Patents Issued in March 27, 2003
  • Publication number: 20030056521
    Abstract: A method for gas turbine light-off that utilizes a fixed or secondary fuel line that provides a substantially constant flow of fuel to the combustor primarily upon light-off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventor: David Dewis
  • Publication number: 20030056522
    Abstract: A method for ignition and start up of a gas turbine engine in which the fuel flow is supplied to the combustor at a substantially constant rate for ignition and the gas turbine engine is ramped up at a preset acceleration rate to a speed to provide a supply of combustion air to the combustor in order to achieve the correct fuel-to-air ratio for ignition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventor: Anthony A. Hartzheim
  • Publication number: 20030056523
    Abstract: An apparatus for cooling material, such as a PVC compound, includes a chamber having an inner surface and an inner space configured for receiving material to be cooled. A rotatable shaft extends through the chamber inner space, and is operable for being rotated by a motor. At least one mixing tool is coupled to the shaft to rotate with the shaft, and mix the material while rotating around the inner surface of the chamber so the material contacts the inner surface to be cooled thereby. In one embodiment, the mixing tool includes a flexible blade configured for contacting the chamber inner surface and for sweeping across a portion of the inner surface to dislodge an amount of material from the surface portion. Another embodiment utilizes an air knife to dislodge material from the inner chamber surface. The motor is operable for rotating the shaft at a speed in the range of 150 to 250 rpm to sweep the material from the inner surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: Littleford Day, Inc.
    Inventors: Ricky D. Kesig, Corey L. Dziech
  • Publication number: 20030056524
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for cold carbonation are provided in which a carbonator (13) having one or more segments is provided within a relatively horizontal cold plate (12). A sensor (14) is provided that can be accessed from a side of a dispenser (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventor: Alfred A. Schroeder
  • Publication number: 20030056525
    Abstract: An energy-saving type refrigerating device capable of preventing global warming, allowing a communication pipe diameter to be reduced and the number of types of the communication pipe diameters to be reduced while a COP of over the COP obtained when R22 is used is provided by using, as a refrigerant, R32 with small global warming potential (GWP), comprising a compressor (23), a first heat exchanger (22), a expansion means (26), and a second heat exchanger (2), wherein R32 is used as a refrigerant, the diameter of a first communication pipe (42) is set to {fraction (2/8)} in. and that of a second communication pipe (41) is set to ⅜ in. in the refrigerating capacity range of 2.2 to 5.6 kW, the diameter of the first communication pipe (42) is set to {fraction (2/8)} in. and that of the second communication pipe (41) is set to {fraction (4/8)} in. in the refrigerating capacity range of 4.5 to 7.1 kW, and the diameter of the first communication pipe (42) is set to {fraction (2/8)} in.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventor: Shigeharu Taira
  • Publication number: 20030056526
    Abstract: A control system for a refrigeration system having a refrigeration compartment and a quick chill/thaw pan. A main controller board, electrically connected to a temperature adjustment board and a dispenser board through the serial communications bus, controls the temperature of the refrigeration compartment and the quick chill/thaw pan. The control system accepts a plurality of inputs to determine a refrigeration mode and to execute a plurality of software algorithms to control the refrigeration compartment as both a chill pan to rapidly chill food and beverage items without freezing and a thaw pan to timely thaw frozen items at controlled temperature levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: John S. Holmes, Jerry Queen, Rollie Herzog, Mark Mathews, Robert Bultman, Tim Holder, Wolfgang Daum
  • Publication number: 20030056527
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle air-conditioning device having at least one control element which supplies a prescribed value to the air-conditioning control unit, a state of flow being provided by an air speed and a degree of turbulence of the air, which can be influenced by the strength of the fan, distribution of air to the discharge nozzles, the discharge direction to the discharge nozzles and further actuators which have an effect on the state of flow, and a thermal state is provided by the temperature distribution and effect of radiation in the vehicle interior. Provision is made by the invention for the at least one control panel to be used to prescribe a state of flow desirable for the occupant and a thermal state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Frank Fruhauf, Dieter Heinle, Jurgen Maue, Andre Strobel
  • Publication number: 20030056528
