Patents Issued in February 3, 2004
  • Patent number: 6684901
    Abstract: A solenoid valve has a valve body with an inlet and an outlet and a valve seat therebetween. A valve member is selectively engageable with the valve seat for controlling the flow of fluid from the inlet to the outlet. A biasing device is engageable with the valve member for holding the valve member against the valve seat. A solenoid assembly is mounted upon the valve member for moving the valve member away from the valve seat. A mounting arrangement is interposed between and connects the valve body and the solenoid assembly in a rotary, frictional engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Deltrol Controls
    Inventors: Brian T. Cahill, Kevin Reilly
  • Patent number: 6684902
    Abstract: An accumulator for collecting a volume of a liquid, which includes controls to permit the liquid to rise in a container to a preset upper level, at which level a drain valve is opened causing liquid to flow out of the accumulator. The accumulator utilizes two opened bottom pipes, which are connected through check valves to a controller. The controller is sensitive to the pressure at its inlet port. The pipes are interconnected so that when the liquid reaches an upper level, the pressure at the controller is sufficient to open the drain valve, and once the accumulator is almost empty, the drain valve is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: AcornVac, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas K. Zinn, Enrique P. Loreto, Ron Hahn
  • Patent number: 6684903
    Abstract: A vacuum demand valve for delivering a flowable material is disclosed. The valve has a housing having a proximal end, a distal end, an intermediate segment therebetween defining a passageway wherein the flowable substance can flow from the proximal end to the distal end. The housing can be a tubing. A valve member is located along the intermediate segment. The valve member has a closed condition wherein the flow of the flowable material from the proximal end to the distal end is stopped and an open condition wherein the flow of the flowable material from the proximal end to the distal end is unstopped. The valve member is biased in the closed condition and is responsive to a partial vacuum provided by the user through the passageway for placing the valve member in the open condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Williamson, Scott R. Ariagno, Alan W. Marttila, Atif M. Yardimci, Sidney T. Smith
  • Patent number: 6684904
    Abstract: A valve can varied in operating pressure and stopped in opening and closing by an efficiently movable actuator due to feeding of electric power without malfunction due to disturbance of magnetism, impact or temperature. A variable pressure valve is provided with a shape memory alloy spring. The shape memory alloy spring is raised in temperature and varied in length by a secondary coil that is electromagnetically given power from a primary coil of a control probe. When the shape memory alloy spring varies in length, a feed ratchet performs linear movement to rotate a cam wheel. The cam wheel has a cam with which an urge spring and a rectifying lever at its one end is engaged. The urge spring and rectifying lever at their other ends engage a ball valve to vary an urge force on the ball valve due to rotation of the cam wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Takashi Ito
  • Patent number: 6684905
    Abstract: The present invention provides a construction machine with a structure of pilot pipe comprising detection ports for detecting pilot pressure in a body of a switching valve, so that the number of pipe connecting positions and pipe assembly parts such as joints and the like can be decreased and arrangement of the pipe can be simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6684906
    Abstract: A quick connect/disconnect faucet water conduit assembly includes at least one valve body and a spout nipple. There is a water tube extending from the valve body and a water tube extending from the spout nipple. A conduit has first and second terminations and there is a quick connect adapter attached to each of the first and second terminations. There are cooperating elements on each of the tubes and the quick connect adapters for locking the tubes to the adapters to thereby attach the valve body to the spout nipple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Moen Incorporated
    Inventors: Leonard J. Burns, Nicholas A. Mascari, Martin Zummersch
  • Patent number: 6684907
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for conditioning loose-fill insulation including an elongated tubular cylinder having a plurality of internal blades positioned in a helical configuration. Large nodules of glass fibrous material pass through the conditioning cylinder and are combed into smaller, more uniform sizes, thus allowing a more uniform additive application further downstream in the manufacturing process. The addition of a tangential airflow to the conditioning cylinder facilitates the combing process by adding a tangential force to move the nodules down the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: CertainTeed Corporation
    Inventors: Alain Yang, Ken Knapp
  • Patent number: 6684908
    Abstract: A self-locking, high-pressure stopper is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method of using the stopper. The stopper allows a branch pipe to be plugged from above ground using an elongated insertion tool. The self-locking stopper of the present invention includes a body having O-ring seals that is inserted into the branch pipe that is to be plugged. The self-locking stopper has outwardly biased locking tabs that are provided to engage a shoulder or step in the branching pipe in order to prevent the stopper from being pulled out, or pushed out by fluid pressure, once it is in place. The stopper system also includes a flanged insertion pipe used for inserting the stopper into the branch pipe. The stopper also has an adapter for engagement by an insertion tool that allows a user to insert the stopper from above ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Omega Tools, Inc.
