Patents Issued in August 17, 2004
  • Patent number: 6776040
    Abstract: The present invention is a self-leveling hydrometer. A balance hanger is on top of a handle, which connects to a swinging support part. An imbalanced load is in the center of the floating measurement indicator and the imbalanced load can rotate freely in the round hole on the center of the floating measurement indicator. The imbalanced load has a protrudent round plate on edge that exposes on the round hole of the floating measurement indicator. A moveable hook, the support part and the imbalanced load can position the present invention in an absolute horizontal position for accurate liquid specific gravity readout. The present invention can also achieve easier and more accurate initial calibration process during manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Inventor: Tommy Chi-Kin Wong
  • Patent number: 6776041
    Abstract: A micromechanical yaw rate sensor having: a substrate having an anchoring device provided on the substrate; and an annular flywheel that is connected, via a flexural spring system, with the anchoring device in such a way that the area of connection with the anchoring device is located essentially in the center of the ring, so that the annular flywheel is able to be displaced, elastically from its rest position, about an axis of rotation situated perpendicular to the substrate surface, and about at least one axis of rotation situated parallel to the substrate surface. The anchoring device has two bases that are situated opposite one another and are connected fixedly with the substrate, connected with one another via a bridge. A V-shaped flexural spring of the flexural spring system is attached to each of the opposite sides of the bridge in such a way that the apex is situated on the bridge and the limbs are spread towards the flywheel with an opening angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Hauer, Michael Fehrenbach, Karsten Funk
  • Patent number: 6776042
    Abstract: The present invention is a seismometer/velocimeter, and can be also made to function as an accelerometer. The invention comprises an in-plane suspension geometry combined with a transverse periodic-sensing-array position transducer. The invention can incorporate a feedback actuator of magnetic design, incorporating fixed magnets and planar coils on the surface of the proof mass allowing for much lower noise than an equivalent electrostatic actuator without requiring high voltages. The invention may also have a dual-axis configuration by using two sets of springs. The nested suspensions allow the proof mass to move in two orthogonal directions. A three-axis configuration is possible by combining the dual-axis version with sensing and actuation of the proof mass motion out of the plane. The position sensing for the out-of-plane motion can be made using schemes common in existing state-of-the-art sensors. Actuation for the sensors may be electrostatic or electromagnetic in each of the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Kinemetrics, Inc.
    Inventors: William Thomas Pike, Ian Maxwell Standley, Amadej Trnkoczy
  • Patent number: 6776043
    Abstract: A bridge accelerometer system includes four capacitors, wherein two capacitors are formed on each side of a rigid member. The other two capacitors are similarly constructed, except that the rigid member is replaced by a flexured plate. The construction of the plates with respect to the flexured plate is substantially similar to the configuration formed by the rigid member and the other two capacitors, and the fixed capacitors and rigid plate are isolated from the flexured arrangement. The four capacitors are connected to form a bridge generating a bridge voltage signal. The bridge voltage signal is signal processed to generate a digital word. The digital word is linearized and filtered and received in computer for attitude adjustment and velocity control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Ray F. Campbell, Joan Wada
  • Patent number: 6776044
    Abstract: The invention is based on the problem of providing an inspection device and an inspection method, which recognise the defective lenses, which are difficult to detect with conventional optical methods, with a high degree of reliability. According to the invention, the contact lenses are exposed to an ultrasonic field, which leads to destruction of defective lenses, while perfect lenses are as a rule not destroyed. In particular, the method is capable of detecting cracks which are often overlooked by optical methods, since this type of defect reacts especially sensitively to the soundwaves being received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Roger Biel, Martin Schubert, Wolfgang Grill
  • Patent number: 6776045
    Abstract: A fiber grating pressure sensor for use in an industrial process includes an optical sensing element 20,600 which includes an optical fiber 10 having a Bragg grating 12 impressed therein which is encased within and fused to at least a portion of a glass capillary tube 20 and/or a large diameter waveguide grating 600 having a core and a wide cladding and which has an outer transverse dimension of at least 0.3 mm. Light 14 is incident on the grating 12 and light 16 is reflected from the grating 12 at a reflection wavelength &lgr;1. The sensing element 20,600 may be used by itself as a sensor or located within a housing 48,60,90,270,300. When external pressure P increases, the grating 12 is compressed and the reflection wavelength &lgr;1 changes. The shape of the sensing element 20,600 may have other geometries, e.g., a “dogbone” shape, so as to enhance the sensitivity of shift in &lgr;1 due to applied external pressure and may be fused to an outer shell 50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: CiDRA Corporation
