Patents Issued in April 20, 2004
  • Patent number: 6722822
    Abstract: A system for pneumatically conveying a bulk particulate material generally consisting of means for holding such material, having an inlet and an outlet; a first material transport line segment including a first conduit formed of a gas permeable material having an inlet communicating with the outlet of the holding means and an outlet, defining a material flow passageway, and a second conduit formed of a gas impermeable material spaced from and encompassing the first conduit, defining a plenum; a second material transport line segment including a first conduit formed of a gas permeable material having an inlet communicating with the outlet of the first conduit of the first segment, defining a continuation of the material flow passageway, and an outlet, and a second conduit section formed of a gas impermeable material spaced from and encompassing the first conduit thereof, defining a plenum; the second segment being displaceable relative to the first segment between a first position communicating the outlet of t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: The Young Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Pfeiffer, James E. Mothersbaugh
  • Patent number: 6722823
    Abstract: A milling cutter having a plurality of on-edge cutting inserts mounted within pockets about the peripheral wall of the cutter body includes angled pockets which not only permit a greater number of pockets to accept inserts but furthermore permits relatively easy access to insert and remove mounting screws for securing each insert within a pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Kennametal Inc.
    Inventors: Ruy Frota de Souza, Scott W. Lebo
  • Patent number: 6722824
    Abstract: A generally square-shaped indexable cutting insert with four cutting edges for mounting in milling cutters for either slotting operations or for left-hand and right-hand face milling of right-angled corners in a metal workpiece. The cutting edge is parallel to the bottom surface and has a primary cutting edge extending between two wipers, each wiper being adjacent a corner edge. A first relief surface adjacent the primary cutting edge has a first relief angle and a second relief adjacent the two wipers has a second relief angle that is greater than the first relief angle. The first relief surface has a width dimension measured perpendicularly to the cutting edge that has a minimum value proximal to the two wipers and a maximum value at a central region of the cutting edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Iscar Ltd.
    Inventors: Amir Satran, Daniel Ulianitsky
  • Patent number: 6722825
    Abstract: A small size insert for use with a machine tool for grooving, boring and turning and adapted to be received in a toolholder has an arcuate surface portion and a substantially arcuate-shaped shoulder integral with the body of the insert for accurately positioning the insert within a toolholder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Kaiser Tool Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken King, Doug DeWitt, Jeff Frank, Eric Bustos, Dave Coleman
  • Patent number: 6722826
    Abstract: An internal cavity cutting tool assembly includes a tool body, a tool hanger, and a bearing assembly. The tool hanger body has a through-bore that is adapted to receive the bearing assembly. The tool body has first and second body portions, each having an arbor bore, a cutting face having a plurality of indexable cutting inserts, and a bearing support surface. The bearing support surface of the second tool body portion is also received by end of the through-bore, such that the bearing support surfaces of the tool body portions oppose each other within tool hanger body. An arbor drive shaft and a support are operatively inserted though openings in a workpiece and through the arbor bore of the tool body. The arbor drive is retained in a milling device to operatively rotate the tool body assembly while precisely locating the tool hanger assembly, thereby sweeping the cutting inserts against the portions of the workpiece to be cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Inventor: Brian M. Cavanaugh
  • Patent number: 6722827
    Abstract: A tool part is held by a clamping mechanism which includes an axially-movable drawbar operably connected to a clamping unit for moving the clamping unit into and out of clamping relationship with the tool part. The drawbar is biased by a spring in the form of compressible gaseous medium for moving the clamping unit into clamping relationship with the tool part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Sandvik Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Ken Anderson
  • Patent number: 6722828
    Abstract: The present invention embodies a method and structure for constraining logs on a truck or trailer without the use of safety wrapper chains or straps. In this apparatus, the stakes, bunks, bunk pockets, head board and tail board are used to constrain logs on the bed of the truck or trailer. The stakes may be permanently or semi-permanently fixed into a bunk pocket and the stakes constrain the movement of the logs from side to side on the truck or trailer. The head board and tail board are permanently attached to stakes which are correspondingly inserted into pockets welded into the bed of the trailer or truck and are permanently or semi-permanently fixed in the pockets. The head board and tail board constrain the movement of the logs from front to back on the truck or trailer. This systems configuration makes it possible for the logs to be hauled without the addition of safety wrapper chains or straps to secure the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Great Lakes Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig French
