Patents Issued in January 31, 2006
  • Patent number: 6991412
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for transporting automotive instrument panels, comprising a frame, a pair of carry arms pivoted to the frame to carry opposite sides of an instrument panel, each carry arm having an outer end section which is provided with a carry formation for engaging a complementary carry formation on a corresponding side of the instrument panel; the instrument panel having a central column region with a lower column end portion, both of said carry arms having an inner end section which is positioned to lie in the path of the lower column end portion as it is lowered onto the frame, said carry arms being further arranged to be displaced downwardly as the instrument panel is lowered to a carry elevation relative to the frame, the downward displacement of the carry arms by the instrument panel causing the carry formations on the arms positively to engage the complementary carry formations on the instrument panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Canada, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Dorrian
  • Patent number: 6991413
    Abstract: A method and apparatus removably and replaceably mounting a member in a hole that provides sufficient support for the member while also improving installation time of the anchor holding the member in place includes use of a drive anchor system. The drive anchor system includes a drive anchor. The drive anchor includes a hollow shaft having an internal chamber, an external wall, a first end, and a second end. A surface feature is disposed on the external wall for providing anchoring functionality. A bifurcating crevice extends from the second end of the hollow shaft toward the first end of the hollow shaft, and creates a first leg and a second leg of the hollow shaft. A member coupling is sized and dimensioned to fit within the internal chamber of the drive anchor, such that the member can couple with the member coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: McCue Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel B. Ballou, David S. McCue, Adam P. Stevens
  • Patent number: 6991414
    Abstract: A fastener assembly for making it easier to tighten and loosen the fastener in confined work spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Inventor: James S. Mensah
  • Patent number: 6991415
    Abstract: A gravity grain diverter for use with a grain bin having an inlet opening for allowing grain to be introduced into the interior thereof. The gravity grain diverter includes a hopper for being positioned beneath the inlet opening of said grain bin. The hopper includes a tubular body member having an upper inlet opening for receiving grain loaded through the inlet opening of the grain bin and a lower outlet opening for discharging grain received in the upper inlet opening. The hopper means includes a lower outlet plate for closing the lower outlet opening of the tubular body member. Springs or the like are provided for urging the lower outlet plate toward the lower outlet opening of the tubular body member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Inventor: Jackie R. Anschultz
  • Patent number: 6991416
    Abstract: A substrate protection and transport system and method for transitioning a substrate from atomospheric pressure to vacuum in a lithography tool. The system includes one or more removable substrate transport cassettes. Each cassette has at least one vent and at least one filter. The system further includes an end effector coupled to a robotic arm to enable the substrate to be positioned within one of the cassettes, thereby forming a cassette-substrate arrangement. The system further includes a box having a base and a lid. The box holds one or more of the cassette-substrate arrangements. In this way, a box-cassette-substrate arrangement is provided. An out of vacuum storage rack having shelves for holding the box-cassette-substrate arrangement is also provided. Still further, an entry-exit module having a loadlock is provided for transitioning the cassette-substrate arrangement from atmospheric pressure to vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: ASML Holding N.V.
    Inventors: Santiago E. del Puerto, Michael A. DeMarco, Glenn M. Friedman, Jorge S. Ivaldi, James A. McClay
  • Patent number: 6991417
    Abstract: A spare tire handling device mounted on a vehicle and adapted for moving a spare tire between a stored and an accessible position relative to the vehicle, and including a winch and a flexible member attached to the winch at one end and the other end to the spare tire. The device includes a tire carrier with a housing and one extending portion pivotally connected to the housing. The extending portion being movable from a retracted to an extended position. Additionally a biasing member urges the extending portion to an extended position. A secondary lock assembly and a rim spacer are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Dura Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason Reznar
  • Patent number: 6991418
    Abstract: A flip door or plate member for use with a trailer having pivotable doors is disclosed. The plate member is pivotable about a bed extension. The plate member pivots from an initial position where the doors may be closed and locked to a second position that where the doors may be opened. After the doors are opened, the plate member may be pivoted back to its initial position allowing a continuous bed extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Waltco Truck Equipment Co.
