Patents Issued in January 30, 2003
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Publication number: 20030019455Abstract: In an internal combustion engine provided with a decompression mechanism, a decompression cam that is rotatable with respect to a camshaft between first and second stop positions has a cam profile so that an exhaust valve is opened at the first stop position and is closed at the second stop position. The decompression cam is rotated in the reverse direction to the first stop position by rotating a crankshaft in the reverse direction by an electric motor at startup (position P1). Only the crankshaft is then rotated in the reverse direction (position p3), and the decompression cam is rotated in the normal direction by rotating the crankshaft in the normal direction by the electric motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventors: Seiji Onozawa, Atsushi Ogasawara, Kuniaki Ikui
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Publication number: 20030019456Abstract: An improved air box lid and an improved air conveyance tube may be used alone and/or in combination to improve engine performance. For example, the improved air box lid and the improved air conveyance tube may be used together in an air induction system to increase the flow of ambient air from an air intake box to the motor throttle body. The improved air box lid and the improved air conveyance tube are preferably provided with interior walls that are smooth and continuous and define only obtuse interior angles.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2001Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventor: W. Brooke Ayton
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Publication number: 20030019457Abstract: A V-type engine having an intake system structure formed of a surge tank and intake pipes. The intake system structure is divided into upper and lower blocks by a horizontal dividing surface positioned below the surge tank. The upper block includes the surge tank, and first and second upper pipe parts of the intake pipes. The lower block includes first and second lower pipe parts of the intake pipes. First and second seal parts surround the intake passages on the dividing surface toward the upper block. First and second straight inner sealing surfaces are arranged at the portion where the seal parts extend inwardly of the engine banks. Only these straight inner sealing surfaces are positioned below the surge tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventor: Hisashi Ozeki
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Publication number: 20030019458Abstract: An air intake duct system for internal combustion engines, and in particular for V-engines, comprises a plurality of air intake ducts (10,12). Each air in-take duct is formed by two duct portions (18), and (20) and (22), respectively. The second duct portions (20,22) are arranged to swivel about a swivelling axis (34) and (36), respectively, for varying the length of the air intake duct. According to the invention the two swivelling axes (34,36) are supported in a common bearing part (44) which comprises two swivelling axis bearings each provided for one of the two swivelling axes (34,36).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Applicant: Pierburg AGInventor: Hans-Juergen Huesges
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Publication number: 20030019459Abstract: A balancer shaft is positioned on the center plane which divides cylinder banks of a V-type engine and which passes through an axis of the crankshaft, and is positioned directly below the crankshaft, whereby the balancer shaft is in close proximity to the crankshaft to cancel vibration forces.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventor: Hiroshi Ohsawa
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Publication number: 20030019460Abstract: A portable power tool includes an internal combustion engine that includes a crankshaft in which a load applied thereto is unevenly distributed along the axis of the crankshaft with respect to the axis of the reciprocating movement of a piston. The portable power tool also includes operational members that are driven by the internal combustion engine, a rotational body fixed to an end of the crankshaft to which a smaller component of the load is applied, and a balancing weight provided on the rotational body for absorbing vibrations generated by the reciprocating movement of the piston. The centroid of the balancing weight is disposed at an angular position from 140 degrees to 180 degrees with respect to the axis of the reciprocating movement of the piston in a rotational direction of the rotational body, when the piston is positioned at a top dead center.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventors: Fuminori Tezuka, Tadashi Kamoshita, Masanori Ohtani, Kentaroh Taka
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Publication number: 20030019461Abstract: An engine cover has such a structure that a cover body has a through hole penetrating both sides of the cover body in an area opposed to a resonant space in which resonant sounds are generated, and an opening of the through hole is covered with the sound absorbing member layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventors: Zenichi Yasuda, Yutaka Ogasawara, Yoshikazu Hirose, Yasuo Sakakibara, Masahiro Ogata
