler, and a control mechanism for automatically and selectively switching back and forth from operation of the evaporative cooler to the air conditioner in response to ambient conditions of the external environment and the operating efficiencies of the evaporative cooler and the air conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventors: Stephen W. Kinkel, Steven J. Goettl, Peter J. Kinkel
  • Patent number: 6223546
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a transport refrigeration unit of the type configured to be mounted on the front wall of a transport trailer. The transport trailer is adapted to be connected to and towed by a motorized tractor. The connected trailer and tractor define between them a predetermined envelope bounded by the tractor swing radius and the trailer front wall. The refrigeration unit includes a structural support framework configured to be attached to the front wall of the trailer. An outer cover is configured to be supported by the framework and to be within the predetermined envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventors: Robert A. Chopko, Kenneth B. Barrett
  • Patent number: 6223547
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a filter guide structure is provided for an air conditioner of the type having an indoor section which includes a housing having an evaporator coil. The evaporator has fins on its front surface and is mounted in a substantially vertical orientation. An indoor grill is adapted to be mounted to the housing in spaced relation to the evaporator coil. The grill includes a front wall having a return air opening to admit return air to be conditioned into the evaporator coil. The front wall has an elongated opening adjacent to an edge thereof to receive the filter for insertion and removal of the filter into the space between the indoor grill and the evaporator coil. The filter includes a rectangular frame having a leading edge and a trailing edge and laterally spaced edges interconnecting the leading and trailing edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Regis Batista da Silva, Paulo Augusto Lisboa Ramos
  • Patent number: 6223548
    Abstract: A cooler housing capable of encasing, protecting, and supporting cooler components, particularly components necessary for use as a portable evaporative cooler. Though the housing described herein may be used in cooling devices ranging from simple conventional fans to complex heat exchanger devices, the preferred embodiment of this invention is preferably used in conjunction with a portable evaporative cooler employing this housing and further comprising a motor that drives a pump connected to a sump tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: General Shelters of Texas, S.B., Inc.
    Inventor: Phillip D. Calvert
  • Patent number: 6223549
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle device having a first refrigeration circuit for circulating a refrigerant from a compressor through a heat exchanger on a heat source equipment side, a flow rate adjuster, a heat exchanger on an application side, and an accumulator in a sequential manner to the compressor, comprising an extraneous matter catching means for catching extraneous matters in the refrigerant provided between the heat exchanger on application side and the accumulator of the first refrigeration circuit, and an oil separating means for separating a refrigerating machine oil in the refrigerant to separate the extraneous matters and the refrigerating machine oil from the refrigerant, by such a structure only a heat source equipment A and an indoor unit B can be newly exchanged without exchanging connection pipes C and D for connecting the heat source equipment and the indoor unit after flushing operation for introducing a new refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomohiko Kasai
  • Patent number: 6223550
    Abstract: An ice maker includes a mold and an auger. The mold has at least one cavity with a bottom surface, and is configured for containing water therein for freezing into ice. The auger has a shaft with at least one flight attached thereto, the shaft including a top end and a base end with the base end being rotatably mounted in the bottom surface of the at least one mold cavity. The shaft extends substantially vertically through the mold cavity and is configured to rotate and thereby push the ice out of the mold cavity. The shaft and/or at least one flight has an inward taper in a direction heading from the base end to the top end of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Group Dekko Services, LLC
    Inventors: John K. Marsh, Donald E. DeWitt, Andrei Tchougounov
  • Patent number: 6223551
    Abstract: An envelope for keeping susceptible materials such as drugs within an acceptable temperature for durations to allow for transport of the drugs to recipients the cold keeping envelope having an outer insulating envelope and an inner envelope or envelope like shape having liquid or liquid like material to be frozen held within a plurality of separate cells forming the inner envelope such that when the liquid or liquid like material is frozen solid, the inner envelope or envelope like shape can still be easily opened caused to open by relative rotation of separate cell to allow for insertion of articles therein. There are further described constructions including an outer envelope of bubble pack with a metallised reflective surface, joining of inner and outer envelope parts, double thicknesses of bubble pack material, use of frozen cells on one side only of the envelope shape, and shapes and relative location of cells to facilitate bending of the frozen materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Instar Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Barry Trevor Mitchell
