Patents Issued in July 20, 2004
  • Patent number: 6764265
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide structures for reducing erosion of a slit valve utilized in the fabrication of semiconductor devices. Specifically, non-metallic slit valve components such as a compressible sealing member and a barrier that assist in sealing the valve closure against the slit valve seat, are positioned on the valve seat rather than on the valve closure. This orientation removes the seal and the seal barrier from the direct line of sight of the plasma within the processing chamber, reducing exposure of the sealing member and seal barrier slit valve components to erosion and thereby extending the lifetime of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Applied Materials Inc.
    Inventors: Charles S. Kunze, Andrew V. Le, Muhammad Rasheed
  • Patent number: 6764266
    Abstract: A robotic parts handler system for removing containers filled with articles from a sorting, feeding and/or stacking apparatus such as a mail or package sorting apparatus, and moving the container to a selected location for insertion into another conveying system, transport device, carrier, or other apparatus at extremely high speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Inventors: Richard C. Young, Ronald E. Ward
  • Patent number: 6764267
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for stacking and loading disc-like objects into receptacles is provided. The apparatus includes a lane combining conveyor which receives multiple lanes of product and combines one or more of the outer lanes into the remaining lanes. A stack former is provided for forming individual stacks of patties which are side supported onto rails. The rails can be pivoted down to divert patties for clearing jams. After the product is formed on the stack formers, a stack transfer mechanism transfers the stacks of products formed on the stack forming rails to the matrix former. Matrix former receives individual rows of multiple stacks from the stack transfer mechanism. A stripper mechanism is used to ensure that the stacks are not scrambled during this transfer. Once the matrix former is filled with product, a case rollover mechanism is rotated to the matrix former.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: F.R. Drake
    Inventors: Colin R. Hart, Jimmy L. Meyer
  • Patent number: 6764268
    Abstract: To reduce the energy needed to unload and reload ladders from and onto the roof of utility vehicles, a ladder rack assembly has been devised which minimizes the movement of the center of gravity of the ladder load when going between a first position atop the vehicle to a second position along a vertical side of the vehicle. To achieve this advantage, the rear and front four-bar linkages are driven by a rotatable drive shaft such that a ladder support member of the front four-bar linkage is at a higher elevation than the ladder support member of the rear four-bar linkage when the two are aligned with the side of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Inventor: Avraham Y. Levi
  • Patent number: 6764269
    Abstract: A frame apparatus which is positionable on the tines of a forklift which includes a pair of lower feet portion, having an upper flat surface, and having an opening therethrough in which the forklift tines remain fully inserted therein so that the frame work is fully positioned on the tines of the forklift. There is further included a rear wall portion, which rests against the forklift which can be secured thereto. Further there is provided a pair of sidewalls extending a distance out from the rear wall, in parallel relation to the pair of foot members, so as to define a first large opening into which a load such as a drum or container may be placed, first and second bar members positioned between the rear portion and each of the wall members, which when in a first down position, define a small opening therebetween to accommodate a smaller container, and when in a second up position define the larger space to accommodate the larger container between the wall members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Inventor: Anthony J. Cannata
  • Patent number: 6764270
    Abstract: A motor vehicle for industrial and/or agricultural operations, in particular an agricultural tractor, is described with an attachment interface containing a three-point implement hitch (24). In order to widen the spectrum of applications of the vehicle and the capability of the attachment interface and in order to open up new areas of application for the motor vehicle, a telescoping arm (16) that can be pivoted in the vertical direction is connected in a joint to the vehicle chassis (14). A support (22) is arranged at the free, extensible end of the telescoping arm (16) and carries the attachment interface for the three-point implement hitch (24). A locking arrangement (38, 40) is provided by which the support (22) can be immobilized with respect to the vehicle chassis (14), when the telescoping arm (16) is in an operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Gerd Bernhardt, Mario Wünsche, Sergiy Fedotov
  • Patent number: 6764271
