Patents Issued in July 31, 2003
  • Publication number: 20030140691
    Abstract: An apparatus rotates a sample to facilitate an accurate analysis of the sample. The apparatus includes a sample stage on which a plurality of samples are supported, a rotatable cap and a linearly movable plate for placing a selected one of the samples at an analysis position, and a rotating stage that supports the sample stage, rotatable cap and movable plate. The rotating stage is rotatable about an axis of rotation that intersects the analysis position. Once the selected sample is placed at the analysis position by the rotation of the cap and the linear movement of the plate, the selected sample is rotated by the rotating stage. The analysis process can be selectively or sequentially carried out with respect to the plurality of samples with a high degree of efficiency and without the associated drive mechanisms experiencing high loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Sang-Eun Lee
  • Publication number: 20030140692
    Abstract: A gas flow determination method and a corresponding gas flow determination device are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Manfred Lembke, Hans Hecht, Uwe Konzelmann
  • Publication number: 20030140693
    Abstract: A liquid meter body including a plastics material bucket 1 which includes a lower portion 3 delimited by a bottom 9 and by a lower side wall 10 and a cylindrical upper portion 4 delimited by an upper side wall. The upper side wall joins onto the lower side wall at a shoulder 5. The lower portion 3 defines a housing 2 for a measuring chamber. The meter body further comprises entry and exit tubes 6, 7 having an external screwthread, said tubes each opening into the housing 2 of the measuring chamber via a bore formed in the lower side wall 10 and respectively forming an injector 11 and an ejector 12. The meter body has an elliptical bottom 9. The bores forming the injector 11 and the ejector 12 are elliptical.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Barbara Hennebelle
  • Publication number: 20030140694
    Abstract: An ink cartridge serving as a liquid container, comprises a liquid sensor having a piezoelectric element which detects a consumption state of the liquid contained in the container, and a consumption data memory as a memory means. The consumption data memory is a rewritable memory which stores consumption related data which are related to the detection of the consumption state using the liquid sensor. The consumption related data are, for example, consumption state data as a result of the detection. Even when the ink cartridge is removed, the consumption state data can still be utilized. The consumption related data may be a detection characteristic detected depending on the consumption state of the liquid. Based on this detection characteristic, the consumption state is detected utilizing the liquid sensor. The consumption state can be detected irrespective of individual differences of the ink cartridges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2000
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Minoru Usui, Kenji Tsukada, Munehide Kanaya
  • Publication number: 20030140695
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for determining and/or monitoring a predetermined level of a material in a container by means of a probe in the form of a vibrating rod that protrudes into the interior of the container and forms part of an electromechanical oscillating system. According to the invention, one or more characteristic parameters are measured after excitation of the system, where these parameters are taken into consideration in the evaluation of the measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Josef Fehrenbach
  • Publication number: 20030140696
    Abstract: The invention provides a piezoelectric liquid gauge system in particular for a motor vehicle fuel tank, the system comprising piezoelectric means suitable for transmitting a sound wave in a liquid and for detecting said wave in order to determine the distance traveled by the wave in the liquid on the basis of the time between transmission and reception, said piezoelectric means comprising two distinct active piezoelectric portions suitable respectively for directing a sound wave towards a reference obstacle and a sound wave towards the surface of the liquid to be gauged, the system being wherein the pellet is contained in a housing suitable for being fixed in position in the tank in which measurement is to be performed, the reference obstacle extending over a face of the housing which faces one of the active portions, said face also having a measurement opening placed facing the other active portion and suitable for allowing the measurement sound waves to pass through.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: Marwal Systems
    Inventors: Karim Benghezal, Olivier Vaillant, Christophe Gouzou
  • Publication number: 20030140697
