Patents Issued in September 9, 2003
  • Patent number: 6615549
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mobile double decked vehicular performance stage which is equipped with a variety of safety devices for use in transporting steel orchestra players and instruments during live performances in parades, carnivals and other events in which the musicians are required to continue to play their instruments while moving along with the crowd. In practice, the stage comprises two identically sized platform surfaces, the lower surface or deck rests on ground engaging wheels and includes steering, brake and tow bar mechanisms to facilitate the movement of the stage. The upper deck is situated above the lower deck in elevated parallel alignment with the lower deck and is secured and maintained in that position by supports which are between the upper and lower decks. Both the upper and lower decks are equipped with safety devices to protect the musicians from injury while the vehicle is in motion, as well as musical stands for holding the musical instruments in place on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Inventors: John W. Hodge, Wilbert Gomez
  • Patent number: 6615550
    Abstract: A space-dividing covered work space arrangement including a pair of opposed side modules each of a three-wall construction defined by an upright panel arrangement and a pair of upright end walls disposed at opposite ends thereof and projecting inwardly therefrom. A pair of canopies project inwardly from each of the opposed modules and are attached along inner edges thereof so as to define a continuous canopy assembly which overlies and encloses the work space from above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Reuschel, Ralph E. Reddig
  • Patent number: 6615551
    Abstract: A media wall for supporting various types of media, such as plasma screen or flat screen television sets, as well as other types of thin media, includes an upright vertical wall to which the media is mounted. The wall may include a pair of sidewalls mounted to a back face of the vertical wall, as well as a shelf extending forwardly from the vertical wall. At least one aperture may be included for enabling power or data cables to be inserted through the wall from the front to the back. A video camera support may be mounted on the vertical wall. The wall may be pivotable about a vertical axis to allow easy access to the rear of the wall for setting up and adjusting the electrical cabling used to support the media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Nucraft Furniture Company
    Inventors: Linda Elizabeth Chesser, William Frederick Schacht, Robert J. Bockheim, Scott E. Carpenter, Michael G. Fedrigo
  • Patent number: 6615552
    Abstract: A segmented, articulated pole member structure is constructed of a plurality of pivotally interconnected, pole segments. The pole segments are arranged in an alternating or offsetting fashion such that in their disassembled state they may be folded into a compact bundle for storage. In the assembled state, adjacent pole segments are retained under tension in fixed angular position relative to each other by a pivoting connection and an engagement loop or similar structure. Applications for the pole member structure include the construction of flexible structures such as tents and shelters, and support frames for mounting, supporting, or suspending articles in a desired shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Inventor: Robert E. Gillis
  • Patent number: 6615553
    Abstract: A floor board installation device comprises a cross bar, a wedge and two pins extending outwardly from the top and bottom sides of, and through, the cross bar. The wedge comprises a top curved edge and a bottom edge including a groove therein. The pins typically are spaced from one another a distance slightly larger than the width of a joist. In use, the cross bar is placed on top of two adjoining joists so that the pins are positioned on either side of a single joist. The other end of the bar merely rests on top of the adjacent joist. A force is then applied to a side edge of the wedge in a direction parallel to the length of the sub floor boards. Due to the rounded shape of the top curved edge and the flat surface of the wedge that contacts the floor board, the wedge will rotate within the cross bar so that the edge of the wedge is flush against the sub floor board and so that the curved surface of the wedge will contact the cross bar at only one point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Inventor: James Dennis Omundson
  • Patent number: 6615554
