Patents Issued in January 3, 2006
  • Patent number: 6981320
    Abstract: A circuit board and a fabricating process thereof is provided. The present invention employs a core layer as a base layer, wherein the core layer is a core conducting layer, or is a core dielectric layer having two conducting layers. By using this core layer and two patterned conductive layers, a three-conducting-layer circuit board or a four-conducting-layer circuit board is fabricated. Furthermore, both circuit boards can be used as circuit board units to fabricate circuit boards having more than four conducting layers. The present invention adopts lamination processes and equipment instead of using complicated build-up process. Therefore, the present invention effectively reduces the production costs and simplifies the process cycle for fabricating circuit boards, and is suitable for mass production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: VIA Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kwun-Yao Ho, Moriss Kung
  • Patent number: 6981321
    Abstract: A hydrostatic cylinder block having a split cylinder block with a slipper hold-down created by breaking down the cylinder block into its basic geometries through near net shaping technology. The cylinder block is broken down into four separate components: a hub, a wave spring, a cylinder block body, and a base plate. Each component is created using near net shaping technologies. The geometries are then placed together to create the completed cylinder block wherein the wave spring separates the hub from the block body to provide an improved slipper hold down force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Sauer-Danfoss Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Stoppek
  • Patent number: 6981322
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus has a low profile extrusion with a plurality of micro tubes extended there through. In the caps interconnect the ends of the micro tubes in fluid communications and to inlet and outlet tubes. The low profile extrusion is placed into thermal connection with heat producing components. A heat transfer fluid is circulated through the micro tubes of the low profile extrusion, and a heat exchanger removes the heat from the heat transfer fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Thermotek, Inc.
    Inventors: Overton L. Parish, IV, Roger S. DeVilbiss
  • Patent number: 6981323
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fluid injection head structure and a method of fabricating the same. The fluid injection head structure is disposed on a substrate and has a bubble generator, a functional device for control the bubble generator, a first conductive trace composed of poly-silicon, a chamber, a manifold in flow communication with the chamber, and a second conductive trace. The second conductive trace electrically couples the functional device with the bubble generator and the first conductive trace. Moreover, the chamber further has at least one orifice through the substrate and a gate and the first conductive trace are formed in the same photo-etching process (PEP).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: BenQ Corporation
    Inventors: Tsung-Wei Huang, Chih-Ching Chen
  • Patent number: 6981324
    Abstract: A differential assembly for a motor vehicle includes a plurality of pinion gears in meshing engagement with a plurality of side gears. At least one of the pinion gears and side gears is formed from a heated tubular preform in a forging die. A method for manufacturing a differential assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen L. Prucher
  • Patent number: 6981325
    Abstract: In a state where the axes of an inner race (20) and an outer race (30) are inclined with respect to each other, the maximum value of a clearance between the ball-fitting-direction rearward side edge portion of the second inner race raceway (22) of the inner race (20) and the ball-fitting-direction rearward side edge portion of the second outer race raceway (32) of the outer race (30) is larger than the diameter of the respective balls belonging to the second ball row. Also, the maximum value of a clearance between the ball-fitting-direction forward side edge portion of the second inner race raceway (22) of the inner race (20) and the second outer race raceway (32) edge portion on the upper side peripheral surface (33) of the outer race (30) is smaller than the diameter of the respective balls belonging to the second ball row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Shuichi Yano
  • Patent number: 6981326
    Abstract: A gardening scissor includes a handle, a fixed jaw, a movable jaw, a linkage slab, and a module board. The fixed jaw and module board are constructed of two separating boards with a seam between them. The seam is provided with a protective cover by the hood. The width of this hood is capable of providing a cover on the seam, provided that the flexibility of fixed jaw and movable jaw is not hindered. The linkage side of hood is available with a built-in edge. Besides, the built-in edge and the inwall between two boards are provided with a bulge strip and notch for positioning of the hood. It is possible to prevent branches inserting into the seam and enrich the appearance of gardening scissors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Ho Cheng Gardening TOols Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yao-Chung Huang
  • Patent number: 6981327
    Abstract: A two piece punch is provided for use in a punch assembly. The punch includes a generally disc shaped cutter and a cylindrically shaped nut. The punch is assembled by passing a portion of the nut through an aperture in the cutter. The punch is mounted to the remainder of the punch assembly by fastening the nut to the draw stud. As the punch becomes worn, use of the nut continues while the cutter is removed and replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Greenlee Textron Inc.