    Inventors: Mark R. Fernald, Timothy J. Bailey, Matthew B. Miller, James M. Sullivan, James R. Dunphy, Michael A. Davis, Christopher J. Wright, Alan D. Kersey, Martin A. Putnam, Robert N. Brucato, Paul E. Sanders
  • Patent number: 6776046
    Abstract: A pressure-measuring device with monitoring for diaphragm fracture comprises a housing with a passage whose two openings at the end faces of the housing are closed by a first deformation body and a second deformation body. The passage is completely filled with a transmission liquid in order to transmit the process pressure from the first deformation body to the second deformation body. The device has components for monitoring a material property of the transmission liquid. A change in the material property indicates contamination by the process medium and thus a fracture of the first deformation body. The material property monitored is preferably the relative dielectric constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Endress & Hauser GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Stefan Pistorius
  • Patent number: 6776048
    Abstract: A tribological test apparatus has a supporting structure, to which are fitted a central shaft rotating about a respective axis, and three peripheral shafts rotating about respective axes equally spaced angularly about the axis of the central shaft; the central shaft and peripheral shafts respectively support a central specimen and three peripheral specimens facing one another radially; and the apparatus has three actuators, each for exerting on a relative peripheral specimen a force directed towards the central specimen, and a guide and slide device associated with each peripheral shaft to enable each peripheral specimen, in use, to translate radially towards the central specimen and exert a contact pressure on the central specimen by virtue of the force generated by the relative actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile Per Azioni
    Inventors: Silvio Corrias, Paolo Faraldi, Valter Stabielli
  • Patent number: 6776049
    Abstract: A stress sensor is provided that is suited for measurement of stress between adjacent mated bodies, such as at an interface. The stress sensor permits measurement of stress, preferably a shear component of the stress substantially exclusive of the normal component. A system including the stress sensor and a method of measuring stress, especially the shear component of stress, using the sensor are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.
    Inventors: Mont A. Johnson, Randy L. Everton
  • Patent number: 6776050
    Abstract: A support for facilitating the bending test of flexible substrates is disclosed. The support includes a plastic or adhesive plastic applied on the substrate to keep the shards together after breakage, thereby eliminating the process of collecting the shards and fitting them back together for failure analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignees: Osrano Opto Semiconductors GmbH, Institute of Materials Research and Engineering
    Inventors: Mark Auch, Ewald Guenther, Chua Soo Jin, Chen Zhong
  • Patent number: 6776051
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic transducer, which is so configured as to reduce the variations in characteristics, thereby to enable the stabilization of the precision, as well as to enable the improvement of the durability, and the like, a method for manufacturing the ultrasonic transducer, and an ultrasonic flowmeter. In order to attain this object, in accordance with the present invention, the ultrasonic transducer is so configured as to include a piezoelectric element and an acoustic matching layer, wherein the acoustic matching layer is made of a dry gel of an inorganic oxide or an organic polymer, and a solid skeletal part of the dry gel has been rendered hydrophobic. With this configuration, it is possible to obtain the ultrasonic transducer having an acoustic matching layer 3 which is very lightweight and has a small acoustic impedance due to the solid skeletal part of the dry gel which has been rendered hydrophobic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Suzuki, Takashi Hashida, Masahiko Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 6776052
    Abstract: A Coriolis flowmeter sensor capable of handling large mass flow rates and having a reduced flag dimension. In order to have a reduced flag dimension, each of the flow tubes forms a semicircle between an inlet and an outlet. Brace bars, connected to the flow tubes proximate the inlet and outlet, separate the frequencies of vibration in the flow tubes. Pick-offs are positioned on the flow tubes at a position that allows the pickoffs to maximize detection of low amplitude, high frequency vibrations of the flow tubes required to have a reduced flag dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Micro Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew T. Crisfield, John Richard McCarthy
  • Patent number: 6776053
    Abstract: A Coriolis flowmeter for the measurement of a process material requiring an ultra high level of purity. This is achieved by forming the entire Coriolis flowmeter of a PFA plastic material that does not transfer ions from the Coriolis flowmeter to the process material flowing through the flowmeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Emerson Electric, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Andrew Schlosser, Mark James Bell, Matthew Glen Wheeler, Daniel Patrick McNulty, Gary Edward Pawlas
