Patents Issued in December 11, 2001
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Patent number: 6327832Abstract: A flat ceiling includes a reinforcement for resisting shear forces. The reinforcement is arranged in a bearing area for the flat ceiling and includes several dowel strips arranged in a substantially radial position with respect to a ceiling support. The reinforcement includes a dowel rail and several vertical, parallel dowels that are spaced from one another along the rail. Each dowel has a shank and an enlarged head disposed on at least an end of the shank located opposite to the rail. The shanks located adjacent to the support having a larger diameter than the shanks located farther from the support.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: DEHA Ankersysteme GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Peter Ernst, Gerhard Schrader
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Patent number: 6327833Abstract: A pole assembly includes two parts—a hollow stub foundation and a hollow pole, which telescopes over the stub foundation and rests on the ground. The stub and the pole preferably are adhered together. The stub preferably has a roughened outer surface at least in its upper portion to help it adhere to the inner surface of the pole when the two are assembled together. The stub has access openings to facilitate running wiring through the stub into the pole, and the pole preferably has an access opening that is aligned with an opening in the stub when the pole is installed on the stub to provide access for connecting wiring running inside the stub to wiring running inside the pole.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 1999Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Newmark International, IncInventors: Ricky W. Miskelley, Bill Wier
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Patent number: 6327834Abstract: A shingle roofing and removing system for easily removing the shingles from a roof when needed. The shingle roofing and removing system includes sheeting material adapted to be securely attached upon a roof from a bottom edge to a top thereof and being adapted to be disposed beneath shingles which are securely attached to the sheeting material; and also includes a sheeting material removal assembly for removing the sheeting material along with the shingles from the roof.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Inventor: Jack R. Northway, Sr.
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Patent number: 6327835Abstract: The thrusters or the rams for pressing the metered amounts of product into the metering seats are equipped with force transducers which emit an electrical signal proportional to the thrust exerted during the pressing step. This signal is transmitted to the processor for controlling the operation of the packaging machine, which compares the signal with predefined reference values, in order to check whether or not the weight of the metered amounts lies within acceptable values. If it does not, the processor causes expulsion, from the unloading flow of the full capsules, of those capsules with metered amounts which have an unacceptable weight and which, if necessary, may be weighed using a precision device connected to the processor which may use this signal to confirm the operation of the transducers or correct it automatically.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A.Inventor: Roberto Trebbi
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Patent number: 6327836Abstract: A decorative flower pot cover and method for producing same is disclosed wherein the decorative flower pot cover is provided with a multi-layered upper portion formed of a plurality of sheets of material wherein each sheet of material is provided with an opening therein adapted to receiver a lower potion of a flower pot such that, upon positioning the lower end of the flower pot through the openings in the sheets of material, a portion of the sheets of material are connected to a portion of a sidewall of the flower pot and the sheets of material forming the multi-layered upper portion of the decorative flower pot cover extend substantially independent of one another in an upwardly and outwardly angular direction from the sidewall of the flower pot so that an open upper end of the flower pot remains substantially uncovered by the decorative flower pot cover.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 1999Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.Inventor: Donald E. Weder
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Patent number: 6327837Abstract: A reclosable zipper is provided. The reclosable zipper is comprised of a first profile interlockable with a second profile. Each profile includes an interlocking member and a flange extending from the interlocking member on one side thereof. One of the zipper flanges is longer than the other and the zipper flanges are attached together by a peel seal. A slider may optionally be included for opening and closing the zipper. Lengths of the reclosable zipper are attached to a length of thermoplastic film via the longer zipper flange, either transverse or parallel to a running direction of the film, to form a supply of package making material. The supply of package making material is fed into an FFS machine or the like where it is made into reclosable packages.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 1999Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventor: Donald L. Van Erden
