Patents Issued in July 1, 2003
  • Patent number: 6584847
    Abstract: While a transmitting transducer (2a) for transmitting an ultrasonic wave and a receiving transducer (2b) for receiving an ultrasonic wave are moved within a predetermined circular region (7) on a surface of a material being measured, ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received 10,000 times. Then, arithmetic averaging is performed every time an ultrasonic wave is received, on the ultrasonic wave and ultrasonic waves that have been received until then. For example, the aforementioned predetermined frequency is given by ((n±(½))×(106×v/&Dgr;L))(Hz), where &Dgr;L is a variation in distance between the transmitting transducer and the receiving transducer, v is a transmission velocity of an ultrasonic wave transmitting in a material being detected, and n is a natural number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: H & B System Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Hirose
  • Patent number: 6584848
    Abstract: An acoustic nonlinearity parameter (&bgr;) measurement method and system for Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) of materials and structural members novelly employs a loosely mounted dielectric electrostatic ultrasonic transducer (DEUT) to receive and convert ultrasonic energy into an electrical signal which can be analyzed to determine the &bgr; of the test material. The dielectric material is ferroelectric with a high dielectric constant ∈. A computer-controlled measurement system coupled to the DEUT contains an excitation signal generator section and a measurement and analysis section. As a result, the DEUT measures the absolute particle displacement amplitudes in test material, leading to derivation of the nonlinearity parameter (&bgr;) without the costly, low field reliability methods of the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: William T. Yost, John H. Cantrell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6584849
    Abstract: A method of characterizing the vibration of a plurality of rotating blades (12), such as turbine blades in a gas turbine engine, includes the steps of providing a single strain gauge (16A) on a single one (12A) of the blades and providing either one or two tip timing probes (22A, 22B) on a casing surrounding the blades. The data from the strain gauge (16A) allows the vibration of the single blade (12A) to be fully characterized while the data from the tip timing probes (22A, 22B) allows the amplitudes or velocities of vibration of all the blades to be determined. The relationship between the data from the tip timing probes for the single blade (12A) and the stress data from the strain gauge may be established. This relationship may then be assumed to apply to all the blades, thus allowing the stresses induced in all the blades by the vibrations to be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Peter Loftus, Colin J Parrish
  • Patent number: 6584850
    Abstract: A universal regulator tester is disclosed wherein a bleed valve is used to exhaust pressurized gas through an exhaust passage that is designed and configured to simulate the pneumatic action of an actuation of a marker. The universal regulator tester can be used to test apparatuses with pressures up to 1200 PSI and can be used on pneumatic paintball guns, markers and similar devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Inventor: Daniel H. Colby
  • Patent number: 6584851
    Abstract: A pressure sensor has a joint (1) having a pressure port (13), a pressure detecting device (2) bonded to the joint (1) to convert fluid pressure to an electric signal and a housing (5) provided to an output side of the pressure detecting device (2), the pressure sensor further including a flange member (3) bonded to the joint (1) and having a through-hole (26) for the pressure detecting device (2) to be inserted and a connector (6) bonded to the flange member (3) to fix the housing (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Nagano Keiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouzou Yamagishi, Yoshihiro Tomomatsu, Atsushi Imai
  • Patent number: 6584852
    Abstract: An electrical capacitance pressure sensor has a lower electrode, a movable electrode, and an upper electrode. A first cavity portion is formed between the lower electrode and the movable electrode. A second cavity portion is formed between the upper electrode and the movable electrode. The substrate has an opening portion that penetrates the substrate from the first surface to the second surface thereof. The lower electrode has at least one first window portion that penetrates the lower electrode from the side of the substrate to the side of the first cavity portion and communicates the cavity portion to the opening portion of the substrate. The upper electrode has at least one second window portion that penetrates the upper electrode from the side of the cavity portion to the outside thereof to communicate the cavity portion with the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Denso Corportation
    Inventors: Yasutoshi Suzuki, Seiichiro Ishio, Tetsuo Fujii, Keiichi Shimaoka, Hirofumi Funahashi
  • Patent number: 6584853
