Patents Issued in November 6, 2001
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Patent number: 6311645Abstract: A humane, pain-free method of animal training includes interrupting the animal's vision to deliver a training stimulus. A lens having an electro-optic shutter is placed within the animal's field of vision. The shutter is open and does not obstruct or interrupt the animal's vision while the animal exhibits desirable behavior. The shutter is closed and interrupts the animal's vision to deliver a training stimulus as needed. The closed shutter is re-opened to remove the training stimulus and continue training.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2001Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Inventor: Joseph S. Brown
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Patent number: 6311646Abstract: A hot water heater having a housing with a top chamber, a bottom chamber and a main tank. A cold water inlet pipe runs into the top chamber and extends into the tank. The cold water inlet pipe coils inward, beginning at circumference of the top chamber before extending into the tank, thus increasing the distance the water has to travel inside the heater. Contrastly, the hot water outlet pipe runs straight from the main tank through the top chamber and exits therefrom. The bottom chamber has a dome shaped ceiling with peaked apertures. A burner is positioned along the bottom surface and produces a flame that sends heated air upward, through the peaked apertures into connected heat distribution tubes which travel vertically through the tank. These tubes are angled along their length and have cylindrical fins attached. Once the heat from the flame rises through the apertures, it continues upward through the tubes, until it is released into the top chamber and exits trough an exhaust chimney.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Inventor: Asllan Selmani
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Patent number: 6311647Abstract: After the economizer, an injection water pipe branches off the connecting pipe between economizer and evaporator in order to control the steam temperature. The injection water pipe is provided with a control device for controlling the injection water flow. The injection water flowing through the injection water pipe is injected into the steam coming from the evaporator at a mixing point located before the superheater. In order to control the position of the control device in the injection water pipe, the enthalpy at the superheater outlet is calculated from the parameters pressure and temperature and is compared with a desired enthalpy resulting from the desired parameters.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Alstom (Switzerland) LtdInventors: Erhard Liebig, Rudolf Herzog, Hamid Olia, Wolf-Stephan Wilke, Georg Ziegler
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Patent number: 6311648Abstract: A device for injection of molecular hydrogen and oxygen into the combustion chambers of a gasoline engine, along with the fuel-air mixture, to improve fuel efficiency and to reduce and in some cases eliminate engine emissions. The hydrogen-oxygen/hydrocarbon fuel system includes: a water source; an electrolytic chamber, an anode and a cathode mounted into the chamber in closely spaced fashion from one another; two fluid lines to fluidingly connect the water source and the fuel tank to the chamber; and an electrical power source, for electrically charging the anode and cathode.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Inventor: Jean-Louis Larocque
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Patent number: 6311649Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a fuel storage tank, a fuel pump for drawing liquid fuel from the storage tank, a distillation unit for producing from the fuel drawn from the storage tank a plurality of flow streams of different volatility, and an engine management system for separately metering fuel to the engine from the flow streams. The engine management system is responsive to the rates at which the flow streams are produced by the distillation unit.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Thomas Tsoi Hei Ma
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Patent number: 6311650Abstract: In a method of operating a vehicle having a driving internal-combustion engine and a fuel cell system which has a reforming reactor with a shift reactor connected on the output side, in a cold-starting phase, hydrogen-containing gas from the electrically warmed-up reforming reactor is fed together with the fuel to the internal-combustion engine for reducing the pollutant emission. After the warming-up of the shift reactor, the gas is supplied to the fuel cell whose anode exhaust gas together with the fuel is supplied to the internal-combustion engine for reducing pollutants.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AGInventor: Arnold Lamm
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Patent number: 6311651Abstract: An internal combustion engine and its method of operation which is designed to operate on a six-stroke cycle and which may include at least one but preferably a plurality of piston and cylinder assemblies each of which are characterized by a cylinder having a piston reciprocally mounted therein and intake an exhaust valves cooperatively mounted to regulate fluid flow into and out of the cylinder. An injection assembly is connected to each of the piston and cylinder assemblies and structured to inject water into the cylinder during a predetermined portion of the six-stroke cycle. A central processor is responsive to signals received from a sensor assembly mounted on the internal combustion engine at strategic locations so as to determine the energy content within the one or more cylinders and thereby regulate and control the timing and quantity of the injected water.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 1999Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Inventor: Satnarine Singh