    Abstract: The present invention is a liquid depth sensing system utilizing the bubble tube or purge operating principle. In this system, a pneumatic tube extends downwardly into the liquid, and air (or other gas) passes through the tube to bubble from the lower end thereof. The air or gas pressure within the tube is equal to the head pressure of the liquid, thus allowing the liquid depth to be determined by measuring the air or gas pressure. Prior art systems are relatively bulky, maintenance prone, and require relatively high energy input due to the constant operation of the relatively large pneumatic pump motor and its high output pressure required due to the electromechanical pressure regulator installed downstream of the pneumatic pump. The present invention overcomes these deficiencies by using the pneumatic pump motor as the regulating device, by operating the motor only as required to produce only sufficient pressure for measuring the liquid depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: William J. Van Ee
  • Publication number: 20030140698
    Abstract: Pulse-width modulation (PWM) control and drive circuitry particularly applicable to an array of electrostatic actuators formed in a micro electromechanical system (MEMS), such as used for optical switching. The high-voltage portion may be incorporated in an integrated circuit having drive cells vertically aligned with the MEMS elements. A control cell associated with each actuator includes a register selectively stored with a desired pulse width. A clocked counter distributes its outputs to all control cells. When the counter matches the register, a polarity signal corresponding to a drive clock is latched and controls the voltage applied to the electrostatic cell. The MEMS element may be a tiltable plate supported in its middle by a torsion beam. Complementary binary signals may drive two capacitors formed across the axis of the beam. The register and comparison logic for each cell may be formed by a content addressable memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Steven L. Garverick, Michael L. Nagy
  • Publication number: 20030140699
    Abstract: The present invention is a seismometer/velocimeter, and can be also made to function as an accelerometer. The invention comprises an in-plane suspension geometry combined with a transverse periodic-sensing-array position transducer. The invention can incorporate a feedback actuator of magnetic design, incorporating fixed magnets and planar coils on the surface of the proof mass allowing for much lower noise than an equivalent electrostatic actuator without requiring high voltages. The invention may also have a dual-axis configuration by using two sets of springs. The nested suspensions allow the proof mass to move in two orthogonal directions. A three-axis configuration is possible by combining the dual-axis version with sensing and actuation of the proof mass motion out of the plane. The position sensing for the out-of-plane motion can be made using schemes common in existing state-of-the-art sensors. Actuation for the sensors may be electrostatic or electromagnetic in each of the axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: William Thomas Pike, Ian Maxwell Standley, Amadej Trnkoczy
  • Publication number: 20030140700
    Abstract: A linear accelerometer is provided having a substrate, a fixed electrode supported on the substrate and including a first plurality of fixed capacitive plates, and an inertial mass substantially suspended over a cavity and including a plurality of movable capacitive plates arranged to provide a capacitive coupling with the first plurality of fixed capacitive plates. The inertial mass is linearly movable relative to the fixed electrode. A central member is fixed to the substrate. Support arms support the inertial mass relative to the fixed electrode and allow linear movement of the inertial mass upon experiencing a linear acceleration along a sensing axis, and prevent linear movement along a nonsensing axis. Inputs and output lines are electrically coupled to the fixed electrode and the inertial mass. An output signal is generated which varies as a function of the capacitive coupling and is indicative of linear acceleration along the sensing axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Seyed R. Zarabadi, John C. Christenson
  • Publication number: 20030140701
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting and monitoring fractures in a structure by monitoring acoustic energy transmitted within the structure by receiving continuously over a period of time electrical signals from a plurality of acoustic tranducers carried by the structure in a pulse processor to form data bursts from pulses in the signals and deriving, for each of a plurality of the data bursts, delta-t values representing the differences between burst arrival times at each sensor, the delta-t values forming a delta-t pattern, and generating a damage indication signal when the delta-t pattern is repeated to a predetermined degree.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Edwin W O'Brien, Andrew R Ibbotson
  • Publication number: 20030140702
    Abstract: The channeled wavefield transformer enables multi-dimensional wavefield signal processing which leads to significant expansion of the engineering field of electronic signal processing. The term “wavefield” is used to indicate one or more waves that operate in at least two dimensions of space where spatial form of a wave can be represented by a wavefront that is a surface of points of equal phase. This transformer produces an output wavefield in a clear medium in response to an arbitrary input wavefield. This is carried out using multiple channels that connect input sensing devices to respective output transmitting devices. The input devices are arranged along an input surface and the output transmitting devices are arranged along an output surface. An output wavefield emerges from the output surface to propagate in an output wavefield space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: James K. Bullis
