Patents Issued in January 16, 2007
  • Patent number: 7163348
    Abstract: A mailing machine including a postage meter for printing evidence of postage payment on a media includes a registration surface, a print head, an envelope transport having at least two nips for keeping the media from skewing and contacting the print head, a media ski ending upstream of the registration surface for pushing the media into contact with the registration surface, and at least one star wheel disposed in an opening of the registration surface for holding the media down as it is fed through the mailing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Walter J. Kulpa, Norman L. Barrigas
  • Patent number: 7163349
    Abstract: Cleaning compositions, pads, wipes, and implements provide effective cleaning of hard surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Nicola John Policicchio, Preston James Rhamy, Michael William Dusing, Kenneth William Willman, Rhonda Jean Jackson
  • Patent number: 7163350
    Abstract: In a liquid container, it is made possible to store liquid that is overflowed by fluctuations in atmospheric pressure and thereby to prevent liquid leaks, and the whole quantity of the stored liquid is enabled to be used. The liquid container is provided with a body having a main tank in which liquid is stored; a supply outlet, located toward the tip of the body, for supplying the liquid; a guiding portion connecting the main tank and the supply outlet to guide the liquid from the main tank to the supply outlet; and a liquid reservoir having an air flow port communicating with the exterior and a liquid flow port communicating with the main tank or the guiding portion and an overflowing liquid flow path for storing liquid overflowing the main tank. The liquid is stored farther away from the supply outlet than the liquid flow port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Kotobuki & Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Noguchi, Hidehei Kageyama
  • Patent number: 7163351
    Abstract: The tire cleaning apparatus provides a vibration-inducing surface for a vehicle passing over the tire cleaning apparatus in order to remove dirt and debris from the tires of the vehicle. The tire cleaning apparatus includes at least one tire-cleaning frame, which is formed from a plurality of upper C-shaped beams, which are secured to a plurality of lower C-shaped beams in a rectilinear grid-shaped pattern. Sidewalls of the upper C-shaped beams, which project upwardly, form the vibration-inducing surface, and channels formed in the upper C-shaped beams allow for the collection of dirt and debris, and also provide for the drainage of water. Similar sidewalls of the lower C-shaped beams engage the ground for secure positioning of the tire-cleaning frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Inventor: Donald S. Shaver
  • Patent number: 7163352
    Abstract: A concrete lid for an in-ground utilities box includes a plastic reinforcement structure filled with concrete. The plastic reinforcement structure includes one or more plastic sidewalls that protect the edges of the lid from damage. The upper and lower surfaces of the lid are exposed concrete (with the exception of the upper and lower edges of the one or more plastic sidewalls). The one or more plastic sidewalls laterally surround a plastic reinforcement grid, which is centrally located between the upper and lower edges of the one or more plastic sidewalls. The one or more plastic sidewalls can be integrally formed with the plastic reinforcement grid. The plastic reinforcement grid reinforces the concrete lid, eliminating the need for separate reinforcement material. Support struts can be used to support the plastic reinforcement grid while wet concrete is being poured into the plastic reinforcing structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Bescal, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Jurich, Rickey G. Swartz, Jon R. Reed, Eric C. Freeman, Wolfgang Ott, Paul H. Appelblom, Paul A. Jurich
  • Patent number: 7163353
    Abstract: An adapter by which a conventional paint marking stick that carries a can of spray paint to mark a roadway surface in need of repair is detachably connected to a conventional digital counter having at least one wheel to roll over the surface so as to measure the size thereof. The adapter includes a base with a pair of legs projecting outwardly therefrom in a first direction and a cylindrical post projecting outwardly from the base in an opposite direction. In the assembled relationship, the pair of legs of the adapter are slidably received within a hollow jacket that surrounds one end of the paint marking stick and the cylindrical post of the adapter is moved into an existing mounting collar of the digital counter. Accordingly, a workman in the field need only use a single hand to cause the paint marking stick to roll along the surface to be repaired while, at the same time, measuring the dimensions of the area and activating the can of spray paint to mark the outline of the area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Inventor: Adalberto R. Ramirez
  • Patent number: 7163354