    Abstract: An air conditioning unit and an air blowing unit are connected via an intermediate duct. The air conditioning unit includes an air mix damper and a discharge direction switching damper for switching the discharge direction of conditioned air, each driven by a corresponding actuator via a link mechanism associated therewith. The link mechanism and actuator are mounted on a left wall part of a casing of the air conditioning unit. On the other hand, the air blowing unit is provided with an actuator for driving an indoor air/outside air switching damper, and the actuator is mounted to a side of a casing of the air blowing unit facing the air conditioning unit. Thus, the resulting air conditioner is reduced in size to reduce its installation space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: JAPAN CLIMATE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadashi Okamoto, Kazuhiko Ohishi, Keiichiro Akamatsu
  • Publication number: 20030056529
    Abstract: If a refrigerant leaks from an interior heat exchanger, an outside air mode is switched ON, and a first bypass channel is opened to supply air, not having passed through the interior heat exchanger, to a passenger compartment through a defroster opening portion, while also supplying air, having passed through the internal heat exchanger, to the passenger compartment through a foot opening portion. Consequently, air having passed through the first bypass channel and thereby containing a considerable quantity of outside air free from the leaked refrigerant is supplied to the upper side of the passenger compartment, while air having passed through the interior heat exchanger and thereby containing the leaked refrigerant is supplied to the lower side of the passenger compartment, which makes it possible to prevent driver inhalation of the refrigerant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Nobuharu Kakehashi, Masami Taguchi, Noriyuki Miyazaki, Shin Nishida, Kouji Matsunaga, Shinya Kumamoto, Masafumi Kurata
  • Publication number: 20030056530
    Abstract: A combined refrigerant heating and cooling system comprises a compressor, an outside heat exchanger, an inside heat exchanger, a refrigerant-to-engine coolant heat exchanger, at least one refrigerant expansion device and at least one redirection device, wherein the arrangement is such that said compressor is switchable between a heat pump loop and a cooling loop by means of said redirection device, said heat pump loop comprising said inside heat exchanger, said refrigerant expansion device and said refrigerant-to-engine coolant heat exchanger, and said cooling loop comprising said outside heat exchanger and said inside heat exchanger. According to the invention, the outside heat exchanger is arranged in such a way that an outlet of said outside heat exchanger is connected to a connection point of said heat pump loop which in heat pump mode lies downstream of said refrigerant expansion device, e.g. between said refrigerant expansion device and said refrigerant-to-engine coolant heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventor: Jorgen H. Rogstam
  • Publication number: 20030056531
    Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner, an interior heat exchanger of a heat pump refrigerant cycle is disposed in an air conditioning case to heat and cool air passing therethrough. The air conditioning case has therein a bypass passage through which air flows to a downstream side while bypassing the interior heat exchanger. In a defogging mode, air mainly passing through the bypass passage is blown toward a windshield of the passenger compartment, and air mainly passing through the interior heat exchanger is blown toward a lower side in the passenger compartment. Accordingly, even by setting the heating capacity of the interior heat exchanger at a maximum degree, it can restrict a windshield from being fogged in the defogging mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Shin Nishida, Nobuharu Kakehashi, Masami Taguchi, Noriyuki Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20030056532
    Abstract: Accumulator (10, 100) for an air-conditioning system. The inlet (58) fluid separation can be controlled, and there is control of the amount of compressor oil in circulation through an adjustable coupling between the interior and the outlet passage (56) Desiccating material (48) can be accommodated in many orientations, and can be made of various materials. The accumulator (10, 100) embodies an outer housing (12, 14) of two or more pieces and an inner liner (16) that is of one or more pieces The inlet (58) directs the refrigerant into the inner volume formed by the liner (16), wherein the liquid refrigerant and compressor oil are contained and insulated from the wall (12, 14) of the outer housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Timothy Russell Dickson, Kenneth Peter Luke Cram, Matthew Bryan Nuss, Steven Murray Rhodes, Ki-Sun Jason Ryu, Michelle Marie Stobbart
  • Publication number: 20030056533
    Abstract: An absorption cooling device includes
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventor: Christoph Korinth
  • Publication number: 20030056534
    Abstract: A refrigerating device including a refrigerating cycle including a plurality of compressors driven by motors, the plurality of compressors comprising a variable speed compressor which can be controlled in capacity and a constant speed compressor which is driven by a motor of which rotor core comprising a cage type conductor and permanent magnets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Hiroaki Tsuboe, Susumu Nakayama, Akira Saruta, Kazumoto Urata
  • Publication number: 20030056535