    Inventors: William Michael Hutton, Jeffrey Clinton Bond, Michael David Ahner
  • Patent number: 6684909
    Abstract: A resinous hose formed by the process for producing a resinous hose, wherein the hose comprises cylindrical portions extending rectilinearly and a bent bellows portion wherein the bellows portion includes a bellows wall having continuous crests and valleys, and a non-bellows wall located on the side diametrically opposite to the bellows wall. The outside diameter of the valleys of the bellows wall is smaller than an outside diameter of the cylindrical portions, and an outside diameter of the non-bellows wall is larger than the outside diameter of the cylindrical portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshiro Ijima
  • Patent number: 6684910
    Abstract: A pipe of layers of thermoplastic polyolefins of the same type, however with different properties, which are connected inseparably with one another, an outer first layer and a second layer, adjoining the first layer on the inside, consisting of a material, which has not been cross-linked, the second layer approximately having the FNCT the value or the NPT value of a one-layer standard pressure pipe and the first layer having an FNCT or NPT value, which is higher by a factor of at least 3 than that of the second value. Moreover, a third layer is provided, which adjoins the second layer on the inside, also consists of material that is not cross-linked and has a PNCT, which is higher by a factor of at least 3 than that of the second layer and an NPT layer, which is higher by a factor of at least 2 than that of the second layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Wavin B.V.
    Inventors: Jan Uilke Stoffelsma, Volker Koestring, Ali Guettouche, Helmut Schroeder
  • Patent number: 6684911
    Abstract: A textile with first grouping of yarns separated from a second grouping of yarns, and displacement yarns disposed between the first grouping of yarns and the second grouping of yarns such that the displacement yarns progress in a sinusoidal manner to alternately contact the adjacent displacement yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Douglas John Salway, Jan L. Williams, Daniel P. Gillig
  • Patent number: 6684912
    Abstract: A cylindrical net body using helical wire members that can be easily assembled and disassembled at a working site. The invention provides also a cylindrical net body using helical wire members that have high tenacity and high durability and yet can reduce the weight. Wire members having a predetermined outer diameter are wound in predetermined lead and predetermined pitch to provide helical wire members in such a fashion that a diameter of a helix is about twice the outer diameter of the wire members, crests and troughs have substantially a similar shape, and each trough is positioned outside the center of the helix. The helical wire members are wound into a coil shape to form transverse helical wire members. Longitudinal helical wire members formed of the helical wire members are united and fixed side by side with the transverse helical wire members, with predetermined gaps, to form a cylindrical net body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignees: Nippon Steel Corporation, Taihei Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Katsura
  • Patent number: 6684913
    Abstract: Method for loading ceramic moulds presenting a die plate having at least one forming cavity in which a die is slidingly received, comprising the following operative steps for each complete loading cycle: preparing a powder layer at least the upper part of which has properties conforming to the required aesthetic characteristics of the exposed face of the tile; transferring said layer to above said at least one forming cavity; depositing into said at least one cavity a powder layer having a thickness greater than that necessary to obtain the desired tile thickness, and before pressing removing, by a mechanical cutting action with simultaneous removal of the thus separated material, the surface layer of the powder contained in the mould cavity, without appreciable mixing of the powder present at the interface between the surface layer and the underlying layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Sacmi-Cooperativa Meccanici Imola-Soc. Coop. A.R.L.