  • Patent number: 6722829
    Abstract: A freight gate assembly (10) for retaining freight in a trailer (11) or van includes: (a) a track system (12) including at least two matching tracks (18), each of the tracks being affixable to opposite, longitudinal side walls (19) of the trailer, each of the tracks (18) including a longitudinally oriented channel (24) and a plurality of spaced-apart, substantially same-sized notches (25), the notches (25) being accessible from the channel (24); and (b) a freight gate restraining system (13) including at least one adjustable gate rail (32), each gate rail (32) having a first end including a latching mechanism (33) for detachably latching the first end of the gate rail (32) to a first one of the tracks (18) by means of the notches, and an opposite, second end including a joint mechanism (34) that is slidably movable along the second track by means of the notches (25) in the second track (18); wherein the adjustable gate rail (32) is substantially perpendicular to the tracks (18) when it is in a closed posit
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Inventor: David Locke Williams
  • Patent number: 6722830
    Abstract: A fastener is formed of an axially extending shaft (2) and a driving head on the end directed away from the setting direction, and has on its underside or first side (9) for the prevention of unintended loosening, a plurality of webs (12) extending radially from the longitudinal axis (L) of the shaft up to the external periphery (11) of the underside (9). The webs (12) having a substantially trapezoidal cross-section, are limited by a face surface (13) on the underside (9), extending between two flank surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hubert Forster, Michael Werner, Franz-Xaver Huber
  • Patent number: 6722831
    Abstract: A fastening device having a pin with an enlarged head and a central longitudinal bore to receive a rod having a head with a drive receiving recess and a footed keeper. The pin and rod have adjacent surfaces that aid in the prevention of turning relative to each other. In use, the pin, with the footed keeper in alignment, is inserted to aligned openings in overlapping maps used in roadways and a tool is used to turn the keeper a quarter turn to prevent the pin from coming out of the opening and securing the mat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: OLS Consulting Services, Inc.
    Inventors: D. Scott Rogers, Corey J. Fontenot, Don A. Couvillion, Ronald L. Latiolais
  • Patent number: 6722832
    Abstract: An assembly unit includes a component including at least one through hole and at least one screw. The screw is associated with the through hole of the component. The screw is designed and arranged to produce a thread. The screw includes a head and a supporting surface to face the component. The screw includes a shank at least partly including a thread. The screw in the region of the shank and close to the supporting surface includes an annular channel, the diameter of the annular channel being less than the core diameter of the thread of the screw and the effective axial length of the annular channel being more than the axial length of the through hole. The diameter of the through hole of the component is more than the core diameter of the thread of the screw and being less than the outer diameter of the thread of the screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Kamax-Werke Rudolf Kellermann GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Gunther Hartmann, Wolfgang Sommer, Frank Wagner
  • Patent number: 6722833
    Abstract: Self-tapping screw with rolled thread turns, on which the angle bisector of the thread turn formed by the load flank and the rear flank slopes away from the screw head at an angle to the perpendicular to the screw axis, the load flank running in a straight line to the thread root, and the rear flank initially extending in a straight line from the thread tip and, at about ⅓ of its height, merging via a kink into a straight angled portion at an angle that is greater than the angle, measured relative to the perpendicular, of the rear flank and is between 30° and 50°, the ratio of the thread's core diameter to the thread's outside diameter being greater than 0.7 and the ratio of the thread pitch to the thread's outside diameter being less than 0.25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: EJOT Verbindungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ralf Birkelbach
  • Patent number: 6722834
    Abstract: A robot blade and a method of using the robot blade for transferring objects, namely substrates, through a process system, the robot blade comprising an upper platform having a first object supporting surface and a lower platform having a second object supporting surface. The robot blade is mounted onto a moveable member, and the assembly facilitates substrate transfers, such as removal of a processed substrate and insertion of an unprocessed substrate within a processing chamber through a single entry of the robot blade into the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Avi Tepman