    Inventor: William F. Nordlin
  • Patent number: 6981328
    Abstract: A safe, stable compass for making circles and ellipses, having a stable rotating platform with a variably adjustable arm that allows the device to be self-supporting upon a surface and to be easily rotated in any one of a variety of directions around a single rotating point. The invention allows persons of limited manual dexterity to apply force in one location and then to rotate the entire device around this one point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Inventor: Roy O. Solum
  • Patent number: 6981329
    Abstract: An improved bowstring mounted peep sight used in archery improving archer's accuracy. The present invention preferred embodiment having a body generally horizontal within bowstring axis has through the body centrally located luminous color optic cross-pieces indexing the center of the peep sight aperture. The characteristic of the present invention optic cross-pieces fiber side lit attenuation allows the archer to easily see through the large aperture peep sight aligning forward bow sight pin on color cross-pieces sectional center aperture small highlighted index reference window. Small reference index window cross hair center provides consistent centering reference within the large aperture by proximal blur designed within Fiber Optic Peep Sight. A second characteristic is both peep sight embodiment and optic cross-piece fibers be further enhanced with florescent light collecting glow pigment, dyes or other color illuminating materials for increased viewing during less than desirable lighting conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Inventor: David Michael Strathman
  • Patent number: 6981330
    Abstract: The present multi-axis installable and adjustable level is permanently installed to a suitable panel on or in a movable structure, such as a recreational vehicle or the like, or a portable work table or the like. The present level enables a user of the structure to level the structure precisely as required, and/or to determine the level of the structure, once the present level has been properly installed. The present level comprises a pair of leaves or panels which are hinged together, with one of the leaves providing coarsely adjustable permanent attachment to the structure and the opposite leaf including a bull's eye type level thereon. The first leaf is secured to a suitable panel (which may be sloped, horizontal, or vertical) of the structure, and the second leaf is extended and locked in a substantially horizontal orientation. The bubble level is then leveled precisely using the infinitesimal adjustment provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Inventor: Dwayne A. Tieszen
  • Patent number: 6981331
    Abstract: A magnetically damped fork level indicating device comprises a housing having a gauge section; an elongate indicator arm pivotally coupled to the housing, the arm having first and second sections disposed on opposite sides of the axis; a weight coupled to the indicator arm so as to cause the first section to assume a predetermined orientation with respect to level ground; wherein the indicator arm at least partially overlies the gauge section and wherein the relative position of the indicator arm and the gauge section indicate the relative angular relationship between the orientation of the forks and level ground; a dampening means comprising a first magnet associated with the arm and moveable therewith and a second magnet associated with the housing and spaced from the first magnet, the second magnet magnetically coupled to the first magnet so as to dampen oscillations of the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Inventors: John W. Poe, Jr., William L. Dungan, Paul B. Forrest
  • Patent number: 6981332
    Abstract: A tool for inspecting and verifying weld beads in a pipeline includes a plate-like structure which has a surface and edges adapted for inspecting and verifying various weld bead attributes. The surface is imprinted with several identification marks, including for example, wall thicknesses and ratios of weld bead width to wall thickness. The tool can be used to verify weld bead convexity, weld bead concavity, and weld bead width for many different wall thicknesses. The tool is capable of verifying weld bead width and axial alignment of successive sections of pipe along the pipeline. All verifications and measurements are visual and tactile, without need for complex machinery or calculations, and can be accomplished with a single, lightweight tool. Additionally, a single tool can be used to verify weld beads for a variety of different pipe thicknesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Inventor: Byron G. Barefoot
