Patents Issued in January 6, 2004
  • Patent number: 6672092
    Abstract: A countertop merchandiser unit facilitates impulse purchasing of heated and chilled items by providing for placement and display of the items in close proximity with a cash register. The countertop unit has an enclosed transparent refrigerated compartment located above a countertop, an enclosed transparent heated compartment located above the refrigerated compartment and a refrigeration unit located above the heated compartment. Access doors at the rear of the countertop unit allow a vendor or cashier to access items stored therein. Access doors at the front of the countertop unit allow a customer to access items stored therein, the front access doors may be selectively fastened closed to deter shoplifting of items stored therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Stainless, Inc.
    Inventors: Guillermo A. Ruiz, Abelardo Arafet, Mark E. Allegra, Dennis R. Headberg
  • Patent number: 6672093
    Abstract: A cooling system in which an electronic component is cooled by using one or more containers of liquid and sorbent that transfer heat from the component to the fluid in the well bore. According to the present invention, a sorption cooling and heating system is provided for use in a well, such as down hole tool which is in a drill string through which a drilling fluid flows, or in a down hole tool, which is on a wire line. This cooling system comprises a housing adapted to be disposed in a wellbore, the sorption cooler comprising a water supply adjacent to a sensor or electronics to be cooled; a Dewar flask lined with phase change material surrounding the electronics/sensor and liquid supply; a vapor passage for transferring vapor from the water supply; and a sorbent in thermal contact with the housing for receiving and adsorbing the water vapor from the vapor passage and transferring the heat from the sorbed water vapor through the housing to the drilling fluid or well bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Rocco DiFoggio
  • Patent number: 6672094
    Abstract: To allow for easier opening of a refrigerator door, a pressure relief system is provided to relieve a pressure differential or vacuum that develops due to operation and use of the refrigerator. The pressure relief system includes a check valve having an orifice with a flexible membrane. An insulation portion of the pressure relief valve, which is foamed into the cabinet, spans from the fresh food compartment to a top of the cabinet and directs air towards the rear cabinet liner for moisture condensing measures. The pressure relief assembly also includes an adapter which mounts to the cabinet top and provides a mounting surface for an air return assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Scot Carden, John Phillip Myers
  • Patent number: 6672095
    Abstract: A therapeutic freezing device includes a barrel and a superconducting needle. The barrel defines a receiving space adapted to receive a coolant medium. The superconducting needle is mounted on the barrel and is adapted to contact the coolant medium so that the low-temperature of the coolant medium is transferred to the superconducting layer. The superconducting needle includes a superconductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventor: Chin-Kuang Luo
  • Patent number: 6672096
    Abstract: A vacuum-breaking valve for refrigeration appliances, comprising: a tubular body (10) made of a thermally conductive material and mounted through one of the walls of a cabinet (G) of the refrigeration appliance; a valve seat (30) mounted to the tubular body (10); a sealing means (40) constantly biased towards a closed position, in which it is seated on said valve seat (30), and movable towards an open position when the pressure inside cabinet (G) is lower than the pressure outside said cabinet (G); and a heat collector (20) provided with a thermal radiation collecting surface (21) mounted to the tubular body (10) and facing a heat source external to cabinet (G).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Multibras S.A. Electrodomesticos
    Inventor: Luiz Antonio Diemer Lopes
  • Patent number: 6672097
    Abstract: A system for forming flavored ice from a refrigerator/freezer having an ice maker fluidly connected to a water source. A fluid dispersing module is formed along a water conduit to define a water source inlet port and an ice maker outlet port disposed on opposing ends thereof which are placed into fluid communication with the water source and the ice maker respectively. A fluid cartridge is pre-filled with a metered quantity of a flavored fluid mixable with water and has a cartridge inlet and outlet ports formed on opposing ends thereof which are sized and configured to engage the water source inlet port and the ice maker outlet port respectively. The fluid cartridge is connectable to the module and placeable into fluid communication with the water source and the ice maker to mix the flavored fluid and the water together and form a flavored mixture transferrable to the ice maker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventor: Josh Ashley
  • Patent number: 6672098
