Patents Issued in March 15, 2005
  • Patent number: 6865935
    Abstract: A system (10) controlling operation of a steam turbine (T). Sensors (12) measure dynamic pressure level variations in a stage (S1-Sn) of the turbine. A signal (Ps) from a sensor is converted to a frequency based signal (Fs). A comparator (16) compares the pressure levels at various frequencies as represented by the frequency based signal (Fs) to a matrix of limiting values including both alarm and trip signal limits. The control system provides an alarm to an operator of the steam turbine if the comparison indicates that an alarm limit has been exceeded, or takes the steam turbine off line, if a trip signal limit has been exceeded. This is done to prevent damage to the steam turbine. However, the control system maintains the steam turbine in operation if no aeromechanical disturbances or instabilities, as sensed by the sensors, has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Christian L. Vandervort
  • Patent number: 6865936
    Abstract: An indicator device for aiding a cyclist in locating a desired location for drafting another cyclist. The indicator device includes a support adapted for mounting the device against a bicycle, a vane having surfaces for alignment with the wind, the vane being pivotally mounted on the support, and a vane position orientation indicator. The vane orientation indicator being connected to the vane, so that the orientation of the vane relative to the bicycle is detected with reference to the vane orientation indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Inventor: Lloyd L. Lawrence
  • Patent number: 6865937
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for increasing the safety of a clogged or failed exhaust system. In accordance with a first embodiment, an apparatus is provided that includes (1) a tank adapted to contain a processing fluid; (2) an exhaust system coupled to the tank and adapted to exhaust a gas from the tank, the gas including a hazardous vapor of the processing fluid; (3) a sensor coupled to the exhaust system and adapted to detect a rate at which gas is exhausted from the tank; and (4) a fluid supply mechanism adapted to supply a diluting fluid to the tank so as to dilute the processing fluid contained by the tank if the rate at which gas is exhausted from the tank is less than a predetermined rate. Systems, methods and computer program products are provided in accordance with this and other embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander N Lerner, Harshad M Borgaonkar
  • Patent number: 6865938
    Abstract: An air mass sensor has a three-part configuration formed of an insertion element, a measuring channel element and a housing element for accommodating an evaluation device. In order to be able to provide flexible insertion elements for a device having a short overall height, the measuring channel element and the housing element are joined to one another along a side of the measuring channel element that is perpendicular to the main direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Pesahl, Jürgen Scheibner, Kai Schurig, Stephen Setescak, Frank Steuber, Andreas Wildgen
  • Patent number: 6865939
    Abstract: A method for surface modification of microchannels and capillaries. The method produces a chemically inert surface having a lowered surface free energy and improved frictional properties by attaching a fluorinated alkane group to the surface. The coating is produced by hydrolysis of a silane agent that is functionalized with either alkoxy or chloro ligands and an uncharged C3-C10 fluorinated alkane chain. It has been found that the extent of surface coverage can be controlled by controlling the contact time from a minimum of about 2 minutes to a maximum of 120 minutes for complete surface coverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Sandia Naitonal Laboratories
    Inventors: Brian J. Kirby, Timothy Jon Shepodd
  • Patent number: 6865940
    Abstract: A method of operating an aluminum oxide moisture sensor to measure moisture in a sample gas, where the sensor comprises a pair of electrodes sandwiched about a dielectric, the method comprising: a) heating the sensor to a first temperature above the sample gas temperature and holding the sensor at said first temperature for a first predetermined period of time; b) cooling down the sensor to a second lower temperature over a second predetermined period of time; c) taking plural samples of sensor conductance over a third predetermined period of time at the lower temperature; and d) determining a rate of adsorption of the moisture and using the rate of adsorption as a measure of moisture in the sample gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: John McKinley Poole
  • Patent number: 6865941
    Abstract: This invention relates to liquid leak detectors and detection systems. A liquid leak detector (10) includes a first electrically conducting layer (12), a second perforate, open, porous and/or permeable electrically conducting layer (13) opposed to said first layer and an intermediate perforate, open, porous and/or permeable electrically non-conducting layer (14) for electrically isolating the two conducting layers (12, 13) whilst allowing liquid, which passes through the second conductor (13), to form an electrically conducting path between the conductors (12, 13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Before-The-Event, Ltd.