  • Patent number: 6776054
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for determining the flow rates of fluid phases in a pipe containing multiple fluid phases. A Venturi is provided to measure total volumetric flow rate measurement and a holdup measurement is taken approximately 3-10 pipe diameters downstream of the Venturi. The holdup measurement is made at a downstream location where a substantial amount of mixing occurs and the differences between the velocities of the fluid phases can effectively be ignored. The flow rates of the phases can thus be determined directly from the holdup measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth Edward Stephenson, John William James Ferguson, John Barry Fitzgerald, Anthony Robert Holmes Goodwin, Gerald Henry Meeten, Sarah Elizabeth Pelham
  • Patent number: 6776055
    Abstract: A fuel mass flowmeter 10 includes a rotatable drum 22 through which fuel to be metered may pass and an impeller 24 mounted within the drum such that it may rotate relative thereto but is biased against such rotation by a spring 26. The drum 22 may be rotated as fuel is passed therethrough, the passage of the fuel past vanes 36 on the impeller causing the impeller to rotate relative to the drum 22, the extent of rotation depending upon the mass flow rate. The rate of rotation of the drum 22 is measured and a correction factor is applied to the measured mass flow rate, the magnitude of the correction factor depending upon the rate of rotation of the drum 22.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Carl Burton, Christopher W Bradford
  • Patent number: 6776056
    Abstract: A seat belt tension sensor for measuring the magnitude of tension in a seat belt. The seat belt tension sensor has a housing with a cavity. An anchor plate has a portion located in the cavity. The housing moves relative to the anchor plate between a first position and a second position. A sensor is mounted to the housing. The housing presses on the sensor as the housing moves from the first to the second position. The sensor generates an electrical signal in response to the housing moving between the first and second positions. The electrical signal changes as a function of tension on the seat belt. The sensor is a strain gage. The housing engages the anchor plate in the second position to protect the sensor from damage in a vehicle crash situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Garver, Murray Kaijala, Dale Teeters
  • Patent number: 6776057
    Abstract: A magnetic transducer element for use in sensing torque in a contactless transducer system for rotating shaft comprises an annular region of magnetization induced in the shaft by rotating it about its axis with respect to a magnetizing source oriented to create longitudinal magnetization in the annular region. The source may be a U-shaped (horseshoe) magnet with its poles axially spaced and with the gap between the poles substantially greater than the axial width of the poles. The application of torque to the shaft skews the longitudinal magnetization to generate a torque-dependent tangential circumferential field component. This tangential field component is sensed by an external sensor or sensors adjacent but not in contact with the annular transducer region. A pair of transducer regions can be employed as well as guard or keeper regions to enhance and stabilise the transducer region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Abas, Incorporated
    Inventor: Lutz Axel May
  • Patent number: 6776058
    Abstract: A digital torque sensor employing a torsion bar, a target wheel at each end thereof, and at least two magnetosensitive (galvanomagnetic) sensors, in the form of magnetosensitive arrays, one for each target wheel, respectively, to precisely determine the angle of twist of the torsion bar. The torque sensor also provides target wheel relative position, rotational speed and rotational direction, and is capable of self-compensation over wide temperature ranges and air gaps, including tilts, does not require tight assembly tolerances and has a theoretically infinite life due to its non-contact nature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Thaddeus Schroeder
  • Patent number: 6776059
    Abstract: A method and a device for sampling and storing a urine specimen capable of recovering a sampled urine specimen to a recovery container (5) through a filter (2) by the sucking pressure of the decompressed and enclosed recovery container (5); the device for sampling and storing the urine specimen, comprising a filter holder (3) having a space for storing the filter (2) for filtrating the urine specimen, the filter (2) stored therein, and the recovery container (5) decompressed and enclosed by a plug body (4), wherein hollow tubes (6) with a sharp tip communicating with a space (S) having the filter (2) stored therein is installed in the filter holder (3) on a specimen delivery side to the recovery container (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Inventors: Noriaki Kunimune, Shinichi Yokoyama, Shigeaki Baba, Yasuro Kameno
  • Patent number: 6776060