    Inventor: Eric Blashford
  • Patent number: 6991419
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a transfer apparatus for a wafer, in which the wafer may be transferred in a narrow space by reducing a transfer device footprint. The transfer device has a base, a lower arm, an upper arm and a hand. The lower arm is configured to be vertically adjustable and rotatable on a vertical axis. The upper arm is pivotably coupled to the lower arm, and the hand is horizontally coupled to the upper arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ki-Sang Kim
  • Patent number: 6991420
    Abstract: A tool (7) for handling a semiconductor material wafer (100) is designed to be used in an epitaxial growth station; the tool (7) comprises a disk (20) having an upper side (21) and a lower side (22), the lower side (22) being so shaped as to get in contact with the wafer (100) only along its edge (103); the disk (20) is provided internally with a suction chamber (24) that is in communication with the outside of the disk (20) through one or more suction holes (25) and in communication with a suction duct of an arm of a robot through a suction port (26); the disk (20) entirely covers the wafer (100) and the suction holes (25) open to the lower side (22)of the disk (20), whereby, when the wafer (100) is in contact with the lower side (22) of the disk (20), it can be held by the tool (7) through suction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: LPE SpA
    Inventors: Franco Preti, Vincenzo Ogliari
  • Patent number: 6991421
    Abstract: There is disclosed a sheet accumulation processing device having a shielding mechanism of a sheet discharge opening which is simple in mechanism, low in cost and requires no complicated control. In the device, after an end of a sheet bunch sent via one end of a slit opening formed in a housing front face of the device is received by a sheet holding means disposed in the slit opening in a predetermined receiving position, the sheet holding means with the sheet bunch held therein is moved along the opening and, in a predetermined discharge position in the slit opening, discharges the sheet bunch onto a sheet accumulating tray in front of the housing. In the discharge position, a sheet holding section of the holding means is rotated forward and downward from its sheet-bunch holding condition and protruded forward from the housing front face, then releases the sheet bunch to place the sheet bunch onto the sheet accumulating tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Toyoaki Namba, Kyosuke Taka, Hideki Mimura, Yoshihisa Ogasawara
  • Patent number: 6991422
    Abstract: A method and unit for transferring blanks on a packing machine, whereby stacks of blanks are transferred from a platform, on which the blanks are arranged in stacks, to a store wherein the blanks are packed successively and seamlessly along a path for supply to a pickup station of the packing machine; transfer of the stacks from the platform to the store including forming, at a loading station and by means of two gripping devices for gripping the stacks, a group of blanks defined by stacks superimposed and aligned in a container, feeding the container and the group along a path to an unloading station at the store, and transferring the group of blanks from the container to the store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: G.D. Societa' per Azioni
    Inventors: Mario Spatafora, Franco Carini
  • Patent number: 6991423
    Abstract: A high-speed stacker preferably includes dual stacking arms configured to operate complementary to one another. Most preferably, an electronic control system is provided to enable precise control over the speed and positioning of the stacker arms in both horizontal and vertical orientations. Linear motion devices (such as hydraulic cylinders, screw drive linear actuators, or other devices) can be used to position the arms horizontally and vertically in response to instructions from the electronic control system. In operation, the electronic control system preferably controls the speed and ramping of the stacker arms to repeatedly move courses of material from a feed system to a stacking area at a rapid rate with little maintenance. The high-speed stacker can also be configured to operate fewer than all of the stacker arms to facilitate faster stacking of smaller courses of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Hogue Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Gary Wayne Hogue, Brian Cornelius Hogue, Steven M. Colligan
  • Patent number: 6991424
    Abstract: A gas friction pump includes stationary (6) and rotatable (5) pump-active elements secured on a rotor shaft (4) and forming with the rotor shaft components of the rotor, with the rotor shaft (4) being supported by two, spaced from each other, radial bearings (8, 9), of which one is located closer to the gravity center of the rotor than the other, and an axial bearing (16), and with the radial bearing (9), which is located closer to the gravity center of the rotor, being formed as a gas bearing, and another radial bearing (8) being formed as a non-gas bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Pfeiffer Vacuum GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Conrad, Jörg Stanzel
