Patents Issued in October 16, 2001
  • Patent number: 6301868
    Abstract: A vortex reducing mower blade for use with a rotary lawn mower having a motor and a depending drive shaft has a cutting edge on each leading edge thereof, an airlift on each trailing edge thereof, and outboard ends extending between the terminations of the leading and trailing edges. The outboard ends generally meet with the trailing edges at respective trailing corner- or tip-regions. Each outboard end has margins formed as a boundary-layer fence that is angled either upwardly or downwardly relative to a given relative up direction which is parallel to the central axis of the depending drive shaft. These boundary-layer fences reduce the production and/or strength of vortices in the wake of the trailing corner- or tip-regions of the blade. Each boundary-layer fence may be angled either upwardly or downwardly at generally a right angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Inventor: James D. Siplinger
  • Patent number: 6301869
    Abstract: A baler plug removing system for unplugging a conventional hay baler without the user having to risk bodily injury or leave the comfort of the tractor cab. The device includes a support member having a front edge, a plurality of wheels rotatably attached to the support member, a pair of opposing tracks that are secured to the conventional baler that receive the plurality of wheels, a pair of front bearing for guiding the front of the support member, a pair of rear bearings for guiding the rear of the support member, a first blade member slidably positioned upon the front edge of the support member, a motor mechanically connected to the first blade member to reciprocate the first blade member upon the support member and a pair of hydraulic cylinders connected to the support member for extending/retracting the support member along the tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Inforcer, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald L. Schmitcke
  • Patent number: 6301870
    Abstract: A false twist texturing machine for the texturing of synthetic threads in one handling position at a time, in which a heating device and a false twist unit are disposed within a false twist zone. In an after-treatment zone are disposed a second heating device and a counter-twist apparatus. In this case a residual twist left in the thread from the false twist unit is removed by the counter-twist apparatus. The counter-twist apparatus is for this disposed in one plane with the second heating device, so that the thread is run substantially in a straight thread path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Barmag AG
    Inventors: Heino Bünger, Hellmut Lorenz
  • Patent number: 6301871
    Abstract: Rotating winch for stranding lines comprising a hollow rotor (1) wherein a motor (9) suitable for rotating a drawing drum (12) around an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotor (1) is arranged, the external lateral surface (21) of said drawing drum (12) having a substantially concave profile which is included between two containment walls (22, 22′). Said profile is preferably symmetrical and has a substantially constant radius of curvature, equal to about the double of the distance between the containment walls (22, 22′) and to about ⅔ of the external diameter at the center of the drawing drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Officine Meccaniche Di Lesmo S.p.A.
    Inventor: Fabrizio Recchia
  • Patent number: 6301872
    Abstract: Provided is a combustion chamber for producing a pressurized gas having a wall structure defining an interior chamber, an explosion chamber disposed within the interior chamber, an annular chamber connected to the explosion chamber, a first reflecting surface for reflecting a pressure wave within the interior chamber, a second reflecting surface for reflecting the pressure wave within the interior chamber, at least one inlet for introducing a first gas into the interior chamber, and at least one outlet from the interior chamber for drawing off a pressurized gas from the interior chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: J. Hilbert Anderson, Inc.