    Abstract: A helice pier coupling system used for used for soil stabilization, supporting building structures and similar applications. The coupling system provides a way of adding one or more pier shaft extensions to a helice pier shaft of a helice pier for extending the length of the pier. The pier shafts may have lengths of 5 feet or greater. The coupling system includes a first helice pier. The first helice pier having diagonal cuts at a lower first end and an upper second end of a pier shaft. The lower first end of the pier shaft can be used as a lead point when the pier shaft is driven into the soil surface. The upper second end of the pier shaft can be used with a shaft coupling for engaging a lower first end, having a mating diagonal cut, of a pier shaft of a second helice pier or the pier shaft extension. The first helice pier includes one or more helice plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Inventor: Stan Rupiper
  • Patent number: 6615555
    Abstract: A light transmitting storm shutter system for homes, buildings and the like includes a combination of full width corrugated aluminum and half width clear polycarbonate panels arranged in alternating adjacent and partially overlapping relation over a given window or door opening. The aluminum panels provide structural integrity while the polycarbonate panels provide light transmittance. The combination of full width aluminum panels and half width polycarbonate panels provides a storm shutter system that is substantially stronger and more resistant to impact deflection than the light transmitting storm shutters disclosed in the background art, and eliminates the need for additional hardware, supports, and bracing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Inventor: Michael Madden
  • Patent number: 6615556
    Abstract: The present invention provides a stud component of a cleanroom wall system that, in addition to supporting wall panels also supports a door, thereby doing away with the need for a separate, standard doorframe. Thus, the universal nature of the wall and door stud components substantially reduces the material and labor cost associated with acquiring and constructing doorframes in a cleanroom wall system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Inventors: Dennis O. Cates, Roger K. Crawford
  • Patent number: 6615557
    Abstract: A drywall finishing system where a continuously extruded, elongated semi-rigid member with an inner and outer layer of fibrous material has a groove running end-to-end allowing the piece to assume any angle to match a drywall seam. The groove is held at a fixed angle near 89 degrees (or any other fixed angle) by a break-apart bead running in the groove. The break-apart bead can be glue or extruded plastic or other means that holds the flanges at a rigid angle. If the seam is a right angle, the piece is used without breaking the bead. If the seam is any other angle, the break-apart bead is snapped or cut apart allowing the flanges to assume any angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Inventor: Timothy D. Smythe, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6615558
    Abstract: Signature entryway units combine common non-circular elements to form an entryway unit that suggests a circle. The entryway unit can include a door and one or more sidelight panels. The non-circular elements can include glazing units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Andersen Corporation
    Inventors: James Brian Libby, Casey L. Carlson
  • Patent number: 6615559
    Abstract: A resiliently flexible construction beam includes a pair of lateral flange portions and a web extending therebetween, preferably, but not necessarily, so as to present a cross-sectional profile corresponding to commonly used construction beam members (e.g., 2″×4″ or 2″×6″). The resilience of the beam helps to attenuate sound transmission through the beam from one lateral member to the other. In particular, in a wall frame, beams according to the present invention are mounted at opposite ends thereof to end plates. In one example, the end plates include slits into which the webs of the beams can be received. The resilient web according to the present invention is conveniently made from a unitary piece of material such as, for example, steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph D. McGrath, John C. Chen
  • Patent number: 6615560
    Abstract: A siding boards attachment structure includes siding boards, at least one underlayment, securing metal fittings and at least one sealing member. The sealing member is disposed between left and right adjacent siding boards and has a base plate portion, a rising plate portion, a front plate portion, and a front resilient material. The base plate portion is secured to the underlayment. The rising plate portion is bent forward from the base plate portion. The front plate portion is bent from a front end of the rising plate portion in the opposite direction from the base plate portion. The front resilient material is provided on a front surface of the front plate portion. The front plate portion engages with a front surface of the lateral underlying tongue portion of the siding board. The front resilient material is in tight contact with a front inner surface of the notched recess and a back surface of the lateral overlying tongue portion of the siding boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Nichiha Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ito