    Abstract: A work machine, such as a landfill or soil compactor, includes at least one wheel having a plurality of compactor tips. Often, debris or dirt builds up on the wheel between the compactor tips and must be removed. A cleaner finger assembly, including a support member having at least three leg portions and a cleaner finger attached to one of the leg portions is mountable to the work machine. As the wheel rotates, the relatively stationary cleaner finger assembly removes material which would otherwise cause build-up between the compactor tips on the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventor: Christopher M. Runestad
  • Patent number: 7163355
    Abstract: A wind-driven source of electricity can be located and oriented to take advantage of winds traveling over water. A structure is provided that can be transported over water and carry one or more wind-driven sources of electricity and structure-supporting means for engaging the earth's surface under water. The structure is transported to an advantageous location for operation of the wind-driven sources of electricity; the structure supporting means is engaged with the earth's surface under water at the advantageous location; and the one or more wind-driven sources of electricity can be elevated to take advantage of the winds traveling over the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Inventors: James E. Ingle, Douglas Hines
  • Patent number: 7163356
    Abstract: A tension leg platform is secured to the sea floor with a plurality of tendons, each of the tendons being in tension due to buoyancy of the platform. The tendons are made up of joints of pipe secured together to define a hollow interior sealed from entry of sea water. A lower section of the joints of pipe of each of the tendons has smaller inner and outer diameters and greater wall thicknesses than an upper section of the joints of pipe. Bulkheads are sealed within the interior of the upper and lower sections of the joints of pipe of each of the tendons. The bulkheads are spaced apart from each other along the lengths of the upper and lower sections of the joints of pipe to define separate compartments sealed from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Deepwater Marine Technology L.L.C.
    Inventors: Edward Huang, Shihwei Liao
  • Patent number: 7163357
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for stabilizing and lifting subsided slabs, flatwork, foundations of buildings or other structures, and, in particular, to the slab pier and bracket which are used in the repair and support of said subsided slabs, flatwork, foundations of building or other structures. The apparatus is advantageous in situations where extra support is needed for raising the subsided slabs, flatwork, foundations or buildings or other structures. In a specific embodiment, the subject method and apparatus can include a bracket, top piece, and pier column. In this embodiment, the subject apparatus can use these components as the means for lifting the subsided slab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Inventor: James L. Peterson
  • Patent number: 7163358
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a composition for injection grouting obtainable by mixing an alkali metal silicate or an organic silicate, colloidal silica particles, and at least one gelling agent, wherein the weight ratio of colloidal silica to silicate is from about 2:1 to about 100:1. The invention also relates to a method of sealing a leaking part or cavity, and method of cutting off a liquid flow in a leaking part or cavity. The invention further relates to a composition for injection grouting and a method for preparing such composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Akzo Nobel N.V.
    Inventors: Peter Greenwood, Inger Jansson, Ulf Skarp
  • Patent number: 7163359
    Abstract: Transport system with several devices (1) for transporting powder, where each device (1) has a transfer chamber (3) into which a supply line (6) and a discharge line (8) for the powder open, and means to generate a negative pressure in the transfer chamber (3), where the means to generate a negative pressure in the device (1) has a piston (11) which is moveable in the transfer chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Ramseier Technologies AG
    Inventor: Jürg Moser
  • Patent number: 7163360
    Abstract: A cutter body which includes cartridges 11 for allowing corresponding cutting inserts 9 to be removably fixed thereto, a cutter body member 3, second screws (cartridge fixation screws 17) for fixing the corresponding cartridges 11 to the cutter body member 3, and adjustment screws 19 for adjusting the positions of the corresponding cartridges 11. A wrench reception socket 51 of each of the fastened second screws 17 and/or a wrench reception socket 50 of each of the adjustment-completed adjustment screws 19 is sealed. A rotary tool (milling cutter 1) is configured such that the cutting inserts 9 are fixed to the corresponding cartridges 11 of the cutter body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidenori Toyose
  • Patent number: 7163361
    Abstract: A cutting tool in which a cutting insert is resiliently retained. The cutting insert includes a locating portion and a cutting portion having a rake surface and a relief surface. The locating portion extends from the cutting portion away from the rake surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Iscar Ltd.