  • Patent number: 6991425
    Abstract: An air turbine starter for use in aircraft or other gas turbine engine applications. In a particular embodiment, the air turbine starter has a titanium unitary inlet structure. The unitary inlet structure has a housing having a longitudinal centerline. The housing defines an air inlet, a mounting surface, and a flow path therebetween. Integrally formed inside the housing and transverse to the longitudinal centerline is a stator for directing the flow of air in to the turbine blades of the turbine starter. The stator has a central circular body with a plurality of angularly spaced circumferentially mounted stator fins. An improved unitary inlet structure and method for making such a unitary inlet and stator are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Roy F. Kruegel, Cynthia S. Byers, Gary E. Armstrong, Todd A. Langston, Marvin K. Collins
  • Patent number: 6991426
    Abstract: A variable pitch fan, particularly for propulsion, of the type comprising a rotor and at least two stages of stator blade rows positioned upstream and downstream of the rotor, wherein the rotor blades (8) are of the variable pitch type and have a sinusoidal shape, are of the twisted type (1) or of the constant deflection type (2) and the stator blades (25), positioned downstream of the rotor, are of the twisted type. This rotor blade design allows a reduction of both the torque necessary to activate the variable pitch systems (lither actuator system) and the turning moments due to the centrifugal force. The proposed fan can be set in rotation by a conic couple of gears, contained in a gear oil sump positioned downstream the rotor, by means of one power shaft contained inside the stator blade. The variable pitch fan further provides a stator row upstream the rotor which are twisted in a manner that allows increased efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Inventor: Paolo Pietricola
  • Patent number: 6991427
    Abstract: A casing section (30) for rotary apparatus (13, 14) of a gas turbine engine (10) is described. The casing section (30) comprises a partially circumferential casing member (32) and a plurality of radially inwardly extending vanes (34) fixed on the casing member (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventor: John M Scott
  • Patent number: 6991428
    Abstract: A fan blade for a gas turbine engine having an airfoil with a leading edge; a trailing edge; a concave side; and a convex side. The blade has an integral platform with: a convex fillet merging with the airfoil; a forward edge; an aft edge; and a thickness defined between a top surface and an underside surface. The platform includes a stiffener on the underside surface adjacent the convex side of the blade, such that the stiffener defines a blade-off event platform fracture path on a second side of the platform adjacent the following blade and adjacent the convex side of the airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Nathan Brad Crane
  • Patent number: 6991429
    Abstract: A first stage rotor disk (50a) and a connecting member (30) on the compressor side are fixed by a spindle bolt (20). The spindle bolt (20) is covered with a tubular member (100), between the first stage rotor disk (50a) and the connecting member (30) on the compressor side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Uematsu, Kazuharu Hirokawa
  • Patent number: 6991430
    Abstract: A turbine blade squealer tip has a continuous squealer tip wall extending radially outwardly from and continuously around a tip cap. A recessed tip wall portion of the tip wall is recessed inboard from a pressure side of an airfoil outer wall of an airfoil of the blade forming a tip shelf therebetween. A plurality of film cooling shelf holes are disposed through the tip shelf to an internal cooling circuit of the blade and are spaced away from a junction between the recessed tip wall portion and the tip shelf. The exemplary embodiment of the airfoil includes shelf hole centerlines of the holes passing through pierce points in the shelf. At least a majority of the shelf hole centerlines are angled in outboard directions away from and outboard of the squealer tip wall. A majority of centerlines are angled away from vertical lines passing through the pierce points at first component angles in a range between 2 degrees and 16 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Philip Francis Stec, Daniel Edward Demers, Richard Ludwig Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6991431
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ceiling fan blade capable of producing full wind pressure and much wind. The solution of the present invention is to form a front and a rear wind receiving surfaces on the ceiling fan blade. A tangent angle of the rear wind-receiving surface is bigger than that of the front wind-receiving surface. A wavy wind guide surface is formed between the two wind receiving surfaces. The wavy wind guide surface and the two wind receiving surfaces can effectively increase the wind pressure and the wind; in addition, sinuous flow is substantially reduced when the blade is rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Inventor: Winston Liu Ching Wen
