Patents Issued in October 2, 2007
  • Patent number: 7275549
    Abstract: Cigarettes are manufactured using modified automated cigarette making apparatus. Those cigarettes possess smokable rods having paper wrapping materials having additive materials applied thereto as patterns. The additive materials, which can have the forms of liquid or paste formulations, are applied to a continuous paper web on the cigarette making apparatus. The formulation is applied to the paper web using application apparatus possessing rollers, and one of those rollers has a series of pockets in its roll face to receive additive formulation from a reservoir and to define the pattern of the formulation on the paper. A modified figure rail assembly and garniture entrance cone provide air flow toward the paper web being advanced through the garniture region of the cigarette making apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Lloyd Harmon Hancock, Ford Mitchell Shore, Russell Dean Barnes
  • Patent number: 7275550
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning and pressure testing tube structures comprising a cleaning fluid supply pump and a pressurization pump alternately in fluid communication with a feed header having a feed header interface engageable to an end of at least one tube structure and a drain header having a drain header interface engageable to an opposing end of the at least one tube structure and an outlet valved so as to be selectively closed or opened depending on mode of operation of the apparatus. The apparatus and associated method cleans and pressure tests a tube by engaging a tube between the feed header interface and the drain header interface and maintaining said engagement while sequentially flowing a cleaning fluid through the inner diameter of the hollow tube, pressurizing a static fluid within the hollow tube, and releasing fluid from the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Joseph M. Nealon
  • Patent number: 7275551
    Abstract: A food washing apparatus of the invention includes an ozonized water generator (10), a cylindrical washing tank (1) in which the food materials are put and which can rotate to wash the food materials, a drainage part (4) formed at a part of the washing tank (1) and including openings to such a degree that water passes through and the food materials do not pass through, and wash water pipings (2, 9) which are inserted and disposed in the washing tank (1) in an axial direction and in which water spray holes (2a, 2a) for spraying wash water including at least ozonized water are formed, and while at least one part of the wash water sprayed from the wash water pipings (2, 9) is draind from the washing tank (1) every rotation of the washing tank (1), washing of the food materials is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Takafumi Kanaya, Kazuhisa Okada, Koichi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7275552
    Abstract: A dishwasher comprises a bulk wash aid dispenser than can store both solid and liquid bulk wash aids and dispense controllable amounts therefrom during dishwashing cycles. The controllable amounts are typically single charges, the amount required during a selected dishwashing cycle. The single charges can be dispensed individually or simultaneously and all at once or at various intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Brent A. DeWeerd, Thomas Haft, Jeff M. Borah
  • Patent number: 7275553
    Abstract: A cleaning processing apparatus comprises a spin chuck for holding a wafer W, an under plate being positioned to face the back surface of the wafer W with a prescribed gap provided therebetween, a support member for supporting the under plate, and a nozzle hole formed to extended through the plate member and the support member. A chemical liquid, a pure water and a gas can be supplied into a nozzle hole through opening-closing valves, and the chemical liquid and the pure water remaining inside the nozzle hole can be sucked by a sucking device. A pure water remaining inside the nozzle hole is sucked and removed by using the sucking device after the processing of the wafer W with a pure water and, then, a gas is spurted onto the back surface of the wafer W.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Takehiko Orii, Masahiro Mukoyama, Hiromitsu Nanba
  • Patent number: 7275554
    Abstract: An assistive walking rear entry device including a main frame, elongated upright body weight support members connected to each side portion of the main frame and two elongated leg members connected to each body support member one extending forwardly, the other extending rearwardly, each leg member including a rollable member attached to a distal end portion thereof. An elongated seat is attached to and supported on a lower portion of a centerpost, the centerpost being supported on the main frame. Rearwardly opening lateral torso supports are attached to the upper portion of the centerpost and make supporting contact with the thoracic area and for propelling the device during a walking gait. The seat is positioned against the perennial region to support the pelvis and to help propel the device on a “hands free” basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Inventor: Larry Mullholand
  • Patent number: 7275555