  • Patent number: 6615561
    Abstract: A retaining wall block is provided with a core, pin receiving cavities, and pin holes. The pin receiving cavities and pin holes are arranged on the block symmetrically on the block and substantially outside of block corner segments, thus resulting in a stronger block and permitting optimal alignment of the wall block cores when constructing a retaining wall. Retaining walls made using the block have increased strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Keystone Retaining Wall Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. MacDonald, Robert J. Race
  • Patent number: 6615562
    Abstract: The elongated box frame structure of the present invention comprises a plurality of frame segments attached to at least one end piece. Preferably, two end pieces are attached, one at each end of the plurality of frame segments. The plurality of frame segments are attached to the end piece such that a column-like structure is formed. The inner space defined within the frame segments is substantially free of webbing. Instead, structural strength and stability is achieved by the attached end pieces. The end pieces of one elongated box frame structure are capable of removably connecting with the end piece of other similar elongated box frame structures to achieve varying framing heights and other dynamic configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Skyline Displays, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Fritsche, Dan Berg, Jason Johnson
  • Patent number: 6615563
    Abstract: A metallic stud for use in a framing structure, the stud definable in terms a x, y, z coordinate system. The stud includes the z-axis elongate substantially rectangular integral web within a yz plane and further includes a series of xz plane tabs projecting in an x-axis direction, the tabs alternating in x-axis extent between interdigitating greater and lesser dimensions, in which a z-axis line of dependency exists between a common xz plane of all of the tabs in a first major rectangular base of the yz plane of the web of the stud. The stud further includes a z-axis elongate L-shaped element integrally dependent from a second major rectangular base of the web, the elongate element parallel to the first base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Inventor: Lakdas Nanayakkara
  • Patent number: 6615564
    Abstract: A connector that joins flat roof panels coplanarly together. The connector includes a body, a neck, a head, a pair of legs, a pair of feet, and a pair of toes. The neck extends upwardly from the body. The head extends transversely across the neck. The pair of legs depend from the body. The pair of feet extend outwardly from the pair of legs, respectively. The pair of toes extend upwardly from the pair of feet, respectively. The body, the neck, and the head together define a pair of opposing channels that coplanarly and slidingly receive the flat roof panels, respectively, so as to form a connection. The pair of legs, the pair of feet, and the pair of toes together define a pair of upwardly opening channels that provide a runoff for any water passing through the connection and running down the pair of legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Inventors: Don Lutrario, John Lutrario, Jr., Peter Lutrario
  • Patent number: 6615565
    Abstract: Apparatus for packing a pack of boards, eg plaster board, for wrapping and then delivery to a site is disclosed. The apparatus 1 comprises broadly about 30 to 40 board storage units or bins 2, 3 arranged in two sets. Each bin 2, 3 stores a different size and specification of plasterboard. The apparatus 1 also includes a conveyor 4 onto which the boards are tipped from the bin 2, 3 and which conveys the boards from the bins 2, 3 to a packing point. The apparatus 1 also includes a stacker 5 at the packing point for stacking the boards and also attaching for tying the boards together to form a single pack suitable for transport to the site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Boral Australian Gypsum Limited
    Inventor: Thomas J. Dekker
  • Patent number: 6615566
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for wrapping a napkin around one or more utensils, wherein the utensils each have first end and a second ends defining a longitudinal axis. The utensil wrapping apparatus includes a utensil manipulator for placing the a utensil adjacent a surface of the napkin. First and second utensil engaging devices are provided for releasably engaging the first and second ends of the utensil and the portions of said napkin respectively adjacent the first and second ends of said utensil, such that said napkin and said utensil are held in a fixed relative position. A napkin guide for wrapping the napkin around the utensil, wherein the napkin guide is manipulable to orbit the longitudinal axis such that the napkin guide contacts the napkin and thereby wraps the napkin around said utensil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Pureserve International Corp.
