Patents Issued in January 13, 2004
  • Patent number: 6675841
    Abstract: A coupling device for fueling automobile gasoline tanks is disclosed and claimed. The coupling has two parts: a cap assembly (female half) and a nozzle assembly (male half). Little or no spillage occurs due to opposing flush faces of the female main valve and the plug of the male. The cap assembly is affixed to an existing gasoline tank (fuel storage tank) or alternatively can be supplied as original equipment on a new automobile. Fuel vapor is extracted from the automobile fuel tank with high efficiency and returned to the pumping station for storage and/or reprocessing. Vapors and/or liquid fuel are extracted through the portion of the gasoline tank cap assembly which resides within the tank. Apertures in the cap assembly communicate with an annular passageway which removes the vapors to ports which mate with peripheral apertures in a concentric nozzle having an outer sheath and an inner fluid conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Snap-tite Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey M. Burns
  • Patent number: 6675842
    Abstract: A fluid dispensing system has a flexible bag filled with a dispensable material, a dispensing opening adjacent a receiving socket, the dispensing opening including a push valve. A dispensing coupling is removably located in the receiving socket and has an actuating end which engages the push valve to initiate flow. A flow regulator is incorporated with the dispensing conduit for controlling the flow of the material from the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventor: Johan C. Fitter
  • Patent number: 6675843
    Abstract: A non-return valve includes a main tube to be externally inserted into and joined to a fuel filling pipe, and a valve element to be provided on a downstream end of the main tube for allowing fuel to flow into a fuel tank and inhibiting a back flow out of the fuel tank. On an upstream side of the main tube, provided is a first inner tube including a first retaining portion relevant to the fuel filling pipe, an annular sealing member abutting on an inner periphery of the main tube and on an outer periphery of the fuel filling pipe, and a second inner pipe disposed more upstream than the first inner tube so as to sandwich the annular sealing member together with the first inner tube, the second inner tube including a second retaining portion relevant to the main tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignees: Piolax Inc., Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Yonezawa, Hiroki Isobe
  • Patent number: 6675844
    Abstract: Method of dispensing moist, sticky or statically charged bulk material into a fluid pervious container having an opening for receiving said bulk material, which comprises conveying a bulk material, as a suspension or dispersion in a fluid, from a reservoir, and introducing said suspension or dispersion into the fluid-pervious container through said opening in the container to pass the fluid component of the suspension or dispersion through and out of the fluid-pervious container while the retaining the bulk material within the container, and recirculating the fluid to the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Lutz Gottschalk, Georg Ronge, Johannes-Peter Schäfer, Dirk Müller, Michael Prein, Werner Verhoeven, Domien Sluyts
  • Patent number: 6675845
    Abstract: A method and package for controlled metered dispensing of a fluid product contained in the package having a metered dispensing system, each time the package is opened or uncapped are disclosed. By the present method and package, the maximum amount of product that can be dispensed is limited to a single metered dose after each uncapping of the package. Specifically, the metered dispensing system is configured to allow dispensing of only a single metered dose of a liquid, viscous liquid, gel, paste, or semi-solid product contained in the package and to prevent further dispensing of additional doses of product until at least one specific and deliberate step is taken that re-activates or re-engages the dispensing system. Such deliberate step is preferably one that occurs through natural use of the package, such as re-capping the open package after one single dose has been dispensed. Only after the open package has been re-capped can the next dose of product be available for dispensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Daniel William Volpenheim, Christopher Miles Miller, Christopher Lawrence Smith, William Michael Cannon, Robert Edward Stahley, Phillip Cordell Myles, Frederick James Rohman, Chow-chi Huang, Todd Mitchell Day
  • Patent number: 6675846
    Abstract: The invention discloses a lineal log peeler and debarker that debarks logs for use in home construction automatically by, an operator in a protected control booth. The machine is electronically controlled and replaces the difficult, dangerous and time-consuming operation of hand-peeling such logs with a drawknife. The logs debarked by the machine of this invention can range in length from about 6 to over 50 feet. They can range from about 7 to about 21 inches in diameter and weigh up to about 3000 pounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventor: James D. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 6675847