  • Publication number: 20030140703
    Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a pressure sensor element that is provided with a pressure sensor membrane. The pressure sensor element is held in a receiving part in a defined position during operation within a permissible operating pressure range by a spring element. When the permissible working pressure range is exceeded, a relative movement, acting against the spring force, between the pressure sensor element and the receiving part takes place, thereby increasing the volume of the space immediately upstream of the pressure sensor membrane. The design allows for a limitation of the pressure and for an effective protection of the pressure sensor membrane when the liquid is frozen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Manfred Weigl
  • Publication number: 20030140704
    Abstract: A differential and absolute transducer are secured to a Pyrex glass header by means of a glass metal frit or other suitable interface. One of the sensors measures absolute pressure and the sensor is a sealed cavity, while the other sensor is designed to measure differential pressure and the sensor is an aperture which permits the pressure media to reach both sides of the sensor. The header itself has a through hole connected to a tube over which the differential sensor is affixed. The Pyrex glass is chosen to match the coefficient expansion of the sensors. The header in turn is attached to an adapter that enables static pressure to be applied to both sensors simultaneously and total pressure applied to the differential sensor, thus permitting the measurement of the difference between the total pressure and the static pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Anthony D. Kurtz, Joseph Van De Weert
  • Publication number: 20030140705
    Abstract: The invention provides a simple, non-invasive means for measuring pressure of fluid in fluid-containing, resilient tubing by measuring the force to mechanically compress the tubing to a predetermined distance. In the apparatus of the invention, first and second opposed members are moved together to a predetermined distance to compress the fluid-containing, resilient tubing therebetween. Measuring means connected to at least one of the members is used to measure the force exerted by the fluid-containing, resilient tubing against the members when the members are at the predetermined distance from one another, wherein the measuring means has been pre-calibrated at the predetermined distance, to correspond to fluid pressure within the fluid-containing, resilient tubing. An important application of the invention is the provision of a convenient, non-intrusive, low-cost device for field measurement of pressure in drip irrigation systems, without installing special fittings or puncturing the tubing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Dennis C. Kincaid, Thomas J. Trout
  • Publication number: 20030140706
    Abstract: To provide a portable pressure measuring apparatus with a pressure sensor of highly accurate output and small electric power consumption. A pressure measuring apparatus of the invention is provided with an impedance bridge circuit (pressure sensor part) for measuring pressure; a drive unit (sensor driving part) for applying voltage to the above impedance bridge circuit; a measuring unit (voltmeter) for sampling and measuring the electric potential difference between the middle points in both arms of the above impedance bridge circuit at a fixed time interval; and a determining unit (control part) for determining whether the difference between the pressure this time and the previous pressure sampled and measured by the above measuring unit reaches a predetermined threshold or below.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Tomoharu Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20030140707
    Abstract: The moisture susceptibility material testing apparatus includes a specimen chuck, multiple rollers, a temperature controlled water bath, and a control system to automate the testing cycle and collection of data. The water bath is prepared at the desired testing temperature. A material specimen, such as a cylindrical hot mix asphalt (HMA) material specimen, is placed within the water bath on multiple rollers and a specimen chuck then clamps the specimen with an adjustable force. A first and second roller are positioned about the exterior circumference of the cylindrical specimen and a predetermined force is applied radially to the specimen through a third roller. The specimen is rotated about its cylindrical axis, driven by the rotation of the rollers and specimen chuck. A displacement sensor monitors the position of the third roller, yielding a measurement of the rut depth on the material specimen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Roger A. Pyle, E. Frank Dalton