  • Patent number: 6991432
    Abstract: Attaching a labyrinth seal composed of wear-resistant material to the surfaces of rotating equipment subject to wear can increase the life of the rotating equipment and reduce down-time for equipment maintenance and repairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Good Earth Tools, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward Williams
  • Patent number: 6991433
    Abstract: The drum of the invention is generally in the form of a body of revolution about a longitudinal axis, being made of a metal alloy and extending between an upstream end and a downstream end along a curved profile capable of being circumscribed in an annular envelope extending around said longitudinal axis, said profile extending radially about a surface of revolution presenting a generatrix line, said downstream end being provided with a stiffener. In characteristic manner, said stiffener is provided with at least one composite assembly mounted on said downstream end, said composite assembly comprising fibers and a polymer matrix. The drum is preferably for use in constituting a rotor of a low pressure compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Snecma Moteurs
    Inventor: Claude Mons
  • Patent number: 6991434
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing disc-shaped or ring-shaped components subjected to flow. The components are produced by milling and finish machining downstream of the milling, the component being milled out of a workpiece, and a finish machining medium flowing through the component for the finish machining after the milling. The component is milled out of the workpiece in such a way that milling ridges which are produced run approximately perpendicularly to an aerodynamic direction of flow through the component during operation. The direction of flow of the finish machining medium through the component or the rotor disc therefore runs transversely, preferably perpendicularly, to the milling ridges appearing during the prior milling step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Heinrich, Johann Schnellbach, Hans Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 6991435
    Abstract: A variable displacement compressor includes a plate having a variable inclination angle, and a piston engaging the plate. The piston reciprocates within a bore of the compressor in accordance with a rotation of the plate, and the piston has a stroke length which is determined by the inclination angle of the plate. The compressor also includes a sensor positioned adjacent to the piston. The sensor generates an output signal when a predetermined portion of the piston is aligned with the sensor. The compressor also includes a processing unit operationally coupled to the sensor. The processing unit estimates the inclination angle of the plate based on the output signal from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Ochiai
  • Patent number: 6991436
    Abstract: An air compressor having a cooling fan that cools both a pump and an electric motor. Baffle compress air against the top of the motor, causing it to break up and flow around fours sides of the motor and through the motor. The pump includes an elongate intake tube or muffler that attenuates pump intake noise. A compressor tank for the air compressor includes a roll cage for protecting a condensate valve for the compressor tank. The compressor tank includes a rim base formed on the bottom of the compressor tank that permits the compressor tank to rest on a surface without additional supports or legs. Controls and gauges are mounted in the bottom clamshell piece, and openings on a top fit around the controls and gauges. The top and the bottom are aligned with guides so that the controls and gauges may be properly aligned with the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Powermate Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt Beckman, Andrew Kopel, Paul Klimek, Jan Davidson
  • Patent number: 6991437
    Abstract: An air compressor package having improved stability and portability. The air compressor package is positionable in an operational position, wherein the air compressor package is positioned on a base, and a transport position, wherein the air compressor package may be more readily transported. Positioning of the air compressor package into the transport position is accomplished by rotating the air compressor about a rotational axis that is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the air tank. The air compressor package includes a protective stop configured to contact a support surface when the air compressor package is moved between the operating position and the transport position, thereby preventing slippage of the air compressor package away from the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Cherry, John Buck, Mark J. Downes, Nick E. Achterberg