    Abstract: A corrosion proof pressure transducer for measuring exhaust gas pressure includes a chip with a semiconductive diaphragm, electronics, and conductive pads thereon; with leads sonically bonded to the pads. To preclude degradation of the transducer by internal combustion engine exhaust gases, the chip may have (1) a thin glass passivation layer, (2) a vacuum deposited polymeric coating and (3) a layer of gel, thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Kavlico Corporation
    Inventors: Kyong M. Park, Marcos A. Nassar
  • Patent number: 6584854
    Abstract: A pressure-detecting chamber 23, a pressure-directing path 25 and a buffer space 24 are formed on the upper face of a main-body-side substrate 22 as recessed portions, and the upper face of the pressure-detecting chamber 23 is covered with a thin-type diaphragm 31, and upper faces of the pressure-directing path 25 and the buffer space 24 are covered with a cover substrate 30. A pressure-introducing unit 26 formed on the lower face of the main-body-side substrate 22 is connected to the lower face of the buffer space 24. The cross-section of the buffer space 24 is greater than the cross-section of the pressure-introducing unit 26, and the capacity of the buffer space 24 is greater than the capacity of the pressure-directing path 25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Isamu Kimura, Masatoshi Oba, Takashi Itakura
  • Patent number: 6584855
    Abstract: A method for obtaining the average ambient air pressure outside of a building places a pressure sensor on each major outside wall of the building or around the outer circumference of a one sided (e.g., round) building. The pressure reading from each pressure sensor is obtained and the pressure readings are added together to obtain a total reading. The total reading is divided by the number of pressure readings making up the total, the result being the approximate average ambient air pressure outside of the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Inventor: J. Patrick Fex, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6584856
    Abstract: A method of sensing strain in a material includes the steps of embedding in a material at least one wire formed of a conductive core and a magnetoelastic film coated around the conductive core and having a known level of saturation, interconnecting an input lead to one end portion of the wire and an output lead to another end portion of the wire, inputting an electrical current in the wire through the input lead so as to drive the magnetoelastic film of the wire to saturation such that the electrical impedance is sensitive to changes in strain in the material, and outputting an electrical signal from the output lead being proportional to a strain imposed on the material surrounding the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Inventors: William J. Biter, Sung J. Oh, Stephen M. Hess
  • Patent number: 6584857
    Abstract: An optical strain gauge for measuring the strain in a structural member includes a mechanical grating device fixedly attached to the structural member for modulating an incident beam of light by diffraction; at least one source of light; and an optical system for directing light onto the mechanical grating device and a sensor for receiving light reflected from the mechanical grating device for producing a representation of the strain in the structural member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Edward P. Furlani, Marek W. Kowarz, John R. Debesis
  • Patent number: 6584858
    Abstract: First, a sample holder 13, 57 is lowered such that a sample is held. Next, a roller 11 or a plate-shaped member 56 is lowered and pressed to an adhesive surface 15A of a sample 15. At this time, a tape 23 is disposed between the roller 11 or the plate-shaped member 56 and the adhesive surface 15A of the sample 15, and a fixed pressure load is applied to the sample 15. Then after a fixed period of time has passed, the tape 23 is pulled from the sample 15 by the raising of the roller 11 or the plate-shaped member 56 and an adhesive strength is measured with a load cell 25 according to the tension of the tape 23 at that time. After measuring, a take-up reel 21, 52 is rotated so as to wind up a predetermined pitch of the tape 23, and an unused portion of the tape 23 is reeled out to the tip of the roller 11 or the plate-shaped member 56.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignees: Lintec Corporation, Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunao Miyazawa, Tsutomu Noshiroya, Takao Kimijima, Takao Kokubu
  • Patent number: 6584859
    Abstract: A magnetically inductive flowmeter for flowing media, with a measuring tube, with a magnet for generating a magnetic field passing essentially perpendicular to the axis of the measuring tube and to the direction of the magnetic field, with at least two measuring electrodes arranged along a connecting line passing essentially perpendicular to the axis of the measuring tube and to the direction of the magnetic field, with a reference electrode and with a difference amplifier having a reference potential connection connected with the measuring electrodes via measuring electrode connections and serving for amplification of the measuring voltage present on the measuring electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Krohne Messtechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Helmut Brockhaus, Wilhelm Florin, Christiaan Johan Hoogendijk