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Patent number: 6327838Abstract: A method for folding an airbag for an airbag module involves straightening the airbag out in the direction of a straightening axis, starting from a gas inlet opening of the airbag. The airbag in the straightened-out state, or during the straightening-out operation, is pushed into a guide sleeve in the direction of the straightening axis. The airbag is then pushed together, and in the method folded, within the guide sleeve in the longitudinal direction thereof, in the direction of the straightening axis. An apparatus for folding an airbag for an airbag module has a straightening ram which, for the purpose of straightening out the airbag, can be pushed into the latter in the direction of a straightening axis by way of a gas inlet opening which has a guide sleeve. The guide sleeve is arranged coaxially with respect to the straightening ram. The straightening ram can be pushed along the straightening axis.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 1999Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.Inventors: Holger Maul, Andreas Staub, Markus Jost, Michael Doelfel
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Patent number: 6327839Abstract: A zero turning radius power lawn mower for operation by a standing occupant includes first and second independently driven and controlled rear drive wheels mounted on separate drive axles. A riding platform for supporting the standing occupant or operator is located between the first and second rear drive wheels. The rear drive wheels are independently driveable in both the forward and reverse directions at variable speeds so as to allow for substantially zero radius turning of the mower about a central turning point. The riding platform is positioned near this turning point or axis so that the standing occupant remains substantially unaffected by centrifugal force created during approximate zero radius turning of the mower thereby allowing the mower to take such turns at higher speeds. The low center of gravity created by the position of the riding platform for the standing operator also results in the mower having improved traction and being less likely to pop “wheelies” upon acceleration.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Wright Manufacturing, Inc.Inventors: James D. Velke, William R. Wright
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Patent number: 6327840Abstract: A baler pick-up reel includes a reel shaft to which is fixed a center toothbar support. A first set of toothbars are located to one side of the center toothbar support and respectively have stub shafts at first ends which are respectively received in a first set of equi-angularly spaced bosses forming part of the toothbar support and projecting in a direction opposite to the first set of toothbars. Similarly, a second set of toothbars are located on an opposite side of the center toothbar support and respectively include stub shafts at first ends that are respectively received in a second set of equi-angularly spaced bosses forming part of the toothbar support and projecting in a direction opposite to the second set of toothbars. A plurality of teeth are mounted to each toothbar and have tines which are evenly spaced across the working width of the reel.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 1998Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventor: George William Rumph
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Patent number: 6327841Abstract: A wire rope 10 includes a plurality of strands 12. The strands are formed from individual wires or filaments 14. The strands are wound about a central axis. A conduit 16 also extends along said central axis. The conduit 16 has walls that are permeable to a lubricating compound. The lubricating compound is injected into the channel 18 defined by the conduit. The lubricating material migrates through the conduit wall and radially outwardly therefrom to provide lubrication to the individual strands and filaments comprising the wire rope.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 1999Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Utilx CorporationInventors: Glen J. Bertini, Gerald S. Solomon, Glenn S. Jessen
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Patent number: 6327842Abstract: The present invention relates to a metallic cord for the reinforcement of elastomers. The cord has (a) a core composed of two filaments, (b) a single filament surrounding said core and (c) a sheath of nine filaments surrounding said core and single filament.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventor: Thomas Walter Starinshak
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Patent number: 6327843Abstract: A cord comprising at least a first pair and a second pair of wires (2a, 2b) of different diameter randomly disposed in transverse cross section thereof, is obtained by arranging in a nacelle (7) of a double-twisting laying machine, a twister (16) operating upstream of a preformer (15). The twister (16), rotating in a direction opposite to that of the impeller (5) and at a speed which is twice that of the impeller, neutralizes the internal torsional stresses induced in the wires (2a, 2b) by effect of the double twisting carried out upon the action of the impeller itself. Thus, a better control of the preforming operation executed on the wires (2a, 2b) disposed parallel in respectively coplanar axes is enabled.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 1999Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Pirelli Coordinamento Pneumatici SpAInventors: Marco Cipparrone, Omero Noferi
