Patents Issued in August 2, 2005
  • Patent number: 6922983
    Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine that comprises a crop processing mechanism and an elevator assembly for conveying harvested crop material to the crop processing mechanism is provided. The elevator assembly comprises an elevator housing, an elevator mechanism mounted in the housing, at least two flexible endless members, and a plurality of slats mounted transversely to the flexible members. The slats have an S-shaped cross section that provides additional strength tot the slats while reducing the chance of damage to the crop conveyed by these slats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventor: José G. T. Gryspeerdt
  • Patent number: 6922984
    Abstract: A heat recovery circuit capable of handling fluid flow from a turbine exit to a heat recovery steam generator. The heat recovery circuit includes a primary exhaust line and a by-pass circuit. Included within the by-pass circuit is a pressure reducer that is capable of lowering the pressure within the by-pass circuit to below that of the pressure at the discharge of the turbine. Maintaining the pressure within the by-pass circuit to be lower than the turbine discharge pressure prevents the turbine from stalling during turbine start up and also prevents reverse flow through the turbine after turbine shut down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Valero Refining Company - California
    Inventors: Thomas M. Rybarczyk, William McGreehan
  • Patent number: 6922985
    Abstract: In a motor vehicle having an engine with an exhaust catalyst and an oxygen sensor upstream of the catalyst and an oxygen sensor downstream of the catalyst, a method for detecting whether the catalyst has aged. Over a test block period of time, the method periodically obtains upstream data points from an oxygen sensor located upstream of the catalyst and from and oxygen sensor located downstream of the catalyst. Absolute differences are calculated between consecutive pairs of the upstream data points and the downstream data points. A ratio between the sums of absolute differences is then calculated, and the ratio is used to determine whether the catalyst has aged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Wei Wang, Jason E Wielenga, Bill Leisenring, Douglas M Stander, Dave Carlson, Mark J Poublon, Chris J Booms, Tom Stephens, Craig Summers, Danny K Schuelke, Richard K Moote
  • Patent number: 6922986
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine that has a plurality of cylinders and that generates exhaust gas. A catalytic converter reduces harmful emissions from the exhaust gas after achieving a light off temperature. A controller is connected to the engine and the catalytic converter. The controller deactivates the cylinder(s) of the engine before the catalytic converter achieves the light off temperature if the engine is operating at idle or low load. The controller waits a first period before deactivating the cylinder(s). The controller optimizes engine operating parameters to reduce a second period that is required to achieve the light off temperature. A temperature sensor is connected to the controller and senses ambient temperature. The controller does not deactivate the cylinders if the ambient temperature is below a first predetermined temperature. The controller activates all of the cylinders if the engine is operating at high load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Frederick J. Rozario
  • Patent number: 6922987
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a system and process for enhancing internal combustion engine aftertreatment applications by superheated fuel injection. The system includes a fuel supply upstream of a fuel injector of an aftertreatment application. The system also includes a heater for heating the fuel in the fuel supply. A temperature controller can be used to maintain the heated fuel in a liquid form. When liquid fuel in the pressurized fuel supply is heated, then upon exiting the injector the pressure of the fuel drops rapidly, resulting in atomization of the liquid. The vaporized fuel thereby produced is comprised of extremely small droplets and is elevated in temperature, which reduces the possibility of condensation on internal surfaces of the aftertreatment system. This fine droplet size and resistance to condensation enhances the NOx conversion efficiency of adsorbers. Problems related to premature aging of catalysts and fuel penalties can also be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Fleetguard, Inc.