    Abstract: A workbench with an adjustable height top dually engaged by twin standards with each standard having a single pawl-like structure laterally extended from front to back. The pawl mechanism in each standard is a laterally extended round rod engaging a vertical array of rounded ratchet apertures at the front and back end of the top. A novel safety mechanism to prevent inadvertent disengagement of the rod from the ratchet apertures is a combination of a tension spring connected between a chain and a foot actuator pedal. This spring prevents accidental release of the rod by absorbing unintentional or inadvertent minor force applied to the pedal. The rod-like structure or pawl provides superior structural rigidity for the bench when restricted with rear shims to rotation into the ratchet slots at an angle &agr; between less than about 45 degrees and greater than about 10 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventor: Geoffrey Noden
  • Patent number: 6675848
    Abstract: A method of harvesting standing trees in a jungle comprising bringing a crawler crane, preferably a hydraulic crawler crane, with a boom (14) to a block of jungle, securing the tree to be harvested to a sling in the boom, cutting the base of the tree, removing the cut tree using the boom, laying the cut tree on the ground, and cutting the crown of the cut tree. In another aspect the crown of the tree is cut first and removed by means of a sling on the boom of the crane. The crane is used to remove the crownless tree, or the crownless tree is cut at the base and allowed to fall. Main roads, spur roads, and snig tracks are constructed in the logging area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Green Earth Limited
    Inventor: Wong Yeon Chai
  • Patent number: 6675849
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for making tenons using an adjustable shim placed between cutting blades. The adjustable shim has a plate with a recess capable of accepting spacers of varied thicknesses and a cover that encloses any of the spacers placed in the recess. The thickness of the adjustable shim is adjusted by placing spacers in the recess to shim apart the cutting blades leaving between them a distance approximately equal to the desired tenon thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventor: Mark Lackley
  • Patent number: 6675850
    Abstract: A tire anti-skid apparatus has a plurality of non-metallic anti-skid members adapted to be arranged along a peripheral direction of a tire, the anti-skid members including: an anti-skid tread portion; and a plurality of connecting portions extending from the anti-skid tread portion in a direction perpendicular to the peripheral direction; and linking portions adapted to be disposed on a vehicle outside portion and a vehicle inside portion of the tire and linking the connecting portions of the anti-skid members, the linking portions including a linking member provided in the anti-skid member and linking the adjacent connecting portions of the anti-skid member which are situated in the tire peripheral direction. The linking member, the connecting portions and the anti-skid tread portion are formed integrally with one another. The linking member is formed expandable and compressible, and the connecting portion is formed deformable in the tire peripheral direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Carmate Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Sakuma
  • Patent number: 6675851
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rubber-based product, having at least one buffer zone to trap oxygen external to said product in order to protect at least one sensitive zone of said product from oxidation, said buffer zone comprising a composition containing at least one elastomer and at least one iron (III) salt selected from iron (III) acetylacetonate and an iron (III) salt of a carboxylic acid having the formula Fe(CnH2nO2)3 in which n is between 13 and 23. This product is produced by incorporating, by mechanical working, said iron (III) salt into the composition in order to obtain said buffer zone. The buffer zone composition is advantageously used in a tire and imparts improved rolling resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Michelin & Cie
    Inventors: Francois Masson, Francis Renault
  • Patent number: 6675852
    Abstract: A platen for use in a laminating press is provided which includes a body of material having first and second faces and spaced first and second ends. Preferably, at least one heating device is disposed in the body of material. First and second spaced cooling channels are formed in the body of material, the first cooling channel being adjacent the first face and having a fluid inlet port adjacent to or in the first end, and a fluid outlet port adjacent to or in the second end, and a second cooling channel being adjacent the second face and having a fluid inlet port adjacent to or in said second end, and a fluid outlet port adjacent to or in the first end. The invention also contemplates using such platens for laminating a book or stack of sheets of material to form a unitary single member having reduced stresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Varaprasad Venkata Calmidi, Donald S. Farquhar, Michael Joseph Klodowski, Randall Joseph Stutzman