    Abstract: A chiller comprises a vessel for coolant and an endless conveyor having transverse flights. The conveyor passes in a loop from one side to another of the vessel. An arrangement is provided to alter the path of the conveyor so as to shorten and lengthen the loop. In use, when the loop is lengthened articles are tumbled in the coolant by the flights, and when the loop is shortened articles are conveyed out of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: D C Norris & Co. (Engineering) Limited
    Inventor: David A. Norris
  • Patent number: 6672099
    Abstract: In a refrigeration system (10), an evaporator (11) and a condenser (15) are each formed of a container-like member (55). The inside of the container-like member (55) is divided into a liquid side space (12, 16) and a gas side space (13, 17) by a moisture permeable membrane (14, 18). Both the gas side spaces (13, 17) are held in a predetermined reduced-pressure condition. Both the liquid side spaces (12, 16) are placed in an atmospheric pressure condition. Water vapor provided by evaporation of water in the liquid side space (12) of the evaporator (11) passes through the moisture permeable membrane (14) and moves to the gas side space (13). The water vapor in the gas side space (13) is sucked by a compressor (21) so as to be pumped to the gas side space (17) of the condenser (15). In the condenser (15), the water vapor in the gas side space (17) moves to the liquid side space (16) and then condensates therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Yoshimi, Chun-cheng Piao, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Yuji Watanabe, Kazuo Yonemoto
  • Patent number: 6672100
    Abstract: In this porous part producing method, a head part (11A, 11B) in the interior of a compressor, which is a sintered part, is subjected at least to vacuum substitution or heat blow cleaning, whereby after oils causing contamination and/sludge, such as rust-preventive oil, in the head part (11A, 11B) in the interior of the compressor is discharged therefrom, the head part (11A, 11B) is immersed in alkyl benzene type oil serving as refrigerator oil. Thereby, deterioration-inducing substances in the head part (11A, 11B) in the interior of the compressor is replaced with the refrigerator oil; thus, it is possible to produce a porous part which will not bring about contamination and/or sludge even if used as a component for refrigerators for a long time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeharu Taira, Atsushi Endou
  • Patent number: 6672101
    Abstract: An oil storage area (45a) is defined on the bottom of a motor chamber (45) of a scroll compressor (1). An oil transfer route (4a) is defined in the portion of a center housing (4) that corresponds to the storage area (45a). Lubricating oil L is separated from the discharged, compressed refrigerant by an oil separator (80) and the lubricating oil L is supplied to the backside of a movable scroll (20) due to a pressure differential within the compress (1). After lubricating a bearing (10), the lubricating oil L is temporarily stored in the storage area (45a) and then is transferred due to a pressure differential to the suction-side of a compression mechanism (21) via the oil transfer route (4a). The lubricating oil L is then transferred to the oil separator (80) together with the compressed refrigerant that is discharged from a compression chamber (32) of the compression mechanism (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Gennami, Kazuhiro Kuroki, Ken Suitou, Naohiro Nakajima, Shinji Tsubai, Kazuya Kimura
  • Patent number: 6672102
    Abstract: A vaporizer for boiling off a liquid refrigerant from a combined liquid refrigerant/lubricant mixture tapped from an evaporator utilizes hot compressed gaseous refrigerant tapped from a location upstream of the condenser. In a preferred embodiment, the refrigerant is tapped from a compression chamber within the compressor. The hot refrigerant efficiently boils the liquid refrigerant out of the mixture, ensuring high viscosity lubricant. In further features, a return lubricant line from the compressor passes into a sump to further boil off liquid refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Edward A. Huenniger, Nadine Thompson, Joseph A. Catrambone
  • Patent number: 6672103
    Abstract: The invention relates to a high power density sorption heat store, preferably for storing low-temperature heat, and is characterized in that a tube jacket 2 is provided with tube bottoms 3, 3′, and with heat exchange tubes 4, which penetrate the sorption layer 5 between the carrier floors 6, 6′; the mat layers 9, 9′ are in each case located in between; the tube jacket 2 essentially is enclosed by a working fluid tank 10 comprising the working fluid lines 11, 11′ including the valves 12, 12′, which in turn are in connection with the mat layers 9, 9′; and the dip tank 13, in the bottom area, comprises the passage 16; and heat exchange tubes 4 are proportionally equipped with ribs 27, and are loosely guided through openings 29 of the carrier floor 6′ and through the mat layer 9′ but are fixedly connected with the tube bottoms 3, 3′; and the ribs 27 are enclosed by a finely perforated network 28.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventors: Helmut Stach, Peter Muenn, Bernd Fuesting, Hartmut Welke
  • Patent number: 6672104