    Inventor: Dennis Charles Parkins Gibbs
  • Patent number: 6865942
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel device that enables a person to gauge the brine density in solar salt works from afar without recourse to sampling of the brine. The device—which can be considered as an improvisation over the conventional laboratory type Baume meter—an be placed directly in the salt pa. The device remains sunk, and therefore invisible, until the desired density of brine is approached. Thereafter it gradually floats up and becomes visible from afar. From appropriate markings on the rod connected to the top end of the device, it can be gauged whether the brine is yet to attain the desired density, or has attained the desired density range, or has exceeded the desired density range. The device is resistant to corrosion and able to combat extreme weather conditions prevailing in solar salt works. The control of brine density from afar helps eliminate the need for frequent sampling of brine for density measurement that would make adherence to the optimum process of salt production easier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
    Inventors: Pushpito Kumar Ghosh, Kishor Manmohandas Majeethia, Mahesh Ramniklal Gandhi, Jamnadas Naranbhai Parmar, Ajoy Murlidhar Bhatt, Shanti Amritlal Chauhan, Puthoor Mohandas Vadakke, Abdulhamid Usmanbhai Hamidini
  • Patent number: 6865943
    Abstract: An angular velocity sensor for detecting an angular velocity component includes an oscillator having mass, a sensor casing for accommodating the oscillator therewithin, a flexible member for connecting the oscillator to the sensor casing so that the oscillator can be moved with respect to the sensor casing, and capacitance elements including a first electrode provided on a surface of the oscillator and a second electrode provided on a surface of a fixed member fixed to the sensor casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Okada
  • Patent number: 6865944
    Abstract: A micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) device is described which includes a substrate having at least one anchor, a proof mass having either of at least one deceleration extension extending from the proof mass or at least one deceleration indentation formed in the proof mass, a motor drive comb, and a motor sense comb. The MEMS device further includes a plurality of suspensions configured to suspend the proof mass over the substrate and between the motor drive comb and the motor sense comb, and the suspensions are anchored to the substrate. The MEMS device also includes a body attached to the substrate and at least one deceleration beam extending from the body. The deceleration extensions are configured to engage either deceleration beams or deceleration indentations and slow or stop the proof mass before it contacts either of the motor drive comb or the motor sense comb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Max C. Glenn, Mark W. Weber, William P. Platt
  • Patent number: 6865945
    Abstract: An angular velocity sensor, which is able to reduce the variations of driving resonance frequency of the vibrator and to improve the reliability of the sensitivity of detection signal with respect to the angular velocity applied, is provided. The angular velocity sensor comprises a vibrator, and a tuning-fork as the vibrator is formed of a silicone substrate with crystal orientation (100) as its main face, and a side face nearly perpendicular to the driving direction (X direction) of the arm of the tuning-fork corresponds to a crystal orientation where the elastic modulus is less dependent on azimuth angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michihiko Hayashi, Hirofumi Tajika, Masaya Nakatani
  • Patent number: 6865946
    Abstract: A flexure plate dual capacitance accelerometer system includes a flexure plate fixed having edges fixed to a housing structure. A first fixed plate is coupled to the housing structure a distance from one side of the flexure plate. A second fixed plate is coupled to the housing structure a distance from the other side of the flexure plate and disposed substantially parallel with the first fixed plate. The two fixed plates and the flexure plate form dual capacitors, one on each side of the flexure plate. The flexure plate flexes in response to acceleration, thereby altering the two distances and generating phase shift capacitance signals from the dual capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Ray Franklin Campbell
  • Patent number: 6865947
    Abstract: A vibration detecting apparatus includes a bobbin having a moving path of desired length in an inner periphery of the bobbin; a core movable along the moving path in the inner periphery of the bobbin by vibration applied from exterior or vibration applied to the bobbin; and a coil wound on an outer periphery of the bobbin, the inductance of which being changed in accordance with the shift of the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Seung Taek Baek
  • Patent number: 6865948
    Abstract: A source of ultrasound waves or energy is directed at the wafer that is to be inspected in a direction that is essentially perpendicular with the surface of the wafer. The ultrasonic waves are intercepted and analyzed after these waves have passed through the wafer that is being inspected. From this analysis and comparing the captured waves or ultrasonic energy with the emitted ultrasonic waves, conclusions can be drawn on defects and other irregularities that are present in the medium, that is the wafer, through which the ultrasonic waves have passed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Sheng-Hsiung Chen
  • Patent number: 6865949