  • Publication number: 20030140708
    Abstract: A impulsive propelling system includes a stationary base member, a movable frame body, an energy storing member and a pushing device. The movable frame body is disposed adjacent to one side of the stationary base frame and is movable in an advancing direction away from the stationary base frame. The energy storing member has a first end secured to the stationary base member, and a second end secured to the movable frame body. The energy storing member resists movement of the movable frame body in the advancing direction. The pushing device has one end secured to the stationary base frame, and an opposite end abutting against the movable frame body. The pushing device is operable to push the movable frame body in the advancing direction, thereby subjecting the energy storing member to a tensile stress.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2000
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Chao-Hsun Chen
  • Publication number: 20030140709
    Abstract: A chain wear measurement system and/or method for determining an amount of wear in a section of chain comprises a chain or section of chain having a plurality of chain links connected together by a plurality of pins or bolts or the like. At least one end of at least one of the pins or bolts may have an extension extending longitudinally therefrom. A sensor is provided along a conveying path of the chain for sensing the presence of the pin or bolt and/or extension as the section of chain is conveyed along the conveying path. The sensor provides a signal indicative of a detection of the pin or pins or bolts. A control may be responsive to the sensor, such as to determine the degree of wear in the section of chain in response to one or more signals from the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Charles C. Frost
  • Publication number: 20030140710
    Abstract: The present invention is formed by detecting the charged particles generated during film peeling and fragility breaking, so that it is possible to specify a peel occurring time and a fragility breaking time, with a high sensitivity and a high accuracy. In this way, it becomes possible to correctly measure the peel strength and the fragility breaking strength. The method of the invention comprises the steps of pressing an indenter into a test object and measuring an indentation load as well as an indentation depth, while at the same time detecting charged particles omitted from a peel starting point or a breakage starting point; specifying a peel occurring time and a fragility breaking time when charged particles are increased; measuring a peel strength and/or a fragility breaking strength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: National Inst. of Advanced Ind. Science and Tech
    Inventors: Keiji Nakayama, Kanichi Hatsukano
  • Publication number: 20030140711
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for measuring the flow of fluid in the conduit, giving the example of oil in a well bore (12). A heat exchanger such as a cooling station (66) is placed in the well bore (12) and caused to create a slug of cooled oil whose passage, through the well (12) can be monitored by a temperature sensor in the form of a continuous fiber optic loop (62). Knowledge of the movement of the cooled slug of oil and of the free cross-section of the conduit (54) wherein the oil is flowing permits the volume flow-rate of oil to be calculated. Cooling stations (66) are cooled by Joule-Thompson cooling employing high pressure nitrogen gas. Cooling stations (66) may be placed at plural locations within the well bore (12) to monitor individual flows (68) from multiple flow sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: George A Brown
  • Publication number: 20030140712
    Abstract: A mass flow measurement device includes a flow sensor tube and a housing having the flow sensor tube situated therein. A drive device is positioned outside the housing for vibrating the flow sensor tube, and at least one pick off sensor is situated relative to the flow senior tube so as to measure the twist in the flow sensor tube due to Coriolis force Another mass flow measurement device includes an enclosure having first and second ends. A first sealing member is situated relative to the enclosure first end and a flow body such that the flow body and the first end are connected in a sealed manner. A second sealing member is situated relative to the enclosure second end and a user interface assembly such that the user interface assembly and the second end are connected in a sealed manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Michael J. Barger, Joseph C. Dille, Timothy W. Scott, Jeffrey L. Whiteley
  • Publication number: 20030140713