    Inventor: Pietro Rivola
  • Patent number: 6684914
    Abstract: A discrete object dispensing system and method dispenses any selected number of objects, up to a maximum number, without a delay associated with counting the tablets. A preset number of objects are counted and stored in dedicated chambers, the combination of the numbers of objects within the chambers being known to comprise any number of objects which is desired for dispensing. According to a preferred system, n chambers are provided, with 20, 21, 22, . . . , 2n−1 tablets provided respectively in the individual chambers. The chambers which together add up to the selected number for dispensing are emptied. Only those chambers which are emptied after dispensing need to be refilled and, as such, only the number of tablets in those storage locations need to be counted. The system may include a plurality of cells, each including a plurality of chambers for a different solid dose medication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Kirby-Lester, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Gershman, Aleksandr Geltser
  • Patent number: 6684915
    Abstract: A multiple head bottle filling apparatus and method for filling bottles used in animal feeding. Manifold assemblies designed for filling bottles disposed in at least two differently sized trays is easily removably affixed to the rear back splash of the filling apparatus. Each manifold assembly includes a respective set of liquid discharging members, including openings arranged in a respective grid pattern. Each grid pattern corresponds to the bottle opening, alignment pattern for each differently sized tray. The respective grid patterns of the liquid discharging members are in fixed relationship to each other. Liquid feed lines, manually or automatically activated, supply liquid for bottle filling to a respective one of the manifold assemblies and, in turn, the respective set of liquid discharging members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Ver Hage Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard P. Ver Hage
  • Patent number: 6684916
    Abstract: A resealable cap for a medicament vial has a base portion formed of vulcanized rubber or like material known for providing a stable environment for the medicament contained within the vial, and a resealable portion overlying the base portion. The resealable portion is made of low-density polyethylene or like material, and can be punctured by a needle or like injection member for dispensing medicament into the vial. Prior to filling, the cap is assembled to the vial and the cap/vial assembly is sterilized. Then, a needle is inserted through the cap and medicament is introduced through the needle and into the vial. Upon withdrawal of the needle, the penetrated region of the cap is fused by laser or direct heat sealing to hermetically seal the needle hole in the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Medical Instill Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Py
  • Patent number: 6684917
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fluidized bed for dispensing small quantities of powders. The fluidized bed is made using a porous housing to permit injection and removal of fluid through the surrounding walls to improve the operation of the bed particularly for small particles of the group C size, including significantly reducing powder adhesion to the walls. In one aspect of the invention the fluidized bed housing is rotated about its longitudinal axis, which may be oriented at any suitable angle. A system for changing the volume of the bed is described as is a system for incorporating injection nozzles within the bed for constant agitation and prevention of powder adhering to the walls of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: The University of Western Ontario
    Inventors: Jesse Zhu, Jianzhang Wen, Ying Liang Ma, Hui Zhang
  • Patent number: 6684918
    Abstract: A teat nozzle suitable for pediatric oral dosing of a fluid medicament comprising a tubular conduit which is engageable with a socket, and has at least one engagement part which can engage with an internal thread in the socket. The teat nozzle facilitates connection between the conduit and the socket. Dosing devices such as syringes and squeezable capsules provided with the nozzle, and a connection means for a vial having such a socket, are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: SmithKline Beecham Biologicals s.a.