  • Patent number: 6584860
    Abstract: A significant problem in the flow probe art is that of accurately positioning a flow-sensing portion of the probe at a selected location within a pipe. Several arrangements are provided for determining the insertion depth of flow sensing probes, for measuring diameters of the pipes in which they are inserted, and for detecting the depth of those pipes. These generally involve adding to the flow probe a depth measurement device for generating an energetic beam that is reflected from the pipe or from an insertion fitting. One such sensor uses a phased array of piezoelectric element to serve both in a pulse-echo distance measurement device and in a time-of-flight flow measurement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Inventors: Murray F. Feller, Marvin J. Feldman
  • Patent number: 6584861
    Abstract: Transmitting and receiving circuit for an ultrasonic flowmeter, comprising at least two ultrasonic transducers arranged for the transmission and receipt of ultrasonic signals in opposite directions across a measuring distance, a signal source for controlled production of electrical signals for transmission to the ultrasonic transducers and detection means for deriving transmission time measurements, used to calculate the flow, measuring of which is desired. The transmitting and receiving circuit includes an amplifier with a first inverting input terminal for connection to an ultrasonic transducer, a second non-inverting input terminal for connection to the signal source, an output terminal for connection with the detection means, and a feedback connection between the output terminal and the first input terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventor: Lars Jespersen
  • Patent number: 6584862
    Abstract: Illustrated and described is an ultrasonic flowmeter for flowing media, that operates according to the transit time method, with a measuring tube and at least one transmitting and/or receiving head, in connection with which the transmitting and/or receiving head has a housing and an ultrasonic transducer with which ultrasonic signals can be emitted into the flowing medium and ultrasonic signals can be received from the flowing medium. The ultrasonic flowmeter for flowing media is characterized in that a damping device with at least one damping element is arranged around the sides of the housing of the transmitting and/or receiving head and at least partly adjacent to it, and the damping device is provided in a recess of the measuring tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Krohne S.A.
    Inventor: Marcel Meijlom Molenaar
  • Patent number: 6584863
    Abstract: An assembly for measuring fluid flow is provided having a base plate with an upstanding wall and a cut-out opening. A pivot shaft extends from the wall and a swinging arm is attached to the pivot shaft. At the lower end of the arm is a barrel shaft which supports a rotatable barrel. The base plate may be supported by legs and the assembly can then be positioned over an open stream of fluid. The arm is then swung down until the barrel enters the fluid. Alternatively, the assembly may be located above a top opening in a pipe containing a flowing stream of fluid. In this case, the arm and barrel will swing down through both the base plate cut-out opening and the pipe top opening. The moving fluid causes rotation of the barrel which is detected by a barrel rotation sensor. The sensor sends electronic signals to a signal processor which produces fluid velocity data. The arm may have an angular position sensor which will also deliver electronic signals to the signal processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Inventor: Al T. Champness
  • Patent number: 6584864
    Abstract: A resonant sensor comprises a support structure comprising two support points; a laminar resonator suspended between said two support points of said support structure and comprising a plurality of substantially parallel flexural members which are responsive to relative movement of said support points; means for exciting said resonator into a balanced mode of oscillation and means for sensing motion of said resonator. Said means for sensing motion of said resonator is or are spaced from, and linked to, said flexible area of said resonator by means of levers. Said support points are preferably adapted to move relative to each other in response to a difference in pressure, force or acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Druck Limited
    Inventor: John Christopher Greenwood
  • Patent number: 6584865
    Abstract: An absolute reference aerosol sampler system and method based on isokinetic and isoaxial sampling principles wherein the position of a collection inlet for an aerosol sampling head is adjusted relative to the actual wind direction in real time. In addition, flow rate of the air at a collection inlet within the absolute-reference sampler is matched to the real time actual wind speed. These adjustments and controls enable the absolute reference sampler system to obtain particulate samples from the immediate environment without biasing the size distribution in any manner, resulting in a fully unbiased, representative sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Robert W. Doherty, Paul J. DeLuca
  • Patent number: 6584866