    Inventor: John L. Heisey
  • Patent number: 6615567
    Abstract: Bags with welded edges are created by a vertical tubular bagging machine. The bags are flat on top and are relatively wide at the bottom. Only one edge-welding device to create a top seam is provided on one side of the fill pipe. Two edge-welding devices on the opposite side of the fill pipe are used to create two bottom seams stabilizing the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Rovema Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Kuhn, Gerhard Kuss, Rene Ohrisch, Walter Baur
  • Patent number: 6615568
    Abstract: A method for customizing the fit of a saddle to a given horse and apparatuses thereof. The method comprises a step of inserting under a saddle disposed on the horse's back, a cushion pad previously shaped to uniformly distribute the pressure of the saddle on the horse. The method may further comprise a step of shaping the cushion pad by disposing on the horse's back an impression pad which contains a putty-like material to imprint the relief pattern of the pressure distribution of a saddle disposed on the horse's back. This is followed by setting the saddle on the impression pad, by riding the horse to imprint a relief pattern of the pressure distribution of the saddle on the impression pad, and by shaping the cushion pad by reproducing the relief pattern of the impression pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Inventor: Greg Roskies
  • Patent number: 6615569
    Abstract: A control system for an agricultural harvester having a frame and a header. The header attaches to a feeder which connects the header to the harvester, and header to feeder attaching point has a position which is adjustable relative to the frame. In at least one mode, when an operator raises the feeder above a predetermined height, the control system automatically levels the header to the frame of the harvester, even though the header was being operated manually in a lowered position. The control system includes a feeder housing limit switch that indicates when the operator raises the feeder above a predetermined height. When operating in the automatic centering mode, the header tilt control module compares the centering signal and the balance signal to automatically level the header relative to the frame of the harvester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Case Corporation
    Inventor: Randall J. Carlz
  • Patent number: 6615570
    Abstract: A system for harvester header height and tilt control includes a sensor, such as a crop edge detector, mounted on the harvester for predicting ground contour of an area a substantial distance in front of the header for generally the entire width of the header. An on-board processor calculates the desired header height and tilt for that area in advance of the harvester reaching the area. The early ground contour measurements enable faster and smoother header height adjustments requiring reduced hydraulic power. The predicted contour also facilitates early compensation for the effects of abrupt header attitude changes resulting from harvester ground wheels or tracks riding on that contour. The system can be used to maintain header height a preselected distance below the crop heads to reduce harvester throughput.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Folker Beck, Bruce Alan Coers
  • Patent number: 6615571
    Abstract: An apparatus for assembling an optical cable comprises a spacer paying-out portion 7, a stationary ribbon supply unit 9, a gathering portion 14 and a taking-up portion 21. The spacer paying-out portion 7 supplies a spacer 2 having a spiral groove in the surface of a long spacer body from a supply reel 1 while revolving around a line axis X-X. The stationary ribbon supply unit 9 supplies a plurality of optical fiber ribbons 11. The gathering portion 14 forms the optical fiber ribbons 11 sent out of the stationary ribbon supply unit 9 into a cable core 15 by holding the optical fiber ribbons 11 within the spiral groove of the spacer 2 sent out of the spacer paying-out portion 7 and running forward while rotating on its center axis. The taking-up portion 21 winds the cable core 15 on a taking-up reel 20 while revolving around the line axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehiko Okada, Shigeru Suemori, Masakazu Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6615572
    Abstract: There are provided fabrics excellent in electrical conductane and antistatic property as well as dust proof clothes using the same. Conductive yarn comprising synthetic filament yarn as the core covered with conductive bicomponent fibers is used as conductive yarn used in the warps and/or wefts at intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Seiren Co. LTD
    Inventors: Susumu Takagi, Yutaka Matsui
  • Patent number: 6615573
    Abstract: An energy drag chain is provided for guiding tubes, cables or the like between two points or connection that can be moved relative to each other. The drag chain comprises a plurality of chain members hinged to one another, each having two lateral flat links and cross members inter-linking the flat links. Such a drag chain provides a sound-damping which does not entail the deposit of dirt on the support or the guide channel, and which can be reliably installed and supplied in a pre-assembled state with a pre-manufactured system. At least in one chain section the chain members are provided with damping devices that comprise a relatively soft material and project on one side. The damping devices can be particularly configured as mushroom plugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Igus Spritzgussteile fur die Industrie GmbH