    Inventors: Jacques Thilly, Christian Vandecasserie
  • Patent number: 6684919
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-contact determination of overfilling of a receptacle filled with a filling product generates an envelope curve from echo signals reflected on a filling product surface. An amplitude of the echo signals is mathematically processed in a predetermined short range of the envelope curve, and is compared to a predetermined reference value (x). When the amplitude exceeds the predetermined reference value (x), a signal representative of overfilling of the receptacle is outputted. Further, described are an evaluation arrangement for realizing the method and a filling level measuring device equipped with such an evaluation arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Vega Grieshaber KG
    Inventor: Martin Gaiser
  • Patent number: 6684920
    Abstract: A beverage mixing and dispensing valve, or a beverage dispenser including the valve, includes an automatic shut-off features. A user presses a cup or container against a lever on a soft-drink dispenser. The lever closes a switch to activate the opening of a solenoid-operated valve. At the same time, a detection circuit is monitored to determine whether overflow of drink or foam has occurred. When drink or foam overflows and bridges a gap between two metal conductors on the lever, resistance is lowered and electricity flows in the detection circuit. The valve then automatically shuts off the flow of beverage. Energy is saved in keeping the valve open using a pulse width modulation (PWM) technique for voltage to the solenoid, rather than using a steady-state voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Manitowoc Foodservice Companies, Inc.
    Inventors: Forrest S. Seitz, Philip M. Krebs, Brian J. Darby, Denise K. Myers, John D. Cochran
  • Patent number: 6684921
    Abstract: A liquid supply nozzle having automatic shut-down and alarming function will stop feeding a liquid when a diaphragm is damaged with alarming the damage. The liquid supply nozzle can contain a press member under the diaphragm which pushes up the diaphragm and maintains an entire stoppage function to work even when the diaphragm is broken. The damage of the diaphragm can be visually inspected through a cap which is made of a substantially transparent material and visually or sonically perceived through an additionally provided alarm unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Tatsuno Corporation
    Inventor: Hiyoshi Tatsuno
  • Patent number: 6684922
    Abstract: A holder for draining a viscous fluid from a bottle, of the type having a neck and a mouth, is disclosed. This holder comprises a base having an outer perimeter, a plurality of elongated, support members that extend from the base's outer perimeter and are foldable upward so that their ends approach each other at a point on an axis which extends perpendicular to the bottom of the base. The ends of the support members are flared and concaved outward so that these portion cooperate to form a structure, when the support members are folded upward, for receiving the neck of a bottle that is inverted and placed in the holder. The members are held in their upward folded positions by an elastic band which is placed around the outside of the support members in the vicinity of their concave outward portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Inventors: Shirley M.C. Alston, Raymond E. Carter
  • Patent number: 6684923
    Abstract: A feed roll for tree handling has a number of resiliently mounted strips which substantially cover its outer face. The strips have leading and trailing edges shaped to interdigitate with one another. A layer of resilient material is located between the strips and a drum. The resilient material has a hardness of 80 or less on the Shore scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Risley Enterprises Ltd.
    Inventor: Reggald E. Isley
  • Patent number: 6684924
    Abstract: A new tape dispenser (4) is proposed, with a two-piece longitudinally split segmented housing (3), a holder for a roll of tape, a discharge opening (8), a guide applicator (10) fitted to the housing (3) in close vicinity to the discharge opening (8), by means of which the tape can be applied onto a substrate, and a blade (15) with a cutting edge situated downstream of the guide applicator (10). The housing (3) has an elongated anatomical form which can be kept in the enclosing hand and at least a shallow upper depression (34) in the housing is provided close to and adjacent to the guide applicator (10) in order to exert a pressure onto the guide applicator (10) by the index finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Henkel Kommenditygesellschaft auf Aktien (Henkel KGeA)
    Inventors: Johannes H. J. M. Kelders, Brian A. Vulpitta, Timothy S. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 6684925