    Abstract: A process is provided for converting a boil-off stream comprising methane to a liquid having a preselected bubble point temperature. The boil-off stream is pressurized, then cooled, and then expanded to further cool and at least partially liquefy the boil-off stream. The preselected bubble point temperature of the resulting pressurized liquid is obtained by performing at least one of the following steps: before, during, or after the process of liquefying the boil-off stream, removing from the boil-off stream a predetermined amount of one or more components, such as nitrogen, having a vapor pressure greater than the vapor pressure of methane, and before, during, or after the process of liquefying the boil-off stream, adding to the boil-off stream one or more additives having a molecular weight heavier than the molecular weight of methane and having a vapor pressure less than the vapor pressure of methane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: E. Lawrence Kimble, Ronald R. Bowen, James R. Rigby
  • Patent number: 6672105
    Abstract: A tubular bladder has an outside wall connected to an inside surface of a finger passage through a band of a finger ring. An inside wall of the bladder is integral with the outside wall and forms a gas chamber. A passage connects the gas chamber to a source of air. Increasing air in the gas chamber reduces the diameter of the finger passage. Reducing the quantity of air in the gas chamber increases the diameter of the finger passage. A valve can be provided to meter air into and out of the bladder. If the bladder is resilient and tends to expand the area of the gas chamber, an air passage can let air into and out of the bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventor: Arthur A. Sills
  • Patent number: 6672106
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for forming soot used in making glass, and in particular, optical waveguides. A liquid precursor (66) is first fed into orifice (52) of a liquid orifice insert (48) within an injector (44) positioned within an atomizing burner assembly, and is thereafter discharged from the injector into a pressurization chamber (56). An atomization gas (70) is also fed into the pressurization chamber (56) to mix with the liquid precursor liquid stream (68) which breaks into droplets (76). The liquid precursor and atomization gas arm forced under pressure out of an atomization orifice (32) on the face of the burner (30) assembly. Flame gas (74), reaction gas (84) and shield gas (82) are ejected from burner orifices (40, 38, 36 and 34) to produce the flame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Daniel W. Hawtof, John Stone, III
  • Patent number: 6672107
    Abstract: In order to provide a quartz glass crucible distinguished by high purity, high opacity and/or low transmissibility in the IR spectrum, it is proposed on the basis of a known quartz glass crucible of opaque quartz glass with a crucible body symmetrical in relation to a rotational axis, an outer zone (3) of opaque quartz glass transitioning radially toward the inside into an inner zone (2) of transparent quartz glass and with a density of at least 2.15 g/cm3, that according to the invention, the crucible body (1) be made of a synthetic SiO2 granulate with a specific BET surface ranging from 0.5 m2/g to 40 m2/g, a tamped volume of at least 0.8 g/cm3 and produced from at least partially porous agglomerates of SiO2 primary particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Heraeus Quarzglas GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Waltraud Werdecker, Johann Leist
  • Patent number: 6672108
    Abstract: A method of making glass (e.g., grey in color in some embodiments, or otherwise colored in other embodiments) in a manner so as to reduce selenium (Se) burnoff. In some embodiments, Epsom salt(s) is added to the glass batch in order to reduce Se burnoff. The resulting glass product is useful, for example, in vehicle and/or architectural privacy glass applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Ksenia A. Landa, Leonid Landa, Anthony V. Longobardo, Scott V. Thomsen
  • Patent number: 6672109
    Abstract: A silica glass member for use with a light having a specific wavelength of 250 nm or shorter, in which the difference in the maximum and the minimum values of hydroxyl group concentration as measured in a plurality of points within a plane vertical to an optical axis whose center is the crossing point of its optical axis with the optical axis of the silica glass member is 50 ppm or lower; and in which the plurality of signed birefringence values obtained based on the birefringence values measured on several points within a plane vertical to an optical axis whose center is the crossing point of its optical axis with the optical axis of the silica glass member and the direction of the fast axis fall within a range of from −2.0 to +2.0 nm/cm. Thus, a silica glass member having high optical transmittance and a high resistance against ultraviolet radiations is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Hiraiwa
  • Patent number: 6672110
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a glass preform includes supplying a first gaseous or vapor phase composition to a reaction chamber; supplying water as a second gaseous or vapor phase composition to the reaction chamber; reacting the water and the first gaseous or vapor phase composition to form an aerosol of glass particles; directing the aerosol along the reaction chamber, out of the reaction chamber, and toward a target; and depositing glass particles of the aerosol onto the target. The first gaseous or vapor phase composition is disposed to provide a hydrolyzable glass precursor. Walls of the reaction chamber have a temperature gradient in which a temperature of the walls increases in a direction of flow of the aerosol along the reaction chamber. Alternatively, a flow of the aerosol along the reaction chamber has a temperature gradient in which a temperature of the aerosol increases in the direction of flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Pirelli Cavi E Sistemi S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giacomo Stefano Roba, Marco Arimondi, Donata Piccolo, Sabrina Fogliani