    Abstract: A substrate conveyer robot inserts and removes a substrate to and from a an arbitrarily positioned container. A base is rotatably driven by a first motor which defines a pivotal center. A first spindle is rotated by a second motor independent of rotation of the base, is positioned coaxially with the pivotal center, and one end of a first arm is attached to the first spindle. A second spindle on the other end of the first arm is rotated by a gear ratio 2:1, and one end of a second arm is attached to the second spindle. A third spindle is carried on the other end of the second arm and is rotated by a gear ratio 1:2. One end of a third arm is attached to the third spindle, and a hand for holding a substrate is attached on the other end of the third arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Hirata Corporation
    Inventor: Itaru Momoki
  • Patent number: 6764272
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for positioning packaged semiconductor devices having different rectangular shapes and sizes. A positioning apparatus includes an adjustable alignment guide releasably coupled to a base. The adjustable alignment guide may be positioned along a first axis to partially define a recess into which the packaged semiconductor devices are placed during positioning. The positioning apparatus may also include additional adjustable alignment guides that may be positioned along the first or a second axis to further define the recess into which the packaged semiconductor device is to placed during positioning. The adjustable alignment guides may have alignment surfaces against which the integrated circuit rests when placed into the recess that is partially defined by the alignment surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Nuxoll, Julian Aberasturi
  • Patent number: 6764273
    Abstract: An arrangement (1, 1′) for automatically unstacking containers (6, 6′) nested in each other in lying posture, by depositing them on a support, e.g. a conveyor (3a), with the container opening (6a) facing upwards, the arrangement comprising a gripping device (5) for gripping and moving out the respective first container (6) of a lying container stack (2, 2′), the gripping device (5, 5′) being arranged on holding elements (8a, 8b) movable in stacking direction, and further comprising a clamping device (4) for holding back the lying container stack (2, 2′), with the foremost container (6) being left free, wherein the gripping device (5) is provided with lateral pressure-medium cylinders (5a; 46) which have horizontal axes on the same level and which are connected with the holding elements (8a, 8b) extending thereabove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Knapp Logistik Automation GmbH
    Inventor: Karl Freudelsperger
  • Patent number: 6764274
    Abstract: A large bale loading, transporting and unloading method and apparatus including a wheeled vehicle having a flatbed with a longitudinal conveyor and a cross-bed conveyor for unloading bales laterally from the side of the flatbed. A tine carrying frame or bed is movable to a vertical position against a bale stack and bale engaging tines are actuated to hold the bales against the frame. The frame is returned to the horizontal position for either transport or lateral unloading. In one embodiment the longitudinal and cross-bed conveyors and the tine structures are carried on a flatbed beneath the surface thereof. In a second embodiment the longitudinal conveyor and tine structures are mounted on top of the bed. Apparatus is disclosed for selectively cutting off flakes or segments of the bale as it is discharged laterally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Inventor: Thomas B. Maclay
  • Patent number: 6764275
    Abstract: A fluid displacement rotational assembly includes a frame, a support structure supporting the frame for rotating an axle connected to the frame, chamber members coupled to the frame and each chamber member being arranged diametrically opposed by an associated one of the plurality of chamber members to form a plurality of diametrically opposed chamber member pairs, a plurality of conduits coupled to extend between the chamber members of the diametrically opposed chamber member pairs such that the chamber members of each diametrically opposed chamber member pair are in environmental communication with each other, a plurality of pistons slidably mounted in the chamber members such that the pistons in each diametrically opposed chamber member pair form a fluid chamber between each piston of the diametrically opposed chamber member pair and extending through the conduit of the diametrically opposed chamber member pair, and a fluid positioned in each fluid chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Inventor: Dennis L. Carr
  • Patent number: 6764276
    Abstract: A fan outlet guide vane assembly (36) for a turbofan gas turbine engine (10) comprises a fan casing (32) and a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending fan outlet guide vanes (34). The fan outlet guide vanes (34) are secured at their radially outer ends to the fan casing (32). A plurality of panels (40) are secured to the fan casing (32). Each panel (40) is arranged between two adjacent fan outlet guide vanes (34) to define the flow path between the fan outlet guide vanes (34). Each panel (40) comprises a perforated skin (42) and a honeycomb structure (44) to form an acoustic treatment structure. The perforated skin (42) defines the flow path between the fan outlet guide vanes (34). The pressure equalization across the panels (40) minimises the possibility of the panels (40) being removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Thomas G Mulcaire, Michael T Holdsworth, Richard Evans