  • Patent number: 6722835
    Abstract: A wafer processing system employing a single-wafer load lock with integrated cooling unit is disclosed. The small volume of the single-wafer load lock allows for fast pump down and vent cycles. By integrating a cooling unit within the load lock, system throughput is further increased by eliminating the need to move a newly processed wafer to a separate cooling unit before moving the wafer to the load lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig L. Stevens, Antoni F. Jakubiec
  • Patent number: 6722836
    Abstract: A linked manufacturing system for processing parts is disclosed having at least a first processing station for performing a first processing operation, and having a second processing station for performing a second processing operation. At least a first gantry extends in a first direction for linking at least a first and a second processing station. Also at least a second gantry is provided extending transversely to the first direction in a second direction for linking a plurality of first and second processing stations. Each second gantry is coupled to a storage device for receiving parts, wherein slides are displaceable along each second gantry that have a gripper displaceable at least in vertical direction and allowing at least an additional handling operation, while slides are displaceable along the first gantries that are coupled with a gripper for picking up or placing parts and for moving parts along the first gantries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Felsomat GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Helmut F. Jäger
  • Patent number: 6722837
    Abstract: There is provided compact load storage equipment that can store a large number of loads. The storage equipment comprises a rotary rack 21, a transferrer 51, one or more fixed racks 101, an inlet port 111a and an outlet port 111b. The rotary rack 21 is supported rotatably about a first vertical axis and includes a number of vertically arranged stages of turning load supports 32. The transferrer 51 adjoins the rotary rack 21 and includes a carrier 81, which can vertically move and rotate about a second vertical axis. The fixed racks 101 are positioned around the transferrer 51 and each includes a number of vertically arranged stages of fixed load supports 103. In plan view, the ports 111a and 111b each overlap with one of the rotary and fixed racks 21 and 101.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Inui
  • Patent number: 6722838
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for high speed tray unloading and mail transporting includes a tray unloading apparatus which receives a continuous stream of mail trays and sequentially unloads them in proper orientation onto a conveyor assembly; a dual conveyor system for delivering the unloaded mail to a transport system; and a spiral transport system having optimal drive means for controllably moving mail pieces from one location to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Bowe Bell & Howell Company
    Inventors: Eduard Svyatsky, Pashkeev Nikolai Vladimirovich, Sheihon Boris Markovich, Svyatsky Adolf Michailovich, Vadim Belyaev
  • Patent number: 6722839
    Abstract: The present invention presents novel features for providing a lightweight, structurally rigid collection body comprising a loading assembly for dumping refuse into an elevated hopper; a reception area for refuse dumped into the hopper; a storage area for storage and compaction of refuse; a packer assembly for compression of the refuse within the storage area; a tailgate providing access to the storage area; a latching mechanism for the tailgate; and an actuation system comprised of hydraulic and electrical components for controlling the operation thereof. The collection body is self-contained and sufficiently rigid for mounting on the chassis of a vehicle without major vehicle modifications. Its walls are constructed of an inner wall, an outer wall, an upper frame member and a lower triangular member, forming a light weight, composite sidewall structure which resists bending and buckling. The inner wall may be easily replaced when damaged without replacement of the outer wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Pendpac, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Bingman
  • Patent number: 6722840
    Abstract: A wafer ring supplying and returning apparatus including a magazine that accommodates wafer rings, a jig holder that holds the wafer rings, a drier that causes contraction of the wafer sheets on used wafer rings, and a wafer chucking member that chucks and conveys the wafer rings, and the apparatus further including buffer sections having two (upper and lower) wafer supporting grooves that support wafer rings and a wafer pushing member disposed on or below the wafer chucking member so as to push the wafer rings. The wafer chucking member is disposed so as to face one of the wafer supporting grooves of the buffer sections, and the wafer pushing member is disposed so as to face another one of the wafer supporting grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Shinkawa
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Fujisawa, Yoshifumi Katayama, Yasushi Sato
  • Patent number: 6722841
