Patents Issued in March 11, 2003
  • Patent number: 6530200
    Abstract: A lawn mower includes a vehicle body, front wheels disposed in front positions of the vehicle body, rear wheels disposed in rear positions of the vehicle body, a mower unit suspended from the vehicle body between the front wheels and the rear wheels, and a driver's seat disposed on the vehicle body above the mower unit. A hydraulic cylinder for raising and lowering the mower unit is disposed above the mower unit and below the driver's seat. A hydraulic pump for supplying a hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic cylinder is disposed below the driver's seat and adjacent the hydraulic cylinder. An engine for driving the hydraulic pump disposed rearwardly of the driver's seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Minoura, Takeshi Komorida, Kazuo Samejima
  • Patent number: 6530201
    Abstract: An easily removable support for a moistener stand or column of a harvesting unit of a cotton harvester, which tilts the stand or column when rotated from an operative position to a service position, to raise a plurality of moistening pads of the stand or column relative to picker spindles of the harvesting unit. The moistener stand or column is then merely lifted to disconnect the support for removal, and when reinstalled and/or rotated back to the operative position, previous fore, aft and height adjustments of the moistening pads are retained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Case Corporation
    Inventors: Earl R. Snyder, Frank C. Dupire, Guy N. Thedford, Lyle P. Mangen
  • Patent number: 6530202
    Abstract: A drive system for the bat assembly of a combine by which the reel fingers of the bat are rotated from their generally vertical position into a collapsed position and then back into their generally vertical position as the bat fingers traverse from just prior to the header to just prior to the feed auger whereby the reel fingers of the bat can be adjusted to be spaced from the header in all of its positions to accomplish continuous and even feed of cut crop into the auger and yet avoid breakage of reel fingers by the floating header impinging upon the reel fingers during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Inventor: Wayne A. Guyer
  • Patent number: 6530203
    Abstract: A sprouting beans refining apparatus wherein refuse matters of hulls, trash, small roots, etc. are removed from sprouting beans efficiently. Sprouting beans raked up by a raking-up conveyor are caused to fall down on an endless flat belt which is supported by a vibration frame inclined upwardly toward a moving direction. Sprouting beans on the endless flat belt are sent downwardly by vibration of the vibration frame to fall down onto a lower endless flat belt. Refuse matters of roots, trash, etc. contained in the sprouting beans attach to the surface of the endless flat belt and are transferred together with the endless flat belt to be removed by a scraper. Refined sprouting beans are discharged from a lower end of the endless flat belt of a lowermost stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Daisey Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomosaburo Suzuki, Ribun Tazaki
  • Patent number: 6530204
    Abstract: A system for removing a stem from fruit more quickly and safely than conventional stem removing systems. The system for removing a stem from fruit includes a head member for separating the stem from the fruit and a stand for holding the head member above a surface. The head member includes a base plate, a back plate and a pair of lateral side plates coupled together. The base plate includes at least one hole extending through an upper and lower surface of the base plate and at least one cutting portion formed over the hole. The back plate is removably coupled to the stand. The fruit is removably engaged in the cutting portion such that the fruit stem is removed from the fruit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Inventor: Enrique S. Figueroa
  • Patent number: 6530205
    Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for making twisted electrical cable, such as 600 volt secondary distribution (UD) cable, and the twisted cable product are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first plurality of stationary payoff reels each wound with a length of stranded bare wire conductor. The stranded conductors are simultaneously payed off the reels to a pay out accumulator for accumulating a portion of the stranded conductors during replacement of spent pay out reels. An extruder apparatus arranged downstream of the accumulator applies a plastic insulation material to a respective stranded conductor as it passes through the extruder. A cooling trough through which water is flowed cools the plastic insulation. A take-up accumulator arranged downstream of the cooling trough accumulates a portion of each insulated conductor during changeover of the take-up arranged downstream of the take-up accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Southwire Company
    Inventors: Bobby C. Gentry, Jerry M. Hesterlee, Clinton E. Watkins, James H. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 6530206