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Publication number: 20030019462Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid filter (1), for example an oil filter for cleaning lubricating oil, especially for use in internal combustion engines of motor vehicles. A ring-shaped filter insert separates an unclean side from a clean side in the interior of the liquid filter. A metal filter housing (2) comprises a first flange (3) with which the liquid filter (1) can be screwed to a component via a screw connection, said component having an inlet for uncleaned liquid, an outlet for cleaned liquid and a relatively pressureless idle duct. The first flange (3) contains an axially acting outer seal (24) that includes inlet, outlet and idle duct, and a carrier receiving compartment (22) encircled by the outer seal (24).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventors: Peter Baumann, Thomas Brieden, Hans Gebert, Markus Layer
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Publication number: 20030019463Abstract: The present invention relates to a leak fuel connection, in particular for a common rail system or a common rail injector, for connecting a leak fuel line (2) via a connecting conduit (3) to a connection end piece (4). The leak fuel connection (1), on the outer circumference of a component (18) on which the leak fuel connection (1) is provided, has an at least intermittently annularly embodied conduit (5), into which the connecting conduit (3) for connecting to the leak fuel line (2) discharges. The annular conduit (5) is connected to the connection end piece (4) via a connection element (6).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventors: Dieter Kienzler, Udo Schaich
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Publication number: 20030019464Abstract: In a snowmobile, a four-cycle engine has an alternator as a generator while the snowmobile body has heat exchangers through which the cooling water of the engine is cooled by heat exchange with external air and snow, in a front part and at the ceiling of a crawler house. The alternator is positioned between the four-cycle engine and the front heat exchanger. Further, an exhaust manifold is arranged at an upper position in front of the engine body while an approximately cylindrical oil filter is provided under the exhaust manifold and inclined forwards in the vehicle's direction of travel.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventors: Hideshi Morii, Yasuaki Yatagai, Yutaka Sasaki, Ken Shibano, Hitoshi Matsumura
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Publication number: 20030019465Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel injector, in particular a fuel injector protruding directly into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, having an energizable actuator (10, 11, 12), a valve-closure member (7) able to be moved by the actuator (10, 11, 12), a secure valve seat (22), with which the valve-closure member (7) cooperates to open and close the valve, a fuel outlet formed in a downstream spray-discharge region and by at least one outlet opening (23) situated downstream from valve seat (22), and a dead volume (25) formed downstream from valve seat (22) and upstream from the spray-discharge region having at least one outlet opening (23). A device for accumulating combustion chamber gas is provided in the valve-closure member (7) in the form of a blind hole (33) having direct access to the dead volume (25).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventor: Joerg Heyse
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Publication number: 20030019466Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel injection control method for a direct-injection internal-combustion engine comprising at least an injector (20) of fuel jet nappe angle (al), a cylinder (10), a cylinder head (12), a piston (18) sliding in this cylinder and connected to a crankshaft, and a combustion chamber delimited by wall (26) of the cylinder, cylinder head (12) and upper face (24) of piston (18).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventors: Bruno Walter, Bertrand Gatellier
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Publication number: 20030019467Abstract: In a set of heads for the cylinders of internal combustion engines with desmodromic valve operation, each head comprises an assembly of one or two inlet valves, and an assembly of one or two exhaust valves, so as to form heads with two, three and four valves. The assembly of inlet valves is positioned at an angle to the assembly of exhaust valves. The two assemblies are actuated through respective rockers by a single camshaft located substantially along the line running centrally between the two assemblies. The inlet duct and the exhaust duct are located in the same position within the head and have the same connections to the induction and exhaust systems in all the two-, three- and four-valve versions.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Applicant: DUCATI MOTOR HOLDING S.p.A.Inventor: Gianluigi Mengoli
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Publication number: 20030019468Abstract: A device and a method determine an offset value which represents the offset of the output signal of a vehicle sensor, the sensor detecting at least one motion of a vehicle, and the output signal is analyzed at at least two different points in time. An additional signal is determined independently of the output signal, this signal also representing the motion of the vehicle. An arrangement is provided for analyzing the characteristic of the output signal, which depends on the longitudinal velocity of the vehicle, and the characteristic of the additional signal, which also depends on the longitudinal velocity of the vehicle, in order to determine the offset value.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventors: Hermann Winner, Werner Urban, Jens Lueder, Frieder Keller