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Patent number: 6327844Abstract: A flow restrictor includes a body which permits the flow restrictor to be self-retained within a bleed port. Bleed ports are located over various portions of a gas turbine engine and extend through an engine casing. The flow restrictor body includes a bore extends between a flow restrictor body first and second ends. A slot extends between the first and second ends of the flow restrictor body. The slot further extends from an outer surface of the flow restrictor body to the bore. During assembly, the slot permits the flow restrictor to expand and conforms against the bleed port.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Matthew Kaminske
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Patent number: 6327845Abstract: Gas turbine combustor by-pass valve device for opening and closing a by-pass valve is improved to uniformly control air supply into a combustion area for appropriate combustion. A drive shaft 21 for opening and closing a driven by-pass valve 20 is provided in turbine casing 010 where an outside obstruction is located which would interfere with a projecting drive shaft 09. The driven shaft 21 has a short length to be provided in the turbine casing 010. An adjacent main driving shaft 23 for opening and closing main driving by-pass valve 22 is provided adjacent to the driven shaft 21. Link mechanism 26 is provided between the adjacent main driving shaft 23 and the driven shaft 21 so that rotary movement of adjacent main driving shaft 23 driven by outside drive means via the drive shaft 09 is transmitted to the driven shaft 21 and, thus, to the driven by-pass valve 20.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Yasuhiro Ojiro, Koichi Akagi, Yoichi Iwasaki, Jun Kubota, Sunao Umemura
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Patent number: 6327846Abstract: The invention relates to a wide-vectoring, axisymmetric turbojet-engine exhaust nozzle including vectoring structure (12) supporting a plurality of converging flaps (21). The vectoring structure is mounted on the downstream end of an exhaust housing (2) by means of an intermediate ring (9) which is pivotable about a first axis relative to the exhaust housing (2) and further about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and relative to the vectoring structure (12). The converging flaps (21) hinge on the downstream end of the vectoring structure (12). A single drive ring (27) controlled by three linear actuators (28) and linked by linkrods (24) to the converging flaps (21) controls the tipping of the vectoring structure (12) and the kinematics of the flaps (21).Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: SCNEMA MoteursInventors: Didier Georges Feder, Guy Jean-Louis Lapergue
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Patent number: 6327847Abstract: An engine control system for managing lean NOx trap decontamination uses associated fuel economy impacts to determine when decontamination is enabled. In particular, a maximum achievable benefit provided by lean operation with a decontaminated NOx trap, a present fuel economy benefit being provided by lean operation, and a fuel economy penalty for performing decontamination are used. When a resulting benefit is greater than a penalty, decontamination is enabled.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Gopichandra Surnilla, David Karl Bidner
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Patent number: 6327848Abstract: A self-adapting control method for an exhaust system for internal combustion engines with controlled ignition, including an engine, a pre-catalyst, a trap for the collection of nitrogen oxides having a maximum initial capacity and a maximum available capacity not greater than this maximum initial capacity and a linear oxygen sensor disposed downstream of the trap for the collection of nitrogen oxides and generating at least a downstream composition signal substantially proportional to a downstream oxygen titer. The method comprises the stages of carrying out at least one regeneration process and carrying out at least one desulphurisation process of the trap for the collection of nitrogen oxides and also the stage of estimating, at least after each regeneration process, the maximum available capacity as a function of the maximum initial capacity and the downstream composition signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Magneti Marelli S.p.AInventors: Luca Poggio, Daniele Ceccarini, Matteo De Cesare, Ciro Barberio, Alessandro Verdecchia
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Patent number: 6327849Abstract: When deterioration of a NOx purifying device due to sulfur contamination is detected, a specific operating state flag FHL is set to “1,” and, at intervals equal to or shorter than, for example, three seconds, the air-fuel ratio of an air-fuel mixture to be supplied to an engine is varied so that it is alternately leaner and richer than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. When the temperature TCAT of the NOx purifying device exceeds a deterioration recovery temperature STCAT2 while the air-fuel ratio variation control is being executed, the SOx removing flag FHLSOx is set to “1,” and for a period equivalent to the deterioration recovery time TRSOx, the air-fuel ratio is maintained richer than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kenji Sugiura, Hiroshi Ohno, Masahiro Sakanushi, Keiichi Yagisawa