    Abstract: Supporting disk for supporting a rotor of an open-end spinning machine, including a hub ring (1) and a supporting ring made of polymeric material secured to its outer circumference (2). The hub ring (1) is formed as a composite part, and is made of at least two different materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
    Inventor: Roland Fietz
  • Patent number: 6530207
    Abstract: A gas turbine system comprises an alarm signal calculation circuit, a shutdown calculation circuit and a flashback-error signal prevention calculation circuit. The alarm signal calculation circuit, the shutdown calculation circuit and the flashback-error signal prevention calculation circuit are integrated in a combustion monitoring device for monitoring combustion condition of combustion gas in a gas turbine-combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Tobo, Haruo Oguchi, Hajime Yasui, Akira Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 6530208
    Abstract: A combined cycle system includes a gas turbine (8) having a generator (1), a compressor (2), a combustor (3), a blade cooling air cooler (4), a fan (5), and a turbine (6); a steam turbine (29) having a high pressure turbine (21), an intermediate pressure turbine (22), and a low pressure turbine (23); and a waste heat recovery boiler (9). Saturated water from a high pressure pump (27) is partially led into a heat exchanger (110) for cooling steam to be supplied into a moving blade (52) and a stationary blade (53). Also, outlet steam from the high pressure turbine (21) is led into the moving blade (52), the stationary blade (53), and the combustor transition piece (54) for cooling thereof, and the steam is then supplied to an inlet of the intermediate pressure turbine (22). Further, the outlet steam from the high pressure turbine (21) is led into the turbine (6) for cooling blades thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Sugishita, Sunao Aoki, Kazuo Uematsu, Keizo Tsukagoshi
  • Patent number: 6530209
    Abstract: In a system for reusing a thermal energy of an air discharged from a heated air source to heat a combustion air to be supplied into a combustion device so that the combustion air is mixed with a fuel to be combusted in the combustion device, an air feeder sucks the combustion air and feeds the combustion air toward the combustion device, an inlet passage at an upstream side of the air feeder passes the combustion air toward the air feeder, and the inlet passage includes a first inlet port for taking the air from the heated air source through the first inlet port into the inlet passage to incorporate the air to the combustion air and a second inlet port for taking an atmospheric air through the second inlet port into the inlet passage to incorporate the atmospheric air to the combustion air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Kuwabara, Masaji Nagao, Toshihiro Asanuma, Youichi Fujita, Yasuhide Mochimatsu
  • Patent number: 6530210
    Abstract: A gas turbine comprises a compressor for compressing a gas supplied therein and discharging the compressed gas, a combustor in which the discharged gas from the compressor and a fuel are combusted, a turbine to be driven by a combustion gas from the combustor, and a water injection unit which injects water into the gas to be supplied to the compressor, thereby lowering the temperature of the gas to be introduced into the compressor to a temperature lower than the atmospheric temperature, and causing water droplets having been injected in the gas and within the compressor to be vaporized while flowing down therein, wherein the quantity of water spray injection is controlled while monitoring operational conditions of the gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Horii, Isao Takehara, Hidetaro Murata, Motoaki Utamura, Takaaki Kuwahara, Tetsuo Sasada, Fumiyuki Hirose, Yasuhiro Katoh
  • Patent number: 6530211
    Abstract: An engine is disclosed. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the engine comprises a compressor, and combustor, and an expander. The compressor compresses ambient air. The combustor burns the compressed air, and produces exhaust gasses. The expander receives the exhaust gases from the combustor, and expands the exhaust gasses. The compressor may be a gerotor compressor or a piston compressor having variable-dead-volume control. The expander may be a gerotor expander or a piston expander having variable-dead-volume control. In another embodiment, an engine comprises a piston compressor, a combustor, a piston expander, and a pressure tank. The piston compressor compresses ambient air. The combustor bums the compressed air, and produces exhaust gasses. The piston expander receives the exhaust gasses from the combustor, and expands the exhaust gasses. The pressure tank receives and stores the compressed air from the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Inventors: Mark T. Holtzapple, G. Andrew Rabroker
  • Patent number: 6530212
    Abstract: A spacecraft thruster and propulsion method comprising a laser directed at an ablation target, wherein when the laser is operating, material ablates from the ablation target, thereby generating a thrust vector on the spacecraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Photonic Associates
