Patents Issued in February 17, 2004
  • Patent number: 6692212
    Abstract: The transfer of stacks comprising molded plastic containers from stacking magazines into downstream devices in terms of susceptibility to disturbances, with the molding apparatus having a large number of cycles is improved. The method requires simple format parts, and permit a rapid format change when the apparatus is converted to a different container format. This is achieved be stack cages comprising stacking-magazine rows that can be displaced perpendicular to the stacking direction and removed from the other stacking-magazine rows. They are guided to a removal station, unloaded and placed onto the stacking-magazine rows remaining on the other side in the stacking station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Adolf Illig Maschinenbau GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Herbert Trautwein, Volker Eichbauer, Michael Wonzy
  • Patent number: 6692213
    Abstract: Fastener delivery apparatus for automatically selecting and delivering fasteners such as rivets to a setting tool. The fasteners are pre-loaded in a package and dispense via at least one fastener delivery tube that interconnects the setting tool to a fastener feeder device. The fastener feeder device releases selected fasteners from the package into the delivery tube. The fasteners are transportable individually or in groups in the tube from the feeder device to the tool. A transfer station attached to the tool or the delivery tube transfers a fastener from the delivery apparatus into the tool, the transfer station being moveable between a first position in which an exit of the transfer station is adjacent to the tool so that a delivered fastener may be inserted by the transfer station into the tool and a second position in which it is clear of the tool so as to permit the tool or a portion thereof to move towards a workpiece to insert a loaded fastener. The delivery tube has wear resistant elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Henrob Limited
    Inventor: Michael Butler
  • Patent number: 6692214
    Abstract: A pusher 13 has a leaf spring 12, a driving section 22, a direction changing section 23, and guides 24. The driving section 22 nips the leaf spring to longitudinally advance and retract it. Advancement of a fore end of the leaf spring 12 in a pushing direction causes the object facing the leaf spring to be pushed from a first position to a second position. A direction changing section 23 bends the tail end of the leaf spring relative to the fore end so as to change the direction of advancement and retraction. Guides 24 guide the fore and tail ends with respect to the direction changing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shida, Takashi Shimizu, Ryoji Inutsuka, Hiroaki Hayashi, Shinji Kanayama, Yuichi Takakura
  • Patent number: 6692215
    Abstract: A presently-preferred embodiment of a lift and carrier assembly for a personal-transport vehicle comprises a lifting column, an actuator mechanism adapted to lift the lifting column, a pivot plate rotatably coupled to the lifting column, a platform fixedly coupled to the pivot plate, a cam follower coupled to the pivot plate, and a cam member being fixed in relation to the lifting column so that lifting of the lifting column causes the cam follower to contact the cam member thereby generating a contact force between the cam follower and the cam member. The cam follower is biased so that the contact force prevents the cam follower from being lifted when a weight acting on the platform is below a predetermined value thereby causing the pivot plate to rotate about the lifting column in response to the lifting of the lifting column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Cook Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Panzarella, James B. Eldon, III, David D. McClanahan
  • Patent number: 6692216
    Abstract: A latch assembly adapted for use with a tire carrier including a wheel plate, and a lock bracket including an aperture and a cable disposed in the aperture and connected to the wheel plate. The latch assembly includes a lock housing, a cable guide adjacent the lock housing and a lock arm adjacent the cable guide member. The lock arm has one end, another end and a cam surface. The one end is pivotally connected to the cable guide member wherein, when another end is moved toward the lock bracket, the cam surface engages the lock bracket to pivot the lock arm to a locked position so that when the cable breaks, the lock arm engages the lock bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Dura Global Technologies
    Inventors: Jason Reznar, Steve Battle, Madhu Posani
  • Patent number: 6692217
    Abstract: The present invention relates to hydraulic circuit capable of independently controlling a plurality of hydraulic cylinders or actuators. The hydraulic circuit includes a set of independently energizable valves fluidically positioned in the circuit and capable of, when selectively energized and de-energized, functionally isolating specific circuit elements. In one preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to a hydraulic circuit for independently controlling the stowage functions, vertical movement, and rollstop operations of a wheelchair-lifting platform. Another preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to a wheelchair lifting platform having a lifting cylinder and a rollstop cylinder and incorporating a hydraulic circuit capable of independently actuating and controlling the respective cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: The Braun Corporation
    Inventor: James R. Pierrou
  • Patent number: 6692218