    Abstract: A six-axis force sensor 1 consists of a sensor chip having a six-axis force sensor function formed using a semiconductor substrate 2 and film-forming technology. Connecting parts 5A to 5D are each made up of a high-rigidity bridge part and a low-rigidity elastic part. Semiconductor strain resistance devices Sya1-Sya3, Syb1-Syb3, Sxa1-Sxa3, and Sxb1-Sxb3 consisting of active layers are disposed on the front sides of the connecting parts. The elastic parts of the connecting parts absorb excess strains acting on the connecting parts and suppress the occurrence of strain spread over the whole semiconductor substrate. Because forces and moments of six specified axis components cause strains to occur selectively in corresponding strain resistance devices, by suitably combining measured results from selected resistance devices it is possible to effectively separate an applied external force into six components of force and moment and greatly suppress other axis interference in the measured results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Takeshi Ohsato, Yusuke Hirabayashi
  • Publication number: 20030140714
    Abstract: An integrated loadcell system, having a loadcell body having a leg connected to a spanning member, the leg having a transducer mounted thereto and a housing coupled to the loadcell body forming a wheatstone bridge circuit with the transducer; where an output of the wheatstone bridge circuit is indicative of a load experienced by the loadcell body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Debojit Barua, Diane Marie Jett, Srini G. Naidu
  • Publication number: 20030140715
    Abstract: A method of reducing engine cold start up emissions and an apparatus for isolating a fuel sample for testing purposes. According to the methodology the driveability index of the fuel is sensed utilizing an onboard sensor and the sensed fuel driveability index is inputted to the engine controller for utilization by the engine controller in determining the fueling algorithm for minimizing emissions during the next cold start up of the engine. The sensor determines the driveability index by evaluating a fuel sample collected onboard during the previous running cycle of the engine. The fuel sample is pumped from the vehicle fuel tank to an onboard collection point by the vehicle fuel pump during the previous running cycle of the engine. The fuel sampling apparatus includes a sample cup, a cylinder having a bore and an inlet port for connection to the fuel pump and a piston rod defining an axial passage having an inlet port and a discharge port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: David Howard Burke, Michael Joseph Niemiec, Charles Robert Harrington, David K. Lambert
  • Publication number: 20030140716
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for transporting and inspecting semiconductor substrates (6), having at least three workstations (8, 10, 12), a changer (14), which has at least three arms (14a, 14b, 14c) which are designed to load the individual workstations (8, 10, 12) with semiconductor substrates (6). A measuring device (15) is assigned to the second workstation (10), determines the deviation of the current position of the semiconductor substrate (6) and makes it available to the arrangement (3) for the further inspection of the semiconductor substrate (6). In addition, the changer (14) is not equipped with means for exact positioning of the semiconductor substrates (6) in the workstations (8, 10, 12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS JENA GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Birkner, Frank Bernhardt, Knut Hiltawski
  • Publication number: 20030140717
    Abstract: A drive axle assembly for a low floor vehicle utilizes a single input gear assembly to drive a pair of laterally spaced wheel ends. The input gear assembly is positioned next to one of the wheel ends so that the vehicle floor can be lowered to facilitate passenger access to the vehicle. Each wheel end includes a gear reduction assembly with a ring gear rotatably mounted within a gear housing. A drive gear is operatively coupled to the input gear assembly and is in meshing engagement with the ring gear. The gear reduction assembly also includes an output or driven gear, which is larger than the drive gear, to provide the desired gear reduction. The driven gear is also in meshing engagement with the ring gear. A pair of idler gears is rotatably mounted within the gear housing and are in meshing engagement with both the drive and driven gear. The idler gears and drive gear do not have a common centerline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: John L. Bennett, Chihping Kuan, John K. Ma, William C. Sullivan, Edward J. Eshelman, Dean M. House, Tomaz Dopico Varela, Mark C. Smith
  • Publication number: 20030140718
    Abstract: An angle drive having a housing 11 with a first axis A1 for bearing means and a second axis A2 for bearing means, which latter axis A2 intersects the first axis A1 at right angles, having an input shaft 16 which is supported in the housing, which carries an input ring gear 19 and is positioned on the first axis A1, having an output shaft 28 which is supported in the housing, which carries an output gearwheel 27 and is positioned on the second axis A2, having a counter ring gear 20 which is supported in the housing, which is positioned on the first axis A1 and which, with reference to the second axis A2, is arranged and designed symmetrically relative to the input ring gear 19, having at least one intermediate gearwheel which is supported in the housing, which is arranged on an axis A3, A4 positioned radially relative to the first axis A1 and in one plane together with the second axis A2 and which is provided with the same type of toothing as the output gearwheel 27.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Hans-Peter Nett