    Inventors: Claude R. Phipps, James Luke
  • Patent number: 6530213
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus of detecting engine ignition. The invention generally includes a camera assembly to detect electromagnetic spectra, and a control assembly operatively interconnected with the camera assembly to monitor and evaluate the spectral data collected by the camera assembly. The control assembly is generally programmed with first and second predetermined thresholds associated with respective first and second electromagnetic spectra, and a time threshold at least generally associated with a first time parameter in which at least one of the first and second predetermined thresholds should be reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Philip Beck, Scot K. Anderson, Gerald P. Klein, Donald J. Thielman, Daniel L. Scheld
  • Patent number: 6530214
    Abstract: Exhaust gas sensors are provided at the upstream side and the downstream side of a catalyst, respectively. An intermediate target value is set on the basis of the output of the downstream-side exhaust gas sensor of preceding computation time and a final target value that is a final downstream-side target air-fuel ratio. The compensation amount of the upstream-side target air-fuel ratio is calculated on the basis of the deviation between the present output of the downstream-side exhaust gas sensor and the intermediate target value. At least one of an update amount and an update rate of the intermediate value, a control gain, a control period and a control range of a sub-feedback control is varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Noriaki Ikemoto, Hisashi Iida, Kouichi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6530215
    Abstract: The apparatus (1) for treating exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine includes a storing catalyzer for absorbing NOx during lean operating conditions and a device for burning fuel (3) in an exhaust gas stream (2) to produce a reducing atmosphere in the exhaust gas for storing catalyst regeneration and an aerodynamic control device for controlling the burning of the fuel in the exhaust gas stream, so that combustion is clearly improved when the engine is operated under lean operating conditions and no carbon is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Alkemade, Peter Horstmann
  • Patent number: 6530216
    Abstract: An NOx accumulator catalytic converter for an internal combustion engine is desulfonated by providing a plurality of intermittent rich/lean operating cycles of the engine wherein rich operation is at a lambda of less than 0.985, and wherein the duration of rich mixture operation is limited to reduce hydrogen sulfide emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Ekkehard Pott
  • Patent number: 6530217
    Abstract: The use of an electro-sensitive movable fluid, that is, a micromotor, a linear motor, a micropump and a method of using the micropump, a microactuator, and an apparatus which these devices are applied to, and a method and apparatus of controlling flow properties of a fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: New Technology Management Co, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Yokota, Yasufumi Otsubo, Takeshi Nakada, Kazuya Edamura
  • Patent number: 6530218
    Abstract: A pressure regulating valve is provided in a hydrostatic, continuously variable transmission having a hydraulic closed circuit including a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic motor, and a high pressure oil passage and a low pressure oil passage disposed between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor. The pressure regulating valve is provided for relieving the hydraulic pressure in the low pressure oil passage into the high pressure oil passage when the hydraulic pressure in the low pressure oil passage exceeds a predetermined value. The present invention prevents excessive pressure in the oil passages, particularly in the normally low pressure passage that serves as a high pressure side during a speed reducing operation, e.g. an engine braking or reverse load situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuru Saito, Yoshihiro Yoshida, Kazuhiro Takeuchi, Yasushi Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 6530219
    Abstract: The present invention relates a jack assembly that may be lifted rapidly. A secondary shaft is mounted in a lifting column, and has a distal end screwed into an axial hole in the base. The main oil path is provided with a lower ball and an upper ball, and has a first oil hole connected to the oil hole of the secondary shaft, and a second oil hole connected to the inner oil chamber. The hydraulic oil pushes away the lower ball to flow through the first oil hole into the secondary shaft, so that the lifting column that has not worked may be lifted rapidly. The lifting column may work to increase the pressure of the hydraulic oil which flows through the second oil hole into the inner oil chamber, so that the lifting column may have a sufficient lifting force to lift an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Inventor: Kuo-Chung Yeh
  • Patent number: 6530220
    Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder in which the cylinder head contains a motor-driven fluid pump, fluid reservoir, and a main control valve for the cylinder. The cylinder includes a transfer tube that extends through the center of the cylinder's piston and terminates within a hollow ported section of a piston rod. The cylinder head can additionally include two electrically-actuated pilot valves and two pilot-operated check valves. The pilot-operated check valves include structure that, in combination with passages in the cylinder head, cause both pilot-operated check valves to open when pressurized fluid is being directed to one of the pilot-operated check valves by the main control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
    Inventors: Don B. Porter, Wayne D. Shapiro
  • Patent number: 6530221
    Abstract: A resonator module for a combustion turbine power plant, where the combustion turbine power plant defines a flow path. The resonator module includes a first member, an a second member. The first member has a size substantially smaller than the diameter of said flow path and a plurality of openings therethrough. The openings are in fluid communication with the flow path. The second member has a size generally equal to said first member. The second member is in a generally spaced relation to the first member and encloses a volume of gas between the first and second members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley S. Sattinger, Douglas Dean Darling, Roy Kyle Holbert, William E. Kepes
  • Patent number: 6530222
    Abstract: A swirled diffusion dump combustor of the present invention includes a cylindrical combustor can and a fuel and air mixer attached to the upstream end of the combustor can. The mixer is generally formed by an annular chamber which is defined between annular outer and inner walls, having an annularly continuous truncated conical crass-section. The upstream end of the annular chamber is closed by a manifold ring which includes an annular fuel passage and two rows of swirled air passages. Thus, the compressor air approaching the mixer from above enters the swirled air passages, and the swirled air flow in the annular chamber shears fuel from the lips of the annular fuel passage to produce a fuel/air mixture. The mixture swirl is accelerated in the annular chamber and passes a downstream annular passage which serves as the region of diffusive mixing, and also as a flame flashback restrictor. The flow then dumps into the combustor can, providing the final level of mixing, where it then burns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Peter Stuttaford, Aleksandar Kojovic
  • Patent number: 6530223
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine having a longitudinal axis therethrough, including an outer liner having a forward end and an aft end, an inner liner having a forward end and an aft end, a first dome formed upstream of the outer liner forward end so as to define a first combustion zone radially oriented to the longitudinal axis, and a dome plate having an outer portion connected to an upstream end of the first dome and an inner portion connected to the inner liner forward end, wherein a second combustion zone is defined by the dome plate, the outer liner, and the inner liner substantially perpendicular to the first combustion zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Willard J. Dodds, Paul V. Heberling, Jack R. Taylor, Ely E. Halila
  • Patent number: 6530224
    Abstract: A cycle for producing pressurized gas turbine inlet conditions by capturing gas turbine exhaust waste heat, converting the heat into steam energy and applying the steam energy to drive a variable speed, supercharging fan located at the gas turbine inlet. The supercharging fan is used to increase the air mass flow rate into the gas turbine so that the gas turbine shaft horsepower can be augmented. For a simple cycle gas turbine that is not equipped with an exhaust waste heat recovery system, the invention improves the overall cycle efficiency. For combined cycle peaking applications, the variable speed, supercharging fan provides peaking output with an overall peaking efficiency that is better than the combined efficiency of a base load combined cycle plant and a peaking simple cycle plant. The invention can also improve a gas turbine power output response rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: John Anthony Conchieri
  • Patent number: 6530225
    Abstract: Walls that require cooling, including combustor walls of jet engines, having two members forming a waffle shaped structure are described. The dual member structure comprises passages for incoming air, which zigzag through part of the waffle structure. The air is then released to the combustor or exhausted elsewhere. Additionally, the need for a cool film on one side of the wall may be eliminated. The waffle shaped structure disclosed is relative easy to manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventor: James Lolnell Hadder
  • Patent number: 6530226