    Inventor: Gil Hecht
  • Patent number: 7163362
    Abstract: A hole saw assembly including a boss adapted to hold a hole saw and having a plurality of connecting shafts. The shafts rotationally engage a driving means and longitudinally engage a locking member that locks the boss, driving means and the locking member together. This is achieved by the driving means and the locking member having co-axially aligned cutouts allowing for the insertion of the shafts. The locking member is moveable between two positions in one the cutouts engaging the shafts and in the other allowing for free longitudinal movement of the shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Inventor: Kym John Keightly
  • Patent number: 7163363
    Abstract: The invention concerns a drill including a generally cylindrical body, tipped with a head and provided, over at least part of its length, generally spiral evaporating grooves. The groove(s) are delimited, over at least part of their length, by a succession of facets, attached to one another, and linked to one another by sharp edges or by radius blends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Diager
    Inventors: Francois Defougeres, Pierre Rigolet, Sylvain Lamy
  • Patent number: 7163364
    Abstract: A clamp for a key cutting machine includes a base portion having opposing shoulders defining an accommodation. A pair of jaws is housed in the accommodation of the base portion for holding a key blank for cutting thereof. At least one of the jaws is movable relative to the other one of the jaws. An adjustable locator device is disposed on at least one of the base portion and the pair of jaws for bringing the key blank into a cutting position. Opposed plates close open ends of the accommodation. One of the plates includes a key insertion aperture for insertion of the key blank between the pair of jaws to identify the key blank as a correct match and prevent the key blank from tipping over.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Bianchi 1770 S.p.A.
    Inventors: Eros Foscan, Ladd-E Urbas
  • Patent number: 7163365
    Abstract: A pivot shaft includes a shaft member having a male screw portion to be thread-connected to a vehicle body frame, and a nut member having a female screw portion to be thread-connected to part of a male screw portion of the shaft member corresponding to a projecting thread portion projecting from the vehicle body frame. The nut member as a locknut is attached so as to prevent the rotation of the adjusted shaft member. The locknut is a nut member formed into a cap-shape or a ball-head locknut shape. A tool engaging portion to which a multi-purpose tightening tool can be engaged is formed on the nut member. Since the multi-purpose tool can be engaged with the tool engaging portion on the nut member accurately, control of a tightening torque is facilitated, and the number of steps for controlling the tightening torque can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Manaka, Kanji Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7163366
    Abstract: A screw includes a first thread on the shank and located close to the point of the shank, and a second thread which is connected to the first thread and extends toward the head of the screw. Each of the first and second threads includes an upper flank and a lower flank. A first angle is defined by an intersection of the upper flank and the lower flank of the first thread, and is larger than a second angle defined by an intersection of the upper flank and the lower flank of the second thread. The first thread bears larger torque and the second thread includes sharper cutting edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Inventor: Pei-Hua Chen
  • Patent number: 7163367
    Abstract: A system for adjusting the height of a boom on a pipe handling apparatus. A cavity is formed in the base between proximal and distal ends. The boom is nestable in said cavity and has a distal end guided along the base. A pivoting member is pivotally coupled to said boom for raising a proximal end for positioned adjacent a work floor for handling of pipe therebetween. A plurality of ports are arranged along the boom at a pre-determined spacing. A plurality of ports are is similarly arranged along the same predetermined spacing along the pivoting member. The spacing of the boom and arm ports is such that a hinge pin can engage any one of corresponding pairs of boom and arm port when the boom is lowered to nestle inside the cavity as each boom port corresponds with an arm port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Forum Canada ULC
    Inventor: Richard A. Handley
  • Patent number: 7163368
    Abstract: An electrical submersible pump runner having a core layer and a wear layer affixed to the core layer. One embodiment of the invention provides an electrical submersible pump that includes a motor section and a centrifugal pump section. A seal section and rotary gas separator may also be included. The pump is powered by an electric cable that connects the pump, located in a bore hole, to a power source on the surface. A thrust runner coated with a wear layer (e.g., polymer) is provided in the motor and/or seal section to reduce bearing temperature, provide longer bearing life, reduce costs, and facilitate overhaul. The runner may also function as a rotating up-thrust bearing when the runner is coated with a wear layer on one side that is formed with a bearing geometry. In this case, the up-thrust bearing may be eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Inventors: Russell Charles Ide, Russell Douglas Ide
  • Patent number: 7163369
