Patents Issued in April 6, 2004
  • Patent number: 6715337
    Abstract: A non-destructive stress wave testing method for wood. Two strain gauges are disposed on a timber. The timber is struck to generate an impact compression stress wave. The impact compression stress wave is measured by the strain gauges. An oscilloscope is provided to measure the time difference of the impact compression stress wave passing through the semiconductor strain gauges. The resonance frequency of the timber is sensed by the strain gauges and displayed on an FFT spectrum analyzer. Then, the speed of sound in the timber is determined according to the distance between the strain gauges and the time difference, or according to the length and the resonance frequency thereof. The strain gauges may be semiconductor strain gauges. The modulus of elasticity of the timber is determined according to the speed of sound therein and the density thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Taiwan Forestry Research Institute
    Inventors: Yan-San Huang, Shin-Shin Chen
  • Patent number: 6715338
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for detecting a flammable gas in a gas mixture is provided. The apparatus includes a chamber that is equipped with an igniting device and a temperature sensor such that a flammable gas fed into the chamber may be ignited and that a temperature rise in the chamber cavity may be detected. A signal responding to the temperature rise is sent to a process controller such that a valve means for feeding the gas mixture into the system can be switched over to an ambient air supply for purging out the system and for avoiding the danger of explosion or fire. The apparatus and method are particularly suitable for detecting a flammable gas in an exhaust gas mixture of a semiconductor fabrication machine, however, they may also be used in detecting flammable gases in any other processing equipment which generates an effluent gas flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Hua Ching Hsu
  • Patent number: 6715339
    Abstract: An apparatus to normalize a flow rate of a fluid in a main flow channel is provided. The apparatus uses a movable member, such as a flexible membrane disposed for reciprocating displacement, to produce a constant dither flow of the fluid that is independent of fluid composition. This dither flow generates a signal output from a normalizing flow sensor that both represents a characteristic property of the fluid and a flow rate calibration factor. A similar apparatus to determine the characteristic property or flow rate calibration factor is also provided. The devices disclosed may be used in numerous industrial, process, and medical flow system applications for normalization of flow sensors and to derive other properties of a fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Ulrich Bonne, David Kubisiak
  • Patent number: 6715340
    Abstract: A misfiring detection apparatus including a comparison unit 22 and a time counting unit 24 which accumulates periods of time during which the ion current flowing between the center electrode 10a and the ground electrode 10b of a spark plug 10 exceeds a predetermined current value; and an ECU 26 which judges that misfiring has occurred when a total of the accumulated periods is not greater than a predetermined value. The ion current is thus determined as a cumulative value of ion current generation periods. Therefore, even when the ion current contains a discharge noise component, the discharge noise component having a short duration accounts for only a small portion of the cumulative value, so that the influence of the discharge noise component on misfiring detection can be reduced. As a result, misfiring detection can be performed with improved accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsunori Yamada, Yasushi Sakakura
  • Patent number: 6715341
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for use in measuring permeability of a material. The apparatus 1 comprises a non-contact probe 6 comprising an inner pipe 8 and an outer pipe 10 which are arranged coaxially; a gas inlet for admitting a flow of gas into a first space 9 defined between the inner and outer pipes; and pressure difference measuring systems DP for measuring a pressure difference &Dgr;P between said first space (P1) and a second space (P2) comprising the interior of the inner pipe 8. The probe 6 is mounted on a moveable head assembly 11 and the apparatus 1 further includes a position control system 12, 22 for controlling the movement of the head assembly 11 so as to cause the probe 6 to scan across a surface 2 of the material to be analysed, while maintaining the probe 6 at a constant distance Z from said surface 2, and for collecting pressure difference &Dgr;P measurements, using said pressure difference measuring device DP during scanning movement of the probe 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Heriot-Watt University
    Inventors: David Gordon Bowen, Brian George Davidson Smart, James McLean Somerville
  • Patent number: 6715342