    Abstract: Apparatus for recovering vapor during de-pressuring of a vessel, and for those facilities with such a need, for recovering vapor during the liquid filling, or liquid removing, from a vessel. In de-pressuring mode, the vapor and inert gas purging the vessel are processed to recover multiple product vapors with vapor pressures from as low as 0.1 PSIG to about 100 PSIG. Higher values up to 250 PSIG are also processed economically by an optional third-stage, stand-alone system. This system produces overall product recovery rates over 99% and inert gas recovery over 99% at the latter part of the cycle as recycle gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventor: Craig A. Beam
  • Publication number: 20030056536
    Abstract: A new and improved stone setting is disclosed that supports the stone with an invisible setting comprising a notch on a facet of the stone with a portion of an upwardly extending support bracket extending into the notch and forming an interference fit therewith. The notch is generally V-shaped with an upper surface and a lower surface. The stone setting does not require support from a sidewall or a prong.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventor: Vivek V. Ubhayakar
  • Publication number: 20030056537
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing fused silica members having high internal transmission are disclosed. The apparatus and methods are capable of producing fused silica having internal transmission of at least 99.65%/cm at 193 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Floyd E. Marley, Daniel R. Sempolinski, Merrill F. Sproul
  • Publication number: 20030056538
    Abstract: Burners and methods for producing fused silica members. The burner includes seven gas-emitting regions, including four regions for emitting a mixture of oxygen and combustible gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas A. Collins, Chunhong He, Christine E. Heckle, Raymond E. Lindner, Michael H. Wasilewski
  • Publication number: 20030056539
    Abstract: The invention concerns an automated method for producing a blown glass body, in particular a glass wall of an electrochemical sensor, wherein an immersion tube (10), through which air or gas can flow, is immersed into molten glass (8) and subsequently withdrawn to remove an amount of molten glass from the molten glass mass, and wherein the removed glass is blown into the form of the glass body to be produced by means of the air or gas flowing through the immersion tube (10), comprising the following features:
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Stefan Auras, Katrin Scholz, Wolfgang Babel
  • Publication number: 20030056540
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a front-end optical component of an endoscope realizing resistance to humidity. In the method of manufacturing a front-end optical component in which a lens is mounted on the front end of a metallic lens-barrel provided on the front end of the inserting portion of an endoscope, the configuration is made such that a lens raw material is placed on the front-end side in the lens-barrel, the lens raw material is press-formed in a heat-softened state with a pair of upper and lower shaping dies, thereby tightly joining the outer edge of the pressed lens raw material to the inner peripheral surface of the lens-barrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsunori Mukasa, Hiroaki Fujita
  • Publication number: 20030056541
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing an optical element with a lens barrel, in which an optical raw material is placed on a placement portion projecting toward the center of the lens barrel from the inner peripheral surface thereof, and assuming that a distance between the opposing ends of the projection of the placement portion is L1, the outside diameter of the optical raw material is L2, the inside diameter of the lens barrel portion which is positioned close to and above the placement portion and to which the perimeter of the optical element obtained after forming is joined is L3, and the inside diameter of the smallest opening on the upper end side of the lens barrel is L4, design is performed to satisfy a relation of L1<L2<L3<L4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsunori Mukasa, Hiroaki Fujita
  • Publication number: 20030056542
    Abstract: The forming apparatus has top and bottom die assemblies which form a heated silica glass material by press forming. These top and bottom die assemblies include, respectively, mold dies, which are made of isotropic carbon, and core molds, which are made of vitrified carbon. The heating and pressing time of a silica glass element, which requires a high forming temperature, is shortened by pinching the silica glass material between top and bottom core molds by controlling a torque so as to produce a close contact condition which permits heat transfer from the top and bottom core molds to the silica glass material between the top and bottom core molds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Hiroshi Murakoshi, Shusaku Matsumura
  • Publication number: 20030056543
    Abstract: A parison chute assembly for an I.S. machine. The assembly has a chute which is rotatably supported at one end and is displaceable from an out of the way position above the horizontal down to a vertical position for receiving gobs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventor: Frank Alan Fenton
  • Publication number: 20030056544