  • Patent number: 6223552
    Abstract: In an arrangement for the controlled cooling of hot-briquetted direct-reduced sponge iron in the form of an apron conveyer consisting of individual plates and located in a tank, the individual plate is designed as conveyor trough (4), wherein at least one sliding plate each (5 and 6) is located on the two opposed longitudinal outsides and the conveyor troughs (4) are movable supported by means of sliding plates (5 and 6) on slideways (7) and connected by means of at least one chain (9). The invention allows to separate the drive and the bearing as the conveyor troughs (4) are supported by means of sliding plates (5 and 6) and the drive acts directly on the conveyor trough (4) by means of at least one chain (9). As the translation elements are designed as sliding plates (5, 6) and slideways (7), the surface pressure is reduced to less than one hundredth compared to wheels running on rails and the wear of the translation elements is thus reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Zimmerbauer, Helmut Schober, Franz Hoertnagl, Wolfgang Tscherne
  • Patent number: 6223553
    Abstract: A food storage system mounted in a fresh food compartment of a refrigerator includes an enclosure defined by inner and outer housings, as well as a food receptacle slidably positioned in the inner housing. The inner and outer housings are spaced so as to define a zone therebetween within which air is forced to flow in order to cool the contents of the receptacle. A tunnel insert is positioned in a mullion zone defined between fresh food and freezer liners of the refrigerator, with the tunnel insert being formed with a through hole for directing the flow of cooling air into the food storage system, a channel for directing an exhaust flow of cooling air from the food storage system out of the fresh food compartment within the mullion zone and an enlarged opening defining a return air passage for the overall fresh food compartment. The tunnel insert, within the mullion zone, channels the exhaust air from the food storage system to the return air passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Jane Albert, William J. Vestal, II, Richard D. Smith, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6223554
    Abstract: The present invention provide a compressor in which an oil for application or that for assembly has non-compatibility with a refrigerant to be charged in a refrigerant circuit and an lubricating oil to be charged in the compressor has compatibility with the refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Adachi
  • Patent number: 6223555
    Abstract: An accumulator for an air conditioning system of a motor vehicle includes a housing having an interior chamber and an inlet tube connected to the housing to allow refrigerant and oil to enter the interior chamber of the housing. The accumulator also includes an outlet tube connected to the housing to allow refrigerant and oil to exit the interior chamber of the housing and a single insert disposed in the interior chamber of the housing to allow refrigerant liquid/vapor separation, insulation, and oil return.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Georg Schroeder, Hemant Sumentlal Shah, Jeffrey Paul Luther, Kevin Joseph Goulet, Randy John Hornby
  • Patent number: 6223556
    Abstract: Ease of service is provided in an integrated condenser (20) and receiver (22) including two nonhorizontal headers (24), a plurality of tubes (28) extending between the headers (24) to establish a plurality of hydraulically parallel flow pads between the headers (24); at least one partition (48, 50, 52) in each of the headers for causing refrigerant to make at least two passes, including an upstream pass and a downstream pass, through the condenser (20); and an elongated receiver (22) mounted on one of the headers (24). The elongated receiver (22) includes an interior chamber (61), an upper inlet (70) connected to a downstream side of the upstream pass for the flow of refrigerant form the upstream pass to the interior chamber (61), a lower liquid outlet (71) connected to an upstream side of the downstream pass for the flow of liquid refrigerant from the interior chamber (61) to the downstream pass, and a port (62) to allow access to interior chamber (61) for servicing the receiver (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Richard M. De Keuster, Lawrence W. Gabbey, Michael J. Swee, Thomas J. Thielen
  • Patent number: 6223557
    Abstract: A process is disclosed to remove at least one high volatility component, such as nitrogen, from a pressurized natural gas to produce pressurized liquefied natural gas that is lean in nitrogen and has a temperature above about −112° C. (−170° F.). A pressurized feed natural gas containing nitrogen is expanded and passed to a fractionation column. The fractionation column produces a first vapor stream that has enhanced nitrogen content and a first liquid stream. The vapor stream is cooled to produce a vapor phase and a liquid phase. The vapor and liquid phases are then phase separated to produce a second vapor stream and a second liquid stream. The second liquid stream is returned to the fractionation column as reflux. The second vapor stream is preferably used to cool the incoming feed stream. The first liquid stream is removed from the fractionation system as a product stream lean in nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventor: Eric T. Cole
  • Patent number: 6223558