    Inventor: J. Hilbert Anderson
  • Patent number: 6301873
    Abstract: A gas turbine and steam turbine installation has a waste-heat steam generator whose heating surfaces are connected into the water/steam cycle of the steam turbine. A gasification device is connected upstream of the gas turbine in order to provide an integrated gasification of a fossil fuel. Reliable operation of a saturator which is connected into a fuel line is ensured independently of the operating condition of the gasification device. For this purpose, a saturator-water heat exchanger connected with its secondary side into the saturator cycle is supplied, on its primary side, with feed water extracted from the water/steam cycle of the steam turbine. Thus it is possible to heat the feed water cooled in the saturator-water heat exchanger through the use of a partial flow of compressed air, and it is possible to supply the partial flow of compressed air to an air separation unit connected upstream of the gasification device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank Hannemann, Ulrich Schiffers
  • Patent number: 6301874
    Abstract: A combined cycle power plant is disclosed, whose target high-temperature portion in the gas turbine can be reliably and sufficiently cooled, and in which the heat generated via the cooling can be reliably recovered, thereby improving the efficiency. Here, the exhaust gas from the high-pressure turbine is introduced as cool steam to the steam cooling system for cooling the target high-temperature portion in the gas turbine. This cooling process is efficiently and suitably performed by using the characteristic of the above high-pressure exhaust gas relating to quantity, pressure, or temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Wakazono, Hideo Kimura, Yasushi Fukuizumi
  • Patent number: 6301875
    Abstract: A heater for heating turbine exhaust gas (TEG) flowing in a downstream direction through a duct formed by sets of opposing side walls is described. A flame shield has first and second plates which extend symmetrically with respect to a horizontal center line substantially across the duct, diverge in the downstream direction, and terminate in plate edges which are spaced from proximate duct side walls. Each plate defines spaced-apart, first and second slits which communicate an upstream side of the plate with a downstream side thereof. The slits are spaced from the center line and from the plate edges. A heating gas supply pipe extends parallel to the center line across the duct and has a plurality of spaced-apart orifices that face in a downstream direction and are in flow communication with the downstream side of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Coen Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan C. Backlund, Enrico E. Fiorenza, Kenneth Y. Ahn
  • Patent number: 6301876
    Abstract: This invention provides a noble gas storage and delivery system for ion propulsion using an adsorption bed coupled with a primary storage vessel containing compressed gas or two-phase fluid to control the flow and pressure to a thruster component. The adsorption bed component is lighter weight than conventional flow and pressure control devices, and the system can provide in situ gas cleanup and stable flow from two-phase storage. The use of the adsorption bed allows for independent and isolated operation of multiple thruster components such as refill from the primary storage vessel, throttling, and multiple setpoint flow rates. The pressure and flow is controlled using a flow restrictor and low wattage heat. Flow rates of about 2-50 sccm can be controlled to within about 1.2% or less, and the flow can be throttled by varying the pressure. This noble gas storage and delivery system can be used for earth orbit satellites, and lunar or planetary space missions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Mainstream Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Dwight Douglas Back, Charlie Ramos
  • Patent number: 6301877
    Abstract: The cooling of the exhaust nozzle of a fan jet engine powering aircraft is enhanced by providing an extension cooling concept that includes an extension piece extending axially downstream of the nozzles variable throat that utilizes fan air to cool the forward portion of the divergent nozzle surfaces adjacent to the gas path of the engine and ram air to cool the surfaces downstream of the ejector. A variable vane varies the area of the ejector slot as a function of Aj for compensating for flow losses at off-design points of the nozzle positions during the flight envelope of the aircraft so as to avoid overtemperature of the components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: George P. Liang, William J. Yeager, John F. Soileau
  • Patent number: 6301878
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method and apparatus for cleaning exhaust of an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine has a catalyst and a lambda probe disposed in an exhaust gas tract. The lambda probe is disposed upstream from the catalyst, and is capable of an output &lgr;o substantially close to lambda=1. The present invention includes determining a relationship between a downstream NOx concentration and a lambda value such that a lambda value substantially greater than 1 indicates a substantially greatly increased NOx concentration, and determining a relationship between a downstream NH3 concentration and a lambda value such that a lambda value substantially less than 1 indicates a substantially greatly increased NH3 concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hong Zhang, Corinna Pfleger, Juergen Roessler
  • Patent number: 6301879