    Abstract: A working tool, in particular a soil rammer or a hammer, has two masses that may be linearly moved back and forth with respect to one another, namely a top mass which comprises a driving motor and a ramming or striking working mass which can be moved by the motor relative to the top mass by means of a crank drive and a set of springs. In order to reduce as much as possible the displacement of the top mass, an additional counterweight can be moved by the motor over at least a large part of the path of displacement of the working mass in the opposite direction thereto. The displacement of the end of the set of springs linked to the crank drive and the displacement of the counterweight are preferably offset relative to one another, with respect to the crank angle, by 180° minus a phase shift derived from the construction parameters of the set of springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Wacker Construction Equipment AG
    Inventor: Martin Greppmair
  • Patent number: 6584867
    Abstract: A gear for use as the pinion in a rack and pinion gear includes spur gear teeth that have an upper portion of the face cut in a worm cut so the gear is effective as a worm wheel for a worm gear while retaining involute curved faces so it is effective as the pinion for the rack. The rack, pinion, and worm driver are connected. When the worm gear connected to a shaft, power is transmitted from the shaft to the rack via the worm driver and pinion with all gears making line contact instead of point contact. This improvement turns one gear piece into two gears. The rack pinion can be geared to a worm gear while it is also matched up with a straight cut rack. In this way the gear translates force between the two different types of gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Penn Troy Machine Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Paul G. Kennedy
  • Patent number: 6584868
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a slide track structure of a linear platform, wherein the center of gravity of the slide track structure of the linear platform may be lowered. In addition, the outer edge of the upper end of the U-shaped guide track is formed with an inclined face or a smooth arc-shaped face, thereby capable of producing better structural stiffness, saving material, and decreasing weight. Thus, the slide track structure of the linear platform of the present invention can increase the structural stiffness, save material, and decrease the entire weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Hiwin Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Ching-Shan Wu, Chau-Chang Chou
  • Patent number: 6584869
    Abstract: A ball screw includes a spindle element which has a first groove arrangement on an outer circumferential surface, a nut element which surrounds the spindle element and has a second groove arrangement on an inner circumferential surface, and a plurality of balls, at least some of which engage into the first groove arrangement and the second groove arrangement. The nut element is rotatable about an axis of rotation with respect to the spindle element, and, during the rotation of the nut element about the axis of rotation with respect to the spindle element, the balls which engage into the first groove arrangement and the second groove arrangement roll in the first and the second groove arrangement, while at the same time rotate about respective ball axes of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Grosspietsch, Angelika Ebert, Markus Heiartz, Wolfgang Reisser, Andreas Dau, Paul Kraus, Thomas John
  • Patent number: 6584870
    Abstract: A shift lever device having a shift lever which allows selection of an arbitrary shift range by shift operation and includes a support which rotatably supports the shift lever and includes breakable portions which break when an impact force above a preselected magnitude is applied to the shift lever. Accordingly, when an axial impact force indicative of a sudden deceleration is applied to the shift lever, the support is broken. The breakage of the support allows safer absorption of the impact force applied to the shift lever. The breakable portions may take the form of a frangible pin or bracket that pivotally supports the shift lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masaya Nishimura, Kazuhiro Sato, Masaki Fujita, Yoshitaka Watanabe, Hitoshi Kanazawa, Noriyasu Shamoto
  • Patent number: 6584871
    Abstract: An adjustable pedal assembly for a vehicle includes an adjustment bracket adapted for mounting on a vehicle, and the adjustment bracket includes a pair of outwardly extending side portions having a vertically extending arcuate slot. The adjustable pedal assembly also includes a pedal arm pivotally attached to the adjustment bracket using a pivot pin, such that an end of the pivot pin is slidably disposed within the arcuate slot in the adjustment bracket. The adjustable pedal assembly further includes a pedal pad mounted to the pedal arm, and a pedal adjustment mechanism operatively attached to the pedal arm, for adjusting the position of the pedal arm along a predetermined path, such that the pivot pin is slidably positioned in the arcuate slot relative to the predetermined path of the pedal arm to ergonomically position the pedal pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: KSR International, Inc.