  • Patent number: 6672111
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for adding metals such as aluminum to fused silica glass articles are disclosed. The methods and apparatus allow for controlled, low level addition of metals into fused silica glass articles. The fused silica glass articles containing added aluminum exhibit improved internal transmission and decreased absorption change when irradiated with a laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: William P. Peters, Merrill F. Sproul, Daniel R. Sempolinski, Michael H. Wasilewski
  • Patent number: 6672112
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a glass base material, which is a base material of an optical fiber, comprising: a base rod, around and along which said glass base material is formed; a burner that hydrolyzes and accumulates a gas material, which is a base material of said glass base material, around and along said base rod; a first burner-moving-unit that moves said burner in a direction parallel with a longitudinal direction of said base rod; and a second burner-moving-unit that moves said first burner-moving-unit in a same moving direction of said first burner-moving-unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co.
    Inventors: Yuuji Tobisaka, Tadakatsu Shimada, Hiroshi Machida, Masataka Watanabe, Hiroshi Tsumura, Hideo Hirasawa
  • Patent number: 6672113
    Abstract: In order to seamlessly knit knitwear, such as a sweater, having a widened neckline 10a of a front body 2a and a front drop formed in the neckline 10a in a relatively simple method, stitches at a right side of the front neckline 10a and stitches at a left side of the front neckline 10a, retained on the first needle bed FB, are shifted from inside to outside, with gradually increasing distances, so that the stitches can be retained on the first needle bed FB, with empty needles inserted in the spaces between those stitches; at least one of the shifted stitches 31, 32 at and outer side end portion of the right side of the front neckline 10a and at least one of the shifted stitches at an outer side end portion of the left side of the front neckline 10a are fed to the second needle bed BB so as to be situated next to the stitch at each side end of the back neckline 10b retained on the second needle bed BB, whereby the neckline 10 is increased in diameter, followed by formation of widening stitches on the empty nee
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Shima Seiki Mfg., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6672114
    Abstract: The jet dye apparatus includes a reactant chamber for the processing or various materials and liquids, and a pump for recirculating the liquids to and from the reactant chamber. A jet venturi or nozzle receives the material from the reactant chamber and returns the material to the reactant chamber through a return tube. A portion of the liquids from the pump are supplied to the jet venturi. An inductor receives a portion of the liquids from the pump before they are returned to the reactant chamber. The inductor combines the liquids with granular or powder additives from an additive container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Benjamin H. Glover, Robert David Nabow, Bruce R. Edwards, Stephen Kelly Stewart
  • Patent number: 6672115
    Abstract: A locking device includes a shackle member having a shank and a latch portion at one end and a stop at the other end. A locking head mounts in a locked state on the latch portion but is removable when unlocked. A sleeve is carried on the shank but is removable. The sleeve and the shank together define a size conversion structure for the shackle. When the sleeve is on the shank, the shackle has one operative thickness to closely fit one size aperture, but when the sleeve is removed, the shackle has another, smaller operative thickness to fit a smaller aperture. A retaining member may be employed to resist removal of the sleeve. Two or more sleeves may be used to fit more than two apertures. These can be separately mountable onto the shank or may be nested on the shank, one inside of the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventor: Philip W. Wyers
  • Patent number: 6672116
    Abstract: A double-locking mechanism for handcuffs, which include a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism wherein the ratchet pawl is spring biased to couple with a pivotal ratchet jaw arm within in a shackle casing and a bolt is provided for engaging the pawl to prevent the coupled jaw from pivoting in either direction in order to double lock the mechanism. A pivot slide mechanism is provided whereby either the pawl or the bolt is not only permitted to pivot about an axis within the casing, but is also permitted to have limited displacement in a direction transverse to its pivot axis which thereby causes the pawl to engage a stop within the casing to double lock the pawl from pivoting in either direction and also causes the bolt under bias to displace from a first bolt position to a second bolt position and thereby engage and retain the pawl in the double lock position against the stop in order to ensure that the mechanism will remain double locked until opened with a key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventor: Daniel T. Hilliard