    Abstract: A variable stator vane assembly for use in a compressor section of a turbine engine having a plurality of movable metallic stator vanes and a method for making a variable stator vane assembly. The variable stator vane assembly includes a metallic stator casing supporting the vanes and a bushing system positioned between the stator vanes and the stator casings. The bushing system includes a bushing fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of metal, ceramic or combinations thereof. The variable stator vane further including a titanium nitride wear coating disposed on a surface of the vanes in contact with the bushing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Robert W. Bruce
  • Patent number: 7163370
    Abstract: A raw material powder having particle sizes of not more than 125 ?m and preferably not more than 75 ?m, such as a powder of an alloy of Co-32% Ni-21% Cr-7.5% Al-0.5% Y is thermally sprayed onto surfaces of shroud members of a shroud to form a coating. The high velocity oxygen-fuel thermal spray method is used as the thermal spray method. In the obtained coating, the porosity is 5% to 30% by volume and the oxygen content is not more than 2% by weight. In particular, when the raw material powder has particle sizes of about 40 ?m, it is possible to obtain the coating which has an extremely small oxygen content of about 0.5% by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Kokusho
  • Patent number: 7163371
    Abstract: A centrifugal fan is configured to be capable of preventing turbulence of the flow in the vicinity of an inlet. The centrifugal fan is a multi blade fan that takes gas in from a rotational axis line direction and blows the gas out in a direction that intersects the rotational axis line, and comprises an impeller and a bell mouth. The impeller rotates about the rotational axis line. The bell mouth has an inlet arranged so that it opposes the impeller, and a recessed part around the inlet that forms a recessed negative pressure space facing the impeller side, and guides the inlet gas to the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masashito Higashida
  • Patent number: 7163372
    Abstract: A floor care appliance is provided with a motor-fan assembly that includes a diffuser to improve efficiency but also reduces any resultant noise generated. The diffuser is disc shaped and has a plurality of equi-distant spaced vanes around the periphery. The vanes improve performance by converting air velocity into static pressure rise. The vanes also reduce noise by making the flow more uniform. A periphery of radially extending return vanes are arranged circumferentially on one side of the disc. The return vanes remove swirl and improve performance before directing the air through the interior of the motor for cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: The Hoover Company
    Inventor: Steven W. Kegg
  • Patent number: 7163373
    Abstract: A turbine blade for a turbine engine having a cooling system in the turbine blade formed from at least one cooling channel. The cooling system may include one or more protrusions positioned in the cooling channel and including one or more vortex breakers along the length of the protrusion. The vortex breakers disrupt vortices formed downstream of the protrusions to increase heat transfer enhancement effect of the protrusions. The cooling channels of the cooling system may include a plurality of protrusions whose configuration is based upon the cooling requirements of the blade in which the cooling system is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Power Generation, Inc.
    Inventor: George Liang
  • Patent number: 7163374
    Abstract: Provided is an improved blower fan structure in which length of blades is increased and inlet and outlet angles of the blades are optimized for highly increasing an efficiency of the blower fan. Particularly, an outer diameter of the blades is more than or equal to two times of an inner diameter thereof, for increasing the efficiency without generating a noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jung Woo Lee, Moon Kee Chung, Sim Won Chin
  • Patent number: 7163375
    Abstract: An interblade platform for a blade support disc on a turbojet blower includes a deflecting part with a lower face provided with a first fixing lug provided with a first orifice for the passage of a first fixing stud and a second fixing lug provided with second and third orifices for the passage of second and third fixing studs. The fixing studs are intended to fix the two fixing lugs to the support disc between two adjacent blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Snecma Moteurs
    Inventors: Michele Jacqueline Queriault, Claude Robert Louis Lejars
  • Patent number: 7163376
    Abstract: Damper pins are disposed in circumferentially registering grooves of turbine bucket platform slash faces. The pins have a plurality of channels formed about peripheral portions thereof for flowing leakage cooling air from below the platform past the pin and groove into the interplatform gap. The channels may be staggered in an axial direction. By flowing cooling air through the channels, the slash faces are convectively cooled, opposite slash faces to the channels are impingement cooled and the exiting cooling air purges the gap between the slash faces adjacent the hot gas path. Alternatively, the channels may be formed in the grooved surfaces and a cylindrical damping pin may be inserted with similar cooling effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gary Michael Itzel, Ariel Caesar-Prepena Jacala
  • Patent number: 7163377
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting a fixture to a ceiling according to which a tubular retainer extends in an opening of an arm and a fastener extends through the retainer and is retained by the retainer. The fastener is adapted to engage a device at the ceiling to mount the arm to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Diani, LLC.