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of refrigeration purification and power generation of industrial gas and apparatus therefor. The apparatus is comprised of two parts, the front part of which is constituted by a multi-stage phase changeable refrigeration cycle of pure-phase changeable non-heat refrigeration technique for effectively obtaining cool quantity; the rear part of which makes use of the feature that the toxic and harmful gas in the waste gas has the higher boiling point than clean gas, the waste gas is firstly condensed and liquefied to be separated; the liquefied clean gas and the liquid refrigeration medium of the last stage absorb heat from waste gas in order to be evaporated into steam to drive expansion turbine groups respectively to work, while collecting a mechanical power in a negative compression region and adding a mechanical energy loss of initial cooled waste gas during compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventor: Yuanming Yi
  • Patent number: 6223559
    Abstract: A medical identification charm bracelet including a housing for housing an electronic circuit that includes an audible output device and a visual output device that is activatable to draw attention to the I.D. bracelet and the information inscribed on the various bracelet charm attachments to notify medical personnel of various medical conditions of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventor: Shelia J. Coleman
  • Patent number: 6223560
    Abstract: A process for recycling trash and obtaining a glassy vitreous product by mixing trash with a vitrifying composition comprising 30% Sodium Sulphate, 7% Quartz, 20% Calcium Carbonate, 23% Sodium Carbonate, 13% Organic Sulphate (consisting of 20% Sodium Sulphate and 80% Carbon Hydrates) and 7% Calcium Fluor, the composition comprising the 10-20 weight percentage of the mixture and thermochemically transforming the mixture, the product being used in multiple applications. The glassy product obtained by the process is also provided by the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Cerocon S.A.
    Inventors: Roberto Girotti, Luis Domingo Tatasciore
  • Patent number: 6223561
    Abstract: A press mold for glass substrate includes an upper mold and a lower mold, and a pressure apparatus for applying pressure to the upper mold and the lower mold, for molding a plate-shaped glass substrate having a predetermined thickness between the upper mold and the lower mold. An engaging projected piece is projectingly provided on the side portion of the upper mold, an engaging projected piece supporting portion for supporting the engaging projected piece is provided on the side portion of the lower mold, and an end portion of the upper mold is formed so as to be released from the lower mold with the engaging projected piece as a rotating shaft. Variance in pressure on mold surfaces between the upper mold and lower mold is detected, and a buffer made of material having lower compressive yield strength than material constituting the lower mold is inserted between the lower mold and the pressure apparatus in a position corresponding to the mold surface portion at lower pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignees: NGK Insulators, Ltd., NGK Optoceramics, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Fukuyama, Kazutoshi Tohyama, Masahiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 6223562
    Abstract: The surface quality of halide, preferably fluoride, articles, e.g., articles used in the preparation of halide fibers is improved by cleaning the surface with an aqueous etchant and thereafter removing the etchant by washing the surface with methanol. The aqueous etchant is preferably a solution which contains hydrochloric acid and zirconium oxychloride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: British Telecommunications Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Daryl Szebesta, John Richard Williams, Steven Terrence Davey
  • Patent number: 6223563
    Abstract: The invention reflects discovery of a liquid phase doping technique that, unlike previous techniques, exhibits very little fluorine depletion upon subsequent heating. The invention involves the steps of providing a silica sol comprising a tetraalkylammonium hydroxide and a di-, tri-, or tetraalkylammonium fluoride, the sol having pH of about 10 to about 14, adding a gelling agent to the sol to induce gelation, casting or extruding the sol to form a gel body, and then drying, heat treating, and sintering the body. Advantageously, the fluorine-containing compound is tetramethylammonium fluoride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Charles C Bahr, Jr., Suhas Bhandarkar, Michael P Bohrer
  • Patent number: 6223564
    Abstract: A method for producing tubular items, such as hosiery items and the like, which are closed at an axial end, using a single-cylinder circular knitting machine provided with a half-dial which faces, in an upward region, a first half of the needle cylinder and has hooks which can move in a radial direction with respect to the axis of the needle cylinder, each hook being arranged between two contiguous needles of the half of the needle cylinder that it faces. The half-dial can turn over about a diametrical axis of the needle cylinder so that its hooks face the needles of the second half of the needle cylinder. The hooks can move in a radial direction with respect to the axis of the needle cylinder in order to engage portions of loops of knitting formed by the needles of the first half of the needle cylinder before the half-dial turns over and in order to release the portions of loops of knitting to the needles of the second half of the needle cylinder after the half-dial has turned over.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Lonati S.p.A.