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for pneumatic length measurement comprising a pre-nozzle and a measurement nozzle through which the medium used for the measurement is directed onto an impact plate, a first pressure sensor arranged in front of the pre-nozzle, a second pressure sensor arranged between pre-nozzle and measurement nozzle, means for the determination of the distance of the impact plate from the measurement nozzle from the change of the pressure between pre-nozzle and measurement nozzle taking account of the pressure measured by the first pressure sensor and means for the calibration of the apparatus in a given measurement range, wherein, in order to ease the calibration, the calibration means operate with a calibration function which is constructed on the assumption of constancy of the outflow number of the pre-nozzle and of the outflow number of the measurement nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Stotz Feinmesstechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Milan Stamenkovic
  • Patent number: 6715343
    Abstract: A portable containment system includes a glovebox apparatus, a self-contained filter unit, and removable conduits extending therebetween. The glovebox apparatus includes a first module for releasably covering a first sidewall opening. The first module, which has body and flange portions, has a storage position where the body portion is positioned through the first sidewall opening into the glovebox interior and an operative position where the body portion is positioned exterior of the glovebox. The glovebox apparatus includes second modules for releasably covering a second sidewall opening where the second modules are smaller than the first sidewall opening for inserting the second modules into the interior of the glovebox for storage. The filter unit includes a plurality of gas filters, an air pump, and detectors for monitoring the air flow through the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Charles E. Henry, Monica J. Heyl, Dennis J. Reutter
  • Patent number: 6715344
    Abstract: A method for determining the current state of a lubricant for lubrication of at least two frictional coupling elements capable of cooperating to transmit a torque by comparing reference slip characteristics associated with particular operating conditions with current slip characteristics of the coupling elements is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Dirk Heilenkötter
  • Patent number: 6715345
    Abstract: A coaxial probe includes a coaxial cable including an electrical conductor extending therethrough and projecting therefrom at an end thereof, a planar waveguide on which the electrical conductor projecting from the coaxial cable is mounted, and a sensor electrically connected to the electrical conductor through the planar waveguide. The planar waveguide may be comprised of a substrate, and a strip line formed on the substrate, the strip line being electrically connected at one end to the sensor and at the other end to the electrical conductor. The sensor may be comprised of a cantilever supported at a distal end thereof on the planar waveguide, and a probe mounted on a free end of the cantilever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Norio Ookubo, Noriyuki Kodama, Hiroaki Kikuchi, Yuichi Naitou
  • Patent number: 6715346
    Abstract: A method of scanning a deep feature using an atomic force microscopy (AFM) tip, which includes: locating and mapping the deep feature with a surface survey scan; analyzing the scan data to identify an initial optimum location; moving the AFM tip to the initial optimum location; and repeating a first procedure until the AFM tip reaches a bottom of the deep feature, which includes: (a) lowering the AFM tip in a first direction by a first distance increment; (b) measuring atomic force interactions exerted on the AFM tip to determine whether the bottom of the deep feature has been reached; (c) moving the AFM tip in a geometric pattern and within a current plane; (d) measuring atomic force interactions exerted on the AFM tip at various locations in the geometric pattern to determine a new optimum location where the atomic force interactions are minimum; and (e) moving the AFM tip to the new optimum location, repeating (a-e) until bottom has been reached, (f) then measure the depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: David James Shuman
  • Patent number: 6715347
    Abstract: Formation drilling cuttings are centrifuged and a sediment sample is extracted and heated to burn off surface hydrocarbons. A non-fluorescing diluant is added to the sediment. The sediment is then subjected to UV excitation. Depending upon the permeability of the sediment, the speed at which emitted fluorescence brightens is found to vary. The time and brightness of the emission are measured. The time/brightness relationship is proportional to the permeability of the cuttings and can be used to calculate a relative permeability index for comparison to other know parameters to determine the presence of hydrocarbon and the likelihood of being able to produce the hydrocarbon from a wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Inventor: Konstandinos S. Zamfes
  • Patent number: 6715348
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for correctly detecting the level of a processing liquid such as HPM in a processing tank in the event that any drift occurs in a detector is disclosed. A liquid level detecting apparatus (70) comprises a pressure sensor (73) operable to generate an output signal S0 which is maintained at a constant signal level until the level of HPM reaches a predetermined position M in the tank and rises in the signal level as the liquid level rises in the tank after reaching the predetermined position M, a determination circuit (93) for determining whether the liquid level reaches the predetermined position M and a liquid level detecting circuit (94) for detecting the liquid level. The output signal S0 from the pressure sensor is input to an amplifier (92). The liquid level detecting circuit (94) comprises a low-pass filter (97) which receives the amplified signal and generates an output pressure signal S4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Shori Mokuo