  • Patent number: 6991438
    Abstract: In a piston pump for providing high-pressure fuel in a common-rail fuel injection system including a camshaft (2), which is mounted rotatably in a pump housing (1) and which has at least one eccentric cam 93) for operating a pump piston (4, 14) in an approximately radial direction with respect to the camshaft (2), in order to reduce the wear of the piston pump, a piston-rod element (6, 16, 26, 36, 46) is arranged between each pump piston (4, 14) and the eccentric cam (3) so as to transmit the stroke movement (5) and the force from the eccentric cam of the camshaft (2) to the pump piston (4, 14) by a rolling movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Gerd Blessing, Swen Fleisch, Karl-Heinz Hoffmann, Manfred Müller, Claus Stenger, Bernd Wiemann
  • Patent number: 6991439
    Abstract: A vacuum pump apparatus has a casing and a base connected to the casing. The base has an opening communicating with an interior space of the casing. A heater is mounted on the base for heating the base to maintain a gas discharge path at a temperature high enough to prevent solidification of processed gas in the vacuum pump. A cover member covers the opening of the base. The cover member has a first surface communicating with the interior space of the casing and a second surface exposed to the exterior of the vacuum pump. A substrate is connected to the first surface of the cover member and has at least one circuit for controlling operation of the vacuum pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: BOC Edwards Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Takaharu Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6991440
    Abstract: A two-stage screw compressor has two compressor stages whose rotor housings are arranged with their axes parallel to one another and are enclosed by a common coolant housing at a distance. A coolant inlet and a coolant outlet are located at the common coolant housing, as well as guide walls such that the coolant flowing through the coolant housing flows around and cools the rotor housings of the two compressor stages one after the other in an S-shaped flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: GHH-Rand Schraubenkompressoren GmbH
    Inventors: Carsten Achtelik, Dieter Hüttermann
  • Patent number: 6991441
    Abstract: An expansible chamber device includes a braking system with a set of cam surfaces on the piston assemblies and a set of movable members adapted to alternately engage first and second sets of cam surfaces to stop the rotation of first piston assembly while permitting second piston assembly to rotate freely. A pair of elongate pivotable members engage the piston assemblies on one end and engage a slidable member having an adjustable length on the other end. The slidable member and the pivotable members alternate between first and second positions in response to engagement with ramp and stop surfaces provided on the piston assemblies. The rotating piston synchronizing system includes a set of biasing springs to urge the pivotable members into a suitable position to permit the device to be started from an at rest condition. The adjustable length slidable member enables a variable compression ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Inventor: Eugene Bahniuk
  • Patent number: 6991442
    Abstract: An improved high pressure intermeshing gear pump that achieves high efficiency and a low cost by forming the pumping cavity such that no fillets exist at the corners permitting closed fits without utilizing bearing end plates. In addition an improved coupling between the gears and their supporting shafts is disclosed as is a simplified machining method that eliminates burrs that may be formed during the drilling operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Soqi Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuji Meguro
  • Patent number: 6991443
    Abstract: An oil injected screw compressor has an oil separating mechanism integrated with a compressor and hence is made compact in size. A male rotor and a female rotor are received in a rotor casing. The shafts of these rotors are arranged substantially in a horizontal direction. An inner cylindrical wall is arranged under the rotor casing with its center axis arranged substantially in a vertical direction and an outer wall is arranged substantially in a concentric position with the inner wall. A lower casing is hermetically joined to the outer wall. Oil in the working gas which is injected in the compression process of the oil injected screw compressor is primarily separated from the working gas between the inner wall and the outer wall. The primarily separated working gas flows up inside the inner wall and is guided through a manifold into an oil separating element case where the oil is secondarily separated from the working gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Aoki, Masahiko Takano, Masaaki Toda
  • Patent number: 6991444