    Abstract: Apparatus adapted for attachment to a conventional lift device such as a forklift or an end loader, or the like, includes a pair of movable side arms each attached to a respective end of a cross member. Each side arm has attached thereto a respective engaging member for engaging lateral ribs of a first seed box for lifting the seed box. The apparatus further includes a pivoting connection for rotating the first seed box to an inverted orientation for positioning on a second seed box in a nested configuration for storage. The first seed box may also be positioned on the second seed box in a stacked configuration for receiving and storing seed by engaging and lifting the first seed box, rotating the first seed box to an upright orientation, and placing the first seed box on the second seed box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: D B H LLC
    Inventor: Richard P. Haas
  • Patent number: 6722842
    Abstract: An end arm manipulator includes a base, an arm pivotably mounted to the base and a workpiece interfacing member coupled to the arm. In another aspect of the present invention, multiple arms are coupled to the base and are movable independent of each other. In still another aspect of the present invention, generally spherical balls are adjustably mounted between a clamping member and a cavity of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: BTM Corporation
    Inventors: Edwin G. Sawdon, Brian D. Petit
  • Patent number: 6722843
    Abstract: A material handling apparatus includes a frame attachable to a front-end loader vehicle. A tine is attached to the frame, and a top clamp arm is pivoted to the frame and extends over the tine. The clamp arm is movable between a closed position where teeth on a forward lower surface extend generally parallel the tine for holding objects on the front portion, and a partially closed position where teeth on the rearward lower surface are located to hold objects on the rear portion of the tine. The rearward lower surface is upwardly angled from the forward lower surface so that the rear teeth do not interfere with holding a primary object on the front teeth even with secondary objects under the rearward lower surface. The clamp arm has a width and defines a space for receiving the tine, thus providing improved clamping ability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Inventor: Donald L. Mensch
  • Patent number: 6722844
    Abstract: A lumber stacking apparatus 10 is described for forming a stack 12 of layers 14 of boards with stickers placed transversely between the layers. The apparatus 10 has a reciprocating arm structure 50 for successively picking up layers from an elevated surface and moving the layers over to a stacking station where the layers are stripped from the arm structure 50 as the arm structure 50 is retracted. The arm structure 50 has lifting arms 56 with open channels 64 formed therein to receive the stickers 16. A sticker distribution conveyor 160 extends along the rear of the apparatus to distribute stickers to spaced sticker stations 164 corresponding to the lifting arms 56. A sticker transfer conveyor 170 has a sticker removal subassembly 172 for engaging rear ends of the stickers at the sticker stations 164 and pushing the stickers lengthwise toward the open arm channels 64.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Inventor: Sidney L. Lunden
  • Patent number: 6722845
    Abstract: A vane actuator for use in a turbine engine, comprising a carrier member carrying a plurality of vanes which is angularly movable, in use, so as to vary the position of the vanes relative to an airflow through the engine. The actuator includes an electrical drive arrangement comprising an input shaft which is arranged to drive an output shaft coupled to the carrier member. The electrical drive arrangement includes a brake arrangement arranged to apply a braking load to the input shaft in the event that an interruption occurs in the electrical drive arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventors: David Chard, Stephen John Cutts, Luis Alberto Arce, Timothy Hudson
  • Patent number: 6722846
    Abstract: Spline seals are disposed in circumferentially registering slots of adjacent arcuate seal strip segments disposed in grooves of diaphragm assemblies of a steam turbine in radial opposition to the rotating tips of the buckets. The spline seals extend in the gaps between the endfaces of the segments and minimize or preclude steam leakage past the endfaces. The spline seals are disposed in slots which may be formed as part of original equipment manufacture or may be machined in segments with the spline seals provided as retrofits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Steven Sebastian Burdgick
  • Patent number: 6722847
    Abstract: A fan (22) for a turbofan gas turbine engine (10) comprises a fan rotor (24) carrying a first set of circumferentially spaced radially extending fan blades (28) and a second set of circumferentially spaced radially extending fan blades (30). The second set of fan blades (30) is arranged downstream of the first set of fan blades (28). The hub to tip ratio (R1/R2) of the first set of fan blades (28) is substantially the same as the hub to tip ratio (R3/R4) of the second set of fan blades (30) and the radius (R2) of the radially outer ends of the first set of fan blades (28) is less than the radius (R4) of the radially outer ends of the second set of fan blades (30). This increases the flow area of the fan (22) by about 7% compared to a conventional fan of the same radius and thus increases the mass flow by about 7% and/or increases the pressure ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Christopher Freeman, Adam M Bagnall