  • Patent number: 6715349
    Abstract: An aircraft fuel-gauging system has multiple ultrasonic gauging probes providing fuel height outputs at several locations within a tank. The output of an inertial sensor is used to compute the attitude of the fuel surface with respect to the tank. The system uses the attitude information to determine whether outputs from a group of two or more probes are compatible with one another. Where a probe is identified as having an output incompatible with the fuel surface attitude and the outputs of other probes its output is excluded from the computation of the fuel quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Smiths Group PLC
    Inventor: Harry Atkinson
  • Patent number: 6715350
    Abstract: A level sensor mechanism for detecting liquid levels in storage tanks. A conduit is provided having an upper portion and a lower portion. The conduit may be adapted to receive a cable therein, may be substantially rigid and adapted to resist deflection. A sensor assembly body is provided and adapted to locate a level sensor therein. The sensor assembly body may be located in fixed relation to said conduit, and may be rigidly composed and adapted to resist deflection. A coupling member may be secured to said lower portion of said conduit, said coupling member fixedly securing said conduit to said sensor assembly body, said sensor assembly body being secured on said offset portion of said coupling member. The level sensor mechanism may thereby resist or eliminate deflection through the construction of the conduit, coupling member and sensor assembly body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Practical Tank Management, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale E. Roberts
  • Patent number: 6715351
    Abstract: A improved vehicle wheel balancer for a wheel assembly including an adjustable wheel data acquisition arm configured to transition from at least a first operating position adapted for use with vehicle wheels having a first range of inner diameters, to at least a second operating position adapted for use with vehicle wheels having a second range of inner diameters which differ, at least in-part, from the first range of inner diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
    Inventors: William B. Feero, Nicholas J. Colarelli, III, Michael D. Gerdes, Michael W. Douglas
  • Patent number: 6715352
    Abstract: For a decoupled to gyro to have high sensitivity to angular rate, it is necessary to have the design flexibility to achieve all the critical frequencies in the design. The geometry of the gyro is first estimated and is followed by a performance analysis to maximize the gyro sensitivity. If the performance requirements cannot be met, the next iteration is started by a new estimate of the geometry. For a given design iteration, the desired modal response is implemented with a predetermined or given gyro flexure system. The flexure system disclosed here has enough independent design parameters to allow the desired modal response required for high gyro performance to be selected by independent design choice of the available geometric and configurational design parameters of the gyroscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Microsensors, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. Tracy
  • Patent number: 6715353
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical (MEMS) gyroscope has one or more proof masses mechanically coupled to a substrate by springs. A motor force drives the proof masses at their resonant frequency in one direction, 180 degrees out of phase with each other in the case of a dual proof mass gyroscope. Sense electrodes sense motion of the proof masses in response to a Coriolis force. The motion caused by the Coriolis force is perpendicular to the motion caused by the motor force. An AC pump voltage at twice the motor frequency is applied to the sense electrodes to provide parametric amplification of the Coriolis force. The AC pump voltage alters the mechanical and electrical gain of the gyroscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventor: Burgess R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6715354
    Abstract: A flaw detection system using acoustic Doppler effect for detecting flaws in a medium wherein there is relative motion between the medium and system includes a transducer, spaced from the medium to be inspected, for introducing to and sensing from the medium an acoustic signal that propagates in the medium at a predetermined frequency; and a detector, responsive to the sensed propagating acoustic signal, for detecting in the sensed acoustic signal the Doppler shifted frequency representative of a flaw in the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Shi-Chang Wooh
  • Patent number: 6715355
