Patents Issued in January 28, 2003
  • Patent number: 6510831
    Abstract: A hypocycloid gear assembly for converting pure linear motion to rotational motion having a pinion shaft, a pinion carrier, and a ring gear. The pinion shaft has a pinion journal which moves in a purely linear direction. A pinion body is connected to the pinion journal and is offset therefrom. The pinion body is placed inside a carrier body of the pinion carrier. The pinion body rotates around the center of axis of the carrier body, causing the carrier body to rotate on its own axis. An output shaft, whose centerline coincides with the centerline of the carrier body, rotates on its own axis and has a purely rotational motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Wiseman Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Randall Wiseman
  • Patent number: 6510832
    Abstract: An intake system for an internal combustion engine to avoid water intake, which includes a main air inlet (10), an auxiliary air inlet (11), and an air filter (12). In the main air inlet (10) there is a valve 16 to sealingly close the main air inlet (10) and a moisture sensor (15), which is connected so as to communicate with an evaluator (22) which, in turn, is connected to at least one other sensor (23) disposed outside the intake system and provided to detect other functions. Examples of possible other sensors (23) include rain sensors and/or temperature sensors. The sensor signals are coupled and or correlated in the evaluator (22), and in accordance with a logic which resides in the evaluator (22), a control signal is produced that opens or closes the main air inlet (10) by means of the valve (16), which can be moved into the respective open or closed positions by any of a number of diverse types of drives, such as, electrical, pneumatic, or electro-pneumatic drives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignees: Filterwerk Mann & Hummel GmbH, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hermann Maurer, Klaus Waltenberg, Alfred Sadlauer, Georg Novotny
  • Patent number: 6510833
    Abstract: An apparatus for reducing fuel consumption in an internal combustion engine such as a diesel engine used in a truck compartment, comprising a thermal insulation cover that also includes reflective fabric over the exhaust manifold, around the intake plenum for intake air and intake air box, covering the turbocharger compressor with a heat insulating material that includes a reflective fabric layer and the turbocharger drive turbine housing except for the bearing area in order to greatly reduce heat build up in the truck engine compartment thereby reducing intake air temperature for increased engine efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: American Diesel & Gas, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony Anthon
  • Patent number: 6510834
    Abstract: The control system of a spark-ignited direct fuel injection internal combustion engine has a control unit for operating the internal combustion engine selectively between a homogeneous combustion mode for starting the engine or after a warm-up thereof and a stratified combustion mode for promoting an activation of a catalytic converter, in response to a request according to an engine operating condition. The control unit further adjusts a parameter that affects engine torque of the internal combustion engine so as to reduce the undesired sudden change of the engine torque when the combustion mode is converted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Tomita, Kimiyoshi Nishizawa, Iwao Yoshida
  • Patent number: 6510835
    Abstract: An engine can switch a combustion mode between homogeneous charge combustion and stratified charge combustion. The engine is controlled in accordance with a load acting on the engine. When homogeneous charge combustion is executed, an intake pressure, or a parameter representing the amount of intake air, is used as a value representing an engine load. When stratified charge combustion is executed, a value equivalent to the intake pressure presuming homogeneous charge combustion is executed with the amount of manipulation of an acceleration pedal at that time is computed as a virtual intake pressure, and the virtual intake pressure is used as a value representing the engine load. In either combustion mode, therefore, the intake pressure, or a common parameter, is used as a value representing the engine load to control the engine. This simplifies matching of engine power torques between both combustion modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Mizuno, Noboru Takagi, Naohide Fuwa
  • Patent number: 6510836
    Abstract: The swirl injector for an internal combustion engine is an electronic fuel injector for a direct injection engine, either gasoline or diesel. The injector has a housing defining a fluid channel, a needle valve disposed in the fluid channel with a spring biasing the valve to a closed position, and a solenoid disposed in the housing encircling the fluid channel. The injector has a nozzle with a conical valve seat and a cylindrical discharge orifice. The needle tip is ball shaped, and the needle body has a plurality of helical grooves which are rectangular in cross section having a width to depth ratio of 1.5:1 at about a 46° angle adjacent the tip. The valve lift is 50 &mgr;m in 60 &mgr;s. The penetration, swirl speed, and pitch angle are controllable through the injection pressure, providing an enhanced fuel injector for dual mode fuel injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Inventor: Murad M. Ismailov