    Abstract: A transducer-based sensor system including a drive signal generator for generating a drive signal, a transducer coupled to the drive signal generator and configured to receive the drive signal, a mixer coupled to the transducer and configured to receive output from the transducer where such output results at least in part from physical movement of the transducer, and a diplexer operatively coupled with an output of the mixer and configured to present a substantially matched output impedance to the mixer over an operative range of output frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Daniel Robert Blakley
  • Patent number: 6865950
    Abstract: A pressure monitoring device includes a rigid base (2) which has secured thereto a lid (5) to define a hermetically sealed chamber (6). The lid (5) is of flexible metal material and the major surface (5A) of the lid forms a diaphragm which will deflect in response to changes in the pressure surrounding the device. A substrate (7) upon which a plurality of SAW devices are laid down is supported on a rigid frame (3A) of the base so that the central region thereof is unsupported between edges (11, 12). A dimple (10) is formed in the lid (5) and presses on a central region of the substrate (7). Changes in pressure will accordingly cause distortion of the central region of the substrate. The end regions (8, 9) of the substrate (7) carry further SAW devices so that, by analyzing the changes in characteristics of all the SAW devices a temperature compensated indication of pressure change, together with an indication of absolute temperature, may be provided by interrogating the SAW devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Transense Technologies PLC
    Inventors: Graham Michael Freakes, David Daniel George Vile, Victor Alexandrovich Kalinin, Peter John Beckley, Arthur John Leigh
  • Patent number: 6865951
    Abstract: In a diaphragm (30) having a square shape comprising four sides of a pair of first sides (31, 32) extending along the <110> crystal axis direction and a pair of second sides (33, 34) extending along the <100> crystal axis direction, when an axis bisecting each of the first sides (31, 32) of the diaphragm (30) and passing through the center point of the diaphragm is set as a first axis K1 and an axis vertically-intersecting to the first axis K1 and passing through the center point of the diaphragm is set as a second axis K2, each of the side gages Rs1, Rs2 is located on a virtual line T1, T2, T3, T4 which extends from the center point of each of the center gages Rc1, Rc2 to the peripheral portion of the diaphragm (30) and intersects to the first axis K1 and the second axis K2 at 45°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Katsumata, Inao Toyoda, Hiroaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6865952
    Abstract: A heat loss gauge for measuring gas pressure in an environment includes a resistive sensing element and a resistive compensating element. The resistive compensating element is in circuit with the sensing element and is exposed to a substantially matching environment. An electrical source is connected to the sensing element and the compensating element for applying current through the elements. The current through the sensing element is substantially greater than the current through the compensating element. Measuring circuitry is connected to the sensing element and the compensating element for determining gas pressure in the environment to which the sensing element and compensating element are exposed based on electrical response of the sensing element and the compensating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Helix Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel G. Bills, Michael D. Borenstein
  • Patent number: 6865953
    Abstract: A pressure sensor has a housing having a first block and a second block provided therein. A force to be measured applies upon a upper face of the first block. An upper face of the second block makes contact with a base face of the first block. Piezoresistive elements are formed within the base face of the first block. The resistance values of these piezoresistive elements change as contacting pressure between the first block and the second block changes. A first electrode is formed on an upper face of the first block. A second electrode is formed on a base face of the second block. Electrical characteristics between the first electrode and the second electrode change following change in the contacting pressure between the first block and the second block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho
    Inventors: Kouji Tsukada, Jiro Sakata, Kentaro Mizuno, Yoshiteru Omura, Yumi Masuoka, Shoji Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 6865954
    Abstract: A machine for testing components of a joint in relative articulation under a load includes an adapter fixed to a movable joint component and having a semispherical upper surface concentric with a semispherical articulation surface of the movable component, a load assembly configured in load applying relation to the semispherical upper surface and having a load adapter providing a lower semispherical surface against which the adapter can articulate under the load, and a drive assembly configured in articulating driving relation with the adapter and having a rotatable wheel and a drive shaft mechanically coupled thereto in angular offset relation to the wheel's rotation axis. Rotating the wheel effects an articulation of the adapter under the load and in turn an articulation of the movable component under the load against a semispherical pocket of a stationary joint component, in an articulation pattern determined by the angular offset relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: SpineCore, Inc.
