Patents Issued in February 10, 2004
  • Patent number: 6688102
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a traveling control device, including a crawler type right and left traveling body; a right and a left hydraulic motor for operating the right and left traveling body said right and left hydraulic motors each having a pump as a hydraulic source; an operator means for outputting an operation command to the right and the left hydraulic motor; and a pump pressure controller means for controlling pump pressure to be supplied to the right and the left hydraulic motor according to a control input of the operator means, wherein the pump pressure controller means controls the pump pressure based on different pump pressure properties for single traveling in which only one of hydraulic motors is operated, and for double traveling in which both of hydraulic motors are simultaneously operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidekazu Oka
  • Patent number: 6688103
    Abstract: An arrangement is provided for fastening an exhaust gas turbocharger on an exhaust gas manifold of an internal-combustion engine. A manifold flange is provided at the exhaust gas manifold, on which manifold flange an exhaust gas turbocharger can be fastened which is also provided with a flange surface. It is provided that the manifold flange provided on one side of the exhaust gas manifold is connected with sleeves leading to the opposite side of the exhaust gas manifold, in which sleeves screws are guided for the fastening of the exhaust gas turbocharger. This permits a simple and easily accessible mounting or demounting of the exhaust gas turbocharger on the exhaust gas manifold of the internal-combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignees: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG, Friedrich Boysen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christoph Pleuss, Michael Kühnel, Werner Engl
  • Patent number: 6688104
    Abstract: In a method and a device for operating an electrical supercharger, the electrical supercharger is actuated for cooling and/or diagnostic purposes in the non-combustion operation of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Baeuerle, Klaus Ries-Mueller
  • Patent number: 6688105
    Abstract: Improvements to a process for moving icebergs from Antartica to arid destinations wherein the iceberg is thermally insulated on bottom and sides with kelp grown into mats, pushed with a subtug below sea level to direct its force vector throught the iceberg's center of gravity, stopped at a destination site by pawls extending from bedrock at the bottom of a channel which has multiple rolldams made of rollable round discs which can open the channel to allow passage of the iceberg and close the channel to contain melt water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Inventor: Jack N. Shick
  • Patent number: 6688106
    Abstract: A waste-to-energy incineration system, in which the amount and heat value of exhaust gas largely changes in long and short periods, comprises an incinerator for burning waste, a boiler in the incinerator for generating steam with exhaust heat generated by the incinerator, a superheater for superheating steam generated in the boiler, a steam turbine driven by steam superheated by the superheater, a generator driven by the steam turbine, a fuel reformer for reforming source fuel, and a combustor burning fuel gas reformed by the fuel reformer and at least a part of exhaust gas led from the incinerator which is able to stably decompose generated dioxin in waste incineration exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Okusawa, Kazuhito Koyama, Masahiko Yamagishi, Shigeo Hatamiya, Taiko Ajiro, Megumi Sunou, Yukio Ishigaki, Kenji Tokunaga
  • Patent number: 6688107
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustion device comprises a plurality of combustion devices. Each combustion device has an inner cylinder and a tail cylinder in a vehicle chamber. An acoustic sleeve is provided between each inner cylinder and a corresponding outer cylinder in the vehicle chamber. An acoustic coupling effect with a vehicle chamber can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Ono, Masaharu Nishimura, Keizo Ohnishi, Kazufumi Ikeda, Katsunori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6688108
    Abstract: The invention relates to a combustion unit for combusting a liquid fuel. The combustion unit has a fuel inlet, an air inlet and a flue gas outlet which are connected to a combustion chamber for combusting the fuel, wherein the fuel inlet is connected to at least one explosion atomizing unit which is disposed and adapted such that atomized fuel fragments due to gas formation in the atomized fuel. The explosion atomizing unit is preferably an explosion swirl atomizing unit to a system for generating power having at least one gas turbine, at least one compression device driven by the gas turbine and at least one such combustion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: N. V. Kema
    Inventor: Jacobus Van Liere
  • Patent number: 6688109
    Abstract: The invention relates to a burner (100) having a combustion air duct (104), in which a swirl generator (109), which is formed from a number of swirl generator elements (108), is arranged in such a way that the swirl generator (109) can increase the mean velocity at which combustion air (112) flows through the swirl generator (109) to a Mach number of at least 0.4. This results in flow-acoustic decoupling of the combustion area from the combustion-air feed area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Olaf Hein