  • Patent number: 6675853
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a splice in a conveyor belt. The apparatus includes a lower plate having a heating strip where the splice is being formed. The lower plate includes areas of insulation adjacent the heating strip to reduce transfer of heat to areas of the conveyor belt adjacent the splice during vulcanization or heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventor: Curt Shaffer
  • Patent number: 6675854
    Abstract: A master processing apparatus for use with a pair of removable feed rolls each carrying a supply of stock material to be unwound includes a frame including first and second frame portions movably connected for movement relative to one another between open and closed positions. The first frame portion removably mounts the feed rolls. One of a pair of cooperating pressure applying structures is mounted on the first frame portion and the other is mounted on the second frame portion. A guide structure is provided on the first frame portion. When the frame portions are in the open position, mounting the feed rolls causes the guide structure to urge the end portions of the stock materials into a position whereat the cooperating structures automatically engage the end portions therebetween in the pressure applying engagement upon movement of the frame portions to the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Xyron, Inc.
    Inventor: Cory W. Worth
  • Patent number: 6675855
    Abstract: The present application discloses a cartridgeless feed roll assembly package to be used in conjunction with a master processing apparatus for processing a master. The processing assembly is constructed and arranged to perform a master processing operation wherein cooperating structures apply pressure to substrates received therebetween and then subsequently discharge the substrates. The packaged cartridgeless feed roll assembly comprises a feed roll assembly comprising a first feed roll carrying a supply of a first stock material; and a second feed roll carrying a supply of a second stock material. The feed rolls are joined together without the use of a cartridge body structure as a result of the lead end portions of the stock materials being secured together with side edges of the stock materials substantially aligned with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Xyron, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul J. Lemens
  • Patent number: 6675856
    Abstract: In a coating film transfer tool, a tape is unwound from a supply reel, fed over a transfer head, and wound onto a take-up reel driven from the supply reel by a drive mechanism having slippage. Instead of setting the average slipping torque at a high value, or minimizing its variations, to prevent it from falling below the winding threshold, the initial slipping ratio is set at a value of at least 34%. This avoids slackening of the tape without the need for close manufacturing tolerances or lubricants, and without causing a condition in which excessive force is required to wind the tape onto a take-up reel in the later stages of the tool's useful life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Fujicopian Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kozaki
  • Patent number: 6675857
    Abstract: A refitting apparatus for a tire assembly “w” having a disk wheel “a” having engaging rims and a tire “d” fitted to the disk wheel and having tire bead rims and side walls. The apparatus is constituted to perform a refit process in which a pressing step of bringing one of the tire bead rims “e” of the tire into pressing contact with one of the engaging rims “b” of the disk wheel “a” by supplying air into the tire “d” and a releasing step of releasing the one of tire bead rims “e” of the tire “d” from the one of engaging rims “b” of the disk wheel “a” are repeated a predetermined number of times for each of the tire bead rims “e”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Central Motor Wheel Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Kimbara, Shigeru Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6675858
    Abstract: A vertical blind having a head rail, one or more trolleys being movable along the head rail and blind slats being suspended therefrom. The vertical blind has a fabric panel with folds enfolding the blind slats. The vertical blind has attachments by which the fabric panel is secured to the upper ends of the blind slats and at least partially enfolds the blind slats, without requiring modification of the trolleys. A kit or attachment to the blind slats of an existing vertical blind has panel clip attachments being on an upper end of a fabric panel, and panel clips each being mounted to the upper edge of each blind slat to straddle over and hang on both sides of the upper edge of each of the blind slats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Shade-O-Matic Limited