    Abstract: A canopy of the type that is typically packaged in a kit form that permits consumers to assemble a group of pipe members into a canopy structure. Once assembled and erected, the canopy includes a series of vertical posts and a series of rafters that extend upwardly from the post. In order to provide additional structural support, especially to the rafters and to the roof structure formed by the rafters, a series of cross or brace members are interconnected between the vertical posts and the rafters. These cross or brace members are arranged in sets with each set including two brace members that extend between a pair of vertical posts and a pair of rafters. The brace members, vertical posts and rafters form a truss network that imparts structural strength and rigidity to the overall canopy frame structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Powell & Powell Supply Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Billy R. Powell, Tony A. Powell, David R. Powell
  • Patent number: 7275556
    Abstract: A low permeation weldable fuel tank assembly is provided to reduce fuel vapor permeation from a fuel tank. The weldable fuel tank assembly has a mounting portion mountable to the fuel tank and a valve housing that is attachable to the mounting portion. In one aspect, the mounting portion includes a fuel vapor permeation barrier. In another aspect, an anti-permeation cap with a fuel vapor permeation barrier is affixed to a portion of a tank assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Alfmeier Corporation
    Inventor: Axel Frohwein
  • Patent number: 7275557
    Abstract: A method for the production of a butterfly valve which comprises a valve body housing a valve seat engaged by a butterfly disc keyed on a shaft in order to rotate under the action of an electric motor, the shaft being coupled to an inductive position sensor of the “contact-free” type provided with a rotor which is rigid with the shaft and is housed in a chamber of the valve body, and a stator which is borne by a detachable cover adapted to close the chamber and is disposed, in operation, facing the rotor, the method comprising the coupling of the rotor to the shaft, the mounting of the stator on the cover, the completion of any remaining machining operations on the butterfly valve, the coupling of the cover to the valve body in order to close the chamber in a substantially permanent manner, and the calibration of the position sensor by disposing the shaft in a sequence of predetermined positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli Powertrain, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Roberto Piciotti, Claudio Fauni, Roberto Saporiti
  • Patent number: 7275558
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a multi-path joint is disclosed. A housing is formed having a plurality of lead-in ports, a main path, connecting to each lead-in port, and a lead-out port. The housing is formed by connecting a plurality of blocks, each block having at least one lead in port and portion of the main path with at least one block having a lead out port that forms the end-point of the main path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Surpass Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichi Abe
  • Patent number: 7275559
    Abstract: A pressure control valve is disclosed which includes an inlet; an outlet; a valve body between the inlet and the outlet; a piston having opposed smaller and larger ends each having a circumferentially extending piston wall, the piston being slideably received within the valve body and having a bore therethrough; a porting assembly for providing a fluid passageway between the inlet and the bore, and biasing means for biasing the piston against the pressure at the outlet towards a first position proximate the outlet from a second position proximate the inlet; wherein in the first position fluid communication is made between the inlet and the outlet via the porting assembly and the bore, and in the second position fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet is prevented by the circumferentially extending piston wall of the smaller end of the piston cooperating with the porting assembly to close the fluid passageway between the inlet and the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Inventors: Walter G. Morrison, Jean H. Morrison
  • Patent number: 7275560
    Abstract: A pressure relief door system for use in a duct for relieving positive or negative pressure within the duct includes a frame to be mounted in the duct; a gasket in the frame; a hinged door mounted on the frame and sealing against the gasket; and an adjustable pressure relief mechanism normally holding the hinged door against the gasket and permitting the hinged door to open in response to a positive or negative pressure change. The frame and door can be mounted such that the door opens either outwardly from the duct in response to excess positive pressure or inwardly into the duct in response to excess negative pressure. The adjustable pressure relief mechanism may be magnetic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: A.J. Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy J. Rogge
  • Patent number: 7275561