    Inventors: Pat Burton, Dan O'Neill, Rob Soteros, Dave Kelloway
  • Patent number: 6584872
    Abstract: A bicycle handle mounting member is provided for mounting a handlebar and a display unit thereto. The mounting member includes a stem portion configured to be coupled to a bicycle frame and a handlebar and display unit support portion movably coupled to the stem portion. The handlebar and display unit support portion includes a handlebar clamp and first and second mounting flanges. The handlebar clamp has the handlebar fixedly coupled thereto. The first and second mounting flanges are spaced apart to form a display receiving space with the display unit fixedly coupled therebetween. In the preferring embodiments, the handlebar and the display unit are mount to the bicycle handle mounting member such that the wiring between the display unit and control members mounted to the handlebar are completely concealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Masao Kojima
  • Patent number: 6584873
    Abstract: A dual mass damping flywheel comprising a secondary wheel (13) including a torque limiter (19) interposed between the external periphery of a hub (18) and the internal periphery of a reaction plate (16). The hub (18) defines a cavity (9) for housing a stop linked in rotation to the hub (18) and acting as support for elastic means (70) support on a counter-stop (71) integral with the hub (18), while the stop (271) is integral with a friction washer (280) urged in contact with an internal ring (160) of the reaction plate (16). The invention is applicable to motor vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Valeo
    Inventors: Ciriaco Bonfillio, René Ruguet
  • Patent number: 6584874
    Abstract: A ratcheting device comprising a driver head assembly which includes at least two 3-D sprag elements positioned within a first groove within the driver head assembly such that at least one of the 3-D sprag elements may lockingly engage the driver head assembly and a mating hub assembly to allow for rotation of the hub assembly in one direction with respect to the driver head assembly. This arrangement allows the ratcheting tool to impart torque in either the clockwise or counterclockwise direction without having to first rotate the ratcheting tool in the direction opposite the direction in which the torque is applied. This arrangement also allows the ratcheting tool to impart torque in either the clockwise or counterclockwise direction while in the neutral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Michael O. Wade, James W. Poland, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6584875
    Abstract: A ratchet wrench including: a handle having a head section formed with a circular hole and a cavity; a ratchet wheel rotatably installed in the circular hole; two left and right symmetrical dogs side by side arranged in left and right sides of the cavity, an inner end of each dog being formed with a recess, the two recesses of the dogs being positioned opposite to each other to form a receiving space; two resilient members respectively disposed between the wall of the cavity and the two dogs, when not suffering external force, the resilient members resiliently forcing the dogs toward the ratchet wheel to engage therewith; a shifting member having symmetrical left and right ends which are respectively disposed in the two recesses of the two dogs; and a rotary switch connecting with the shifting member. When turning the rotary switch, the shifting member is angularly displaced to push one dog away from the ratchet wheel, while making the other dog resiliently engaged with the ratchet wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Inventor: Jackson Deng
  • Patent number: 6584876
    Abstract: A driver bit and a header punch for manufacture of screws comprising a screw comprising substantially vertical end wall portions of predetermined depth formed on an end edge portion of a bit fitting groove on a screw head, non-planar bottom portions raised from lower edge portions of the vertical end wall portions toward a center of the screw head, inclined groove portions extending from raised portions of the non-planar bottom portions toward a center of a screw neck, a substantially conical-shaped bottom surface formed on a bottom of the groove, the bit fitting groove being adapted to a driver bit, which has a blade adapted to be fitted into the bit fitting groove and has a lower edge portion of the blade adapted to abut against the non-planar bottom portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Totsu
  • Patent number: 6584877
    Abstract: A tire uniformity machine having a framework for receiving a tire to be tested, a rotatable chuck located within the framework and having a spindle driven by a motor directly coupled to the spindle to selectively cause rotation thereof, whereby the tire is chucked within the chuck assembly and caused to rotate by the motor. The motor is disposed in axial alignment with the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Akron Special Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: David Poling, Sr., Richard L. Delmoro, David P. Krause