    Inventors: Rahul Mital, Scott Cole, Robert C. Yu, Mike Nagel
  • Patent number: 6922988
    Abstract: An exhaust emission control apparatus for an internal combustion engine is capable of suppressing a nasty smell due to the hydrogen sulfide generated upon recovery from SOx poisoning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushikia Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Yamaguchi, Hisashi Ohki, Masaaki Kobayashi, Daisuke Shibata
  • Patent number: 6922989
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a plural pressure oil energies selective recovery apparatus which can selectively recover pressure oil energies stored in plural pressure oil actuators, based upon recovery conditions. A priority for recovering a return pressure oil from a hydraulic actuator is set in advance for an operation lever of each of the plural hydraulic actuators. If the operation lever is in the non-actuation state at a preceding detection point, the plural pressure oil energies selective recovery apparatus recovers a return pressure oil from a corresponding hydraulic actuator. If the operation lever is in the actuation state, the plural pressure oil energies selective recovery apparatus does not recover a pressure oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinobu Nagura, Kazuhiro Maruta, Nobumi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 6922990
    Abstract: A device arrangement structure for hybrid construction equipment capable of reducing devices of a charging system in size is provided. For this purpose, in the device arrangement structure: a hydraulic pump (47) is connected to an engine (41) via a first power take-off (46); and a regenerative motor (59), which is regenerated by return oil from hydraulic actuators (10a, 10b), and a generator motor (55), which assists an engine as an electric motor to drive hydraulic pump and generates power with surplus torque of the regenerative motor, are provided in parallel with the hydraulic pump via the first power take-off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Naruse, Naritoshi Ohtsukasa, Hiroyuki Inoue
  • Patent number: 6922991
    Abstract: A pressure-control device (20) includes a controllable variable-displacement reversible hydraulic motor (21) having a pressure port (22) and a return port (23); a source of pressurized fluid (Ps); a fluid return (R); and a pressure regulating valve (24) operatively interposed between the source, return and pressure port. The pressure regulating valve is operatively arranged to maintain a predetermined pressure at the pressure port regardless of the direction of flow through the pressure port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Moog Inc.
    Inventor: Eric A. Polcuch
  • Patent number: 6922992
    Abstract: A hydraulic drive with a flow divider and a bypass wherein fluid can either be allowed to flow from a flow divider to hydraulic actuators in parallel or the fluid can be allowed to bypass the flow divider and flow directly to the hydraulic actuators in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Inventor: George H. Morgan
  • Patent number: 6922993
    Abstract: Apparatus for deriving energy from waves, the apparatus comprising a chamber (1) adapted to float in water but having a water plane area such that its vertical oscillating movement is substantially damped relative to the height of waves in the water in which it is floating, a chamber inlet port (5) at one end of the chamber adapted to face into a wavetrain, and vertical side plates (7A, 7B) delivering compressed air to a manifold and thence to an outlet port (9) and a baffle (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Inventor: John Frederick Kemp
  • Patent number: 6922994
    Abstract: A hydraulic pump for vehicles controllable by handlebars, having an unusually small space requirement, including a reservoir suitable for containing a working fluid having a free surface at the top, a pump body provided with a wall which delimits a cavity, and also freely conveying the fluid from the reservoir to the cavity of the pump body through an opening provided in the wall of the pump body. The opening is provided in a portion of the wall of the pump body at a distance from the top thereof, so that, during the operation of the pump, the free surface of the fluid contained in the reservoir is able to fall below the top without the fluid exposing the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Freni Brembo S.p.A.