    Abstract: A discharging valve assembly for a reciprocating compressor includes a discharging cover coupled with a front frame so as to cover a cylinder in which a piston is inserted; a discharging valve inserted in the discharging cover, and opening/closing an inner space of the cylinder where gas is compressed; and an unbalancedly and elastically supporting means elastically supporting the discharging valve so that contact pressure applied to the discharging valve when the valve comes in contact with the contact surface of the cylinder is unbalanced. Accordingly, the discharging valve assembly can improve discharging efficiency of gas compressed in the cylinder and discharged, and can minimize noise generated when the discharging valve comes in contact with the cylinder while moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kwang-Wook Kim, Jin-Dong Kim, Gye-Young Song, Jeong-Woo Kim
  • Patent number: 7275562
    Abstract: A planar extensible structure in a flat planar flex circuit can be extended out of the plane of the circuit by a distance of more than the width of the structure to carry fluids, electrical signals or optical signals into and out of the circuit. The planar extensible structure may be an Archimedes spiral, a parabolic spiral, a polygonal spiral, a non-spiral extensible shape, or other extensible shape. The invention can be used to siphon fluid samples from each well in a multiple-well microtiter plate into a microfluidic manifold for utility in chemical and biochemical analysis. The invention can also be used to allow electrical interconnect between adjacent circuits or circuit boards, and can allow signals carried in optical fibers to be transferred between optical circuits in different planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip W. Barth, Kevin Killeen
  • Patent number: 7275563
    Abstract: A connection for flow of a fluid, comprising first and second bodies, female and male connection elements that are respectively pivoted on the first and second bodies and hollow and complementary such that the male connection element may be seated within the female connection element, and wherein an angle of pivoting of each of the male and female elements is limited relative to a median position thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Staubli Faverges
    Inventors: Alain-Christophe Tiberghien, Christophe Durieux
  • Patent number: 7275564
    Abstract: A pigging ball valve with a housing and ball core supported for rotation within the housing. The ball core sits on a valve seat, which is supported by a seat carrier. The valve seat carrier has three distinct diameters that locate the seat in the housing and thus provides an anti-cocking feature. A seat insert has a pressure sealing surface and wiper lip on the outer diameter of the pressure sealing surface. An internal seat deflector ring is provided inside of the pressure sealing surface. The seat carrier is spring loaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Argus Machine Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Allan Bazin, Randy Wiltermuth
  • Patent number: 7275565
    Abstract: An apparatus for distributing a fluid is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a plurality of conduits and outlet ports that are capable of providing improved distribution of fluids. One or more conduits are arranged within a single conduit, which provides a compact and inexpensive assembly for conveying the fluids to each conduit's outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: James W. Kilroy
  • Patent number: 7275566
    Abstract: A papermaking fabric includes a series of repeat units, each of the repeat units including: a set of top machine direction (MD) yarns; a set of top cross machine direction (CMD) yarns interwoven with the top MD yarns; a set of bottom MD yarns; a set of bottom CMD yarns interwoven with the bottom MD yarns; and a set of stitching yarns. The stitching yarns are disposed in pairs, at least one of the yarns of each of the stitching yarn pairs being interwoven with the top CMD yarns and the bottom CMD yarns, wherein when a first stitching yarn of a pair is interweaving with the top CMD yarns, a second stitching yarn of the pair is passing below the top CMD yarns, and when the second stitching yarn of the pair is interweaving with the top CMD yarns, the first stitching yarn of the pair is passing below the top CMD yarns, such that each stitching yarn pair forms a composite top MD yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Weavexx Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin John Ward
  • Patent number: 7275567
    Abstract: A front end of a loop of a wire fed out to a nose (6) by a binding wire feeding mechanism (1) is pinched by a clamp plate (28) of a binding wire clamping apparatus (25) and the wire is pulled back by driving to rotate reversely a feeding motor (13) of the binding wire feeding mechanism (1). When the wire is brought into close contact with a reinforcing bar (S) and a load of the feeding motor is increased to thereby increase a drive current by a constant amount, a control apparatus stops the feeding motor. Thereafter, the binding wire clamping apparatus (25) is rotated to twist the binding wire to bind the reinforcing bar. Since the wire is pulled back and a length of the wire is automatically adjusted in accordance with a diameter of the reinforcing bar, a state of finishing to bind the reinforcing bar is made to be uniform and also an amount of consuming the wire is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Max Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Syuichi Ishii, Shinichi Ohkubo, Osamu Itagaki
  • Patent number: 7275568