    Inventor: Norbert Marocco
  • Patent number: 6675859
    Abstract: A curtain and Venetian blind arrangement. The arrangement includes a Venetian blind formed of a headrail, a bottom rail, a set of slats, and a lift cord set adapted for joining the headrail, the bottom rail and the slats and keeping the slats arranged between the headrail and the bottom rail. Curtains are coupled to the slats, with each curtain having at least one peripheral side suspended from one slat. At least one peripheral side of each curtain is mounted with at least one weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Nien Made Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming Nien
  • Patent number: 6675860
    Abstract: A window and door treatment complex characterized by base pairs of hook and fastener strapping units removably affixed to a window to which units there is removably affixed via hook and fastener strapping affixed to a rear side of a first coverlet, a first coverlet made up of insulating fabric about which there is sewn an outer fabric and into which insulating fabric and outer fabric a through hole has been cut and affixed to near the top border and near the bottom border of the frontal side of which first coverlet there is hook and fastener material removably affixable to hook and fastener material attached to a rear side of a second coverlet made up of an insulating material about which there is sewn an outer fabric, the front side of which, near lateral borders thereof and near top and bottom borders thereof, is characterized by the presence of hook and fastener material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventor: Doris M. Steele
  • Patent number: 6675861
    Abstract: A window covering including a head rail, a bottom rail, a window covering material extending between the head rail and bottom rail, a first and second lift cords extending between the head rail and the bottom rail, a spring motor configured to bias the bottom rail toward the head rail, mounted in the bottom rail, and operatively coupled to the first and second lift cords, and a brake mounted in the bottom rail and configured to releasably couple to the first lift cord to prohibit the spring motor from taking up the first cord, prohibiting the bottom rail from being raised or lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Newell Window Furnishings, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger C. Palmer, Zazu Ciuca
  • Patent number: 6675862
    Abstract: A blind apparatus comprises a drum on which a blind is wound, a motor for rotating the drum, an extrusion mechanism having a foldable arm for thrusting the leading end of the blind in a blind spreading direction with a spring force, a one-way clutch for transmitting the rotating force of the motor to the drum when the drum rotates in a blind take-up direction, a stopper for regulating a position of the arm at a spreading end position of the blind, and a circuit for detecting a motor lock current when taking up the blind. A stopping position in the spreading direction of the blind is detected by the position regulation of the arm by the stopper, and a stopping position in the take-up direction of the blind is detected by detecting the motor lock current. Thus, in a simple structure, the cost is reduced, and the operating sound is suppressed at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd., NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryogo Kobayashi, Motohiro Higuchi, Fusao Takanishi
  • Patent number: 6675863
    Abstract: Hollow, cylindrical, seamless metal master for producing seamless diffuser sheets of preselected length and width. Additional aspects of the invention include a hollow cylindrical seamless invertable elastomeric master and method of making the same and an apparatus and process for effecting variable diffuser recording in photosensitive medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Physical Optics Corporation
    Inventors: San Zhuang Wang, Gajendra D. Savant, Ed Kaiser, Kang S. Lee
  • Patent number: 6675864
    Abstract: A method for producing a composite structure in which a foamed metal core (1) is surrounded with a metal body (3). The method includes the following steps: a) producing a foamed metal core (1) with an essentially closed surface; b) introducing the foamed metal core (1) into a pressure die-casting mold; c) filling the pressure die-casting mold at a first casting pressure (p1); d) reducing the first casting pressure (p1) before the pressure die-casting mold has been filled; e) filling the pressure die-casting mold entirely, the first casting pressure (p1) being reduced to zero or almost zero; and f) applying a second casting pressure (p2) and maintaining the second casting pressure for a predetermined holding period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Friedrich-Alexander-Universitat-Erlangen-Nurngerg
    Inventors: Robert F. Singer, Frank Heinrich, Carolin Korner, Gerhard Grotzschel
  • Patent number: 6675865