    Abstract: The invention provides a molding die for an optical element with a lens-barrel preventing the position deviation and optical-axis deviation of the optical element integrally formed in the lens-barrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hajime Yamanaka
  • Publication number: 20030056545
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for forming glass elements, which includes top and bottom die assemblies, each of the die assemblies comprising a core mold, a mold die which supports the core mold, and a die plate, and a glass material being interposed between the top and bottom core molds, a first fastening member, which fastens the mold die and bottom die plate of the bottom die assembly together, a second fastening member, which fastens the die plate of the bottom die assembly and the heat insulating cylinder together, a third fastening member, which fastens the mold die and die plate of the top die assembly together, and a fourth fastening member, which fastens the die plate of the top die assembly and the heat insulating cylinder together. Each of the first to fourth fastening members is made of a material selected from the group consisting of carbon and molybdenum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Hiroshi Murakoshi, Shusaku Matsumura
  • Publication number: 20030056546
    Abstract: The invention describes a procedure for manufacturing photonic crystals and passive and active optoelectronic device components comprising of photonic crystals. The manufacturing approach draws upon the mature technology of producing microchannel plates (MCPs). Based on this manufacturing approach, photonic crystal structures with or without defects can be fabricated. The photonic band gaps produced in the presented invention can be made passive or active. A photonic crystal structure is described that contain different photonic band gap regions. Additionally, photonic crystal structures filled with different refractive indexes are described. The photonic crystals of the present invention maybe used as filters, phase shifters, splitters, couplers, multiplexers, demultiplexers, modulators, variable optical attenuators, gain equalizers, etc. for optical communication applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Richard O. Claus, Keith C. Huie
  • Publication number: 20030056547
    Abstract: A method for heating optical fibers by electric discharge includes fusion splicing optical fibers and then applying a heating to a neighborhood of a fusion splicing part of the optical fibers by the electric discharge. The discharge electrodes are provided in a direction perpendicular to the plane in which the optical fibers are arranged. The heating is applied to the neighborhood of the fusion splicing part by the electric discharge with discharge electrodes. The discharge electrodes are moved not only in a direction of arrangement of the optical fibers but also in an axial direction of the optical fibers such that more thermal energy is applied to an optical fiber positioned closer to a center of the arrangement of the optical fibers than to an optical fiber positioned away from the center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiichiro Yamada, Kazuhito Saito, Mitsuaki Tamura
  • Publication number: 20030056548
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a uniform coating thickness along an axial direction within an internal portion of a substrate tube is disclosed. A gas delivery unit is configured to coat the internal portion of the substrate tube. The gas delivery unit includes an insert. At least one of an inner diameter of the insert, a length of the insert, a gap between the insert and the substrate tube, and a flow of the gas mixture delivered to the substrate tube is configured to provide the uniform coating thickness along the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe J. de Sandro, Keith L. House, Joohyun Koh, Prantik Mazumder
  • Publication number: 20030056549
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a glass article such as an optical fiber having a substantially matching viscosity across an interface associated with a first section and a second section of the optical fiber is disclosed herein. The first section has a first halogen concentration and the second section has a second halogen concentration. At least one of a partial pressure of the second halogen provided to a substrate tube and a temperature of the substrate tube is configured to affect the concentration of the second halogen in the second section. Optical fiber embodiments are also included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe J. de Sandro, Keith L. House, Joohyun Koh, Prantik Mazumder
  • Publication number: 20030056550
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a photonic crystal fiber that has a core portion in which a fiber core extends in a lengthwise direction and is formed as a solid or a void, and a porous clad portion provided around the core portion and having numerous pores extending along the core portion. A preform is fabricated by packing numerous capillaries into a cylindrical support pipe such that they are parallel to the central axis of the support pipe and disposing a core rod to serve as the solid core portion at the central axis portion of the support pipe. The preform is drawn to make it small in diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Masatoshi Tanaka, Tetsuya Yamamoto, Shigeki Koyanagi, Minoru Yoshida, Moriyuki Fujita, Masataka Nakazawa, Hirokazu Kubota, Satoki Kawanishi
  • Publication number: 20030056551