    Abstract: A pressure monitoring system has a first chamber (11) and a second chamber (12) separated by a diaphragm. The diaphragm carries respective SAW devices on the respective sides thereof, the SAW devices having different resonant frequencies. Variations in pressure within the second chamber (12) relative to the pressure within the first chamber (11) will cause deflection of the diaphragm and the resulting changes in resonant frequency of the SAW devices can be analyzed to indicate the pressure differential between the chambers. The pressure-measuring device is incorporated within a valve assembly for a vehicle tire. When the vehicle tire is inflated, the inflation pressure is trapped within the first chamber (11) as a reference. Any subsequent loss of pressure from the second chamber (12), e.g. as a result of a puncture, will cause deflection of the diaphragm and a corresponding output from the SAW devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Transense Technologies plc
    Inventors: David Vile, John Beckley
  • Patent number: 6715356
    Abstract: A pressure sensor that is particularly suitable for the food industry and the measuring accuracy of which is stable over a long time, having a diaphragm seal with a separating diaphragm on which a pressure to be measured acts and having a ceramic measuring cell which is connected to the diaphragm seal exclusively by inorganic materials, is provided, in which sensor the separating diaphragm and all further sensor components coming into contact during measurement with a medium of which the pressure is to be measured are metallic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Inventors: Peter Gerst, Karlheinz Banholzer, Karl Flögel, Thomas Uehlin, Frank Hegner, Elke Schmidt, Ulfert Drewes, Rainer Martin
  • Patent number: 6715357
    Abstract: A port fitting is formed with a closed, pedestal end forming a diaphragm on which a strain gauge sensor is mounted. A support member is received on the pedestal end and is formed with a flat end wall having an aperture aligned with the sensor. A portion of a flexible circuit assembly is bonded to the flat end wall with a connector disposed over the support member. A tubular outer housing is fitted over the several components and its bottom portion is welded to the port fitting while its top portion places a selected load on an O-ring received about the connector as well as internal components of the transducer. In one embodiment, a loading washer (72a) is disposed over the O-ring on a first portion (70a) of a two portion connector (70) and retained by a second connector portion (70b). Protrusions (76a1) formed on the tubular housing (76) pass through cut-outs in the second connector portion to place a load on the loading washer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Hironari Ishiguro, Yasushi Yamabayashi, Dale R. Sogge
  • Patent number: 6715358
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a relaxor material lead iron tungstate which has been synthesized in doped and undoped conditions by single and two step heat treatment. The relaxor material is seen to exhibit almost negligible hysteresis and a transducer made thereby shows pressure measurement capability over a wide range from 0.5 MPa to 415 MPa with accuracy of ±0.05%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignees: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi
    Inventors: Kamlesh Kumar Jain, Vinay Kumar, Subhash Chand Kashyap
  • Patent number: 6715359
    Abstract: A position sensor comprises a substrate having an array of pressure sensors and a membrane overlying the substrate. The membrane includes physical parameters which vary with position. The membrane may include discontinuous regions and protrusions which affect the way in which forces on the membrane are distributed to the substrate. A pressure sensor may also include a controller for receiving pressure information from the substrate, with a signal processor being programmed to localize the depressed region or regions of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Tactex Controls Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Lokhorst, Sathya R. Alexander
  • Patent number: 6715360
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for sensing a gauge pressure use a pressure gauge pressure sensor that includes a housing and a gauge pressure sensing element having a first pressure inlet and a second pressure inlet. The first pressure inlet is associated with a pressure to be measured and the second pressure inlet is associated with an atmospheric pressure. A flame arrestor disposed within the sensor housing fluidly couples the second pressure inlet to an internal portion of an explosion proof device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International, LLC
    Inventors: Donald Paul Pepperling, Dennis Gene Sickels, Richard J. Vanderah
  • Patent number: 6715361
    Abstract: A screwer test bench includes a coupling designed for connection with the head of a screwer and connected to a controlled braking unit and a sensor unit for detection of mechanical magnitudes transmitted between the coupling and the braking unit. The braking unit includes a thin cap constrained to said coupling at least in the direction of rotation and arranged between a first pressure surface thrust axially against the cap by an actuator and a second fixed opposition surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: BLM S.a.s. di L. Bareggi & C.
    Inventors: Angelo Chiapuzzi, Luigi Bareggi
  • Patent number: 6715362
    Abstract: A screwer test bench including a coupling designed for coupling with the head of a screwer and a controlled braking unit. A sensor unit detects mechanical magnitudes transmitted between the coupling and the braking unit. The braking unit includes a brake with carbon friction surfaces in an oil bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: BLM S.a.s. di L. Bareggi & C.