  • Patent number: 6764277
    Abstract: A fan guard 18 of an outdoor unit comprises an outer frame, a plurality of radiating ribs 27, and a plurality of annular ribs 28. The outer frame is disposed around the outer circumference of a lid member that is an air conditioner discharge port. The plurality of radiating ribs 27 are formed such that they radiate in the outer radial direction from the vicinity of the center of the outer frame 26 to the outer frame 26, and are curved in the rotational direction of a ventilation fan. The plurality of annular ribs 28 are integral with the radiating ribs 27, are concentrically disposed at a predetermined spacing in the radial direction around the center of the rotational axis of the ventilation fan, and are formed such that at least those in an outer circumference are slanted toward the outer radial direction to follow the flow of the air blown from the ventilation fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Somahara, Toshihiko Takayama, Makoto Momosaki
  • Patent number: 6764278
    Abstract: A water, pump includes a driven portion, a shaft connected to the driven portion, an impeller connected to the shaft, and a body supporting the driven portion for relative rotation therewith. The water pump is characterized in that the driven portion and the shaft are formed integrally by resin molding, and an outer surface of the bearing is fixed to the driven portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuo Ozawa, Junya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6764279
    Abstract: Improved efficiency is obtained in a rotary machine having a rotary shaft (18) mounting a compressor wheel (20) that discharges into a heat exchanger (36) having a core (82) with a central opening (42) in surrounding relation to the shaft (18). The heat exchanger (36) includes a coolant tank (90) on one side of the core (82) and in fluid communication with the same which serves as one boundary of radially extending space (68) through which a gas is discharged by a compressor wheel (20). A deswirling vane structure (80) causes gas discharged by the compressor wheel (22) to move radially outward within the space (68) and is formed of a material of good thermal conductivity and thermally bridged to the tank (90) to conduct heat thereto to be rejected to coolant in the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Steven P. Meshenky
  • Patent number: 6764280
    Abstract: A multi-bladed tail rotor assembly is disclosed that provides higher aerodynamic performance, damage tolerant design with 10,000-hour life expectancy, and which requires low maintenance through the use of composites and elastomerics. The tail rotor hub assembly includes two stacked yoke assemblies having multi-bladed teetering rotors, each mounted on a single drive mast. Each yoke assembly includes a yoke hub having a transverse bore therethrough, a bearing assembly disposed within the bore, and retention means for aligning and securing the bearing assembly within the bore. Each bearing assembly includes a trunnion portion having trunnion arms that extend outwardly from a trunnion body portion, and an elastomeric bearing disposed about each trunnion arm. The tail rotor assembly utilizes a composite twist strap flexure to accommodate collective pitch control integral with each rotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Ajay Sehgal, Cecil Covington, David Haynie, Joseph Zierer, Eric Boyle
  • Patent number: 6764281
    Abstract: A rotor of an expansion turbine for low-temperature applications that comprises a turbine rotor, wherein a cold gas is admitted and flows through the rotor centripetally. There is also a turbine shaft. There is also a stud screw that can be inserted in a threaded bore of the turbine shaft on the face side of the shaft that extends through the turbine rotor. There is also a rotor nut mounted on the protruding end of the stud screw. The turbine rotor is secured on the end of the turbine shaft in an overhung manner with the help of the rotor nut and the pre-tensioned stud screw. A rotor hub cap consisting of a heat-insulating material is mounted on the free end of the stud screw protruding into the cold gas flowing off, as well as on the rotor nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Energas GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Bosen
  • Patent number: 6764282
    Abstract: A blade for a turbine engine having a centerline. The blade comprises: a root section extending at an angle relative to the centerline; and an airfoil section extending from the root section. The root section is directly adjacent said airfoil section. In other words, the blade is neckless. The blade is part of a rotor assembly, and is preferably a fan blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Michael Babu, James R. Murdock
  • Patent number: 6764283