  • Patent number: 6722848
    Abstract: Nozzles for a turbine have dovetail-shaped bases for reception in corresponding dovetail-shaped grooves in the carrier halves of a turbine. The nozzles at each of the horizontal joint faces of each carrier half have notches formed along their bases including an abutment face. Key slots are formed in the horizontal joint faces and receive keys bearing against the abutment faces. The keys are peened or screwed into the carrier half at the horizontal joint faces. Radial loading pins engage the end nozzle bases to bias the end nozzles radially inwardly without interfering with the keys retaining the nozzles in the grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bernard Arthur Couture, David Orus Fitts, Ronald Wayne Korzun, James David Schuhl
  • Patent number: 6722849
    Abstract: A tubeaxial fan (10) broadly including a cylinder (12), a propeller (14) rotatably supported in the cylinder (12), and a drive assembly (16) operable to rotate the propeller (14) is disclosed. The propeller (14) includes blades (28,30,32,34,36,38) each having an inventive blade design. The inventive blade design presents a chord length (C), a stagger angle (&bgr;e), and a camber height (&dgr;c) that vary along each of the blades as shown in TABLE 1. The inventive blade design presents an external surface of each of the blades having a shape defined by the relative positioning of a plurality of coordinates contained in at least nine cross-sections (e.g., the blade (28) includes cross-sections (44,46,48,50,52,54,56,58,60)). The cross-sections (44,46,48,50,52,54,56,58,60) of the illustrated blade (28) have the corresponding plurality of coordinates listed in TABLE 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Ronald J. Lievens, Tung Kim Nguyen, Wanlai Lin
  • Patent number: 6722850
    Abstract: Spline seals are disposed in circumferentially registering slots of adjacent arcuate sealing segments disposed in grooves of the casing of a steam turbine about a rotor. The spline seals extend in the gap between the endfaces of the segments and minimize or preclude steam leakage past the endfaces. The spline seals may be oriented axially or inclined radially to minimize leakage paths in the radial inclined and axial directions, respectively. The spline seals are disposed in the slots which may be formed as part of original equipment manufacture or may be machined in segments with the spline seals provided as retrofits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Steven Sebastian Burdgick
  • Patent number: 6722851
    Abstract: First stage turbine buckets have internal core profiles substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth Table I wherein X and Y values are in inches and the Z values are non-dimensional values from 0 to 1 convertible to Z distances in inches by multiplying the Z values by the height of the bucket in inches. The X and Y values are distances which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define internal core profile sections at each distance Z. The profile sections at each distance Z are joined smoothly to one another to form a complete internal core profile. The X, Y and Z distances may be scalable as a function of the same constant or number to provide a scaled up or scaled down internal core profile. The nominal internal core profile given by the X, Y and Z distances lies within an envelope of ±0.039 inches in directions normal to any internal core surface location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Alan Brittingham, Edward Durell Benjamin, Jacob C. Perry, II
  • Patent number: 6722852
    Abstract: Third stage turbine buckets have airfoil profiles substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth Table I wherein X and Y values are in inches and the Z values are non-dimensional values from 0 to 1 convertible to Z distances in inches by multiplying the Z values by the height of the airfoil in inches. The X, Y and Z distances may be scalable as a function of the same constant or number to provide a scaled up or scaled down airfoil section for the bucket. The nominal airfoil given by the X, Y and Z distances lies within an envelop of ±0.160 inches in directions normal to the surface of the airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Raymond Allan Wedlake, David Alan Meier, Devin Martin, Marvin Neeley
  • Patent number: 6722853
    Abstract: The second stage nozzle has an airfoil profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in Table I wherein X and Y values are in inches and define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z and Z is a non-dimensional value from 0 to 1 convertible to Z distances in inches by multiplying the Z values of Table I by a height of the airfoil in inches. The profile sections at the Z distances are joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape. The X and Y distances may be scalable to provide a scaled-up or scaled-down airfoil for the nozzle. The nominal airfoil given by the X, Y and Z distances lies within an envelope of ±0.100 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David John Humanchuk, Matthew Troy Hafner, James B. Fehlberg