    Abstract: The concave design forming unit with the desired form is formed on the surface of the molded component easily in the case of injection molding by using the low melting point metal material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuo Yoshida
  • Patent number: 6675866
    Abstract: To provide a monitoring system for remotely monitoring the operation of a molding apparatus or an air-flow and press molding apparatus. The monitoring systems for monitoring a molding apparatus and an air-flow and press molding apparatus include sensors, a local unit, and a remote unit. The local unit transmits the signals associated with the required attributes, which are measured by the sensors, of the molding apparatus to the remote unit via the communication network. The remote unit is designed so that it receives the signals transmitted from the local unit; thereby the user can monitor the molding apparatus or the air-flow and press molding apparatus remotely at the production and operation by them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Sintokogio Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironobu Amano, Yasuo Moribe, Hiroshi Umeda, Mitsuyuki Matsushita
  • Patent number: 6675867
    Abstract: An injection apparatus for transferring melted metals is capable of metering and degassing the melted metal in a reservoir to reserve metals in the liquid phase for injection. The injection apparatus includes a heating cylinder having a metering chamber. An injection screw is movably and rotationally installed within the heating cylinder. A tip end of the injection screw forms a plunger insertable into the metering chamber with a clearance for sliding. The reservoir includes an axial portion free of screw flights between the plunger and a feeding portion that has a screw flight around its axis. A projected portion for limiting the feeding of granular metals flowing to the reservoir and for preventing the metals in liquid phase from flowing backward during injection is provided on a boundary between the feeding portion and the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Nissei Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyasu Koda, Mamoru Miyagawa, Yuji Hayashi
  • Patent number: 6675868
    Abstract: A machine for forming and fitting core support pins into wax (70) surrounding a core (68) prior to covering the wax (70) with a frit (76), includes one or more punch devices (30), (82) within its structure, so as to enable the forming of one or more indentations in each pin, intermediate its ends, thereby providing a designed weakness in the pin to cause it to more reliably follow slight relative movement which occurs between the pins and the part being cast, thus reducing stresses in the surface of the part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventor: Alec G Dodd
  • Patent number: 6675869
    Abstract: A plain carbon steel strip is continuously cast in a twin roll caster and passes to a run out table on which it is subjected to accelerated cooling by means of cooling headers whereby it is cooled to transform the strip from austenite to ferrite at a temperature range between 850° C. and 400° C. at a cooling rate of not less than 90° C./sec, such that the strip has a yield strength of greater than 450 MPa. The strip after casting and before cooling is passed through a hot rolling mill to reduce the thickness of strip by at least 15% and up to 50%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Nucor Corporation
    Inventors: Lazar Strezov, Kannappar Mukunthan, Walter Blejde, Rama Mahapatra
  • Patent number: 6675870
    Abstract: An embodiment includes a casting mold. The casting mold may include a mold body having a direction surface and a coolant box coupled to the mold body. The casting mold further may include a coolant ring having a regulation surface where the coolant ring may be coupled to the coolant box so as to bring the regulation surface and the direction surface together to form a nozzle. The casting mold further may include a mold starting head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventor: Ravindra V. Tilak
  • Patent number: 6675871
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a honeycomb rotor, a drive unit and a gas movement device. The honeycomb rotor has at least two heat exchange passages and at least two purge zones provided respectively between the at least two heat exchange passages. The drive unit rotates the honeycomb rotor. The gas movement device circulates a gas through the at least two purge zones. The gas movement device may include a blower, and the drive unit may include a motor. In this case rotation of the blower can be synchronized with rotation of the motor. A vehicle drive device includes a power source that emits exhaust gas. The power source has a fuel battery having an air intake. Heat may be exchanged between the exhaust gas and air supplied to the air intake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Seibu Giken Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Okano, Yukito Kawakami
  • Patent number: 6675872