    Abstract: An internal gear pump for pumping fuel from a suction conduit (18) into a pressure conduit (19) has a pump housing (1) in which an internal ring gear (5) and an externally toothed pinion (3), the latter driven by a drive shaft (2), are supported. The pinion (3) is disposed eccentrically to the ring gear (5) and cooperates with the ring gear (5) to generate a pumping action. The pinion (3) and the ring gear (5) rest with their one face end on the pump housing (1) and with their other face end on a sealing plate (13). To lengthen the service life of the internal gear pump, the suction conduit (18) is disposed in the sealing plate (13). The sealing plate (13) is movable relative to the pump housing (1) such that the spacing between the suction conduit (18) and the pressure conduit (19) can be varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Stanislaw Bodzak
  • Patent number: 6764284
    Abstract: A metering assembly includes a motor removably coupled to a pump using a flange clamp. An annular connection flange is provided at one end of the motor housing; and a cooperating annular connection flange is provided at one end of the pump housing. The connection flanges have opposed, mating end surfaces which are located in flush relation with each other. The flange clamp includes a pair of arcuate clamping arms which are pivotally supported at one end, and a locking member connecting the other, distal free ends of the arms together, and which can be manually tightened and untightened, so that the flange clamp can be easily located around and tightened down around the annular connection flanges of the pump and motor to create a mechanical face seal between the pump and motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventor: Robert E. Oehman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6764285
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic pump unit having a plurality of pump elements, disposed in one plane, each of which has one pump cylinder and one pump piston longitudinally displaceable in the pump cylinder, and whose longitudinal axes intersect at a common intersection point, and having a cam drive with cams, which upon a rotation of the cam drive relative to the pump elements act upon the pump pistons with an actuating motion. To enable a uniform pumping of the hydraulic fluid and to make a high degree of smoothness of the hydraulic pump unit possible, it is proposed that the number and the angular spacing of the cams is adapted to the number and angular spacing of the pump elements in such a way that when a certain number of pump pistons are located at top dead center, the same number of pump pistons are at bottom dead center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Kellner
  • Patent number: 6764286
    Abstract: A piston pump comprises cylinder attached within a cavity of a pump housing. An outlet check valve seat is defined about an outlet of the cylinder. A piston is slidably received in a bore of the cylinder and has a first passageway formed therein. A cylinder head encloses the outlet of the cylinder and defines a second passageway therein. The first passageway has an inlet in fluid communication with the cavity of the pump housing, and an outlet in fluid communication with a pumping chamber defined in the pump housing. A first spring retains the piston to the cylinder. A first check valve member is a ball retained near a valve seat formed in the first passageway of the piston by a disk spring, and allows fluid to flow only from the inlet to the outlet of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Company
    Inventors: Harry A. Hunnicutt, Richard J. Barron, Peter Every
  • Patent number: 6764287
    Abstract: A casing body is formed with a vent hole. The casing body has an inner face formed with a plurality of grooves respectively communicated with the vent hole. A plurality of diaphragms are respectively inserted into the grooves to form a plurality of pump chambers. An actuator actuates the diaphragms to compress or decompress the pump chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Muneharu Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 6764288
    Abstract: Vacuum pumping apparatus includes a scroll set having an inlet and an outlet. The scroll set includes a first stationary scroll blade and a second stationary scroll blade extending from a stationary plate and separated by a gap, and an orbiting scroll extending from an orbiting plate, wherein the first and second stationary scroll blades are intermeshed with the orbiting scroll blade to define one or more interblade pockets. The vacuum pumping apparatus further includes a relief port in the gap between the first and second stationary scroll blades and coupled through a relief passage to an exhaust, a relief valve in the relief passage, and a drive mechanism operatively coupled to the orbiting scroll element for producing orbiting motion of the orbiting scroll blade relative to the first and second stationary scroll blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Varian, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony G. Liepert, Jeffrey C. Warren, Robert M. Curry, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6764289