    Inventors: Frank Blateri, Wang Liang Chou
  • Patent number: 7163378
    Abstract: An embedding element (11) for embedment in the root of a wind turbine rotor blade (15) of a fibre composite material, said embedding element being elongated and having a first end portion (1) and a second end portion (2) and provided with fastening means, eg a threaded hole, a threaded rod or the like in its first end portion (1). Between its two end portions (1, 2) the embedding element (11) is provided with a first longitudinal lateral face (14) extending substantially concavely in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the embedding element, and with a second longitudinal lateral face (16) facing opposite the first lateral face (14) and extending substantially correspondingly convexly in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: LM Glasfiber A/S
    Inventor: Casper Kildegaard
  • Patent number: 7163379
    Abstract: A gradient liquid feed pump system capable of liquid feed in a correct mixing ratio even in the case of liquid feed in which the mixing ratio varies. Specifically, it comprises a first plunger pump for sucking and delivering an eluate, a second the first and second plunger pumps through a cam, a first pressure sensor for measuring the pressure in the flow path of the second plunger pump, a second pressure sensor for measuring the pressure in the fist plunger pump, a cam position detecting sensor for detecting the cam position, wherein when the cam position is in a delivery interval, the rotary speed of the motor is increased, and the period for decreasing the rotary speed is determined on the basis of the difference between the pressure values obtained from the first and second pressure sensors, respectively. Thereby, liquid feed can be smoothly effected with correct mixing ratio while avoiding pressure interference between pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignees: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation, Hitachi Science Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyotoshi Mori, Kenichiro Takahashi, Masanori Takaki, Masato Fukuda, Masahito Ito, Hironori Kaji
  • Patent number: 7163380
    Abstract: An apparatus for and methods of control of a fluid flow. In a system for supercritical processing of an object, the apparatus includes a measuring device for measuring a pump performance parameter and a controller for adjusting a fluid flow in response to the performance parameter. The system further includes a processing chamber for performing a supercritical process and a device for circulating at least one of a gaseous, liquid, supercritical and near-supercritical fluid within the processing chamber. A method of control of a fluid flow includes the steps of: measuring a pump performance parameter; comparing a measured pump performance parameter to a predetermined target pump performance parameter; and adjusting a fluid flow in response to a difference in the measured pump performance parameter and the predetermined target pump performance parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: William Dale Jones
  • Patent number: 7163381
    Abstract: A pump includes a motor and a motor control in operative connection with the motor. The motor control provides energy input to the motor to drive the motor and receives feedback from the motor of motor function. The motor control includes a motor control protocol that controls the energy input to the motor based upon the feedback received from the motor. The motor control protocol causes a rapid increase in energy provided to the motor if motor feedback indicates an unusual load on the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Caesarea Medical Electronics
    Inventor: Swi Barak
  • Patent number: 7163382
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a suitcase style air compressor assembly having an extensible handle bar assembly and a wheel assembly. When the extensible handle bar assembly is fully extended, the suitcase style air compressor assembly may be transported by utilizing the extensible handle bar assembly and the wheel assembly. When the suitcase style air compressor assembly reaches a worksite, the extensible handle bar assembly may be retracted so that the suitcase style air compressor assembly does not occupy a large space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: J. Cody Stilwell, Gary D. White, Stephen J. Vos
  • Patent number: 7163383
    Abstract: A compressor assembly including a compression mechanism having a main bearing and a plurality of first pilot holes, and an electric motor comprising a rotor disposed within a stator. The stator has a plurality of second and third pilot holes. Each of the first pilot holes are aligned with one of the second pilot holes. Alignment members are disposed within each pair of aligned first and second pilot holes, whereby the alignment of compression mechanism and stator is maintained. An outboard bearing is secured to the stator, has a plurality of fourth pilot holes and rotatably supports the drive shaft. Each of third pilot holes is aligned with one of the fourth pilot holes. Alignment members are disposed within each pair of third and fourth pilot holes, whereby the alignment of the compression mechanism, the stator and the outboard bearing is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventor: Robin G Skinner
  • Patent number: 7163384