    Abstract: A laminator for lamination to a substrate by use of continuous laminated material is provided. The laminated material includes a support, and a photosensitive transfer layer overlaid on the support. A heat/pressure roller attaches the laminated material to the substrate with heat and pressure with the transfer layer opposed to the substrate. A cooler cools the substrate with the laminated material. A peeler peels the support from the transfer layer on the substrate from the cooler, to transfer the transfer layer to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nagate, Kazuyoshi Suehara, Shinji Uematsu
  • Patent number: 6684926
    Abstract: A portable apparatus for applying a masking tape to surfaces such as along the top edges of baseboards and the like, which comprises a housing having a tape holder adapted to receive a tape roll and a plurality of guiding sleeves rotatably mounted on a housing and together with a cutter assembly adopter to tear the tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Inventor: Edward Matechuk
  • Patent number: 6684927
    Abstract: A mounting tool for mounting a tire onto a rim, the tool comprising a handle having a first end and a second end and a longitudinal axis; a first mounting end adjacent the first end of the handle; the first mounting end including a dependent shaft extending outwardly from the handle and a dependent tip extending from an end of the shaft; a wing located adjacent the shaft and inward of the tip and the wing including a wheel rim engaging surface extending outward beyond at least one side of the tip and in an orientation perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Summit Tool Company
    Inventor: Roger Kliskey
  • Patent number: 6684928
    Abstract: In an awning, in particular a sun room awning, comprising a fabric-roll shaft for retracting and extending an awning fabric; wherein the inward end of the awning fabric is joined to the fabric-roll shaft and the outward end of the awning fabric to a drop-out bar, and the drop-out bar is run in lateral guide rails; wherein elastic pull straps act on the drop-out bar on the side opposite the awning fabric, the pull straps being deviated by a deflection pulley in the vicinity of the end of the guide rail, and reversed towards the fabric-roll shaft and wound on the fabric-roll shaft upon extension and unwinding of the awning fabric and exercising tensile stress on the drop-out bar and thus on the awning fabric; wherein unwinding the awning fabric and winding up the pull straps take place by an electric motor drive of the fabric-roll shaft, and switchgear is provided for switching off the drive of the fabric-roll shaft upon complete extension; it is provided that the switchgear acts on the drive of the fabric-roll
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Schmitz-Werke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Martin Dieckmann
  • Patent number: 6684929
    Abstract: An office panel partition includes a panel frame having at least two uprights and a horizontal structural member rigidly interconnecting the uprights. The panel frame has a first side and a second opposite side, and the panel frame defines at least four apertures on the first side thereof. The partition also includes a cover member having a major planar surface defining an exterior surface of the partition. The cover member includes at least four projections that are removably insertable into the at least four apertures to removably secure the cover member to the frame. The apertures are arranged in at least two vertically spaced horizontal rows and at least two horizontally spaced vertical columns. The apertures in a first one of the columns have different horizontal dimensions than those of the apertures located in the other of the columns. Each of the projections has a range of lateral positions when inserted into a respective one of the apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas B. MacDonald, Steven E. Sanders, Mark T. Slager, Dean K. Hubbard, Roy W. Fink, Steven J. Throndset, David J. Battey, Robert E. Jeffers, Allen C. Hager
  • Patent number: 6684930
    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: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Newell Window Furnishings, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger C. Palmer, Richard Coulcher
  • Patent number: 6684931
    Abstract: A counter weight door has a plurality of counter weights each associated with a respective one of the panels and an interconnecting spring connecting each of the weights to the next. At least one of the counter weights has a cradle which is arranged to receive a plurality of weighted members. The spring arrangement connecting one counter to the next is housed within the cradle and includes a shaft on which the spring is mounted. The door has a pulley system which has a first pulley on one side of the door, a second double pulley on the other side of the door, a first cable fixed at a first end to the door extending through the first pulley and a second cable fixed at a first end to the door extending through the second pulley to the counter weight system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Hanover Door Systems (1966) Inc.