    Inventors: Francesco Lonati, Ettore Lonati, Tiberio Lonati, Fausto Lonati
  • Patent number: 6223565
    Abstract: An arm warmer is formed from a circularly knitted tubular fabric member made up of a wrist cuff, a tapered arm portion, and a binder portion. The fabric member is knitted with nylon, nylon covered spandex, and wicking yarns of various configurations for the wrist cuff, the arm portion, and the binder portion, to form an arm encompassing sleeve that can be maintained on the arm of the wearer that will provide warmth and increase blood circulation at the commencement of use, and which can be rolled down the arm and maintained thereon in a rolled condition when a sufficient body temperature has been reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventor: Shane Cooper
  • Patent number: 6223566
    Abstract: A universal gun lock for insertion into barrel of a gun. The gun lock has a shaft assembly which is inserted into the muzzle end of a bore of the barrel. The lock assembly is held on the external end and the internal end extends into the chamber. An expandable locking cup is expanded by retracting an inner shaft. The locking cup moves outwardly far enough so that it abuts the shoulder of the chamber and cannot be pulled out. A center shaft is extended causing the locking cup to ride down a ramp and contract so that it may be pulled out of the barrel. Preferably, the lock assembly and an inner and outer shaft are provided with a selection of locking ramps and expandable locking cups so that a gun dealer needs only have one lock and shaft assembly with various locking ramps and expandable cups for different sizes of guns. The present invention also includes the process of using the universal lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventor: Marc L. Jamison
  • Patent number: 6223567
    Abstract: A lock arrangement having a driver element which has two outer surface sections. The first section has a first geometrical cross-section configuration which engages an outer lever spindle in both the locked and unlocked condition. In the unlocked condition, the first section also engages an outer driver spindle which rotates with the outer lever handle and outer lever spindle and engages the latch retraction structure for retraction of the latch. In the locked position, the second outer surface section of the driver element is aligned with outer drive spindle and the second surface section is free of driving engagement with the outer drive spindle such that retraction of the latch is prevented when the outer lever handle is rotated. A solenoid is provided on the interior of the lock and controls the movement of the driver element between the locked and unlocked positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: NT Falcon Lock
    Inventor: Cedric Q. Fadul
  • Patent number: 6223568
    Abstract: A motor vehicle steering wheel lock for mounting diametrically across the rim of the steering wheel and having an extended portion adapted to block complete rotation of the steering wheel has locking means which simplify and reduce the number of manual manipulations required to mount and remove the steering wheel lock. A locking means is provided to permit only axial extension of the elongated steering wheel lock when in the locked condition, and to permit axial contraction of the elongated steering wheel lock only when in the unlocked condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Winner International Royalty LLC
    Inventor: Jinn Fu Wu
  • Patent number: 6223569
    Abstract: A motor vehicle steering wheel lock for mounting diametrically across the rim of the steering wheel and having an extended portion adapted to block complete rotation of the steering wheel has locking means which simplify and reduce the number of manual manipulations required to mount and remove the steering wheel lock. A locking means is provided to permit only axial extension of the elongated steering wheel lock when in the locked condition, and to permit axial contraction of the elongated steering wheel lock only when in the unlocked condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Winner International Royalty LLC
    Inventor: Jinn Fu Wu
  • Patent number: 6223570
    Abstract: A locking means housing for an elongate automobile steering wheel locking rod includes a circular tubular body for containing a locking means and a connector firmly welded with one side of the circular tubular body. The connector is made of a flat metal plate cut to a proper size and shape and then bent into a case shape to have a hollow space. The connector is hardened by a special treatment and may be made to suit the size of any elongate automobile steering wheel locking rod without requiring a mold and, resisting external breaking force and air corrosion after being hardened, thus enhancing the anti-theft effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventor: Tian-Yuan Chen
  • Patent number: 6223571
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for magnetically activating an output signal from a keyswitch. The rotation of a keyswitch rotates a magnetic device into a first position. A magnetic sensing device detects the magnetic field created by the magnetic device, and transmits a flag signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen W. Rector
  • Patent number: 6223572