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is to further improve the closed cycle for generating electric power in such a way that efficiency is enhanced and general pressure and temperature requirements regarding the working fluid used are substantially reduced. The invention also seeks to provide an improved technical solution that meets the requirements of continuos operation at rated output despite fluctuations in load requirements. This is achieved through a multistep steam power operating method for generating electric power in a cycle by using an additional gaseous energy carrier to increase the pressure, the temperature and the volume of the working fluid in the cycle and by recirculating the working fluid in the cycle in such a way that continuously overheated steam is used as a working fluid. The invention can be used in the generation of electric power in a cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignees: Rerum Cognitio
    Inventor: Wolfgang Harazim
  • Patent number: 6530227
    Abstract: A one-piece deflector-flare cone assembly for a gas turbine engine combustor that facilitates extending a useful life of the combustor in a cost-effective and reliable manner is described. The one-piece assembly includes a deflector portion and a flare cone portion. The deflector portion includes an integral opening that extends through the deflector portion for receiving cooling fluid therein. The cooling opening extends circumferentially within the deflector portion. Cooling fluid discharged from the cooling opening is used for impingement cooling a portion of the flare cone portion to facilitate reducing an operating temperature and extending a useful life of the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Craig Douglas Young, Paul Edward Sabla, Steven Clayton Vise
  • Patent number: 6530228
    Abstract: This invention relates to air breathing engines, such as ramjets, scramjets and internal combustion, and more particularly to an active combustion control device for a combustor. In more particularity, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus that applies active combustion control technology to advanced propulsion devices and closed-loop fuel injection at sub-harmonic frequencies of the instability frequency of the combustor. The problem of limited actuator frequency response is addressed by injecting fuel pulses at sub-harmonic frequencies of the instability. The fuel may be liquid, solid or gas. To achieve this desired result, a closed loop controller is designed to determine sub-harmonic frequencies using a divider to divide the instability frequency of a combustor, yielding a fraction of the harmonic frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Wilson, Kenneth H. Yu, Timothy Parr, Klaus C. Schadow
  • Patent number: 6530229
    Abstract: A gas turbine has a cooling air system supplying air for cooling a high temperature part of the gas turbine and a spray air system supplying air for spraying fuel into a combustor and is formed so that a part of high-pressure air compressed by a gas turbine compressor is used as air of the cooling air system and spray air system, wherein a heat exchanger and a boost compressor are arranged downstream of the outlet of compressed air of the gas turbine compressor, and the boost compressor is composed of a parallel connection of a compressor driven by the turbine shaft and ae compressor driven by a driven source other than the turbine shaft, and pressurized air from the boost compressor is used as air for the cooling air system and the spray air system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunori Yamanaka, Satoshi Kondou, Masami Noda
  • Patent number: 6530230
    Abstract: When the first pressure reducing device 161 is fixed to the accumulator tank 140 and the internal heat exchanger 150 is housed in the accumulator tank 140, the accumulator, the first pressure reducing device 161 and the internal heat exchanger 150 are integrated into one body. Due to the foregoing, it is possible to eliminate parts for piping to connect the first pressure reducing device 161 with the internal heat exchanger 150. The mass of the vibration system of the first pressure reducing device 161 including the accumulator tank 140 and the internal heat exchanger 150 is increased. Therefore, even if the valve body 413 in the first pressure reducing device is vibrated, it becomes difficult for other portions to vibrate. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce noise (vibration) generated when refrigerant is decompressed by the first pressure reducing device 161.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuya Makizono, Toshio Hirata, Yasutaka Kuroda, Yoshiyuki Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 6530231
    Abstract: A sealing member for a thermoelectric assembly includes an elastomeric body having one or more apertures formed therethrough for sealingly receiving an electrical wire projecting from the thermoelectric module. Sealing engagement between each electrical wire and each aperture may be enhanced by the use of a sealing agent, or by molding the wire, its sheath or a wire connector to each aperture. Preferably, a pair of wire guides project from the sealing member, each having a central channel in substantial registry with one of the apertures and providing additional surface area for wire support which reduces any tendency to create spaces between the wires and apertures. The sealing member may include one or more peripheral channels to capture water vapor, one or more indexing guides which receive fasteners from the assembly to locate the sealing member therein, as well as insulative filler material, and/or a central insulative channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: TE Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Nagy, Todd M. Ritzer, Paul G. Lau