    Inventor: Roberto Lavezzi
  • Patent number: 6922995
    Abstract: In an intake passage (1) of an internal combustion engine (8), a compressor (4) combined with an electric motor/generator (4a) is provided. A bypass valve (6) connecting upstream and downstream portions of the intake passage (1) to bypass the compressor (4) is further provided. When a required intake air flow rate of the engine (8) is smaller than a threshold value, the engine (8) operates by natural aspiration of intake air and the electric motor/generator (4a) generate electric power by using rotational energy of the compressor (4) which rotates due to the flow of intake air. By increasing the opening of the bypass valve (6) as the required intake air flow rate diverges from the discharge flow rate of the compressor (4) the intake air flow rate is accurately controlled while satisfying the power generation requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Kawamura, Kenichi Fujimura, Hideharu Kadooka, Susumu Kubo, Motoyuki Hattori, Naoki Mishima
  • Patent number: 6922996
    Abstract: An electrical booster in an internal combustion engine with an exhaust gas turbocharger is activated so that the electrical booster is connected with the minimum possible power consumption. The connection of the electric booster depends on the power balance, the electric booster being activated when the instantaneously available compressor power of the exhaust gas turbocharger is insufficient to provide the necessary power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dietmar Ellmer, Michael Stürtz, Markus Teiner
  • Patent number: 6922997
    Abstract: A motor vehicle kinetic energy recovery system uses one or more cylinders of an internal combustion engine as the first or primary stage in a multi-stage high pressure air compression system, a compressed air storage system, compressed air operated drive train boosters and vehicle management electronics to provide cooperation between the air compression, storage and booster systems. The multi-stage, high pressure air compressor system is operable through engine compression braking allowing kinetic energy of a vehicle to be recaptured during retardation of vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Gerald L. Larson, Paul W. O'Malley
  • Patent number: 6922998
    Abstract: A heat engine includes a plurality of heating side expansion chambers and cooling side expansion chambers, positioned on opposite sides of an axis, for providing rotation of an apparatus about its axis when the fluids inside the chambers expand and contract on the same side and plane of a rotational axis. This is accomplished by, shifting the weight of fluids off-balance, or a weight, when the fluid, expands and exerts a pressure on an elastic wall inside an expansion chamber and contracts and reduces pressure on an elastic wall inside an expansion chamber, or by moving an element or ring, through actuators, when fluids expand and contract in the expansion chambers. The engine further includes a heat source and a structure for supporting the expansion chambers and heat source, and providing direction of a desired motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Inventor: George E. Bittner
  • Patent number: 6922999
    Abstract: A single-winding multi-stage expander comprises a fixed scroll and an orbiting scroll which revolves eccentrically with respect to the fixed scroll so as to pressurize a sealed chamber formed between the two scrolls to drive a crankshaft. A high-temperature pressurized gas is introduced into a first-stage inner division and sent to an external heater. The heated gas is sent back to a second-stage outer division of the expander to significantly increase efficiency thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Anest Iwata Corporation
    Inventors: Hideyuki Kimura, Yutaka Kenmochi
  • Patent number: 6923000
    Abstract: A new thermodynamic cycle is disclosed for converting energy from a low temperature stream from an external source into useable energy using a working fluid comprising of a mixture of a low boiling component and a higher boiling component and including a higher pressure circuit and a lower pressure circuit. The cycle is designed to improve the efficiency of the energy extraction process by mixing the liquid stream from the high pressure circuit with the spent low pressure circuit stream forming a lean system that can be condensed at a low pressure. The new thermodynamic process and the system for accomplishing it are especially well-suited for streams from low-temperature geothermal sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Kalex LLC
    Inventor: Alexander I. Kalina
  • Patent number: 6923001
    Abstract: A pilotless catalytic combustor (10) including a basket (12) having a central axis (14) and a central core region (16) disposed along a portion of the central axis. Catalytic combustion modules (18) are circumferentially disposed about the central axis radially outward of the central core region for receiving a fuel flow (20) and a first portion of an oxidizer flow (22), and discharge a partially oxidized fuel/oxidizer mixture (24) at respective exit ends (26). A base plate (30) is positioned in the central core region upstream of the exit ends of the catalytic combustion modules, the baseplate defining a recirculation zone (32) near the respective exit ends for stabilizing oxidation in the burnout zone. A method of staged fueling for a pilotless catalytic combustor includes providing fuel to at least one of the modules during start up and progressively providing fuel to other modules as a load on the turbine engine is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