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Patent number: 6311652Abstract: A method of repairing a cylinder head of a water cooled internal combustion engine that has damage to the boundary wall between a cooling water passage and the combustion chamber. According to the method, the boundary wall B located between a cooling water passage and a combustion chamber and including a crack is cut away from a cylinder head until the cut reaches a depth of one half the cross section of the cooling water passage. Then, a half-pipe portion, having a semicircular cross section that is equal in size to one-half the cross section of the cooling water passage is fixed in the cylinder head from which the boundary wall B has been removed such that an inner surface of the half-pipe may serve to form a cooling water passage after repair. With the use of the above method, the repair operation is completed easily with a low cost because the boundary wall B has only to be cut away to a shallow depth.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2001Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Toei Engineering Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kazuo Azuma
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Patent number: 6311653Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprises intake and exhaust valves. An electromagnetic actuator is provided for actuating each intake valve so that the intake valve makes its opening and closing action. A control unit is provided for controlling the electromagnetic actuator in accordance with engine operating conditions. The control unit is arranged to control the electromagnetic actuator in a manner to cause the intake valve to make first and second opening and closing actions in an intake stroke in synchronism with intake air pulsation. The first opening and closing action is before in time the second opening and closing action.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Takayuki Hamamoto
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Patent number: 6311654Abstract: A seal plate partitions a sectorial space which houses a vane and a circumferential groove which houses a torsion spring, so that the sectorial space is formed to prevent the communication between an advance angle pressure chamber and a retard angle pressure chamber regardless of the space of the circumferential groove. As a result, by setting the inner diameter of the vane smaller than the outer diameter of the torsion spring, the outer diameter of the vane can be made relatively small without lowering the engine performance. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the actuator in size without lowering the engine performance, to reduce the weight of a valve timing adjusting device and to obtain a mounting space easily for mounting the valve timing adjusting device on the engine.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 1999Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Masayasu Ushida, Osamu Sato, Yasushi Morii, Tomomasa Oonishi
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Patent number: 6311655Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a camshaft (14) and variable camshaft timing system, where a rotor (22) is secured to the camshaft (14) and is rotatable but non-oscillatable with respect to the camshaft (14). A housing (68) circumscribes the rotor (22), is rotatable with both the rotor (22) and the camshaft (14), and is further oscillatable with respect to both the rotor (22) and the camshaft (14) between a fully retarded position and a fully advanced position. A locking configuration prevents relative motion between the rotor and the housing (68), and is mounted within either the rotor (22) or the housing (68), and is respectively and releasably engageable with the other of either the rotor (22) and the housing (68) in the fully retarded position, the fully advanced position, and in positions therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.Inventors: Roger T. Simpson, Michael Duffield, Marty Gardner
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Patent number: 6311656Abstract: A rotor member having vanes is rotatable in a housing in the forward and reverse directions by supplying and draining hydraulic pressure selectively to an advance side hydraulic chamber and a retard side hydraulic chamber, to change the relative rotational phase between a timing sprocket and a cam shaft and thereby to vary the opening and closing timings of an intake or exhaust valve. The rotor member has a bulge portion located at the side of one vane, and formed with an axially extending pin sliding hole for receiving a lock pin to prevent and allow relative rotation between the housing and rotor member by moving in and out of an engaging recess of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Unisia Jecs CorporationInventor: Masahiko Watanabe