    Inventor: Günter Blase
  • Patent number: 6615574
    Abstract: A gas turbine cooling and sealing air supply system design for an industrial gas turbine is provided which effectively eliminates the need to dissipate bleed pressure across an orifice or similar device, thereby to optimize full load ISO performance. This flow system is realized by providing cross over valves/ejectors which allow mixing of extractions of different pressures. Control valves provided in the various extraction and cross over flow paths selectively control and determine the flow of extraction bleed air from the various stages of the compressor and between the extraction flow paths. Once the air is combined, its combined pressure and temperature is somewhere between the lower and higher pressure extraction air original pressures and temperatures. Thus, the proper pressure can be supplied to, e.g., the turbine with the least expensive, in terms of work invested, mixture of air with the lowest temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventor: Paul T. Marks
  • Patent number: 6615575
    Abstract: A method for setting or regulating the steam temperature of the live steam and/or reheater steam, in particular under part load, in a combined-cycle power plant and a combined-cycle power plant so regulated. The power-plant has a water/steam cycle including a steam turbine, fired boiler and a means for superheating or reheating the steam generated in the boiler to form live steam or reheater steam, a gas turbine set, and a downstream heat recovery steam generator connected to the water/steam cycle in such a way that steam generated in the heat recovery steam generator is admixed with the live steam or reheater steam. Improved part-load behavior is achieved in that the steam temperature of the live steam and/or reheater steam is set or regulated by setting or regulating the steam temperature of the steam generated in the heat recovery steam generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Alstom (Switzerland) Ltd
    Inventor: Erhard Liebig
  • Patent number: 6615576
    Abstract: A tortuous path quiet exhaust eductor system may be mounted to a gas turbine engine, such as commercial aircraft APU. The system includes an oil cooler, eductor primary nozzle, oil cooler air nozzle, and surge air dump nozzle. The primary nozzle, oil cooler air nozzle, and surge air dump nozzle direct exhaust flow to entrain APU compartment cooling air, oil cooling air and surge air in a direction having both radial and axial components with respect to the APU centerline axis. The exhaust flow is directed into an eductor mixing duct angled away from the centerline axis and then is turned to enter an exit duct angled toward the centerline axis so that direct line of sight acoustic paths from the tail pipe exit to the turbine exit are blocked, suppressing core noise. The tail pipe ducts may be acoustically treated, further enhancing noise suppression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Yogendra Y. Sheoran, Daniel V. Brown, David H. Edmonds
  • Patent number: 6615577
    Abstract: A system and method for optimizing the regeneration cycle of an emission control device, such as a lean NOx trap, is disclosed wherein the device is filled to a predetermined fraction of its existing capacity and is then completely emptied during a device purge. As device capacity is substantially reduced, as indicated by the actual fill time becoming equal to or less than a predetermined minimum fill time, a device desulfation event is performed to attempt to restore device capacity. A programmed computer controls the fill and purge times based on the amplitude of the voltage of a switching-type oxygen sensor and the time response of the sensor. The frequency of the purge, which ideally is directly related to the device capacity depletion rate, is controlled so that the device is not filled beyond the storage capacity limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Garth Michael Meyer, Joseph Richard Asik
  • Patent number: 6615578
    Abstract: The invention provides an HC-discharge suppressing device and an operational method of suppressing the discharge of HC for a vehicle equipped with an engine that has an exhaust system including an HC adsorbent and an HC oxidation catalyst and that is stopped temporarily upon fulfillment of a predetermined condition for operating the vehicle. According to the device and method of the invention, the engine is controlled after cold start thereof in accordance with a temperature of the HC adsorbent and a temperature of the HC oxidation catalyst, in such a manner as to minimize the amount of HC discharged from the exhaust system to the atmosphere. Thus, if such an HC-discharge suppressing device is installed in a vehicle whose engine is frequently started at a low temperature, it becomes possible to reduce the amount of HC discharged from an exhaust system of the vehicle to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Yamazaki, Takashi Suzuki, Masaki Kusada
  • Patent number: 6615579