  • Patent number: 6530232
    Abstract: A thermoelectric sleeve-type beverage insulator apparatus with a printable sleeve-type insulated jacket with a rigid enclosure mean, a thermoelectric engine assembly incorporated into the sleeve-type insulated jacket, an electrical connection mean connected to the thermoelectric engine assembly and secured to the rigid enclosure mean of the sleeve-type insulated jacket, a support base with mechanical connection mean and electrical connection mean, and an electrical power transmission mean between a power source and the support base. A preferred embodiment includes the printable sleeve-type insulated jacket that is made of printable tubular foam insulating member having an open top and closed base, an inner surface and partially exposed outer surface, a longitudinal groove on the inner surface reaching from the open top to the closed base and extending to the radial middle of the closed base, where the printable tubular foam insulating member allows use of the apparatus as an advertising medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Inventor: Mark Kitchens
  • Patent number: 6530233
    Abstract: A hydrogen storage device prevents localization of hydrogen occlusion alloy and ensures rapid discharge of hydrogen. The hydrogen storage device has a plurality of porous molded pieces arranged longitudinally at predetermined intervals. Conductive cushioning materials are inserted between the molded pieces and between the molded pieces and an adiabatic insulation material. The conductive cushioning materials include first conductive cushioning materials inserted between the adiabatic insulation material and upper and lower end surfaces of the molded pieces and second conductive cushioning materials inserted between left and right end surfaces of the adiabatic insulation material. Disposed at opposed ends of a row of the molded pieces are movable urging electrodes which can move in response to dimensional changes of the molded pieces resulting from their volume changes and which urge the molded pieces to constantly maintain physical contact between the molded pieces and lids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Nakamura, Taketoshi Minohara
  • Patent number: 6530234
    Abstract: A miniature refrigeration system and method of operation. A primary refrigerant is pressurized by a compressor to a relatively low pressure, for safety reasons. The compressed primary refrigerant is passed through a primary-to-secondary heat exchanger, to precool the gas mixture. The secondary side of the primary-to-secondary heat exchanger is cooled by a secondary refrigeration system. The primary refrigerant exiting the primary outlet of the primary-to-secondary heat exchanger passes to a primary Joule-Thomson expansion element where the high pressure gas is expanded to a lower temperature. This low temperature gas cools a heat transfer element mounted in the outer wall of the catheter or cryoprobe, to cool surrounding tissue. Return gas can flow back through a distal primary-to-primary heat exchanger to further cool the incoming high pressure gas mixture. A proximal primary-to-primary heat exchanger can be added between the primary-to-secondary heat exchanger and the primary compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: CryoGen, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Dobak, III, Terry L. Brown, Kambiz Ghaerzadeh, Xiaoyu Yu
  • Patent number: 6530235
    Abstract: A portable beverage container assembly includes a capsule containing a refrigerant which is inserted into and securely held inside the beverage container, together with a mechanism to discharge the refrigerant so that the latent heat of evaporation and expansion of the refrigerant gases will impart a chilling action to the refrigerant and hence to the beverage inside the container when the user wishes to drink the beverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Inventors: Edward Mayer Halimi, David T. St. James, Melanie S. St. James
  • Patent number: 6530236
    Abstract: This invention increases efficiency of a refrigeration system by maximizing the cooling of the condenser and reducing unnecessary work done by the compressor. In air cooled systems it will also increase the stability of the fans by reducing fan cycling. The fan controller will utilize an algorithm that will consider the following inputs: oil pressure, compressor suction pressure, expansion valve position, compressor loading, last compressor loading change, and current fan stage. The algorithm uses fuzzy logic to characterize the inputs and generates an output that controls the system cooling fans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: York International Corporation
    Inventors: Curtis C. Crane, John F. Judge