    Abstract: A manufacturing fixture (11) for manufacturing a permanent magnet (24) for an actuator motor (20) of a disk drive (10) is provided herein. The manufacturing fixture (11) includes a fixture cavity (102) which receives the magnet powder (48) and an orientating device (108) which generates flux lines (110) which extend across the fixture cavity (102). The fixture cavity (102) includes a cavity axis (118), a cavity transition (116) and a cavity perimeter (124). Importantly, the flux lines (110) extend substantially transverse to the cavity axis (118) near the cavity transition (116) and the cavity perimeter (124) and substantially parallel with the cavity axis (118) intermediate the cavity transition (116) and the cavity perimeter (124). This allows for a magnet (24) having higher magnetic flux densities at the sides (54) (56) (58), and higher average magnetic flux densities in the magnet (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Maxtor Corporation
    Inventors: Albert Hartman, Wendy Lorimer
  • Patent number: 6764290
    Abstract: A device for foaming around a transparent pane for a motor vehicle roof, including a top tool having a top shaping structure mounted on a top carrier, and a bottom tool having a bottom shaping structure mounted on a bottom carrier. The shaping structures act as a boundary for the area to be peripherally foamed, and the top tool and the bottom tool are made adjustable relative to one another for inserting or removing the pane and the interchangeable bottom shaping structure. The top shaping structure is also interchangeable to enable matching of the peripheral foaming device to different size and shape panes to be peripherally foamed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Webasto Vehicle Systems International GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Stangl, Christian Dünzinger, Hans Jurgen Brandner, Cord Hermann Hagenmeyer
  • Patent number: 6764291
    Abstract: A device for impregnating a conductor bar for a stator winding of an electrical machine, which includes an impregnating device with a hose-like flexible casing for receiving and encasing a conductor bar over an entire length thereof, and wherein the conductor bar is formed with a rectilinear region and angled regions adjoining the rectilinear region and is provided with an insulation. The device further includes a device which communicates with the casing for filling the casing with pressurized impregnating fluid, and a pressing device with a stationary pressing device having a plurality of clamping jaws surrounding on all sides at least the rectilinear region of the conductor bar, and movable sleeve-like pressing devices surrounding and pressing the angled regions of the conductor bar adjoining the rectilinear region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Alstom
    Inventor: Peter Klee
  • Patent number: 6764292
    Abstract: An injection mold apparatus having two halves, a core portion and a cavity portion. One or more gas injection devices, such as porous metal devices, are located in either of the two portions of the mold. Once a charge of hot melted plastic is injected into the mold cavity, gas is injected through gas injection devices forcing the hot plastic against the opposite mold half and into any recesses and grooves. Gas seals are formed by the plastic to prevent gas in the mold cavity from reaching the exterior surface of the molded part during shrinkage of the plastic. The centers of mass of the plastic at rib intersections are optimally positioned to eliminate sink marks on the external finished surfaces of the molded parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Incoe Corporation
    Inventor: James W. Hendry
  • Patent number: 6764293
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a shaped confectionery product of Bingham plastic rheology by cold extrusion wherein particles of the confectionery product are fed between counter-rotating form rolls having depressions corresponding to the desired product shape. The particles are compacted and compressed between the form rolls and fuse together to exit with a thin web of material interconnecting the shaped confectionery product. The release of the product from the roll surface is aided by induced differential motion between the rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Mars, Incorporated
    Inventors: Peter Thomas Kashulines, Jr., Emil Anthony Kritzer, Robert Otto Brandt, Jr., Aubrey Elmo Jones, Jr., Malcolm Albert Austin, Ray Louis Peterson
  • Patent number: 6764294
    Abstract: A concrete product molding machine supports a mold with a vertically extending mold cavity. A pallet support is mounted for lifting movement to dispose a pallet to close the cavity. Attachment structure extends from the mold to rest on frame surfaces prior to being moved upwardly to provide a clearance for vertical vibration of the mold. Mechanism vibrates the mold in a vertical path having lateral x and y axis vibration components. A guidance pin receiver is carried by the support attachment structure and a pin carrier assembly on the machine frame carries a vertically reciprocal guidance pin movable from a remote position up into the pin receiver. A vibration limiter is disposed laterally to the pin for limiting at least one of the lateral vibration components and a motor operated mechanism is coupled to the pin for moving the pin vertically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Besser Company