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Patent number: 6311657Abstract: The present invention relates to a lock mechanism for a valve timing regulation device which regulates the timing of the opening and closing of engine valves, the lock mechanism locks or releases a first rotating body and a second rotating body in response to the operational condition of an engine. The lock mechanism includes a radial groove 32 provided in either the first rotating body 21 or the second rotating body 24 and extending in a radial direction of the rotating body. A locking member 35 is slidably inserted into the radial groove 32, and the locking member is urged towards a center of the rotating body by an urging means 36. An oil pressure is applied to the locking member 35 in a direction opposite to the urging direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2001Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masafumi Sugawara, Mutsuo Sekiya
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Patent number: 6311658Abstract: A valve timing control device for securing a rotor to a cam shaft wherein a bolt member is used which is to be coupled thereto is disclosed. The bolt member has a built-in spool valve. Between the spool valve and a rod of an electromagnetic actuator, there is provided an adjusting member for controlling axial displacement of the spool valve. Such a structure facilitates an assembly operation of the valve timing control device.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2001Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Katsuhiko Eguchi
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Patent number: 6311659Abstract: A desmodromic cam driven variable valve timing (VVT) mechanism includes dual rotary opening and closing cams for actuating a rocker mechanism that drives valve actuating oscillating cams. The dual rotary cam drive positively actuates the rocker mechanism in both valve opening and valve closing directions and thus avoids the need to provide return springs as required in prior cam driven mechanisms to bias the mechanisms toward a valve closed position. A variable ratio slide and slot control lever drive as well as a back force limiting worm drive for the control shaft are combined with the desmodromic cam mechanism to provide additional system advantages.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Ronald Jay Pierik
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Patent number: 6311660Abstract: In a case where crowning is provided on a contact surface of a tappet roller by the combination of, for example, two circular arcs, a logarithmic crowning is determined in which an edge load does not occur in the bearing pressure even if its inclination with respect to the cam is {fraction (5/1,000)} or thereabouts, and a crowning profile is set between two logarithmic crownings. In addition, the crowning profile is defined so as to be present between the logarithmic crownings in a case where the axial position x with the center in the direction of a bus set as an origin is at a position 0.85-fold and at a position 1.0-fold the half Le of the effective contact length, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: NSK Ltd.Inventors: Juntaro Sahara, Shinichi Natsumeda
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Patent number: 6311661Abstract: A valve spring retainer is mounted to the upper end of a poppet valve via a pair of cotters in an internal combustion engine of an automobile. The valve spring retainer has an intermediate portion and an outer flange which is engaged with the upper end of a valve spring. The lower surface has a gap between the outer flange and the intermediate portion to decrease wear which is caused by engagement with the valve spring. There is also provided a valve operating mechanism which has a valve spring retainer which has a projection on the lower surface so as to prevent wear.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2001Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Fuji Oozx Inc.Inventors: Haruki Kobayashi, Makoto Abe, Takeshi Sassa
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Patent number: 6311662Abstract: A drive adapter which adjusts the timing of an automotive generator/magneto (“magneto”)for use with a two cylinder motorcycle engine. The drive adapter has a rotor shaft which connects to the crankshaft of a motorcycle engine. The rotor shaft is connected, in a eccentric relationship, to a slide plate having a keyway for receiving the input shaft for the magneto. The eccentric relationship is created by the rotor shaft and magneto shaft having different axises of rotation. The eccentric relationship causes the distributor lead of the magneto to travel at varying speeds along its rotation, allowing an automotive magneto with evenly spaced distributor contact leads to be used in the ignition system of a motorcycle having timing angles which do not correspond to the evenly spaced contact leads of the distributor portion of the magneto.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Inventor: Earl H. Calhoun