  • Patent number: 6672117
    Abstract: Shielded window structure of a numeral lock. A window member is disposed on one side of the housing of the lock. The window member is formed with a row of windows through which the numerals of a row of numeral wheels are shown. The linking member is drivingly connected with an internal driving plate for driving internal components to control locking/unlocking of a hook member at one end of the housing. The window member is synchronously horizontally displaceably or deflectably connected with the linking member. When moving the linking member to unlock the lock, the window member is synchronously displaced to disalign the windows from the unlocking number of the numeral wheels so as to shield the unlocking member and prevent an unauthorized person from seeing the unlocking number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventor: Chun Te Yu
  • Patent number: 6672118
    Abstract: According to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, an apparatus and method for retaining keys is disclosed. The present invention provides a tensioning mechanism within the body of the key-retaining apparatus for “pinching” the shaft of a key when the shaft is inserted into the body of the key-retaining apparatus. The tensioning mechanism may take the form of a spring-loaded mechanism or a tensioned piece of metal that is selectively pressured against the shaft of the key when the key is inserted into the body of the key-retaining apparatus. Additionally, a thong or strap may be provided for securing the key-retaining apparatus to a purse, backpack, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventor: Edward E. Wright
  • Patent number: 6672119
    Abstract: Sheet piling and like steel shapes are made in a caliber rolling mill having upper and lower rolls of suitable contour. One of the rolls is axially fixed and the other can be shifted axially in opposite directions so that shoulders of the rolls engage and these positions are stored along with a relationship of axial force and spring constants of the mill frame. The rolling then takes these stored values into consideration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: SMS Demag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Minnerop, Hans-Jürgen Reismann, Helmut Terhart
  • Patent number: 6672120
    Abstract: Hydroforming apparatus includes in-die hydropiercing apparatus with easy and precise adjustment of the positioning of a backup plunger that is received in a die button and is positioned in a hydroforming position, a prepiercing position, a piercing position, and a slug ejecting position that may be outside the plunger or may be the hydroforming position. Wherein the plunger is required to be precisely positioned and held in the prepiercing position in the die button in order to obtain a desired prepiercing action without prematurely piercing the hydroformed part. The in-die hydropiercing apparatus has a plunger actuating hydraulic cylinder that moves the plunger to the different positions and a cam actuating hydraulic cylinder that positions a cam in determining the prepiercing position of the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Mircea M. Ghiran, Bruce S. Shimanovski, Glenn M. Krcek
  • Patent number: 6672121
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for forming a hem flange in an aluminum alloy sheet during the forming of the sheet into a panel that is intended to be attached to a second panel by hemming. The hem flange is formed by fluid pressure over a small radius tool portion to bend the flange from the sheet material and stretch the flange material below the bend to form a thinned hemline valley in the material. The original bend and thinned valley cooperate during the folding of the flange around the second panel to form a flat pinched hem without cracking or fracturing the flange material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Carsley, Chongmin Kim, John Robert Bradley, George K. Nurminen
  • Patent number: 6672122
    Abstract: An apparatus adapted to condition the outer flanges of a vehicle wheel includes a main base assembly secured to a fixed surface, a lower tool assembly operatively supported by the main base assembly, at least one upper drive assembly operatively supported by the main base assembly, and an upper rim guide assembly. The upper drive assembly of the apparatus includes an electric servo drive unit operatively connected to drive a conditioner roll having an outer surface provided with a predetermined profile adapted to engage and condition at least one of the outer flanges of the vehicle wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Mustread, Danny Vincent, Mike Marcum, John Penrod, Jerry Buland
  • Patent number: 6672123