    Abstract: A door lock for use with a door having a through bore and an intermediate transverse aperture connecting said bore with an edge of the door, into which through bore actuator portions of the lock are inserted, and through which transverse aperture a latch portion of the lock is inserted; the lock having an outer first portion insertable into an outer portion of the through bore, an inner second lock portion insertable into an inner portion of the through bore, the lock first portion having at its inner end a laterally extending slot to receive the latch portion in entered relation therein, the lock second portion having a threaded cylindrical portion at its inner end, the lock first portion having a threaded inner end portion to make threaded engagement with the lock second portion, enabling rapid mounting of a lock within a door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventor: Asa Alfret Marttinen
  • Patent number: 6223573
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for operating a press, such as a forge or trim press, are directed at activating a ram in a press having a lower die and an upper die connected to a ram by heating a workpiece to a first temperature above an impact temperature. The workpiece then is placed on the lower die, monitored during chill down of the workpiece from the first temperature, and the ram actuated based upon the monitoring in a controlled manner to effect an impact of the upper die against the workpiece. The monitoring includes measuring a characteristic parameter of the workpiece and the actuating includes actuating the ram after a predetermined fixed value of the measured parameter is measured. The placing of the workpiece on the lower die is done manually in the preferred embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric COmpany
    Inventors: Sukhminder S. Grewal, Stephen R. Demichele, Richard L. Couture
  • Patent number: 6223574
    Abstract: A sheet of strip material of metal is coiled into a ring-like member, with a broader surface thereof being oriented in a radial direction. Opposite ends of the sheet of strip material are connected together by a joint. The joint includes a concave portion and a convex portion which are adapted to be engaged with each other against a repulsive force in a circumferential direction. The ring-like member is formed, on the inner periphery thereof, with teeth for engagement with a gear of a transmission, thereby producing a friction plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Suncall Corporation
    Inventors: Keiichiro Teratoko, Kazuo Kataoka
  • Patent number: 6223575
    Abstract: A tube forming machine for making a tube from a sheet is disclosed. The forming rolls of this invention include various V-shaped rolls at least some of which are used as part of a three-point bending technique. The three-point bending technique entails the use of a V-shaped bottom roll and a narrow top roll. The sheet is shaped running the sheet through a gap between the narrow top roll and the V-shaped bottom roll. The technique allows a wide variety of tubing to be made from the same set of forming rolls, because the curvature obtained in a sheet can be varied by opening or closing the gap. A V-shaped forming roll disclosed herein is also used at a pinch roll stand with a second complementary V-shaped roll. The pinch roll stand of this invention creates an initial V-shaped sheet which facilitates the threading of the sheet at the start of a forming operation. Brimmed rolls are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Kusakabe Electric & Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Kusakabe, Kazuo Omura, Hirokazu Mori
  • Patent number: 6223576
    Abstract: A method of thickening a peripheral portion of a circular plate blank, wherein the blank is held on a jig with its peripheral portion extending radially outwardly from the outer circumferential surface of the jig, and rotated such that the outer circumferential surface of the blank is held in pressing contact with the bottom surface of an annular forming groove formed in a rotatably supported roller die which has first and second spaced-apart side surfaces connected to each other by the bottom surface, the first side surface being inclined with respect to the radial direction of the blank holder jig such that the axial distance between the two side surfaces increases in the radially outward direction, and wherein the force between the blank and the bottom surface of the groove is controlled so that the peripheral portion is held flexed in a convex shape following the first side surface and so that the end part of the peripheral portion is thickened in opposite directions toward the two side surfaces while the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Aisin Kiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junji Mashita
  • Patent number: 6223577
    Abstract: A roll forming machine comprises a plurality of stations for progressively bending a flat strip of material such as metal into a formed product such as a building stud. The machine includes adjusting means for adjusting the spacing between the roll forming dies to accommodate differing thicknesses of metallic strip. Each station is adjusted along an angle of adjustment which is related to the bend angle at that station. A single adjustment actuator adjusts all of the stations even though each station is being adjusted at a different angle. In a preferred embodiment, the amount of adjustment at each station may be different from other stations being adjusted to provide adjustment not only in the correct direction but also in the correct amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Panelmaster International, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold Ujc, Waldemar H. Greiner