  • Patent number: 6584878
    Abstract: A tool that can be mounted and clamped in the circle tool receptacle of automatic screw machines and allows the holding and use of square shanked lathe tools. The technologically advanced tooling systems that are available to the computerized, numerically controlled machine industry are all square shanked and will now be available to the screw machine industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Inventor: Gregory Lee Gipson
  • Patent number: 6584879
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for disabling time critical and moving targets and an air deployed guided missile launcher. A system for disabling a time critical target at a site within a geographical area in accordance with the invention includes a plurality of spaced apart mostly buried missile launchers located within or adjacent to the geographical area with each spaced apart mostly buried mobile missile launcher containing a guided missile, any site within the geographical area being located at a distance from at least one spaced apart missile launcher not more than a maximum distance of travel of a guided missile launched from at least one of the spaced apart missile launchers to the site, the time of travel of a missile from the missile launcher to the site requiring less time than a maximum time required to enable the time critical target at the site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Gorman
  • Patent number: 6584880
    Abstract: An electronically controlled arming unit including a logic circuit that is driven by the pre-existing weapons system signals to control a lanyard locking unit, thus removing the need for an external force to operate the arming unit. The electronically controlled arming unit can be retrofitted to the existing equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Randall Pahl, Marcus Snell, Carl Nicodemus
  • Patent number: 6584881
    Abstract: A multi-purpose missile launcher system for a military land vehicle that has the capability for direct targeting both short and medium range land targets, as well launching missiles against longer-range land targets or air targets using indirect targeting. The mulit-purpose missile launcher system is deployed as part of a modular weapon system that mates with a modular bed of the military land vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: United Defense LP
    Inventors: David R. Boudreau, Stan Bovee, Philip Matteson, Bruce Gaedke, Dennis Borgwarth
  • Patent number: 6584882
    Abstract: A self-contained missile canister includes a cylindrical shell having a plenum or manifold at the breech end for receiving and deflecting missile exhaust gases. A plurality of tubular exhaust ducts or uptake tubes route exhaust gases from the plenum to locations near the missile exit end of the canister. Protrusions on the missile, such as guide rails or aerodynamic control fins, extend from the missile body at locations lying between the exhaust ducts. The tubular exhaust ducts resist the exhaust pressure in hoop tension, so are lightweight. Ablative material may line the exhaust ducts. The exhaust ducts may be supported by longitudinally disposed support beams, preferably I-beams. In one embodiment, each I-beam supports two exhaust ducts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: David Conrad Briggs, Jorge Igancio Ciappi, William Russell Kraft, III
  • Patent number: 6584883
    Abstract: A pneumatic brake booster includes a generally cylindrical shaped piston. The piston has a first piston end and a second piston end and defines a chamber at the first piston end and a piston bore at the second piston end separated by an air flow aperture. The piston bore includes a plunger aperture located at the second piston end. A plunger includes a first plunger end and a second plunger end and is movable between first and second positions. The second plunger end is located within the plunger aperture. An air valve has a first valve end and a valve second end and is movable between first and second positions and defines a valve bore for receiving the first plunger end. A collapsing spring is located within the valve bore and is adapted to couple the plunger and the air valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek T. Dreischarf, Michael W. Fanelli
  • Patent number: 6584884
    Abstract: An integral valve-cylinder assembly and a fork folding hydraulic system for front loading waste collection vehicles is provided that allows the forks to be full tucked for over-the-road travel and without exceeding the vehicle height limit that uses a multi-port hydraulic cylinder integrated with a remotely activated valve that is operated with a single control valve from within the vehicle cab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: McClain Industries
    Inventor: Charles A. Duell
  • Patent number: 6584885