  • Patent number: 6722854
    Abstract: An improved fluid detection mechanism for a canned motor pump includes a return passage which receives a fluid detector. The fluid detector is a bubble detector which can sense the presence of bubbles, or the lack of a fluid. The detector is preferably positioned in a return path for returning a cooling and lubricating pump fluid back to the pump chambers from the canned motor chamber. This location will likely be the hottest location and the lowest pressure location in the pump. This location provides a very good indication of when the motor is overheated. Also, the location provides a very good indication to identify the lack of adequate lubricating and cooling fluid being directed to the bearings. As such, the location provides benefits over the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Sundyne Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald A. Forsberg
  • Patent number: 6722855
    Abstract: A manual/pneumatic oil pumping device having a housing defining therein an oil reserving space and an upper cover. A floating board is disposed in the oil reserving space. The upper cover is equipped with a manual air sucking mechanism, a pneumatic air sucking mechanism and an oil sucking tube. The pneumatic air sucking mechanism is provided with a controlling unit. The control controlling unit includes a seat body, a valve body, a sleeve and a movable block. The movable block is fitted in the sleeve and has a downward extending projecting post. When the oil is pumped to fill up in the oil reserving space, the projecting post is upward pushed by the floating board to make movable block move upward. At this time, the leakproof washer on the movable block seals the through hole of the seat body and the push pin pushes the valve body away from the through hole so as to block the air sucking passage of the pneumatic air sucking mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Inventor: Tseng Tien-Tsai
  • Patent number: 6722856
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vane-cell pump comprising a pump rotor (20), provided with a radially displaceable rotor blade (22). Said pump rotor is mounted in a pump stator (12) which can be pivoted inside a pump bearing house (10) around a stationary pivotal axis (34) in a radial position with regard to said pump rotor. A control device (30) is associated with the pump stator (12) for automatic pressure adjustment. Said control device has an actuating member protruding on the outside, therefrom, perpendicular to the pivotal axis thereof. The actuating member forms a pivoting piston (38) in a guide element (10) of the pumpbearing housing (10) which is directly impinged upon by a pumping medium. The pivotable piston can pivot in a direction against the action of a pressure spring (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Joma-Hydromechanic GmbH
    Inventor: Willi Schneider
  • Patent number: 6722857
    Abstract: A pump assembly having a main pump and a prefeed pump which pumps fuel out of a tank. The fuel is pumped through a crank chamber of the main pump. Downstream of the crank chamber f the main pump a return line is provided for the portion of the fuel which is used as lubricant to return to the tank. Also downstream of the crank chamber feed course directs fuel to a metering unit and on to the main pump. To make the pump assembly as simply as possible the prefeed pump is mechanically driven, and a zero-feed course branches off between the metering unit and the main feed pump to return fuel to the intake side of the prefeed pump. A throttle is disposed in the zero-feed course.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Kellner, Juergen Hammer
  • Patent number: 6722858
    Abstract: The oil-cooled type compressor 1A houses therein an inspecting flow passage 19 branched from a discharge flow passage 12 on the secondary side of an oil separation recovering portion 14 and joined with a suction flow passage 11 which is a lower pressure portion than the branched point, and an oil separating element 22 capable of capturing finer oil particles as compared with an oil separating element 15 within the oil separating recovering portion 14, and houses therein an oil droplet detection means 23 for outputting a signal electrically showing a state change upon receipt of oil droplets dropped from the oil separating element 22, being provided with an oil separation detector 21 interposed in the inspecting flow passage 19, and a calculating portion 24 for receiving an electric signal from the oil droplet detection means 23 to calculate the percentage content of oil of the compressed gas from the interval of the electric signal to output it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Yoshimura, Takao Ohama
  • Patent number: 6722859
    Abstract: A multi-fan assembly with a built in electromagnetic control device composed of a magnetic induction mask fixedly received in a space in a rotatable member, a magnetic flux coil fixedly connected to a central main shaft and snugly surrounded by the magnetic induction mask, and a current control unit also fixedly connected to a central main shaft, wherein the current control unit sends a desired current to the magnetic flux coil to produce a magnetic flux which magnetizes the silicon steel core of the magnetic flux coil to attract the metal magnetic induction mask thereby generating a resistant force to reduce the revolving speed of the two member fans round the central main shaft. Three options are designed for manipulating the current coming out of the current control unit; a direct wired wall control switch, or a wireless remote controlling using infra-red design or an automatic speed control using a speed detecting sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Inventor: Chia-Teh Chen