  • Patent number: 6981333
    Abstract: An ergonomically equipped and interference signal-reducing position measurement probe for mutual alignment of bodies has a speech input device and/or a speech output device. The probe is wirelessly linked to an external control or a higher-level supervisory computer either by an infrared interface or a radio link which operates at an extremely high frequency. Error-reducing measured value acquisition is effected by averaging. The average represents several individual measured value. In the acquisition of the individual measured values, it is watched that the times of measured value recording and the time peaks of a solid-borne sound oscillation on the measurement object are essentially asynchronous to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Pruftechnik Dieter Busch AG
    Inventor: Dieter Busch
  • Patent number: 6981334
    Abstract: A fixture locator comprising a fixture base comprising a first receptive chamber extending along a base centerline comprising a first receptive surface; and two base wedge slots extending into the fixture base and intersecting the first receptive surface; a machine tool mount, comprising a first mating member extending along a mount centerline comprising an outer surface adapted to fit within the first receptive chamber such that the mount centerline is congruent with the base centerline, and two mount wedge slots extending into the machine tool mount a dual wedge which comprises a first wedge prong and a second wedge prong each comprising a first and a second end symmetrically disposed about a wedge centerline, a wedge bridge adapted to connect the first ends of the first and second wedge prongs, and a fastening member adapted to removably fasten the second ends of the first and second wedge prongs wherein each of the first and second wedge prongs are adapted to extend in contact with one of the base wedge s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Dean N. Marszal, William A. Agli
  • Patent number: 6981335
    Abstract: The diesel fuel gauge is used for determining the level of diesel fuel in a diesel fuel tank. The gauge is in the form of an elongated member formed of white plastic material with spaced apart marks and numbers formed on one side of a gauge portion with a handle extending from the gauge portion. A dry layer of material soluble in diesel fuel coats the side of the gauge covering the marks and numbers. The material in one embodiment includes asphalt mixed with a liquid thinner and a liquid drying agent. When the gauge is inserted into the diesel fuel in the tank and removed, the material in contact with the diesel fuel may be removed from the member by wiping it off to expose the marks and numbers for use for determining the level of diesel fuel in the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Inventors: Danny E. Darden, Warren Vilmaire, Bret R Blades
  • Patent number: 6981336
    Abstract: There is disclosed a washing/drying machine having a purpose of shortening a time required for a washing operation and improving an operation efficiency, and comprising: an inner drum in which things to be washed are accommodated and in which a washing operation of the things to be washed and a drying operation after end of the washing operation are performed; a water supply passage for supplying water into the inner drum and a drainage passage for discharging the water from the inner drum in the washing operation; a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a gas cooler, an expansion valve, an evaporator and the like are successively connected to one another in an annular form via a piping and in which carbon dioxide is used as a refrigerant; and a blower for blowing air which has exchanged heat with the gas cooler into the inner drum to allow the air passed through the inner drum to exchange the heat with the evaporator in the drying operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Etsushi Nagae, Hiroshi Mukaiyama, Koji Ono, Masaya Tadano, Tetsuya Masuda, Kazuyoshi Tomochika, Takahiro Nakamura, Masakatsu Morishige, Harumi Takeuchi, Kiyokazu Fujikawa, Tamotsu Kawamura, Motohiko Kosano, Shinichi Akiyama, Nobuo Koumoto
  • Patent number: 6981337
    Abstract: There is provided a container for absorbing water vapour from ambient air, the container having an opening to permit water vapour to enter the container, a perforate shelf positioned above the base of the container and having a water-absorbing agent disposed thereon for absorbing water vapour, and an airway which allows air to flow into the region of the container beneath the shelf, wherein the container comprises an indicator for providing information on the operation of the container, the indicator operating when the liquid in the container has reached a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Reckitt Benckiser (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Stuart Michael Ruan Jones, David Bedford