    Inventors: Walter Ray Laster, Ramarao V. Bandaru
  • Patent number: 6923002
    Abstract: A combustion liner cap assembly includes a cylindrical outer sleeve supporting internal structure therein and a plurality of fuel nozzle openings formed through the internal structure. A first set of circumferentially spaced cooling holes is formed through the cylindrical outer sleeve, and a second set of circumferentially spaced cooling holes is formed through the cylindrical outer sleeve. The second set of cooling holes is axially spaced from the first set of cooling holes. The resulting construction serves to decrease combustion dynamics in a simplified manner that is retrofittable to current designs and reversible without impacting the original configuration. The reduction in combustion dynamics improves hardware life, which leads to reduced repair and replacement costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bradley Donald Crawley, James Fossum
  • Patent number: 6923003
    Abstract: A power generating apparatus 20? includes an electrical generator 22? and a combustion turbine 24? for driving the electrical generator. The combustion turbine 24? may have a combustion turbine air inlet 30? for receiving an inlet air flow 25?. The power generating apparatus 20? may also include an evaporative water cooler 26? for evaporating water into the inlet air flow 25? to cool the inlet air flow, and an inlet air flow temperature sensor 28? between the evaporative water cooler and the combustion turbine air inlet 30?. The inlet air flow temperature sensor 28? may include a hollow body 32? connected in fluid communication with the inlet air flow 25?, and a temperature sensing device 34? carried by the hollow body. The hollow body 32? may include interior portions to reduce water accumulation on the temperature sensing device 34? so that the temperature sensing device senses a drybulb temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel E. Willems, Weston G. Frost
  • Patent number: 6923004
    Abstract: A novel process and apparatus for power generation from biomass and other carbonaceous feedstocks are provided. The process integrates a pulse combustor steam reformer with a gas turbine to generate electricity such that (i) efficiency is higher than those of conventional and current advanced power systems, (ii) emissions are lower than those proposed in the new environmental regulations, and (iii) performance is comparable to that of combined cycle, even though a bottoming cycle is not included here. The pulse combustor steam reformer generates a hydrogen-rich, medium-Btu fuel gas that is fired in a gas turbine to generate electricity. The apparatus may be configured to produce only power or combined heat and power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Manufacturing And Technology Conversion International, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Chandran, Momtaz N. Mansour
  • Patent number: 6923005
    Abstract: A system to feed cooling air to a gas turbine, wherein the cooling air is taken from a high-pressure source, inside the gas turgine, and is conveyed to radial accelerators (129, which give rise to the tangential acceleration of the air in the direction of the peripheral motion of the rotor surface. After it has been accelerated to the peripheral sepped of the rotor, the cooling air enters radial holes (13), and, whilst passing radially through the radial holes (13), undergoes a reduction in the quantity of tangential motion, Subsequently, the cooling air is released into the hollow rotor, with a correspondingly reduced outlet radius (14). A series of labyrinth seals combined with brush seals separate the chamber for combined with brush seals separate the chamber for feeding of air to the radial holes (13), from the low-pressure environment around the pad #2 (15) of the said gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone Holding S.p.A.
    Inventor: Andrea Casoni
  • Patent number: 6923006
    Abstract: Water supplied from a bottle 1 is pre-chilled in a reservoir 3. A two-part water pump 11 transfers water under pressure through a jet nozzle 14 into an oxygen space 17 in a PET pressure vessel 12, which entrains oxygen into the water. The pressure vessel is received in a conductive holder 18 and is cooled by a peltier element 19 provided with cooling fins 20. The holder 18 forms a capacitive level sensor with a probe 32 inside the vessel, which starts the pump 11 when oxygenated water is drawn off via a draw tube 28 and discharge valve 31. When the water level in the oxygenating vessel is restored a solenoid valve 25 opens to restore the oxygen pressure in the vessel. For hygiene purposes the pumping body can be removed from the pump motor and replaced together with the reservoir 3 and oxygenating vessel 12 along with the associated tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Inventors: Philip Andrew Walton, Gary Squire, Robert Tansley, Andrew Gibbs
  • Patent number: 6923007