    Abstract: An actuator comprises a cylinder, a first, second and third port, an actuation piston, a control piston and a control spring. The cylinder defines a longitudinal axis and comprises a first and second end. The first port communicates with the first end of the cylinder, the second port communicates with the second end of the cylinder, and the third port communicates with the cylinder between the first and second ends. The actuation piston is disposed in the cylinder and is moveable along the longitudinal axis in a first and second direction. The actuation piston comprises a first and second side. The control piston also is disposed in the cylinder and is moveable along the longitudinal axis in a first and second direction. The control piston comprises a first and second side, with the first side of the control piston facing the second side of the actuation piston. The control spring biases the control piston in at least one of the first and second directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Zheng Lou
  • Patent number: 6584886
    Abstract: A compressor performing a compression action and having a sliding location where one member slides with respect to another member, wherein the sliding portion is formed with sliding layers comprised of a binder comprised of polyetheretherketone and a solid lubricant dispersed in the binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Manabu Sugiura, Takayuki Kato, Takahiro Sugioka, Masahiro Kawaguchi, Hiroaki Kayukawa
  • Patent number: 6584887
    Abstract: A linear motion device having an elongated body a carriage moveable in a linear path relative to the body and a bearing positioned between the carriage and body for supporting the carriage for movement along the linear path. The device further includes a wedge member in the body for adjusting the position of the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Tol-O-Matic, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip M. Poeschl
  • Patent number: 6584888
    Abstract: A coffee machine wherein a pressurized-hot-water sprinkler is aligned, along a horizontal first axis, with a hydraulic cylinder, a piston of which supports a dispenser cup for housing a ground-coffee container, and is movable along the first axis to move the dispenser cup to and from an infusion position in which the dispenser cup is connected to the sprinkler; and wherein the dispenser cup is connected to the piston to oscillate, with respect to the piston and about a horizontal second axis, between a load setting in which the dispenser cup is tilted upwards towards a vertical loading conduit, and an unload setting in which the dispenser cup is tilted downwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: SGL Italia S.R.L.
    Inventor: Virginio Cortese
  • Patent number: 6584889
    Abstract: An electric baking oven includes an open mesh vertically oriented baking basket to hold food while the food is baked in air by a programmed combination of radiant and convective and conductive energy transfer. An electrical programming control controls the energy from vertically oriented toaster heating elements located juxtaposed to the large vertical faces of the basket and from at least one elongated heating member located below the vertical baking basket with the axis of the elongated heating member oriented nominally horizontal and parallel to the longer horizontal axis of the vertically oriented baking basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Edgecraft Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel D. Friel, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6584890
    Abstract: A high production nutcracking apparatus wherein the nuts are fed from a hopper on a feed conveyor which has an upwardly inclined segment which passes through the hopper, a horizontal segment which leads to the cracking apparatus, and an arcuate transition juncture which is between the two segments. The feed conveyor includes a plurality of nut transport elements mounted in succession on a feed chain, and each transport element includes an upwardly facing receptacle for receiving a single nut which is then advanced to the cracking apparatus. To permit the apparatus to process relatively small nuts, such as pecan seedlings, the elements each include a longitudinal notch in an upper corner, and a spacer bar is fixedly mounted so as to occupy the notches of the elements as they move through the hopper. The nuts are singularized and oriented in the receptacles of the elements while being advanced on the feed conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Machine Design Incorporated
    Inventors: James B. Quantz, Pascal W. Pitts, John L. Feaster
  • Patent number: 6584891
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for wire-tying one or more objects. A wire accumulating and feeding mechanism feeds the wire axially through the hollow axle of an accumulator drum and then out to a drive wheel. The wire is wrapped around the periphery of the drum to accumulate the wire during tensioning. A wire gripping mechanism is a simple, economical device including a gripper block having a wire receptacle formed therein, an opposing wall positioned proximate the wire receptacle, and in one embodiment a tapered gap formed in the gripper block proximate the wire receptacle and opposite from the opposing wall, and a gripper disc mounts in a gripper release lever constrained to move within the tapered gap and frictionally engageable with the length of wire disposed within the wire receptacle, the gripper disc being driven into the tapered gap by frictional engagement with the length of wire and pinching the length of wire against the opposing wall when the drive motor is operated in the tension direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Enterprises International, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Smith, Scott McNeal, Darrell Robinson, David Doyle, Michael Kindsvogel