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Publication number: 20030019469Abstract: A number of engine operating strategies have been developed that allow for engine braking when combustion is not needed. In these strategies, air within the engine cylinder is compressed by the cylinder piston; however, rather than introducing fuel into the cylinder to facilitate a combustion event, the cylinder is opened to an exhaust manifold and the compressed air is vented, and the energy is released by the engine. However, it has been learned that the venting of this compressed air from the engine can produce undesirable noise emissions. Thus, the present invention employs a dual exhaust valve lift strategy to reduce noise produced during engine braking while still allowing relatively high engine braking horsepowers to be achieved.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2001Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventors: Matthew G. Mickiewicz, Steven J. Funke
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Publication number: 20030019470Abstract: A controlled exhaust brake for an engine comprises an exhaust restrictor located in an exhaust system downstream of an exhaust manifold of an engine. An actuator operably associated with the restrictor adjusts the restrictor. A pressure sensor operably associated with the exhaust manifold senses pressure in the exhaust manifold. A controller determines a set pressure in the exhaust manifold correlated with speed of the engine. The controller is in communication with the pressure sensor and the actuator, and causes adjustment of the restrictor in order to achieve and maintain the set pressure in the exhaust manifold.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventors: Derek Anderson, Mark A. Israel, Robert B. Price
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Publication number: 20030019471Abstract: A throttle valve configuration having an emergency air device in the form of an additional valve which normally closes off an emergency air opening in the throttle valve, and when the drive fails, can be rotated relative to the throttle valve in order to release the emergency air opening so that the internal combustion engine receives sufficient air to travel to a garage or a similar service center.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventor: Dirk Geyer
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Publication number: 20030019472Abstract: In order to reduce white smoke emissions immediately after start-up, the present invention is a method for executing engine warm-up control using electronic control units, wherein start-up idle control which does not perform the prescribed fast idle control, is executed until a prescribed period of time t1 has elapsed after engine start-up, whereupon the amount of fuel injection is increased to execute fast idle control. Immediately after engine start-up, the fuel injection amount and number of engine revolutions are restricted compared to those during fast idle control, preventing a large amount of fuel injection and high number of revolutions while the piston wall surface temperature is low, and thereby significantly reducing white smoke emissions.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventor: Atsushi Konno
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Publication number: 20030019473Abstract: Described are a method, a computer program, and a control unit for operating a vacuum reservoir (6) provided in an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle for a servo booster or power-assist unit (8, 10, 11) of the internal combustion engine, which is coupled to an intake manifold (1) of the internal combustion engine and to an electrical suction pump (30). The pressure prevailing in the vacuum reservoir (6) is determined by a computational model in which quantity flows are fed to the vacuum reservoir (6) when at least one servo unit (8, 10, 11) is actuated, quantity flows are removed from the vacuum reservoir (6) when the pressure prevailing in the intake manifold (1) is lower than the pressure prevailing in the vacuum reservoir (6), i.e., when the electrical suction pump (30) is switched on. The total pressure prevailing in the vacuum reservoir (6) is calculated from the balance of these flow quantities.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventors: Ernst Wild, Kristina Eberle, Lutz Reuschenbach
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Publication number: 20030019474Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for adjusting a throttle of a vehicle engine. The apparatus comprises an input sensor configured to provide an input signal having a value that approximately corresponds to an operating level of the vehicle engine requested by an operator and a memory configured to store a maximum input value for the input sensor. The maximum input value provides the value of the input signal that approximately corresponds to a maximum operating level of the vehicle engine. The apparatus is further configured to receive the input signal and access the memory to retrieve the maximum input value and further configured to update the maximum input value with the value of the input signal if the value of the input signal is greater than the maximum input value.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2001Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventors: Mark Henry Costin, Paul Alan Bauerle, Robert J. Schaller, John Norman Stockbridge, Mario Vincent Maiorana, James T. Purcell, Robert Charles Simon
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Publication number: 20030019475Abstract: A plurality of intake air amount control systems are provided for diagnosing a failure of each intake air amount control system. At the failure of any of them, a fail-safe control is performed using a normal intake air amount control system.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Applicant: UNISIA JECS CORPORATIONInventors: Kenichi Machida, Satoru Watanabe, Makoto Nakamura