  • Patent number: 6981338
    Abstract: A device for enhancing removal of liquid from fabric, such as a vacuum head device for removing liquid from carpet, includes a first and second surface forming an extraction slot. The first surface may include a plurality of channels extending towards the extraction slot configured to direct the liquid toward the extraction slot. Alternatively, the first surface may have a smaller surface area and the second surface may be configured with a lower surface in order to penetrate the carpet and act as a squeegee. The cross-sections of the first and second surfaces are preferably circular. In another embodiment, the cross-sections of the first and second surfaces may comprise, but are not limited to, a semi-rectangular cross section, a V-shaped cross-section, or an elliptical cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Inventors: Dale S. Jensen, Edward E. Durrant
  • Patent number: 6981339
    Abstract: Article of footwear includes a sole, an insole overlying the sole, the insole having in a surface thereof a groove having an inlet and outlet in an edge of the insole, the groove winding substantially throughout the length and width of the insole upper surface. A tube is disposed in the groove and extends throughout the length of the groove and has an inlet portion extending from the groove inlet at the edge of the insole and an outlet portion extending from the groove outlet. An upper fixed to the sole has apertures through which extend the tube inlet and outlet portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Stephen Szczesuil, Michael J. Holthe
  • Patent number: 6981340
    Abstract: A device for protecting footwear of a motorcycle rider comprises a sole of a water impermeable material, an upper of bodily flexible material and an adjustable strap for securing the device to footwear of the rider. The device is typically worn on the left foot of the rider because motorcycle transmissions are shifted by the left foot, leaving a characteristic wear pattern on the left shoe or boot of the rider. The upper allows substantial air movement around the rider's footwear and may be partially or wholly insulated with a foam layer in the upper. Some embodiments provide greater air circulation and less insulation. Two types of adjustable straps are shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Inventor: Adrian L. Evans
  • Patent number: 6981341
    Abstract: The moisture transfer system includes a waterproof/breathable moisture transfer liner having an inner fabric layer selected from technically advanced fabrics which are carefully selected. A series of layers are provided outside the inner liner including foam material layers, breathable membranes, encapsulation technology, waterproof films and an outer fabric layer. The moisture transfer system in incorporated into in-line skate as either a removable liner for a shell boot or a liner for a softboot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Solid Water Holdings
    Inventor: Baychar
  • Patent number: 6981342
    Abstract: A mechanized unit that is moved through a trench in the ground for the purpose of placing a length or lengths of a utility or utilities by a guide device on the bottom of the trench, and then encasing the placed utility or utilities. The unit has at least one plow to sweep the material excavated from the ground to form the trench back into the trench onto a screening member mounted to the unit. The screening unit has spaced screens one above another with progressively smaller openings from top to bottom and the screening member is vibrated to deposit onto the one or more utilities layers of the excavated material having particles of progressively larger size from the bottom to the top of the trench to protect the utility or utilities from physical damage caused by larger excavated particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignees: PLC Trenching Co., LLC.
    Inventor: Michael E. Lopata
  • Patent number: 6981343
    Abstract: A shelf talker includes adhesive on the upper back side thereof, and a small release liner bonded thereto. The liner is severed by a cut line into top and middle tabs atop the adhesive, and a lower tab is suspended from the middle tab without adhesive between the tab and label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy W. Rawlings, Lance J. Esposito
  • Patent number: 6981344