    Abstract: A reciprocating compressor with a linear motor having an actuating means operatively coupling a reciprocating piston to the motor; and a resonant spring means mounted under constant compression to the actuating means by the mutual seating of a pair of supporting surface portions, at least one of the latter being operatively associated with one of the spring means and the actuating means, against a respective pair of convex surface portions, each of the latter being operatively associated with the other of said parts, the convex surface portions being symmetrical and opposite in relation to the axis of cylinder, the supporting surface portions and the convex surface portions being mutually seated and operatively associated with the respective parts of the spring means and the actuating means, in order to transmit, by the mutually seated surface portions, the opposite axial forces with such intensity as to minimize the moments on the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Empresa Brasileira de Compressores S.A. -Embraco
    Inventors: Dietmar Erich Bernhard Lilie, Rinaldo Puff
  • Patent number: 7163385
    Abstract: A hydro-elastic pumping system formed from an elastic tube element having attached end members with different hydroimpedance properties, wherein the elastic element is pinched with certain frequency and duty cycle to form asymmetric forces that pump fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Morteza Gharib, Anna Iwaniec, Jijie Zhou, Flavio Noca
  • Patent number: 7163386
    Abstract: A scroll compressor has a movable auxiliary member provided by mounting it between a frame member and a circling scroll member. The movable auxiliary member has a stopper portion for causing a contact plane to contact a pane of a fixed scroll member and a ring portion having an opposed plane annularly formed to face the pane of the circling scroll member, is further supported elastically by an elastic support in a state of being energized in a direction of the circling scroll member, has the contact plane of the stopper portion caused to contact the pane in this elastic support state to keep a limit position with the opposed plane facing the pane of the circling scroll member, and goes back elastically to the frame member side when the circling scroll member goes back to the frame member side and the pane is pressed to contact the opposed plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Appliances, Inc.
    Inventors: Takeshi Tsuchiya, Yuuichi Yanagase, Kazuyuki Fujimura, Makoto Aoki, Shigekazu Nozawa, Mutsunori Matsunaga, Satoshi Nakamura, Masaru Ohtahara, Shuuji Hasegawa, Yoshinobu Yosuke
  • Patent number: 7163387
    Abstract: A conjugate pair of intermeshing rotors include helical lobes having helical crests and intervening grooves and are adapted for rotation about parallel axes within a working space of a screw rotor machine. Each rotor has a tip circle, a pitch circle, and a root circle. One rotor of each pair is a female rotor formed such that a major portion of each lobe of the female rotor is located inside the pitch circle of the female rotor. The other rotor is a male rotor formed such that a major portion of each lobe of the male rotor is located outside the pitch circle of the male rotor. The lobes of one rotor follow the grooves of the other rotor to form a continuous sealing line between the pair of rotors. Each of the lobes have a primary flank portion and a secondary flank portion. The primary flank portion of the lobes of the female rotor have a profile formed from at least one ellipse, and the primary flank portion of the lobes of the male rotor have a profile formed from at least one ellipse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Yan Tang
  • Patent number: 7163388
    Abstract: A polymer extrusion head for forming continuous shapes having one or more lumens therein. The head includes an extrusion mandrel and die. At least one lumen pipe is disposed radially through a port in the die to intersect the polymer flow in the annular region between the tip and the die. The lumen pipe is a welded assembly having a 90° turn formed as a mitered joint with zero bend radius. The lumen pipe is held in a pin vise engaged in the die such that position of the lumen pipe may be readily adjusted. Axial and radial positions are established during assembly by means of a gauge block. A plurality of lumen pipes may be accommodated for a plurality of lumens by a manifold distribution system including individual lumen pipe assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Cangen Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Prem Anand, Joseph T. Chapin
  • Patent number: 7163389
    Abstract: An extrusion die for extrusion molding of a honeycomb structure has back holes for introducing a raw material to be molded and slits for extruding the raw material. The extrusion die comprises an inside section, an outer peripheral section, and an outermost peripheral section; the width of the slit 14 disposed in the outer peripheral section is wider than the width of the slit disposed in the inside section; and when the surface roughness (Ra) of the slits in the inside section and the outer peripheral section is 0.1 ?m or smaller, or when the surface roughness (Ra) of the slits in the inside section and the outer peripheral section exceeds 0.1 ?m, the relationship between the surface roughness a of slit in the inside section and the surface roughness b of slit in the outer peripheral section satisfies the condition that 0.1<a/b<10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Miyazaki, Koji Okada
  • Patent number: 7163390
    Abstract: In the molding of parisons made of thermoplastic material for making bottles for containing effervescent beverages, resistance to bursting of the bottles is increased considerably the gasket (4) between the injector nozzle (3) and the injection cavity (1) is made of thermally insulating material and has a shape that is complementary to the shape of the cavity (1) for housing the end of the injector (3) in the injection cavity (1). Cutting of the sprue in specific conditions increases still more the resistance to bursting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: S.I.P.A. Societa' Industrializzazione Progettazione Automazione S.p.A.