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Publication number: 20030019476Abstract: A garment for a personal cooling or warming system, the garment comprising a carrier formed in the shape of the garment, and a bladder comprising at least two channel segments, wherein the channel segments have a substantially flat configuration so as to improve thermal efficiency.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventor: Paul A. Chambers
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Publication number: 20030019477Abstract: A method for producing fuel rails, which contain a hollow chamber that communicates with a fuel source via a connection. The fuel rail supplies fuel to a number of injection valves. At least one preassembled unit of an injection valve is integrated into the fuel rail by means of a materially adhesive connection during the production of the fuel rail and an electrical contacting of the individual injection valves is produced at the same time.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Eckhard Bodenhausen, Franco Zeleny, Horst Kirschner
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Publication number: 20030019478Abstract: Pressurized injector actuation fluid, such as oil or fuel, is supplied to high pressure common rail by a fixed displacement fluid pump. Variable delivery from the pump is achieved by an improved sleeve metering approach. The sleeve surrounds the reciprocating piston and is manipulated to control venting of pumped fluid through vent ports in the piston. The sleeve is moved by preferably being the armature of a solenoid assembly. The varying of current to the solenoid coil alters the axial position of the sleeve relative to the piston to vary the effective pumping stroke of the piston.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventors: Dennis H. Gibson, Mark F. Sommars
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Publication number: 20030019479Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for injecting fuel, having a control valve (16) that has a valve chamber (18). From the valve chamber (18), a high-pressure line (37) leads to the injector; the valve chamber (18) also communicates with a pump chamber (23) for fuel that is at high pressure. The control part of the control valve (16) is actuatable by means of an electromagnet (17). The control valve (16) is coupled with a passive piston (20), which to avoid the pulse change, which acts on the piston (20), is provided with a bore (21).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventors: Anja Melsheimer, Gerd Wille
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Publication number: 20030019480Abstract: A method and a device are described for controlling an internal combustion engine, comprising a sensor for detecting a pressure variable characterizing the pressure of the air supplied to the internal combustion engine. The performance reliability of the sensor is monitored and a substitute signal is used in case of a fault. To determine the substitute signal, a static substitute value is defined on the basis of variables that characterize the operating state of the internal combustion engine. The static substitute value is filtered by a filter having a delay component, in order to generate the substitute signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventor: Otwin Landschoff
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Publication number: 20030019481Abstract: A fuel vapor treatment system is provided that diagnoses failure of the purge valve using one absolute pressure sensor. The fuel vapor treatment system includes a fuel tank, a canister, a drain cut valve, a purge valve, purge piping and a sensor. The canister adsorbs fuel vapor evaporated from the fuel tank. The drain cut valve controls the introduction of air into the canister. The purge valve is disposed between the canister and an intake passage into which fuel vapor flows from the canister. The purge piping communicates between the fuel tank and the intake passage via the canister. The sensor detects the absolute pressure inside the purge piping. The fuel vapor treatment system is further equipped with an atmospheric pressure setting device that sets the value detected by the sensor when the drain cut valve is open as the atmospheric pressure used for controlling the engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Akihiro Kawano
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Publication number: 20030019482Abstract: An evaporative emission control system for an engine (1) includes a fuel tank (2), a pipe (4, 7) connecting the fuel tank and an engine intake passage, a canister (3) which adsorbs fuel evaporating gas vaporized in the fuel tank, a purge valve (8) provided between the intake passage and the canister, and a sensor (9) which is provided between the purge valve and the fuel tank, and detects absolute pressure in the pipe. A controller (15) sets the detected pressure before engine startup as an atmospheric pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Akihiro Kawano
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Publication number: 20030019483Abstract: A heat exchanger interposed between a supercharger of an internal combustion engine and an intake port of the internal combustion engine closes a space C between an outer periphery of stacked heat exchanger fins housed in a case having an intake inlet in communication with the supercharger and an outlet in communication with the intake port of the internal combustion engine and a case inner wall surface by a plate between the intake inlet and the outlet. The plate is an aluminum plate as a body that is different from the case. The outlet is provided with a net member for foreign matter passage prevention which is integrated with the plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventors: Yoshitsugu Gokan, Kazuhiko Tomoda