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a peak-integrated type cap that can reduce the number of sewing processes required is provided. The method includes the steps of: forming one side of a head fitting part in an one-to-one knitting pattern, while forming a peak on the center thereof in a plain knitting pattern, the peak formed by using a select knitting manner where it is decreased in width and increased at the time of reaching a predetermined width and also knitted by connecting the both peripheries thereof such that it is generally in the shape of a pocket; forming a folding part such that the other side of the head fitting part knitted in abutment with the one side thereof is easily folded; and forming the root part of the peak, while the other side of the head fitting part is being formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventor: Song-Taek Li
  • Publication number: 20030056552
    Abstract: A roofing membrane is provided including a weft insertion warp knit fabric substrate having continuous filament warp yarns of polyester, polyamide or other suitable synthetic material, continuous filament weft yams of the same or different synthetic material as the warp yams, the warp yams and/or weft yams having a predetermined twist therein, and knit yams warp knit in a chain stitch pattern binding the warp and weft yams together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: John Boyle & Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve R. Englebert, Gerard J. Norton
  • Publication number: 20030056553
    Abstract: The present invention provides an undergarment formed from a tubular knitted fabric that comprises a poly(trimethylene terephthalate) fiber crimped yarn in a blending ratio of 15% by weight or more, the tubular knitted fabric having a course number of from 30 to 70 courses/2.54 cm and a wale number of from 30 to 70 wales/2.54 cm. The undergarment of the present invention has a soft feeling, shows excellent stretchability and an excellent elongation recovery in both the warp and weft directions, and is excellent in durability and/or a comfort to the wearer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamazaki, Masataka Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20030056554
    Abstract: A washing machine is disclosed, in which a rotary power of a driving unit is stably provided to a pulsator or a washing tub in a short time. The washing machine includes a motor having a stator (7a) and a rotor (7b); a spin shaft (5) of a hollow, an upper end of the spin shaft is fastetned to a washing tub (2); a washing shaft (4) of which an upper end is fastened to a pulsator (3) inside of the washing tub; sliders (31) and (35) moving up and down along an outer circumference surface of the spin shaft to selectively transmit a rotary power of the rotor to the spin shaft; an actuator (6) for inducing the up and down movement of the slider; a power transmission means between the actuator and the slider for converting a power transmittance path of the actuator and transmitting to the slider; and an attenuating means between the actuator and the slider for delaying a power generated from the actuator and then transmitting to the slider.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventor: In Geun Ahn
  • Publication number: 20030056555
    Abstract: A drum washing machine according to the present invention restrains vibration and noise at the time of spin-drying. For this purpose, a drum 4 is supported so as to be rotatable by rotating shafts 51L and 51R respectively extending in an approximately horizontal direction outward from its end surface walls 41L and 41R. Water storage balancers G are respectively attached to the end surface walls 41L and 41R of the drum 4, and a fluid balancer 9 is further attached to the end surface wall 41L.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Yokoi, Hiroshi Yamamoto, Yasuaki Sonoda, Takao Kinouchi
  • Publication number: 20030056556
    Abstract: Disclosed is a lever door lock device that has an outside part including a lever, a key cylinder block, a cover, and a spindle, disposed at one side of a retractor, and an inside part including a lever, a cover and a locking unit, disposed at the other side of the retractor, the lever door lock device including: an adjusting screw pipe coupled to one end of the spindle and to the cover; an outside part operation unit having an operation ring, a stop ring, a torsion spring, a small spindle, a fixing frame and an outer spindle support between the outside part and the retractor; and an inside part operation unit for coupling an inner spindle, a large housing, a stop ring, a torsion spring, an operation ring and a small spindle, between the outside part and the retractor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Dea San Park, Joo Seok Jeong
  • Publication number: 20030056557
    Abstract: A lock assembly for attachment to an enclosure door. In preferred embodiments, the enclosure door has a lock assembly receiving opening specifically created to receive the lock assembly. The lock assembly includes a lock case assembly having a bolt that can be moved between at least two positions; a lock actuating assembly interconnected with the lock case assembly such that the lock actuating assembly can actuate a change in the position of the bolt from one position to another; and a mounting plate having an interior side and an exterior side. The lock actuating assembly is preferably secured to the mounting plate on the exterior side and the lock case assembly is preferably secured to the mounting plate on the interior side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventor: Randy L. Squier
