Patents Issued in January 13, 2004
  • Patent number: 6675540
    Abstract: A robust portable building for use by persons for meetings, classroom use, entertainment facilities, trade show displays, or for human habitation, which provides an entry height of only seventeen inches above ground surface and which has the look, feel, and strength of a permanent structure. The building will withstand tornadic and hurricane level winds without the requirement of tie downs or permanent installation on a foundation. The structural members of the building are primarily steel components. A rigid steel frame is supported on pairs of steel rollers each of which has a diameter which is approximately equal in size to its surface width. All structural components are screwed or welded at their junctions with other structural components. A sheet of aluminum is mechanically fixed to the upper sides of the floor joists, over which are placed additional flooring layers. Each layer is fastened securely to the floor joists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventor: Tracy Rokes
  • Patent number: 6675541
    Abstract: A fixture for and method of positioning an edge member on a sheet is provided. The fixture includes a base, an arrangement to locate a sheet to be supported on the fixture at a predetermined position relative to a plurality of datum points; and an arrangement to position an edge member to be secured along a peripheral edge of the sheet at a desired position relative to the datum points. In one particular embodiment of the invention, a plurality of alignment stops are positioned to contact selected peripheral edges of the sheet while the sheet is supported on support posts to position and orient the window at a predetermined position relative to the datum points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald A. Mackey
  • Patent number: 6675542
    Abstract: A housing includes side walls having a plurality of offset sections with air exit gaps defined between adjacent sections and a roof with an air exit gap defined therein. The housing also includes an air intake section and a door section. The air flow is balanced so sufficient air flows through the structure to maintain proper environmental conditions inside the structure while noise is contained within the structure. Acoustic panels are mounted on the structure to further absorb noise. The structure can be designed to be aesthetically pleasing as well. Lifting eyes as well as anchors can also be included and the structure can be either fabricated on site or elsewhere and shipped as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventors: Aaron I. Norton, Clinton D. Hargis, Gourdin S. Fatur
  • Patent number: 6675543
    Abstract: A glass block structure supported by a flexible phenolic resin framework is disclosed. The phenolic resin framework is bonded to the individual glass blocks with an adhesive substance that is placed so as to lie at or near the corners of the blocks. The phenolic resin that makes up the supporting framework may advantageously be formed in a pultrusion process wherein the resin is embedded with glass-like strands. Further heat-tolerance and adhesion may be obtained from the use of a high-heat tolerant putty applied between the phenolic resin and the glass blocks. The flexibility of the phenolic resin allows the block structure to be preassembled and then transported to an installation site as a single, ready-to-install unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventor: Steven G. LeMert
  • Patent number: 6675544
    Abstract: A composite wood panel having a first and second longitudinal edge, wherein the first edge includes a groove and the second edge includes a tongue for interlocking and engaging the complementary edges of an adjacent tongue and groove wood panel. The groove has two sides and a base transverse thereto, and the tongue has two side walls and a head extending outward from the second longitudinal edge, thereby forming a juncture between the side walls of the tongue and the second longitudinal edge. A shoulder is located at the juncture between one side wall of the tongue and the second longitudinal edge. Upon assembly of two complementary wood panels as described above, a novel tongue and groove joint is formed wherein the shoulder will abut the first longitudinal edge, thus preventing the tongue from being completely introduced into the complementary groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: J.M. Huber Corporation
    Inventors: Nian-hua Ou, Jianhua Pu
  • Patent number: 6675545
    Abstract: A spline, tongue, connector, or snap connector is described and useful for connecting a variety of surface covering products together. In one embodiment the spline is a polymeric material having an elongated shape and dimensions such that the spline has a sufficient width to fit into and extend outside of a groove in a side edge of a first plank and to fit into a respective groove in a side edge of a second plank. The spline may be concealed from view when the first plank and the second plank are connected together by the spline. A surface covering system for connecting two or more planks together is also described as well as methods to connect two or more planks together using the splines of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Mannington Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Hao A. Chen, Richard Judd
  • Patent number: 6675546
    Abstract: A universal connector that facilitates quick assembly and disassembly of substantially the same and/or different member trusses at substantially the same and/or different angles, one from the other, and which may vary from installation to installation. The universal connector comprises: a male threaded eye end; a female threaded fork end, the female threaded fork end hingedly fastened and mating with the male threaded eye end, one with the other; and opposing threaded barrel sleeves, one of the opposing threaded barrel sleeves fastened to the male threaded eye end, the other opposing barrel sleeve fastened to the female threaded fork end, the threaded barrel sleeves adapted to be fastened thereto truss member ends. The universal connector facilitates quick, easy, and safe assembly and disassembly of the trusses, and is capable of use in a large variety of structures and situations, with the same and/or different types of truss members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Total Structures, Inc.