  • Patent number: 6688110
    Abstract: Where gas turbine engine structure eg combustion equipment, is to be air impingement cooled, the surface which receives the air jets is so shaped as to produce boundary layer separation zones 34, 38 and 44 in the cooling air, as it spreads across the surface. Mixing of the boundary layer with the remainder of the air flow results, followed by the re-establishment of the boundary layer. The new boundary layer is cooler than the original layer and so provides more effective cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Geoffrey M. Dailey, Changmin Son
  • Patent number: 6688111
    Abstract: A combustion chamber includes a mixing zone and a combustion zone within which self-ignition of a fuel and air mixture can occur. Fuel and support air are injected laterally at the sidewall of the mixing zone into hot gases passing through the mixing zone. The operating range of the combustion chamber can be increased while noxious substances are reduced by injecting differently controlled fuel/support air mixture jets into different target spaces within the mixing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Marcel Stalder, Daniel Burri, Urs Benz
  • Patent number: 6688112
    Abstract: A thermoacoustic refrigeration device employs a gas-vapor mixture as the working fluid. As a result, the refrigeration device operates according to a modified thermoacoustic refrigeration cycle that adds a condensation-vaporization cycle to the thermoacoustic cycle. The resulting modified refrigeration cycle increases the efficiency of heat transport by harnessing the translational motion of the vapor, as well as the usual acoustic oscillations, to transport the heat energy from one end of a thermal stack to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: University of Mississippi
    Inventors: Richard Raspet, William V. Slaton, Craig J. Hickey, Robert A. Hiller, Henry E. Bass
  • Patent number: 6688113
    Abstract: A regenerator material for use inside a displacer of a Stirling cycle cryocooler includes a plurality of circular disks formed from a synthetic felt that is preferably polyester. The plurality of disks have an outer diameter that is greater than the inner diameter of the displacer. The plurality of circular disks form a stack within the displacer. The regenerator material minimizes operational variation between different cryocoolers. In addition, the regenerator material can be easily filled into the cryocooler displacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Superconductor Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wallace Y. Kunimoto, Arturo Soto
  • Patent number: 6688114
    Abstract: An improvement to an LNG carrier having a vaporizer on board said LNG carrier for vaporizing the LNG to a gaseous state is disclosed. The LNG carrier includes a source of heat for said vaporizer; an intermediate fluid circulating between said vaporizer and said source of heat; and one or more pumps for circulating said intermediate fluid between said vaporizer and said source of heat. The improvement includes equipment connections for adding at least one additional source of heat for said vaporizer, pre-installed flow conduits between said vaporizer and said equipment connections, and valves for isolating said pre-installed flow conduits from said vaporizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: El Paso Corporation
    Inventor: Alan B. Nierenberg
  • Patent number: 6688115
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in a process and apparatus for delivering ultra high purity liquid carbon dioxide to a point of use at pressures above ambient without pumping. In the process a high purity carbon dioxide feed in gaseous or liquid form is charged to a vessel and at least partially solidified, i.e., converted to a solid phase. As the liquid is converted to a solid phase, additional liquid is added until the vessel is at least substantially filled with slush. Once filled, the slush or solid is isochorically heated, i.e., heated at constant volume whereby the solid phase carbon dioxide is converted to a liquid. Liquid, then, is withdrawn from the vessel at a desired pressure at a rate at which the solid phase carbon dioxide is converted to a liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Vladimir Yliy Gershtein
  • Patent number: 6688116
    Abstract: An ion beam producing device employing a refrigeration system to provide the cooling for a superconducting compression magnet at a trap core of an electron beam ion trap (EBIT) without the use of cryogenic liquid gases. The elimination of cryogenic cooling gases, such as liquid helium, is effectuated by the incorporation of cryo-refrigerators having highly thermally conductive cryo-heads, and a super-conducting, solid lead arrangement for energizing the compression magnet, the leads producing little or no heat within the cold shield. The reduction or elimination of use of liquid cooling-gases significantly reduces the size and operating cost of the electron beam source/trap system. A magnetic field line guide-field reduces magnet field-line interference otherwise risked by the reduction in size of the electron beam device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Physics & Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Dieter H. G. Schneider, Joseph W. McDonald
  • Patent number: 6688117