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification system is provided with a first air fuel ratio controller which, when the amount of NOx deposited on an NOx adsorber catalyst reaches a predetermined level, alters an air fuel ratio of exhaust gas from a diesel engine to come into contact with the NOx adsorber catalyst, so as to cause the NOx adsorber catalyst to release NOx deposited thereupon; and with a device for setting a reference NOx level in accordance with a load of the diesel engine so that when the engine runs in a high load range, it is possible to reduce the frequent recourse to running at about stoichiometric air fuel ratio, by setting a reference level to a considerably high level, and to thereby restrict deterioration of the engine and rate of fuel consumption of the diesel engine to a least possible limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshihiko Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 6615580
    Abstract: A method for controlling diesel engine emissions is disclosed. The diesel engine's exhaust system has a diesel particulate filter (DPF) and a lean NOx trap (LNT). The DPF is a filter and is monitored to determine the need for regeneration. The LNT is monitored to determine the need for regeneration or desulfurization. A fuel injector is used to inject fuel upstream of the LNT under certain conditions, and a bypass may be used to bypass exhaust around the DPF to provide richer or hotter exhaust to the LNT. The sensor outputs and controls for providing the appropriate heat or fuel mix for regeneration and desulfurization may be controlled with enhancements to existing engine control circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Magdi K. Khair, Cynthia C. Webb, Gordon J. Bartley, Christopher A. Sharp
  • Patent number: 6615581
    Abstract: A hydraulic oil flow controller for a construction machine comprises an operating valve 6 for supplying hydraulic oil discharged from hydraulic pimps 1 and 2 to an attachment, an attachment operating unit 11 for transmitting a pilot signal corresponding to the manipulated variable of the operating valve 6 and a solenoid control valve 12 for changing the flow characteristics of the pilot signal in accordance with a command from a controller 19. An increase and/or decrease signal is sent to the solenoid control valve 12 through the controller 19 from a monitor device 18 so that the flow of the hydraulic oil supplied to the actuator of the attachment is increased and/or decreased. Accordingly, a coefficient of fluctuation of the flow relative to a coefficient of fluctuation of the manipulated variable can be decreased in the work of the attachment of a hydraulic shovel and the operation efficiency upon operation of the attachment can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Kusuyama
  • Patent number: 6615582
    Abstract: Disclosed is a rotor supportable at a side surface thereof by a needle bearing. The side face includes a bearing face with lubricating oil grooves formed therein, and is to be brought into contact with the needle bearing upon assembly. The oil grooves are arranged in a positional relation ship with needles of the needle bearing such that the oil grooves and the needles of the needle bearing do not completely overlap each other along an entire circumference in a direction of rotation. The rotor can be a bush for a one-way clutch, an inner peripheral portion of a stator of a torque converter, or an outer ring of a one-way clutch, said outer ring also serving as an inner peripheral portion of a stator of a torque converter. Preferably, the oil grooves may each be provided with a groove part extending substantially in a direction of a tangent to a raceway circle for said needles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: NSK - Warner K.K.
    Inventors: Norihiro Yamamoto, Tsutomu Kawai
  • Patent number: 6615583
    Abstract: A pressurizing apparatus includes a fixed portion, an input shaft acting directly in an axial direction with respect to the fixed portion, an output shaft extending coaxially with the input shaft to slide with respect to the fixed portion and the input shaft, a direct-connecting mechanism directly connecting the output shaft and the input shaft and causing the input shaft to directly act with respect to the fixed portion to thereby rapidly carry the output shaft with respect to the fixed portion, a fluid pressure mechanism connecting the input shaft and the output shaft in a fluid manner and causing the input shaft to directly act with respect to the output shaft to thereby increase biasing of the input shaft by Pascal's law and transmit the biasing to the output shaft, and a control mechanism actuated by biasing applied by the input shaft to control fluid connection of the input shaft and the output shaft to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Falcom Co., LTD
    Inventor: Osamu Yanagimoto
  • Patent number: 6615584
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling the boost pressure on an unsteady-running piston internal combustion engine with a turbocharger. According to the inventive method, a blow-off valve, which is connected upstream from the supercharger turbine in the exhaust gas tract, is controlled by an engine control, the position of the pedal and a boost-proportional gradient are detected by the engine control when initiating an acceleration operation and, when a predeterminable value for the boost-proportional gradient is surpassed, the blow-off valve is actuated in an opening direction in order to effect a predeterminable controlled increase of pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: FEV Motorentechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Friedrich Ostertag
  • Patent number: 6615585
    Abstract: In an intake-air refrigeration system of intake-air cooling type gas turbine power equipment, heat discharged to the atmosphere heretofore is recovered for further utilization. A refrigerant vapor discharged from and evaporator (05) of the refrigeration system is compressed by a refrigerant compressor (02) to be transformed to pressurized refrigerant vapor. Heat carried by the pressurized refrigerant vapor is supplied to a heat utilization system (80) to be recovered therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadashi Tsuji