    Inventors: Angelo Chiapuzzi, Luigi Bareggi
  • Patent number: 6715363
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for mechanical strain amplification for enhanced piezoelectric transduction. The device consists of a piezoelectric element elevated above the neutral axis of a supporting, micromachined, photoetched substrate by use of castellations on the substrate. By elevating the piezoelectric element above the neutral axis, the charge sensitivity of the device is increased which facilitates the development of high-sensitivity, low-noise transducers. There is a limit to charge sensitivity because the optimal elevation is a function of the physical properties of the supporting structure and the piezoelectric element. Accordingly, a mathematical formulation and finite element analysis (FEA) are provided to define the optimal height of the castellated substrate. The recognition of limits to the castellation height has further led to the discovery of using the relaxor-ferroelectric, single crystal class of materials in the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Wilcoxon Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Kan Deng, Fred Schloss, Paul A. Wlodkowski, Thurston L. Brooks, III
  • Patent number: 6715364
    Abstract: In a method for determining the elasto-plastic behavior of components consisting of anisotropic material, in particular of gas turbine installations, at high temperatures, in which method, first of all, the linear-elastic behavior is determined and, on the basis of the linear-elastic results, the inelastic behavior is also taken into account by applying Neuber's rule, the anisotropic properties of the components, as occur in particular on account of the use of single crystal materials, are taken into account in a simple manner by using a modified anisotropic Neuber's rule of the form σ * 2 = σ ep 2 + σ ep 2 ⁢ D _ · E — —
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Otto Bernhardi, Roland Muecke
  • Patent number: 6715365
    Abstract: A system 10 for continuously monitoring the integrity of a structure 14 includes a sensor pad 16 having a surface 18. The surface 18 is provided with a set of first channels 22 and interspersed second channels 24. Surface 18 is sealed onto the surface 12 of structure 14 so that the channels 22, 24 together with surface 12 form respective sets of first and second cavities 26 and 28. The first cavities 26 are placed in fluid communication with a vacuum source 101 via a third channel 30. The second cavities 28 are vented to the atmosphere via a fourth channel 34, through hole 35, and conduit 36. A high impedance 102 is placed in series between the vacuum source 101 and the first cavities 26. A differential pressure transducer 103 is connected across the high impedance 102 and monitors for change in vacuum condition between the vacuum source 101 and the vacuum in the cavities 26.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Structural Monitoring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenneth John Davey
  • Patent number: 6715366
    Abstract: A clamp-on ultrasonic flowmeter has a pair of ultrasonic transmitting-receiving devices. Each device is composed of a ultrasonic propagating element in the form of wedge having a bottom surface and a slanting surface extending from one edge of the bottom surface at an acute angle, and a ultrasonic transducer attached on the slanting surface. The ultrasonic propagating element is composed of a first ultrasonic propagating member having on its bottom surface a number of planes aligned in parallel with the slanting surface on which the ultrasonic transducer is attached and a second ultrasonic propagating member of elastic or plastic material, so as to propagate ultrasonic wave emitted by the ultrasonic transducer onto the bottom surface of the ultrasonic propagating element at an angle perpendicular to the slanting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Inventor: Kazumasa Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 6715367
    Abstract: Improvement in a mass air flow meter having an elongated hollow body having a venturi member therein, the improvement comprising channels formed in the outside surface of the venturi member, lands defined by such outside surface which bear against the inside surface of the hollow body, such lands, together with the inside surface of the hollow body, directing the flow of sample air to be measured through such channels, around the outside surface of the venturi member and axially thereof, a first one of the channels being annular and in communication with the interior of the meter for receiving sample air therein, a second one of the channels serving as a measurement path in which the mass of sample air is measured as it travels therethrough, and a third one of the channels being annular and in which air exiting from the measurement path is accumulated before being recombined with the main flow of air traveling through the meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Best Products, Inc.