    Abstract: A liquid reclamation apparatus for use in changing automobile oil includes a container, a portable receptacle within the container and dimensioned to hold a volume of oil sufficient to perform an oil change and a cover releasably secured to the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Inventors: Thomas Fredette, David Fredette
  • Patent number: 7275569
    Abstract: Systems for handling and/or dispensing hydrogen or a mixture of fuels containing hydrogen gas including refueling stations for hydrogen-powered vehicles. Pure hydrogen or various mixtures ratios of hydrogen and CNG may be dispensed. Hydrogen handling equipment may include a hydrogen generator, a pressurizing apparatus or compressor, pressure vessels, piping, valves, vent pipes, and/or a dispenser. Substantially vertical orientation of pressure vessels may reduce the amount of land required and facilitate installation in urban environments. Pressurization may take place before hydrogen generation to reduce the power required for pressurization. Safety features include enclosures and surrounding walls that lean away from the equipment. Any leaking hydrogen, fires, or explosions may be contained and/or directed upward, protecting human life and property. Systems may be shop assembled and certified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Arizona Public Service Company
    Inventor: Raymond Hobbs
  • Patent number: 7275570
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling dispensing of a desiccant material into an interior region of an elongated spacer frame member. The appropriate desiccant dispensing nozzle is automatically selected and/or the distance between the desiccant dispensing nozzle and the elongated spacer frame member is automatically determined based on a property of the spacer frame member, such as the width of the spacer frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Glass Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy McGlinchy, John Grismer
  • Patent number: 7275571
    Abstract: A method for locating an optimum peeling axis of a log and a maximum radius point on peripheral surface of the log with respect to the located optimum peeling axis and an apparatus for practicing the method are disclosed. A plurality of swingable members are provided, each member having a contact surface which is swingable in contact with the peripheral surface of the log thereby to follows the peripheral profile of the log while it is being rotated about its preliminary axis. Angular positions of the contact surfaces are measured with respect to a reference position at a number of angularly spaced positions of the log. On the basis of the measured angular positions of the contact surfaces, radial distances of the log from a plurality of predetermined locations on the optimum peeling axis to selected contact surfaces are computed for comparison such radial distances. The distance having the greatest value is regarded as the maximum radius point of the log.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Meinan Machinery Works, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuhito Mawatari
  • Patent number: 7275572
    Abstract: An earth-friendly tire using raw materials derived from non-petroleum resources instead of all or part of raw materials derived from petroleum resources currently used for tires. The tire is prepared by using a natural rubber instead of a synthetic rubber; an inorganic filler and/or a biofiller instead of carbon black; vegetable oil instead of petroleum oil; and natural fiber instead of synthetic fiber so that the tire comprises a non-petroleum raw material in an amount of at least 75% by weight based on the total weight of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naohiko Kikuchi, Kazuo Hochi, Takuya Horiguchi
  • Patent number: 7275573
    Abstract: A pneumatic radial ply passenger tire (10) having a tread (20), a casing with two sidewalls (14, 16), one or more radial plies (18) extending from and wrapped about two annular beads (13) and a belt reinforcement structure (15) located radially between the tread and the plies. The tread has a first contour-defining curve extending outwards from the equatorial plane of the tire towards the sidewalls, an adjacent second contour-defining curve disposed between the first contour defining curve and the sidewalls and an adjacent third contour defining curve extending outwards from the second contour defining curve and the sidewalls. The first, second and third contour-defining curves have first (R1) and second (R2) and third (R3) radii chosen such that R2>R1>R3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Gia Van Nguyen, Sébastien Morin, Anne-France Gabrielle Jeanne-Marie Cambron, Xavier Sébastien Benoît Fraipont
  • Patent number: 7275574
    Abstract: Thermoplastic elastomer composition dynamically vulcanized with a 50 to 95% gelation rate has superior heat resistance, durability, and air permeation prevention, is flexible and usable as a pneumatic tire air permeation preventive layer. A composition having reduced domain rubber particle size is produced from a high rubber ratio material by mixing composition (C) under melt viscosities ratio of rubber composition (A)/resin (B) of 0.8 to 1.2 and formula (?A/?B)×(?B/?A)<1.0 under melt viscosities ratio of rubber composition (D)/composition (C) of 0.8 to 1.2 and formula (?D/?C)×(?C/?D)<1.0, wherein ?A, ?B, ?C and ?D are volume fractions of rubber composition (A) and resin (B), composition (C) and rubber composition (D), respectively, ?A ?B, ?C, and ?D are melt viscosities of rubber composition (A), resin (B), composition (C), and rubber composition (D), respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiro Watanabe, Yuichi Hara, Shigeru Yamauchi, Hideo Nemoto