  • Patent number: 6510837
    Abstract: A number of embodiments of cylinder head and intake port arrangements for multiple valve, internal combustion engines particularly those having three or more intake valves. The configuration promotes turbulence in the combustion chamber by inducing a tumble action even from the center intake valve seat. In addition, each of the valve seats and its associated flow passages are configured so as to provide optimum tuning for different engine speeds so as to improve the torque of the engine throughout its entire speed and load ranges and to provide good breathing efficiency throughout all engine speeds. Various porting and throttle and fuel injection systems are shown wherein siamesed intake passages are formed for at least two of the valve seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tateo Aoyama
  • Patent number: 6510838
    Abstract: An anti-rollback system for an automatic transmission includes an output gear connected to an output shaft of the automatic transmission, and a magnetic sensor for detecting output rpm of the output gear. The magnetic sensor is electrically connected to an. ECU (electronic control unit) and the output gear has a plurality of teeth, each tooth having a slot formed on its upper surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Kyung-Seon Hur
  • Patent number: 6510839
    Abstract: A method for controlling a positioning device of an internal combustion engine includes the an electric motor for actuating the positioning device. The electric motor actuates the positioning device against the spring bias torque. A first current is supplied to the electric motor to move the motor to an actual position. The actual position of the throttle plate is compared to a requested position. The first current is monitored to determine the required current to oppose the spring torque at the actual position. The requested position is summed with a spring opposition term based upon the required current into a adjusted requested position. Finally, a current is supplied to the electric motor to move the positioning device to an adjusted requested position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 6510840
    Abstract: A completely closing position detecting and correcting means 11 detecting a stop of operation of the combustion engine, controlling the throttle valve 3 to be in a completely closing position, detecting the completely closing position, and correcting the target position signal outputted from the target opening degree setting means 9 in a completely closing state by shifting the target position signal on a side of opening from an actual completely closing position by a predetermined amount, whereby even though the detected value from the throttle valve opening degree detecting sensor has an error at time of completely closing the throttle valve, a trouble is not caused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsubakiji Tadashi
  • Patent number: 6510841
    Abstract: A fuel injector (1) for fuel injection systems of internal combustion engines is specially designed for the direct injection of fuel into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. It is provided with a solenoid coil (10), a two-part armature (20a, 20b) that is acted upon through the solenoid coil (10) in a closing direction by a first resetting spring (23a), and a valve needle (3) that is connected to the larger armature part (20a) in a force-locking manner, for actuating a valve-closure member (4) which together with a valve seat surface (6) forms a sealing seat. The first armature part (20a) is acted upon in the closing direction by the first resetting spring (23a), and the second armature part (20b) is acted upon in the closing direction by the second resetting spring (23b), the spring constants of the resetting springs (23a, 23b) being different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Hubert Stier
  • Patent number: 6510842
    Abstract: The flow meter is a device having a laser Doppler anemometer (LDA) which measures the instantaneous center line velocity of fluid flow in a pipe and processes the instantaneous velocity so obtained to compute the volumetric flow rate, mass rate, and other flow characteristics as instantaneous quantities and/or integrated over a time interval using an electronic processing method which provides an exact solution to the Navier-Stokes equations for any periodically oscillating flow. The flow meter is particularly adapted for measuring the flow characteristics of high pressure automotive fuel injection systems. Three embodiments of the flow meter are described, including a stationary stand for off-line bench testing flow rate in a fuel injection system, a portable flow meter for inline testing in a vehicle's fuel line, and an on-board flow meter sensor connected to an engine control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Inventor: Murad M. Ismailov
  • Patent number: 6510843