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Publication number: 20030019484Abstract: An oil drain tube is provided for an internal combustion engine, which prevents oil draining from an oil separator from encountering blowby gases. The oil drain tube includes a first non-horizontal tube portion in direct fluid communication with the oil separator, a second non-horizontal tube portion in direct fluid communication with an oil sump and a tube portion connecting the first non-horizontal tube portion and the second non-horizontal tube portion in fluid communication with one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2001Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventors: Noel R. Lepp, Maurice E. Moushon
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Publication number: 20030019485Abstract: A catalyst which has an oxygen storage function is provided in the exhaust gas pipe 2 of an engine 1. The oxygen storage amount is estimated based on the output of the air/fuel ratio sensor 4 upstream of the catalyst 3. The air/fuel ratio is controlled so that the oxygen storage amount coincides with the target value. When the output of the downstream air/fuel ratio sensor 5 continuously displays a rich or a lean value for more than a determination time which is varied continuously with respect to operating conditions, deterioration in the upstream air/fuel ratio sensor 4 is detected. Thus the output of the upstream air/fuel ratio sensor 4 is corrected based on the output of the downstream air/fuel ratio sensor 5. In this manner, output fluctuations are corrected based on the deterioration of the air/fuel ratio sensor 4 upstream of the catalyst.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Hideaki Kobayashi, Shigeaki Kakizaki
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Publication number: 20030019486Abstract: A heater power supply control system is provided for controlling the temperature of a heater used to heat a solid electrolyte-made sensor element of a gas concentration sensor up to a desired activation temperature. The heater power supply control system measures a resistance value of the sensor element and controls an electric power supply to the heater using a PI control function. The heater power supply control system works to limit the value of an integral term of the PI control function in the course of activation of the sensor element, thereby avoiding overshoot of the resistance value of the sensor element, which avoids thermal damage of the sensor element.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventors: Satoshi Hada, Eiichi Kurokawa
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Publication number: 20030019487Abstract: Pitching apparatus delivers a sequence of different kinds of pitches to a batter and prevents a batter from ascertaining from the position of the pitching apparatus the kind of pitch which the apparatus will deliver.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2001Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventor: Thomas L. Long
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Publication number: 20030019488Abstract: A string release for providing accurate release of a tensioned bow string. The release has a pair of jaws which are retained and controlled by a pivot ball and a jaw cup. the pivot ball being mounted on a shaft which is attached to an inner race which is in turn contained within a ball housing. The inner race is positioned such that it may slide laterally within the ball housing. In the closed position, a number of balls retain the inner race in an aft position relative to the jaws. A trigger mechanism actuates a locking sleeve which allows the balls to move such that the inner race may slide forward, thereby allowing the jaw to open. The release further includes a trigger force adjusting mechanism that allows adjustment of the force required to activate the trigger mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2001Publication date: January 30, 2003Applicant: Tru-Fire CorporationInventors: Jeffrey Eckert, Lynn A. Tentler, Paul Peck
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Publication number: 20030019489Abstract: A rotary cutting saw including (a) a base disk and (b) a plurality of abrasive segments fixed to an outer circumferential surface of the base disk and are spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the base disk. The base disk has a plurality of slits which are formed in the outer circumferential surface of the base disk and are located between adjacent ones of the abrasive segments in the circumferential direction. Each slit extends inwardly in a radial direction of the base disk from the outer circumferential surface of the base disk. Each of the abrasive segments includes abrasive grains and wear-resistant grains each of which has a size substantially equal to a size of each of the abrasive grains. The wear-resistant grains are exposed on a side surface of each abrasive segment and are regularly arranged on the side surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Applicant: NORITAKE CO., LIMITEDInventor: Seiya Ogata
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Publication number: 20030019490Abstract: A lightweight prefabricated masonry/steel kiva-style fireplace. The firebox is cast in three or more modular sections. The entire inner combustion chamber is lined with split refractory firebrick and an outer shell is lightweight vermiculite concrete. The center firebox section has a semi-circular concave interior and the tubular steel and mesh exterior kiva fireplace stuccoed and plastered frame facade has a semi-circular convex exterior configuration with the appearance of a sculpted adobe fireplace. The firebox damper/anchor plate provides a transition from the masonry firebox to a double-walled chimney system. The firebox can be placed in a room comer or in a chase on a flat wall. It can also be installed over wood floors, in old or new construction.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventor: Stuart P. Buffington