    Abstract: Featured are a device, system and method for dissipating at least some heat energy generated by one or more heat generating components of a flywheel energy storage system (FESS). The method includes providing a heat pipe member, having first and second ends, and a heat dissipating member thermally engaged with the heat pipe member second end and configured to transfer heat energy therefrom. The method also includes thermally engaging the heat pipe member first end to the FESS so that at least some heat energy generated by the FESS heat generating component is communicated to the first end and thence through the heat pipe member to the heat dissipating member. Further, the method includes locating the heat dissipating member in a heat sink remote from the FESS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Beacon Power Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Lewis, Todd A. Ebert
  • Patent number: 6675873
    Abstract: An air-conditioner for use in an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle includes an electric heater for heating water circulating through a heater core and a compressor for compressing refrigerant in a refrigeration cycle. The electric heater is powered by an on-board battery, and the compressor is also driven by the same on-board battery. When a voltage of the on-board battery abnormally increases to a first predetermined level, the electric heater is switched off to prevent the electric heater from being overheated. When the voltage further increases to a second predetermined level, operation of the compressor is also terminated. Thus, the electric heater is properly protected from the abnormally high voltage while properly keeping performance of the air-conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Ieda, Ken Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 6675874
    Abstract: A cooling system is provided for cooling a canister. A first heat pipe is mounted around the perimeter of the canister. The first heat pipe has a condenser. A second heat pipe has an evaporator conductively coupled to the condenser of the first heat pipe. The second heat pipe has a condenser. A heat sink is conductively coupled to the condenser of the second heat pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Thermal Corp.
    Inventors: Brian E. Mast, Nelson J. Gernert, James E. Lindemuth
  • Patent number: 6675875
    Abstract: The present invention includes multi-layer micro-channeled heat sinks, multi-layer micro-channeled heat sink devices, and multi-layer micro-channeled heat sink systems. The invention also includes machines or electronic devices using these aspects of the invention. The present invention also includes an electronic device with multi-layered micro-channeled heat sink. The invention utilizes the multi-directional flow of coolant through the individual heat sink layers so as to minimize heat gradients. The present invention is also capable of reducing the undesirable temperature variation in the streamwise direction for the micro-channel heat sink instead of increasing the pressure drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: The Ohio State University
    Inventors: Kambiz Vafai, Lu Zhu
  • Patent number: 6675876
    Abstract: A rotary cooling roller includes outer and inner cylinders, two end plates fixed to both ends of the outer cylinder, and a supporting shaft protruding from the end plates. A cylindrical space, provided between the outer and the inner cylinders, communicates with the inner space of the inner cylinder via through-holes formed in the inner cylinder. A coolant contained is allowed to flow back and forth between the cylindrical space and the inner space of the inner cylinder. Ring-shaped spacers are provided in the cylindrical space for passing an external force exerted on the outer cylinder to the inner cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Sasakura Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kinya Yamashita, Tyuichi Itashiki, Tomohiro Motomura, Kunihiko Minami, Iwao Sawada
  • Patent number: 6675877
    Abstract: A seal-less magnetically driven scraped-surface heat exchanger is provided that is particularly useful for aseptic processing. The heat exchanger comprises an elongated generally cylindrical heat transfer tube having an inlet, an outlet, and a sidewall defining a chamber between the inlet and the outlet. An elongated media tube is provided in surrounding relation to the heat transfer tube. A rotary shaft is mounted axially within the heat transfer tube. The rotary shaft has an outer surface and one or more scraper blades extending from the outer surface of the rotary shaft. A drive end containment shroud is mounted at an axial end of the heat transfer tube. The drive end containment shroud has a closed end, an open end, and a sidewall defining a drive chamber in open communication with the interior chamber of the heat transfer tube through the open end of the containment shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Conagra Grocery Products Company
    Inventors: Constantine Sandu, Liviu V. Popa, John J. Mercurio
  • Patent number: 6675878