    Abstract: A vehicular towing apparatus incorporates an air bag in association with shock absorbers and a tow bar. The air bag may be selectively inflated and deflated, allowing the tow bar to be raised and lowered at will. In addition, the tow bar may be extended or retracted as desired. Several platform attachments enable the towing apparatus to be used alternatively as an automobile tow bar, a support for motorcycles or bicycles, or other items that may be supported upon a platform. The towing apparatus retracts under the vehicle, and may also serve as a vehicle step or standard trailer ball attachment point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventor: Merrill L. Grile
  • Patent number: 6692219
    Abstract: A wafer handling system and a method of retrofitting the system to an existing wafer handling apparatus are provided that make possible a method of handling wafers by contacting only a narrow area of not more than two millimeters wide adjacent the edge of the wafer, which is particularly useful for backside deposition where device side contact defines an area of exclusion that renders the wafer unusable in that area. The system provides a chuck on a wafer transfer arm that holds a wafer by gravity on a segmented, upwardly facing annular surface. A compatible annular surface is provided on an aligning station chuck so that wafers can be transferred by contact only with the exclusion area of the wafer surface. A load arm has two similarly compatible chucks further provided with pneumatically actuated grippers to allow the wafer to be loaded into a vertical processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Stephen D. Coomer, Stanislaw Kopacz, Glyn Reynolds, Michael James Lombardi, Todd Michael Visconti
  • Patent number: 6692220
    Abstract: A device for transporting stacked printed products has a support on which the printed products are stacked to form a stack. A conveying device is arranged downstream of the support in a conveying-effecting manner. A reversible pushing device acts on a back side of the stack and transfers the stack from the support to the conveying device. The conveying device has a traction device and at least two deflecting rollers, wherein the traction device circulates about the at least two deflecting rollers and provides a conveying path for the stack. The conveying device has also a substantially horizontal guide table adjoining the traction device at both ends. At least an upstream end of the traction device in a conveying direction of the conveying path is positioned approximately at the level of the support. The traction device forms a conveying plane together with guide table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Müller Martini Holding AG
    Inventors: Thomas Albert Plüss, Manfred Glauser, Rudolf Kyburz
  • Patent number: 6692221
    Abstract: The method of the present invention is capable of adhering a wafer to a prescribed position of the carrier plate, which has been correctly positioned, in a short time. The method comprises the steps of: heating a carrier plate; detecting a mark provided to a predetermined position of the carrier plate rotating at predetermined rotational speed; positioning the carrier plate on the basis of a position of the detected mark; conveying the carrier plate to a wafer adhering section with keeping a posture of the carrier plate which has been positioned in the positioning step; and adhering the wafer at a prescribed position of the carrier plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Fujikoshi Machinery Corp.
    Inventor: Tetsuro Toya
  • Patent number: 6692222
    Abstract: In a micro gas turbine engine, a capacitive sensor is used for measuring a tip clearance of a radial compressor section thereof, and an actuator is used for axially displacing a rotor shaft in response to an output from the capacitive sensor. Because the capacitive change gives an accurate measure of the size of the tip clearance, a particularly high sensitivity can be achieved in parts where the tip clearance is small, thereby providing a highly precise tip clearance control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignees: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Friedrich B. Prinz, Sangkyun Kang, Tibor Fabian, Georg Brasseur, Jordan Tresser, Francis Holman, Hideaki Tsuru, Minoru Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 6692223
    Abstract: To obtain an air conditioning apparatus which provides a favorable atmosphere to the ear and saves energy even if the suction resistance of the impeller becomes high due to such as dust in the air conditioning apparatus. The air conditioning apparatus is provided with an impeller which is formed by a plurality of vanes and a ring for supporting the plurality of vanes, and includes a nozzle portion formed by a stabilizer and an air outlet, a cross flow fan formed by a guide wall, and a heat exchanger. The ratio H/&phgr;D2 of the outside diameter &phgr; D2 of the impeller to the height H of the air conditioning apparatus is 2.2 or above and 3.0 or below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Ikeda, Yoshihiro Tanabe, Kunihiro Morishita, Hidetomo Nakagawa, Makoto Yoshihashi
  • Patent number: 6692224
    Abstract: A turbo compressor, comprising two (2) pieces of rotation shafts, being disposed in parallel with each other, wherein impellers are attached on both ends of one of the rotation shafts, thereby to build up a first-stage compressor and a second-stage compressor, while an impeller on one end of the other rotation shaft, thereby to build up a third-stage compressor. In a lower side of each of the compressors, an intercooler and an after-cooler are disposed in alignment with, for cooling down an operation gas compressed in each stage. The operation gas is guided into the first-stage compressor on a side opposing to a motor, into the second-stage compressor on a side of the motor, and into the third-stage compressor on the side opposing to the motor, in the order thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruo Miura, Kazuo Takeda, Naohiko Takahashi, Hideo Nishida, Hiromi Kobayashi, Tomoyuki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6692225