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Patent number: 6327850Abstract: An object system is regarded as being equivalent to a system for generating an output of an O2 sensor or exhaust gas sensor from a target combined air-fuel ratio that is produced by combining target air-fuel ratios KCMD for respective cylinder groups according to a filtering process of the mixed model type. With the equivalent system as an object to be controlled, an air-fuel ratio processing controller determines a target combined air-fuel ratio, and determines a target air-fuel ratio KCMD for each of the cylinder groups from the target combined air-fuel ratio. The air-fuel ratios in the cylinder groups are manipulated into the target air-fuel ratio according to a feed-forward control process.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuji Yasui, Shusuke Akazaki, Yoshihisa Iwaki
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Patent number: 6327851Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for controlled injection of hydrocarbons into an exhaust line of a lean-burn internal-combustion engine, comprising catalytic elimination of the nitrogen oxides. The process according to the invention consists in injecting a certain amount of hydrocarbons upstream from the catalytic elimination, periodically and for a short time interval, by means of pulsed hydrocarbon injections. The frequency and the amplitude of the hydrocarbon pulses are preferably controlled according to the running conditions of the engine.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 1999Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Institut Francais du PetroleInventors: Mathias Bouchez, Brigitte Martin, Patrick Bourges
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Patent number: 6327852Abstract: An exhaust gas emission control apparatus is provided in an exhaust passage of a hybrid mechanism driven by an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. The apparatus has an adsorbent that adsorbs unburned fuel contained in exhaust gas when the temperature of the adsorbent is lower than a predetermined temperature, and that releases adsorbed unburned fuel therefrom when the temperature is at least the predetermined temperature. When the temperature of the adsorbent is lower than the predetermined temperature, the apparatus controls the hybrid mechanism to delay an increase in the temperature of the adsorbent.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Katsuhiko Hirose
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Patent number: 6327853Abstract: A secondary air introducing path 23 is formed in a cylinder head 1 along an exhaust port 5. Secondary air is fed by an air pump with pressure, and an outlet 23a of the secondary air introducing path 23 is formed so that a blowing direction of the outlet 23a is directed to an exhaust valve 7 side. There is provided a water jacket 22 between the secondary air introducing port 23 and an upper portion of the cylinder head 1.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 1999Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Noriaki Fujii, Kouta Yoshiura
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Patent number: 6327854Abstract: An apparatus and method of attaching an exhaust manifold to an engine's cylinder head utilizing an oversized hole in the manifold, a stud fastener extending through the oversized hole, a spacer element around the stud fastener, and a nut adapted to be tightened to engage the spacer element and the flange wherein a flat gasket is compressed to a desired extent which is not so excessive that it inhibits sliding movement caused by thermal growth of the manifold.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Pierre Bonny, Thomas Hülsberg, Hans-Jörg Kaifel, Holger Nuhn, Thorsten Sternal, Gerd Tiefenbacher
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Patent number: 6327855Abstract: A micromechanical system can include a substrate, an actuator, and an actuated element. In particular, the actuator can include a serpentine arrangement of alternating actuating and opposing segments anchored at a first end thereof to the substrate wherein the actuating segments deflect in response to actuation thereof so that a second end of the serpentine arrangement moves relative to the substrate upon deflection of the actuating segments. The actuated element is attached to the second end of the serpentine arrangement so that the actuated element moves relative to the substrate upon deflection of the actuating segments. Related methods and actuators are also discussed.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: JDS Uniphase Inc.Inventors: Edward A. Hill, Vijayakumar Rudrappa Dhuler
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Patent number: 6327856Abstract: A control apparatus for a premixed compression ignition type internal combustion engine having, a fuel injection valve for supplying a fuel into a combustion chamber of the engine, an operational condition detecting unit for detecting the operational condition of the engine, and a fuel injection control unit for controlling the fuel injection valve on the basis of the results of the detection carried out by the operational condition detecting unit, the fuel injection control unit controlling the fuel injection valve so that the supplying of a fuel to the combustion chamber is finished at least before a piston reaches a compression top dead center. The control apparatus includes an air supply unit for supplying pressurized air to the combustion chamber, and an air quantity control unit for controlling the air supply unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignees: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Mitsubishi Jidosha Engineering Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshinori Iwabuchi, Toshitaka Yokokawa