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Publication number: 20030019491Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved barbecue kettle leg support featuring a body that is contoured to fit the curved shape of a barbecue kettle bowl and to receive an end of a leg with a locking formation. Fastener bores are configured for mounting the leg support to the bowl. Preferably, the leg support is mounted midway between the top and bottom of the bowl for increased stability. A keyed bore enables assembly of the leg with the locking formation. The locking formation utilizes a pin which is attached to a bias spring to prevent unwanted detachment of the leg from the leg support. The locking formation is configured to allow assembly and disassembly to be performed without the use of tools.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2001Publication date: January 30, 2003Applicant: Uniflame CorporationInventor: Martin C. Bossler
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Publication number: 20030019492Abstract: What is disclosed is an improved barbecue grill for outdoor cooking, having an upper cooking chamber portion; a lower fuel storage portion and a countertop member. The upper cooking chamber portion is made up of a hollow cylindrical drum, having a planar rack portion supported horizontally therein. Drum has first and second end plates and a sidewall, with an opening downward in said drum sidewall. Aan arcuate door movably hinged is located on the upward side of said drum. The drum is horizontally positioned and supported upon said countertop member. Countertop member is supported on the lower fuel storage portion and includes an opening therethrough. The lower fuel storage portion is a vertical skirt portion, having an opening upwardly and a bottom plate. A pair of doors covers an aperture in the skirt portion for accessing the interior of said skirt portion. A fuel shelf and a sliding shelf portion for removal of ashes are located inside of the skirt portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2001Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventor: Paul L. Williams
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Publication number: 20030019493Abstract: An apparatus to make a certain volume of liquid available for atomization comprises a container adapted to hold a liquid, and a piston pump. The piston pump comprises a piston member and a valve body, with the piston member being slidable within the valve body. Further, the valve body functions with the piston member to define a metering chamber. In this way, the metering chamber is adapted to be filled with liquid from the container when the piston member is moved to a filling position, and the piston pump is adapted to dispense a known volume of the liquid from the metering chamber when the piston member is moved to a dispensing position.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2001Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventors: Sharad Narayan, Yehuda Ivri, Cheng H. Wu, Miro S. Cater
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Publication number: 20030019494Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating the air flow in a respirator system is provided. The method provides for the establishment of control set points in a true calibration protocol through the simple triggering of the microprocessor of a controller. When the trigger is initiated, the microprocessor engages and provides the logic for the calibration cycle. The calibration cycle proceeds until a second trigger terminates the process and establishes the control set points. The calibration sequence of the method relies only on an initiation and termination trigger that is facilitated by components integral to the apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2001Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventors: Mike R.. Bennett, Dave Cook
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Publication number: 20030019495Abstract: A nasal CPAP treatment apparatus is disclosed with a flow generator coupled to a nasal mask. The mask has a nasal cushion forming a nose-receiving cavity. The cushion has a triangularly-shaped frame of resilient material with a mask engaging portion connected by a side wall to a face engaging portion which has a nasal bridge region, a cheek region and a lip region. The cushion may have a portion of the side wall in the nasal bridge region being other than straight to provide an improved sealing in the nasal bridge region. A plurality of membranes, preferably three, of resilient material extend substantially around the triangularly-shaped frame. Some of the membranes are thicker in the lip region than in the nasal bridge region to improve fit of the cushion in use.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventors: David J. Palkon, Geoffrey P. Sleeper, Norbert E. Cichon, James L. Fitzsimmons
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Publication number: 20030019496Abstract: A respiratory mask having a flexible, mask seal portion for engagement with the face of a user, a gel forehead cushion and a rotatable elbow coupling having integral exhaust ports. The mask seal portion has a thin section which permits the mask to more easily adapt to the contour of the face of the user. The gel forehead cushion provides increased compliancy and resiliency to better adapt to multiple user physical profiles. The elbow coupling includes tapered through holes in a polycarbonate arc piece to provide a quiet passage of gas through the holes.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Applicant: Respironics, Inc.Inventors: Ralph E. Kopacko, Zachary D. Paul, Shari S. Barnett