    Inventors: Greg Reimer, Abram H. Enns, Dennis Braun, Richard Klassen, Walter Toews, Len Neufeld
  • Patent number: 6684932
    Abstract: In an arrangement for sliding doors, a door leaf comprises a number (n) of interlinked and jointed sections (4:1-4:n) in which adjoining sections are able to rotate around a joint axis (A) from a position in which the sections are in alignment with each other to a relative angled position. The door leaf can slide in the door opening (6) in guides (8, 9), each of which comprising a first and a second interacting guide element (8′, 8″; 9′, 9″) arranged on two opposing end edges (22, 23) of the door leaf and the corresponding sides of the door opening. To obtain a sound insulating door, there is an elastically deformable material between the adjoining and relatively flexible sections (4:1-4:n) to separate the sections from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Alimak AB
    Inventor: Mats Olof Olofsson
  • Patent number: 6684933
    Abstract: A method for compacting molding sand in a mold space defined by a pattern plate, which is fixed in a horizontal position when the molding sand is compacted, a leveling frame disposed for vertical sliding movement around the outer periphery of the pattern plate, a frame member disposed for vertical movement above the leveling frame, and a filling frame disposed for vertical movement above the frame member. The method comprises the steps of feeding molding sand into the mold space, primarily compacting the molding sand in the mold space from above by compacting means while at least the leveling frame is being set so that it cannot be lowered, and secondarily compacting the molding sand in the mold space from above by the compacting means while the leveling frame, the frame member, and the filling frame are set so that these elements can be lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Sintokogio Ltd.
    Inventors: Kimikazu Kaneto, Minoru Hirata, Yutaka Hadano, Tsuyoshi Sakai
  • Patent number: 6684934
    Abstract: Countergravity casting of metals and metal alloys provides for melting of the metallic material under subambient pressure, evacuation of a gas permeable or impermeable mold under subambient pressure, and controlled, rapid filling of the mold while it is maintained under the subambient pressure by applying gas pressure locally on the molten metallic material in a sealed space defined by engagement of a mold base and a melting vessel with a seal therebetween. The gas pressure applied locally in the sealed space establishes a differential pressure on the molten metallic material to force it upwardly through the fill tube into the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Hitchiner Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Danny L. Cargill, Mark W. Oles, Robert A. Poole
  • Patent number: 6684935
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for pressure casting a battery part wherein at least one of the mold members forming the surfaces of an internal battery part cavity are displaced with respect to one another to reduce the volume of the mold cavity formed between the two parts to thereby intensify the pressure sufficiently high pressure so as to inhibit the formation of cracks and tears in a cast part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Water Gremlin Company
    Inventor: Robert W. Ratte
  • Patent number: 6684936
    Abstract: This invention relates to erosion resistant foundry binder systems, which will cure in the presence of sulfur dioxide and a free radical initiator, comprising (a) an epoxy resin; (b) a multifunctonal acrylate; (c) a phenolic resin that is soluble in (a) and (b); and (d) an effective amount of a free radical initiator. The foundry binder systems are used for making foundry mixes. The foundry mixes are used to make foundry shapes (such as cores and molds) which are used to make metal castings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Ashland Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne D. Woodson, James J. Archibald, H. Randall Shriver
  • Patent number: 6684937
    Abstract: A description is given of a module carrier for various diverse heat exchangers for a motor vehicle engine, which comprises a supporting frame, to which the coolant/air cooler and at least one air-conditioning condenser is fitted. The supporting frame comprises a lower part with a crossmember 2 as base and two side parts 3, 4 projecting vertically therefrom, to define upwardly open compartments 6, 7, 6′, 7′ in the lower part for the insertion of at least the coolant/air cooler and the air-conditioning condenser 9. These upwardly open compartments are closed off by an upper support 5, which interconnects the free ends of the side parts 3, 4 to form the supporting frame and which secures the inserted heat exchangers 8, 9 in their positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignees: Behr GmbH & Co., Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
    Inventors: Werner Lenz, Anette Baumann-Kaiser, Oliver Braun, Martin Brielmair
  • Patent number: 6684938
    Abstract: An EGR cooler including a flat box shell having an inlet for introducing cooling water and an outlet for discharging the cooling water, plates positioned at axial open ends of the shell to close the axial open ends thereof, hoods positioned at sides of the plates away from the shell to enclose end faces of the plates, tubes extending within the shell and having ends penetrating through the plates, the tubes for passing exhaust gas from one hood to the other for thermal exchange with the cooling water, guide plates curved away from the axial extension of the shell toward longer sides of the end face of the shell and provided in the hood on an inlet side of the exhaust gas, a bar positioned between the guide plates and extending in a direction of shorter sides of the end face of the shell for dividing a stream of the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignees: Hino Motors, Ltd., Sankyo Radiator Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Tsujita, Keiichi Nakagome, Katsuji Inoue, Yoji Yamashita