    Abstract: A flange is formed on a workpiece by first mounting the workpiece in an inner holder shiftable along about a main axis and securing the inner holder against rotation about the main axis. A roller is rotated about the main axis adjacent the inner holder. Then the inner holder and workpiece are displaced axially to press the workpiece axially against the roller and deform the workpiece and form a flange thereon. This is done without heating the workpiece, that is in a cold-forming operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: SMS Eumuco GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Sczesny, Frank Siewert, Jürgen Bergmann
  • Patent number: 6672124
    Abstract: A rolling roll train of the staggered-roll tandem type has a pair of upright stand walls with windows or openings for receiving a multiplicity of pairs of rolls which can be changed as a unit. The fact that unitary walls with traverses between the walls for stabilizing them and where those traverses are located between the roll pairs, enables the spacing between the roll pairs to be substantially reduced by comparison with free-standing individual mill stands for the roll pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: SMS Demag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Minnerop, Hans-Jürgen Reismann, Thomas Kosak
  • Patent number: 6672125
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an Invar tool includes the step of superplastically forming an Invar facesheet for the tool. A tool header is provided, and the Invar facesheet is then formed with an SPF diaphragm driver to match the predetermined contour of the tool header. The Invar facesheet is then welded to the tool header. Forming the Invar facesheet is achieved by positioning the Invar facesheet between a superplastically formable diaphragm and a die having the predetermined contour. The diaphragm is heated to a predetermined superplastic temperature, and a predetermined pressure is applied to the diaphragm. Application of the predetermined pressure allows the diaphragm to cause the Invar facesheet to form against the predetermined contour of the die. Superplastically forming the Invar facesheet results in a negligible amount of excess scrap, reduces material costs, and reduces labor costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Phillip E. Kenney, Jeffrey D. Fletcher, Dennis R. Malone, Lawrence B. Wilson
  • Patent number: 6672126
    Abstract: The invention comprises a cam die. The cam die comprises at least one cam ring. The cam ring comprises a plurality of moveable cam teeth. The cam teeth are moveable on a normal toward an axis of the cam die by a cam actuator. The cam actuator has an inside diameter that is less than an outside diameter of the cam ring. As the cam actuator moves parallel to the cam die axis along an outside circumference of the cam ring, the cam teeth are progressively engaged and pressed inwardly toward a work piece. The work piece is moved simultaneously with the cam actuator by action of a punch that is concentric with the cam actuator and within the diameter of the cam ring. Each cam tooth is simultaneously engaged with the work piece as the work piece passes. A resilient member returns each cam tooth to a starting position after the cam actuator is withdrawn, allowing ejection of a finished part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: The Gates Corporation
    Inventor: Yahya Hodjat
  • Patent number: 6672127
    Abstract: A metal sheet bending apparatus includes first and second lower bar molds each having a section of a semicircular shape. The first and second lower bar molds are rotatably provided in first and second concave portions of a support, respectively. First and second adjust screws are attached to first and second pull-up rods, respectively at an opposite side of the portions with respect to first and second stoppers. An upper mold is adapted to bend a metal sheet placed on metal contact surfaces of the first and second lower bar molds by pressing the metal sheet above a groove of the support while the first and second lower bar molds rotate against spring force given by first and second push springs such that the metal contact surfaces form a V-shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Yuugenkaisha Taigaa Koosan
    Inventor: Takaaki Maida
  • Patent number: 6672128
    Abstract: A hand tool for expanding hollow bodies contains a casing (2) having a laterally extending first hand lever (3). A second hand lever, (7) which consists of steel and is joined to the casing so as to pivot on a shaft (5), bears a pinion sector (6) surrounding the shaft (5). The two hand levers (3, 7) form a pliers In the casing (2) a bore is disposed for guiding a rack consisting of steel, one end of which cooperates within the bore with the pinion sector (6) such that an expansion wedge can be displaced outwardly by a closing movement of the two hand levers (3, 7). The casing has means by which an expansion head with radially moving expander jaws can be placed coaxially onto the outwardly tapered end of the spreading wedge. To reduce both the weight and the force required for operation, the casing (2) and its hand lever (3) consist of a light material from the plastic and light metal group. The casing (2) thus forms together with the rack a low-friction combination of light material and steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Rothenberger Werkeuge Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ewald Wagner, Manfred Waltersdorf, Michael Judis
  • Patent number: 6672129