  • Patent number: 6223578
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a metal part and a sheet pressing wheel, in which reduction of their manufacturing cost is intended by enabling them to be formed only by plastic work such as press-work even if they are very small; and a printer in which such wheels are incorporated as a sheet feed mechanism. In the method for manufacturing a metal part, plastic work is given to a metal plate to thereby manufacture the metal part. The method for manufacturing a metal part comprises a first forming step for performing a punching work for roughly forming at least a part of the outline shape of the metal part; a second forming step for giving a face-pressing work to at least an outline edge portion of the metal part to thereby thin the outline edge portion; and a third forming step for shaping the outline shape again by a punching work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tadashi Kamijo
  • Patent number: 6223579
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a core plug from a core blank having an outer rim, a top surface and a bottom surface. The method comprises positioning the core blank into a stamping apparatus. Subsequently, a recess is stamped into the outer rim of the bottom surface of the core blank. Next, the bottom surface of the core blank is positioned in a blank accepting region of a second die member of a core die formation apparatus. The core blank is then propelled through an opening extending through the second die member, and, the outer rim is deformed inward and upward, thus forming the core plug. The deformation does not affect the recessed region of the resulting core plug. The invention additionally comprises a core plug manufactured by the foregoing method and a core die formation apparatus used in conjunction with the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Mercury Products Corporation
    Inventor: Jerome Splitt
  • Patent number: 6223580
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a heating element by corrugating a ribbon to a waveform having an amplitude based on a measured resistance per unit length of the ribbon. The amplitude of the corrugation is varied based on the measured resistance, to vary the actual path length of the heating element, shorter based on higher resistance and longer based on lower resistance. The heating element is formed to have a predetermined length dimension. The apparatus comprises a pair of intermeshed gears, with the spacing controlled in accordance with the measured resistance per unit length of the unformed ribbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventor: Robert L. Kirby
  • Patent number: 6223581
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a hemming device 1 with a hemming head 6, which has one or more hemming tools 8, 9, divided into segments 12 through 16 in the case of a plurality of hemming tools, wherein the hemming tool or hemming tools is/are provided with a hemming edge 11 rotating in the operating position. The hemming device 1 also has a stroke drive for generating the hemming stroke and an adjusting device 22 for withdrawing and extending the segments 12 through 16, which has an adjusting drive 23, which moves all segments 12 through 16 simultaneously. The segments have adapted contact surfaces 17, which have a contact angle &agr; of 20° to 50°. The adjusting drive 23 is preferably designed as a crank mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Kuka Schweissaniagen GmbH
    Inventor: Ernst Zimmer
  • Patent number: 6223582
    Abstract: A transfer system, particularly for the transfer of workpieces in multi-station presses, includes several transfer modules, each of which has a workpiece holding device carried by at least one lever mechanism. Each lever mechanism transmits the adjusting movement of two mutually independent drives to the workpiece holding device. One of the drives is disposed in a stationary manner and the other drive is moved by the stationarily disposed drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Schuler Pressen GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Hans Hofele, Andreas Dangelmayr, Jürgen Eltze, Karl Thudium
  • Patent number: 6223583
    Abstract: A sensor for determining an oxygen content of an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine includes a flat-plate sensing element that is inserted in a gas-tight fashion via a hybrid seal in a ceramic shaped element that is arranged in a metal housing. The seal includes a powdered sealing packing, both placed around the sensing element in a recess at one end of the ceramic shaped element and a fusible glass seal located above the powdered sealing packing. The seal achieves gas-tight and gasoline-resistant isolation or immobilization of the sensing element in the ceramic shaped element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Karl-Hermann Friese, Helmut Weyl