    Abstract: A prosthetic socket is made by wrapping water-soaked plaster bandages around a residual limb or around a prosthetic liner within which is disposed a residual limb, and positioning a vacuum wick in overlying relation to the plaster bandages. The residual limb, prosthetic liner, plaster bandages, and vacuum wick means are then inserted into a vacuum bladder. The vacuum bladder is sealed and a predetermined vacuum is applied internally to the bladder until the plaster hardens into a negative cast. The residual limb is manipulated through the vacuum bladder to modify the geometry of the plaster before the plaster hardens. The negative cast is removed from the residual limb and a positive cast is produced by pouring plaster into the negative cast. A thermoplastic sheet is thermoformed over the positive cast or a carbon-epoxy matrix is laminated over the positive cast. This eliminates reduction and modification of a hard positive cast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Inventor: Aldo A. Laghi
  • Patent number: 6991445
    Abstract: A production line for the manufacture of strips of vinyl siding comprises an extruder extruding a strip of hot plastic material, such as vinyl. Next, an embosser supplies a decorative pattern to the heated strip. A cooling apparatus receives the heated strip and immerses the strip in a water bath to lower the temperature to a selected temperature range. The material, now reduced in temperature, is then passed to a former having dies creating joining runs in the cooled, embossed siding strip. Finally the strip runs through a final cooling tank which chills the strip to harden the joining runs created by the former. The cooling apparatus consists of a water bath tank with entry and exit guides for the strip, which are mounted above the level of the water in the water bath tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: K-Ter Imagineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Szabo, Garfield Stovin, Stevan Miner
  • Patent number: 6991446
    Abstract: The present invention involves a method and system for manufacturing a multiple density substrate for impact energy absorption with a mold having a mold cavity of a predetermined shape. The substrate is integrally formed by the method comprising providing a first set of unbonded pre-expanded beads having a first density and a second set of unbonded pre-expanded beads having a second density, loading a portion of the mold with the first set of unbonded beads at a predetermined location in the mold sufficiently to leave a void in the mold, and separately injecting the loaded mold portion with a sufficient second set of unbonded beads into the void. The method further includes bonding the first and second sets of beads together with heat to define a molded set of bonded beads having the predetermined shape and cooling the molded set of bonded beads sufficiently to define the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: George B. Byma, Brian A. Cristea, Richard Mühlbacher
  • Patent number: 6991447
    Abstract: A pleating machine (20) is provided which allows extremely rapid, uniform pleating of flexible, tubular bodies (28), thereby eliminating the arduous and time-consuming task of manual pleating. The machine (20) includes an upper, stationary, female tubular jaw (90) and a lower, reciprocal, male tubular pleating jaw (92) which are oriented in superposed, substantially axial alignment, along with a drive assembly (26) serving to vertically reciprocate lower jaw (92). An elongated rod-type body support (24) extends downwardly through the upper jaw (90) and presents a pleating surface (88a), so that upon reciprocation of lower jaw (92), the jaw lugs (105) successively engage the body (28) to form pleats (162, 164). The pleats (162, 164) are retained by keeper structure including inwardly extending female jaw segments (98) and weighted slide (89) mounted on support (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: BE Intellectual Property, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold G. LeClare, Kevin E. Welch, Kevin L. Egbert, Andrew R. Elliott, James P. Morris, Gary R. Hannah
  • Patent number: 6991448
    Abstract: An extrusion apparatus which satisfactorily adjusts differences in skin-body flow rates at multiple locations around the die, and allows for the external manipulation of the interior components controlling batch flow, during the production without having to stop manufacturing operations to effect the necessary changes thereat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert B. Lubberts
  • Patent number: 6991449
    Abstract: The invention is an apparatus for de-bulking a composite material preform laid up in a mold. In detail, the apparatus includes a flexible cover adapted to fit over the mold and preform and attach to the sides of the mold. The cover includes an inlet port located in the cover such that when the cover is fit over the mold and preform, the inlet port positioned over the preform. A stretchable cord seals the peripheral portions of the cover to the sides of the mold forming a chamber over the preform. A hot air pump is coupled to the inlet port of the cover for pumping hot air into the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: William T. Mead, John Potter, Tom Hurka