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed which employs a pulse-controlled microdroplet fluid delivery system for precisely dispensing fragrances and other odor producing vapors. The pulse-controlled fluid delivery device is capable of ejecting microdroplets of fluid with a diameter less than 350 micrometers at a controlled ejection rate based upon inkjet printing technology. The pulse-controlled fluid delivery system includes mechanisms for vaporizing the fluids and delivery of the vapors to the nose, which is controlled by a programmable system controller capable of real time data-driven dispensing with a multi-fluid capability. Synthesis of custom fragrances is made possible by a multijet programmed control system which adjusts dispensing rates of components. Calibration of a prior art “electronic nose” is disclosed. A precise calibration gas is produced in real-time to counteract the effect of drifting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: MicroFab Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Frederickson, Donald J. Hayes, David B. Wallace, David W. Taylor, Matthew D. Hayes
  • Patent number: 6672130
    Abstract: A compact, portable and NIST traceable pressure source dynamically generates very low pressures includes at least one adjustable valves in-line with a fluid, such as air, flowing through the valve. A differential pressure is created across a pressure control device downstream from the valve. The differential pressure varies depending on the volume of the gas flow and the amount of resistance to the gas flow. The pressure generating device utilizes a miniature pump to create a pressure, or, alternatively, a vacuum, that causes gas flow. The pressure generating device is compact and capable of providing a very low and stable differential pressure by using a dynamic flow that compensates for temperature changes and volume changes. The compact module may be configured as a plug-in module for existing handheld calibrators for operator ease of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Dresser, Inc.
    Inventor: William Stephen Kosh
  • Patent number: 6672131
    Abstract: A description is given of a method for operating a measuring instrument (10) fitted onto the surface (16) of a fluid carrying body (18), in particular a hollow body such as a pipe, which transports multiphase fluid flows, especially fluids containing solid particles, wherein acoustic data related to fractions and amounts of the different phases in the fluid flow are registered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Clampon AS
    Inventors: Dag Aldal, Geir Instadnes
  • Patent number: 6672132
    Abstract: A sensor, in particular for determining the oxygen content in exhaust gases of internal combustion engines, is provided. The sensor includes a sensing element arranged in a housing having a reference gas space-side housing part, and a sensing element seal which hermetically separates a reference gas space from a measured gas space. Provided inside the reference gas space-side housing part is a sleeve, enclosing the sensor element on a longitudinal segment, which forms a receptacle for the sensing element seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Weyl, Johann Wehrmann
  • Patent number: 6672133
    Abstract: A hand-held chemical vapor detector for detecting biological substances in an indoor and outdoor setting is claimed. More specifically, the present invention relates to a plasma chromatograph (PC) vapor detector that is interfaced to a biological sample processing and transfer introduction system. The biological sample processing was accomplished by quartz tube thermal decomposition (TD), and the resultant vapor was transferred by gas chromatography (GC) to the PC detector. This system is comprised of a thermal decomposition module, gas chromatography module and a plasma chromatograph detector. These components are connected in a series fashion. The device is referred to as a Biological Classifier System (BCS). The BCS can be described as a hyphenated device where two analytical dimensions (the GC and PC), in series, allow the separation and isolation of individual components from the thermal decomposition of biological analytes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Waleed M. Maswadeh, Dhirajlal G. Parekh, A. Peter Snyder, Ashish Tripathi
  • Patent number: 6672134
    Abstract: A method that allows an individual to personally test for contaminants in an air supply. The method consists of purchasing the test kit, mounting the test kit to an existing particulate filter, placing the mounted test kit and particulate filter into the filter housing and blowing air through the test kit. The test kit is then removed from the furnace, repackaged and sent to a laboratory for analysis. The air quality test kit comprises a test filter, a filter backing pad, a support and a pair of end caps. The test filter, the filter backing pad and the support form a device to capture and retain particles carried in an airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventor: Michael D. Bodnar
  • Patent number: 6672135
    Abstract: A filter (20) suitable for gas analysis, especially non-gravimetric gas analysis, by collecting particulate matter thereon, with a filter material comprising a polycarbonate membrane having a maximum pore size of 2 micrometers or less that is secured by a support (5) formed of a polyolefin or polymethylpentene material. For additional embodiments, the particular manner of support mounting to the membrane may include thermal-bonding techniques, and the particular method of analysis may include X-Ray luminescence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Pall Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph G. Adiletta