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification system for denoxing exhaust gases has a converter containing a substance thermolytically separable into NH3, a feed line connecting the converter with an exhaust gas line for supplying NH3 into the exhaust gas flow therein, a dosing device in the feed line for dosing the NH3 to be introduced into the exhaust gas flow, a heatable cold-start store connected to the feed line between the converter and dosing device for providing the substance during starting of a combustion unit connected to the exhaust gas line, an air feeding device having two air conduits provided with valves wherein one conduit is connected to the feed line between the cold-start store and dosing device and the other conduit is connected to a mixing chamber located in the feed line after the dosing device, and a reservoir container for storing the substance connected to a filling pipe terminating in the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: HJS Fahrzeugtechnik GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Werner Weisweiler, Georg Huthwohl, Bernd Maurer
  • Patent number: 6301880
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling the air/fuel ratio in an internal combustion engine having first and second groups of cylinders coupled to first and second exhaust banks, respectively. The first exhaust bank includes a catalyst and at least a pre-catalyst oxygen sensor. The second exhaust bank includes a catalyst and no more than one post-catalyst oxygen sensor. The oxygen sensors monitor the oxygen content of the exhaust gases in their corresponding exhaust banks and provide feedback signals to a controller. The controller uses the feedback signal from the pre-catalyst oxygen sensor (in the first bank) to calculate desired A/F values in the first group of cylinders. The controller uses both the feedback signal from the pre-catalyst oxygen sensor (in the first bank) and the feedback signal from the post-catalyst oxygen sensor (in the second bank) to calculate desired A/F values for the second group of cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael John Cullen, Brent Edward Sealy, Kenneth John Behr, Richard Andrew Booth
  • Patent number: 6301881
    Abstract: A method and apparatus that converts time-resolved sensor signals into frequency domain signals using Fast Fourier Transforms and power spectral densities. A signal, as a means to assess catalyst performance such as a signal based on sensing oxygen concentration in motor vehicle exhaust in accordance with the present invention is in the time domain and has multiple components at different frequencies. The use of Fast Fourier Transforms isolates the various spectral density which arise from different frequency components of the complex time domain signal. The analysis has been found to be substantially independent of operating conditions. The power spectral density has found to be a precise indication of oxygen storage and release of the catalyst and catalyst performance. The catalyst performance can be signaled to the vehicle operator for on board diagnostics (OBD) of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Engelhard Corporation
    Inventor: Sanath V. Kumar
  • Patent number: 6301882
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification control apparatus is used for an engine provided with a NOx catalyst absorbing or adsorbing NOx when an air fuel ratio of exhaust gas from the engine is lean and reducing the absorbed or adsorbed NOx when the exhaust gas is at the stoichiometric air fuel ratio or richer in fuel, and an exhaust sensor arranged upstream or downstream of the NOx catalyst, and characterized in that thed exhaust gas purification control apparatus comprises a sulphur component calculating means for calculating or estimating a quantity of sulphur components in the exhaust gas and an operation mode changing means for changing an air fuel ratio of the engine on the basis of the detected value of the sulphur components, and the calculated or estimated value of sulphur components is a prescribed value or more, the operation changing means decreases frequencies of lean mode operation of the engine, shortens continuation time of the lean mode operation or prohibits the lean mode operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshio Manaka
  • Patent number: 6301883
    Abstract: A brake booster provides additional boost capacity without unduly increasing booster size and weight by providing a vacuum pump connected so as to add its additional vacuum capacity to that of the normal vacuum source when activated in response to sensed approaching run-out. The additional vacuum is provided by connecting the vacuum pump in a second conduit between the vacuum source and the booster vacuum chamber in parallel with a first conduit connecting the vacuum source directly with the booster vacuum chamber, with check valve means in the first and second conduits preventing substantial vacuum loss from the vacuum chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Chris Fulks, James William Zehnder, II, Douglas E. Poole, Timothy Allen Haerr, Michelle Kay Goecke, Timothy M. Schlangen
  • Patent number: 6301884
    Abstract: A brake design for a hydrostatic transaxle having a center section mounted in the transaxle housing and a pump and motor mounted on the center section. A disk brake assembly having at least one rotor is connected to the motor shaft and is entirely mounted in the housing. The design may also include a rotatable actuator mounted in the housing and extending therefrom for engaging the brake assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Ray M. Hauser, Alan W. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6301885