    Abstract: The capacity of a high-pressure pump (6) is regulated by a valve system including a variable-capacity on-off valve (23) and an overpressure valve (31). The overpressure valve has a valve body (33) having a cylindrical wall (35) forming a cavity (34) in which slides a shutter (37) having a lateral wall (51) and an end wall (52). The shutter (37) is pushed into a closed position by a calibrated spring (58). The cylindrical wall (35) has first holes (44) for allowing the passage of enough fuel to lubricate the inside of the pump (6), and second holes (47) for supplying the pump (6) via a supply conduit (68) and for draining any surplus fuel into a recirculating conduit (32). The first holes (44) and the second holes (47) are opened by different displacements of the lateral wall (51) of the shutter (37); and the end wall (52) has a calibrated air vent hole (64).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Sisto Luigi De Matthaeis
  • Patent number: 6510844
    Abstract: A fuel supplying apparatus has a fuel pump for pumping fuel stored in a fuel tank. The fuel pump supplies fuel from the fuel tank to outside the fuel tank via a take-up portion having a fuel take-up opening that opens in the fuel in the fuel tank and a gas take-up opening that opens in a space formed above the fuel liquid surface in the fuel tank. Fuel vapor formed in the fuel tank can be supplied to outside the fuel tank without being released to the atmosphere, by using a minimal number of component elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Susumu Kojima, Keiso Takeda
  • Patent number: 6510845
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for improving an efficiency of internal combustion engines, which consists of an auxiliary air injection system inserted between a carburetor and intake manifold. The system is comprised of a shaped body member and at least one T-shaped circular insert pressed in the body member which fits with the body member tightly at the upper surface and has a smaller circumference at it's lower portion to provide a passage-way for an air flow. The body member has at least one through opening, at least one air inlet opening at a predetermined angle, and an adjustable valve aperture. The T-shaped circular insert has a through opening and numerous air inlet lines angled in two planes for creating a whirlwind flow of the additional incoming air and providing a homogenized fuel-air mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Inventor: Aleksandr A Gololobov
  • Patent number: 6510846
    Abstract: A hand-held breathing device for use by patients having respiratory problems creates a sealed backpressure in the airways of the patient by creating resistance to exhalation. A peep valve is mounted inside a hollow body, and a pre-set compression spring is mounted between the valve and an adjustable cap or cam lever in the main body of the device. A pair of valve openings extend through the wall of the main body, one opening serving as an intake port for inhaling of air by the patient and the second port—for exhalation of carbon dioxide. An intake valve is mounted inside the body between a normally open end of the device and the exhalation valve. In one of the embodiments, the device is attached to a nebulizer to facilitate buildup of positive pressure and delivery of medication to the patients' lungs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Inventor: Sam O'Rourke
  • Patent number: 6510847
    Abstract: A manually-actuated device for the deliver of a volume of liquid which includes an outlet through which liquid is in use delivered and a cover member which is movably disposed relative to the housing between a first position in which the cover member at least partly covers the outlet and a second position in which the cover member acts as a lever which in use is acted upon by a user to actuate the delivery device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: AstraZeneca AB
    Inventors: Per Helgesson, Douglas Jennings, Magnus Jeppsson, Bruce Macmichael, Michael Paton
  • Patent number: 6510848
    Abstract: A disposable active humidifier for the mechanical ventilation of a patient, which has the particularity that it comprises a cartridge which forms a humidification chamber which is delimited by an inlet and by an outlet and can be interposed in the ventilation circuit. The cartridge has an interspace which is externally delimited by a heat exchange surface and is internally delimited by a hydrophobic membrane which surrounds the humidification chamber. A humidification fluid, originating from a bottle or bag, can be introduced in the interspace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Mallinckrodt, Inc.
    Inventor: Lucio Gibertoni
  • Patent number: 6510849
    Abstract: A container system for pressurized fluid includes a pressure vessel formed from a plurality of polymeric hollow chamber having either en ellipsoidal or spherical shape and interconnected by a plurality of relatively narrow conduit sections disposed between consecutive ones of the chambers. The pressure vessel includes a reinforcing filament wrapped around the interconnected chambers and interconnecting conduit sections to limit radial expansion of the chambers and conduit sections when filled with a fluid under pressure. The container system further includes a fluid transfer control system attached to the pressure vessel for controlling fluid flow into and out of the pressure vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Mallinckrodt Inc.