    Abstract: A grip for attachment to a firearm is provided. The firearm grip includes a housing having an internal storage cavity and a pull tab fixedly attached to the housing. The pull tab includes a body and a stopper attached to the body, which removably engages a wall that defines an open end of the internal storage cavity to removably cover the internal storage cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Inventors: Jeffrey Matthew Cahill, Timothy John Bowman, Timothy Carver Wikle
  • Patent number: 6981345
    Abstract: A tool for cleaning and loading muzzle loading rifles includes a tube having a longitudinal axis and a centered throughbore along the axis. The tube includes a head having a knurled outer surface and a front face recess. The recess is adapted to center and support the projectile. A shaft is mounted in the throughbore of the tube and protrudes out of the back of the tube, wherein the diameter of the shaft is less than the diameter of the throughbore. Accordingly, when the shaft is fixed to a cleaning rod, the tube is free to rotate on the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Inventors: Philip Ervin Gunn, Barry L. Graves
  • Patent number: 6981346
    Abstract: An ice fishing hole strainer device for capturing and removing ice particles from a newly drilled ice hole. The ice fishing hole strainer device comprises an elongated handle attached to a cylinder with a hinged circular bottom having a plurality of holes. A stop ring and slotted hinge structure cooperate to pivot, open and close the apertured circular bottom in the cylinder as the strainer device is lowered into and raised from the ice hole to remove ice particles therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Inventor: Donald D. Wiezycki
  • Patent number: 6981347
    Abstract: A modular emergency shelter system includes a sleeping and storage module having a rectangular box-like structure with curved interior sidewalls defining a sleeping area, and exterior sidewalls extending to an opposing end defining a separate storage area. The box-like structure is preferably fabricated of molded plastic filled with fire resistant and sound dampening foam, and is watertight to keep out the rain and facilitate hosing out after use. Preferably the module includes electronic locking doors operable from inside or outside the module. The module is specially configured for securing together a number of similar structures including additional shelter modules stacked one atop another, or vertically-oriented modular utility units such as toilets, showers and a dressing rooms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Inventor: Randy Walburger
  • Patent number: 6981348
    Abstract: Flashing used on curved exterior wall projections designed to stop water intrusion and provide a permanent, attractive, paintable surface that is safe from UV radiation. The flashing includes a Z-shaped or L-shaped body bonded with a flexible flashing material along its front and back surface. The metal body includes at least two perpendicularly aligned flange members. Formed on the top flange member is a plurality of transversely aligned slits evenly spaced thereon that allow the flashing to be bent around a curved wall projection. The flexible flashing material is adhesively bonded to the inside and outside surfaces of the top flange member thereby covering the slits to create a water barrier. During installation, the top flange member and flexible flashing material are covered by external wallboards or siding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Inventor: Dale Kjorsvik
  • Patent number: 6981349
    Abstract: A roofing system including two techniques that confer water tightness to exposed substrates, whether cimentious or not, used on roofs of current buildings. The system increases reliability of the surfaces against the percolation of water. The system includes the process of applying, on exposed porous or non-porous surfaces (1), mud slab, regularized or not, of concrete, wood, metals, etc., on top of baseboards or parapets (2), a high adherence organic resin (4), that is self-leveling, visco-elastic, thermoplastic and hydrophobic, covered by film strips (5) of aluminum laminated with thermoplastic copolymers, thermally welded at its overlaps (7) by a thermal process and fastened in the vertical surfaces of the structures by groups (6) of screws, plastic washers, and expansion shells. The flow of rain water is guided by pipelines (3) of PVC or other equivalent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa de Estado de Sao Paulo
    Inventor: Celso Martinez, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6981350
    Abstract: A projection screen apparatus is disclosed for displaying an image projected by a projector. The projection screen apparatus includes a collapsible frame and a removable display sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Draper, Inc.