    Abstract: A system and method of pumping liquified gas. Applicants systems includes a liquified gas storage vessel and a smaller high pressure high pressure liquified gas storage cylinder. Applicant provides a pump between the two vessels for pumping the liquified gas from one vessel to the other. Applicants system also includes at least one heat exchanger through which the liquified gas passes as it is pumped from one vessel to the other, which heat exchanger cools the liquified gas that is being pumped to a temperature typically below the vaporization point of the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Inventors: Trevor K. Markham, Glen M. Arnott
  • Patent number: 6923008
    Abstract: In the present method, cold substances are transferred through a nozzle with moving parts. An insulating boot facilitates the method. The present method is generally suited for use in transferring cryogenic substances such as during the refueling of liquid natural gas vehicles. The present method causes an insulating layer to be created between a removable boot and a nozzle separating the ambient environment from the moving parts of the nozzle, purging the layer with a dry gas such as nitrogen to remove moisture and restricting the incursion of such moisture from the layer and therefore, from the moving parts to avoid freezing up of the moving parts. The layer can also help to avoid freezing up of the abutting interface created between the nozzle and receiving line when the nozzle is removably engaged to a receiving line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignees: Westpoint Research Inc., Cummins Westport Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Currie Brook, Samuel Douglas Chambers
  • Patent number: 6923009
    Abstract: MRI system 10 is provided. The MRI system 10 includes a magnet assembly 12. A first cryogen cooling fluid 20 is utilized to cool the magnet assembly 12. A first supply line 16 communicates the first cryogen cooling fluid 20 to the magnet assembly 12. A first return line 18 communicates the first cryogen cooling fluid 20 away from the magnet assembly 12. A blower assembly 22 is positioned between and in communication with the first supply line 16 and the first return line 18. A regenerative heat exchanger 36 is in communication with the first supply line 16 and the first return line 18. The regenerative heat exchanger 36 transfers thermal energy 29 from the first supply line 16 to the first return line 18. The regenerative heat exchanger 36 is positioned between the blower assembly 22 and the magnet assembly 12. A second supply line 28 transports a second cryogen fluid 26 through a pre-cooler assembly 24.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Ravikumar Kudaravalli
  • Patent number: 6923010
    Abstract: A slush beverage maker is provided that is easy to assemble and disassemble, has few parts, and is easy to operate. The slush beverage maker has a mixing chamber for receiving ingredients to make a slush beverage. An auger is received within the mixing chamber to mix the ingredients. An ice drum is received within the auger in the mixing chamber. An ice blade is disposed in the ice drum to stir the ice mixture received by the ice drum when making a slush beverage. A hand crank is connected to both the auger and the ice blade to rotate both simultaneously. A blowby area in the mixing chamber outside the auger provides continuous flow of the slush beverage mixture, thereby avoiding freezing the auger within the mixture. Moreover, the ice blade speeds up the heat transfer between the slush beverage mixture and the ice mixture, thereby decreasing the time required to make a slush beverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Shoot The Moon Products II, LLC
    Inventors: David B. Small, Scott D. Bekerman, Leslie E. Allen, Brian D. Farley
  • Patent number: 6923011
    Abstract: A vapor compression system includes a first compression mechanism that compresses the working fluid from a low suction pressure to an intermediate pressure, a second compression mechanism that compresses intermediate pressure working fluid to a higher discharge pressure, and a fluid circuit circulating the working fluid discharged from the second compression mechanism to the first compression mechanism. The fluid circuit includes, in serial order, a first high pressure heat exchanger, an expansion device and an evaporator. The system may be operated as a transcritical system employing carbon dioxide as the working fluid. An intermediate pressure vessel is in communication with the system between the first and second compression mechanisms and working fluid at an intermediate pressure is communicated with the vessel. The system may be regulated by controlling the mass of working fluid contained in the intermediate pressure vessel, e.g., by regulating the temperature or storage volume of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventor: Dan M. Manole
  • Patent number: 6923012
    Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning system of a dual air-conditioner type exhibiting a hot gas heater function, which is designed to efficiently recover not only dormant refrigerant at the heater side, but also dormant refrigerant at the rear seat evaporator, which system sets the refrigeration cycle to a cooling mode and engages in a refrigerant recovery operation when starting up the heating mode by a hot gas heater cycle, then switches the refrigeration cycle to the heating mode, sets the front seat air-conditioning unit to the outside air mode at the time of the heating mode to blow outside air to the front seat evaporator by the front seat blower, then, when judging that the inside air temperature is high due to the refrigerant temperature of the rear seat evaporator at the time of the heating mode, operates the rear side blower to blow inside air to the rear seat evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Shun Kurata, Yoshiaki Takano