    Abstract: A turbulator (60A-60K) is provided for use in the heat exchange units (34) of heat exchangers. The turbulator (60A-60K) includes a sheet (62A, 62C) of material. The sheet (62A, 62C) includes a plurality of strand-like rows (64A, 64C) of alternating crests (66A, 66C) and valleys (68A, 68C). The crests (66A, 66C) and valleys (68A, 68C) in each row (64A, 64C) are offset with respect to the crests (66A, 66C) and valleys (68A, 68C) in any immediately adjacent row (64A, 64C). Each of the rows (64A, 64C) has an interface with any immediately adjacent row (64A, 64C). The interfaces are perforated so that valleys (68A, 68C) in each row (64A, 64C) are in fluid communication with immediately adjacent crests (66A, 66C) in any immediately adjacent row (64A, 64C) and crests (66A, 66C) in each row (64A, 64C) are in fluid communication with any immediately adjacent valleys (68A, 68C) in any immediately adjacent row (64A, 62C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James T. Haasch, Wayne N. Mueller, Thomas E. Lefeber, Robert J. Barfknecht, Frank M. Grippe, Ajay K. Dalmia, Brian P. Gilner
  • Patent number: 6675879
    Abstract: A compact heat exchanger system including a radial fan directing air flow outwardly away from the fan axis and a plurality of heat exchangers disposed around the radial fan. At least two of the heat exchangers include headers with longitudinal walls extending generally in the same direction as the fan axis with one of the heat exchangers disposed with its outlet header longitudinal wall adjacent the longitudinal wall of the inlet header of a second of the heat exchangers. A flow opening is provided between the adjacent longitudinal walls of the outlet header of the one heat exchanger and the inlet header of the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Mark G. Voss
  • Patent number: 6675880
    Abstract: A high temperature air heater including a heat transfer conduit located in higher temperature gas. The heat transfer conduit is made up of a heat transfer pipe through which the air to be heated flows and a refractory protective pipe covering the heat transfer pipe. A clearance is provided between the heat transfer pipe and the refractory protective pipe. The clearance makes it possible to accommodate the differences in thermal expansion between the heat transfer pipe and the refractory protective pipe to prevent damaging the refractory protective pipe, thus extending the service life of the high temperature air heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding Company Limited
    Inventors: Masao Namba, Kenzo Miura, Yoshitada Tomoyasu, Hidehiro Kiuchi, Yasuaki Harada, Teruo Urayama, Kazuo Shimamura, Norio Tezuka
  • Patent number: 6675881
    Abstract: A method for forming a plurality of heat transfer fins on at least an inner surface of a conduit in a heat exchanger, the method comprising: forming a plurality of criss-crossing slots in at least a portion of the inner surface of the conduit, the plurality of slots defining the plurality of heat transfer fins therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Pratt and Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Gluseppe Rago
  • Patent number: 6675882
    Abstract: A one-piece extrusion (50) having a flat bottom portion (54) and supporting flat sides (74) is described. The one-piece extrusion (50) is particularly appropriate for use as a header for a heat exchanger in a cogeneration facility or other high pressure vessels. The header (50) is extruded out of steel, stainless steel, or a steel alloy. The flat bottom portion (54) of the header (50) provides a flat surface for drilling apertures (80) and connecting tubes (56) to the header (50), eliminating the need for complicated manufacturing and attachment procedures encountered with the cylindrical headers currently used. The flat bottom portion (54) also provides more surface area for attachment of the tubes (56). The flat sides (74) of the extrusion impart structural support and integrity to the header (50) and allow a greater number of headers to be placed closer together without taking up the space required for typical cylindrical headers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventor: John A. Luberda
  • Patent number: 6675883
    Abstract: An elongate manifold construction (10) having an longitudinal axis (20) is provided for use in a heat exchanger (12) having a plurality of tubes (14). The manifold construction (10) includes an elongated tank piece (3 2) and an elongated header piece (34). A plurality of embossed beads (48) having openings (50) therein that are engaged by tabs (52) spaced along the longitudinal axis (20) to maintain the tank and header pieces (32, 34) in proper alignment with each other so as to obtain a suitable bond joint therebetween during a bonding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Richard Mark De Keuster, Noorulhaq Pandit, Donald Scott Lightner, Lawrence William Gabbey, Gregory Mark DaPra, Jeffrey Alan Logic, Thomas M. Shields, Richard J. Trapp
  • Patent number: 6675884