  • Patent number: 6672136
    Abstract: An improved structure of a gas sensor is provided which is designed to establish firm electric connections between electrode terminals formed on opposed major surfaces of a sensor element and terminals of a connector disposed within a body of the gas sensor leading to an external devices. The connector includes two arrays of terminals. Each of the terminals has a contact elastically deformable at least in a direction perpendicular to the opposed major surfaces of the sensor element for keeping the electric connections of the electrode terminals and the terminals of the connector constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Kojima
  • Patent number: 6672137
    Abstract: The oxygen sensor of the present invention has excellent durability capable of effectively preventing contamination with lead or the like for a detection electrode even in low temperature exhaust gases, and having stable response over a long period of time. The contamination preventive layer provided in the sensor device comprises composite powders having coarse powders covered therearound with fine powders, and hollows not filled with fine powders are scattered in gaps among the composite powders. Both the coarse and fine powders comprise ceramic powders. Further, it is particularly preferred that the ceramic powders are powders of a titania powder having a peak at 1 &mgr;m or less and a composite ceramic powder containing alumina such as spinel having a peak at 10 &mgr;m or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isomura, Takayoshi Atsumi, Koji Shiono, Masamine Takagi
  • Patent number: 6672138
    Abstract: A method and sensor or sensor subsystem permit improved evaporative leak detection in an automotive fuel system. The sensor or sensor subsystem computes temperature-compensated pressure values, thereby eliminating or reducing false positive or other adverse results triggered by temperature changes in the fuel tank. The temperature-compensated pressure measurement is then available for drawing an inference regarding the existence of a leak with reduced or eliminated false detection arising as a result of temperature fluctuations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Canada Limited
    Inventors: John E. Cook, Paul D. Perry
  • Patent number: 6672139
    Abstract: A leak testing device includes a generally cylindrical sealing gasket which defines a recess therein. The gasket includes first and second end portions for receiving the respective ends of two adjacent conduits. A shoulder portion extends from the gasket. A diaphragm member is positioned in the gasket. A hole is provided in the diaphragm member which can be selectively opened or closed by a valve operably connected to the diaphragm member to thereby permit or restrict the flow of a fluid between the two conduits. A coupling for clamping the leak testing device about one or two conduits includes a generally cylindrical member having a central axis and including a plurality of sections. The sections are interconnected to one another by at least two hinge members in a manner that two sections have free end points to be releasably fastened together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Inflow Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph A. Pampinella
  • Patent number: 6672140
    Abstract: A method for measuring viscosity of liquid, in which a liquid detecting piece 3 is vibrated by a vibrator 1, vibration of the liquid detecting piece 3 in liquid 4 is detected, and viscosity of the liquid 4 is measured from vibration thus obtained, the method comprising the steps of detecting frequency and amplitude which are variable attributable to liquid-specific visco-elasticity from the vibration, obtaining impedance of the liquid from the frequency and the amplitude, and obtaining a dynamic viscosity from a real number part and an imaginary number part of the impedance. There is also disclosed a method for measuring visco-elasticity of liquid comprising the step of obtaining a dynamic viscosity, a dynamic elasticity and a static elasticity of the liquid from a real number part and an imaginary number part of the impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: CBC Materials Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinsuke Miura
  • Patent number: 6672141
    Abstract: In a viscoelastic characteristic value-measuring apparatus, using a split Hopkinson's bar, a first strain gauge (7) and a second strain gauge (9) are installed on an input bar (3) which is hit with a impact bar. A third strain gauge (11) and a fourth strain gauge (13) are installed on an output bar (5) which is connected with the input bar (3) through a specimen (20) put between the input bar (3) and the output bar (5). The length of the input bar is set to not less than 1000 mm nor more than 2500 mm. The length of said output bar is set to not less than 700 mm nor more than 2200 mm. The propagation speed of a strain in the input bar and the output bar is set to not less than 1200 m/s nor more than 1800 m/s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoto Maruoka, Jun Nishibayashi