    Abstract: A liquid pressing device includes mainly a power device consisting of a motor with a spindle, an upper cap on the motor and a lower cap under the motor, a shell for containing the power device, a helical device fitted around the spindle of the motor and having a conical body and a plurality of helical leaves around the conical body. The helical leaves spiral down to form a helical groove between every two helical leaves for water to pass through. The helical leaves have thickness gradually becoming thinner and thinner downward, and the helical grooves gradually become narrower and narrower downward to add pressure to water flowing up therein. Then the conical member functions to add second pressure to water passing through, sending it to a very high location. Then the liquid pressing device can function as a water pump or a propeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventor: Po Hung Lin
  • Patent number: 6692226
    Abstract: A vibration-proof fastener for a radiator includes a pair of housings and a motor fan each of which has four thru holes adjacent four corners. A double-headed fastener has a shank engagable with the thru holes of the motor fan with a metal pith axially wrapped in the center and a pair of diametrically enlarged heads symmetrically formed at two ends. The heads each have an annular groove to define a pair of clamping flanges made engagable with the thru holes of the housings, a dome outer end and a conical portion connecting the head with the shank. The expansion of the fastener by heat from the motor will prevent the vibrations and noises to appear in the radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventor: Tsung-Hsien Cheng
  • Patent number: 6692227
    Abstract: A base plate and honeycomb member disposed at the inner circumference side of an inside shroud are fixed to the inside shroud, at a phase deviation in the peripheral direction, with respect to the inside shroud, so as to plug the missing range of seal member, out of gaps between adjacent inside shrouds, and therefore leakage of purge air from the missing range of seal member is prevented without adding new constituent members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuoki Tomita, Masamitsu Kuwabara, Shunsuke Torii
  • Patent number: 6692228
    Abstract: An insert assembly is provided for a rotary machine wherein the rotary machine comprises a rotor and a casing. The rotor comprises a generally longitudinally-extending axis. The casing is generally coaxially aligned with the axis. The casing circumferentially surrounds and is radially spaced apart from the rotor. The insert assembly comprises a channel circumferentially disposed on the rotor and an insert circumferentially disposed in such channel such that the insert assembly is configured to thermally isolate frictional heat from the rotor to the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Norman Arnold Turnquist, Christopher Edward Wolfe, Frederick George Baily, John Francis Nolan, George Ernest Reluzco
  • Patent number: 6692229
    Abstract: A laminar flow air mover includes a centrifugal fan having an outlet connected to a conduit system detachably mounted relative to the air mover. The conduit system includes a first portion connected to the centrifugal blower having a first diameter and an outlet portion having a reduced diameter portion relative to the first portion. A plurality of parallel pipes are mounted in parallel within the outlet portion in such a manner so as to direct the entire flow of air from the centrifugal blower through the pipes to provide a coherent flow of air for a substantial distance from the outlet portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventor: Donald Metz
  • Patent number: 6692230
    Abstract: Multiple horizontal axis rotors are coaxially attached, at spaced intervals, to an elongate driveshaft, which is aimed at a slightly offset angle from the wind direction, exposing each rotor to fresh wind. That offset angle may be in the vertical plane, horizontal plane, or oblique. The shaft is held by bearings near its midsection, and drives a load, such as an electrical generator. This assembly is allowed to pivot about the vertical axis of a supporting tower, and may be actively or passively aimed, in response to wind direction and velocity. Multiple driveshafts may be mounted on a single pivoting support frame. Multiple small rotors weigh less for the same swept area than an equivalent larger rotor, are easier to manufacture and transport, and rotate faster, transmitting the same power at less torque, more closely matching the required rpm of a generator, reducing or eliminating the need for ratio gearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventor: Douglas Spriggs Selsam
  • Patent number: 6692231
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fan having a molded, substantially non-metallic hub and a plurality of fan blades attached thereto. The fan blades can be rotationally indexable relative to the hub, so that a pitch angle may be adjusted. Further, the fan blades can be formed with an airfoil cross section and with a twist in the blades from a root end to a tip end so that the pitch angle varies along the length of the blade. In at least one embodiment, the fan is designed to be a high performance fan approaching the performance of metal fans with a performance of at least about 20 CFM per input watt at a static pressure of about 0.00 inches of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: General Shelters of Texas S.B., Ltd.