    Inventor: Ian Coles
  • Patent number: 6675547
    Abstract: The invention relates to the field of building and is applicable to retaining walls. The reinforcing element is characterized in that it consists in connecting the back face of the facing to the strong zone by means of a plurality of reinforcing elements (5) disposed substantially horizontally in superposed planes, and in selecting said elements in such a manner that each of them comprises an anchoring portion that is included in the strong zone and that is constituted by a mesh comprising more than two longitudinal bars, of which only some extend as far as the facing to define a portion that works in traction, which portion has an attachment part for connection to the facing at its end remote from the anchoring portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventor: Joseph Golcheh
  • Patent number: 6675548
    Abstract: A gantry is constrained to move around the walls of a cylindrical, concrete tank. A rotating, high pressure water spray nozzle is mounted to a moveable platform on the gantry and connected to a source of water at a pressure of over 20,000 psi. The distance between the nozzle and an opposing surface of the wall of the tank is selected so the nozzle can remove the surface of the concrete and produce a selected surface roughness. The platform is moved vertically, with the gantry moving around the tank, so the surface of the concrete is systematically removed and roughened. A shotcrete or gunnite sprayer is then mounted to the platform, and the roughened surface sprayed with shotcrete or gunnite which sticks to the roughened surface. A tensioning head is then mounted to the platform, and wires or cables are tensioned as they are wrapped around the walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: DYK Incorporated
    Inventors: Gordon B. Bristol, Robert A. Grogan, Timothy M. Mathews, Stephen T. Rader, James L. Rogers
  • Patent number: 6675549
    Abstract: A processing machine installation is provided with a processing machine having a tool for machining a workpiece, heat-generating potions and non-heat-generating portions, a first cover for defining a air conditioned processing machine room around the processing machine, an air injector including a plurality of air outlet, provided in the first cover, for directing air to the respective portions of the processing machine, the air outlet being distributed depending on the amount of heat generated in the respective portions of the processing machine so that the air flow through the air outlet portions are adjusted to substantially level the temperature of the respective portions of the processing machine an air conditioner for controlling the temperature rate of the air supplied to the air injector he basis of the air temperature in the air conditioned processing machine room. The air temperature in the air conditioned processing machine room is controlled to a desired temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Makino Milling Machine Co., LTD
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Kaneda, Toshiyuki Kusakari
  • Patent number: 6675550
    Abstract: A penetration resistant window includes a penetration resistant layer sandwiched between exterior and interior transparent sheets. The perimeter of the penetration resistant layer extends from the perimeters of the exterior and interior transparent sheets in a direction plane parallel with the planes of the transparent sheets. This extension allows the laminated window sheets to be mounted in a window frame such that the perimeter of the penetration resistant layer is secured within a channel in the frame, preferably by an adhesive such as silicone glue. The penetration resistant window is useful in architectural, residential and institutional applications for resisting debris penetration during hurricanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventor: Francis Charles Dlubak
  • Patent number: 6675551
    Abstract: A plate-shaped constructional element comprises a perforated plate made of a solid material such as metal, wood, wood chip board, pressboard, synthetic material or gypsum, and is characterized by the provision that a micro-perforated sheet or thin plate is disposed on one of the plate surfaces of the plate. One variant provides that the holes in the plate are formed in such a manner that they open each into a micro hole on one side of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventor: Helmut Fuchs
  • Patent number: 6675552
    Abstract: A packaging foil is continuously withdrawn from a supply. The foil is folded around the products to be packaged. Cut-off lengths of closing profile sections are inserted with a feed unit between the two longitudinal edges of the foil. In a sealing station, the two longitudinal edges of the foil are sealed together and the foil is then sealed onto the closing profile sections. In another sealing station, transverse sealing seams are formed between the free ends of successive closing profile sections and the tube is cut approximately in the center of the transverse seams. A high packaging output is achieved as a result of the continuous withdrawal of the foil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: SIG Pack Systems AG