    Abstract: A method is provided for improving the performance of a heat-pump installation for making ice operating on the principle of mechanical water vapor compression. The installation comprises an evaporator-freezer chamber communicating with a compressor chamber having a centrifugal compressor unit. The method comprises a) providing a first droplet separator of the louver type between the evaporator-freezer chamber and the compressor chamber, for primary separation of the coarser droplets; b) providing a second droplet separator of the knitmesh type downstream of the first droplet separator, for secondary separation of the remaining fine spray, and c) providing a continuous or intermittent spray of a dilute solution of a highly water-soluble inorganic salt in counter-current to the vapor flow from a plurality of spray nozzles located between the first and the second droplet separators and facing the first droplet separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: I.D.E. Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventor: Avraham Ophir
  • Patent number: 6688118
    Abstract: This invention relates to compositions of cyclopentane, and a compound selected from the group consisting of hydrofluorocarbons, hydrofluoroethers, or fluorinated sulfur compounds. Specifically these compounds may be selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoroethane, hexafluoropropane, pentafluoropropane, tetrafluoropropane, trifluoropropane, difluoropropane, octafluorobutane, hexafluorobutane, pentafluorobutane, nonafluorobutane, difluorobutane, trifluoro-2-methoxyethane and bis(pentafluoroethyl)sulfide. The compositions, which may be azeotropic or azeotrope-like, may be used as refrigerants, cleaning agents, expansion agents for polyolefins and polyurethanes, aerosol propellants, refrigerants, heat transfer media, gaseous dielectrics, fire extinguishing agents, power cycle working fluids, polymerization media, particulate removal fluids, carrier fluids, buffing abrasive agents or displacement drying agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Barbara Haviland Minor
  • Patent number: 6688119
    Abstract: A reduced error measurement system for use in, for example, an appliance control system includes a multiplexor, a plurality of sensors coupled to the multiplexor, and a single amplifier circuit having an impedance path. The multiplexor is configured to selectively place one of the sensors into the impedance path of the amplifier. A transfer function of an amplifier circuit is dependent upon a selected sensor response when placed into the circuit, thereby allowing a controller to make control decisions based upon a voltage output of the single amplifier, thereby reducing errors attributable to a plurality of amplifier channels. An adjacent channel calibration technique is used to calibrate a hard mounted sensor to an integrated circuit that applies a calibrated offset value determined with a removable sensor coupled to the integrated circuit to the hard mounted sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: John Steven Holmes
  • Patent number: 6688120
    Abstract: In a control unit of a vehicle air conditioner, a necessary time period T1, between the present time and a time at which the vehicle is stopped next, and a vehicle stopping time period T2, between the time at which the vehicle is stopped next and a time at which the vehicle is re-started, are estimated based on vehicle-travel state information and traffic signal information in a vehicle traveling. Further, a necessary cold release amount Q required for cooling in the vehicle stopping time period T2 is calculated based on the vehicle stopping time period T2, and a cold storage operation is controlled so that the necessary cold release amount Q is stored for the necessary time period T1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Aoki, Hiroyuki Tomita, Shigeki Harada
  • Patent number: 6688121
    Abstract: A controlled compressor apparatus for idle-stopping vehicles that permits precise variable displacement control of a compressor and reduces power consumption when the compressor is motor-driven. The apparatus includes a battery-powered motor and a control unit for selecting the engine or the motor to drive the compressor and for controlling the displacement of the compressor. A current detector detects the magnitude of a current supplied to the motor. The control unit stores a relationship between the displacement and the current and controls the displacement based on the current detected by the current detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignees: Nippon Soken, Inc., Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiki Tada, Shigeki Iwanami
  • Patent number: 6688122
    Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning system with a motor driven compressor is control to suppress overheating of the electronic devices inside the compressor inverter and to suppress overheating of the battery. If the compressor intake refrigerant temperature is high when the compressor starts up, the maximum allowable rotational speed of the compressor is limited and the airflow rate of the blower fan is reduced by lowering the voltage of the blower fan motor. As a result, overheating of the electronic devices inside the compressor inverter is suppressed. Also, if the compressor intake refrigerant temperature is high when the compressor starts up, the load on the battery is lightened and overheating of the battery is suppressed by switching the source of the electric power supplied to the compressor from the battery to the motor generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takayoshi Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 6688123