    Inventor: Phillip D. Calvert
  • Patent number: 6692232
    Abstract: A disc turbine rotor assembly comprised of spaced-apart discs includes means of spacing apart disc members of said rotor assembly, which allow for local variation and radial expansion under various local operating temperatures, without allowing axial deflection, deformation, or excessive warping of the disc material. Spacing means and positioning are provided which maintain desired gaps between planar disc surfaces, and may also establish tangential waves in the disc membranes in order to enhance boundary layer effects. Disc and spacer spokes combine to form a vane-axial type exhaust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventor: Guy Louis Letourneau
  • Patent number: 6692233
    Abstract: A lockable quick-release blade assembly for ceiling fans is disclosed. The lockable blade assembly comprises a fan blade having one end for inserting into a blade receiving slot in a fan rotor. The blade inserting end is provided with a notch on the longitudinal side for lockably engaging with a blade locking member. A housing defining the blade receiving slot and comprises a blade locking member and a blade releasing member. The blade locking member has a spring biased locking bolt for locking into the notch of the inserted fan blade. The blade releasing member has a spring biased slide slice located atop the housing and abutting the spring biased locking bolt at a 45° angle so that upon a user pressing the releasing member the locked fan blade is released from the locking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Hoo Cheung Group Ltd.
    Inventor: Hai Liang
  • Patent number: 6692234
    Abstract: A self priming pump system that includes a motor coupled to a centrifugal pump for driving the centrifugal pump. A separator having a reservoir is provided for storing a limited amount of pumped fluid in advance of the centrifugal pump. A vacuum source provides a vacuum suction to the reservoir to draw pumped fluid into the reservoir to prime the pump. To increase the reliability of the vacuum pump system, a deflector and/or extension may be provided in the reservoir to help prevent pumped fluid from entering the vacuum pump input. Also, the configuration of a tank used to store liquid for the vacuum pump system may be configured to separate and collect sediments near a drain port, which then can be easily drained. For positive head pressures, one or more valves may be used to prevent pumped fluid from escaping the reservoir, if desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Water Management Systems
    Inventor: David Muhs
  • Patent number: 6692235
    Abstract: An air-cooled multi-stage compression system using centrifugal compressors is disclosed. It is packaged in a comparable volume to a water-cooled unit having the same driver horsepower. The performance is comparable and opportunities for use of the waste heat are available. Existing water-cooled units can be retrofit to run in an air-cooled mode. Special applications such as combined air compression and nitrogen compression useful in air separation applications are presented. The circulating cooling air can make the unit into an air filter of its surrounding space. Cooling air is drawn through the enclosure before being forced through the coolers above. This air movement can cool compressor housings, the control panel and the drive motors mounted in the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Cooper Cameron Corporation
    Inventors: Robert M. Kolodziej, Edward S. Czechowski, Donald E. Miller, Jr., John R. Battershell, Michael Thompson, John C. Bartos, Frank Athearn, Robert Rajeski
  • Patent number: 6692236
    Abstract: The two cylinder and piston systems (1, 3), operating in series, are driven by a crankshaft, with a minimum or even zero phase difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Officine Mario Dorin S.p.A.