  • Patent number: 7275575
    Abstract: Disclosed are improved wheels and tires for simulating the appearance of larger-diameter wheels mounted within low-profile tires. The improved tires are intended to be mounted on wheels with an extended outer flange. An embodiment of the tire comprises an outboard tire wall, an inboard tire wall, a tread therebetween, a laterally extending wheel protector, a ledge, and a flange seat. The flange seat is optionally contoured to match the inner face of an outer flange of the improved wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Tezzen Wheel Corporation
    Inventors: Frank J. Hodges, Sergio Anca
  • Patent number: 7275576
    Abstract: A method of making reinforcing elements for a vehicle tire includes laying down at least one continuous thread element on a support element of the tire according to a deposition path substantially concentric with a rotation axis of the tire. A tire for a vehicle wheel includes a carcass structure, a belt structure, a pair of sidewalls, a tread band, and reinforcing elements. The reinforcing elements include at least one continuous thread element formed into coils around a rotation axis of the tire. For the method and in the tire, the at least one continuous thread element is superposed on itself at a plurality of crossing points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Pirelli Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giancarlo Armellin
  • Patent number: 7275577
    Abstract: A substrate bonding device for fabricating a liquid crystal display (LCD) device accurately aligns substrates of the LCD device while preventing the introduction of foreign material into the substrate bonding device, thereby substantially preventing the generation of defects within liquid crystal material of the LCD device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Seok Lee, Myoung Gu Kang, Young Kug Lim, Soo Min Kwak, Jong Han Kim, Heung Sun Kim
  • Patent number: 7275578
    Abstract: A transfer device for transferring a transferring material to an object comprises a refillable cartridge that holds at least the transferring material, a case that accommodates the refillable cartridge detachably, a sliding member that is mounted on the case and that can make a sliding movement relative to the case, and a separating mechanism that separates the refillable cartridge from the case. The separating mechanism moves the refillable cartridge linearly in a direction that is different from a sliding direction of the sliding member when the sliding member makes the sliding movement. The case comprises a guiding portion that extends in the direction different from the sliding direction of the sliding member and the refillable cartridge comprises a guided portion that is guided by the guiding portion when the sliding member makes the sliding movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Kokuyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Mitsui, Hideto Shima
  • Patent number: 7275579
    Abstract: A labeling machine for prism-shaped bottles having an axially-offset neck, comprising a first carousel, which conveys the bottles to a first labeling assembly, which applies the labels to one of the faces, and a second carousel, which conveys the bottles to a second labeling assembly, which applies the labels to an opposite face; the carousels are connected in series by at least one pair of bottle transfer devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: P.E. S.R.L.
    Inventor: Mario Ballarotti
  • Patent number: 7275580
    Abstract: A window covering having a plurality of panels comprising a head rail and a plurality of panels suspended from the head rail by a securement member and at least one opening member is provided. Each of the plurality of panels is collapsible and includes a pair of opposed longitudinal regions. A bottom rail may also be provided and suspended from the head rail such that the plurality of panels are located between the head rail and the bottom rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Teh Yor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fu-Lai Yu, Chin-Tien Huang, Shun-Chi Yu
  • Patent number: 7275581
    Abstract: A shutter device co-operating with driving means for enabling the shutter (1) to be displaced between an open position and a closed position, this shutter (1) being guided by a guide track (4, 5) and being designed to close off a bay (6) or other opening. The device having a drum (8) about which the shutter (1) is wound when the latter is in the open position such that the shutter forms a roll (31) made up of turns formed by successive layers of the shutter (1). The shutter (1) can be unwound from this roll towards its closed position. The device further has confining means for preventing the turns from forming wrinkles as the shutter (1) is being displaced into the closed position and/or for preventing these turns from slipping relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Dynaco International, S.A.