  • Patent number: 6923013
    Abstract: A refrigerated merchandiser (100) includes an upright, open-front, insulated cabinet (110) defining a product display area (125) connected in airflow communication with a compartment (120) via an air circulation circuit (122, 114, 116). The flow of refrigerant through the coils (46) of evaporator (40) disposed in the compartment (120) to cool the airflow from the product display area of the refrigerated merchandiser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Hong Leung Chiang, Eugene Duane Daddis, Jr., Kwok Kwong Fung
  • Patent number: 6923014
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment is a cooling system for cooling multiple logic modules. The cooling system includes a condenser, a first electrically controlled expansion valve coupled to the condenser and a first evaporator coupled to the first electrically controlled expansion valve. A second electrically controlled expansion valve is coupled to the condenser and a second evaporator coupled to the second electrically controlled expansion valve. A controller provides control signals to the first electrically controlled expansion valve and the second electrically controlled expansion valve to control operation of the first electrically controlled expansion valve and the second electrically controlled expansion valve. A compressor is coupled to the first evaporator, the second evaporator and the condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gary F. Goth, Daniel J. Kearney, Robert P. Makowicki, W. David McClafferty, Donald W. Porter
  • Patent number: 6923015
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a refrigerating cycle unit for refrigerating an atmosphere in the refrigerator by means of heat absorption due to change of a flammable refrigerant from a liquid phase to a gaseous phase, and a deodorizer having first and second electrodes discharging electricity upon application of high voltage to them, producing ozone, a burning chamber provided so as to surround the first and second electrodes, and a fire-spread preventing unit provided in the burning chamber to prevent burning of the flammable refrigerant in the burning chamber from spreading outside the burning chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Ha Products Co., Ltd., Toshiba Consumer Marketing Corporation
    Inventors: Shunji Ueno, Susumu Saruta, Katsushi Sumihiro
  • Patent number: 6923016
    Abstract: In a refrigerant cycle apparatus, an energy-saving operation is performed by using a refrigerant which is used in a supercritical state. A refrigeration cycle apparatus is constituted by a main compressor, an expander, a sub compressor independently placed in an upstream side of the main compressor, a use side heat exchanger, a heat source side heat exchanger and the like. A refrigerant such as a carbon dioxide or the like which is used in a supercritical state is employed as the refrigerant. The sub compressor is driven by utilizing a recovered energy by the expanding device. Further, a refrigerant tank is provided, and properly controls an amount of the refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Inventors: Sunao Funakoshi, Hirokatsu Kohsokabe, Kazuhiro Endoh, Kenji Tojo, Hiroaki Matsushima
  • Patent number: 6923017
    Abstract: A container comprises a first container portion and a second container portion joined to the first container portion to define a sealed cavity therebetween. A coolant is disposed within the sealed cavity. The container further comprises a pressure relief apparatus operable to limit pressure in the sealed cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson Home Storage, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian C. Dais, Angela M. Johnson, Lewis D. Lee, Peter Schroepfer
  • Patent number: 6923018
    Abstract: An electro-desorption actuator comprises a fixed member, a movable member which is coupled to the fixed member, a pressure chamber which is disposed between the fixed member and the movable member, and a sorption compression system which is in communication with the pressure chamber. The sorption compression system comprises first and second electrical conductors, a sorbent which is positioned between the first and second conductors, a sorbate which is capable of combining with the sorbent in an adsorption reaction to form a sorbate/sorbent compound, and a power supply which is connected to the conductors and which is selectively actuated to generate a current that is conducted through the sorbate/sorbent compound to desorb the sorbate from the sorbent in a desorption reaction. The sorbate is communicated from the sorption compression system to the pressure chamber during the desorption reaction and from the pressure chamber back to the sorption compression system during the adsorption reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis M. Pfister, Charles M. Byrd, Howard L. Davidson, Charles J. Ingalz
  • Patent number: 6923019