    Inventors: Dorin Filippo, Dami Maurizio
  • Patent number: 6692237
    Abstract: A rotary cylinder apparatus which prevents a fluid from leaking from a contact portion of a piston and a cylinder member and consequently enables efficient rotation. The rotary cylinder apparatus comprises: a rotary cylinder member 2 which has cylinder chambers 22 and 23 formed thereto so as to pass through a rotary shaft center O and rotates around the rotary shaft center O; pistons 3 and 4 demonstrating reciprocating linear motion in the cylinder chambers 22 and 23; a piston holding member 5 which holds the pistons 3 and 4 and rotates around a rotation center X eccentric from the rotary shaft center O of the rotary cylinder member 2; and a casing 6 which rotatably supports the rotary cylinder member 2 and has at least one inlet 61 and at least one outlet 62, wherein the pistons 3 and 4 are rotatably supported at a position away from the rotation center X of the piston holding member 5 by a fixed distance and with that position at the center thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sankyo Seiki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Fumito Komatsu, Kenji Muramatsu, Yuki Nakamura, Tomohiro Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 6692238
    Abstract: A muffler of a compressor in which an imaginary central line of flowing direction in a passage pipe at an inlet side and an imaginary central line of the flowing direction in a passage pipe at an outlet side are formed to have an angle of 40˜50° or a curved surface having a certain curvature is formed in an extended space between an outlet end of the passage pipe at the inlet side and an outlet end of the passage pipe at the outlet side. Accordingly, the refrigerant gas which flows to the passage pipe at the outlet side through the passage pipe at the inlet side can flow smoothly as the refrigerant gas passes the curved surface and by attenuating pulsation flow between the passage pipes at the inlet side and outlet side, the refrigerant gas can be sucked smoothly. Therefore, suction amount of the refrigerant gas increases, thus to improve the efficiency of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hwan Joo Myung, In Seop Lee
  • Patent number: 6692239
    Abstract: A reciprocating compressor of un-lubricating type, equipped with a cooling device including a cooling fan beneath a motor and provided with four gas compressors, each having a cylinder and a piston. The pistons of each gas compressor cooperate by converting a rotating motion of a crankpin of a crankshaft provided on an electric drive source via two yokes having a phase difference of 90 degrees therebetween to a reciprocating motion by a scotch yoke mechanism. The flows of compressed gases from each gas compressor are joined to one place by connecting tubes to be discharged. The lengths of each connecting tube are selected such that pressure waves of the compressed gases compete with each other at the joining point for a time period encompassing one rotation of the crankpin, whereby a pulsation resulting from gas flow discharged in concentration is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Nishikawa, Hiroshi Nishikawa, Takashi Harako, Takayuki Mizuno, Kazuya Sato, Yasuo Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 6692240
    Abstract: A pump housing (14, 16) has a fan guard (40) secured to the end of the housing by four crescent-shaped tabs (60) fitting into four crescent-shaped cast-in recesses (66) of the housing (14, 16) and ears (68) of the tabs (60) fitting into cast-in holes (70) in the housing (14, 16). The ears (68) and boles (70) on opposite sides of the housing (14, 16) are aligned along a common axis (80, 82). The ears (68) are tapered at their leading ends (90) and squared off at their trailing ends (92), and the guard (40) has a radial projection (56) that fits into an opening in the housing (14, 16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Thomas Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Todd W. Leonhard, Shawn Leu
  • Patent number: 6692241
    Abstract: When a door is opened, a midway part of an infusion tube is temporarily held in a fixed position of a pump body and the door is to be closed, in order to actively prevent the door from being closed if the infusion tube is not properly set in its fixed position, so that a back plate base 132 can be placed in a state of interposition in which the infusion tube is properly held and an immovable state in relation to the door 4 can be ensured, there are provided a stopper member 70 to be shifted in the direction of arrow d1 by a shift energizing force to be placed in a state of engagement with the back plate base 132 when the door is open and a shape 64 provided on the pump body for shifting the stopper member 70 so as to eliminate the state of engagement when the infusion tube 2 is properly held temporarily in said fixed position and the door is shifted to a closed state in relation to the pump body 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Watanabe, Masaru Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 6692242