  • Patent number: 6615586
    Abstract: A power plant especially for the propulsion of waterborne vehicles, includes two prime movers, a gas turbine (1) and a diesel starting engine (3) for selectively driving, via a central gearbox (4) and clutches (7) and (9), a power output shaft (5) and a generator (6). The gas turbine (1) is driven by a piston-like compressor (2) via central gearbox (4) and clutches (7) and (8), and further includes a turbocharger (12) and an intercooler (13) connected between the outlet of turbine (1) and the inlet of compressor (2). The diesel engine (3) drives auxiliary electric generator (17). The power output shaft drives a propeller (19) through a bearing (11). The shaft generator (6) is stabilized by a flywheel (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Inventor: Miroslav Boric
  • Patent number: 6615587
    Abstract: A combustion device for the combustion of fuel, includes a supply duct for supplying a fuel to a combustion zone. The fuel is capable of being guided through the supply duct in a fluid stream with a direction of flow and at a nominal velocity lying within a nominal operating interval. Further, the supply duct is narrowed in an uncoupling region, such that at the nominal velocity, sound waves running opposite to the direction of flow in the fluid stream from the combustion zone are at least partially reflected in the uncoupling region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Günther Schulze
  • Patent number: 6615588
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement for the cooling of a component, in particular of the combustion chamber of a turbo machine, wherein at least one cooling duct (5) is provided between a wall (1) to be cooled and a plate-shaped element (2) spaced apart from the wall. The plate-shaped element (2) has a number of through openings (4) for a cooling medium and is arranged such that the distance to the wall (1) increases in the flow direction of the cooling medium through the cooling channel (5). The arrangement is characterised in that the size of the through openings (4) in the plate-shaped element (2) increases with increasing distance between the plate-shaped element (2) and the wall (1). In this way a homogeneous cooling over the length of the cooling channel is achieved with simple measures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Alstom (Switzerland) Ltd
    Inventor: Rainer Hoecker
  • Patent number: 6615589
    Abstract: A process for generating power from the expansion of steam in a steam turbine system. The steam is generated by at least partially vaporizing pre-heated water by heat exchange against a first fuel gas that is generated exothermically. The at least partially vaporized water is then heated to produce the steam by heat exchange against expanded combustion product gas that is generated by the combustion of a second fuel gas in the presence of compressed oxygen-containing gas and the subsequent expansion of the combustion product gas. The steam is then expanded in a steam turbine system having more than one pressure stage to produce power and an expanded steam stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney John Allam, Rebecca Cotton
  • Patent number: 6615590
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a heat exchanger for a temperature control which can take a large area for transferring the heat to the fluid while it is compact, has a good efficiency for exchanging the heat, can increase and decrease the heat transferring area in conformity to the user's needs and the manufacturing cost thereof is low. The heat exchanging boards 2, 3 with a plate constitution and plural thermo modules are superposed alternately so that they have a laminate constitution. The heat exchanging board has a construction such that a flowing path defining board 5, in which a flowing path with a labyrinth construction is formed, is folded by a thin shell 7. The shell has an inflow hole into which the fluid flows and an outflow hole from which a fluid flows out passing through said flowing path with the labyrinth construction. A peltier element is used as the thermo module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: SMC Corporation
    Inventors: Shigesuke Yaegashi, Hiroyuki Sakama
  • Patent number: 6615591
    Abstract: The cryogenic refrigeration system of the present invention includes a JT refrigerator and a pre-cooling refrigerator. The JT refrigerator includes a JT valve, which is fully opened during a clog elimination operation, and a first switching valve, which is provided along a low pressure line of a JT circuit and is closed during the clog elimination operation. The cryogenic refrigeration system includes a PL pipe for collecting a helium gas from a helium tank into a buffer tank. The PL pipe includes a second switching valve and a third switching valve, which are opened during the clog elimination operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignees: Central Japan Railway Company, Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigehisa Kusada, Tomoyuki Motoyoshi, Yoshinao Sanada, Keiji Tomioka
  • Patent number: 6615592