    Inventors: Matteo Zoppas, Pietro Gandin
  • Patent number: 7163391
    Abstract: A mold plate for a reciprocating mold plate food patty-forming apparatus has at least one laterally contoured region extending longitudinally. The contoured region has a raised top surface and a raised bottom surface. The mold plate has at least one cavity through the contoured region. A support plate has a recessed top surface extending longitudinally and corresponding in shape to the raised bottom surface of the mold plate and a fill opening in communication with the cavity when the mold plate is in the fill position during reciprocation of the mold plate. A breather plate has a recessed bottom surface extending longitudinally and corresponding in shape to the raised top surface of the mold plate. The top and bottom recessed surfaces of the support and breather plates respectively together form a longitudinal channel that closely conforms to the contoured region of the mold plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Formax, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald F. LaBruno, Douglas Conerton
  • Patent number: 7163392
    Abstract: The present invention is an air-staged low NOx burner for firing a gaseous fuel. The burner fires three stages, with the first stage of combustion taking place substantially within a burner cup section of a refractory baffle, the second stage of combustion taking place adjacent to the baffle and downstream of the baffle, and the third stage of combustion within a furnace. The flow of main combustion air adjacent to the baffle creates a negative pressure zone adjacent to the baffle. The present invention is also a method for low NOx staged combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Inventors: James J. Feese, Bruce A. Wartluft
  • Patent number: 7163393
    Abstract: This invention provides a heat treatment jig for semiconductor silicon substrates, which, in respective heat treatment of hydrogen annealing or argon annealing, can handle enlargement of the diameter of wafers to be treated and can also prevent slipping and dislocations that occur as a result of the stress caused by the weight of the wafer itself or the deflection of the heat treatment jig itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Mitsubishi Silicon Corporation
    Inventor: Naoshi Adachi
  • Patent number: 7163394
    Abstract: The invention relates to a ball joint for a device used for accelerating jaw growth, comprising a ball joint head and a ball joint socket that are fastened to the ends of a spring bar and to retaining elements connected to the teeth of the upper jaw and/or of the lower jaw, whereby the ball joint heads and the ball joint sockets are detachably connected to one another, to the spring bar and to the retaining elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Inventor: Habib Sevinc
  • Patent number: 7163395
    Abstract: A dental measurement instrument having a handle and a measuring gauge extending from one end of the handle. In one embodiment, the measuring gauge has at least two calibrated measurement shafts, each shaft bearing a plurality of calibration indicia. The calibration indicia on the two shafts are correlated with each other in a specific predetermined mathematical relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Inventor: Stephen J. Chu
  • Patent number: 7163396
    Abstract: An instrument for use in verifying that the distance between two teeth is the minimum adequate distance for the placement of one or two implants. The instrument verifies that marks made with a surgical splint have amongst them the minimum adequate distance, and centers edentulous space for placement of an implant or divides equidistantly the space for the placement of two implants. The instrument has a first rectangular sheet joined to one side of a second, larger rectangular sheet by an extension therebetween. A handle extends from the other side of the second rectangular sheet. The first and second rectangular sheets each have stops that extend from opposing sides of the respective sheets. The stops are adapted to engage teeth for proper positioning of the instrument during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Innovative Implant Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Antonio Jose Gordils Wallis
  • Patent number: 7163397
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying a viscous modification material includes a material source of the modification material and a needle connected to the source. A material for selectively modifying the optical properties of cells comprises a basic material and a modification substance distributed in the basic material at a prescribed concentration, wherein the basic material comprises a viscous fluid, a gel, a two-dimensional or three-dimensional porous substrate or a material which hardens in situ. A diagnostic apparatus for determining the optical properties of cells which have been exposed to such a material and an apparatus for irradiating cells whose optical properties have been differently modified with such a material are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Rainer Hahn, Klaus Irion