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Patent number: 6311663Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an engine housing, a crankshaft supported within the engine housing for rotation with respect to the engine housing, and a flywheel fixedly mounted to the crankshaft and rotatable with the crankshaft in a starting direction to start the engine. A coil spring has an outer end fixedly interconnected with respect to the engine housing, and an inner end. A unidirectional clutch has a portion connected to the inner end of the spring. The unidirectional clutch is characterized by an interference condition in which the unidirectional clutch couples the inner end of the spring to the flywheel such that the flywheel and crankshaft may be rotated in the starting direction in response to unloading of the spring. The unidirectional clutch is also characterized by a non-interference condition in which the inner end of the spring is uncoupled from the flywheel.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2001Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Briggs & Stratton CorporationInventors: Gary J. Gracyalny, Robert K. Mitchell, Art Poehlman, Richard Dykstra, Steven Dethloff, Charles Brown, Paul Tharman, John Santi, Dick Seilenbinder, Aaron Jerabek, John Feldner, Stanely Filipak
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Patent number: 6311664Abstract: A power switch operable to change between a conductive and non-conductive state for use with an ignition circuit of an internal combustion spark-ignited engine and adapted to be disposed between the output conductor of a high voltage generator or ignition coil and an ancillary system, such as an aftermarket ignition system, anti-theft system or speed control governor circuit. The power switch receives a high voltage pulse-type signal from the engine's original equipment high voltage generator or “coil” and connects the primary power source, such as a battery, to the auxiliary system. Power is supplied to the ancillary system in synchronization with the output signal from the high voltage coil.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Inventors: Christopher A. Jacobs, Gregory V. Puscas
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Patent number: 6311665Abstract: A direct injection engine in which an injector injects fuel toward a cavity formed in a top surface of a piston to produce a locally distributed mixture around a spark plug is constructed such that the direction of a fuel spray ejected from the injector is varied during a fuel injection period to properly spread the mixture and prevent its local overrichness. The direct injection engine is provided with means for generating a swirl, for example, so that the fuel spray from the injector is directed toward the spark plug when the pressure in a cylinder is low in a compression stroke, and the fuel spray is deflected by the swirl away from the direction of the spark plug as the pressure in a cylinder increases.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 1999Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Takehiko Yasuoka, Hiroyuki Yamamoto, Tohru Shiraishi, Hiroyuki Yamashita
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Patent number: 6311666Abstract: In a method and apparatus for exhaust temperature elevation for an internal combustion engine with a catalytic converter in which the fuel is direct-injected, the supply of fresh air can be regulated by a throttle device, and the exhaust temperature is determined by a temperature probe or a temperature model, with the internal combustion engine initially operating in stratified mode. The exhaust temperature can be elevated by throttling of the internal combustion engine when an exhaust temperature falls below a threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventor: Stephan Rubbert
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Patent number: 6311667Abstract: An engine includes a variable valve timing mechanism to adjust the valve overlap of intake valves and exhaust valves in accordance with the running state of the engine. The engine operates either in stratified charge combustion mode or in homogenous charge combustion mode in accordance with the running state of the engine. When, for example, the VVT cannot operate normally due to lack of hydraulic pressure, an ECU judges that the state of the VVT is not suitable for stratified combustion and forces the engine to operate in the homogenous combustion mode regardless of the running state of the engine. As a result, the combustion state of the engine does not deteriorated and the amount of NOx in the exhaust gas does not increase.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Fumikazu Satou, Senji Kato, Yusuke Kamijyo
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Patent number: 6311668Abstract: An engine includes an engine casing that defines a hollow piston cavity separated from an exhaust passage and an intake passage by a valve seat. A gas exchange valve member is positioned adjacent the valve seat and is moveable between an open position and a closed position. The gas exchange valve member also defines an opening that opens into the hollow piston cavity. A needle valve member is positioned in the gas exchange valve member adjacent a nozzle outlet and is moveable between an inject position and a blocked position. A port control valve member, which has a hydraulic surface, is mounted around the gas exchange valve member and moveable between an intake position and an exhaust position. A pilot valve is moveable between a first position at which the port control hydraulic surface is exposed to a source of high pressure fluid, and a second position at which the port control hydraulic surface is exposed to a source of low pressure fluid.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: David M. Milam