    Inventors: Rafail Zubok, Joseph P. Errico, Michael W. Dudasik
  • Patent number: 6865955
    Abstract: Apparatus for measuring a plurality of forces acting on a conveyor chain of a conveyor line includes a pre-selected chain link coupled to the conveyor chain, and a sensor array having a plurality of strain gauges disposed on the pre-selected chain link, each of the plurality of strain gauges being distinctly oriented to measure the plurality of forces acting on the pre-selected link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Sayed Nassar, Gerry Grzadzinski, Sherif Gindy
  • Patent number: 6865956
    Abstract: When a plane (PLN) which includes electrodes (2a, 2b) and is perpendicular to the direction of an axis (PAX) of a measuring pipe (1) is defined as a boundary in the measuring pipe (1), an exciting coil (3) applies asymmetrical magnetic fields to a fluid to be measured, which flows through the measuring pipe (1), on both sides of the plane (PLN) serving as the boundary in the measuring pipe (1). A signal conversion unit (5) obtains the phase difference between an exciting current supplied to the exciting coil (3) and an interelectrode electromotive force detected by the electrodes (2a, 2b). A flow rate output unit (6) calculates the flow rate of the fluid on the basis of the phase difference obtained by the signal conversion unit (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Yamatake Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoshige Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6865957
    Abstract: A mass flow meter device utilizing a housing having a wall portion forming a chamber with an entrance and exit for passing fluid through the same. A body is located within the chamber and is composed of a first conical portion, a second conical portion, and a cylindrical portion positioned intermediate the first and second conical portions. The body is held within the chamber in a standard or reverse direction. A first pressure probe or sensor measures the fluid pressure at the apex of the first conical portion while a second pressure probe or sensor obtains a second pressure measurement at the cylindrical portion of the body. The comparison of the first and second pressure measurements serves as an indication for the mass flow of fluid through the housing. The flow meter device may be adapted to existing fluid sources such as aerosol generators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Inventors: Nathaniel Hughes, Leon Shaw
  • Patent number: 6865958
    Abstract: The invention relates to a testing device for measuring torques with a sensor for generating electrical signals in response to exerted torques, and signal processing means, to which the electrical signals are applied and which provide measuring values of the exerted torque. The invention provides a plurality of measuring heads, which either may have different measuring ranges or may be adapted to different tools to be tested. Each of these measuring heads has its own signal processing means. The signal processing means are calibrated in the same way, such that the torque measuring data of different measuring heads can be compared with each other. When calibrating a measuring head, the individual signal processing means can also be adjusted to take individual non-linearities of the torque sensors into account. The measuring heads can then simply be connected in parallel with the display or evaluation means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Eduard Wille GmbH & Co KG
    Inventor: Siegfried Herbold
  • Patent number: 6865959
    Abstract: A torque sensor has a contoured magnetoelastic element that generates a magnetic field having a shape that exhibits gradual changes rather than sharp peaks in the axial direction, making the torque sensor less sensitive to positional changes between the magnetoelastic element and a magnetometer in the sensor. The element is contoured in any desired shape to modify the magnetic field generated by the element when it is deformed through applied torque. In one embodiment, the element is a magnetic material coating applied to a contoured shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Kilmartin, Darek Pszczola
  • Patent number: 6865960
    Abstract: The invention relates to a capacitive microsystem, which can be used to replace conventional strain gauges used currently. The microsystem has substantial advantages with regard to handling, overload stability and endurance. Capacitive microsystems of this type can be used to record deformations and to calculate forces, torque etc. They can be used in particular to determine the weight of vehicle seats, to provide for example deployment data for an airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Guenter Doemens, Dieter Spriegel, Hans Wuensche
  • Patent number: 6865961
    Abstract: A force sensor for determination of forces on a vehicle seat has a support element arranged between an upper frame and a lower frame, a force measuring cell arranged in the support element, the upper frame is a stationary part of a rail for a longitudinal or vertical adjustment, and the measuring cell is located inside the rail or on the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Konrad Wolf, Anton Dukart
  • Patent number: 6865962
    Abstract: A mounting unit for a sensor system includes a sensor wheel adapted to be mounted on a shaft, a sensor device adapted to be disposed on a sealing flange which seals the shaft, and a removable calibration aid fixing the sensor device in a precalibrated position on the sensor wheel. A process for mounting a sensor system involves aligning a sensor wheel and a sensor device in an aligned position relative to one another in a precalibration process, bringing together the sensor wheel and the sensor device in the aligned position with a calibration aid to form a mounting unit, positioning the mounting unit in a precise position on a shaft, fastening the sensor device to a sealing flange, and removing the calibration aid from the sensor wheel and the sensor device. The sealing flange can also be added to form a part of the mounting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: AB SKF