    Abstract: An automated cold storage apparatus, and related method thereof, provides a sample process management system that is a revolutionary approach to the storage and retrieval regarding critical samples. The system—a significant technological breakthrough in laboratory automation—is the first ultra low temperature robotic system capable of being validated. Samples in containers are stored and retrieved robotically through an airlock climate-control chamber that is automatically dehumidified by a dry gas purge, such as a carbon dioxide or nitrogen purge or the like. This purge rapidly reduces ambient humidity to a desirable relative humidity (RH), e.g., less than about 15% RH, virtually eliminating the accumulation of frost. Microplates are systematically identified using barcode technology, for example. Once through the climate-controlled chamber, the containers (i.e., samples) are robotically transferred to the rotary mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: Robin A. Felder, B. Sean Graves, James P. Gunderson
  • Patent number: 6688124
    Abstract: A control system for a refrigerant cooled variable frequency drive (VFD) for a chiller includes a controller which controls an electronic expansion valve to attempt to maintain a heat sink for the variable frequency drive within its design operating range. When the controller is unable to maintain the heat sink within its design operating range, a load on the chiller is reduced, either by reducing the frequency of the variable frequency drive, or if the chiller includes a compressor with internal guide vanes, by partially closing the guide vanes. The power rating of the VFD can thus be optimized based on its heat generating components operating at a controlled condition, unlike an air-cooled device which is dependent on the ambient environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Stark, Cornelius Holmes
  • Patent number: 6688125
    Abstract: The engine drives the generator, which generates electric power. The power drives the compressor. Thus driven, the compressor cools the interior of the refrigerating chamber. When the engine stops, the output of the generator stops is no longer available. Then, the compressor is automatically driven by the power of the storage battery unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Toshiba Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Okamoto, Yuuichi Ide, Masaki Toyoda
  • Patent number: 6688126
    Abstract: A built-in refrigerator is disclosed. The built-in refrigerator includes: a main body installed in a sink and having a door at a front side thereof and a machine room at a rear lower side thereof; condenser and compressor respectively installed in the machine room; a cooling fan installed in the machine room, for cooling the condenser and the compressor; and a radiation passage allowing an outside of a front side of the main body to communicate with the machine room to introduce external air into the machine room and discharge internal air of the machine room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kyung Sik Kim, Tae Hee Lee, Yang Gyu Kim, Eui Yeop Chung, Se Young Kim
  • Patent number: 6688127
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to cryogenic devices and, more particularly, to cryogenic devices of very small size based on superconducting elements, low thermal transmission interconnects and low dissipated power semiconductor
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Daniel B. Laubacher, Zhi-Yuan Shen, Philip Shek Wah Pang, Alan Lauder
  • Patent number: 6688128
    Abstract: A shaped article is capable of at least one of containing and delivering a cryogenic fluid. The article has a porous structure that restricts the passage of cryogenic fluid in the liquid phase while permitting the passage of cryogenic fluid in the gaseous phase. The article may be in the form of a tube or container. The article permits a liquid cryogen to be transported to a specific site, and then cool the site by means of conduction from the cold article and convection of cold gas, the phase change of the evaporating liquid greatly enhancing the heat loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignees: Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc, W. L. Gore & Associates (UK) Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark John Robbie, David Myers
  • Patent number: 6688129
    Abstract: An excavationless geothermal system for heating and cooling applications includes a potable water storage container that receives water from a water supply through a supply line and a reversible water meter. The water in the storage container is circulated through a heat pump, and when the temperature of the water in the container is increased or decreased by the heat pump, the water is returned to the supply through the reversible meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Inventor: Ronald S Ace
  • Patent number: 6688130
    Abstract: An ice making machine comprises a housing, an evaporator connected to a freezing system, a base frame having a plurality of freezing cells for being filled with water to be frozen, a freezing base plate provided with the evaporator and freezing fingers formed on the lower surface of the freezing base plate to be dipped into the water supplied to the freezing cells, and an air removing means for pumping the water into the freezing cells to remove air bubbles inside the water, thereby forming clear pieces of ice. The air removing means comprises a water path disposed at the base frame to be connected to the freezing cells, a water pocket connected to the water path and being replenished with water form an external water supply, and a pressing means for repeatedly pressing the water pocket to pump the water of the water pocket into each freezing cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Oh-bok Kim