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Patent number: 6311669Abstract: Pressure fluctuations occurring during two sequential injections (for example a pre-injection and a main injection) within a working cycle of a cylinder in a lead to the injector are taken into account with the aid of a correction term. A drive time of the injectors is determined with the aid of a corrected pressure so that a desired fuel quantity is injected. The correction term is determined with the aid of a least-squares estimator that estimates the injection pressure at the nozzle of injector as a function of the geometrical data of the system, in particular a length of the lead from the rail to the injector and physical boundary conditions, for example a fuel temperature.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Achim Przymusinski, Thomas Rader, Ralf Schernewski
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Patent number: 6311670Abstract: A method for correcting fuel injection internal combustion engine torque jerks including an electronic engine control system which determines, according to engine operating conditions, engine control parameter values, and such that at least one control parameter value is corrected in response to the engine torque oscillations. The control parameter value is computed on the basis of an accelerator pedal position, and a correction is determined to be applied to the control parameter by filtering an engine shaft rotation speed.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: RenaultInventor: Pierre Constancis
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Patent number: 6311671Abstract: A method for controlling knocking in internal combustion engines. According to this method, a map ignition angle is determined on the basis of detected operating parameters, to which a correction value is additively applied when knock events occur. The correction value is a function of a knock frequency.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Oscar Torno, Carsten Kluth, Robert Sloboda, Werner Haeming, Iwan Surjadi, Michael Baeuerle
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Patent number: 6311672Abstract: A device for controlling knocking of an internal combustion engine featuring improved reliability by preventing signals of the knocking level from being erroneously detected as those of the noise level. The device detects an ionic current flowing through a spark plug, counts a signal of the knocking level from the ionic current, establishes an average knocking level from the signals of the knocking level and determines a background level from the average knocking level. A comparator judges the knocking state by comparing the signal of the knocking level with the background level. The device calculates the control quantity of the engine based on the operation conditions and the result of judgement of knocking. The device further judges a transient state and decreases the average knocking level depending upon a transience judgment signal in order to maintain a background level in a transient state at an optimum value.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tsutomu Morishita, Yasuhiro Takahashi, Koichi Okamura, Mitsuru Koiwa, Yutaka Ohashi
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Patent number: 6311673Abstract: A fuel injection device for an engine constructed at a cost reduction by rational integral formation of a fuel supply pipe and a part of an injection pressure regulator. A regulator housing of an injection pressure regulator is divided into a housing body defining a fuel chamber and a cover defining a pressure regulating chamber. The housing body is integral with a fuel supply pipe at its end portion. The fuel supply pipe is connected at its side wall to a fuel injector.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Honda Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuhito Hotta, Kenichiro Ikeda, Shunji Akamatsu, Mutsumi Katayama
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Patent number: 6311674Abstract: A fuel injection apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided which is designed to control a fuel discharge from a fuel injection pump by regulating the quantity of fuel sucked into the fuel injection pump. The fuel injection pump is driven in synchronism with rotation of the engine to pressurize and supply the fuel to an accumulator chamber from which the fuel is injected into cylinders of the engine. The solenoid valve moves a valve member linearly to open and close a fluid path leading to the fuel injection pump. The controller actuates the solenoid valve in one of a first control mode when the engine speed is low and a second control mode when the engine speed is high. In the first control mode, a valve on-duration in which the solenoid valve is turned on to open the fluid path through the valve member and an area of the fluid path opened by the valve member are both controlled. In the second control mode, only the opened area of the fluid path is controlled.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 1999Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Toshihiko Igashira, Shigeiku Enomoto, Tadaaki Makino, Yutaka Miyamoto, Yasuhiro Horiuchi, Nobuhiko Shima
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Patent number: 6311675Abstract: A high flow rate, two stage fuel vapor vent valve assembly utilizing two float valves that provide a progressive closing of a vapor outlet to control the venting of fuel vapors from a fuel tank and the addition of liquid fuel to the tank. A first float closes a portion of the vapor outlet in response to liquid fuel at a first level relative to the valve. A second float closes the remainder of the vapor outlet in response to liquid fuel at a second level higher than the first level. One or more separate baffles are constructed and arranged to prevent the escape of liquid fuel through the vapor outlet.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2001Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Walbro CorporationInventors: Lynwood F. Crary, Mark R. Johansen