    Inventor: Shanon O. Redmon
  • Patent number: 6981351
    Abstract: A fire rated door with a surrounding door frame, consisting of a glass pane, which is embedded between its circumferential metal frame, said fire rated door consists of at least one door leaf realized from two glass panes spaced apart by means of profiles, whereby the glass panes extend almost as far as to the border of the door leaf and a transparent fire protection material is included between the spaced glass panes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Dorma GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Walter Degelsegger
  • Patent number: 6981352
    Abstract: A round baler comprising: a housing; a bale chamber receiving cut crop material; a bale forming apparatus for bale forming; a wrapping apparatus comprising a wrapping material supply roll that provides wrapping material from the supply roll to wrap about the bale, and a sensor member disposed on a pivoting sensor arm member so the sensor member abuts an outer surface of the wrapping material stored on the supply roll, and the sensor arm member moves between first position and second positions; and a low wrapping material indication system comprising a sensor disposed to sense at least the second position of the sensor arm member corresponding to a minimum thickness of the wrapping material stored on the supply roll, wherein the sensor generates a signal to indicate that the thickness of the wrapping material is at the minimum thickness when the sensor arm member is at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Mark K. Chow, Cecil R. Sudbrack
  • Patent number: 6981353
    Abstract: A strapping machine feed system for automatically detecting a strap error or fault, thereby stopping strap retraction or take-up, and refeeding the strap into the strapping head following the error or fault. The feed system includes a pair of tensioning wheels disposed along a strap path proximal a strap supply, and a pair of feed wheels, defining a nip therebetween, disposed along the strap path proximal the strapping head. A feed wheel drive and a tensioning wheel drive are respectively connected to the feed wheels and the tensioning wheels. A sensor disposed along the strap path generates a signal to the feed wheel drive and tensioning wheel drive, indicating movement or lack of movement along the strap path, thus causing the feed wheels or tensioning wheels to rotate in both a forward and reverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Haberstroh, Timothy B. Pearson, Lawrence G. Sickels
  • Patent number: 6981355
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for wrapping round bales with either netwrap or stretch film that prevent the stretch film from adhering to the parts of the wrapping mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: John R. McClure, Imants Ekis, Stephen C. Schlotterbeck, John D. Fornadel
  • Patent number: 6981356
    Abstract: A compact package for a garment made from a delicate material includes a container body having a volume of less than 10 in3 (164 cm3), a delicate material garment, a cover member and a cap. The cover member is inserted into the container body atop the garment, followed by the cap. Preferably, a buffer material is arranged between the garment and the cover member within the container body to protect the garment from damage during the packing process. The package is preferably produced by directing the garment and buffer material into a pre-loading tube, followed by shifting of a plunger member to load the container body with the garment, buffer material and the cover member. Subsequently, the cap is snap-fit upon the container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Inventors: Leon Atkinson, Robert Jansen, R. Patrick Johnson, Ryan E. Park, Bruce H. Thompson
  • Patent number: 6981357
    Abstract: A method for harvesting plants bearing fruit or vegetables and particularly strawberries is disclosed. The method incorporates the use of a vehicle that comprises a conveyor belt system which is a pair of conveyors each comprising a belt assembly and an elongated trough positioned in a fixed relation above the belt assembly. Each conveyor is configured so that it can span many rows of fruit. Workers stand behind a conveyor and follow the vehicle picking strawberries. When the vehicle reaches the end of a row, the conveyor belt system is arc displaced over the vehicle to the opposite side using hydraulic power or some other appropriate means for displacement. The vehicle wheels are orientated for travel along the access road along the end of a field, for example, 90 degrees when the road is perpendicular to the rows of fruit. The vehicle then travels along the end of the field until it is again aligned with rows of fruit to be picked. The wheels are then orientated back for travel across the field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Inventor: Edward K. Colby
  • Patent number: 6981358
    Abstract: A reheat combustion system for a gas turbine comprises a mixing tube adapted to be fed by products of a primary combustion zone of the gas turbine and by fuel injected by a lance; a combustion chamber fed by the said mixing tube; and at least one perforated acoustic screen. The or each said acoustic screen is provided inside the mixing tube or the combustion chamber, at a position where it faces, but is spaced from, a perforated wall thereof. In use, the perforated wall experiences impingement cooling as it admits air into the combustion system for onward passage through the perforations of the said acoustic screen, and the acoustic screen damps acoustic pulsations in the mixing tube and combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Valter Bellucci, Peter Flohr, Christian Oliver Paschereit, Bruno Schuermans, Daniele Tabacco