  • Patent number: 6688131
    Abstract: An ice making machine comprising a housing, an evaporator connected to a freezing system, a base frame having a multiplicity of freezing cells for receiving water to be frozen, a freezing base plate provided with the evaporator and having freezing fingers formed on the lower surface of to be dipped into the multiplicity of freezing cells retaining the water to be frozen, and an air removing means circulating the water around the freezing fingers for removing air bubbles inside the water. The air removing means may comprise a multiplicity of nozzles spraying air onto the water contained in the freezing cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Gwangju Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Oh-bok Kim, Tae-yun Jung
  • Patent number: 6688132
    Abstract: A sorption cooling device capable of providing cooling over an extended period of time. The sorption cooling device is particularly useful in a temperature-controlled shipping container that is required to maintain a temperature below ambient for an extended period of time. In one embodiment, the cooling device includes a means for restricting the flow of refrigerant liquid to control the degree of cooling over an extended period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Nanopore, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas M. Smith, Kevin H. Roderick, Richard G. Perkes, Vanessa Sinclair, Lois X. Warren
  • Patent number: 6688133
    Abstract: A cooling container assembly including a cooling tub resting on a supporting base. The cooling tub has a central drain opening with a hose depending therefrom and passing through an opening in the top surface of the supporting base and extending into a drain receptacle in the supporting base; the latter having a doored opening through which the drain receptacle can be inserted and removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Inventor: Edward Donefrio
  • Patent number: 6688134
    Abstract: A touchless automatic fiber optic beverage/ice dispenser (10, FIG. 1), dispenses ice and or beverages into a cup/container (26, FIG. 2), without user or cup/container touching any part of the machine, for sanitary effortless product filling activation. Any number of products may be dispensed from dispensing nozzles (16, 18, FIG. 1), in any volumes desired, allowing product mixing to customize beverages to the user's preference. Touchless automatically activated dispensing allows cup/container to be held in normal fashion to which people are currently accustomed. A filling indicator light (15, FIG. 1) illuminates during automatic filling. “On/off” mode selector (14, FIG. 1) prevents unauthorized product dispensation, and allows fast, easy machine cleaning. Resulting is a user friendly, commercially durable, sanitary touchless beverage/ice dispenser (10, FIG. 1), wherein germs and diseases are not transmitted from person to person via the machine, even during refilling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Inventors: John C. Barton, Norma J. Barton
  • Patent number: 6688135
    Abstract: An insert is retained at the bottom of a portable liquid drink dispenser close to its nozzle. The insert has an inclined top surface for eliminating the need to tip the drink dispenser in order to dispense the final drinks. The insert has a coolant for cooling the fluid at the bottom of the drink dispenser in the area of the nozzle. The coolant may be water, gel or other high heat density material. The insert is chilled in a freezer prior to being retained in the drink dispenser. The insert is removably retained in the bottom of the drink dispenser using any or all of several retention means. The insert has the further advantage of allowing for the stacking of inserts during freezing and transport. Elimination of the need for tipping the drink dispenser allows for the stacking or mounting of drink dispensers while dispensing drinks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Inventors: Steve Mattia, Mark Krejcarek, Jonathan Boyle
  • Patent number: 6688136
    Abstract: A cooling system for an electric generator involves connecting a centrifugal chiller to the electric generator. The centrifugal chiller circulates a refrigerant throughout the hot spots of the electric generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Alexander Abram Lemberg
  • Patent number: 6688137
    Abstract: A brazed plate heat exchanger has a two-phase refrigerant flow distribution system with improved circulation features. The inlet manifold has parallel pass conduits interconnected by way of a return bend, with the downstream end of the second pass conduit fluidly interconnected with the upstream end of the first pass conduit to complete the circuit. The manifold first pass conduit has a plurality of outlets formed in its wall to accommodate the flow of two-phase refrigerant to refrigerant channels along its length. A nozzle at the upstream end of the first pass conduit provides a relatively high velocity jet stream of refrigerant flow that propels the flow of refrigerant around the circuit so as to prevent stratification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Neelkanth Shridhar Gupte
  • Patent number: 6688138