    Abstract: In a high-pressure side heat exchanger for a vapor compression refrigerant cycle, a refrigerant passage is formed such that a flow area (S), a length (L), and an equivalent diameter (d) satisfy the conditional expression 0.04×e?1.8d?S/L?2.1×e?1.8d. The flow area (S) is obtained by dividing the product of a total cross-sectional area of the passages in one tube and the number of tubes by the path number. The length (L) is a flow distance of the refrigerant from the refrigerant inlet to the refrigerant outlet. That is, the length (L) is obtained by the product of the length of the tube and the path number. The diameter (d) is obtained by dividing the product of four and the cross-sectional area of the passage by a circumference of the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki Kawakubo, Etsuo Hasegawa, Ken Muto
  • Patent number: 6923020
    Abstract: An evaporator core includes a separable housing and a fin assembly. The housing is installed in such a manner that both sides of the housing are open, and a guide rail is installed on an upper surface and a bottom surface of the interior of the housing. A tank is integrally attached to an upper side of the housing and communicates with the housing. A fin assembly is installed in such a manner that the fin assembly slides along the guide rail of the housing for thereby being disengaged or engaged. A rain groove is formed in an upper and lower surface of the fin assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jae Sik Choi
  • Patent number: 6923021
    Abstract: A fused silica production furnace and methods of producing fused silica are disclosed. The furnace and the methods involve using a foamed refractory having a network of interconnected pores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael D. Harris, Robert S. Pavlik, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6923022
    Abstract: A blowhead assembly for receipt over a parison finish to blow the parison within a blow mold and simultaneously cool the parison finish includes a blowhead body having a first chamber at one end for receipt over the finish of a parison in a blow mold, and at least one passage in the blowhead extending to the chamber from a first inlet for directing cooling air onto the external surface of a parison finish in the chamber. A second chamber in the blowhead body is spaced from the first chamber, and at least one second passage in the blowhead body extends to the second chamber from a second inlet for directing blow air into the second chamber. A first tube extends from the second chamber through the first chamber for receipt within a parison finish in the first chamber to feed blow air from the second chamber into the parison. A second tube extends from an exhaust passage in the blowhead body through the second chamber and through the first tube for receiving exhaust air from the parison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
    Inventor: Mark P. Dodd
  • Patent number: 6923023
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses estimate and control optical fiber primary coating diameter for wet-on-wet optical fiber manufacturing. The primary coating diameter for a particular length of optical fiber is calculated based upon a measurement of the weight of primary and/or secondary coating material consumed during optical fiber manufacturing. Control of the primary coating diameter is effected by a coating controller which can increase or decrease the primary coating diameter through control of glass temperature, coating viscosity and/or other parameters during wet-on-wet fiber manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Fitel U.S.A. Corporation
    Inventors: Siu-Ping Hong, Jason W. Shiroishi, Nirupama Kenkare
  • Patent number: 6923024
    Abstract: The specification describes a VAD method for dynamically controlling the growth rate of both the core soot and the cladding soot in response to separate growth monitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Furukawa Electric North America
    Inventors: Donald P. Jablonowski, Fengqing Wu
  • Patent number: 6923025
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device (1) for sintering of a porous mold body (2) in a gas-tight chamber (3), with the mold body (2) hanging loose from a link chain (7) so that it can be fed continuously to a heating zone (5). In the area of the upper boiler (10), the traction direction of the link chain (7) is reversed by a deviation wheel (11). The tensile force is transmitted via a traction rope (13) that can be taken up on a take-up reel (14), such take-up reel (14) being driven by a drive (16) arranged outside the chamber (3). A drive shaft (15) for the take-up reel (14) provides for easy sealing of the duct (18) towards the chamber (3), because only a rotation and not a simultaneous axial displacement is required for the hoisting movement, and moreover, because the duct (18) is arranged at a spatial distance from the heating zone (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Heraeus Tenevo AG
    Inventor: Uwe Christiansen
  • Patent number: 6923026
    Abstract: A method for hand-crafting a rug includes obtaining a first sock loop and twisting the first sock loop to form one loop four strands thick. A second sock loop is pushed halfway through the one loop and a new sock loop is pushed through the two end loops of the second sock loop. Additional sock loops are drawn through selected socks and through each other. This step is repeated until a chain is formed. Another sock loop is wrapped around the chain and pushed through one of the additional sock loops. A new one of the successive sock loops is pushed through the first sock loop and a newer one of the successive sock loops is pushed through a space closest to the old loop. The old loop is pushed over the new successive loop until reaching an opposite end of the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Inventor: Daisy M. Clarke