  • Patent number: 6981359
    Abstract: A fuel system for a gas turbine engine that utilizes a centrifugal pump. The system includes a fuel metering valve that is adapted to set a metered flow of fuel, and a throttle valve that is adapted to accurately control pressure drop across the fuel metering valve. The throttle valve has at least two variable orifices and a compensation chamber between the variable orifices. The throttle valve includes a differential valve piston slidable in a valve body. The differential valve piston comprises working surfaces of at least two different diameters such that changes in chamber pressures effect different axial forces upon the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Woodward Governor Company
    Inventors: Donald E. Wernberg, Paul J. Schaefer, Edward L. Hommema
  • Patent number: 6981360
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a gas turbine power generator capable of increasing the power generation efficiency in partial load operation and decreasing a variation in the number of rotations caused by a variation in power generation load. The gas turbine power generator comprises a compressor (2) for compressing air, a combustor (5) for burning the compressed air and fuel, a turbine (6) driven by combustion gas produced in the combustor and driving the compressor (2) and a generator (7), a regenerative heat exchanger (4) for exchanging heat between exhaust gas from the turbine and the compressed air led into the combustor, an intake air sprayer (1), and a humidifier (3). Intake air flown into the regenerative heat exchanger (4) is humidified and cooled by the intake air sprayer (1) and the humidifier (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Yagi, Satoshi Dodo, Kuniyoshi Tsubouchi, Yasuaki Akatsu, Hiroshi Arita, Norio Yasugahira
  • Patent number: 6981361
    Abstract: A method facilitates generating thrust from a gas turbine engine using a pulse detonation system. The method includes introducing fuel and air to the engine, mixing fuel and air in a pulse detonation system deflagration chamber positioned radially outward from an engine exhaust centerbody, and detonating the fuel and air mixture within the pulse detonation system to facilitate increasing the temperature and pressure within the engine and to generate engine thrust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Michael Koshoffer, Kevin R. Drake, Lawrence Butler
  • Patent number: 6981364
    Abstract: A novel combined engine for a single-stage spacecraft is provided that combines a air-breathing engine utilizing oxygen in the atmosphere as oxidizer and rocket engines for obtaining thrust outside the atmosphere and that does not require a portion whose shape is variable in accordance with the flight speed. Rocket engines 15 are provided on struts 12 that form air introduction channels 10 in the air intake section 4. The rocket jets 18 from the rocket engines 15 control the flow of the airflows 16 introduced into the combustion chamber 20 in accordance with the flight speed. When the spacecraft 1 is stationary or in subsonic flight, the rocket jets 18 promote air intake into the combustion chamber 20 by lowering of static pressure due to expansion (ejector effect). In the subsonic flight condition, it performs the role of air compression, mixing with incoming air, fuel injection and ignition and during supersonic/ultra-supersonic flight it performs the role of a variable diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan
    Inventors: Osamu Okamoto, Tatsuo Yamanaka, Masataka Maita, Hideyuki Taguchi, Takeshi Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 6981365
    Abstract: The disclosed device is directed toward a periodic combustion propulsion system. The periodic combustion propulsion system comprises at least one periodic combustion chamber configured to contain periodic combustion and at least one supersonic exhaust nozzle coupled to the at least one periodic combustion chamber. The supersonic exhaust nozzle is configured with a variable exhaust expansion ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Sierra Engineering Incorporated
    Inventor: Curtis William Johnson
  • Patent number: 6981366
    Abstract: A turbineless jet engine includes no internal moving components, yet operates using a continuous combustion principle. The present engine is self-starting, i.e., no auxiliary source of pressurized airflow or unconventional fuels is required for its starting and operation. The present engine also requires no electrical energy after the combustion process has been initiated, with its fuel pump being operated by exhaust air from the engine. Starting injectors entrain airflow through the engine, with a portion of the inlet air being drawn through radially disposed, hollow pressure generators to the combustion section of the engine. Exhaust gas is recirculated to the front of the engine and passed through the pressure generators to entrain fresh air, to continue the cycle of operation. The present engine may be constructed in a variety of non-circular cross-sectional shapes, with or without inlet vane sweep, as desired, due to its lack of internal rotating components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Inventor: Thomas H. Sharpe
  • Patent number: 6981367