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Publication number: 20030019497Abstract: A sports guard for fitting over the upper arch and teeth of a user is disclosed. The sports guard comprises broadly a base member of polyethylene and a layer of EVA encasing the polyethylene. The polyethylene and EVA show a surprising and unexpected affinity for each other. They are able to flex with each other and be heated and cooled without delaminating. This provides a solution to a longstanding problem in this art.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventor: Christopher John Farrell
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Publication number: 20030019498Abstract: A food intake restriction device for forming a stoma opening in the stomach or esophagus of a patient, comprises an elongated restriction member forming an expandable and contractible cavity formed into an at least substantially closed loop defining a restriction opening, the size of which is reduced upon expansion of the cavity and increased upon contraction of said cavity. A reservoir containing a predetermined amount of hydraulic fluid and connected to the cavity of the restriction member, and a hydraulic operation device for distributing fluid from the reservoir to the cavity to expand the cavity and for distributing fluid from the cavity to the reservoir to contract the cavity, are also implanted in a patient with morbid obesity and operated from outside the patient's body in a non-invasive manner. A non-inflatable restriction member may alternatively be use, and hydraulically adjusted.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Applicant: Obtech Medical AG.Inventor: Peter Forsell
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Publication number: 20030019499Abstract: A method for detecting epithelial cancer includes generating a real-time video image of the locus of potential cancerous sites on the epithelium. The real-time video image is displayed on a television monitor screen. The real-time video image on the monitor is examined to locate suspected cancerous sites and the results of such examination are recorded.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventor: Joseph Hines
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Publication number: 20030019500Abstract: In a cigar-making machine, the cigars advance continuously in orderly succession occupying a plurality of respective pockets transported by a conveyor along a predetermined feed path toward a piercing station where they are engaged by a plurality of needles fitted to respective movable heads; the heads are caused to advance parallel to the predetermined feed path followed by the cigars, proceeding continuously and synchronously with the pockets in such a manner that each of the single cigars can be pierced by a corresponding needle with a relative hole, aligned substantially on a longitudinal axis of the cigar.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventors: Mario Spatafora, Luca Borderi, Gianluca Parisini
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Publication number: 20030019501Abstract: The cosmetics of the present invention contain scaly glass flake particles having a smooth metal surface, and the median diameter of the glass flake particles is 10 to 500 &mgr;m, and said glass flake particles are contained in 0.1 to 20% by weight with respect to the total amount of the cosmetic composition.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventors: Keiko Hirota, Yuki Yamamoto
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Publication number: 20030019502Abstract: The present invention allows for a cosmetic case which is portable, lightweight and insulated to guard temperature-sensitive beauty aids carried therein from melting and/or freezing due to temperature extremes.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2001Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventor: Martin Terzian
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Publication number: 20030019503Abstract: The invention is a floss holder having an extension for easy holding of the floss within a narrow passage, typically the user's mouth, where both of the user's hands may not easily pass. In order to accomplish this the holder handle defines a chamber for holding a spool loaded with floss. This spool then passes through an opening in the handle and adjacent to a face on an extension which the user may place of finger or thumb of the hand holding the handle to hold the floss in place. At the extremity of the handle is a head around which the floss may be wrapped to further secure it in place. The floss continues off of the head to the desired length and can be held in a similar unit or by wrapping around a user's hand. Since a portion of the extension is preferably thinner than the fingers of the user, it may be more easily placed within the narrow passage to simplify flossing.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventor: Robert Foster
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Publication number: 20030019504Abstract: In a system for coating human skin, a chemical composition, such as a cosmetic or medical formulation, is uniformly coated over the entire body or selected parts of the body of the person being coated. The system includes atomization of the coating composition, containment of the atomized spray, and residual recovery which together yield a novel method for applying chemical compositions.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventor: Thomas J. Laughlin