    Inventors: Rico Kunz, Thomas Strasser, Ernst Wanner, Horst Loewenthal
  • Patent number: 6675553
    Abstract: This invention concerns a method and a device for stacking and packing groups of infusion bags, especially for making tea, whereby in continuous production infusion bags arranged one after another in a series in a strand are separated, their speed of movement is reduced and they are put in a position suitable for making a stack, whereby the infusion bags are arranged one after another in such a way that they at least partly overlap in their subsequent direction of movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Teepack Spezialmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wilhelm Lohrey, Stefan Lambertz, Wolfgang Groth
  • Patent number: 6675554
    Abstract: A device for closing packages made of flexible material, wherien a portion of the flexible material is gathered into a neck, the neck is inserted into and overlaps a U-shaped clip, the overlapping portions of the neck are formed in a direction perpendicular to the base of the clip to hold the neck against the base, and the legs of the clip are closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Poly-Clip System GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Hanten, Günter Vermehren, Gerhard Demmig
  • Patent number: 6675555
    Abstract: In a unit for feeding articles to a blister band, a casing has two apertures for a blister band to enter and come out of the casing. The casing supports and contains operative means for feeding articles to blisters made in the blister band. The casing is connected to a blistering machine for feeding the articles, and is removed from the blistering machine for cleaning and/or sterilizing the casing and the operative means in a suitable area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Marchesini Group S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Monti
  • Patent number: 6675556
    Abstract: A method and unit for forming a tubular wrapping about a rectangular-prism-shaped product, whereby a sheet of packing material is folded about the product in a first folding step, wherein the sheet of packing material is folded into a U about the product so that an end portion of the sheet of packing material projects crosswise with respect to a longitudinal axis of the product and beyond the product itself; and in a second folding step, wherein the end portion is subjected to traction in a direction crosswise to the longitudinal axis of the product, and is simultaneously folded further about the product to define the tubular wrapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: G.D Societa 'per Azioni
    Inventors: Ivanoe Bertuzzi, Alver Tacchi, Fiorenzo Draghetti
  • Patent number: 6675557
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing fluid into pre-formed, flexible containers and enclosing the fluid within the containers includes a web of film comprising a series of pre-formed flexible containers, each of the pre-formed containers being capable of holding therein a quantity of fluid and having an opening for receiving such fluid. After fluid is placed in each pre-formed container, the opening is sealed closed to thereby enclose the fluid within the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation (US)
    Inventors: Charles R. Sperry, Suzanne Scott
  • Patent number: 6675558
    Abstract: Vertical form fill seal apparatus for making flexible packages with slider fastener closures is provided. A fastener track is applied in-line with a plastic web and is bonded thereto at the same time that a peel seal is formed. All package components are brought together at the point of fill. Prior to assembly at the fill station a series of spaced-apart stop members are formed along the fastener tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Panagiotis Kinigakis, Orestes Rivero, Kenneth Pokusa
  • Patent number: 6675559
    Abstract: A rotary heat sealing system heat seals top and bottom webs to each other around discrete articles held in predetermined alignments and spacings between the webs. The rotary heat sealing system comprises a sealing station at which the heat sealing occurs, and a tensioning station upstream of the sealing station. The tensioning station produces a tension in the top and bottom webs and the articles by wrapping them in a reverse bend so as to maintain the predetermined alignments and spacings of the articles as they enter the sealing station. The sealing station includes an anvil and a heating die with a heat sealing grid and pockets between circumferential rails. The articles enter the pockets, and the webs are sealed to each other at areas corresponding to the heat sealing grid. A force mechanism applies a predetermined force between the heating die rails and the anvil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Converting Biophile Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Hilbert, Sr., Thomas F. Hilbert, Jr., Dale E. Lanser
  • Patent number: 6675560