    Inventor: Benoit Coenraets
  • Patent number: 7275582
    Abstract: A system and method for heat treating castings and removing sand cores therefrom. The castings are initially located in indexed positions with their x, y, and z coordinates known. The castings are passed through a heat treatment station typically having a series of nozzles mounted in preset positions corresponding to the known indexed positions of the castings passing through the heat treatment station. The nozzles apply heat to the castings for heat treating the castings and dislodging the sand cores for removal from the castings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Consolidated Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott P. Crafton, Paul M. Crafton, Volker R. Knobloch, James L. Lewis, Jr., Ian French
  • Patent number: 7275583
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing molten material into a desired shape comprises a die or mold forming a cavity to receive molten material and to allow its solidification within the cavity. A source of vacuum is connectable to the cavity for sucking air out. A hollow after-pressure cylinder is in communication with the cavity so as to receive a portion of the material. The after-pressure cylinder has a first end for connection to the cavity, and a second, opposite end. In the region of the second end is a connection opening for connecting the vacuum source. An after-pressure piston is moveable in the after-pressure cylinder to press its portion of material into the cavity to compensate for any shrinkage of the material in the cavity. There is a drive for moving the after-pressure piston in its after-pressure cylinder into three different positions, i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Fondarex SA
    Inventor: Peter Eisen
  • Patent number: 7275584
    Abstract: A nozzle for continuous casting of clean steel is capable of preventing adhesion of Al2O3-based inclusions to a wall surface of the inner hole of the nozzle while fully achieving an effect of a swirl vane. The swirl vane prevents drift in molten steel passing through the inner hole. The swirl vane is disposed in the inner hole. A wall surface is at least partly formed as a tubular-shaped refractory layer and is prepared by controlling a weight ratio of CaO/MgO and an apparent porosity to have a thickness of 3 to 20 mm, so as to prevent adhesion of Al2O3-based inclusions to the wall surface and the swirl vane while effectively maintaining the anti-drift effect for long hours. Further, inert gas is injected into a molten steel flow between an upper nozzle and the swirl vane to facilitate surfacing of Al2O3-based inclusions in a mold and reduce Al2O3-based inclusions in molten steel so as to achieve stable casting operation and high-quality steel with high cleanness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Krosakiharima Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumi Morikawa, Joki Yoshitomi, Keisuke Asano, Saeko Uchida
  • Patent number: 7275585
    Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a part includes the steps of forming a core in a ceramic material, inserting the core into in a wax mold, placing an element on the core thereby forming a spacer between the core and an internal wall of the wax mold, forming a wax model of the part with the core by injecting wax into the mold, forming a shell mold in ceramic material from the wax model, removing the wax, and pouring casting metal into the shell mold, wherein the element is of elongated form and placed on the core in a laying position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Didier Guerche, Jacky Pierre Tabardin
  • Patent number: 7275586
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heating or air-conditioning system for a motor vehicle, by which individual zones of the vehicle interior can be supplied with separately temperature-controlled air. An improved heating or air-conditioning system, which requires just a small amount of installation space, feeds differently temperature-controlled air to a plurality of air-conditioning zones. Despite the small amount of installation space, optimum mixing of cold air and warm air takes place in the heating or air-conditioning system, with the result that the air emerging from air-outlet openings in a respective air-conditioning zone have a constant temperature over the outlet cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Oliver Beck, Michael Förster, Christian Grömmer, Norbert Wöcht
  • Patent number: 7275587
    Abstract: A combination cooler module is disclosed, which includes a plurality of radiating fins that are arranged in a stack, a plurality of heat tubes inserted through the radiating fins, and a heat conductive base affixed to the radiating fins by means of a dovetail joint, hook or scarf joint and disposed in contact with the heat tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Inventor: Hua-Shou Kuo
  • Patent number: 7275588
    Abstract: A planar heat pipe has a hollow planar tube and a wick structure attached to an interior sidewall of the planar tube. A spiral support member is installed to extend along the interior sidewall, so as to press the wick structure against the interior sidewall. The spiral support member has a plurality of interstices extending laterally within the planar tube. A planar support member is inserted between the spiral support member in the hollow planar tube. The planar support member has a plurality of voids extending along an elongate direction of the planar tube. Thereby, cross flowing channels are formed inside of the heat pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Inventor: Hul-Chun Hsu
  • Patent number: 7275589
    Abstract: A bank of horizontally oriented boiler tubes which are periodically exposed to the abrasive action of a stream of blowing fluid cleaning medium. Portions of the boiler tubes, located at the top of the bank, are provided with spaced shields for protection from the fluid cleaning medium. An anti-vibration bar extends vertically between the protective shields to suppress vibration of the boiler tubes. A cap is fitted over the top end of the anti-vibration bar. The cap is sized to overlap adjacent portions of the protective shields thereby covering any gaps between the anti-vibration bar and the shields that would expose the boiler tubes to the action of the fluid cleaning medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventor: George H. Harth, III
  • Patent number: 7275590