  • Publication number: 20030056558
    Abstract: A new configuration and operating method therefore improves conventional continuous pickling and cold-rolling systems in response to increasing demands for high-propertied steel plates. The continuous pickling and cold-rolling equipment system comprises a uncoiling apparatus, a joining apparatus, an accumulating looper, a cleaning section, a pickling section, a cold rolling mill, a cutting apparatus, and a coiling apparatus. This configuration and associated operation method realize a rolling line having a substantially infinite number of mill stands enabling continuous or endless cold rolling without additional mill stands. Thereby, production of cold rolled steel strip with a large total reduction ratio for high-grade steel strips effectively using a small number of mill stands becomes practicable. At least one of the embodiments clearly shows acceptable productivity that can stand comparison with a typical conventional cold rolling system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Nishi
  • Publication number: 20030056559
    Abstract: A method for producing longitudinally welded helically corrugated metal tubing, wherein a metal strip pulled from a strip supply is formed into tubing with a longitudinal slit, the longitudinal slit is sealed by welding and the corrugation is produced by a corrugation tool that is supported eccentrically and at an angle to the tubing axis, is freely rotatable in a rotationally driven corrugator head, and rolls off the surface of the tubing. The metal strip as well as the uncorrugated metal tubing are advanced by a feed device that is provided between the welding point and the corrugation unit. A second feed device (8) engages the corrugated tubing (7) directly behind the corrugation unit (6), and the feed rate of the second feed device is slower than the forward feed rate of the corrugated tubing (7) which results from the pitch of the corrugator disk and the rotational speed of the corrugator head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: NEXANS
    Inventors: Christian Frohne, Michael Meyer, Friedrich Harten
  • Publication number: 20030056560
    Abstract: A method of making a tube having an expanded region which includes the steps of providing an elongated metal tube, preparing the tube to be expanded, and, exerting a generally uniform outwardly radial force to create the expanded region. During the preparation step, a region of the tube is annealed by applying heat. The outward radial force may be created by pressurizing the tube, by freezing water within the tube or by axially rotating the tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald J. Bruck, Eugene E. Smeltzer, Francis A. Kramer
  • Publication number: 20030056561
    Abstract: A robotic bending apparatus for bending archwires and other types of elongate, bendable medical devices into a desired configuration includes a first gripping tool and a moveable gripping tool. The first gripping tool can be either fixed with respect to a base or table for the robot or positioned at the end of robot am. The moveable gripping tool is mounted to the end of a moveable robot arm having a proximal portion also mounted to the base. The robot preferably comprises a six axis bending robot, in which the distal end of the moveable arm can move relative to the fixed gripping tool about three translational axes and three rotational axes. The gripping tools preferably incorporate force sensors which are used to determine overbends needed to get the desired final shape of the archwire. The robot may also include a resistive heating system in which current flows through the wire while the wire is held in a bent condition to heat the wire and thereby retain the bent shape of the wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Werner Butscher, Friedrich Riemeier, Rudger Rubbert, Thomas Weise, Rohit Sachdeva
  • Publication number: 20030056562
    Abstract: A metallic material 27 is placed between an upper die 6 and a lower die 13. Inert gas is fed into the processing chamber 17 defined by a transparent quartz tube 16. The dies 6 and 13 are heated together with the metallic material 27 by infrared lamps 20. The dies 6 and 13 are closed to form the material 27.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventor: Toshihisa Kamano
  • Publication number: 20030056563
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming end shells for containers with a peripheral curl and an annular reinforcing rib in a single stroke cycle of a press which includes a punch core, a punch shell, and a pressure sleeve carried by an inner ram of the press. A cut edge is carried by an outer ram for forming a flat disc-shaped blank at a first level from a strip of sheet material. A die core is mounted on the base at a second level and is surrounded by concentric inner and outer die core rings. A cup-shaped blank is formed from the flat blank by movement of the punch core, pressure sleeve, and punch shell through a blank and draw die. The cup is clamped at the second level between the die core and punch core and formed into an end shell by movement of the punch core, pressure sleeve, and punch shell into clamping engagement with the die core, and inner and outer die core rings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventor: James A. McClung