    Inventors: John I. Izuchukwu, Stan A. Sanders
  • Patent number: 6510850
    Abstract: An emergency breathing apparatus includes a hood, a gas storage pack, and a supply conduit connecting the hood and the gas storage pack. The gas storage pack includes a pressure vessel formed from a plurality of hollow chambers, which have either an ellipsoidal or spherical shape, interconnected by a plurality of relatively narrow conduit sections disposed between consecutive ones of the chambers. The pressure vessel includes a reinforcing filament wrapped around the interconnected chambers and interconnecting conduit sections to limit radial expansion of the chambers and conduit sections when filled with a fluid under pressure. The gas storage pack further includes a fluid transfer control system attached to the pressure vessel for controlling fluid flow into and out of the pressure vessel and a housing for containing the pressure vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Mallinckrodt Inc.
    Inventors: John I. Izuchukwu, Stan A. Sanders
  • Patent number: 6510851
    Abstract: In a method and arrangement for evaluating effective flow resistance of a patient breathing circuit connected to a mechanical breathing assist device, a flow controller is operable to temporarily introduce an occlusion to the gas flow within the breathing circuit at a time after the end of an inspiration phase of a breathing cycle provided by the breathing assist device. A sensor unit 34 has a flow sensor for measuring gas flow within the circuit and a pressure sensor for measuring gas pressures within the circuit. An evaluating unit receives measurements from the sensor unit, to determine for a measured gas flow a value of a pressure drop within the breathing circuit after the introduction of the occlusion, and establishes a relationship between the calculated pressure drop and the measured gas flow, such as based on the known Blasius formula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens-Elema AB
    Inventors: Göran Rydin, Christer Ström, Johan Bennarsten
  • Patent number: 6510852
    Abstract: A headpiece for providing support to the head of a patient includes neck and head support plates. The neck support plate is pivotally attached to a surgical table and is pivotal about a neck support plate axis. A head support plate is pivotally attached to the neck support plate and is pivotal with respect to the neck support plate about a head support plate axis. A first lever is pivotally attached to the head support plate. A first locking mechanism moves between locked and released positions when the first lever pivots. The head support plate can pivot with respect to the neck support plate when the first locking mechanism is in the released position. A second lever includes a first arm pivotally attached to the head support plate and configured to pivot about a second axis and a second arm pivotally attached to the neck support plate and configured to pivot about a third axis. The first arm pivots with respect to the second arm in response to pivoting of the head support plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Shiery, Stanley T. Palmatier
  • Patent number: 6510853
    Abstract: A performance enhancing and force absorbing mouthguard adapted to fit the upper teeth of the mouth of an athlete wherein the mouthguard is quadruple or quintuple composite material of distinct materials. The first internal layer is a non-softenable flexible framework which will permit the mouthguard to hold its shape during fitting as well as to absorb and dissipate significant impact conveyed to the upper teeth. A hard, durable reverse bite plate wedge is thicker rearwardly and lowers the condyle from the temporomandibular joint in a fulcrum action to place the lower jaw in an optimum condition preventing impingement upon the nerves and arteries as well as spacing the upper and lower teeth apart. Elastomeric traction pads are on the bottom of the mouthguard and are grippingly engaged by the posterior teeth of the lower jaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Inventors: Jon D. Kittelsen, Henry D. Cross, III, Paul C. Belvedere, Mark Herman
  • Patent number: 6510854
    Abstract: A surgical technique for treating bladder outflow obstruction is disclosed in which access is gained to the treatment site via the bladder itself through one or more suprapubic conduits. The disclosed technique includes inserting at least a first conduit suprapubically into the bladder, inserting at least a surgical instrument along the first conduit, distending the bladder with an isotonic fluid, viewing the position of the instrument using remote visualisation means, direct visualisation means, or a combination of the two, and using the surgical instrument to create at least one hole in the prostate gland, thereby to debulk the adenoma. Preferably the procedure is performed using electrosurgery, which offers significant advantages in terms of minimally invasive surgery and patient recovery times in comparison to more conventional forms of surgery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Gyrus Medical Limited