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Patent number: 6327857Abstract: In a model jet engine, one or more slide bearings are disposed on one or more turbo shafts. Additionally included are lubricant, a tank system for the latter and an arrangement for supplying lubricant to a respective bearing. The lubricant is incorporated in the propellant of the turbomachine. A propellent-supplying arrangement comprises one or more pump impellers directly coupled to a concerned turbo shaft The tank system is arranged so as to supply propellant to the arrangement without any substantial air/gas element. The arrangement is arranged to operate on the basis of recirculation of the propellent, which can be supplied to the respective slide bearing from the one side of the latter and can be fed back to the tank system from the other side of the slide bearing.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Inventor: Carl Fredriksson
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Patent number: 6327858Abstract: The invention concerns an auxiliary power unit using compressed air for energy and equipped with a motor alternator driving, or being driven by a motor compressor with compressed air which compresses air under high pressure in a high pressure storage tank and which when there is a power cut automatically drives the motor compressor in alternating mode to supply electricity. The invention is applicable to fixed or mobile auxiliary power units.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2001Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Inventors: Guy Negre, Cyril Negre
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Patent number: 6327859Abstract: The use of newly discovered chemical reaction products, created when reactants combine to form products on the surface of a catalyst, to generate electricity, beams of radiation or mechanical motion. The invention also provides methods to convert the products into electricity or motion. The electric generator consists of a catalyst nanocluster, nanolayer or quantum well placed on a substrate consisting of a semiconductor diode, and a semiconductor diode on the surface of the substrate near the catalyst. The device to generate mechanical motion consists of a catalyst nanocluster, nanolayer or quantum well placed on a substrate, and a hydraulic fluid in contact with the non-reaction side of the substrate, with the surfaces of both the catalyst and substrate mechanically formed to enhance the unidirectional forces on the fluid. Both devices use a fuel-oxidizer mixture brought in contact with the catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: NeoKismet, LLCInventors: Anthony C. Zuppero, Jawahar M. Gidwani
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Patent number: 6327860Abstract: The present invention provides a premix fuel injector for use in gas turbine engines and in combustion systems having controllable pressure drops. The premix fuel injector comprises a premix chamber having an inlet for receiving a flow of pressurized air and having an exit. A venturi is coupled to the exit of the premix chamber and an inlet of a combustion chamber. Gaseous fuel is flowed into the premix chamber by a plurality of circumferentially disposed tubes extending into the premix chamber with each of said tubes having at least one hole for flowing a stream of the gaseous fuel.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.Inventor: Ian L. Critchley
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Patent number: 6327861Abstract: In a central portion of inner tube 28 of combustor 20, pilot fuel nozzle 22 and pilot cone 33 are arranged and main fuel nozzles 21 and main swirlers 32 therearound. Air intake portion (X-1) is provided with rectifier tube 11 for making air intake uniform. In air intake portion (X-2), air holes of appropriate number of pieces are provided in circumferential wall of the inner tube 28. In main swirler portion (X-3) and pilot cone portion (X-4), bolt joint of the main swirlers 32 is employed and optimized welded structure having less influence of thermal stress of the pilot swirler 33 is employed, respectively. Tail tube cooling portion (X-5) is provided with cooling structure having less influence of thermal stress to cool flange 71 portion of tail tube 24 uniformly. By the improvements in the portions (X-1) to (X-5), obstacles in attaining higher temperature in the combustor 20 is dissolved and combustor performance is enhanced.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2001Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Yoshichika Sato, Yoji Kochi, Koichi Akagi, Kazuya Kobayashi, Koichi Nishida, Shinji Akamatsu, Hideki Haruta, Kotaro Miyauchi, Rintaro Chikami, Shigemi Mandai, Masataka Ota
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Patent number: 6327862Abstract: A Stirling cycle cryocooler is disclosed that includes a displacer unit having a cold end and a hot end. The displacer unit includes a cold cylinder housing and a displacer liner disposed on the inner surface of the housing. A displacer assembly lies within the displacer liner and is slidable with respect to the lengthwise axis of the housing. The displacer unit also includes a regenerator unit. A heat acceptor is affixed to the cold end of the displacer unit. The heat acceptor transfers heat from a device such as a High Temperature Superconducting Filter to a gas such as helium located within the displacer unit. The heat acceptor preferably includes a radial component and an annular component. The heat acceptor advantageously decreases the heat transfer resistance between the heat acceptor and the helium gas. The Stirling cycle cryocooler is thus able to operate with reduced input power to achieve a desired lift level.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Superconductor Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Mark Hanes