  • Publication number: 20030056564
    Abstract: A screwer test bench comprises a coupling (12) designed for connection with the head of a screwer and connected to a controlled braking unit (14) and a sensor unit (15) for detection of mechanical magnitudes transmitted between the coupling and the braking unit. The braking unit (14) comprises a thin cap (17,117) constrained to said coupling (12) at least in the direction of rotation and arranged between a first pressure surface (22) thrust axially against the cap by an actuator (19) and a second fixed opposition surface (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Angelo Chiapuzzi, Luigi Bareggi
  • Publication number: 20030056565
    Abstract: A system for the operation of a number of commercial washing machines and automatically feeding liquid chemicals to the washing machines. The system has chemical reservoir pods with a pressure sensor and an output valve on each. The chemical pods are supplied with liquid chemical by refill pumps. The quantity of chemical in a chemical pod, and the quantity of chemical dispensed from each chemical pod is calculated from information received by a controller from the pressure sensor to determine when to open and close the valve. A further pressure sensor is provided in the supply pipe to each washing machine to verify and measure flow quantity of water and chemical to the machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventor: David J. Barbe
  • Publication number: 20030056566
    Abstract: [Subject] To provide a measuring apparatus of positions and postures of a machine for correcting positions and postures of an end effecter by means of an actuator, and an error correcting method for correcting errors thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2000
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Masayuki Nashiki, Tetsuya Matsushita, Shigeharu Watanabe, Masao Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20030056567
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus and method for quantifying the stiffness of a golf ball or golf ball core that would be experienced during typical use (i.e., impact) while also measuring the contact time. Preferably, the invention comprises an air cannon for shooting an object horizontally against a block. The velocities of the object towards and away from the block can be measured by two light gates separated by a given distance. The contact time can also be measured by optical sensors located at the block. The measured times and calculated velocities can then be used to calculate the coefficient of restitution and contact time of the object. These quantities can be further used to gauge the dynamic stiffness and resilience of a golf ball, or portion thereof, typically under conditions of normal use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Laurent C. Bissonnette, Charles A. Days, Roman D. Halko, Emanuel Vieira, Douglas C. Winfield
  • Publication number: 20030056568
    Abstract: A method of detecting a marine gas seep that includes: deploying a local probe on or near the seafloor; producing bubbles in water near or within the local probe; detecting the bubbles; producing data indicating the relative concentration of dissolved gas in the water; and associating elevated dissolved gas concentrations with the presence of a nearby marine gas seep. Another aspect of the invention involves an apparatus configured to carry out the inventive method. Preferred embodiments of the invention utilize an ultrasonic transducer to both produce bubbles and detect them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Robert L. Kleinberg, Neil W. Bostrom, Douglas D. Griffin, Peter G. Brewer
  • Publication number: 20030056569
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for examining and/or recording medical disorders, physical conditions and/or physiological processes of a test person or patient. The inventive device comprises a sensor unit and a display unit for indicating a sensor signal that is generated and/or processed by the sensor unit, whereby the sensor unit can be placed in the vicinity of test persons or patients. This is particularly advantageous in the field of nursing care in order to be able to monitor the quantity and quality of treatment. To this end, an odor detection unit is provided for measuring odors. By virtue of the fact that examination is carried out in a non-contact manner, measurements can be continuously taken without causing harm to the test person.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventor: Klaus Jansen
  • Publication number: 20030056570
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a flammable gas detection sensor that is a gas detection sensor which converts heat generated by the catalytic reaction between the catalyst component and a flammable gas to a voltage signal by a thermoelectric conversion effect and detects this signal as a detection signal, and is characterized by comprising as constituent elements thereof a catalyst component for initiating a catalytic reaction when in contact with a gas to be detected, and a film of thermoelectric conversion material which converts local temperature differences brought about by heat generated by the reaction to voltage signal; and also relates to a flammable gas concentration measurement method and a measurement apparatus thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: National Inst. of Advanced Ind. Science and Tech.
    Inventors: Woosuck Shin, Norimitsu Murayama