    Abstract: A food wrap formed from polyvinyl chloride, at least one stabilizer, and a plasticizer in an amount of 10-60 parts per hundred parts polyvinyl chloride. The plasticizer may be present in an amount of 30-55 parts per hundred parts polyvinyl chloride. The plasticizer includes dioctyl terephthalate. Dioctyl adipate or another plasticizer may be used with dioctyl terephthalate. In this case, the plasticizer may contain 20 to 80 wt. % dioctyl terephthalate, or more specifically 20 to 60 wt. % dioctyl terephthalate. The food wrap may have a thickness of 1 to 80 mils. According to a method of wrapping food, the food wrap is applied to a food article. According to a method of forming the food wrap, polyvinyl chloride is combined with the plasticizer to form a mixture. The mixture is heated and fused. Then, a film is formed from the fused mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Samuel L. Gott, David J. Olsen
  • Patent number: 6675561
    Abstract: A semi-automatic round baler having an “auto kick” or “auto wrap” mode. In the auto kick mode, at the conclusion of the forming cycle the baler will stop and await the operator's signal to continue. Once the operator has signaled to continue, the baler will wrap the bale and will immediately proceed to the ejecting cycle. In auto wrap mode, the baler will automatically enter into and complete the wrapping cycle (after a short delay) following completion of the forming cycle. At the conclusion of the wrapping cycle in the auto wrap mode, the baler will await the operator's signal before ejecting the completed bale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Agco Corporation
    Inventors: Robert D. Davis, Robert J. Waggoner
  • Patent number: 6675562
    Abstract: A portable modular implement system is described. The system comprises a power source which comprises a motor. The motor comprises a crank shaft with an upper end and a lower end. A casing is attached to the motor exterior to the upper end of the crankshaft. The casing further comprises a void. An implement assembly comprising an implement bracket is reversibly attached to the power source. An implement is attached to the implement bracket. The implement comprises an implement drive shaft wherein the implement drive shaft protrudes through the void and couples with the crankshaft below the casing when the implement bracket is attached to the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventor: Robert C. Lawrence
  • Patent number: 6675563
    Abstract: A disc cutterbar having a two-piece mounting hub, one piece rotatably driven and the other supporting a knife for severing standing crop material, with spring-mounted ball and detent devices holding the two pieces members together and forming a shear device therebetween is disclosed. A specially threaded retaining bolt is associated with the knife-supporting piece whereby, upon failure of the shear device, the knife-supporting piece is rotated out of the cutting plane and away from the operational cutterheads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: New Holland North America, Inc
    Inventors: Philip J. Ehrhart, Charles H. Hoffman, Kenneth W. McLean, David A. Hess
  • Patent number: 6675564
    Abstract: A mower suitable for attachment to a utility vehicle and adapted to follow terrain and retract in response to an immovable obstacle, the mower generally including an attachment frame configured to be pivotally attached to the utility vehicle, a secondary frame pivotally connected to the attachment frame, and a housing positioned adjacent to the secondary frame and being laterally movable with respect to the secondary frame, wherein the housing retracts in a direction toward the secondary frame when contact occurs between the housing and the immovable obstacle and automatically returns to an approximate pre-contact position when contact between the housing and the immovable obstacle is eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: H-Tide Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Troy Ward
  • Patent number: 6675565
    Abstract: A wheeled attachment for a weed trimmer using string or blades, the wheeled attachment being adjustable along the shaft of the weed trimmer, thus to adjust the height of the trimmer. There is a centered bump wheel beneath the cutter head of the trimmer. Other embodiments employ a single wheel for the attachment assembly to a trimmer's shaft. A weed trimmer has a motor attached in-line on a shaft having a median projecting handle and a terminal handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventor: Richard Appleyard
  • Patent number: 6675566
    Abstract: A tool such as a lawnmower, particularly for gardening vehicles, of the type that comprises a protective housing, suitable to provide a supporting chassis for front wheels and cutting blades arranged substantially within its dimensions of the chassis, the housing being provided, in an upper region and at the front of the central region, with two mutually adjacent blades and with an opening on which there is a fan/aspirator from which a connection for a discharge duct to be connected to a collection container branches out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Antonio Carraro S.p.A.