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a device for generating hydrogen from a water vapor containing exhaust is provided. The device comprises an exhaust diverter and a hydrogen generation section. The exhaust diverter is configured to divert a portion of the exhaust to the hydrogen generation section. The hydrogen generation section comprises an electrolysis unit defining a hermetically sealed void volume configured to accumulate and store hydrogen. The exhaust diverter may be placed in communication with a heat exchanger configured to increase a fractional relative humidity of the diverted exhaust by cooling the diverted exhaust. In accordance with 37 CFR 1.72(b), the purpose of this abstract is to enable the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract will not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Childs, Anthony LaConti, Keith D. Patch, Norman Dale Brinkman, David R. Monroe, David L. Hilden, Patrick G. Szymkowicz
  • Patent number: 6981368
    Abstract: A method is presented for estimating an amount of ammonia stored in a urea-based SCR catalyst based on a dynamic model of the catalyst. The model takes into account chemical and physical properties of the catalyst, such as catalyst volume, the number of available ammonia storage cites, adsorption and desorption dynamics, as well as poisoning, thermal aging, and different catalyst operating temperatures, and generates the estimate based on a measured or estimated amount of NOx in an exhaust gas mixture upstream of the catalyst, an amount of reductant injected into the catalyst to facilitate NOx reduction, and on a measured value of NOx in an exhaust gas mixture downstream of the catalyst. The estimated ammonia storage amount is then used to control the amount of reductant injected into the catalyst to maintain desired ammonia storage amount such that maximum NOx conversion efficiency coupled with minimum ammonia slip are achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michiel J. van Nieuwstadt, Devesh Upadhyay
  • Patent number: 6981369
    Abstract: An exhaust gas cleaning apparatus for an engine has a NOx trapping catalytic converter and a control unit for controlling an intake air throttle valve and a fuel injection timing in accordance with an operating condition of the engine. The opening degree of the intake air throttle valve is reduced to accomplish rich spike control. The fuel injection timing is adjusted according to the boost pressure that develops downstream of the intake air throttle valve during rich spike control. Since the combustion tends to degrade when the boost pressure changes during rich spike control, the fuel injection timing is advanced more as the boost pressure becomes larger. This advancement of the injection timing compensates for the combustion degradation and prevents the occurrence of torque fluctuations when the opening degree of the throttle valve is adjusted during the shift to rich spike control to improve the engine operating performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Manabu Miura
  • Patent number: 6981370
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for initiating regeneration of a particulate matter (PM) filter in an exhaust system in an internal combustion engine. The method and apparatus includes determining a change in pressure of exhaust gases passing through the PM filter, and responsively varying an opening of an intake valve in fluid communication with a combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Cornelius N. Opris, Maarten Verkiel
  • Patent number: 6981371
    Abstract: A control device for a working machine according to the present invention comprises a capacity variable pump for supplying working oil, a controller for controlling the discharge amount of the pump, a control valve for controlling the working oil discharged from the pump, a hydraulic actuator operated by the working oil from the control valve, an operating lever for operating the hydraulic actuator, and a relief valve to be operated when the pressure of the working oil is a relief pressure or more. The controller has a dynamic emulation model of a hydraulic driving device, and is constituted to estimate the pressure oil flow rate passing through the relief valve from the emulation model according to the operation amount of the operating lever, and to control the pump flow rate of the pump so that the relief flow rate estimation value gets close to zero. According to this, relief loss can be precisely reduced without generating a response delay or pressure loss, and the power can be saved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., LTD
    Inventors: Etsujiro Imanishi, Naoki Sugano, Takao Nanjo
  • Patent number: 6981372
    Abstract: A hydraulic actuating device for a convertible top assembly of a motor vehicle. The actuating device comprises a hydraulic pump with an associated electric pump motor and one or more hydraulic actuators, each for driving an associated movable part of the convertible top assembly. The actuating device also comprises a control circuit for effecting a defined sequence of movements of the one or more actuators and feedback means, which are connected to the control unit, for feeding information relating to the sequence of movements of an actuator back to the control unit. The feedback means comprise means for measuring the electric power consumed by the pump motor, which means transmit a feedback signal to the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Actuant Corporation
    Inventors: Laurentius Andreas Gerardus Mentink, Johnny Antonius Jacobus Wiggemans