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Patent number: 6327863Abstract: The present invention provides a cryopump coupled to a gate valve in which the gate valve is automatically prevented from being opened during unsafe conditions, for example, when combustible gases such as hydrogen may be present in the cryopump, but may be operated during safe conditions. A method of controlling the gate valve includes automatically determining with a controller whether the cryopump is operating in one of safe and unsafe conditions. The unsafe conditions are situations where combustible gas may be present in the cryopump and may be correlated to parameters of the cryopump including operational modes of the cryopump, and sensed parameters. The gate valve is automatically controlled with the controller based on the determination of safe and unsafe conditions. The gate valve is automatically locked closed during unsafe conditions and remains locked until the unsafe conditions are removed.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Helix Technology CorporationInventors: Stephen J. Yamartino, Brett W. Allen, Carl H. Geden
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Patent number: 6327864Abstract: A kit having: a border assembly with a plurality of elongate elements that are capable of being placed against a subjacent surface to define a border around a predetermined area within which a frozen surface is to be formed; and a flexible liner that is selectively reconfigurable between a) a collapsed state and b) an operative state. The elongate elements each have an inside surface, a top edge, and an outside surface. The flexible liner has a shape and size preselected to cover a subjacent surface in the predetermined area and to be placed against the elongate elements in a predetermined manner so as to define a receptacle for a liquid that can be cooled to form a frozen surface over the predetermined area.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 1999Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Inventor: Daniel T. Crowe
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Patent number: 6327865Abstract: A refrigeration system wherein refrigeration is generated at a relatively steady output by a refrigeration circuit and passed into a coupling fluid for transfer to a refrigeration load using a coupling fluid stabilizing circuit having a stabilizing reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: Dante Patrick Bonaquist, Kenneth Kai Wong, Richard Amory Victor, Bayram Arman
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Patent number: 6327866Abstract: A method for providing refrigeration, such as to an insulated enclosure for food freezing, wherein a defined hydrocarbon-containing multicomponent refrigerant fluid undergoes a phase change coupled with Joule-Thomson expansion to generate refrigeration over a wide temperature range which may comprise from ambient to low temperatures.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: Richard A. Novak, Gary D. Lang, Arun Acharya, John Henri Royal, Kenneth Kai Wong, Bayram Arman
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Refrigerator having a cooler mounted in each of a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment
Patent number: 6327867Abstract: A refrigerator has a refrigerator compartment, a freezer compartment, and a low-temperature storage chamber formed in the refrigerator compartment and having a temperature lower than that of the refrigerator compartment. The refrigerator includes a compressor, a condenser, a first throttling device, a channel control valve, a refrigerator cooling unit, and a freezer cooling unit connected in series to form a refrigerating cycle. The refrigerator cooling unit and the freezer cooling unit are accommodated in the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Matsushita Refrigeration CompanyInventors: Akira Hyodo, Yoshito Kimura, Hiroki Hamano, Hiroshi Yamada, Haruhiko Iwai, Makoto Fujihashi -
Patent number: 6327868Abstract: In a freezing cycle, if the pressure in a high-pressure line (8) reaches an abnormal level, the high-side pressure is released toward a low-pressure line (9) to lower the pressure without releasing the coolant into the atmosphere and the coolant is released into the atmosphere only when the pressure in the low-pressure line (9) reaches an abnormal level.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2001Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Zexel Valeo Climate Control CorporationInventors: Shunichi Furuya, Kiyoshi Tanda
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Patent number: 6327869Abstract: An icemaker dose dispenser includes a housing with a septum therein defining opposite chambers having corresponding water ports. Water is routed alternately through the ports for dispensing water from the chambers in sequence for accurately filling an ice tray.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Andrew Philip Shapiro, Jerome Johnson Tiemann