    Inventor: Girolamo Martignon
  • Patent number: 6675567
    Abstract: A mid-mount type lawn tractor having idle wheels disposed at one end in a fore and aft direction of a vehicle body, drive wheels disposed at the other end in the fore and aft direction of the vehicle body, a mower unit connected to the vehicle body between the idle wheels and drive wheels. The lawn tractor includes a wheel support frame supporting the idle wheels and pivotably connected to the vehicle body. A pivotal movement of the wheel support frame relative to the vehicle body displaces the idle wheels relative to the vehicle body, to produce a running posture or a jack-up posture lifting at least part of the vehicle body. The pivotal movement of the wheel support frame is caused by a jack device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Samejima, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Yoshiyuki Esaki, Hironori Tsuchihashi, Yoshihiro Kawahara, Osami Fujiwara, Teruo Shimamura
  • Patent number: 6675568
    Abstract: A crop harvesting header for mounting on a propulsion vehicle such as a swather tractor or combine harvester includes a main frame structure supporting a crop receiving table with a cutter bar across a front of the table and side drapers on the table for moving the cut crop toward a discharge location of the header. The frame is divided into a central frame portion and two separate wing frame portions each arranged for pivotal movement relative to the central portion about a pivot axis extending in a plane parallel to the forward direction and intersecting the cutter bar so that, as the wing frame portions pivot, the cutter bar flexes in the area adjacent the respective pivot axis over a small angle of the order of 4 degrees to maintain the cutter bar following the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: MacDon Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Roger L. Patterson, Francois R. Talbot
  • Patent number: 6675569
    Abstract: A blade for mounting to a rotary mower. The blade has a beveled cutting leading edge and a trailing edge. The mower has a deck providing an over cover for the blade. The trailing edge of the blade is provided with an upwardly directed ramp at the outermost end of the trailing edge and deflects air flow upwardly inside the deck. Mulching teeth inwardly of the ramp produce a mulching action when desired. The combination mower blade has the feature of assisting the filling of a grass catching bag and alternatively has the feature of mulching the mown grass as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Frederick Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: N. Kevin Mannon, Paul T. Voss
  • Patent number: 6675570
    Abstract: A fuel system for providing a desired fuel flow to an engine comprises a metering assembly for providing a variable portion of metered fuel flow to an associated nozzle system. The variable portion corresponds to a variable demand signal received by the metering assembly. A centrifugal pumping assembly is adapted to receive fuel from an associated pumping system. The centrifugal pumping assembly is capable of pressurizing and delivering adequate fuel flow to the metering assembly. A throttling valve is in fluid communication between the metering assembly and the centrifugal pumping assembly to maintain a constant pressure rise across the metering assembly. An electronic engine control provides the variable demand signal to the metering assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Argo-Tech Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy A. Herbison, Martin A. Clements, Robert J. Nyzen
  • Patent number: 6675571
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for increasing the heat transfer to the coolant at the inside of a nozzle wall provided with coolant channels of expander cycle rocket engines. To achieve this the invention proposes that, to disturb the boundary layer at the nozzle wall and thereby increasing the heat transfer, the inside of the nozzle wall facing the flame has a particularly chosen increased surface roughness of such a magnitude that it penetrates the viscous sub-layer of the boundary layer at the nozzle wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Volvo Aero Corporation
    Inventors: Arne Boman, Jan Lundgren, Mats Olofsson
  • Patent number: 6675572
    Abstract: A method of diverting flow with a valve through a first filter and a second filter to purify exhaust gas with at least one of the filters and to regenerate at least one of the filters with the exhaust gas. Positioning the valve in a first operative position purifies the exhaust gas with the first filter and regenerates the second filter with the exhaust gas. Positioning the valve in a second operative position that is different that the first operative position purifies the exhaust gas with the second filter and regenerates the first filter with the exhaust gas. The method can be achieved by a valve for an exhaust system that including a body and a flow inhibitor. The body defines a volume and has a first inlet, a second inlet, a recirculation chamber, and an outlet chamber in fluid communication with the volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Everingham, Cristian Tofan-Petre, Thomas Maciejowski