    Abstract: A variable displacement hydraulic pump includes a pump cylinder barrel having a plurality of axially arranged cylinder chambers disposed therein and each cylinder chamber includes a reciprocating piston therein. The pump is rotatably supported by the pump block and a motor block is separable from and connected to the pump block. A hydraulic motor is rotatably supported by the motor block and hydraulically connected to the pump through a pair of continuous passages formed in the pump and motor blocks. The motor includes an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the pump. A motor includes a cylinder barrel having a plurality of axially arranged cylinder chambers disposed therein and each cylinder chamber has a reciprocating piston therein. A thrust bearing is supported by a portion of the pump and motor block and is receivably engaged with the pistons extended from the cylinder barrel of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventors: Kevin J. Johnson, Norman E. Jolliff
  • Patent number: 6301886
    Abstract: A booster 4 and a hydraulic pressure master cylinder 5 are disposed so as to be inclined upward of a vehicle body by an angle &thgr; with respect to a line L2 extending along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. The front surface plate 4c of the booster 4 is provided at the upper side of the vehicle body with the low strength portion 9. A first notched portion 10f is provided at the upper side of the reinforcement plate 10 so as to open at the outer peripheral edge thereof. The lower side of the reinforcement flange 10b of the reinforcement plate 10 is partially removed to form a second notched portion 10g. When external force is applied to the hydraulic pressure master cylinder 5 from the front direction of the vehicle body, the low strength portion 9 and the first and second notched portions 10f, 10g serve to easily incline the hydraulic pressure master cylinder 5 to the upper direction of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chiseki Kaneko, Junichi Komiyama
  • Patent number: 6301887
    Abstract: A low pressure EGR system suitable for use as a passive retrofit system is disclosed for moving vehicles equipped with a diesel engine. The EGR loop inlet is positioned upstream of the exhaust particulate filter and downstream of the turbine to utilize backpressure created by the exhaust particulate filter to insure EGR flow in the loop. A catalyzed soot filter in communication with the EGR pickup insures cleansed EGR gases at the EGR return downstream of the air filter and upstream of the compressor. A corrugated EGR line provides cooling of the EGR gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Engelhard Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Gorel, John Lawrence Calabrese
  • Patent number: 6301888
    Abstract: A diesel-cycle engine with a unique exhaust gas recirculation system includes a plurality of cylinders with fuel feed for each of the cylinders and an intake manifold for distributing intake air to each of the cylinders for combustion of the fuel charges therein with generation of exhaust gas. The exhaust gas is discharged to ambient atmosphere through an exhaust line with a gas turbine therein. The gas turbine drives an intake compressor which serves to compress the intake air. An engine controller controls a valve regulating the amount of exhaust gas recirculation responsive to sensed concentration of an exhaust gas component. In another embodiment, an engine controller controls a valve regulating the amount of exhaust gas recirculation, responsive to sensed demand for torque and control of fuel injection quantity is responsive to sensed concentration of an exhaust gas component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
    Inventor: Charles L. Gray, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6301889
    Abstract: A turbocharger, particularly suitable for use in an internal combustion engine, recirculates exhaust gas from the turbine to an interstage duct area between two compressor wheels of a multi-stage compressor. The turbocharger includes a rotatable shaft; a turbine including a turbine wheel carried by the shaft; and a multi-stage compressor. The multi-stage compressor includes a first compressor wheel carried by the shaft, an axially extending first inlet associated with the first compressor wheel, and a radially extending first outlet associated with the compressor wheel. A second compressor wheel carried by the shaft includes an axially extending second inlet associated with the second compressor wheel, and a radially extending second outlet associated with the second compressor wheel. An interstage duct fluidly interconnects in series the first outlet associated with the first compressor wheel and a second inlet associated with the second compressor wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Gladden, Phillip J. Houtz
  • Patent number: 6301890
    Abstract: A system for preparing gas mixtures for combustion, reducing emissions during combustion and treating and purifying resultant exhaust gas mixtures includes an exhaust gas scrubbing and condensing heat exchanger which cleans, cools and dries an exhaust gas mixture, a source of clean water which supplies clean water for heating and humidifying, a steam producer for converting clean water to steam, a steam boiler for increasing the energy of the steam and the energy of a fluid compound gas. An exhaust gas turbine, a steam turbine, and a fluid compound gas turbine all mounted on a common shaft are operative to convert energy in the exhaust gas mixture, the steam, and the fluid compound gas to mechanical energy on the common shaft. The system is particularly suited for use with an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: MaK Motoren GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Herbert Zeretzke