    Inventors: James Gonzales, Gladwyn Wendell Cummins, William Edward Thomas
  • Patent number: 6715368
    Abstract: A contact type rotation sensor includes a contact brush having a contact and an electrical resistor disposed for sliding motion relative to the contact. The contact brush provided at a side face of an arm portion with a projecting piece has asymmetric shape and asymmetric weight distribution about its longitudinal axis, and is large in moment of inertia in a direction of torsion. During relative sliding motion, suppressed torsional vibration of the contact occurs not only at natural frequencies but also at dispersed frequencies other than natural frequencies, reducing the sound pressure of sliding sound. A stable contact state is ensured between the contact and the electrical resistor, resulting in improved durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignees: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., Tokyo Cosmos Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Toratani, Toshiro Yamamoto, Hiroshi Morimoto, Akira Noguchi, Kosuke Yamawaki, Toshiaki Yasujima, Yukiaki Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 6715369
    Abstract: A hybrid pipette including a pipette casing (11) and a slide shaft (22) vertically movable in response to the operation of a pushbutton (23). A plunger (31) is disposed below the slide shaft and urged upwardly by a spring (33, 34). An engagement member (41) is coaxially and movably fitted on the slide shaft (22) and extends through a hole (12a1) in a casing member (11) so as to be movable at least vertically. An electric motor (51) is provided on an axis different from the axis of the slide shaft and operatively engaged with the engagement member (41). In a manual operation mode, the slide shaft (22) and the plunger (31) move vertically in response to the operation of the pushbutton (23) to perform suction and discharge of a liquid. In a motor-driven operation mode, the engagement member (41) is driven to move vertically by the electric motor (51), whereby the plunger (31) is moved vertically to perform suction and discharge of a liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Nichiryo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Baba, Masashi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6715370
    Abstract: A method of inspecting district heating pipes consists in introducing into the pipe a vehicle including an uninflated balloon and a pulley in which a cable is inserted. The vehicle is immobilized in the pipe by inflating the balloon. A sensor is moved in the pipe by fixing it to one end of the cable and pulling on the other end of the cable to move the sensor toward the immobilized vehicle in order to inspect the pipe. The vehicle includes a parachute and is propelled in the pipe by introducing into the pipe a fluid under pressure that acts on the parachute. The balloon is deflated when the sensor reaches the vehicle immobilized in the pipe. The vehicle and the sensor are withdrawn from the pipe by pulling on the end of the cable so that the inspection is carried out during the return travel of the vehicle and the sensor. With this method, the inspection can be carried out with access from only one end of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Cegelec
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Tasca
  • Patent number: 6715371
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of testing an airbag module for a vehicle and, particularly, but not exclusively, to a method of testing an airbag module for a motor vehicle such as a car. A method of testing an airbag module is provided in which said module is tested for exposure to a given fluid, for example, water. The fluid exposure test ideally comprises the step of inspecting said airbag module or a swab taken therefrom by means of Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy techniques. The present invention thereby provides a testing method sufficiently rigorous to identify fluid damage potentially suffered by a previously installed airbag module during its service life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Airbag Testing Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Byrne
  • Patent number: 6715372
    Abstract: On a machine tool in which a first element intended to support a machining tool, and a second element intended to support a workpiece, are mutually movable, a special test arrangement may be placed between the first element and the second element . During a mutual displacement between the first and second elements, this test arrangement can apply a predetermined force between these elements while at the same time making it possible to record the resulting shift between them. The measured results may be used for analysis of the machine's condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Scania CV AB (publ)
    Inventor: Sven Hjelm
  • Patent number: 6715373
    Abstract: A NoFoam system which permits the testing of the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting vehicle's foam delivery system. The NoFoam system includes the piping, valves, and connecting elements to interface with the fire vehicle's foam delivery system, while minimizing the release of Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) to the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Rance Tetsuo Kudo, Raymond John Cappillino, Jesse Lynn McNolty
  • Patent number: 6715374