    Abstract: Disclosed are an electronic component sucking device and an electronic component testing apparatus using the same, the sucking device comprising a suction head having at its extremity an opening arranged to suck an electronic component when a negative pressure is applied thereto; a hold-down center rod having an aperture, a conduit through which passes a gas supplied or discharged through the opening of the suction head, and a hold-down portion at its extremity adapted to be inserted into the interior of the suction head; a coil spring for imparting a biasing force to the suction head and the hold-down center rod; and a link lever interposed between the suction head and the hold-down center rod; wherein when the hold-down center rod is subjected to a force pressing down against the biasing force of the coil spring, the link lever pushes the suction head upward so that the hold-down portion of the hold-down center rod protrudes from the suction head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Fujitsu Media Devices Limited
    Inventors: Bin Miao, Shoichi Okuyama
  • Patent number: 6776061
    Abstract: An apparatus for guiding a threaded spindle in rotation, which spindle is used to ensure the displacement in translation of a mobile element connected to a threaded female piece engaged on this threaded spindle, which threaded spindle has a certain length and is connected, by one of its opposite ends, to a motor device for driving in rotation about its longitudinal axis in such a way as to allow the displacement in translation of the threaded female piece, wherein this apparatus includes at least one device for elastic absorption of an axial force which force, directed axially with respect to the threaded spindle and toward either one of its opposite ends, arises between this threaded spindle and the threaded female piece, and which force, when exceeding a certain limit, is considered likely to distort in particular the surfaces by which the threaded spindle and the threaded female piece cooperate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Tornos SA
    Inventors: Patrick Schuettel, Kurt Dreier
  • Patent number: 6776062
    Abstract: A power transmission system capable of preventing a feeling of inertia travel caused by torque transmission interruption, without increasing the axial length of a transmission, thereby improving the speed position-shifting performance of the transmission, includes a plurality of gear pairs and synchromeshes connecting the plurality of gear pairs to an input or output shaft. A driving force assist mechanism supplies the driving force of a prime mover to the output shaft during a shift in speed position and a supplemental driving force has an auxiliary shaft arranged in parallel with the input and output shaft. An intermediate gear is connected to the input shaft and integrally formed with the auxiliary shaft. Auxiliary gears are connected to the output shaft and rotatably arranged on the auxiliary shaft. An assist clutch fastens one of the auxiliary gears to the auxiliary shaft during the shift in speed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Isamu Sunaga, Sunao Ishihara
  • Patent number: 6776063
    Abstract: In the ball screw, a ball circulation tube 20 is formed to have such a shape that the movable amount of balls 15 in a first direction (X) intersecting at right angles to the axis of the tube 20 is larger than the movable amount of the balls 15 in a second direction (Y) intersecting at right angles to the first direction (X), and the ball circulation tube 20 is fixed to a nut 13 in such a manner that the outer surface 20a of the tube 20 extending in parallel with the first direction (X) is opposed to the outer surface of the nut 13. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a ball screw which can restrict variations in the torque of the ball screw caused by the mutual sliding movements of balls occurring within a ball circulation tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasumi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6776064
    Abstract: A worm/worm gear assembly comprises a worm having teeth defined by at least one thread disposed thereon and a worm gear having teeth protruding from a surface thereof. At least one of the worm and the worm gear is fabricated from a resilient material. The teeth of the worm and the teeth of the worm gear are interengaged and in a compressive relationship with each other to maintain double flank contact therebetween. At low- or no-load conditions, the double flank contact is made at the opposing outer edges of each of the teeth. At moderate-load conditions, the contact extends from the opposing outer edges of each of the teeth toward the center of each of the teeth. A method for delashing a gear system comprises disposing the worm in mechanical communication with the worm gear and loading the worm gear to cause the worm gear to compressively engage the worm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Bucholz, David E. King, Thomas A Barrett, Sergio Retamero, Kevin Patrick Moore
  • Patent number: 6776065
    Abstract: A lockable elastic joint for anthropomorphous robot with a wrist and a handling organ, having a first part that is fastenable to the wrist of the robot and a second part that is fastenable to the handling organ of the robot. A first coupling is provided between the parts that is suitable to maintain the same parts at a pre-set distance and on planes parallel to each other and a second coupling is provided between the parts to allow in an elastic way or, as an alternative, to prevent mutual movements of the parts along two directions parallel to the planes of the two parts and perpendicular to each other and around an axis perpendicular to the aforesaid planes. Locking elastic joints may be provided that are suitable to lock the two parts to each other in any position, where one part is decentralized from the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Salvagnini Italia S.p.A.