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-cylinder rotary compressor which can enhance the reliability by improving the compression efficiency/mechanical efficiency. The bearings are fixed on the inner wall of the closed container, the cylinders are fixed to the bearings, and a gap is formed between the respective cylinders and the inner wall of the closed container. The design with the relatively large internal volume of the closed container is possible, and the reliability can be enhanced. Further, improvement in the compression efficiency and the mechanical efficiency can be achieved with the compact multi-cylinder rotary compression element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenzo Matsumoto, Akira Hashimoto, Midori Futakawame, Masazumi Sakaniwa, Hiroyuki Sawabe
  • Patent number: 6692243
    Abstract: A screw compressor includes a housing having a discharge port; and at least two rotors disposed in the housing for generating opposed discharge flows through the discharge port, wherein the discharge port has edges defining a discharge opening, and wherein the edges are rounded so as to smooth flow of the discharge flows past the edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: William H. Rousseau
  • Patent number: 6692244
    Abstract: A hydraulic pump assembly includes a pump housing having a chamber defined therein, wherein the chamber includes a pair of cylindrically shaped portions each defining at least one end wall. The hydraulic pump assembly also includes a pair of rotary pump elements disposed for rotation within the cylindrically shaped portions of the chamber, and which cooperate to create a hydraulic pressure. The hydraulic pump assembly further includes a pair of cylindrically shaped shafts each having at least one end wall, and disposed within the pair of cylindrically shaped portions of the chamber and within the pair of pump elements. The shafts are fixed for rotation and are axially shiftable with respect to the pump elements. A hydraulic fluid within the chamber stabilizes at least one of the axially shiftable shafts such that the end face of the shaft is spaced from the end wall of the cylindrically shaped portion of the chamber when the hydraulic pump is in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Monarch Hydraulics, Inc.
    Inventor: Srinivas Bhagavatula
  • Patent number: 6692245
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a frame including a rigid thermoplastic portion and a resilient portion defining a lip seal. In particular, a core/cavity mold assembly is provided, wherein the rigid thermoplastic portion is formed, by opening the mold assembly while maintaining the rigid thermoplastic portion in the core, placing the core in line with a second cavity configured and sized to form the lip seal and molding the lip seal directly onto the rigid thermoplastic portion. The mold cavity is provided with movable internal and external stripper rings that allow the resilient portion to be removed from the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: IPL Inc.
    Inventors: Michel Lanoue, Jean-Francois Lavoie, Randall Leach, Gary Meyers
  • Patent number: 6692246
    Abstract: The present invention is an improved method and apparatus for replicating various types of optical discs such as CDs and DVDs. The apparatus includes a support plate attached to a rotatable shaft. The support plate has a top surface for supporting a stamper, ultraviolet (“UV”) curable resin, and a support substrate. The UV curable resin forming the information layer on the support substrate of the optical disc. In the method, the stamper is placed on top of the support plate, and UV curable resin is applied to the top of the stamper having information containing data pits formed therein. The support substrate is placed on top of the stamper with the UV curable resin sandwiched in-between. The apparatus is rotated to spread the resin onto both surfaces of the support substrate and stamper. The joined surfaces of the support substrate and stamper are exposed to UV radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Valdas Ltd. (A British Virgin Island Corp.)
    Inventor: Vladimir Schwartz
  • Patent number: 6692247
    Abstract: The invention relates to a roll and press lighter which is rendered child resistant by a fixed extension of the body which surrounds or bisects the lever so as to impede the user's thumb. The adult user must operate the lighter in such a way that the flesh of the user's thumb is able to depress the lever below the level of the fixed extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Swedish Match Lighters B.V.