  • Publication number: 20030140719
    Abstract: An anti-backlash gear system including a splined shaft and a gear is disclosed. The splined shaft has at least one spline. The gear has a splined bore having at least one spline, through which the splined shaft passes. The gear and the shaft have a clearance therebetween. The splined bore and the splined shaft are engaged in a driving direction, and the splined bore and the splined shaft are disengaged, thereby producing a backlash motion, in a direction opposite the driving direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Joel Scott Johnson, Kevin J. Knox
  • Publication number: 20030140720
    Abstract: An assembly comprises a spindle and a moving nut disposed on the spindle. The spindle and the moving nut are made of plastics. At least one of the two components spindle and moving nut being resilient such that the moving nut is prevented from getting stuck on the spindle. There is further proposed an actuator including such assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Reinhard Krause
  • Publication number: 20030140721
    Abstract: A device for increasing a selection force is integrated into a support arrangement (1) of a shift lever (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: INA-Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Klaus Kramer, Susanne Pintus
  • Publication number: 20030140722
    Abstract: A locking device is provided with a locking finger (12), the locking finger (12) being provided with a clearance space (12a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: INA-Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Klaus Kramer, Susanne Pintus
  • Publication number: 20030140723
    Abstract: A bearing sphere for a gear shift lever is provided, preferably for a transmission for motor vehicles, in which the bearing sphere is disposed around the shift rod and the selection finger. The bearing sphere consists of two half-shells, which are releasably connected with the shift rod, the selection finger, and one another. Each half-shell has at least one depression for the shift rod, at least one claw element around the shift rod, an opening to hold an opposite claw element, at least one centering pin, and at least one hole for a centering pin, as well as an opening for the selection finger. The bearing sphere has the advantage that it no longer has to be produced on the gear shift lever using the injection-molding process, but rather can be affixed so as to be releasably connected with the shift rod, with little effort.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: Teleflex Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Carsten Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20030140724
    Abstract: A synchronous brake device includes a carrier movably received in a box and a pulley received in the carrier and two ends of the pulley movably engaged with two slots defined through two opposite faces of the box. A brake cable reeves through the pulley and two ends of the brake cable are connected to two respective brake levers. A bridge member movably received in the carrier and two operation cables fixedly connected to the bridge member and extend through a bottom of the box and are connected to two brake mechanisms. Either end of the brake cable is pulled, the carrier is pulled upward and pulls the operation cables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Sen-Yung Lee, Chung-Shun Su
  • Publication number: 20030140725
    Abstract: The manual shift mechanism of a bicycle, which is mounted on a handle of the bicycle. The shift mechanism includes a front cord-guiding casing and a rear rotary sleeve mated with the front casing. A shift member is disposed between the front casing and the rear rotary sleeve and is driven by the rear rotary sleeve. The shift member is displaceable to selectively directly mesh with a ring gear for pulling and releasing a transmission pull cord or mesh with a planet gear which is drivingly engaged with the ring gear for pulling and releasing the transmission pull cord. When the ring gear is engaged with and driven by the shift member, the gears are one by one shifted and when the ring gear is engaged with and driven by the planet gear of the planet gear frame, the gear is several times shifted by way of jumping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Jen-Chih Liu
  • Publication number: 20030140726
    Abstract: A holding device for the pedal mechanism of a motor vehicle is presented, which has at least one pedal block (1, 2) with pedals (4, 6) fastened thereto pivotably and a baseplate (3). The baseplate (3) and the pedal block (1, 2) are made of plastic in one piece. The pedal block (1, 2) for holding a pedal (4, 6) has a mount for the pivot axis of the respective pedal (4, 6). The mount is made of two side walls (8, 9, 10, 11) located opposite each other. The side walls (8, 9, 10, 11) are formed of sheet metal and the mount is injection molded in the plastic pedal block. The sheet metal mount forms a deformation device for the release of the pivot axis (5, 7) in the case of an accident of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Andree Burgstaler, Jan Dtz, Simone Patzold
  • Publication number: 20030140727