    Abstract: An assembly of multiple heat sink fins is comprised of multiple fins overlapped on one another and penetrated through by a heat conducting tube, each fin being provided at where close to the edge of the fin with a hole in a diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the conducting tube to receive insertion of the conducting tube; an opening connected through the hole being formed on the edge of the fin; and the fin allowing the conducting tube being compressed into the hole through the opening as a clamp ring to secure the fin to the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventor: Chi-Chang Shen
  • Patent number: 6675885
    Abstract: A heat dissipating device includes a plurality of plates each having a three-sided base plate portion and a pair of fin plate portions. The base plate portion has a contact side adapted to contact a heat generating object, and two opposite sides forming an angle therebetween and extending to two opposite ends of the contact side. The base plate portions of the plates are disposed in parallel and next to each other to form a stack. The fin plate portions respectively extend outward from the opposite sides of the base plate portions and are bent from the base plate portions to diverge outward and to form air passages therebetween. The heat dissipating device provides a high ratio of the area of the base plate portions to the area of the fin plate portions so that the stack is compact while the fin plate portions maintain a sufficient heat transfer surface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventor: Ching-Sung Kuo
  • Patent number: 6675886
    Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner with a door driving system, a distribution link rotated by a single actuator is provided. One surface of the distribution link is provided with a temperature-control engagement groove through which a temperature control pattern is cyclically repeated plural times, and the other surface of the distribution link is provided with a mode-switching engagement groove through which a mode switching door is driven to a predetermined mode position in accordance with rotation of the distribution link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Ito, So Hibino
  • Patent number: 6675887
    Abstract: A heat pipe assembly comprises a first heat pipe having a condenser and a working fluid. A reservoir communicates with the condenser of the first heat pipe and contains a non-condensable gas which variably permits access of the working fluid to the condenser of the first heat pipe, depending on a pressure of the working fluid. A second heat pipe has an evaporator. At least a portion of the evaporator of the second heat pipe is contained inside of the condenser of the first heat pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Thermal Corp.
    Inventors: Scott D. Garner, G. Yale Eastman
  • Patent number: 6675888
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for moving equipment into and through a conduit that is preferably an oil and/or gas production well, wherein use is made of an uphole equipment storage and handling unit via which equipment modules can be moved into a launch conduit and connected to a shuttle device which is able to locomote itself as a wireless tractor via the launch conduit into and from the underlying conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Hagen Schempf, Steve John Kimminau, Johannis Josephus Den Boer, John Foreman Stewart, Aarnoud Frederic Bijleveld
  • Patent number: 6675889
    Abstract: A mudsaver valve having a large flow capacity is described to keep fluid from spilling when the apparatus is removed from the tubular. This mudsaver valve also provides for pumping of fluid into the tubular or flow of fluid from the tubular to the mud system prior to removing the apparatus from the tubular. In these embodiments, the apparatus can be placed in threaded sealing contact with the tubular and can incorporate a safety valve that can be manually closed in the event of a well kick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Offshore Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert Augustus Mullins, Raul Daniel Vega
  • Patent number: 6675890
    Abstract: A packing tool assembly for sealing oil well bores that basically includes an elongated tubular member, two deformable sealing units, two stopper ring members and a cylinder member. A setting tool transports the packing tool assembly and the former stays in the oil well bore during the preparation and sealing phases without requiring the typical time-consuming withdrawal. When the preparation phase has been completed, the packing tool assembly is disengaged from setting tool and the sealing phase starts immediately. The latch members of the setting tool are received within the internal locking channels of the cylinder member. The setting tool is then rotated to cause the cylinder member to advance towards stopper ring members, deforming outwardly the sealing units. The latter are expanded against the walls of oil well bore. Once expanded the sealing units, the setting tool is removed and a tool for the extraction phase is inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventors: Alejandro Pietrobelli, Fausto Pietrobelli