    Abstract: A heat exchanger including a plurality of thermally-conductive, fluid-conveyance tubes, and at least one header from which each of the plurality of fluid-conveyance tubes extends. The header includes an elongate outer tube and an elongate inner tube disposed eccentrically within the outer tube, with a fluid conduit being defined between the inner tube and the outer tube. The plurality of fluid-conveyance tubes are in fluid communication with the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventor: Michael A. DiFlora
  • Patent number: 6688139
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for interconnecting jewelry elements. In various embodiments, the apparatus comprises a first jewelry element having a track disposed therein and a second jewelry element having a feature shaped and sized to traverse the track. In one embodiment, the invention comprises a bracelet having two or more tracks disposed on the surface thereof and a mounted jewel having a base shaped to travel within one or more of the tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Inventor: Patricia Tschetter
  • Patent number: 6688140
    Abstract: When a loop is transferred from a transfer jack to a knitting needle of a lower needle bed, a needle hook (21a, 21b) of the knitting needle (13a, 13b) is inserted into the loop (88) retained on the transfer jack (57); then the transfer jack is moved forward so that the loop can be pushed to be placed in an advancing and retracting track of the needle hook of the knitting needle; and the slider (19a, 19b) is moved forward so that the needle hook can be closed by the slider to capture and keep the loop in the needle hook, whereby possible occurrence of drop stitch is prevented to ensure that the loop is transferred from the transfer jack to the knitting needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Shima Seiki Mfg., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takekazu Shibuta
  • Patent number: 6688141
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for braiding cables, sheathings or similar workpieces comprising a braided strand chain consisting of a plurality of textile, metallic or similar braided strands, whereby the braided strand chain is produced by using a plurality of gripping elements which manipulate the braided strands. The gripping elements are controlled in such a way that one gripping element takes up the braided strand material of the gripping element positioned in front of the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: CCS Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Künzel, Thomas Kutcher, Frank Rattay
  • Patent number: 6688142
    Abstract: A double-layer sock includes substantially coextensive, separately knitted inner and outer layers that cooperatively form a fabric receptacle dimensioned to fit over the foot and at least a portion of the leg of the wearer. The separately knitted inner and outer fabric layers are joined by sewn attachment stitches. The attachment stitches include stitching extending completely around the open leg end of the receptacle and tack stitching located within the toe sections of the layers. The layers are each preferably knit in a manner, such as by a circular knitting machine, requiring toe closure seams. The toe closure seams face toward one another in a juxtaposed relationship, such that the rib presented by each seam is overlain and concealed by the opposite fabric layer. The outer layer preferably presents inwardly facing terry loops so as to further minimize bulging created by the closure seams. A form for facilitating fabrication of a double-layer sock is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Knit-Rite, Inc.
    Inventor: David B. Higgins
  • Patent number: 6688143
    Abstract: A warp knit fabric having elastomeric yarns and polyester yarns, the polyester yarns including a flame retardant agent incorporated therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventor: Jan L. Williams
  • Patent number: 6688144
    Abstract: A knit design system comprising grading line directing device (24) for directing grading lines (48, 90) at locations of size changes with respect to a design (34, 86) displayed on a monitor (8); grading line setting device (28) for setting information on design modification (34, 86) with respect to the grading lines (48, 90); operating device (26) for making size changes of the design (34, 86) with reference to the grading line (48, 90) directed by the grading line directing device (24) and the modification data set by the grading line setting device (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Shima Seiki Mfg., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Nishikawa, Hiroyuki Okazaki, Akira Ueno
  • Patent number: 6688145
    Abstract: A sportsboard locking apparatus for securing sportsboard from theft includes a simple, multiple element apparatus which engages elements of a standard sportsboard and further provides for a method by which the sportsboard may be secured to a stationary article avoiding theft. The apparatus operates simply with few moving parts and fits standard sportsboard designs. A cross bar is intimate to the sportsboard's body and located within a cylindrical cup which is recessed below the sportsboard's outer surface, the cross bar being securely fixed to the board's core structure. The apparatus incorporates a hooked element which surrounds the crossbar and a pin element which encloses the cross bar within a space formed between pin and hook element's engagement end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Inventor: Calvin Conrad Tan
  • Patent number: 6688146