  • Patent number: 6991450
    Abstract: Honeycomb structures are formed at reduced extrusion pressures and high extrusion rates via extrusion through open cavity honeycomb extrusion dies incorporating large, closely spaced feed channels delivering extrudable material to die honeycomb forming sections incorporating extrudate distribution means in the form of inverted conical or pyramidal flow dividers incorporating inclined flow-guiding surfaces that guide the extrudate into the base ends of plural discharge slot intersections and/or slot segments in direct line with the feed channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Alan T. Stephens, II
  • Patent number: 6991451
    Abstract: A control apparatus simultaneously controls flow rates of a first fluid and a second fluid. The apparatus comprises a control valve for controlling the flow rate of the first fluid and a bleed device for bleeding the second fluid. The control valve is operatively connected to the bleed device, whereby, as the control valve is opened progressively greater amounts to increase flow of the first fluid, the bleed device is progressively closed to decrease bleeding of the second fluid, and, as the control valve is closed progressively greater amounts to decrease flow of the first fluid, the bleed device is progressively opened to increase bleeding of the second fluid. The control apparatus may be installed in a burner unit of the type having a compressor supplying pressurized air to the burner and a fuel pump supplying fuel to the burner. The control valve controls the fuel and the bleed device increases bleeding of the air as the control valve closes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Teleflex Canada Incorporated
    Inventor: Alexander Schwartzman
  • Patent number: 6991452
    Abstract: An embodiment of an apparatus for holding a flame-yielding device and/or shielding one or more flame yielded thereby includes a sleeve-like body having at least one wall capable of surrounding the flame-yielding device. To hold the flame-yielding device, the at least one wall includes at least one engagement section that is removably slideable over and around the flame-yielding device to grip and hold the flame-yielding device. To shield the flame(s) of the flame-yielding device from extinguishment by air flow during normal operating conditions, the at least one wall includes multiple concave portions extending downwardly from the upper edge thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Inventor: James Semaan
  • Patent number: 6991453
    Abstract: An oil lamp for providing a unique flame formation usable in a variety of decorative applications. The lamp includes a body that has an open upper end and that defines a chamber for carrying a combustible liquid. The lamp further includes a planar wick having a lower end located in the chamber of the body, for contacting the combustible liquid, and an upper end projecting upwardly from the open upper end. The wick may be positioned between first and second plates arranged in a spaced, confronting relationship to enhance capillary action or may be wrapped about a rigid plate. When lit, the lamp provides a unique flame formation. Optionally, the lamp may include scented oil and a conductive element to promote the release of fragrance upon heating, and the wick can be configured free of material having a high heat conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Inventors: DayNa Decker, Steven Dodson
  • Patent number: 6991454
    Abstract: A gas burner is provided that simulates wood burning fire and the glowing ember effect of real wood or coal burning. The burner has a burner pan which is covered by a refractory material and a ceramic material. Burner ports are formed through the refractory and ceramic materials. Methods for forming such a burner are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Lennox Hearth Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Hardial S. Gore, Depinder Paul
  • Patent number: 6991455
    Abstract: A shutter structure of an oven apparatus used in semiconductor or liquid crystal display (LCD) processes includes a hollow housing and an open device, wherein the housing has a front face, a first face, a second face and a rear face whose edges of two sides are respectively connected with one respective side edge of the first face and the second face, and the front face is opposite to the rear face and is structurally separable at least with the first face and with the second face, and the open device includes a rotating shaft which is disposed at one side of the front face and a driver which is disposed at one end of the rotating shaft and used to drive the front face of the shutter to open rotatedly so as to have a substrate placed into the housing and taken out from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventor: Chao-Min Wu
  • Patent number: 6991456