  • Patent number: 6923027
    Abstract: A lock assembly includes a casing containing a cylinder assembly, a rotary bolt driver and a shank inside the casing. The rotary bolt driver has a crossbar to selectively abut two stop blocks formed on a latching disk. Thus the rotational movement of the rotary bolt driver is able to move the latching disk inside the longitudinal chamber so as to secure the shank inside the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Inventor: Lambert Kuo
  • Patent number: 6923028
    Abstract: A security locking system for trailers that features an interior locking bar that is controlled from the outside. The locking bar is traversed in a linear motion parallel to the door by a toggle mechanism. The bar is guided into the locking mechanism by two guides mounted to the inside of the trailer door. The toggle mechanism is turned using a common trailer latch that also locks by use of a key. Alternatively the latch could be modified to lock or unlock by using a remote activator. Once the latch is turned all the way (90 degrees) it will raise the locking bar into the upper secure bracket. The lower part of the locking bar will be lowered into the lock housing which is hidden just under the trailer floor, it will then be in position in the locking mechanism for the key pin to be inserted and then locked. The locking mechanism can also be modified to be controlled using a remote activator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Inventors: William J. Caldwell, William D. Caldwell
  • Patent number: 6923029
    Abstract: An operating device for doors, windows, etc. comprises a rosette (20) for holding a rotating handle (10) whose head (12) contains a lock cylinder (18) with an axially displaceable locking bolt (44) that is axially spring-loaded and automatically assumes an engaging position at a defined angle of rotation of the handle (10) by sliding over a stepped locking sleeve (30) of the rosette (20). The lock cylinder (18) has a core (40) with a radial opening (50) in a non-rotating wall (58) for controlled movement of a spindle (48) that radially extends from the locking bolt (44) which engages the locking sleeve in defined angular positions of the handle (10). The opening (50) extends over a peripheral angle of e.g. 180° to 220°, and is a contoured window having a lower flat segment (52), a depression (54) and a steeper segment (flank 56).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Hoppe AG
    Inventor: Michael Waschgler
  • Patent number: 6923030
    Abstract: A mechanical mechanism is disclosed for supplementing the action of a pressurized working gas in hot blow forming of a sheet material. Opposing complementary heated forming tools grip the sheet material and form a shaping surface on one side of the sheet and a gas pressure chamber on the other side. An internal complementary mechanical forming device is located inside the pressure chamber. The device is operated by an internal rotatable shaft supported through the chamber defining tool wall. The internal shaft is coupled outside the tool wall to an external shaft for external activation of the mechanical forming device. The external shaft and coupling are enclosed in a housing structure that provide a pressure seal, thrust support and thermal insulation for the external activation mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Gary A. Kruger, Chongmin Kim, Mark G. Konopnicki
  • Patent number: 6923031
    Abstract: A system for removing dents from metal or other materials comprising (i) a device which includes at least one magnet having a handle detachably held to a portion of the magnet by magnetic attraction and a roller detachably held to a portion of the magnet opposite the handle by the magnetic forces of the magnet; and (ii) a method which includes the steps of attaching the magnet to the handle, placing the roller inside the tubing of a dented instrument, placing the portion of the magnet opposite the handle against the exterior of the instrument, catching or acquiring the roller with the magnet such that the magnet and the roller form a magnetic assembly, wherein the roller is on the interior of the instrument and the magnet is on the exterior of the instrument, and moving, sliding, or rocking the magnetic assembly across the dents until the dents are removed from the metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Inventor: James M. Akins
  • Patent number: 6923032
    Abstract: A forming tool movement unit, particularly for manifold closing machines, comprising a rotating head supporting forming tools slidable in mutually opposite radial directions with coordinated movements, a supporting frame on which a supporting element is slidable in axial direction with a stroke controlled electronically, the body of a first double-acting actuator being coupled to the supporting element for rotation and movement in an axial direction, the actuator being connected to a motor, and the body of the first actuator supporting coaxially and at the front the head into which its stem extends movable with a stroke controlled electronically and with the head connected to the forming tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: C.M.S. Costruzione Macchine Speciali S.r.l.
    Inventor: Vinicio Maggiolo