    Inventors: Alexander Görg, Bernd Stephan
  • Patent number: 6865963
    Abstract: A lubrication apparatus lubricates a feed mechanism of a molding machine. The lubrication apparatus includes a storage member for storing lubrication oil therein, and a lubrication oil circulation pipe connected to the storage member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryuichi Takanohashi, Mitsuo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6865964
    Abstract: A transmission main shaft centering device is provided for use between a transmission input shaft and the main shaft. The centering device includes an axially moveable support member having an axis that is substantially coaxial with an axis of the input shaft. The support member is biased into engagement with one of the input shaft and the main shaft to maintain the main shaft substantially coaxial with the input shaft. The support member may include a first engaging component and one of the input shaft and the main shaft may include a second engaging component. The first and second engaging components mate to maintain the main shaft substantially coaxial with the input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Lon C. Miller, Alan R. Davis
  • Patent number: 6865965
    Abstract: An automated manual transmission has an input shaft having a plurality of driving gears, and an output shaft having a plurality of driven gears engaging with the driving gears, and further has two bypass clutches for coupling the input shaft and the output shaft with each other and releasing them from coupling. Electromagnetic valves are provided in hydraulic oil paths for guiding hydraulic pressure from a hydraulic pressure supply portion to the bypass clutches respectively. A bypass oil path for bypassing the hydraulic oil paths is provided with a bypass oil path on-off valve for opening the bypass oil path when the electromagnetic valves cannot be operated due to a failure of an electric system. A bypass oil path change-over valve is provided for changing over to supply hydraulic pressure from the bypass oil path on-off valve to one of the bypass clutches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Uchino
  • Patent number: 6865966
    Abstract: In an automatic transmission, the vehicle motion can be started forward or backward, in which vehicle running suitable for a slippery road can be achieved automatically. For this purpose, a drive wheel spin detector is provided to detect whether the drive wheel is spinning. A sub-clutch is provided to engage one of the gear trains, other than the first-speed and reverse gear trains. A controller is provided to connect the sub-clutch clutch when a shift position is in a first-speed or a reverse position and when the drive wheel spin detector detects that the drive wheel is spinning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Hiromichi Shimaguchi
  • Patent number: 6865967
    Abstract: A select member has a stopper arm, is pivotally connected to a case and is pivotal about a first axis substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the case. A shift lever is connected to the select member and pivotal about a second axis substantially in parallel with the longitudinal axis and has a portion that passes through a gate slot. A lock lever is pivotal into the window to block gthe stopper arm. An actuating mechanism permits the lock lever to selectively assume a position wherein the lock lever blocks movement of the stopper arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihito Shioji, Mitsuo Narazaki
  • Patent number: 6865968
    Abstract: There is provided a pick and place apparatus including a cam apparatus which comprises an input shaft (5); a first output shaft (7); rotational motion converting cam mechanism (21); a slider member (9); a relative rotation regulating cam mechanism (31); a cam link mechanism (41); a second output shaft (11); and a motion converting cam mechanism (51) engaged with and between the second output shaft and the slider member; an arm member (66) fixed on the first output shaft which is telescopic in the radial direction of the first output shaft; and a telescopic driving means (69) that converts the relative rotation generated between the first output shaft and second output shaft into an expansion or contraction of the arm member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Sankyo Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Heizaburo Kato
  • Patent number: 6865969
    Abstract: A pedal structure for exercise devices includes a pedal having a groove for receiving an operation rod therein and two positioning ports are defined in a side of the pedal. The positioning ports are continuous notches which are in communication with each other. Two connection ports are located on the operation rod and communicate with the positioning ports. Two positioning members respectively extend through the positioning ports and are engaged with the connection ports. The positioning members are able to slide between the continuous notches so as to adjust the effective length of the pedal relative to the operation rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Inventor: Kerry Peters Stevens
  • Patent number: 6865970