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Patent number: 6327870Abstract: An apparatus for cooling at least one fluid includes separable cold plate and dispenser units. The cold plate unit includes a coolant system, a fluid system and a metallic unit. The coolant system defines a cold plate portion and a tower portion. The cold plate portion of the coolant system has a primary inlet manifold and a primary outlet manifold, and the tower portion has a secondary inlet manifold and a secondary outlet manifold. The coolant system further includes a first plurality of coolant line segments connecting the primary and secondary inlet manifolds and a second plurality of coolant line segments connecting the secondary and primary outlet manifolds. The fluid system also defines a cold plate portion and a tower portion, the portions being in heat exchange relationship with the coolant system. The metallic unit includes unitary cold plate and tower portions which respectively incorporate the cold plate and tower portions of the coolant system and fluid system.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Manitowoc Foodservice Group, Inc.Inventor: Melvin D Kyees
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Patent number: 6327871Abstract: A refrigerator with at least one medium/low temperature-freezing compartment and a compression refrigeration system with a thermal storage, and a method of operating the refrigeration system with a thermal storage are provided. The refrigeration system includes a compressor, a condenser, a thermal storage, a medium/low temperature evaporator, a first expansion device, a second expansion device, a bypass line to bypass the second expansion device, a refrigerant valve to direct refrigerant flow after the thermal storage either to the bypass line or to the second expansion device, and control means to control temperature in the compartments, the compressor and the valve operations. The method comprises steps of charge and discharge of the thermal storage. During the thermal storage discharge refrigerant evaporates in the medium/low temperature evaporator providing refrigeration to the freezing compartment.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Inventor: Alexander P. Rafalovich
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Patent number: 6327872Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for producing a pressurized high purity liquid carbon dioxide stream in which a feed stream composed of carbon dioxide vapor is purified within a purifying filter and then condensed within a condenser. The result liquid is then alternately introduced and dispensed from two first and second pressure accumulation chambers. The first and second pressure accumulation chambers are heated by electrical heaters to pressurize the liquid to the required or desired delivery pressure of the pressurized liquid carbon dioxide stream. Such stream is alternately extracted from the first and second pressure accumulation chambers on a continuous basis in which one of the first and second pressure accumulation chambers acts in a dispensing role while the other is being filled. The pressurized liquid carbon dioxide stream can be further filtered within a particulate filter.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.Inventors: Robert Walter Boyd, Jessi Lynn Pike, David C. Cheng, Kelly Leitch
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Patent number: 6327873Abstract: A cryogenic rectification system comprising an upstream krypton/xenon knockout column and a downstream oxygen upgrader column wherein the knockout column processes a crude feed for removal of heavy components including hydrocarbons and the upgrader column produces ultra high purity oxygen.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Praxair Technology Inc.Inventors: James Robert Dray, Scot Eric Jaynes
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Patent number: 6327874Abstract: There is provided a glass-ceramic substrate for a magnetic information storage medium having a data zone and a landing zone capable of stably lifting a magnetic head in the landing zone and also capable of reducing the amount of lifting of the magnetic head in the data zone for realizing a high recording density. The landing zone has a multiplicity of projections or depressions formed by irradiation of laser beam. A CO2 laser or a laser diode pumped solid-state laser can be used for this purpose. The surface roughness (Ra) of a polished surface of the landing zone is within a range from 3 Å to 9 Å, height of the projections or depressions is within a range from 50 Å to 300 Å, surface roughness (Ra) of the projections or depressions is within a range from 10 Å to 50 Å and interval of the projections or depressions is within a range from 10 &mgr;m to 200 &mgr;m.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 1999Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha OharaInventor: Naoyuki Goto
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Patent number: 6327875Abstract: A glass sheet is separated by propagating a crack in the glass sheet by moving a laser beam across the surface of the glass sheet along a desired line of separation and then streaming coolant at the glass sheet at a predetermined distance behind the laser beam. By altering the profile of a laser beam used to score glass, and by changing the distance between the spot where the laser beam impinges on the glass and the spot struck by the stream of coolant, the penetration depth of the resultant median crack can be controlled.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 1999Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Roger A. Allaire, James W. Brown
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Patent number: 6327876Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a optical fiber (102) which includes a furnace (104) for softening an optical fiber blank (106); a tractor (114) for drawing the optical fiber (102) from the softened optical fiber blank (106); and a first applicator (110) for applying a coating of a first coating material to the optical fiber (102), the first applicator having a rotatable die.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2000Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Fibre Ottiche Sud F.O.S. S.p.A.Inventors: Franco Cocchini, Antonio Schiaffo