    Abstract: A pinion gear of a starter motor is driven into engagement with a ring gear of an internal combustion engine by a driving lever having a leaf spring upon energization of an electromagnetic actuator. The leaf spring of the driving lever is coupled to a connecting member of a plunger of the electromagnetic actuator. The connecting member includes a surface engaging with an engaging portion formed at one end of the leaf spring. A center portion of the engaging surface is projected toward the leaf spring, so that the engaging portion of the leaf spring always contacts the engaging surface at the center of the engaging surface, even if the leaf spring is slantedly coupled with the connecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Tadahiro Kurasawa
  • Patent number: 6715375
    Abstract: A method of returning an electro-mechanical axial setting device, wherein the axial setting device includes two setting rings centered on a common axis, one of which is axially held, and one of which is rotationally fixedly held in a housing. The two setting rings each include circumferentially extending grooves. Each of the grooves define a depth which rises in the circumferential direction. Pairs of grooves in the setting rings each accommodate a ball. The rotatingly drivable setting ring is connected to an electric drive motor. The axially displaceable setting ring is loaded by pressure springs towards the axially held setting ring. When applying a positive voltage to the electric motor, the axial setting device moves into an advanced position and when the voltage is disconnected from the electric motor, the axial setting device is returned into a starting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: GKN Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Nestler
  • Patent number: 6715376
    Abstract: A structure for transmitting the power of a motorcycle engine includes an intermediate shaft arranged between a crankshaft and an input shaft of a transmission, and a method for making the structure. The structure and the method have the objective of shortening the distances between these three shafts, improving workability of assembling, and providing freedom of setting a speed reduction ratio. An intermediate shaft driven gear and an intermediate shaft driving gear having a diameter smaller than the intermediate shaft driven gear and are mounted in two steps, with the former overlaid on the latter, on an end of the intermediate shaft projecting outside a right case. Similarly, the intermediate shaft driven gear is engaged with a primary gear of the crankshaft, and the intermediate shaft driving gear is engaged with a primary driven gear of the input shaft at a location outside the right case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsuo Hojyo, Hiroatsu Inui, Naoki Kohno, Fumiaki Okubo
  • Patent number: 6715377
    Abstract: A drive system comprises a movement mechanism comprising a spherical holder (1) and a spherical bowl which, one inserted into the other, are rotatable relative to each other about an X-axis and a Y-axis, which axes lie in a plane substantially coinciding with the plane of the outside edge of the holder or extending parallel thereto. Viewed in the X-Y plane, the holder comprises two mutually perpendicular slots (4,5), provided through the holder, each of said slots having an adjusting element provided therein for motor displacement, which adjusting element is further freely movable in the bowl in a direction, viewed in the X-Y plane, perpendicular to that of the relevant slot in the holder. Through the relevant slot in the holder, the adjusting element is in an operative connection with a drive mechanism placed in the holder, which drive mechanism is connected to a motor that is likewise placed in the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Stefan Frits Brouwer
  • Patent number: 6715378
    Abstract: A device for engaging or disengaging an end fitting of a control cable to or from a lever in a drum brake or the like is arranged to be shorter but to have a large lever ratio for the lever. A shoe is engaged with one end of a strut, and the lever is pivotally journalled to the other end of the strut while another shoe is engaged with the lever at a portion near to the journalled part. The strut has two opposed side walls and a bridge part therebetween for restraining the lever at a specified position. The lever is composed of a pair of planer members which are joined together at the proximal end, and are spaced apart from each other at the free end to form a narrow gap and at the longitudinally middle portion to form a wide gap. The narrow gap allows a cable itself of the cable to pass therethrough but to inhibit from passing therethrough and the wide gap allows a longer side of the end fitting to pass therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Nisshinbo Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Tomoaki Nakao
  • Patent number: 6715379
    Abstract: An all terrain vehicle comprising a V-belt continuously variable transmission and a gear-type transmission, being capable of transmitting drive torque from an engine with controlled engine braking but without loss of the torque, thereby giving a rider an improved driving feel. The V-belt continuously variable transmission and the gear-type transmission are placed in this order from upstream in a power transmission path from the engine to wheels. A one-way clutch for transmitting only the drive torque from the engine to the wheel and a torque limiter for transmitting the torque less than a predetermined value are arranged in parallel, between, e.g., a countershaft and forward intermediate gears fitted onto the countershaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akio Miguchi, Yasutaka Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6715380