  • Patent number: 6530237
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for controlling a system pressure in a refrigeration system based on a variable load, which includes sensing return pressure and high side pressure in the system, and adjusting the low pressure to optimize a gas flow rate in the system by adding or removing gas from the system through an operating range of pressures in response to the sensed return pressure and the sensed high side pressure. The method further includes calculating a pressure difference between the return pressure and the high side pressure. A second pressure difference is calculated, and if the pressure difference decreases, gas is added to system and if the pressure difference increases, gas is removed from the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Helix Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas H. Morse, James A. O'Neil
  • Patent number: 6530238
    Abstract: To provide a transportable cooling unit for maintaining a transport volume at a defined temperature, comprising a closed cooling circuit and a controller sensing a temperature present within said transport volume and controlling said cooling circuit so as to provide the cooling power demanded at said evaporator for maintaining said defined temperature and minimizing energy consumption, said controller operates said closed cooling circuit between a minimum possible cooling power and a maximum possible cooling power in a sequence of different operational stages, said controller further operates said closed cooling circuit in each one of at least two upper operational stages at a compressor speed related cooling capacity different said other upper operational stages and within said respective upper operational stages said controller operates a compressor in an uninterrupted mode and adjusts said cooling power stepless speed control of said compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Maersk Container Industri A/S
    Inventor: Helge Reimer Hansen
  • Patent number: 6530239
    Abstract: A refrigeration system which can reduce the amount of moisture permeating into the system, inexpensively and by a simple structure, is disclosed. Rubber hoses (7, 8) capable of absorbing vibrations are arranged on the discharge and the intake sides of a compressor (1). It was found that the amount of moisture in the system can be effectively reduced by reducing the amount of moisture permeating the rubber hose on the discharge side. A freezing limit line is set for defining to a predetermined level the amount of moisture in the system determined by the amount of the refrigerant sealed in the system, the amount of the lubricating oil sealed in the system, the amount of moisture permeation of the hoses (7, 8) and the number of the years elapsed after operation start. The hose (7) on the discharge side of the compressor has a smaller amount of moisture permeation than the hose (8) on the intake side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuji Nobuta, Keiichi Kitamura
  • Patent number: 6530240
    Abstract: In a natural gas liquefaction system having a refrigerant storage circuit, a refrigerant circulation circuit in fluid communication with the refrigerant storage circuit, and a natural gas liquefaction circuit in thermal communication with the refrigerant circulation circuit, a method for liquefaction of natural gas in which pressure in the refrigerant circulation circuit is adjusted to below about 175 psig by exchange of refrigerant with the refrigerant storage circuit. A variable speed motor is started whereby operation of a compressor is initiated. The compressor is operated at full discharge capacity. Operation of an expansion valve is initiated whereby suction pressure at the suction pressure port of the compressor is maintained below about 30 psig and discharge pressure at the discharge pressure port of the compressor is maintained below about 350 psig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Kountz, Patrick M. Bishop
  • Patent number: 6530241
    Abstract: An apparatus for use on board ship to reliquefy a compressed vapour employs pre-assemblies of components. The reliquefaction is effected in a closed cycle in which a working fluid is compressed in at least one compressor, is cooled in a first heat exchanger, is expanded in a turbine and is warmed in a second heat exchanger in which the compressed vapour is at least partially condensed. The apparatus comprises a first pre-assembly including the second heat exchanger and a second pre-assembly including the first heat exchanger, the compressor and the expansion turbine are positioned. The pre-assemblies are positioned on respective platforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Cryostar-France SA
    Inventor: Josef Pozivil
  • Patent number: 6530242