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Patent number: 6311676Abstract: An arrangement for cooling the temperature of a source of air prior to introduction into a motor vehicle engine includes an intercooler core and an intercooler housing. The intercooler core has a generally cylindrical shape. The intercooler housing defines an inner chamber receiving the intercooler core. The intercooler housing has an intake side with at least one intake port in communication with the intercooler core and an outlet side with at least one outlet port in communication with the intercooler core. The intake side and the outlet side are spaced apart and parallel.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 1999Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: DaimlerChrysler CorporationInventors: Erik J. Oberg, Robert P. Woodard
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Patent number: 6311677Abstract: An internal combustion engine cylinder head (142) has an exterior wall that contains a walled compartment (140). A wall of that compartment is exposed to an internal coolant passage (146) through which liquid coolant circulates. An exhaust gas passageway (160) running through the compartment has an exhaust gas entrance (162) into the compartment and an exhaust gas exit (164) from the compartment. The compartment comprises a receptacle (148) that intersects the exhaust gas passageway between the entrance and the exit. An EGR valve (10) disposed on the exterior wall comprises a base (12) that has an inlet port (30) and an outlet port (32) and that is disposed within the receptacle with the inlet port open to the entrance via the passageway and the outlet port open to the exit via the passageway. As hot exhaust gas is recirculated, coolant that circulates through the coolant passage aids in limiting peak temperatures to which the valve may be subjected.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Siemens Canada LimitedInventors: John Edward Cook, Scott Hussey
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Patent number: 6311678Abstract: A thermal exchanger to be implemented in the air intake circuit of an internal combustion engine, notably in an intake splitter which includes a hollow plastic body (1) that defines an air intake chamber (2), an entry (3) for air and one or many exits which communicate with the head of the engine. The thermal exchanger constitutes of a chamber (5), at least part of which is in a plastic material, and which features a first opening towards the outside, a second opening (7) that communicates with the intake chamber (2), a third opening (8) that communicates with a canal (9) which supplies coolant fluid, a fourth opening (10) that communicates with a canal (11) which carries the coolant fluid out, a metallic assembly that forms the hot part of the exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Westaflex-AutomobileInventor: Henri Lepoutre
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Patent number: 6311679Abstract: A method and system for controlling the air charge in a direct injection spark ignition engine that provides proportional plus integral control in positioning an electronic throttle control valve and an exhaust gas recirculating valve in order to compensate for uncertainties in the EGR valve flow area. An adaptation algorithm is used to improve the estimate of in-cylinder flow and throttle open-loop control.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Maria Druzhinina, Ilya Vladimir Kolmanovsky, Jing Sun, Michiel Jacques van Nieuwstadt
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Patent number: 6311680Abstract: An engine control system includes an adaptive bias sub-system (100) that generates bias values for controlling the air-fuel ratio. The sub-system (100) includes an integral controller (118) that reads an error signal from a post-catalyst switching EGO sensor (112). A plurality of noise isolation integrators (122) filter any noise resulting from a particular engine operating condition (e.g. acceleration, deceleration, idling) from the integrated error signal and stores the signal in a corresponding keep-alive memory (124) as a bias value for that engine operating condition. In a preferred embodiment, the post-catalyst feedback loop includes a gated proportional controller 116 that turns on for a limited period of time after the post-catalyst switching EGO sensor (112) switches states.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: John E. Bradley, Sr., Ahmed A. Omara, Douglas Ray Hamburg
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Patent number: 6311681Abstract: A paintball launching device generally includes a launch head having a plurality of ports therein, each port being adapted to receive a paintball. A launching mechanism, including a connector for coupling the launch head to a source of compressed gas, is provided. A manifold within the launch head provides a flow path for expansion of the compressed gas upon activation of the device, causing the paintballs to be simultaneously propelled from the ports.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: First Shot PB, INCInventor: Earl C. Snyder, Jr.