    Abstract: A bicycle attachment assembly comprises a handlebar stem, an end cap attached to an upper end of the handlebar stem, and an accessory-mounting device having a first end securely, releasably attached to the end cap and a second end to which an accessory is releasably attached. In another embodiment, the bicycle attachment assembly comprises a handlebar stem, an end cap attached to an upper end of the handlebar stem, and at least one accessory releasably attached to at least one mounting portion of the end cap. In a further embodiment, the bicycle attachment assembly comprises a handlebar stem, an end cap including a closing portion securely attached to the upper end of the handlebar stem for closing an upper end of the handlebar stem, the end cap further including an engaging portion formed on top of the closing portion, and an accessory releasably attached to the engaging portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Louis Chuang
  • Publication number: 20030140728
    Abstract: The present invention describes a device for mounting a pedal lever 1 of a motor vehicle, which is accommodated in a housing 3 pivotably around at least one severable bearing element 2. A separating wedge 5, which is supported on one side against a motor vehicle component 7, is arranged facing the bearing element 2 with at least one cutting edge 4 provided at the separating wedge 5 such that the bearing element 2 is shorn off by the separating wedge 5 as a consequence of the action of an external force, which may be caused, e.g., by an accident, due to a relative movement between the separating wedge 5 and the bearing element 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Andree Burgstaler, Jan Dutz, Simone Patzold
  • Publication number: 20030140729
    Abstract: An air compressor includes a cylinder attached to the base, two or more motors selectively secured to the base and each having a spindle extended through the base. The motors may include different driving powers or different diameters. Two coupling devices may couple the spindles of the motors to the cylinder respectively. A smaller motor includes a pinion secured to the spindle and engaged with a gear, and a weight is secured to the gear and coupled to the cylinder. The spindle of a greater motor may be secured to the weight which is then secured or coupled to the cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Wen San Chou
  • Publication number: 20030140730
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved metallurgical powder compositions that incorporate solid lubricants, methods for preparing and using the same, and methods of making compacted parts. Ejection properties, such as stripping pressure and sliding pressure, of compacted parts can be improved by using the solid lubricants. The solid lubricants contain functionalized polyalkylene lubricants have the formula: R1—Q—R2 where Q is a linear or branched, polyalkylene containing from about 10 to about 200 carbon atoms, and R1 and R2 are each independently a hydroxyl group, a carboxylic acid group or a metal salt thereof, an amine group, a mono- or di-C1 to C25 alkyl substituted amine group, or an alkylene oxide group having the formula: —[(CH2)qO]nH where q is from about 1 to about 7, n is from about 1 to about 100.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Sydney Luk, George Poszmik
  • Publication number: 20030140731
    Abstract: A method of producing metal alloy nanoparticles comprising forming a cyanosol by reacting a mixture of a chlorometallate complex and a cyanometallate complex, spin-coating the mixture onto a substrate to form a film, and sintering the film to form metal alloy nanoparticles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Andrew B. Bocarsly, Shu Zhu
  • Publication number: 20030140732
    Abstract: In a method for treating slags or slag mixtures having iron oxide contents of >5 wt. -%, in particular steelworks slags, in which the steel slags optionally mixed with other slags are charged onto a metal bath, a steel bath having a carbon content of <1.5 wt. -%, preferably <0.5 wt. -%, is used as the metal bath and the steel bath, after the charging of the steel slags, is carburized to above 2.0 wt. -% C, preferably >2.5 wt. -% C, by introducing carbon or carbon carriers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Alfred Edlinger
  • Publication number: 20030140733
    Abstract: A corkscrew incorporating a support arm with two articulated sections capable of acting independently and sequentially by resting on a bottle's mouth. The sections are connected to each other through a joint that has a spring that causes one of the sections to seek out the side or mouth of the bottle where it is to be positioned, without the need for a corkscrew user to deliberately perform this operation. The spring is set at the level of the articulated joint between the arm and body or handle, the ends of which form aligned and opposing pivots that emerge laterally from the body, where the arm incorporates a circumferential arrangement of notches over which the pivots must move during the swinging movement of the arm with respect to the body. This prevents undesired movement between the arm and the body, no matter what relative position is chosen for them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Francisco Jose Traspuesto Miguel