    Abstract: An improved engine oil pan and transfer case assembly is provided wherein an oil reservoir and a first transfer case housing portion are unitarily combined. The first transfer case housing portion is adapted to combine together with a second transfer case housing portion to form a complete transfer case housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Torque Traction Technologies, INC
    Inventor: Ralph W. Baxter, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6865971
    Abstract: The wrench stop for preventing a gripping end of a wrench from sliding off the lands of a fastener, such as a nut or bolt head. The wrench stop includes a hole through its center so that the wrench stop slides over the shank of a stud or bolt when fastening a nut thereto. The wrench stop may be magnetized to provide positive attachment to the fastener. The wrench stop may be attached to an open-end wrench, a box-end wrench, a combination wrench, a ratcheting box-end wrench, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Inventor: Carl J. Ernesti
  • Patent number: 6865972
    Abstract: An improved attenuator for damping vibrations and noise when disc brake rotors are being machined in a machining lathe. The improved attenuator has a handle comprised of a squared end with legs extending at angle of 100° to the squared end toward each other. Damping pads are mounted on the ends of the legs to press against the surfaces of the rotor being machined. The 100° angle of the legs toward each other improves the biasing force against the rotor surfaces. Additionally, the damping pads are provided with a notch that fits around and over the tips of cutting bits of the machining lathe to securely hold the pressure pads in place. Another improvement includes a fastening strap attached to the squared end of the handle that wraps around a biasing spring and the carriage on the machining lathe to securely hold and maintain the position of the attenuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Inventor: Brian K. Sipe
  • Patent number: 6865973
    Abstract: A workpiece conveying and feeding unit for conveying a long workpiece in the lengthwise direction to feed the workpiece to a cutting machine is disposed in the rear of the cutting machine. A workpiece conveying unit conveys the workpiece in the lengthwise direction of the workpiece into a workpiece conveying passage of the workpiece conveying and feeding unit. When a plurality of workpieces placed on the workpiece conveying unit are sequentially conveyed to the workpiece conveying passage of the workpiece conveying and feeding unit to convey the workpieces to the cutting machine, the side surface of the workpiece which is conveyed to the workpiece conveying passage of the workpiece conveying and feeding unit by the workpiece conveying unit is detected by a side-surface detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Amada Company, Limited
    Inventor: Takayoshi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 6865974
    Abstract: A sawdust-removing device for a band saw machine with a power outlet device is fitted around the shaft of a motor of a band saw machine. The motor can also supply the sawdust-removing device with power at the same time to carry out clearing off sawdust. The sawdust-removing device includes a housing, a rotor and a plurality of blades. The housing has an air chamber for the rotor with the blades to be eccentrically positioned therein. The rotor is rotated by the shaft of the motor to suck in and exhaust out air for blowing off sawdust on planks being sawed. The device is easy to be integrally assembled, takes little space inside the band saw machine and is able to reduce cost in equipment and maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: WMH Tool Group Hong Kong Limited
    Inventor: Barry Chang
  • Patent number: 6865975
    Abstract: A device and method for severing fasteners securing deck boards to pallet runners. A band saw extends across a table recess. The band saw is spaced above the tabletop aligning the saw between the deck boards and runners. The recess includes stop surfaces enabling the pallet to be pivoted from a horizontal position through a vertical position and then to an upside down position while the saw blade remains within the pallet for severing fasteners securing the opposite top deck board from the pallet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: SP Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald L. Waechter, Thomas A. Waechter
  • Patent number: 6865976
    Abstract: A miter saw includes a table on which a workpiece is placed, a saw assembly supporting a saw blade and having a motor for rotatably driving the saw blade, a housing pivotally supporting the saw assembly related to the table in such a manner that the saw assembly is at least laterally pivotable, and a bevel stop mechanism for selectively determining the lateral position of the saw assembly at any of a plurality of pivoted positions, the bevel stop mechanism comprising a movable rod and first, second and third fixed stop members. The table may be rotatably attached to a base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Parks, Brian P. Wattenbach, Steven A. Shull
  • Patent number: 6865977
    Abstract: A protective packaging device provides mitigation of the blast effect and fragmentation of a hand grenade when the grenade is detonated. The device includes at least one protective housing assembly, formed by inner and outer nested housing members, in which the hand grenade is received, and which, in response to detonation of the grenade, retains fragments of the grenade while providing controlled release, through the mesh material, of gases formed upon detonation. A cushioning container includes a cushioning material having a plurality of open compartments therein in which a corresponding plurality of the protective housing assemblies are received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Robert M. Kim, Stephan P. Kaiser, Michael W. Selk, James F. Zoll