    Abstract: The process and the apparatus are used to obtain argon using a three-column system for the fractionation of air, which has a high-pressure column (11), a low-pressure column (13) and a medium-pressure column (12). A first charge air stream (10, 64) is introduced into the high-pressure column (11), where it is separated into a first oxygen-enriched liquid and a first nitrogen top gas. A first oxygen-enriched fraction (23, 24, 26) from the high-pressure column (11) is introduced into the medium-pressure column (12), where it is separated into a second oxygen-enriched liquid and a second nitrogen top gas. A second oxygen-enriched fraction (33, 35), from the high-pressure column and/or from the medium-pressure column (12) is introduced into the low-pressure column (13), where it is separated into a third oxygen-enriched liquid and a third nitrogen top gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Gerhard Pompl
  • Patent number: 6530243
    Abstract: A method of drawing an optical fiber which can improve the efficiency in manufacture without deforming resin coatings is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Kuwahara, Ichiro Tsuchiya, Yasuhiro Naganuma
  • Patent number: 6530244
    Abstract: An optical fiber preform and a fabrication method thereof. In the present invention, an outer OH-barrier and an inner OH-barrier free of P2O5 are deposited respectively between a substrate tube and a cladding layer and between the cladding layer and a core layer during a deposition process. In addition, a refractive index increases toward the center in the core layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-Koog Oh, Man-Seok Seo
  • Patent number: 6530245
    Abstract: A drum type washing machine with a drying function includes an outer cabinet, a water tub mounted in the outer cabinet and having a wall, a generally drum-shaped rotating tub rotatably mounted in the water tub, and a drying unit for drying laundry accommodated in the rotating tub. The drying unit includes a heat exchanger having a duct disposed in it so that air flows through the duct. The duct includes a part comprising the wall of the water tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shinichiro Kawabata, Masumi Ito, Kiyomi Sasano, Fumitaka Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 6530246
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for impregnating fibrous material such as, for example, fiber bundles, fiber strands, woven textiles or fiber mats, in which an impregnating agent is introduced into the spaces in the fibrous material, and the individual fibers are surrounded and/or soaked through, wherein the supply of impregnating agent takes place via apertures in a supply body over which the fibrous material is moved, wherein the device is provided with a supply body with apertures for supplying an impregnating agent, furthermore is provided with a transport means for moving the fibrous material through the device or respectively past the supply body, and means for supplying impregnating means to the supply body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Inventor: Joachim Hausmann
  • Patent number: 6530247
    Abstract: A portable door security mechanism which allows an existing door to be temporarily secured from the non-hinged side of the door without destruction or penetration of the door, the door frame or any existing components of the door, is disclosed. The device uses a cylindrical locking pin which is designed to slip underneath the door to be secured and rotated such that part of the locking pin protrudes upward to prevent the door from opening from the inside. The locking pin is secured to a base plate member and a cover plate which, when interlocked over a portion of the locking pin, is disposed to accept a conventional pad lock or similar device. The disclosed security mechanism can be folded through a hinge mechanism for convenience and can be applied or removed quickly without having access to the interior side of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Inventor: Brian R. Moores
  • Patent number: 6530248
    Abstract: This invention relates to a lock assembly to be used in conjunction with two or more padlock assemblies. The lock assembly comprises a main body 1, a main shackle 2, and a locking portion 7. When all subsidiary padlocks 5, 6 are locked into the apertures 3, 4 the main shackle 2 cannot be opened. The removal of either subsidiary shackle allows the locking portion 7 to circumvent the second subsidiary shackle and the main shackle 2 may be opened. This allows two persons to independently use the padlock without sharing keys or other secure information. Moreover the lock assembly may be used with any secure fitting designed for use with a traditional padlock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Tayhope Enterprises Limited
    Inventor: Julian Parker
  • Patent number: 6530249
    Abstract: A hitch ball locking plate for securing equipment in the bed of a truck, a trailer, or the like. The hitch ball locking plate comprises a first plate having a first guiding aperture. The first plate further comprises a second plate normal to the first plate and extending across the first plate. The second plate has a substantially semi-circular removed portion in communication with the first guiding aperture. Pivotably connected to the first plate is a locking bar which locks the first and second plate to a hitch ball in the bed of a truck, trailer, or the like. From this position, equipment and goods can be locked to the plate for security.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Inventor: Robert G. Burkhead