    Abstract: Viable biological material is cryogenically preserved (cryopreservation) by immersing the material in a tank of cooling fluid, and circulating the cooling fluid past the material at a substantially constant predetermined velocity and temperature to freeze the material. The material may either be directly plunged into the cooling fluid without preparation, or chemically prepared prior to freezing. A method according to the present invention freezes the biologic material quickly enough to avoid the formation of ice crystals within cell structures (vitrification) and allows the samples to maintain anatomical structure and remain biochemically active after thaw. The temperature of the cooling fluid is preferably between −20 degrees centigrade and −30 degrees centigrade, which is warm enough to minimize the formation of stress fractures and other artefacts in cell membranes due to thermal changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Supachill Technologies Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Samuel D. Prien, John Blanton, Brian Wood, Allan J. Cassell
  • Patent number: 6615593
    Abstract: A method of reducing energy costs and reducing maintenance costs for a refrigeration system are provided. More particularly, the method or reducing energy costs preferably includes connecting an evaporator to a top outer surface of a refrigeration container and forming a cool air curtain by removing warm air from an interior upper portion of the refrigeration container and introducing cool air into the interior upper portion of the refrigeration container. The method of reducing maintenance costs preferably includes connecting an evaporator to an outer surface of a refrigeration container and providing ready access to the evaporator so that maintenance can be readily conducted on the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Inventor: Matt Alvin Thurman
  • Patent number: 6615594
    Abstract: A compressor includes a motor protector which stops the compressor's motor when it senses an out of specification condition. A diagnostic system monitors the status of the motor protector. The diagnostic system includes logic circuitry that diagnoses the type of problem the compressor is having based upon the running times and status of the motor in conjunction with the times and status of the motor protector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Copeland Corporation
    Inventors: Nagaraj Jayanth, Hank E. Millet
  • Patent number: 6615595
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for controlling a compressor in a refrigerant circuit of an air-conditioning system of a motor vehicle. The instantaneous load torque is determined and compared with a maximum limiting torque prescribed by an engine controller, and the compressor is controlled depending on the comparison value resulting therefrom. In order to avoid complete shutdown of the compressor, the instantaneous load torque is represented as a function of variables, such as compressor speed and high pressure of the refrigerant, and, using an inverted function belonging to this function, a control signal for the compressor, for example, a set-point value for the high pressure of the refrigerant, is determined as a function of the maximum limiting torque and employed to control the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Wilhelm Baruschke, Thomas Gerken, Hans-Joachim Krauss, Ottokar Kunberger, Sascha Lindauer, Karl Lochmahr, Michael Sickelmann
  • Patent number: 6615596
    Abstract: A dehumification/refrigeration system has a first suction stop valve, first evaporator and first timer control contact and a second suction stop valve, second evaporator and second timer control contact. The first suction stop valve is adapted to inactivate the first evaporator upon the detection of ice and to activate the second suction stop valve and second evaporator. The second suction stop valve is adapted to inactivate the second evaporator upon the detection of ice and to activate the first suction stop valve and first evaporator. A supplemental relay and an associated third timer control contact simultaneously activate the first timer and second control contacts. A timer sequentially activates one timer control contact to the exclusion of the others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Inventor: James A. Bass
  • Patent number: 6615597
    Abstract: A bridge circuit (11) having four check valves (31, 32, 33, 34) is provided upstream of a receiver (10), which is provided upstream of an expansion valve (7). A gas vent pipe (12) for connecting the receiver (10) and a pipe (24) downstream of the expansion valve (7) to each other is provided, and the gas vent pipe (12) is provided with a gas vent valve (13). Upon shut down, the gas vent valve (13) is opened, and the expansion valve (7) is gradually closed. The compressor (4) is shut down and the gas vent valve (13) is closed after passage of a predetermined time from the point in time when the expansion valve (7) reaches the fully closed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo Domyo, Koichi Kita
  • Patent number: 6615598
    Abstract: A refrigeration circuit includes a scroll compressor, a condenser and an evaporator connected in a closed loop. A liquid injection system takes liquid refrigerant from the refrigerant circuit and injects it into a suction line leading to the compressor to cool the refrigerant in the refrigeration circuit. An electronic control unit operates a controllable valve based on a temperature reading received from a discharge gas temperature sensor. The controllable valve can be an electronic expansion valve or a solenoid valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Copeland Corporation
    Inventors: Simon Y. Wang, Wayne R. Berry