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Patent number: 6311682Abstract: An electronically controlled pneumatic paintball gun, comprising means for monitoring and/or controlling one or more parameters of the gun's operation and alphanumeric display means for displaying data related to said monitoring or control on a display panel integral with the gun.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 1999Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: NPF LimitedInventors: John Ronald Rice, Nicholas John Marks
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Patent number: 6311683Abstract: Disclosed is a device for assembling and disassembling a gas rifle and a gas tank to and from each other, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Inventor: Kwang-soo Lee
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Patent number: 6311684Abstract: A closed loop wire saw loop, a method for making the closed wire saw loop, and an apparatus and method for slicing a work piece, in particular, a polysilicon or single crystal silicon ingot, utilizing a closed loop of diamond impregnated wire in which the work piece (or ingot) is rotated about its longitudinal axis as the diamond wire is driven orthogonally to it and advanced from a position adjoining the outer diameter (“OD”) of the ingot towards its inner diameter (“ID”). In this manner, the diamond wire cuts through the work piece at a substantially tangential point to the circumference of the cut instead of through up to the entire diameter of the piece and single crystal silicon ingots of 300 mm to 400 mm or more may be sliced into wafers relatively quickly, with minimal ‘kerf” loss and less extensive follow-on lapping operations. The closed wire saw loop is made by squaring and welding the wire ends together and then twice heat treating the weld at about 1500 F.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 1999Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Laser Technology West LimitedInventors: John B. Hodsden, Jeffrey Burgess Hodsden
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Patent number: 6311685Abstract: The heat exchanger is particularly for ovens for food cooking comprising a radial fan, and is associated with a burner supplied by a blower. The heat exchanger has a first part of pipe into which the combustion gases are made to flow, which makes an almost-complete circuit of the radial fan before bifurcating into at least two pipes which extend around the radial fan.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Angelo Po Grandi Cucine S.p.A.Inventors: Claudio Bassoli, Alessandro Soavi
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Patent number: 6311686Abstract: A cooking apparatus comprising a burner (2) and a cylindrical casing (10) which is arranged round the burner and extends upwardly therefrom. A cooking vessel (40) may be placed in the casing (10), its upper portion hanging on the casing's upper edge. On the cooking vessel there is placed a lid (50) which rests on the cooking vessel (40). In the upper portion of the casing (10) there are provided therein radially through-going openings (32). The lid (50) has a through-going hole and between the lid (50) and the cooking vessel (40) there extend passages (66) via which the space outside the casing (10) can communicate with the space (82) in the cooking vessel (40). A tubular jacket (70) of a fireproof, flexible material extends over the lid (50) and on the outside of the casing (10).Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Inventor: Willy Gautvik
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Patent number: 6311687Abstract: The invention relates to a heating oven (1) in particular with a gas and/or oil firing system. The heating oven comprises a combustion chamber (2) surrounded by heat storage elements, wherein respective first heat storage elements (3, 4; 27) are arranged at a first spacing parallel to respective walls (5, 6; 27) of the combustion chamber (2). Second heat storage elements (12, 14; 25) are arranged at a second spacing parallel to the respective outside of the first heat storage elements. The first spacing defines a first air channel (16, 17; 28) and the second spacing defines a second air channel (15, 18; 26) in each arrangement. The air in the first channel is heated by the walls of the combustion chamber, rises, cools down on the surrounding storage elements and sinks downwardly in the second air channel while giving up further energy to the heat storage elements. Thereafter, the cooled air again reaches the first air channel and the described flow cycle begins again in the heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Inventor: Johann Aidelsburger
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Patent number: 6311688Abstract: A laryngeal airway device for scaling against the laryngeal opening includes an air tube with proximal and distal ends and a sealing member attached to the distal end. The sealing member includes a coupler for coupling the device to an introducer. Complementing the laryngeal airway device is an introducer that includes a track for receiving the coupler of the laryngeal airway device and guiding the sealing member to a sealing position with respect to the laryngeal inlet. The introducer may include an epiglottic engager on a distal end to engage the epiglottis and retain it while the sealing member is being tracked to engagement with the laryngeal inlet.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Augustine Medical, Inc.Inventors: Scott Douglas Augustine, Randall Charles Arnold, Thomas Wayne McGrail