    Inventor: Fabio Sorze
  • Patent number: 6776066
    Abstract: A hand lever includes a sleeve-shaped member having an inwardly protruding projection, a fastening element having a stop interacting with the projection, wherein the fastening element is mounted in the sleeve-shaped member so as to be longitudinally slidable to a limited extent, and coupling elements for axially coupling the hand lever and fastening element so as to be nonrotatable relative to each other. A spring is mounted in the sleeve-shaped member for an axially engageable and disengageable coupling of the hand lever and the fastening element. The fastening element has an integrally formed extension part extending past the projection of the sleeve-shaped member into the sleeve-shaped member. A second support is provided for the spring and the stop of the fastening element or the extension part. At least one of the sleeve-shaped member and the extension part is of a resilient material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Heinrich Kipp Werk Spanntechnik + Normelemente
    Inventors: Otto Braun, Sascha Fischer
  • Patent number: 6776067
    Abstract: The invention relates to a harmonic drive (12) which can be provided with overload protection that is easy to influence constructionally and a free-wheeling characteristic. To this end, the spokes (21) of the internal geared wheel (15) are specifically deformable depending on the torque or the direction of rotation. The spoke shafts (22) are divided crosswise to the drive axis (24) or in a radial direction in relation thereto. This division (45) is bridged over flexibly in the peripheral direction of the internal geared wheel so that the effective radial length of the spoke may be reduced in the presence of the appropriate bending stress by buckling the shaft, in order to then eliminate the local toothing contact between the internal geared wheel edges (13) and the outer support ring (11) in the extension of the spoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Oechsler Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joseph Bögelein, Frank Pöhlau
  • Patent number: 6776068
    Abstract: Valve operator having a weighted powering assembly that is substantially supported and balanced on a generally upright elongated key that drivingly engages a rotatable valve nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: WM. F. Hurst Co., Inc.
    Inventors: William Reuschel, Chris Snyder
  • Patent number: 6776069
    Abstract: A power tool comprising a housing having a member disposed therein and a spindle for receipt of a tool bit wherein the spindle is retained on a shaft. The spindle and shaft define an axis of rotation relative to the housing. The power tool further comprises a collet having a sleeve that includes a collet engaging portion disposed on an inner surface of the sleeve and an opening centered on the axis for passage of the shaft therethrough and for receiving the member disposed in said housing to permit axial sliding movement between a locked position and an unlocked position. The power tool further comprises a spindle engaging portion disposed on the spindle wherein the spindle engaging portion engages with the collet portion means when the collet is moved in the locked position thereby rigidly locking the collet and the spindle together to prevent rotational movement of the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Toolovation, LLC
    Inventors: Robert F. Soreo, Bernard Schaub, David B. Levine
  • Patent number: 6776070
    Abstract: An iron roughneck has a pair of upper jaws carrying pipe gripping dies for gripping tool joints. The jaws have recesses formed on each side of the pipe gripping dies to receive spinning rollers. By positioning the spinning rollers in the upper jaws at the same level as pipe gripping dies, the spinning rollers are able to engage the pipe closer to the lower jaws and thus can act on the tool joint rather than on the pipe stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc
    Inventors: David B. Mason, George Boyadjieff, Johannes Henricus Antonius Marie Kamp, Ronaldus Richardus Maria Roling
  • Patent number: 6776071
    Abstract: A stepless ratchet wrench structure includes a wrench body having a through hole at the center thereof for holding individual components and the bottom of the body being an integrally formed stepless circular disc seat, wherein a frictional slanting face of the circular disc seat faces upward, a stepless rotating structure including a spherical circular disc, a c-shaped fastening ring being a slot for insertion into the wrench body, and a holding rod structure having a rotating block with a circular hole at the center thereof, and the external being connected to a spring and a holding rod, the front end of the holding rod being a cylindrical body for insertion into the circular hole of the disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Inventor: Jui-Pin Chen
  • Patent number: 6776072