  • Patent number: 6675573
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a fuel cell that generates electricity, a pre-heater electrically coupled to the fuel cell, wherein the pre-heater provides an output, and a component configured to receive a portion of the output, wherein a temperature of the component is changed through receipt of the portion of the output. In addition, a method is described for operating a fuel cell in a vehicle that includes: generating electricity from the fuel cell, and providing a portion of the electricity to a pre-heater, which provides an output to a vehicular component, thereby pre-heating the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Thomas Kempfer
  • Patent number: 6675574
    Abstract: A control unit for an internal combustion engine can activate a three-way catalyst at the early stage and can lessen the deterioration of the exhaust in an internal combustion engine such as HC, CO, and NOx, etc. from the exhaust gas when starting. The control unit for an internal combustion engine is provided with the three-way catalyst and HC adsorbent on an exhaust side. The control unit alternately controls the A/F between a rich state and a lean state in order to quicken the activation of the three-way catalyst when the internal combustion engine starts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Nakagawa, Minoru Ohsuga, Masami Nagano
  • Patent number: 6675575
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrostatic drive (1) with a hydraulic pump (2) and a first hydraulic engine (10) that is linked with the hydraulic pump (2) via a first working line section (4), the hydraulic engine driving a first drive train (11). The hydrostatic drive further comprises a second hydraulic engine (14) that is linked with the first hydraulic engine (10) via a second working line section (5), the second hydraulic engine driving a second drive train (15). The second hydraulic engine (14) is linked with the hydraulic pump (3) via a third working line section (6). According to the invention, an on-off valve (8) is located in the first working line section (4) and the second working line section (5). When a slip arises at the first drive train (11), said on-off valve can link the first working line section (5) with the second working line section (5) directly, that is while by-passing the first hydraulic engine (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Bosch Rexroth AG
    Inventor: Sinclair Cunningham
  • Patent number: 6675576
    Abstract: A hydraulic circuit for the hydrostatic transmission of a vehicle, said hydraulic circuit comprising at least one hydraulic motor, two main ducts, a parking brake having brake means, brake release control means suitable for feeding the brake release chamber from a first brake release fluid source, and means for connecting said chamber to a unpressurized reservoir. The circuit has a single short-circuit and selection valve having two main ports connected to respective ones of the two main ducts, and two selection ports connected respectively to the brake release chamber and to the brake release duct, and control means for controlling said valve, which control means are suitable for causing the valve to take up a first configuration in which the main ports are mutually isolated while the selection ports are interconnected, and for causing it to take up a second configuration in which the main ports are interconnected while the selection ports are mutually isolated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Poclain Hydraulics Industrie
    Inventors: Louis Bigo, Alain Mangano, Jean-Philippe Raisin, Daniel Ruzicka
  • Patent number: 6675577
    Abstract: A control system for a utility vehicle, particularly a compact utility tractor, that is speed-controlled by a hydrostatic transmission, prevents engine stalling by automatically reducing the stroke of a pump of the hydrostatic transmission, and thus reducing the vehicle speed, when the unloaded engine speed drops below a predetermined threshold. The apparatus includes a servo controlled hydrostatic transmission, an engine speed sensor, a throttle position sensor and a controller. The unloaded engine speed is determined by either an engine throttle lever position or by an engine speed capture algorithm that continuously monitors engine speed and records engine speed occurring when the transmission control pedals are positioned in neutral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Mark David Evans
  • Patent number: 6675578