    Inventor: Nigel M. Goble
  • Patent number: 6510855
    Abstract: A cigarette manufacturing system includes a feed hopper for feeding cut tobacco at a preselected rate to a cigarette rod forming device which in turn feeds formed cigarette rods to a filter tip attaching device. A tobacco recovery system is provided which includes air conveying conduits in flow communication with the rod forming device, the filter tip attachment device and a tobacco dust and useable tobacco particle separator wherein particles of tobacco dust and useable tobacco particles recovered from the rod forming section of the cigarette maker and the filter tip attaching device are separated. The useable particles are re-fed back into the feed hopper. The tobacco dust is transferred to a tobacco dust recovery collector. The tobacco dust and useable tobacco particles separator include a centrifugal curved conduit in combination with a classifying chamber having a bottom outlet for removing useable tobacco and a top outlet for removing tobacco dust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Korte, Michael Wuolukka
  • Patent number: 6510856
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for the attachment of supplemental hair to existing natural hair. The apparatus comprising a first comb member, a handle attached at a back end thereof, and a second comb member hingeably or pivotally attached thereto. A row of first teeth extends from the first comb member corresponding to a row of second teeth extending from the second comb member. The second comb member is positioned to be moveable interchangeably between a closed position and an open position. A heating member connects to and provides heat to one or both of the first comb member and second comb member. The apparatus is utilized in a process to attach supplemental hair to existing natural hair of a person's head. The method uses rows of supplemental hair pre-attached to a band member. An adhesive member is pre-hardened on each row of supplemental hair at a predetermined distance near the band member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Inventor: Chang H. Ahn
  • Patent number: 6510857
    Abstract: A conventional apparatus for preventing growth of microbia in a carrier tube by an electromagnetic field has no or little effect. An apparatus 1 serves to prevent growth of microbia propagating themselves on an internal wall of a carrier tube 63 for carrying beer and the like or to remove the microbia. The apparatus 1 comprises a control unit 2 for generating an electric signal including an audio frequency component, a transponder 3 including a coil 31 and a case 32 for housing the coil 31, and means for attaching the transponder 3 to an external wall of the carrier tube 63, and generates an audio electronic signal to be sent through the carrier tube 63 by applying the electric signal to the coil 31.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Inventor: David Leslie Phillip Middleton
  • Patent number: 6510858
    Abstract: A washing device (10) includes a chamber (12) with a front door (24). The door is pivotable between a vertical closed position and a horizontal open position. An article carrying assembly (34) is moveable from inside the washing device to an upper surface (26) of the open door. A lifting system (72) moves the front door between lower and upper positions (74, 76). The lifting system includes a follower (154) to which the front door is pivotally mounted. A motor (80) transmits power to a pair of chains (110, 116), which drive the follower along a guide (156) to move the door up and down. Alternatively, the lifting system includes a cable (182) coupled to a fluid cylinder (180). When the door is in the upper position, an operator can move the rack to a transfer cart or load and unload the article carrying assembly, all while in a substantially erect position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Steris Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Halstead, Francois Lagacé, John Wood, Simon Villeneuve, Jean-Guy Roy, Eugéne Cantin
  • Patent number: 6510859