    Abstract: An adjustable pliers wrench including a fixture having a handle and an opposing stationary jaw, a co-acting jaw pivoted to the fixture and a lever pivoted to the co-acting jaw. A guide is attached proximate the handle and a locking element is arranged on the guide for reciprocal and canting movement. At least one attached biasing element urges the locking element toward the stationary jaw. An arm is pivoted to the lever and a cam is pivoted to the arm and to the locking element so as to be movable between a first condition permitting the locking element to reciprocate along the guide and a second condition bearing against the guide and canting the locking element into frictional engagement against the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Inventors: Daniel L. Poole, Robert N. Poole
  • Patent number: 6776073
    Abstract: A pair of non-conductive substantially buoyant-in-water hand pliers comprising a pair of non-conductive lever members each having a handle portion and a jaw portion and formed of material having a density greater than water. The lever members are pivotally connected together at common central portions between the jaw and handle portions. Each handle portion has one or more outwardly opening cavities formed into a side surface of the handle portions. An elongated tubular sheath formed of material buoyant in water covers and sealingly encloses the cavity whereby the effective density of the pliers to less than that of water. A restraining detent providing felt indicia and limiting opening pivotal movement between the jaw portions to reduce the likelihood of damage is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Role Associates, LLC
    Inventors: Robert O. Brady, Joel R. Chartier
  • Patent number: 6776074
    Abstract: Apparatus for and a method of handling flexible tubes, for example in the production of a liner for a cargo container to provide a tubular attachment on the liner. A tube 16 in the form of a web of flexible material is drawn over a support 39 mounted on a carrier 29,30, the support having a greater area than that of the opened-out tube and being tilted to the radial plane (FIG. 2) during the drawing action. The support is then moved to the radial plane (FIG. 4) so as to stretch the tube 16 in the region of the support whereafter the tube is cut from the web, in the vicinity of the support. The support 39 is moved to a further processing station (FIG. 8), carrying the cut off tube 16, whereat the tube is released from the support 39 by tilting the support once more and withdrawing the support from the tube. The support is then returned to its initial position ready for another cycle of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Philton Polythene Converters Limited
    Inventor: Antony Luigi Paul Tisi
  • Patent number: 6776075
    Abstract: A high-speed shear for transversely cutting a rolled ship having a small thickness and including at least one blade provided on one of two oppositely located drums, and a controllable device for displacing the two drums between a cutting position, in which the strip is cut, and an open run-through position in which the strip can be freely advanced between the two drums, with the two drums being synchronized in their open cutting position by respective tooth elements provided on the two drums and engaging each other, and with the tooth elements being so formed that they insure synchronization in the open position of the drums when they engaged each other with, a large tooth backlash and engaged each other substantially backlash-free in the cutting position of the drums.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: SMS Demag AG
    Inventors: Horst Grafe, Volker Loth, Jürgen Merz
  • Patent number: 6776076
    Abstract: An angle sensor has a miter bar, a fence, a rotary sensor, a display, and a processing system and may additionally have a head plate, an auxiliary fence, means for detachably affixing the miter bar to a saw blade, and a power source. The miter bar has a longitudinal axis. Primary fence 6 is pivotally disposed on the miter bar and has a face that defines a plane. The rotary sensor outputs a signal indicative of the angle between the longitudinal axis of the miter bar and the plane of the face. The processing system interprets the signal and activates the display to numerically exhibit the angle. The display provides a visual indication of the angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Inventor: Mario A. Salazar
  • Patent number: 6776077
    Abstract: A cutting device includes a main board having a pressing member pivotably connected between two frames pivotably connected on two ends of the main board. A cutting mechanism is movably engaged to a side of the pressing member and has a roller blade therein. The pressing member presses on the sheets on the main board and the roller blade cuts the sheets by moving the cutting mechanism along the pressing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Inventor: Chieh-Tang Chen
  • Patent number: 6776078
    Abstract: A cutting machine comprising a chuck table for holding a workpiece, a spindle unit having a rotary spindle for mounting a cutting blade which cuts the workpiece held on the chuck table, and a spindle unit support mechanism for supporting the spindle unit in such a manner that it can move in a cutting direction, wherein the spindle unit support mechanism comprises a movable base, a guide rail which is provided on the movable base and has a predetermined curvature radius, a spindle unit support member which is movably disposed along the guide rail and mounts the spindle unit, and an angle adjustment mechanism for moving the spindle unit support member along the guide rail to adjust the angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Disco Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Gawazawa