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Patent number: 6311689Abstract: The disclosure provides an incontinence prevention device provided with a loop type retention structure. The retention structure is in the form of a closed loop attached to the distal end of a shaft. The shaft is configured to function as an incontinence prevention device. The retention structure projecting laterally from and configured non-concentrically about the longitudinal axis of the shaft retains the incontinence prevention device within the patient. The retention structure may additionally include a protuberance extending therefrom. There is further provided a method for using the urethral catheter.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: ContiCare Medical, Inc.Inventor: Claude Tihon
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Patent number: 6311690Abstract: A process and product comprising collagen and demineralized bone particles. The product may contain a maximum of 20% by weight inorganic materials. The product may densified by compression. Additional osteogenic factors, mitogens, drugs or antibiotics may be incorporated therein. Inorganic materials may be bound to the organic matrix via precoating with a calcium or hydroxyapatite binding protein, peptide or amino acid. The materials also display long lasting drug release characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 1995Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: GenSci OrthoBiologics, Inc.Inventor: Steven R. Jefferies
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Patent number: 6311691Abstract: A method for determining the shortest distance between the periphery of a lesion and the cut edge of the tissue specimen utilizing a cylindrical tissue specimen. The cylindrical tissue specimen is placed inside a fixative transmitting cylindrical canister for fixation. After the tissue specimen has been fixed and embedded, it is cross-section sliced in planar slices that are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fixed cylindrical tissue specimen. The slicing can be performed with the tissue specimen remaining inside the cylindrical canister or the tissue specimen can be removed from the canister prior to slicing. The tissue slices are mounted on slides and the slides are evaluated to select the slide showing the lesion periphery nearest to the cut edge of the specimen. The shortest distance between the periphery of the lesion and the cut edge of the specimen is measured. Preferably, the measured distance is adjusted for artifacts in the fixation, mounting, embedding and slicing processes.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 1998Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Inventor: Lincoln D. Russin
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Patent number: 6311692Abstract: The invention provides apparatus and methods for mapping conduction pathways and creating lesions in the heart wall for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. The apparatus may include at least one epicardial ablation probe having a plurality of electrodes for creating a lesion. The apparatus and method facilitate the formation of a lesion which electrically isolates the pulmonary veins from the surrounding myocardium.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 1999Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Epicor, Inc.Inventors: Matthias Vaska, Benjamin Pless, David A. Gallup, Jack E. Ulstad, Jr., Scott C. Anderson, Roxanne L. Richman
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Patent number: 6311693Abstract: A method for closed-chest cardiac surgical intervention relies on viewing the cardiac region through a thoracoscope or other viewing scope and endovascularly partitioning the patient's arterial system at a location within the ascending aorta. The cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegia can be induced, and a variety of surgical procedures performed on the stopped heart using percutaneously introduced tools. The method of the present invention will be particularly suitable for forming coronary artery bypass grafts, where an arterial blood source is created using least invasive surgical techniques, and the arterial source is connected to a target location within a coronary artery while the patient is under cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegia.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 1999Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Inventors: Wesley D. Sterman, Lawrence C. Siegel, Patricia E. Curtis, John H. Stevens, Timothy R. Machold
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Patent number: 6311694Abstract: A smoking article comprises a smoking accessory and a cigarette. The smoking accessory includes a holder and a substantially air-impermeable sleeve which is coupled to a distal portion of the holder and is coaxial therewith. The cigarette is received in the smoking accessory such that a distal end of the cigarette is located substantially flush with a distal end of the sleeve. The cigarette includes a column of tobacco which is shorter than that used in conventional cigarettes, e.g., 20 mm in length or less. An air gap separates an outer surface of the cigarette from the sleeve, and plural openings are formed in the sleeve to supply air to the cigarette. In use, the sleeve restricts the flow of air to the cigarette, thereby slowing combustion and reducing sidestream smoke between puffs.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 1999Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Philip Morris IncorporatedInventors: Walter A. Nichols, John R. Hearn, F. Murphy Sprinkel, Jr., Jay A. Fournier, Jerry F. Whidby