    Inventor: Samuel L. Saddler
  • Patent number: 6764295
    Abstract: A rotary cutter is provided for cutting elongated extruded strips of a food dough product or the like on a conveyor into individual strip pieces of selected length and having angular cut ends simulating the overall appearance of French fry strips cut from whole potatoes. The rotary cutter comprises a pair of rotary support wheels mounted on opposite sides of the conveyor for rotation on longitudinally spaced axes extending normal to the direction of conveyor travel. A plurality of cutter elements extend transversely and angularly across the conveyor with their opposite ends carried by the rotary support wheels generally at the peripheries thereof for engaging and cutting conveyed extruded strips into individual and angularly end-cut strip pieces of selected length. A drive motor rotatably drives one of the support wheels for displacing the cutter elements into engagement with the extruded strips at a velocity closely matching the conveyor velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: J. R. Simplot Company
    Inventors: Richard B. Jensen, David B. Walker, Michael M. Gallagher
  • Patent number: 6764296
    Abstract: A fluidizing method transports particulates by gravity flow but passes the particulates through a fluidizer which is partitioned by a porous distributor plate to form first and second chambers and wherein the particulate materials pass through said first chamber which is in gaseous communication with said second chamber via the porous distributor plate. Gas is delivered to the second chamber at a pressure sufficient to generate a gas bearing between the porous distributor plate and the particulate material. The gas is permitted to migrate through the particulate material, but it is then vented to the surrounding atomosphere without causing substantial turbulence in the particulate material and to reduce tendencies for dusting and separation of the particulates into sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Matsys
    Inventors: Tony F. Zahrah, Rajkumar Raman, Phillip A. Parrish, Roderick Rowland
  • Patent number: 6764297
    Abstract: Improved mold manifold and hot runner nozzle using thin film elements include at least one active or passive thin film element disposed along a melt channel between the manifold inlet and the hot runner nozzle. Preferably, the thin film element may comprise a thin film heater in direct contact with the molten resin and position to aid in the heat and flow management of the resin within the melt channel. Thin film temperature sensors, pressure sensors, and leak detectors may also be provided in the vicinity of the melt channel to enhance process control in the injection molding machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Harold Godwin, George Olaru, David Whiffen
  • Patent number: 6764298
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an air fuel ratio in a gas furnace which can maintain optimum performance in combustion, irrespective of variation in temperature control stages. Air quantity and fuel quantity are integrally, rather than separately, controlled through the detection and adjustment of variation in each until the air fuel ratio reaches an objective value. In this manner, transient phenomena caused during the burning operation is prevented, and optimum combustion performance is maintained regardless of the temperature variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Ji Won Kim, Young Soo Kim, In Kyu Kim
  • Patent number: 6764299
    Abstract: A child-resistant lighter is disclosed which includes an actuator and a latch member coupled thereto. The latch member includes a finger actuation portion and a body portion integrally formed therewith. The body portion has a free end. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention when in an inoperative position, the free end of the latch member is aligned with a blocking surface of the lighter body, thus, preventing inadvertent lighting of the lighter. When in an operative position, the free end of the latch member is pivoted out of alignment with the blocking surface so that the lighter can function. During pivoting, as the finger actuation portion moves in a first direction, the free end moves in an opposite, second direction. The first direction is substantially forward and the second direction is substantially rearward. In another embodiment, the latch member can be slidable coupled to the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: BIC Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Adams, Richard M. Orazietti, Floyd Fairbanks
  • Patent number: 6764300
    Abstract: A roll and press gas lighter is rendered child resistant by a protective strip (26, 35) which extends around the sparkwheel (15) and impedes the action of the user's thumb. The wheel assembly (13) is mounted for reciprocal motion and upwardly biased by the flint spring (19), and is depressed by the user during operation. The thumbwheel (16) may have a smooth periphery to increase the force required to rotate it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Swedish Match Lighters B.V.