    Inventor: Carel Sewalt
  • Patent number: 6692248
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas lighter with high-voltage discharge control. In the existing lighter, when an actuator button is pressed, the discharge takes place between the high-voltage electrode and the gas nozzle, thereby the combustible gas is ignited, but such a lighter has unsatisfying safety. The lighter according to the present invention comprises a fuel tank, piezo-electric device and gas outlet device inside the fuel tank, and a windscreen above the gas outlet device. The piezo-electric device comprises a piezo-electric block, an actuator button associated with said piezo-electric block and a conducting wire. One end of the conducting wire is fixed to the piezo-electric block, the other end is fixed to the upper part of the fuel tank as a high-voltage electrode, characterized in that in the windscreen there are a conductor element, which can be brought close to the high-voltage electrode, and a control element connected thereto, said control element is connected to the gas outlet device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventors: Xinhua Huang, Zhihong Jiang
  • Patent number: 6692249
    Abstract: A fixture (30) adapted to permit the heated exchange of a liner (14) from an operating vertical furnace (10). The fixture is adapted to secure to the base of the liner (14) to both unlock and lower the heated liner, such as a silicon carbide liner, at an controlled rate. The fixture is also adapted to elevate a new liner into the operating vertical furnace at a controlled rate to control the rate of heating of the liner as it is inserted into the operating vertical furnace. The fixture includes an inner ring (34), a low-friction Teflon® ring (36), and an outer ring (38) permitting the rotation of the inner ring within the outer ring. Advantageously, the low friction ring comprises a flanged portion and a vertical portion allowing rotation of the inner ring within the outer ring even when elevated at extreme temperatures exceeding 500° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: James Hoyt Beatty, Chris Whitesell
  • Patent number: 6692250
    Abstract: Apparatus for allowing the photoactivation of photosensitive composites used especially in the dental field: A case containing a power supply unit electrically controlled by a central electronic processing unit. A light source connected to the supply unit and which is formed by a plurality of light-emitting diodes. The diodes are associated with a concentrating device making it possible to concentrate in an optimal manner, at a given point, the light emanating from all the emissive areas of the diodes. The concentrating device includes a respective optical fiber associated with each light emitting diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Decaudin, Michel Lequime, Elisabeth Duret, Bognard Duret
  • Patent number: 6692251
    Abstract: An instrument and method for curing light-curable compounds in the mouth of a patient, the instrument comprising a housing and a plurality of solid state, light-emitting elements on a substrate supported by the housing. The elements form a collective array on the substrate operable for collectively emitting light having wavelengths within a narrow band of wavelengths. An optical focusing device is positioned to intercept the light emitted by the array of elements and includes a non-imaging optical device which is operable for collimating the light from the array into a beam to be directed onto a compound for curing the compound. A disposable sleeve covers the housing and array and may incorporate the optical focusing device. The sleeve is removed and discarded after use to eliminate the need to autoclave the instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Kerr Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph N. Logan, Raymond L. Knox
  • Patent number: 6692252
    Abstract: A heat sink for a dental light-curing device comprises three mounting surfaces that are each configured for mounting a light source, such as an LED or LED array, which is capable of generating light suitable for curing light-curable compounds. The mounting surfaces are configured with a geometric arrangement in which one of the mounting surfaces is placed nearer to the tip of the heat sink than either of the remaining two mounting surfaces, which are placed adjacent to the first mounting surface and are spaced an equal distance away from the tip of the heat sink. This arrangement generally minimizes the heat that is generated by the LEDs at the tip of the heat sink and expedites the diffusion of heat from the LEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Ultradent Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert R. Scott
  • Patent number: 6692253
    Abstract: An instrument delivery head for supporting hand-held instruments used in dental and other medical procedures. The instrument delivery head includes base and a lid connected to the base for movement between open and closed positions. Various instrument controls are supported by the lid so that the controls are accessible when the lid is opened. After the control adjustments are made, the lid is closed to conceal the controls within the instrument delivery head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Midmark Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Brockway, Jeffrey Lyn Robbins
  • Patent number: 6692254
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for fastening a denture plate with many artificial teeth to a plurality of implants screwed into the bone is disclosed that may be completed on the same day as surgical implantation of the implants. The denture plate is prepared before surgery. A rigid metal bar is prepared that is fitted to register with the implants after the implants have been implanted. The rigid metal bar is affixed to the denture plate. Screws through the bar are received into the top of each implant to thereby secure the bar and the attached denture plate to the implants. This distributes the tooth forces among the implants for enhanced function. The bar is composed of a metal attachment for each implant. A pair of wings extends out from each attachment. The attachments are temporarily mounted on the implants so that wings from adjacent attachments overlap. The attachments and wings are temporarily joined with cement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventors: Barry A. Kligerman, John C. Stone, Michael Peterson