  • Patent number: 6301891
    Abstract: An air bottoming powertrain, suitable for use in automobiles includes an internal combustion engine, a compressor which receives gaseous working fluid and compresses it to an elevated pressure, a cooler for operating the compressor isothermally, an expander for deriving work from the compressed gas and a heat exchanger located in the compressed gas line for indirect heat exchange between the compressed working fluid and exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine. The expander may have a cylindrical barrel with a plurality of cylinders arranged in the circle and open at one end face of the cylinder barrel, which end face is sealed closed by a valve plate. The cylinder barrel and valve plate allow relative rotation therebetween to drive an output shaft, driven by compressed gas from the compressor. An alternative expander is a Scotch Yoke piston motor which includes plural paired and axially aligned cylinders on opposing sides of an output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Environmental Protection Agency
    Inventor: Charles L. Gray, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6301892
    Abstract: An electric ignition type gas generation apparatus for use in a vehicle crash safety system includes an ignition section that is ignited by an electric signal produced by the impact of a crash, and a gas generating section in which burning gas is generated by the ignition of the ignition section. The ignition section is formed on the base of the apparatus, and the gas generating section is disposed on the base over the ignition section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Showa Kinzoku Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhito Narumi, Ikuo Araki, Hiroki Morinaga
  • Patent number: 6301893
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting natural heat energy into another form of energy is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: (a) exposing one end of a superconductor body to a source of natural heat energy; (b) inserting another end of the superconductor body into a tank of a steam boiler that holds water therein such that the natural heat energy is transmitted by the superconductor body to the water held in the tank of the steam boiler so as to convert the water into steam; (c) providing the steam from the steam boiler to a steam turbine to produce a mechanical rotary motion; and (d) converting the mechanical rotary motion into electrical energy via use of an electric power generator that is coupled to the steam turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Orra Corporation
    Inventor: Chin-Kuang Luo
  • Patent number: 6301894
    Abstract: A geothermal power generation system having an input well extending from the surface into a hot rock strata and an output well spaced away from the input well extending from the surface into the hot rock strata. The input and output wells extend into the hot rock strata. A horizontal bore connects the two wells together. The bore is located in the hot rock strata and consists of a casing alone or a casing and a backfill between the casing and the hole, in order to prevent the water and steam flowing through the bore from coming into contact with either the hot rock strata or the aggressive water in the hot rock strata. Alternatively, the system may consist of only one vertical well and a horizontal bore extending into the hot rock strata and a pipe that returns the water into the horizontal bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Inventor: Albert H. Halff
  • Patent number: 6301895
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to ensure a fast, economical and reliable power regulation of a steam generating power plant (1) having a turbo set that comprises a steam turbine (2) and a generator (6) and during the operation of which water (W) is injected into or upstream of an overheater heating surface According to the disclosed fast power regulating process of the steam generating power plant (1), the injection rate of water (W) is increased to adjust an additional generator output. In a steam generating power plant (1) which is particularly suitable for carrying out the process, an overheater heating surface, of a steam generator (28) is provided with a water injector (70, 71) connected to a regulating component (82) for regulating the injection rate of water (W) into the overheater heating surface. The regulating component (82) supplies a regulating signal to the water injector, (70, 72), depending on the required additional generator output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Günter Kallina, Rudolf Kral, Eberhard Wittchow
  • Patent number: 6301896
    Abstract: In an improved system for recovering heat from a combustion gas produced by burning wastes, the combustion gas or combustible gas produced by partial burning of the wastes subjected to dust filtration in a temperature range of 450-650° C. at a filtration velocity of 1-5 cm/sec under a pressure of from −5 kPa (gage) to 5 MPa before heat recovery is effected. The dust filtration is preferably performed using a filter medium which may or may not support a denitration catalyst. Heat recovery is preferably effected using a steam superheater. The dust-free gas may partly or wholly be reburnt with or without an auxiliary fuel to a sufficiently high temperature to permit heat recovery. The combustion furnace may be a gasifying furnace which, in turn, may be combined with a melting furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Norihisa Miyoshi, Shosaku Fujinami, Tetsuhisa Hirose, Masaaki Irie, Kazuo Takano, Takahiro Oshita