    Abstract: A rotary closure (1) having a carrying body (5) which carries a plug-in section (6) for plugging into a plug-in opening, in which the plug-in section (6) can be arrested by a retaining element (37) which can be rendered operational or non-operational by a rotary handgrip (4) being rotated, it being possible for the rotary handgrip (4) to be blocked by a combination lock having a plurality of number disks (10). For realizing a rotary closure which is of straightforward, compact construction and which can be used to close plug-in openings of objects of different configurations, there is provided a pull member (33) which can be displaced axially by the rotary handgrip (4) being rotated and is intended for actuating the retaining element (37).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: S. Franzen Söhne GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Horst Michels, Jürgen Henkels
  • Patent number: 6688147
    Abstract: A panel, formed from a perforated face (102), is respectively concavely and convexly curved by seriatim stretching or contracting its flanges (104a, b; 156a, b). Such stretching and contracting is produced by placing the opposed flanges within jaw halves (110a, b; 166a, b) of a jaw mechanism (110, 166), by seriatim positioning of the paired flanges between their respective jaw halves, and by moving the jaw halves away from or towards one another. Jaw movement towards one another effects a stretching function. Jaw movement towards one another effects a shrinking function. Computerization enables the panel curving to be precisely controlled. The curved panel, as it exits from the panel curving machine (126, 148) is supported on rollers (146) or, more precisely, by a scissor apparatus (176). The scissors apparatus includes roller sets (242, 244, 246) which are positionable, relative to one another, to conform the roller sets to the curvature of the exiting panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Ceilings Plus, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles M. Gordon, Bruce R. Harkness, Daniel J. Mellough, Gregory Stewart, Vincent A. Burokas
  • Patent number: 6688148
    Abstract: A method of making high carbon content steel engine components is disclosed. The method includes pre-processing a supply wire of high strength steel having a spheroidized carbide microstructure and high-strength mechanical properties, applying a lubricant on the surface of the supply wire, and cold-forming the blank to substantially reduce or eliminate the need for any additional surface grinding operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Defiance Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond C. Hartzell, Jeffrey A. Buck, Stanley Marchewka
  • Patent number: 6688149
    Abstract: A method for the non-cutting production of a hub with a stepped hole, the method steps comprising: providing a metal round blank having a throughhole; providing a patch block in the throughhole and having a portion of the patch block spaced at a distance from the metal round blank so as to create a stepped area displaced from a plane of the top surface of the metal round blank; and, cold-forming the hub by use of at least one pressure roller with the at least one pressure roller fed radially towards the throughhole, wherein material from the metal round blank flows into the stepped area between the metal round blank and a portion of the patch block, thereby forming a stepped hole comprising a material web at an inner circumference of the hub. A hub with a stepped hole, produced from a metal round blank by a compression method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: WF-Maschinenbau und Blechformtechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Udo Friese
  • Patent number: 6688150
    Abstract: Roll grooving apparatus for rolling a circumferential groove in a pipe comprises a first support rotatably supporting a first grooving roll, a second support rotatably supporting a second grooving roll and being displaceable relative to the first support for displacing the second grooving roll toward and away from said first grooving roll, a stabilizer on the first support for stabilizing a pipe to be roll grooved, and first and second guards pivotally mounted on the second support for displacement therewith. The first guard engages the stabilizer, the second guard engages a pipe being roll grooved during a roll grooving operation and each guard is spring biased to engage the corresponding one of the stabilizer and a pipe being roll grooved. A member on the first support engages and displaces the second guard away from a pipe which has been roll grooved when the second support is displaced to move the second grooving roll away from the first grooving rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Todd A. Westley, Richard W. Ballas
  • Patent number: 6688151
    Abstract: A roll shifting cylinder 14 is driven to pivot a lever arm 12, thereby shifting a work roll 1 via a thrust bearing 15. A control unit 27 performs auto-positioning control, based on a shift amount performance value of the thrust bearing 15 detected by a shift amount detection sensor 16, so as to obtain a target roll shift position. A constant clearance amount is maintained between an end surface of the work roll 1 and the thrust bearing 15 during a rolling operation, and a chockless mill is effectively used as a work roll shift mill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., Kawasaki Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Tadashi Hiura, Youichi Hangai, Shigefumi Katsura, Yoshitake Kohiro