    Inventor: Carel Sewalt
  • Patent number: 6764301
    Abstract: A combination gas cylinder striker and wrench device for use with a gas cylinder having a cylinder valve with a valve stem. The device is made of a striker having a pair of wire frame members that are manipulatable to strike a spark for igniting a flammable gas from a gas cylinder. A gas cylinder wrench is affixed to one of the wire frame members. The gas cylinder wrench has a central portion having an opening therethrough that is sized to interfit with the valve stem of the gas cylinder. The central portion is located at a U-shaped area of the wire frame member to stabilize the affixation of the gas cylinder wrench to the wire frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Inventors: Michael L. Paleno, Daniel T. Pirl, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6764302
    Abstract: An atomizing nozzle for a burner, especially for a heater that can be used on a vehicle includes a first flow guide element (34), which provides a flow guide surface (40) and has an atomizing lip (48) in an axial end area in relation to a central axis (A) of the nozzle, a second flow guide element (36) defining a first flow space area (30) leading to the atomizing lip (48) together with the first flow guide element (34). A fuel feed device (54) in the second flow guide element (36) is provided for applying fuel through the first flow space area (30) onto the flow guide surface (40) of the first flow guide element (34). Provisions are made for the fuel feed device (54) to have at least one fuel feed channel section (58) in the second flow guide element (36), which said fuel feed channel section (58) is open toward a surface area (44; 44′) of the second flow guide element (36) and has a surface normal radial component different from zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: J. Eberspacher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Günter Eberspach, Walter Blaschke
  • Patent number: 6764303
    Abstract: Gas burner for a cooker, with a burner head provided with a frustoconical peripheral side wall and with a multiplicity of slots forming flame orifices, the burner head being topped by a cap, the side wall (2′) being inclined (&agr;) to the vertical by 10° to 20° and the bottom (8′) of each slot (3) being inclined (&bgr;) to the horizontal by 20° to 30°; the ratio of the diameter (A) of the cap to the diameter (B) of the side wall (2) at mid-height of the outlet orifices (11) of the slots (3) is from 1.4 to 1.6; the stand-off (H) of the cap above the top of the burner head is from 1 to 15 mm; and the angle of inclination (&ggr;) of the lower face (9) of the cap to the horizontal is from 3° to 15°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Sourdillon
    Inventors: Bernard Dane, Siu Hun Pierre Yam
  • Patent number: 6764304
    Abstract: A furnace design that combines the benefits of oxygen enriched combustion, intense flame radiation, highly preheated combustion air, exhaust gas recirculation, buoyancy driven flows and NOx reburn chemistry in a single unit to significantly reduce energy consumption and pollutant formation. The furnace also allows burning low calorie fuels and fuels of different types. It substantially increases the level of radiation heat transfer and its uniformity, thereby enhancing furnace productivity and provides an oxygen free atmosphere to prevent oxidation of materials being heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventor: Arvind Atreya
  • Patent number: 6764305
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for supporting a conveyor belt used in the continuously operated thermal treatment, i.e. sintering, of a material bed. According to the invention, in the top part of the frame structure of the belt conveyor, there is installed at least one support element, whereby an essentially smooth slide surface can be obtained for the conveyor belt, and in the interior of the support element there is made a channel system in order to enable the flow-through of the intermediate agent fed into the support element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: OUTOKUMPU Oyj
    Inventors: Eero Väänänen, Martti Jankkila, Olavi Tulkki
  • Patent number: 6764306
    Abstract: A system and method for managing dental burs includes a carrier that is customized to hold a selection of burs that a particular dentist prefers for a given procedure. Accordingly, each dentist will have a separately identifiable carrier for such procedures as amalgam and composite fillings, veneer, crown and bridge preparation, post and core procedures, endodontics, emergency treatments and other procedures, such as those that are attendant to removable prosthodontics. In addition, the carrier includes indicators for advising the dentist as to how many times each bur in the carrier has been used. By tracking use on a bur by bur basis, premature disposal of used burs as well as the incidence of bur changes in the midst of procedures will be minimized while helping to prevent the negative consequences of overusing burs (i.e. intra-oral separation, excessive heat generation).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Inventors: James C. DiMarino, Susan S. DiMarino
  • Patent number: 6764307
    Abstract: The retainer of the present invention is made of a composite material having a body made from a polymer, a layer of solid lubricant formed over the body by chemically coating the body with a porous layer of solid lubricant and impregnating the solid lubricant with another lubricant using conventional methods such as vacuum impregnation. The retainer is placed between an outer raceway and an inner raceway to form a self-lubricating bearing. The bearing made in this manner has high lubrication tolerance (i.e. it performs well in the absence of external lubrication). Because of its high lubrication tolerance, the bearing is suitable for use in various applications such as dental/medical hand pieces that are periodically sterilized and other applications which occasionally experience periods of lubrication starvation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Minebea Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Alex Metrikin