  • Patent number: 6684939
    Abstract: A compact air-ventilator with high efficiency thermal exchanger and air filter in which the thermal exchanger utilise a light-weight assembly of parallelly stacked thin metallic plates with pre-formed spaces. The high efficiency air filter includes a combination of filter elements including a mesh grid, an activated carbon layer and a HEPA filter. This air-ventilator can be built-in as part of an air-conditioner or as a stand alone unit to provide additional air circulating to conventional air-conditioners to improve indoor air quality. The thermal exchanger as well as the filters can be made with modular design to allow for easy periodic maintenance and replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Housely Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Kui Wong Yeung
  • Patent number: 6684940
    Abstract: The performance of a heat pipe system is greatly improved by the use of a dilute aqueous solution of about 0.0005 and about 0.005 moles per liter of a long chain alcohol as the working fluid. The surface tension-temperature gradient of the long-chain alcohol solutions turns positive as the temperature exceeds a certain value, for example about 40° C. for n-heptanol solutions. Consequently, the Marangoni effect does not impede, but rather aids in bubble departure from the heating surface. Thus, the bubble size at departure is substantially reduced at higher frequencies and, therefore, increases the boiling limit of heat pipes. This feature is useful in microgravity conditions. In addition to microgravity applications, the heat pipe system may be used for commercial, residential and vehicular air conditioning systems, micro heat pipes for electronic devices, refrigeration and heat exchangers, and chemistry and cryogenics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: David F. Chao, Nengli Zhang
  • Patent number: 6684941
    Abstract: A heat transfer device which employs a reciprocating mechanism for driving liquid from the heat rejection section to the heat receiving section is disclosed. The heat transfer device is coined as the reciprocating-mechanism driven heat loop which comprises a hollow loop having an interior flow passage, an amount of heat-carrying fluid filled within the loop, and at least one reciprocating driver. The hollow loop has at least one heat receiving section, one heat rejection section, and one liquid reservoir. The reciprocating driver is integrated with the liquid reservoir and facilitates a reciprocating flow of the heat-carrying fluid within the loop, so that the liquid is supplied from the heat rejection section to the heat receiving section under both saturated and unsaturated conditions and a high heat transfer rate from the heat receiving section to the heat rejection section is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Inventors: Yiding Cao, Mingcong Gao
  • Patent number: 6684942
    Abstract: A heat sink is provided with a box-like body attached to heat dissipating surface of a heat-dissipating element. A separation board separates the box-like body into upper and lower parts. A number of side separation boards divide the lower part into several areas, and nozzle parts are inserted into the side separation boards parallel to the attaching surface. Pin-like fins are formed in the bottom face in the several areas divided by the side separation boards and an air carrying means is provided at an upper area formed by the separation board for supplying cooling air to fins through the nozzle parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology
    Inventors: Tae-Ho Song, Sung-Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 6684943
    Abstract: Existing plate-type heat exchangers typically include plates that are constructed of metal or paper, which are only capable of transferring a limited amount of moisture, if any, from one side of the plate to the other side. The present invention is a plate-type heat exchanger wherein the plates are constructed of ionomer membranes, such as sulfonated or carboxylated polymer membranes, which are capable of transferring a significant amount of moisture from one side of the membrane to the other side. Incorporating such ionomer membranes into a plate-type heat exchanger provides the heat exchanger with the ability to transfer a large percentage of the available latent heat in one air stream to the other air streams. The ionomer membrane plates are, therefore, more efficient at transferring latent heat than plates constructed of metal or paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory M. Dobbs, James D. Freihaut
  • Patent number: 6684944
    Abstract: A forced air heating and/or cooling system utilizing an induction type fan motor is controlled by a controller circuit which is operable to continuously vary the speed of the fan motor during a start-up phase and a shut-down phase of the heating and/or cooling cycle. The controller circuit includes terminals for connection to the source of electrical energy for the heating and/or cooling system and for connection to the system controls without altering the control function or circuitry thereof. The controller circuit includes temperature sensors which are operable to control start-up and shutdown of the fan motor over continuously variable speed operating cycles in response to sensed temperature of the air being circulated by the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Hoffman Controls Corp.