  • Patent number: 6584892
    Abstract: A strapping machine for positioning a strapping material around an associated load and sealing the strapping material to itself around the load, includes a modular strapping head and a modular feed assembly. The strapping head and feed assembly are readily installed on and removed from the strapping machine without tools. The Strapping machine includes a frame, a chute mounted to the frame and defining a strap path, the feed assembly mounted to the frame by a first aligning and mounting assembly, the strapping head assembly mounted to the frame by a second aligning and mounting assembly independent of the first mounting assembly, and a guide mounted to the frame adjacent the feed assembly. Both the feed assembly and the strapping head are independently removable from the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell M. Flaum, Timothy B. Pearson, Ronald W. Gurak, Jonathan Lopez
  • Patent number: 6584893
    Abstract: This invention relates to a relatively thin cladded graphic arts impression graphic arts impression die plate (20) having a steel layer (22) which is integral throughout the extent thereof with a layer of copper (24) or bronze. A relieved design-defining surface may be formed in the copper or bronze layer by a chemical etching process or by chemical milling. The graphic arts impression die plate may be mounted on a magnetic support member (28) to present an assembly which increases the thickness of the die assembly sufficiently to permit use thereof on standard stamping and embossing equipment without modification of the die-supporting chase. The magnetic support member (28) has a plurality of pairs of permanent magnets (33, 35) each pair of which is embedded within a respective cavity (32) and that are magnetically bridged by a steel plate 36.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Universal Engraving, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn E. Hutchison, Todd E. Scholtz
  • Patent number: 6584894
    Abstract: A method is provided for marking items by orienting the items so that ink may be printed on the desired area of the items. The items are fed to a printing station and ink of a first color is printed on the items and then dried. The ink is then cured by providing heat to the ink. Also provided is an apparatus for marking differently-shaped items comprising a printing station having an ink printer and a dryer. The apparatus also has a curing tunnel for curing the ink onto the items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Nibco, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher W. Mason
  • Patent number: 6584895
    Abstract: In an apparatus for printing on dimensionally stable individual articles such as glass or plastic bottles, using screen printing, the articles each carried by a respective holder are transported along a transport path by a continuously circulating transport device. At least one treatment station and at least two transfer stations are associated with the transport path, one transfer station acting as a feed station and the other as a removal station for the articles. During a printing operation on an article the article is rotated about its longitudinal axis in a first direction which is governed by the printing procedure and the transport direction, and then after conclusion of the printing operation the article is rotated back into its initial position by rotation about its longitudinal axis in the opposite direction, so that the position of the article in angular terms about its longitudinal axis can be accurately defined and controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Balsfulland Maschinenfabrik GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Strauch, Wilfried Kammann
  • Patent number: 6584896
    Abstract: A core holding device and a cover for roll-shaped label of a label sticking machine capable of assuredly holding a roll-shaped label or a core thereof, simplifying an operation for installation and removal thereof and forming it simple and compact, characterized in that core holding members for holding the roll-shaped label are of a rotating type. Each of the core holding members is energized by a spring, a pair of spring plates and the pair of core holding knob members comprises a rotating shaft part, a core holding part and a knob part which is located on the opposite side of the core holding part and projected outward from the sides of the plates and the spring plates can energize the core holding part of each of the core holding knob members in the core holding positional direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sato
    Inventors: Tadao Kashiwaba, Tadashi Sasaki