    Abstract: A light hardening apparatus for hardening light hardenable material includes a printed circuit having a carrier layer comprised of isolating material. The printed circuit is bendable and has conductor paths extending thereon or therethrough at spacings from one another. The apparatus includes a cooling body and a light source having a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Ivoclar Vivadent AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Plank
  • Patent number: 6991457
    Abstract: An endodontic obturator includes a body and a disposable cartridge containing gutta percha that is couplable with the body. By containing the gutta percha in a disposable cartridge, a dentist or other medical technician does not have to clean the body or other components of the obturator, thus reducing the amount of time required to clean the obturator after use. The obturator also includes a heater operable to heat the gutta percha in the disposable cartridge and a thermal barrier operable to resist the flow of heat from the heater to the rest of the body. In addition, the obturator includes a mechanism operable to generate pressure in the disposable cartridge to dispense the gutta percha. With the thermal barrier, a portion of the obturator's body that a dentist or other medical technician might hold while injecting gutta percha into a patient's tooth may be kept relatively cool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Aseptico, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn D. Kazen, Jan Wietecha
  • Patent number: 6991458
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for sterilizing/disinfecting water circuits of dental units (1) comprising dental handpieces (2) and a water circuit (3) for supplying liquid from a main supply (4) through corresponding circuit legs or branches (3a, 3b, 3c, 3s). The method comprises at least the following steps: introducing a disinfectant/sterilizing liquid in the water circuit (3) for a predetermined length of time; draining the disinfectant/sterilizing liquid out of the circuit (3) through the circuit legs or branches (3a, 3b, 3c, 3s); and introducing the user liquid in the water circuit (3); the method further comprising, between the steps of introducing and draining out the disinfectant/sterilizing liquid and the user liquid, a step of introducing a fluid from an independent branch (5) in the water circuit (3) for a predetermined length of time, depending on defined parameters, in order to expel from the water circuit (3) all the remaining liquid in the water circuit (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Castellini S.p.A.
    Inventor: Franco Castellini
  • Patent number: 6991459
    Abstract: An impactor for safely, efficiently, and effectively placing mercury-free dental restorations in a cavity of a patient's tooth, the impactor having a housing, anvil, hammer, solenoid or other transducer, end cap, source of restoration paste, and paste feeder tube for condensing mercury-free paste in the cavity. The impactor provides periodic impulses by activating the solenoid, causing the hammer to strike the anvil. The anvil is forced into contact with the paste, thereby condensing the paste into a high-density metal or other material suitable for dental restoration. (Also disclosed is a solenoid or other transducer having a “T” shaped hammer which strikes an anvil.) The solenoid or other transducer can be used to compact or strike any surface. The paste feeder may be incorporated into the impactor or alternatively be a separate hand operated device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Innovative Dental Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David S. Lashmore
  • Patent number: 6991460
    Abstract: A multibrush tooth cleaning apparatus with a spray provides a possibility to clean the teeth with the simultaneous flushing away the plaque debris and includes a fluid inlet tubular means coupled with the sink/bath faucet and with a main controllable valve installed on a stand. The stand comprises a fluid line, at least one of a plurality of fluid channels, an appropriate at least one of the same plurality of outlet pipes coupled with an appropriate at least one of the same plurality of the auxiliary controllable valves coupled by the flexible tubes with an appropriate at least one of the same plurality of the mouthpieces (tooth brushes). The outlet pipes are appropriately extended of the fluid line, and each of the outlet pipes is rigidly connected to the appropriate auxiliary controllable valve, comprising a lever intended to close or open the auxiliary controllable valve for fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Inventor: Armen Karapetyan
  • Patent number: 6991461
    Abstract: A novel dental implant with flexible expansion ribs that lock into and compress the bone within a drilled hole in the jawbone. Upon tightening the screw used to mount the implant abutment, a set of thin medical-alloy ribs lock into the surrounding bone to provide an immediate and permanently strong support for a dental prosthesis while bone growth into the implant occurs. The expanding ribs turn an edge outward to lock into the surround bone and preventing the rotation of the implant assembly during installation and use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Inventor: Neal B. Gittleman