    Abstract: A small-sized cleaning and drying apparatus is provided. Without generating particles, hydrogen gas, etc., the apparatus easily generates an ozone water to form an oxidation film on an object to be processed. The apparatus includes a cleaning part 1 for washing semiconductor wafers W and a drying part 2 for drying the wafers W. The cleaning part 1 is formed by a processing bath 10 storing a chemical liquid or a rinsing liquid. The processing bath 10 is communicated with a chemical source 17 and a pure water source 15 through a rinsing liquid pipeline 14 interposing an ozone water generating unit 21. After completing both chemical treatment and rinsing, it is possible to form the oxidation Elms on respective surfaces of the wafers W and dry them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Yuji Kamikawa
  • Patent number: 6510860
    Abstract: An adapter having a central tubular connecting portion to enable the adapter to be fitted to a drain clearing tool, and a flexible skirt portion of frusto-conical shape extending from the central connecting portion partway along its length. The connecting portion has a first part on one side of the skirt portion and a second part with a different diameter from the first part on the other side of the skirt portion, and the skirt portion having a first configuration in which it surrounds one of the connecting parts and a reversely bent second configuration in which it surrounds the other connecting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Inventor: Josef K. Kihs
  • Patent number: 6510861
    Abstract: A golfing accessory apparatus employs a longitudinally extensible and retractable pole upon which an umbrella unit is mounted for use in the usual fashion when an umbrella is desired. Mounts on both the handle end and the opposite end of the umbrella pole provide a means of attaching any one of a number of accessory devices as desired for the convenience and pleasure of a golfer. When used as a golf ball retriever, the umbrella unit may be completely removed from the pole so as not to impede use of the device for retrieval purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Inventor: Harvey F. Mead
  • Patent number: 6510862
    Abstract: This is a system and procedure that uses either a hand pump system or an electric pump system to drain fresh water or sea water out of a marine engine, and then uses either the hand pump system or the electric pump system to install fresh water or other liquid chemicals into the marine engine, and also uses either the hand pump system or the electric pump system to recover the liquid chemicals from the marine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Inventor: Carl Prentice
  • Patent number: 6510863
    Abstract: A dual inlet air gap having an air gap body comprising a pair of inlet ports having substantially the same size, rate of flow, and pressure drop to accept waste water flow from a pair of waste water sources for emptying into a single outlet port located between the pair of waste water sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Inventor: Paul L. Traylor
  • Patent number: 6510865
    Abstract: A hollow tap having an axially outward extending cutting tooth so that when the cutting tooth is brought into rotational pressure engagement with a resilient tubing the cutting tooth cuts a hole partially through the resilient tubing leaving a coupon hingedly but securely attached to the resilient tubing to maintain the coupon in an out-of-the-way condition within the resilient tubing. Continued rotation of the tap within a saddle brings a sealing surface on the cutting tube into fluid tight seal with the resilient tubing to provide a branch outlet to the resilient tubing though the tap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Inventors: Lloyd Herbert King, Jr., Glenn M. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 6510866
    Abstract: A float assembly for a ball cock assembly for a flush tank of a toilet includes an inner float component which is a buoyant element operatively connected to a shutoff valve atop a standpipe supplying water to the tank. The inner float component is disposed in an outer float component which is in the general form of a container disposed within the flush tank so that its top edge is at a selected water level. In the tank-filling portion of a flush cycle, when the water rises to the selected level, the outer float component suddenly becomes filled with water, causing the inner float element to abruptly rise, shutting off the flow of water into the flush tank. In this manner, the buoyant element is caused to rise at a rate which is greater than a rate at which the water is rising in the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: WDI International, Inc.