  • Patent number: 6301897
    Abstract: A gas turbine suction air cooling system includes a gas turbine, a suction air cooler for cooling the outside air to be drawn into the gas turbine, an air-cooling coil for feeding chilled water so as to cool the outside air drawn into the suction air cooler, and absorption chillers for feeding the chilled water to the air-cooling coil. The air-cooling coil is divided into a plurality of coil lines, and the air-cooling coil, disposed closest to the outside air, is connected to the absorption chiller for feeding the chilled water of highest temperature, and the other air-cooling coil, disposed closest to the gas turbine, is connected to the absorption chiller for feeding the chilled water of lowest temperature. The system having such as a construction can be made small in size and high in efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shuichiro Uchida
  • Patent number: 6301898
    Abstract: A rotary device containing a housing having a curved inner surface with a profile equidistant from a trochoidal curve, an eccentric mounted on a shaft disposed within the housing, a rotor mounted on the eccentric shaft which contains at least three intersecting faces and a partial bore located at the intersection of adjacent faces, and at least three hollow rollers rotatably mounted within the partial bores of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Inventors: Ewan Choroszylow, Giovanni Aquino, Howard J. Greenwald
  • Patent number: 6301899
    Abstract: A mixer for a combustor includes a swirler having a plurality of vanes disposed at an upstream end of a mixing duct. A centerbody extends downstream from the vanes and includes a fuel chamber integrally joined to the vanes. Fuel injection openings extend from the chamber into passages between the vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anthony John Dean, Steven George Goebel
  • Patent number: 6301900
    Abstract: A nozzle cap (10) is disposed downstream of a nozzle body (1) of a combustor for a gas turbine, an inner surface part (12) of which is of a conical shape diverging downstream to define a fuel-jet guide (17) for guiding fuel jet ejected from one or more nozzle holes (3) provided at the center of a downstream end surface of the nozzle body. Fuel ejected from the one or more nozzle holes smoothly runs along the fuel-jet guide without remaining there to join with a swirl stream (S) in a swirl path (9), and to burn without generating smoke. Air introduced into a first auxiliary air path (6) defined between the nozzle body and a partition (5) at a position upstream thereof passes through a second auxiliary air path (16) defined between a downstream end surface (2) of the nozzle body (1) and an upstream end surface (13) of the nozzle cap and reaches an entrance (19) of the fuel-jet guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigemi Mandai, Masataka Ohta, Hideki Haruta, Koichi Nishida, Shinji Akamatsu, Masahiro Kamogawa
  • Patent number: 6301901
    Abstract: A container useful for keeping food or beverages warm or cold includes a combination lid and tray door assembly. The lid and tray are both coupled to the container and to each other. The tray may be pivoted independently of the lid into a table top position and it may be separated from the container and used as a separate tray. The tray and lid are also pivotable together as an integral door assembly, and the lid is pivotable independently of the tray when the tray is removed or deployed as a table top. The overall height of the container is less than the overall length and the overall width so that the container has a low, stable center of gravity which permits it to be used on an unstable surface, such as an automobile seat, and so that the container does not obstruct movement or view of occupants of an automobile when it is used in an automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Igloo Products Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen L. Coffee, James J. J. Costello, Winthrop A. Eastman, Laurence R. Giles, Jonathan H. Godshall, Eve Heim-Grubb, Ninh G. Pham
  • Patent number: 6301902
    Abstract: A pulse tube refrigerator includes a compressor, a first high pressure valve connected with the compressor, a first high pressure passage connecting the outlet port of the compressor with the first high pressure valve, a first low pressure valve connected with the compressor, first low pressure passage connecting the inlet port of the compressor with the first low pressure valve, a regenerator connected with the first high pressure valve and the first low pressure valve, a cold head connected with the regenerator, a pulse tube connected with the cold head a second high pressure valve connected with the pulse tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shaowei Zhu, Shin Kawano, Masafumi Nogawa, Tatsuo Inoue
  • Patent number: 6301903
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for activating fusible links on a circuit substrate. The circuit substrate is supported in a fixture which is cooled to a below ambient temperature. Cooling of the circuit substrate decreases the absorption of energy by the substrate, permitting a smaller spot size laser beam having a lower wavelength to be employed for interrupting the fusible links. The substrate is cooled by a refrigeration coil in heat transfer with the fixture holding the substrate. Moisture formation is avoided by placing the substrate and laser source in a controlled atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Charles Edelstein, Chandrasekhar Narayan
  • Patent number: 6301904