  • Patent number: 6776079
    Abstract: An elastomeric disk for use in an elastomeric ejection system in which a thickened curvature protrudes from both sides of a central plane of the disk. Integral to each curvature is an annulet which dovetails from the curvatures to a periphery of the disk. The thickness of the annulet in regard to the central plane is greater on the fluid pressure side of the disk thereby shifting material strain to the center of the disk during expanding deformation. The annulet shape is attachable to the elastomeric ejection system by a clamp of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: William P. Barker, Jeffrey R. Milburn
  • Patent number: 6776080
    Abstract: A hydraulic pressure intensifier includes a supply connection, a return connection, and a high-pressure connection. An intensifier piston assembly includes a high-pressure cylinder with a high-pressure piston displaceable therein and a low-pressure cylinder having a greater cross-section than the high-pressure cylinder, with a low-pressure piston which is displaceable therein. The low-pressure piston is connected to the high-pressure piston and divides the low-pressure cylinder into a first low-pressure chamber on the side of the high-pressure piston and a second low-pressure chamber. A switching valve acts on the second low-pressure chamber with pressure from a pressure source or relieves it of pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: miniBooster Hydraulics A/S
    Inventors: Leif Hansen, Peter J. M. Clausen, Christen Esperson, Jan Petersen
  • Patent number: 6776081
    Abstract: A pneumatic actuator system is provided which includes one or more piston-cylinder type actuators (14) intended for crust breaking operations at electrolytic alumina reduction baths. Each actuator (14) includes a working piston (21), and a piston rod (22) carrying a crust breaking working implement (17). A control circuit having a directional valve (24) is arranged to operate the actuator piston (21) in alternative directions. The control circuit includes air feed flow restrictions (26, 27), end position sensors (28, 29) and air feed shut-off valves (30, 31) for minimizing the pressure air volume needed for accomplishing complete working strokes of the actuator piston (21) at varying crust layer thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Parker Hannifin AB
    Inventors: Tom Allan Casinge, Stig-Erling Gustavsson
  • Patent number: 6776082
    Abstract: A fluid powered rotary indexer includes a housing with a piston rotatably mounted therein. The housing includes ports providing fluid communication to opposing compartments within the housing so as to rotate the piston clockwise or counterclockwise upon the introduction of fluid into one compartment or the other. The piston is rotatably supported by a bearing which is mounted to a work surface. An adapter is connected to the piston for rotation therewith and supports a tool or work piece. The sealing rings are provided between the piston and the housing to provide a fluid seal for the chamber. A central opening is provided in the assembly through which cables, wires, and tubing can be extended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Genesis Systems Group
    Inventors: Njell J. Cooley, Jan C. Mangelsen
  • Patent number: 6776083
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a diaphragm actuator for control valves, wherein the gear rack is arranged so that the points of contact of the gear rack/gear wheel system are situated on the straight line connecting the centers of the movable walls of the pressure spaces effecting the movement. Thereby, no torsion forces act on the diaphragm backing plates or on the diaphragms, but the forces effecting the movement of the reciprocating elements are substantially parallel with the path of motion and symmetrical. Additionally, the clearance between the gear rack and the gear wheel is substantially eliminated by means of a support roll with bearings. According to the invention, a lightly movable actuator is provided, in which the delays caused by clearances or wall friction of the cylinder-piston arrangement are substantially eliminated. The actuator can be implemented either as double-acting or single-acting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Metso Automation Oy
    Inventors: Jarmo Helasuo, Esko Yli-Koski
  • Patent number: 6776084
    Abstract: The invention is a barbecue consisting of a base with an extension at its top side, a hollow-cylindrical center part attached to the base, one or several rests attached to this hollow-cylindrical center part and several coal pans inserted in the rests. Furthermore, the barbecue has a hollow-cylindrical upper part attached to the center part. This upper part is equipped with cutouts in which one or several gridirons are inserted. The upper part can be rotated in relation to the center part. The extension of the base, the hollow-cylindrical center part and the hollow-cylindrical upper part form a columnar and vertical axis of the barbecue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Inventor: Rudolf Wild