  • Patent number: 6722860
    Abstract: In mounting a crankshaft direct-driven oil pump to an engine, the oil pump is mounted to a cylinder block which supports a crankshaft, as well as an integral bearing cap in which bearing cap portions are connected to each other by beam portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masayuki Asano
  • Patent number: 6722861
    Abstract: Several transmission embodiments selectively communicate rotary drive to an orbiting scroll to achieve capacity modulation. In these embodiments, when the motor is driven in a first direction, the orbiting scroll is driven at a rate which is equal to the motor speed. However, if the motor is driven in a reverse direction, the orbit rate of the orbiting scroll is reduced. The transmission ensures that the orbiting scroll member itself is driven in the proper forward direction regardless of whether the motor is being driven in forward or reverse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Scroll Technologies
    Inventors: Joseph F. Loprete, John R. Williams, Gene Michael Fields, Joe T. Hill
  • Patent number: 6722862
    Abstract: A metering device for a heating appliance has a pump arrangement for the delivery of liquid that is supplied via an inlet region to an outlet region and a valve arrangement by which the pump arrangement is connected with the inlet region to receive liquid or with the outlet device to deliver liquid. The valve arrangement has a valve member that is brought into a first actuating position in which the valve member permits a liquid flow from the inlet region to the pump arrangement and prevents a liquid delivery from the pump arrangement to the outlet region. In a second actuating position the valve member prevents a liquid supply from the inlet region to the pump arrangement and permits a liquid delivery from the pump arrangement to the outlet region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: J. Eberspacher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rolf Hartnagel, Sascha Tippl, Liane Schupp
  • Patent number: 6722863
    Abstract: A turbo blood pump includes a housing 1 having a pump chamber 2, an inlet port 3, and an outlet port 4, an impeller 5 disposed rotatably in the pump chamber, an upper bearing 9 and a lower bearing 10 supporting the impeller rotatably, and a driving force transmitting unit for driving the impeller to rotate. The upper bearing is supported at a position in the pump chamber below the inlet port, so that a cross-sectional area of the pump chamber in a plane including an upper end of the upper bearing and being orthogonal to a shaft of the impeller is larger than a cross-sectional area of a flow path of the inlet port at a portion where the inlet port is coupled to the pump chamber, and thus obstruction with respect to blood flow by the upper bearing is of such a degree as to be permissible from a practical viewpoint, while an impeller is supported by upper and lower bearings. Thereby, the pump is less likely to cause problems of blood stagnation and thrombus formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: JMS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Maeda, Masafumi Sato, Kenji Araki, Hirofumi Anai
  • Patent number: 6722864
    Abstract: In a fuel injection pump, fuel pressurized by a feed pump is supplied to an accommodation chamber via a communication path having an orifice. An end of the communication chamber on a side of the accommodation chamber is positioned to face an axial end of a minute space between sliding contact portions of a cam and a bush when the cam is at a given angular position. The fuel fed from the feed pump is injected from the end of the communication path axially deep into the minute space between the sliding contact portions so that oil film for lubrication is formed on the sliding contact portions, resulting in suppressing frictional seizure of the sliding contact portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Suzuki, Akihiro Kuroda
  • Patent number: 6722865
    Abstract: A clamp assembly for flexible tubing including a housing, at least one movable slide disposed within the housing, an opening defined between each side of the at least one slide and the housing for receiving flexible tubing, and a control element, rotation of the control element displacing the at least one slide in a predetermined direction to facilitate insertion of flexible tubing in the respective opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Terumorcardiovascular Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Michael K. Domroese
  • Patent number: 6722866