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Patent number: 6327877Abstract: A device for obtaining festoons mounted on crochet machines for warp weaving comprises a curling hook engaged on a respective hook-holder block, a first motor, a second motor and a programmable electronic regulating unit. The first motor is operatively engaged to the curling hook and the second motor is operatively engaged to the hook holder block. The electronic unit activates the second motor to translate the hook and activates the first motor to curl the woof thread engaged on the hook itself by rotating the latter. The electronic unit, the positioning of the hook in the ending position and the rotation of the hook according to the distance assumed with respect to the needles of the machine. The electronic unit controls in synchronism to the motors, also, a cop-holder bar to produce a festoon having twisted threads of variable length.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 1998Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Inventor: Luigi Omodeo Zorini
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Patent number: 6327878Abstract: A portable security device which can be easily mounted on inwardly swinging doors. the device is made up of a inner plate which has first and second panels, an outer plate which has first and second panels, a hinge connecting, and permitting rotation between, the second panel of the inner plate and the first panel of the outer plate, a securing attachment, and a holding mechanism. The first and second panels of the inner plate are perpendicular to each other. The first panel of the inner plate fits against the strike plate and has a lock tab which fits into the bolt hole in a strike plate. The second panel of the inner plate fits against side edge of the door jamb and contains a horizontal protrusion which contains an opening. The first panel of the outer plate contains a horizontal slot which will fit over the protrusion when the device is in place, thus exposing the opening of the protrusion. The second panel of the outer plate is perpendicular to the first panel.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 1999Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Inventor: Alvin S. Levenson
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Patent number: 6327879Abstract: A lock mechanisms for a fenestration assembly, such as a sliding door, includes a strike element preferably coupled with the door frame and a catch assembly preferably coupled with the fenestration member slidably supported within the frame. The catch assembly includes a catch having structure defining an element receiving slot. The catch is mounted for shifting among a plurality of positions including an engaged position in which the element is received within the slot and retained therein by the catch when the fenestration member is in a closed position, a disengaged position in which the element is disengaged by the catch when the fenestration member is shifted out of the closed position, and an intermediate position in which the element is received within the slot and the catch is positioned between the engaged and disengaged positions.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 1997Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Pella CorporationInventor: Harlan Malsom
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Patent number: 6327880Abstract: A door lock device is disposed on a door (1). The door (1) has an upper through hole (11) and a lower through hole (12). The door lock device has a latch bolt device (6) disposed on the door (1), a case frame (2) having an upper hollow cylinder (22) inserted through the upper through hole (11) and a lower hollow cylinder (23) inserted through the lower through hole (12), a first pressing plate (8) disposed on the case frame (2), a core (3) disposed in the upper hollow cylinder (22), a lock fastener device (4) disposed in the upper hollow cylinder (22), and a drive mechanism (5) disposed in the upper hollow cylinder (22). The drive mechanism (5) has a rack (53) to drive the latch bolt device (6). A locking plate (71) covers the upper through hole (11) and the lower through hole (12). A decoration plate (72) is disposed on the locking plate (71). A second pressing plate (8′) is disposed on the decoration plate (72).Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 1999Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Inventor: Chia-Pei Liang
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Patent number: 6327881Abstract: A locking device for a door, window, or the like, has a main lock casing, at least one additional lock casing and at least one pushrod connecting the additional lock casing with the main lock casing. The additional lock casing has a retractable latch bolt, which can be freely pushed out of the latch position into the additional lock casing, which can be pushed into its locking position by means of a spring and/or a gear. The latch bolt on its side located opposite a leading incline and in the area of the latch end has a protrusion, on which a latch restoring lever acts, and the latch restoring lever has a first catch, by means of which a pushrod is taken along in the, and; one direction, a second catch, by means of which it is taken along by the pushrod in the other.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 1998Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Gretsch-Unitas GmbH BaubeschlageInventors: Daniel Gründler, Udo Dieners