  • Publication number: 20030140734
    Abstract: A hammer head face has a relatively small magnet centered therein and forming a part of the hammer surface. With the hammer positioned in general proximity to a nail having a disk thereon, the nail is drawn to and centered on the hammer face for accurate driving of the nail without manual grasping thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Christopher Tovar
  • Publication number: 20030140735
    Abstract: A tool for placement of a wildlife protection guard on an insulated bushing on a transformer is provided. The tool includes a body, a hook, a connector, a first and second tension member and a tensioning mechanism. The body has a first end, a second end operable to receive the wildlife protection guard, an upper side and lower side. The hook is adjacent the first end of the body. The connector extends from the lower side of the body and is pivotably attachable to an end of an extendable pole. The first and second tension members define a portion of the second end of the body and further define a slot for receiving a portion of the wildlife protection guard. The tensioning mechanism communicates with the first and second tension members and is operable to adjust the tension on the wildlife protection guard receivable in the slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Steven G. Weaver, Ronald B. Stidham
  • Publication number: 20030140736
    Abstract: An improved power tong positioning device which includes a support arm and a base plate rotatably connected to the support aim. The device further includes a piston and cylinder assembly having a trunnion attached thereto and a trunnion bracket pivotally securing the piston and cylinder assembly to the base plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: David A. Buck
  • Publication number: 20030140737
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-swivel connector for a fluid operated power tool. The connector has a post with an axis, a swivel member having an axis perpendicular to the axis of the post, a mechanism for limiting rotation of the swivel member about said post axis to an arc less than 360 degrees, and a fitting member mounted to the swivel member. The fitting member is tiltable about the axis of the swivel member through at least a 90 degree arc and rotatable with the swivel member about the axis of the post.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Peter A. Rosa
  • Publication number: 20030140738
    Abstract: A wrench socket for use with a conventional ratchet wrench system to attach or remove a nut or bolt on a surface area. Such wrench socket comprising an elongated hollow cylinder having a first end portion, a recessed end portion having a shoulder, a nut or bolt engaging end in communication with the recessed end portion, a hexagonally shaped socket opening sized to receive said nut or bolt, and disposed midway in the nut or bolt engaging end, and an outer protective sleeve pressed on the recessed end portion, so that when attaching or removing the nut or bolt with the socket wrench system, should the wrench socket slip off the nut or bolt, the outer protective sleeve surrounding the socket opening will contact the surface area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Russell A. Wallace
  • Publication number: 20030140739
    Abstract: A tool for applying torque to the hook formation of a lag hook for cabling a tree. The tool comprises an elongated body defining a rotational axis extending along the elongated length thereof between a torque receiving end and an opposite terminal end. An upper portion of the elongated body contains upper and lower wall surfaces forming two passageways at opposite sides of the rotational axis for passage of the curved end portion of a lag hook having either left-hand or right-hand threads to a socket traversed by the rotational axis and bounded by a torque delivering wall spaced from the rotational axis. A shank guide throat for the threaded shank of the lag hook extends from the socket between the lower wall surface and the terminal end of the elongated body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Timothy McKivigan
  • Publication number: 20030140740
    Abstract: A frame member for the handle of a folding knife or multipurpose tool includes an integral flange with an integral leaf spring. An internal frame member has an upper flange and an oppositely facing lower flange. Each flange includes an integral leaf spring. The leaf springs bear upon the base portions of folding tool blades that are pivotably pinned to the frame. Attaching side scales to the frame creates upwardly and downwardly facing tool pockets. Other frames are shown in the form of a channel with an integral external flange extending outwardly from the top of a channel wall in a direction away from the channel. Pivot pins extending through the channel and out the channel wall carry pivoting tool blades. An integral leaf spring on the external flange bears against the base of a blade pivotably connected to the frame outside of the channel. Other tool blades are carried inside the channel and pivot about the pivot pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Benjamin C. Rivera