    Abstract: A pump system for delivering cryogenic liquids is proposed that is suitable, for example, for refueling motor vehicles with H2. It consists of a container for receiving the cryogenic liquid, in which at least one pump is arranged that is designed as a reciprocating pump with connecting rod actuation and spring recover. Pump cylinder (10) of the reciprocating pump is divided by means of plunger (24, 37) into two chambers (a and b) that are arranged on the pressure side or the induction side. By exerting tensile forces on connecting rod (29), in the pressure stroke the cryogenic liquid that is located in the container is initially trapped in chamber (b). When connecting rod (29) is returned to its starting position by return spring (23), the liquid that is trapped in chamber (b) is then hurled without pressure into chamber (a). In the subsequent pressure stroke, the liquid is finally released via a gap (d) to a pressure housing and from there to the consumer by exerting tensile forces on connecting rod (29).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Linde AG
    Inventor: Helmut Dresler
  • Patent number: 6722867
    Abstract: A rotary compressor includes a rotor rotatably disposed to be eccentric to an inner peripheral surface of a housing, a rotation shaft for transmitting rotation force of an engine to the rotor, and a connection member through which the rotation shaft is connected to the rotor so that the rotation force is transmitted from the rotation shaft to the rotor. When a rotation speed of the rotation shaft is lower than a predetermined valve, the connection member is connected to the rotation shafts at the rotation force of the rotation shaft that is transmitted to the rotor. On the other hand, when the rotation speed of the rotation shaft is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, the rotation force from the rotation shaft to the rotor is interrupted, so that the rotary compressor is stopped. Therefore, useless load applied to the engine can be restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Nakato Murata
  • Patent number: 6722868
    Abstract: A machine for making thermoplastic containers by stretching and blowing a preform, comprising several molding stations mounted on a rotary carrousel, each station being provided with at least a stretch rod whereof the sliding movement is controlled along an axis (An). The stretch rod is controlled by a magnetic device having at least a fixed magnetic guide arranged about the axis of the carrousel and a slide which is integral with the stretch rod and bears at least a magnetic shoe and the shoe and the guide co-operate by magnetic coupling such that the guide imposes a predetermined axial movement on the slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Sidel
    Inventor: Alain Evrard
  • Patent number: 6722869
    Abstract: In a cotton candy making apparatus with a removable tray, a main power supply switch and an auxiliary switch are provided. The main power supply switch is locked by being rotated in a predetermined direction while being depressed. Contacts of the auxiliary switch are closed when the tray is properly attached to a main body of the apparatus. Carbon or alloy brushes are used for brush devices for supplying electric current to a heater for a rotary pot, and the brushes are each biased in a slip ring direction with a spring in a brush holder. A cover for the rotary pot is provided which is constructed so as to be assembled to and disassembled from the rotary pot by rotating the same cover. A translucent tray and light emitting portions are provided on the main body of the apparatus for illuminating cotton candies within the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Staff Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masatoshi Todokoro
  • Patent number: 6722870
    Abstract: A spiral conveyor for a concrete extrusion machine has a first spiral conveyor section with a first external diameter. There is a second spiral conveyor section having a second external diameter which is greater than the first diameter. The second section is spaced apart from the second section. A third spiral conveyor section is between the first section and the second section. The first end of the third section is connected to the first section and the second end is adjacent to the second section. The second spiral conveyor section may be mounted on a hollow shaft of the third section. The second section has two longitudinally divided components, each having a recess therein. Connectors interconnect the two components and a locking device is between the hollow shaft and the second section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Inventor: George Putti
  • Patent number: 6722871
    Abstract: The present invention includes a device for dispensing food products such as ice cream, yogurt, sherbet, sorbet, whipped topping, cheesecake filling, pudding and the like comprising a scoop having a channel portion with a tapered, semi-circular cross section along a curved axis. The scoop is designed to be mounted on or adjacent to a container of food product and to extend substantially across one half of the opening of the container. The scoop may be mounted to the container with the smaller cross-sectional area mounted adjacent to the sidewall of the container and with the larger cross-sectional area mounted proximate the center of the container. Alternatively, the scoop may be mounted with the larger cross-sectional area adjacent the sidewall and with the smaller cross-sectional area mounted proximate the center of the container. The cross-sectional area of the channel portion in either case is tapered from end to end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Jim Dandy, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Howe, William A. Johnson