  • Patent number: 6776085
    Abstract: A cooking device includes a pivot unit disposed below and interconnecting pivotally bottom surfaces of two tray halves of a tray unit to permit pivotal movement of the tray halves between extended and folded positions. The tray halves have inner sides contacting each other and defining a seam therebetween, and top surfaces flush with each other for providing a large cooking area when the tray halves are disposed at the extended position. An oil-collecting member is mounted on the bottom surface of one of the tray halves, and spans the width of the seam for collecting oil that permeates through the seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Tsann Kuen Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wen-Yi Tang
  • Patent number: 6776086
    Abstract: A safety switch for a food processor which is characterized in that the bottom seat is connected to the cup body and a rim seat is positioned at the connection between the bottom seat and the cup body, the end face of the rim seat is provided with the through hole mounted with a push block, the end head of the push block is inserted with a safety switch, and the corresponding position of the bottom side of the cup body and push block is provided with a top rod, the push block is provided with a top block and closely adhered to the push block, the other side of the sliding seat is provided with a micro switch connected to the power source of the switch panel, the outer side of the micro switch is provided with a protruded pin, and the bottom seat is provided with a protruded side mounted with a push rod urged by the spring, and an outward protruded press plate is provided between the top cap and the pivot structure, and the external end of the press plate is adhered to the top end face of the push rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Ken Ying Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung Shan Chang Chien
  • Patent number: 6776087
    Abstract: A food processing machine having a product cleaning drum and an encircling product carrier shell disposed to define an annular product cleaning space therebetween. A waste collecting bell is concentrically mounted about the carrier shell to provide a waste collecting space therebetween and the carrier shell and collecting bell are interconnected. Separate mechanisms drive the cleaning drum and the interconnected carrier shell and collection bell to alter the magnitude of the centrifugal force that moves the products through the cleaning space and controls the amount of surface pressure applied to the products by abrading members carried on the periphery of the cleaning drum. Centrifugal force and the abrading members coact with frictional surfaces provided in the product movement path to move the products through the machine, while centrifugal force moves waste material from the cleaning space into the waste collecting space and out through a waste discharge mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: The Amstad Family Revocable Trust
    Inventor: John H. Amstad
  • Patent number: 6776088
    Abstract: A personal identification and tracking system comprising an impression means for providing a predetermined image upon an impressionable medium and an activation unit for moving the impression means between a first position, where said impression unit is in contact with the impressionable medium, and a second position whereby said impression unit is out of contact with said impressionable medium. The system is particularly adaptable to snow, sand or mud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Inventors: Andrew James Halt, Gerald B. Halt, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6776089
    Abstract: A printing apparatus that includes a table and screen plate positioned facing each other. A screen sealing unit is provided to ensure that a relative hermetic seal is achieved between the screen plate and the table. The sealing unit and table are movable, the sealing unit being movable along the table to adjust for various work pieces utilized in the screen. A gas is provided between the sealed table and screen plate to aid in printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinji Kanda
  • Patent number: 6776090
    Abstract: A circuit board with high quality is provided by preventing the falling of paste which comes around to the squeegee complementary angle side during the pattern printing or paste filling by the squeegeeing method. While lowering, the squeegee is passed through the inclined portion of a paste removing section (3) provided on a mask (2) before pattern printing or paste filling, whereby the paste on the non-printing side (complementary angle) of the squeegee can be removed; thus, a circuit board superior in quality is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Takenaka, Toshikazu Kondo, Mitsunori Maeda, Hiroshi Tahara, Shinji Nakamura, Yuichiro Sugita