  • Patent number: 6865978
    Abstract: The borehole of many wells, including oil and gas production wells, is frequently cased with a steel or similar metal casing. In order to extract oil or other material existing within the surrounding geologic formation, it is necessary to puncture the casing. Currently, this is accomplished with tubes (guns) containing explosive charges being lowered into the well bore and detonated, causing the tube and well casing to be punctured and the geologic formation shattered. The guns are made from high strength, thick-walled and machined metal. This invention discloses a multi-layered or composite tube that enhances the directional orientation of the explosive charges utilizing less costly and more easily fabricated material. The invention also discloses a gun having properties to allow the desired directionally oriented perforation by the explosive charge without being deformed and jammed within the well casing. Other advantageous are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Inventor: Edward C. Kash
  • Patent number: 6865979
    Abstract: A method for removing the slide from a semi-automatic firearm is provided that includes the steps of: (1) providing an access port within the slide of the firearm that is positioned to align with the firing mechanism of the firearm; (2) inserting a probe into the access port; and (3) manipulating the firing mechanism with the probe, and thereby enabling the slide to be removed from the frame. A semi-automatic firearm is also provided that includes a frame, a slide removably mounted on the frame, a striker firing-pin mounted within the slide, a firing mechanism, and an access port disposed in the slide. When the slide is in a predetermined position, the firing mechanism can be accessed through the access port with a probe and manipulated to allow removal of the slide from the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Smith & Wesson Corp.
    Inventor: Pardip K. Vaid
  • Patent number: 6865980
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for returning the oil drained from a working pressure space of a hydraulic motor into a motor casing to an oil line, which is connected to the motor and which is in communication via a divider with intra-motor flow channels which are in communication with the working pressure spaces. The oil seeping into the casing is conveyed by means of pressure variations internal of the hydraulic motor, pulsating consistently with rotating motion, into the oil line presently at a lower pressure and connected to the motor by way of said divider. Therefor, the casing space is connected by a return conduit through a one-way valve to at least one flow channel, which lies between the divider of the motor and the working pressure space of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Ideachip Oy
    Inventor: Markku Jonninen
  • Patent number: 6865981
    Abstract: A pump having a diaphragm positioned within a diaphragm housing comprised of an air cap and a fluid cap. The air cap and fluid cap include inner surfaces that cooperate to define a diaphragm chamber in which the diaphragm moves between a withdrawn deformed position and an extended deformed position. The inner surfaces of the air cap and fluid cap are designed to fully accommodate the movement of the diaphragm between its withdrawn deformed position and an extended deformed position. Finite element analysis is used to estimate the diaphragm's withdrawn deformed position and an extended deformed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: Jonathan T. Wiechers, Stephen D. Able
  • Patent number: 6865982
    Abstract: A fluid operated actuator comprising a cylinder, a piston and a linkage rod connected to the piston, in which the cylinder is curved through a number of degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Forac Limited
    Inventors: Adam Bunyard, Alan Bunyard
  • Patent number: 6865983
    Abstract: A frying apparatus (1) for frying a food product comprises a container (20) and at least one conveying device (201, 202, 203, 204) and corresponding at least one submerging device (301, 302, 303, 304). The submerging device is adapted to be moved between an out-of-use mode in which it is in a raised position and an in-use mode in which it is in a lowered position and is operative to hold the food product down on the conveyor belt. In use, oil at a pre-determined elevated temperature is held in the container and the conveying device for carrying the food product is located underneath the surface of the liquid with food product carried on the conveying device being held down under the surface of the liquid by the submerging device thereby preventing the food product from floating to the surface of the liquid, ensuring effective and consistent cooking of the food product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Irish Bakery Inventions Limited
    Inventor: Ronan McNamee
  • Patent number: 6865984
    Abstract: A single-level or multilevel or continuous board press is composed of a succession of press frames which are subdivided horizontally at their vertical limbs for transport and when then welded together at the erection site. Leveling strips are provided along mounted surfaces of the frame to support the plates, piston-and-cylinder units and the like serving to press the mats of wood material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Siempelkamp Maschinen- und Anlagenbau GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Klaus Schürmann, Lothar Sebastian, Horst Weiss, Werner Gawlitta