    Abstract: A submersible pump for attachment to the lower end of a well pipe discharge tube for insertion in liquid includes a stationary collecting tube for collecting the liquid and an upward and downward reciprocating pumping tube within the collecting tube for pushing and lifting the liquid into the discharge tube; source of pressurized gas, a casing assembly including a casing tube and a gas valve, and a piston assembly with the casing tube including a piston tube having a lower end connected to the pumping tube for reciprocating the pumping tube and an upper portion having pistons for moving in chambers with the inside of the casing tube. Preferably the same amount of liquid is pumped during the upward movement of the pumping tube as during the downward movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Inventor: Jim McClain
  • Patent number: 7275591
    Abstract: The invention provides a wellhead assembly including a wellhead housing supporting a tubing hanger within its central bore and forming a housing stem port through its outer wall to the central bore. The tubing hanger has a side stem port formed through its body intermediate its upper and lower ends providing access to the central bore of the hanger and being aligned with the housing stem port. The tubing hanger includes a ball valve member having a spherical exterior surface sealed and seated from above and below within the central bore of the hanger. The ball valve member forms a through port extending therethrough aligned with the production bore, and is rotatable in its seated position between open and closed positions with the through port being aligned with the production bore when in the open position. A slot in the exterior surface of the ball valve member if formed proximate the stem port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: ERC Industries
    Inventors: Gregory Wayne Allen, Men Fung Chin
  • Patent number: 7275592
    Abstract: An oil well pumping apparatus for pumping oil from a well to a wellhead provides a tool body that is sized and shaped to be lowered into the production tubing string of the oil well. A working fluid is provided that can be pumped into the production tubing. A prime mover is provided for pumping the working fluid. A flow channel into the well bore enables the working fluid to be circulated from the prime mover via the production tubing to the tool body at a location in the well and then back to the wellhead area. A pumping mechanism is provided on the tool body, the pumping mechanism including first and second gerotors. The first gerotor is driven by the working fluid. The second gerotor is rotated by the first gerotor. The two gerotors are connected with a common shaft. The tool body has flow conveying portions that mix the working fluid and the produced oil as the oil is pumped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Inventor: Raymond C. Davis
  • Patent number: 7275593
    Abstract: A gripper assembly for anchoring a tool within a downhole passage and for possibly assisting movement of the tool within the passage. The gripper assembly includes an elongated mandrel and flexible toes that can be radially displaced to grip onto the surface of the passage. The toes are displaced by the interaction of a driver slidable on the mandrel and a driver interaction element on the toes. In one embodiment, the toes are displaced by the interaction of rollers and ramps that are longitudinally movable with respect to one another. In another embodiment, the toes are displaced by the interaction of toggles that rotate with respect to the toes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Western Well Tool, Inc.
    Inventors: Duane Bloom, Norman Bruce Moore, Rudolph Ernst Krueger, V
  • Patent number: 7275594
    Abstract: A tool string stab guide for axially aligning first tool string components with second tool string components is disclosed. The stab guide has a body with an axial length along a longitudinal axis with a first and a second section. The first section of the body adapted for removable attachment within a diameter of a bore of a tool string component. The second section of the body has a centering element with a flow channel. The ratio of the axial length to the diameter is at least 2:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: IntelliServ, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Hall, James McPherson, Patrick Hannigan
  • Patent number: 7275595
    Abstract: The present invention provides for an apparatus and method to displace fluids and to prevent the mixing or bypassing of fluids used in gravel pack operations. A moveable plug is used to create a physical partition between fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel Tocalino, Mehmet Parlar, Gerard Daccord, Jean Desroches
  • Patent number: 7275596
    Abstract: A method for minimizing the amount of metal crosslinked viscosifier necessary for treating a wellbore with proppant or gravel is given. The method includes using fibers to aid in transporting, suspending and placing proppant or gravel in viscous carrier fluids otherwise having insufficient viscosity to prevent particulate settling. Fibers are given that have properties optimized for proppant transport but degrade after the treatment into degradation products that do not precipitate in the presence of ions in the water such as calcium and magnesium. Crosslinked polymer carrier fluids are identified that are not damaged by contaminants present in the fibers or by degradation products released by premature degradation of the fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Dean M. Willberg, Christopher N. Fredd, Marina Bulova
  • Patent number: 7275597
    Abstract: A method for remotely managing downhole power consumption in a downhole network system is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of monitoring an activation state for each of a plurality of individually activatable electrically-powered modules in a downhole device and determining an optimal activation state for each module according to system demands. The activation state of each module may be selected from the group consisting of activated or deactivated. The method further comprises the step of transmitting a power state switching instruction from a top-hole processing element to a downhole power-consumption state controller over the downhole network. The method also includes the step of switching the selected electrically-powered modules according to the determined optimal activation states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: IntelliServ, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Hall, David B. Bartholomew, Roger O. Koehler
  • Patent number: 7275598
    Abstract: An uncollapsed expandable wellbore junction and associated methods. In a described embodiment, a method of creating an expanded pressure vessel in a subterranean well includes the step of expanding the pressure vessel in the well, thereby increasing a dimension of the vessel, without prior decreasing of the dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Steele