    Abstract: An in-plane thermal buckle-beam microelectrical mechanical actuator is formed on a planar substrate of semiconductor material, for example. The actuator includes first and second anchors secured to the substrate and a floating center beam positioned between the first and second anchors and movable relative to the substrate. Symmetric first and second sets of elongated thermal half-beams are secured between opposite sides of the floating center beam and the respective first and second anchors. The half-beams are formed of semiconductor material, such as polysilicon. A current source directs electrical current through the thermal half beams via the anchors to impart thermal expansion of the thermal half-beams and hence linear motion of the floating center beam generally parallel to the substrate. In one implementation, the half-beams are configured at a bias angle to give the floating beam an affinity for in-plane motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Michael J. Sinclair
  • Patent number: 6675579
    Abstract: An intake/exhaust system and a method of controlling intake air temperature and pressure for a dual-mode homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine is provided. The system may include an air compressor including at least two output air flow paths, an intercooler for cooling air from one of the air flow paths, and heat exchangers for heating air from another one of the air flow paths. Control valves may be provided for controlling the mass ratio of air through the air flow paths to thereby control temperature and pressure of air supplied to the engine. The first air flow path may direct air to the engine via the intercooler and the second air flow path may direct air to the engine via the heat exchangers, whereby, air at first and second controlled temperatures and pressures may be supplied to the engine for operation in SI and HCCI modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Jialin Yang
  • Patent number: 6675580
    Abstract: A flexible solar power assembly (2) includes a flexible photovoltaic device (16) attached to a flexible thermal solar collector (4). The solar power assembly can be rolled up for transport and then unrolled for installation on a surface, such as the roof (20, 25) or side wall of a building or other structure, by use of adhesive and/or other types of fasteners (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Powerlight Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Ansley, Jonathan D. Botkin, Thomas L. Dinwoodie
  • Patent number: 6675581
    Abstract: A premix fuel nozzle and method of operation for use in a gas turbine combustor is disclosed. The premix fuel nozzle utilizes a fin assembly comprising a plurality of radially extending fins for injection of fuel and compressed air in order to provide a more uniform injection pattern. The fuel and compressed air mixes upstream of the combustion chamber and flows into the combustion chamber as a homogeneous mixture. The premix fuel nozzle includes a plurality of coaxial passages, which provide fuel and compressed air to the fin assembly, as well as compressed air to cool the nozzle cap assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Power Systems MFG, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Stuttaford, Stephen T. Jennings, Ryan McMahon, Brian R. Mack
  • Patent number: 6675582
    Abstract: A combustor liner for use in a gas turbine engine includes an annular panel section having a cooling nugget formed on one end thereof. An annular cooling lip is formed on the cooling nugget so as to define a cooling slot. The cooling lip includes a hot side, a cold side and a trailing edge surface. The hot side defines a compound taper for minimizing the thickness of the trailing edge surface. In one embodiment, the compound taper includes a first tapered surface disposed on a forward portion of the cooling lip and a second tapered surface disposed on an aft portion of the cooling lip, wherein the second tapered surface has a greater taper than the first tapered surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Douglas Monty, John C. Jacobson
  • Patent number: 6675583
    Abstract: Upon shutdown of a liquid fuel turbine engine, the liquid fuel supply is turned off and compressed air is passed through the fuel lines and fuel injectors to purge all remaining liquid fuel into the combustion chamber to be combusted therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Capstone Turbine Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Willis, Guillermo Pont, Edward C. Edelman, Gunther Linzner
  • Patent number: 6675584