    Abstract: A method and system for delivering aqueous ice slurry is disclosed. In one embodiment, the ice slurry delivery system includes a storage tank having an inlet to receive an aqueous ice slurry from an ice generating unit. A circulation loop is connected to the storage tank. Ice slurry held in the storage tank flows through the circulation loop generally continuously at a first rate. Valved discharge points are located along the circulation loop at spaced locations and are operable to re-direct some of the ice slurry flowing though the circulation loop to deliver ice slurry for end use upon demand. The rate of flow of ice slurry through the discharge points is less than the first rate even when all of the discharge points are re-directing ice slurry for end use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Sunwell Engineering Company Limited
    Inventor: Vladimir Goldstein
  • Patent number: 6301905
    Abstract: A trough construction including a trough along which water is propelled to convey bagged product therealong. A plurality of nozzles jet-spray cooling or heating water onto the product as it is conveyed along the trough. The nozzles are oriented in opposing first and second series so as to impart a rotation on the bagged product generally about a longitudinal axis of the trough. According to one embodiment, a first suction tube having openings through the trough wall is opposite to the first series of nozzles and with a first pump forms a first fluid circuit. Similarly, a second suction tube with suction openings, together with a second pump and the second series form a second fluid circuit. The two fluid circuits keep the bags centered in the trough, surrounded by cooling or heating water. According to a second embodiment, the trough is positioned in a sump and has trough openings so that the water in the trough communicates with that in the sump, and the suction tubes are not used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Inventor: Timothy D. Gallus
  • Patent number: 6301906
    Abstract: A method of adjusting a position of two shield elements for a liquid cooling medium and arranged above a metal strip having a strip plane and a strip central plane extending transverse to the strip plane and intersecting the same along the strip central axis, with the two shield elements being located opposite each other with respect to the strip central plane and having each an adjustable component identical to the adjustable component of another of the two shield elements and adjustable transverse to the strip central plane, and with the method including providing an adjusting element connectable with the two shield elements for adjusting the same, and adjusting the adjusting element in the strip central plane; and a device for effecting the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: SMS Schloemann-Siemag AG
    Inventors: Hermann Thiel, Jürgen Seidel, Peter Holterhoff, Marcus Cramer
  • Patent number: 6301907
    Abstract: An air cooling system including a first desiccant dryer, a second desiccant dryer connected in series in a flow path with the first desiccant dryer and a first air cooling unit connected in series in the flow path with the second desiccant dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignees: Parameter Generation & Co., International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald E. McCollin, William Ross Hile
  • Patent number: 6301908
    Abstract: An ice making device including a control system to regulate the dispensing of manufactured ice to a hopper for subsequent dispensing into a container such as a cup. The control system senses a low level of ice in the hopper and initiates a signal that is sent to a controller. The controller initiates a time delay that prevents discharge of ice from the ice making device to the hopper until a monitored variable about the ice meets a predetermined value. When the value is reached, additional ice is dispensed to the hopper. Such an ice making device has use in combination with a beverage dispensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Crane Co.
    Inventors: John Huffman, Ronald P. Petersen, Mark R. Henning, Gregory G. Stettes, Franklin D. Newkirk
  • Patent number: 6301909
    Abstract: An automotive dual air-conditioning system having No. 1 air conditioner and No. 2 air conditioner arranged separately in an automobile, for controlling air-conditioning operation, and a bus line connected between No. 1 air conditioner and No. 2 air conditioner. No. 1 air conditioner transfers air-conditioner control information to No. 2 air conditioner through the bus line during operation of No. 1 air conditioner and No. 2 air conditioner, to thereby control the operating condition of No. 2 air conditioner in accordance with the information thus supplied. Furthermore, No. 2 air conditioner changes the control of its operating condition to manual control in case a communication error of air-conditioner control information to be transferred through the bus line continues over a specific period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Hayasaka
  • Patent number: 6301910
    Abstract: The refrigerator includes a plurality of rooms separated by partition walls; an air blower to send cooling air cooled by an evaporator into a refrigerator box; a fan motor 65 to drive the air blower; a damper device 50 to adjust an amount of the cooling air of at least one room, of amounts of cooling air flowing into the rooms; and control means 2 and 93 for driving the fan motor 65 without fail just before the baffle of the damper device 50 is opened. The temperature at which the bimetal thermo-switch 2 moves from one terminal 2a to the other terminal 2b, is set lower than the temperature at which the bimetal thermo-switch 93 moves from the closing terminal 93b side to the opening terminal 93a side, and the bimetal thermo-switch 2 is made to move to the other terminal 2b side before the baffle moves from the close-status to the open-status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sankyo Seiki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Seiichiro Noritake, Kazunori Nishikawa, Yukimori Miyazawa, Yoshihiko Nakajima