    Inventor: Feiyu Li
  • Patent number: 6510867
    Abstract: A pressure relief valve has a main valve body, a fluid inlet passageway, a fluid outlet passageway, and a piston contained within the main body. The piston has a piston head, slidingly and sealingly engaged within a pressurized cavity in the main valve body. The piston head's principal face, having a given surface area, is exposed to a pressurized gas in the cavity. A piston stem, connected to the piston head, is in sliding communication with a packoff assembly and has an exposed face whose surface area is smaller than the piston head's principal face. The piston stem's exposed face is in communication with the pressurized gas or fluids to be regulated. In operation, a gas or fluid pressurized to a predetermined value in the pressurized cavity acts against the piston head, forcing one or more ports in the piston stem sidewall to be sealed from the fluid outlet passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Lafleur Petroleum Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Karl K. LaFleur
  • Patent number: 6510868
    Abstract: The subject application is directed to a compressor valve having a valve seat, a valve guard and a sealing plate with contoured sealing surfaces, the valve seat having defining inlet flow ports for admitting a controlled medium into the valve, the lower surface of the valve seat including at least one seating surface, the a valve guard having a recessed area and defining outlet flow ports for discharging a controlled medium from the valve, the sealing plate being positioned within a cavity between the valve guard and valve seat and moves relative to the lower surface of the valve seat between an open and closed position, the upper surface of the sealing plate defining at least one contoured sealing surface for engaging at least one seating surface of the valve seat along a continuous line of contact when the valve is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Coltec Industrial Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Neil C. Penza
  • Patent number: 6510869
    Abstract: The present invention provides a ball check valve in which the area of a channel leading from a ball chamber to a discharge-side channel can be increased, and the adhesion of a ball to a valve seat surface is satisfactory even when the ball check valve is used in a horizontal posture. In the ball check valve having a ball (3) movably housed in a ball chamber (2) provided inside a valve casing (1), two or more rail-like ridges (13) protruding toward the interior of the ball chamber to guide the ball (3) are provided on a peripheral wall (10) demarcating the ball chamber (2). Furthermore, valve seats (20a, 20b) constituted separately from the valve casing (1) are mounted, respectively, on the inflow side and the discharge side of the valve casing (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Ouchi, Masaru Sato
  • Patent number: 6510870
    Abstract: A fluid conveying tube for a vehicle cooler comprises at least two longitudinal ducts, each comprising two opposite, longitudinal primary heat exchange surfaces. At least one primary surface in each duct of the tube has a projecting surface structure. In a method of manufacturing such a tube, starting from a blank, use is made of a device, which has a feeder for feeding the blank through the device and a surface forming station for forming the surface structure on a portion of the blank surface. Furthermore, the device comprises an edge forming station for forming two opposite edges of the blank into two upright edge portions, which between themselves define an at least partly essentially flat web portion. In addition, the device comprises a duct forming station for making the edge portions abut against each other and against the web portion with a view to defining said ducts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Valeo Engine Cooling AB
    Inventors: Laszlo Valaszkai, Esad Celik
  • Patent number: 6510871
    Abstract: The apparatus for the manufacture of leno fabrics (1) in a weaving machine comprises a needle bar (3) for ground threads (13), at least one insertion element (4) for leno threads (4) and means for the insertion of weft threads (12). A pivotal arrangement (5, 6, 7) is connected directly to a main drive (51) of the weaving machine. The insertion element and the needle bar can be moved by means of this pivotal arrangement, so that the movement sequence which is required for the ground thread and leno thread results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Sulzer Textil AG
    Inventors: Heinz Baumann, Georg Senn, Paul Lincke
  • Patent number: 6510872
    Abstract: A woven carpet backing may include monofilament warp yarns and alternating monofilament and multifilament fill yarns. The yarns may be woven using a weave, such as a non-traditional weave, that places all of the multifilament fill yarns on the face of the fabric and all of the monofilament fill yarns on the back of the fabric. Monofilament fill yarns and multifilament fill yarns are overstuffed, thereby creating a coverage factor greater than one hundred percent. The invention results in a carpet backing with the appearance of a primary carpet backing on one side of the fabric and the appearance of a secondary carpet backing on the opposite side of the fabric. The need for a secondary carpet backing is eliminated by the woven carpet backing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignees: Wayn-Tex, Incorporated, Mohawk Carpet Corporation
    Inventors: Kirk D. Smith, Brent Sizemore
  • Patent number: 6510873
    Abstract: A press fabric for a pulp machine is a weft-abrading type fabric manufactured by weaving a warp monofilament and a bundled yarn. The bundled yarn has fine water-sucking spaces formed between raw filaments of a small diameter by bundling up the raw filaments. Monofilaments may also be used as the wefts in combination with the bundled yarns. The bundled yarn forms the most protuberant crimp to the surface of the fabric which results in improved water-sucking ability, washing ability, showering resistance, and abrasion resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Nippon Filcon Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Nagura