    Abstract: An improved sealing device for use between a transition duct aft frame and turbine inlet is disclosed. The improved sealing device includes a plurality of corrugated metal seals that are secured to the transition duct aft frame along the arc-like sections of the aft frame. The corrugated seals contact both the transition duct aft frame and turbine inlet to provide a more effective seal and to control the amount of compressor discharge air introduced to cool the turbine vane platforms. In the preferred embodiment, the corrugated seals are coated to reduce wear, fretting, and galling and are used in conjunction with a transition duct thermally free aft frame and pivot bearing mounting system. An alternate embodiment of the seal is also disclosed that utilizes an alternate cooling hole pattern for providing additional cooling air to the turbine vane platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Power Systems Mfg, LLC
    Inventors: Terry L. Hollis, Gerry A. Sileo, Stephen W. Jorgensen, Robert J. Kraft, Vincent C. Martling
  • Patent number: 6675585
    Abstract: A turbomachine has inner and outer annular shells of metal material containing, in a gas flow direction F, a fuel injector assembly, a composite material annular combustion chamber, and an nozzle of metal material forming the fixed-blade inlet stage of a high pressure turbine. Provision is made for the combustion chamber to be held in position between the inner and outer metal annular shells by a plurality of flexible metal tabs having first ends interconnected by a flange-forming metal ring fixed securely to each of the annular shells by first fixing means, and second ends fixed by second fixing means firstly to the composite material combustion chamber and secondly to one end of a composite material wall whose other end forms a bearing plane for a sealing element secured to the nozzle and providing sealing for the gas stream between the combustion chamber and the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: SNECMA Moteurs
    Inventors: Gwénaëlle Calvez, Eric Conete, Alexandre Forestier, Didier Hernandez
  • Patent number: 6675586
    Abstract: In a heat shield arrangement, in which heat shield elements are arranged next to one another on a carrying structure and are anchored to the carrying structure, there is provision for a cooling-air duct, into which cooling air is fed and which the adjacent heat shield elements communicate with one another, to be formed by at least two adjacent heat shield elements between the carrying structure and the surface of the heat shield elements which faces away from the hot gas. What is achieved thereby is that the individual heat shield elements are interconnected to form continuous cooling-air ducts, with the cooling air introduced into the cooling-air ducts being collected and being led, for example, to a burner. Advantageously, the gaps between the heat shield elements are sealed off by sealing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hans Maghon
  • Patent number: 6675587
    Abstract: An annular combustor suitable for use in a gas turbine engine having a plurality of fuel injectors and a plurality of apertures circumferentially arranged within the inner and outer liners of the combustion chamber is disclosed. Further, each of the apertures of the inner liner are disposed on one side of the centerline of each of the fuel injectors and each of the apertures of the outer liner are disposed on the opposing side of the centerline of each of the fuel injectors. In this way, air exhausted from the apertures advantageously opposes the direction of swirl of the fuel and air mixture that is injected from the fuel injectors thereby providing enhanced mixing of the fuel and air within the combustion chamber, increased residence time and the reduction of hot streaks in the inner and outer liners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Charles B. Graves, Michael S. Ondas, Jason W. Norris
  • Patent number: 6675588
    Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus driven by a Stirling cooler and having reduced internal vibrations. The apparatus may include an insulated enclosure. The enclosure may define an opening from the inside to the outside. A heat-conducting member may be disposed within the enclosure and in alignment with the opening. The apparatus may further include a Stirling cooler. The Stirling cooler may be selectively connectable to the heat-conducting member. A cushioning member may be disposed between the heat-conducting member and the enclosure, such that vibrations from the Stirling cooler to the enclosure are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventor: Arthur G. Rudick
  • Patent number: 6675589
    Abstract: A freeze-crusting process and a vertical freezing apparatus preferred for use in the inventive freeze-crusting process. The freeze-crusting process preferably comprises the steps of (a) continuously delivering food products through the freezing apparatus and (b) exposing the food products to cold circulating air within the freezing apparatus in a manner effective for freezing an outermost layer of the food product. The inventive crusting process is particularly well-suited for preparing food logs and other products for slicing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventor: David Howard