    Abstract: An angle type power screwdriver having a housing comprising a main housing is disclosed, within which a drive, a reduction gear coupled therewith and a spindle driven thereby are received. An angle head comprising a tool spindle arranged at an angle to the spindle and driven thereby for driving a tool comprises an angle head housing that is connected to the main housing via an adjusting device angularly adjustable. The reduction gear comprises a reaction part receiving a reaction moment with respect to the spindle, the angle head housing being connected with the reaction part for common rotation therewith and being coupled to the drive via the adjusting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: C. & E. Fein GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Holger Listl, Klaus Schmitz
  • Patent number: 6715381
    Abstract: A reaction arm is connectable to a torque power tool and has a distal portion adapted to abut against an outside object and a proximal portion connectable with a tool housing and provided with a second engaging formation formed so that in an operative position the second engaging formation engages a first engaging formation of the housing so as to hold the proximal part on the housing of the torque power tool and so that the second engaging formation can be disengaged from the first engaging formation without removal of the reaction arm from the housing for adjusting the reaction arm to different positions relative to the torque power tool and subsequently the second engaging formation can engage with the first engaging without the removal of the reaction arm from the housing to hold the reaction arm on the housing of the torque power tool in a corresponding adjusted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Inventor: John K. Junkers
  • Patent number: 6715382
    Abstract: A ratchet tool includes a head having a hole for receiving an engaging member therein and a recess is defined in an inner periphery of the hole so as to receive a pawl which is engaged with the engaging member. A passage is defined through the head and communicates with the recess. Two notches are defined in an inner periphery of the passage. A shifter member is rotatably received in the passage and has a lever is located on an outside of the head. A bead and a spring are received in a hole of the shifter member and the bead is engaged with one of the two notches. The spring is engaged with a second side of the pawl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Inventor: Chih-Ching Hsien
  • Patent number: 6715383
    Abstract: A wrench includes a shank and two jaws located at an end of the shank and each jaw includes a root portion which is located at a same plane as the shank, and an angled portion which extends from the root portion at an angle relative to plane on which the root portions are located. The angled portions allows the object to be tightened or loosened to be clamped by the wrench while the shank does not lie on the surface where the object is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Inventor: Chih-Ching Hsien
  • Patent number: 6715384
    Abstract: A multi-functional fastener driver device 10 that is capable of providing rotational force to fasteners having different configurations (hexagonal, flathead, wingnut or hook screw, for example) to urge a preselected fastener into a workpiece. The device 10 includes a first portion 12 that is secured, via a shank portion 16, to a tool providing rotary force, and a second portion 14 that transfers the rotary force to a preselected fastener via a plurality of arm members 30. The arm members 30 are configured from multiple apertures 24 and 38, and slots 32 and 34. The arm members 30 engage the fastener and force the fastener to rotate thereby “screwing” the fastener into the workpiece. When fasteners are to large to rotate without deforming the arm members 30, a sleeve 42 is utilized to snugly receive the device 10 therein to maintain the arm members 30 configuration while rotating the fastener. Further, the sleeve 42 includes opposing recesses 52 in an end wall 50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Inventor: Burton Kozak
  • Patent number: 6715385
    Abstract: A combination tool for assembling and dismantling a lock nut of a bearing of a wheel axle of a wheeled vehicle includes a middle column, a first clamp block, a second clamp block, a regulating threaded rod, and a support rod. The first clamp block and the second clamp block are located at two sides of the middle column, and each of the first clamp block and the second clamp block has one end provided with a clamp pawl. The regulating threaded rod is extended through the middle column, for adjusting the distance between the first clamp block and the second clamp block. The support rod is extended through the second clamp block, the middle column and the first clamp block, to support and position the middle column, the first clamp block, and the second clamp block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Inventor: Yu-Yen Wang Wu
  • Patent number: 6715386
    Abstract: The novel turning method on a lathe or a machining apparatus uses a tool head which is traversable for the machining and can be rotated mechanically in a receiver with a rotary axis D in the course of the machining. The rotary axis D of the tool head lies within an angular range &agr; of 45° to 90° to the X-axis and perpendicularly to the Z-axis of the machining apparatus. In addition, a tool head is used whose cutting inserts are arranged in such a way that each cutting insert has a tool reference plane Pr through in each case identical selected cutting-edge points perpendicularly to the assumed cutting direction in accordance with DIN 6581, this tool reference plane Pr running within an angular range &bgr; of 90° to 135° to the rotary axis D of the tool head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Plansee Tizit Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Johann Maier