  • Patent number: 6301911
    Abstract: An process and method for monitoring and selectively controlling the discharge and suction pressures of a compressor within a transport unit is disclosed. Specifically, the present invention teaches the adjustment of the suction modulation valve, the compressor cylinder banks, and the engine speed solenoid in order to bring the operating compressor discharge and suction pressures within the design operating envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: John Robert Reason, Joao Eduardo Navarro de Andrade
  • Patent number: 6301912
    Abstract: A heat pump apparatus comprising: a scroll compressor including an orbiting scroll member in which a spiral wrap is formed on a first base plate, and an non-orbiting scroll member in which a spiral wrap is formed on a second base plate and a back pressure chamber for introducing pressure into a side of the orbiting scroll member or the non-orbiting scroll member opposite to a compression chamber formed by the orbiting and non-orbiting scroll members; a heat-exchanger; an expansion device; device for detecting a consumption power of the heat pump apparatus or the compressor; and device for changing the pressure in the back pressure chamber in accordance with an output from the detecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Terai, Isamu Tsubono, Koichi Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 6301913
    Abstract: A refrigerator unit is provided including a casing having a plurality of walls, one of the walls including an opening on one side thereof. A glass door is pivotally attached to the casing for covering the opening. A first warm fluid passage is provided extending along at least a portion of the opening in the casing. A second warm fluid passage extends along a portion of the door along a perimeter thereof where the door engages the casing. The refrigeration system includes a compressor, condenser, expansion valve, and an evaporator connected in series. The refrigerant condensing section has a liquid cooling system wherein the first fluid passage is the refrigerant and the second fluid passage provides the liquid from the liquid cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Inventors: Edward R. Schulak, Roland Ares
  • Patent number: 6301914
    Abstract: An electrical power cord arrangement for a room air conditioner of the type having an indoor section, an outdoor section, an electrical control box contained within the indoor section and an outer housing partially enclosing both sections. The outer housing has an access opening therein in the region thereof which encloses the outdoor section. An electrical power cord having a first end, which terminates within the electrical control box extends from the control box, through the housing, into the outdoor section of the air conditioner where it then passes from the housing through the access opening to the exterior thereof, where it terminates in a second end configured to be connected to a source of electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Jose G. Oliva, Victoriano Zamora, Nestor Hernandez
  • Patent number: 6301915
    Abstract: A dehumidification apparatus of the type using a deliquescent agent, with which the leakage of deliquesced liquid out of the apparatus is securely prevented is disclosed. In the dehumidification apparatus, an air inlet and an air outlet are formed in the upper plate of the container. At least one closing member which can close the air inlet and the air outlet is arranged above the air inlet and the air outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Kankyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Ike, Yasushi Ishikawa, Kazunari Kakuta
  • Patent number: 6301916
    Abstract: A refrigerated showcase has a front opening through which a consumer can view and access foodstuffs on display. The foodstuffs are cooled by coolant air introduced through a slanted, perforated, Interior panel located near a rear wall of the showcase. An air curtain directed downwardly at the front opening minimizes coolant air loss through the opening. Lips are applied and extended from edges of vertical sides of the access opening to reduce the loss of coolant air through the air curtain. Thus, relative flows of the coolant air and the air curtain are maintained inside the showcase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Inventor: Ramon Munoz Navarro
  • Patent number: 6301917
    Abstract: An apparatus for placement in a fluid flow line between an evaporator coil of an air conditioning system and a fluid drain line, which includes a body portion formed in the drain line, having a first upper open end portion, and a first and second flow openings; an air flow tube insertable in the first upper open end portion, the tube further comprising a first opening extending outward from the first upper end portion, and a second end portion having a slotted opening in its wall to allow flow through the slotted opening, between the first and second openings, the tube held in position via a shoulder member along its length resting on an end of the first upper end portion; an air source for inserting air through the upper end of the air tube for allowing the air to flow to the first and second openings toward the evaporator coil and the fluid drain line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Inventor: Marvin Lacoste