  • Patent number: 6510874
    Abstract: The disclosure directed to a distribution system for gas in gas bottles with a reservoir (3) for gas bottles (2) from which the gas bottles (2) can be removed with controlled access and/or to which the gas bottles (2) can be preferentially returned with controlled access characterised in that outside the reservoir (4) at least one filling station (12) is provided to fill the gas bottles (2) with the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Inventor: Karl-Peter Hasenkopf
  • Patent number: 6510875
    Abstract: A new inflating device and method for inflating an inflatable object are described. The inflating device includes two compartments: one containing a gas-generating agent and the other containing an activating agent. When mixed, the gas-generating agent and the activating agent produces a gas in situ. The device further includes an activator connected to both compartments and is capable of effectuating mixing between the two agents upon activation. A hose assembly of the inflating device delivers a the gas generated to an inflatable object, such as a flat tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Pennzoil
    Inventors: Jiafu Fang, Troy H. Scriven, Dewey P. Szemenyei
  • Patent number: 6510876
    Abstract: An adapter connects different sized conduits to a radiator, where each conduit has an open end configured differently than the open ends of the other conduits. The adapter includes a body member having a cavity therein, with a connection member having one end extending from the body member to be attached to a coupling member and another end in communication with the cavity. A passageway extends between these ends. Tubular inserts are individually and independently coupled to one sized conduit. Each insert has a first end sized to fit snug within the cavity and a second opposed end sized to fit within an open end of one of the conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: MOC Products Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Camacho, Carl Brod
  • Patent number: 6510877
    Abstract: A hand-held cleaning device includes a hollow body member having an interior portion and an exterior portion, the interior portion comprising a plurality of separate reservoirs, an abrasive surface attached to the exterior portion of the hollow body member, and at least one passage leading from each reservoir to the abrasive surface. The present invention also relates to a cleaning system comprising a hand-held cleaning device and a refilling dock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: The Procter and Gamble Company
    Inventors: Trace Wendell De Guzman Trajano, Elmer Quirimit Delos Reyes
  • Patent number: 6510878
    Abstract: An attachable baseplate for a highspeed router which can be used with router in an upright handheld position, or in an inverted position with router suspended by same baseplate in a router table. Front edge of baseplate has cutout portion for sliding engagement and containment of a right and a left incrementally marked alignment indicator. When secured to baseplate in a predetermined position indicators show actual diameter margins of the installed cutting tool. This simplifies and makes precise the alignment of the cutting tool to the layout line of the workpiece and allowing measuring capabilities when enlarging the existing cut without the necessity of changing cutting tool. Alignment and measuring capabilities perform equally in the handheld or suspended router table mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Inventor: Frank J. Cavit
  • Patent number: 6510879
    Abstract: A device of depth index of a planing machine includes a bottom base, an upper base, an index device and a sensor device. The upper base is fitted with an index device at a preset position in the front. A push rod is pushed up to activate the index device to show a planing depth. The sensor device includes a sensing strip pivotally connected to a preset position under the upper base. As soon as contacting with a wood material moving on the bottom base, the sensing strip will rotate for a preset angle and prop up the push rod to let it activate the index device to show a numerical value of planing depth. As the sensing strip is elongate, a wood material moving on the bottom base can immediately sensed by it, no matter what size or where or how it is placed, obtaining effect of wholly sensing the wood material being planed and ensuring measuring precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Inventor: Bor Yann Chuang
  • Patent number: 6510880
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus which cuts certain wood pieces, commonly referenced as “mill ends,” such that the chips can be used to make paper, cardboard and other recyclable materials. The use of a horizontal drum in combination with a horizontal anvil and a “moving cavity” which orients elongate elements, is likewise contemplated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Inventor: Stanley Dale Arasmith
  • Patent number: 6510881
    Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire having a tread formed from a rubber strip-stacked body by stacking rubber strip layers composed of a rubber strip wound spirally while continuously joining side surfaces thereof to each other in a tire circumferential direction on the outside of a carcass layer via a belt layer, in which boundary surfaces of the rubber strip of the rubber strip-stacked body forming at least an outermost layers of both shoulder portions of the tread are leaned respectively toward the outside of a tire diameter direction relative to a tire outside direction in a tire width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Takahashi, Norio Ohmoto