    Inventors: Howard P. Byrnes, Daniel B. Steffen
  • Patent number: 6684945
    Abstract: An air filter for a well is installed within a well casing of the well. The air filter forming an airtight seal around the well casing of the well, such that all the air that enters and exits the well must pass through the air filter. The air filter preferably includes a filter housing, at least one removable gasket and a removable filter cartridge installed within an opening extending through the filter housing. The air filter prevents dirt, dust, bacteria, gaseous chemicals, volatile organic compounds, (VOCs), insects and other air born contaminants from entering and possibly contaminating the well. An air filter may also be installed within a vent pipe extending through a well seal attached to the top of a well casing of a well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: In-Well Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth A. Meyers
  • Patent number: 6684946
    Abstract: A submersible pump assembly has a pump and a valve connected to the outlet of the pump. An outlet of the valve is connected to a riser. A valve member in the valve housing is vertically movable between a pumping position and a priming position, the valve member being biased toward the priming position. A priming conduit connects the outlet of the valve housing to the inlet of the pump for directing well fluids flowing through the conduit into an intake of the pump for re-priming the pump. When the pump is pumping well fluid, the valve member is moved to the pumping position by the fluid pressure, well fluids flowing from the inlet of the valve housing to the outlet of the valve housing but not through the priming conduit. When pumping ceases, the valve member returns to the priming position, well fluids flowing through the priming conduit for re-priming the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Farral D. Gay, Kenneth T. Bebak
  • Patent number: 6684947
    Abstract: An apparatus for radially expanding a tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Robert Lance Cook, David Paul Brisco, Lev Ring, Michael Bullock
  • Patent number: 6684948
    Abstract: A fuel cell based subterranean heater for mineral extraction, in situ decontamination, or other applications. The fuel cells are preferably stacked within a casing which is then inserted into a hole bored, or otherwise formed, into the formation to be heated. Conduits within the casing, and preferably formed by adjacent, aligned holes formed through the plates of the individual fuel cells supply fuel and air and extract exhaust gases. An optional manifold is used to span the overburden without applying heat to it directly. The manifold may also function as a heat exchanger between incoming and exhaust gases. Preferably the fuel cell is fueled by gases produced by the formation and also generates electricity which is available for use or export.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Inventor: Marshall T. Savage
  • Patent number: 6684949
    Abstract: A load cell for sensing deformation in a drill collar is provided. The load cell comprises a disc member having one or more arcuate apertures and a deformation sensing element disposed on a side surface of the arcuate apertures. The load cell is capable of sensing such drilling parameters as weight and torque on a drill bit during the drilling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Käte Irene Stabba Gabler, Constantyn Chalitsios
  • Patent number: 6684950
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for pressure testing a tubing string. A valve is utilized within the tubing string to enable selective application of pressure in the tubing above the valve. However, between pressure tests, the valve may be opened to allow fluid flow into the tubing. Thus, the tubing string may readily be moved, for example, downhole into a wellbore with periodic application of pressure to test the tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Dinesh R. Patel