  • Patent number: 6764308
    Abstract: Surgical device (1) for use in a surgical procedure comprising a plurality of surgical instruments (3a, 3b, 3c) for performing predetermined steps of the surgical procedure with at least one of the surgical instruments being movable relative to the other surgical instruments of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: AstraZeneca AB
    Inventors: Leif Broberg, Lars Narhed
  • Patent number: 6764309
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing tooth decay by treating the tooth surface, including the occlusal surface and unexposed surfaces such as subgingival, interproximal, and contact areas, with a laser with a coherent or noncoherent light source are described. This process makes the tooth more resistant to acid and better able to bond fluoride, thus requiring a lower concentration of fluoride. The method allows the treatment to penetrate deeper into the tooth then previously accomplished with other methods and can be used in a dental office or at home.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Nocari, LLC
    Inventors: Colette Cozean, Lynn Powell, Samir Nammour
  • Patent number: 6764310
    Abstract: An apparatus for simulating a ride on a vehicle has a base, and a simulated vehicle body which is supported on the base with a freedom of two-axis rotation about a rolling axis and a pitching axis. A pair of linear actuators are disposed in a position offset to one side in an axial direction of one of the rolling axis and the pitching axis, e.g., offset to one axial side of the rolling axis relative to the pitching axis. The actuators are disposed symmetrically relative to a plane which crosses the pitching axis at a right angle and which includes an axial line of the rolling axis. A fixing member and a movable member of each of the actuators are coupled to the base and the simulated vehicle body, respectively, through universal joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Ichihashi, Masayoshi Kai, Ryuichi Okamura, Kunikazu Negishi, Takeshi Masaki
  • Patent number: 6764311
    Abstract: A training/managing system and method of basic ability which enables objective and efficient management for improving the basic ability of persons by training toward some kind of target. The training/managing system of basic ability 1 is provided with training terminals 3-1 to 3-n for measuring/training ability to read characters of an employee to be trained, and a management device 4 which are connected to an information communicating network 2. The management device 4 is equipped with a data management server 5 for storing measured data in time-series; performing a predetermined arithmetical operation; and deriving management data, and a management terminal 7 for presenting the management data for a business administrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Inventor: Akihiro Kawamura
  • Patent number: 6764312
    Abstract: A connector for coupling panels which does not influence upon an electrically connected part of a connector to be attached to a panel even if an external force is applied to the panel. The connector for coupling panels comprises an insulating housing having a through hole therein through which connector terminals are fitted therein, flanges orthogonal to a direction of insertion and removal through the insulating housing and projected outwardly from at least one wall face of the insulating housing, comprising front and back faces, respectively, and a pair of retainer members having flexibility, fixedly attached to both side ends or both up-down ends of the insulating housing, respectively, wherein the retainer members are provided with a pair of retainer stepped parts, facing each other, and there is a gap for allowing fixture of the panel between the front and back faces of the respective flanges and the respective retainer stepped parts of the retainer members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: J.S.T. Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Ushiro, Katsuyuki Masaki, Yusuke Hamada
  • Patent number: 6764313
    Abstract: A method of forming an electrical interconnection between a first electrical device and a second electrical device comprises the steps of providing contacts in an uncompressed state. The uncompressed contacts are then deformed to a compressed state and then the contacts are positioned in a device adapted to hold the contacts between the first and second electrical devices. Or alternatively, the uncompressed contacts are positioned in the device and then compressed to the compressed state. The contacts are then activated to substantially expand to the uncompressed state wherein each contact expands to substantially its uncompressed state for establishing the electrical interconnection between the first and second electrical devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Gareth Hougham
  • Patent number: 6764314
    Abstract: A multiple-contact micron connector including a base seat main body and a socket main body inserted in a longitudinal insertion channel of the base seat main body. Two sides of the insertion channel are formed with multiple terminal receptacles. Two sides of the socket main body are formed with multiple terminal receptacles. Multiple first type terminals are respectively inserted in the terminal receptacles of the base seat main body. Each first type terminal has a second leg and a contact pin. Multiple second type terminals are respectively inserted in the terminal receptacles of the socket main body. Each second type terminal has a first leg and a contact section. The second leg resiliently abuts against the first leg to form a first electric contact and the contact pin resiliently contacts with the contact section to form a second electric contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Super Link Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ipson Lee