  • Patent number: 6692255
    Abstract: A refreshable Braille reader apparatus and method are disclosed, the apparatus preferably utilizing a rotating cylinder having endless rows of openings defined therethrough to a display surface with a pin held in each opening and freely movable therein. Static actuators at least equal in number to the rows of openings through the cylinder are maintained at a station adjacent to the surface of the cylinder, and are configured and positioned so that the pins are selectively contactable at either of their ends by different ones of the actuators during cylinder rotation in either forward or reverse direction thereby selectively positioning first ends of the pins relative to the surface of the cylinder to allow streaming of Braille text across a display area in either forward or backward order depending upon selected direction of cylinder rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America
    Inventors: John W. Roberts, Oliver T. Slattery, David W. Kardos, Edwin Mulkens, Bretton Swope
  • Patent number: 6692256
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a computer tutorial system wherein software product training is provided interactively by guiding the user, for example, through one or more examples or applications that can be created in and/or using the product. More particularly, the invention involves a computer implemented, interactive tutorial system providing online instruction in conjunction with a contemporaneously operating software product to, for example, create such examples or applications and the tutorial system further providing for the creation of such examples or applications in and/or using the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Chan, Wassim Melhem, Dirk Alexander Seelemann, Vito Spatafora, Michael Starkey
  • Patent number: 6692257
    Abstract: A water sliding baseball game is a water-based baseball or softball game. The game may be played according to the general rules of baseball or softball, but includes enhancements to incorporate the use of water, thus allowing sliding and increased fun, while also reducing the risk of injury and pain associated with repeated sliding into bases on grass or dirt surfaces. The game is played on a vinyl tarp having a substantially square playing area and substantially conforming to the terrain or surface over which it is placed. The bases are made of a non-absorbent material. Tubing, with multiple water ports, is routed along the baselines and hooked up to a garden hose. When the water is turned on, it provides a gentle spray all over the infield and outfield areas, thereby providing the proper conditions for instructing on base sliding skills, with the spraying water facilitating base sliding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventors: Celeste Branum, Troy Buckley, Angela Achord
  • Patent number: 6692258
    Abstract: A method includes generating a virtual patient representative of a fictitious medical subject from execution of a simulation application that accesses a domain of medical characteristics and dynamically producing an image of the virtual patient to present to a user based on executing of the simulation application using virtual patient state data. The method also includes updating the state data by interpreting data structures defining selected virtual patient characteristics and controlling rates of changes in virtual patient state data to speed up or slow down evolution of changes in the image of the virtual patient presented to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Medical Learning Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond C. Kurzweil, Bryan Bergeron, Karl Haakonsen
  • Patent number: 6692259
    Abstract: An interactive karaoke system includes a microphone developing an audio input from at least one karaoke performer; a camera producing a series of video frames including the at least one karaoke performer; and a karaoke processor system including a video environment and a related audio environment for the karaoke performer. The karaoke processor system is coupled to the camera to create extracted images of the at least one karaoke performer from the series of video frames and to composite the extracted images with a background derived from the video environment. The video environment is affected by at least one of a position and a movement of the at least one karaoke performer. A karaoke network includes a local area network, a local karaoke server coupled to the local area network and storing local karaoke content; and a number of karaoke systems coupled to the local area network, each of which can request karaoke content from the local karaoke server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Electric Planet
    Inventors: David Kumar, Subutai Ahmad
  • Patent number: 6692260
    Abstract: A method and sampling system are provided for sampling and marketing fluid replacement services. Once an automobile arrives at the service facility, the automobile service technician quickly obtains fluid samples from the various systems of an automobile. While the consumer provides relevant information relating to the vehicle to a customer service technician, the automobile service technician places the fluid samples into receptacles allowing the consumer to visually inspect the condition of each fluid. The service technician then provides new fluids in proximity to the actual fluids of the engine to allow a side-by-side comparison of the visual condition of the fluids. The samples are then presented to the consumer while the consumer is in contact with the customer service technician to allow the consumer to make a determination as to whether the fluids must be replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: B G Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Beck, Charles Polston, Sandor Cenziper, Robert Moore, John Thompson
  • Patent number: 6692261
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle air-conditioning module wherein the surface thereof opposed to the mounting surface of an instrument panel includes at least one electrical component connector which is to be connected directly with the connector of the corresponding one of electrical components through a mount opening formed through the mounting surface of the instrument panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Matsuda, Mitsutaka Ohara, Minoru Asano