Patents Issued in November 27, 2007
  • Patent number: 7299584
    Abstract: The invention is a tackle container that incorporates interchangeable inserts. The inserts secure different kinds of fishing lures and baits. For example, the inserts hold segmented lures within notched upright posts. In this regard, the inserts may be suitably structured to hold spinner bait lures, buzz bait lures, or other fishing lures with segmented bodies. Moreover, the inserts are interchangeable to facilitate a wider variety of uses for the tackle container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Caraustar Industrial and Consumer Products Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald D. Hoover
  • Patent number: 7299585
    Abstract: A bait container for storing bait in water incorporates a perforated carriage that slides vertically within a housing. Raising the carriage extracts the bait from the water and obviates the need to immerse a hand in cold water. A post extends upward from the carriage. A door can be moved in a vertical plane to cover an access opening. A rigid link is fixed to the door and extends inward to pass through a slot in the post. The slot locks the door, raises the door, and limits or prevents over-raising of the door. The post is free-sliding so as to cause the door to close unless held open, reducing the likelihood of bait egress. The door can be locked in a closed position using a rotatable latch arrangement to protect further against bait egress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: Boyd Perttu
  • Patent number: 7299586
    Abstract: The antipest mat protects vehicles against entry by small animals by giving the animals a deterrent electrical shock. The mat is made up of two sections joined together to form a closed shape with an open area in the middle. The sections are connected together at a pivot point that allows the mat to be opened so that it can be placed around a vehicle support point, such as a tire, and then closed to completely surround the vehicle support point. The upper insulative surface of the mat sections holds a pattern of closely spaced conductors. The conductors are arranged so that adjacent conductors are of opposite or differing polarities. The conductors are connected to one or more connectors. A source of electric power is provided to energize the conductors so that an animal contacting two or more adjacent conductors receives an electric shock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: James W. Lawson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7299587
    Abstract: A method of controlling pests, such as insects, by trapping and/or killing them wherein at least a part of a pest to be trapped or killed is exposed a composition comprising particles containing or consisting of at least one magnetic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: IDA Limited
    Inventor: Colin T. Metcalfe
  • Patent number: 7299588
    Abstract: The present invention is a roof tarp. The roof tarp is a square or rectangular shaped tarp that has a first and a second face. The tarp has a tar strip that runs parallel and abuts all edges of the tarp, the tar strip is at-least two and a half inches in width from each edge of the tarp and is at-least a half inch in height from the first face of the tarp. A cellophane covering overlaps the tar strip. A ridge is defined on the first face of the tarp. The ridge is adjacent to the tar strip and runs parallel to the tar strip. The ridge is at least half an inch in height. A first hook and loop material attachment means that is attached to the first face of the tarp and that runs parallel and is adjacent to the ridge of the tarp, the hook and loop attachment means is at least a half an inch inwards from the ridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventors: Antonio Diaz, Ernesto Alonso
  • Patent number: 7299589
    Abstract: A telescoping boom mechanism for deploying an expandable structure, such a hoop-supported antenna, comprises a plurality of concentrically nestable tubular boom sections, that are mutually engageable with one another by way of roller assemblies and helical tracks formed thereon. The tubular boom sections are caused to telescopically expand or retract along a deployment axis by means of a rotational drive motor coupled to an outermost one of the tubular boom sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Bruce Campbell, Rick Harless
  • Patent number: 7299590
    Abstract: A device is disclosed for setting a door frame in position before adjacent walls are built and for maintaining the dimensions of the door frame during the building of the adjacent walls. The apparatus of the present invention generally includes two main components, specifically a first extension assembly and a second extension assembly. The first extension assembly and second extension assembly adjustably engage to provide a cost effective and efficient apparatus and method for setting a door frame in position before adjacent walls are built and for maintaining the dimensions of the door frame during the building of the adjacent walls. The apparatus is adjustable, lightweight, and easily portable by hand from worksite to worksite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: Daniel B. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 7299591
    Abstract: An external building surface formed by at least one of a roof and a wall, the external building surface comprising a plurality of battens spaced apart to define a plurality of transverse courses, a plurality of tiles supported by the battens in the courses defined thereby to provide an outer layer of said external building surface, which tiles are transparent to solar radiation, a plurality of strips arranged one for each course to form an inner layer substantially coextensive with the outer layer, which strips are absorbent to solar radiation, and a duct for a fluid heat transfer medium of a solar heating system extending lengthwise of the strips so that in use the fluid medium is heated when the strips absorb solar radiation incident through the tiles, wherein in each course there is a space wherein air is held over and along the strip in that course.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: Peter Martin Broatch
  • Patent number: 7299592
    Abstract: An improved support system for an injection molded floor tile is provided by vertically aligning the support system below the main floor panel with a surface structure above the main floor panel. The surface structure is at least one vertical structure or protuberance that rises above the top surface of the main floor panel. The support system maintains the structural integrity and rigidity necessary to support various loads on top of the floor tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Snap Lock Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Jorgen J Moller, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7299593
    Abstract: A metal half wall is provided, with the wall including a lower track, an upper track and a series of spaced apart studs extending between the two tracks. A connector is disposed adjacent each stud for connecting the stud to the lower track and to a support structure lying underneath the lower track. Each connector includes an elongated member having opposite end portions. One end portion includes a turned end plate that extends generally perpendicular with respect to the elongated member. In the half wall, a connector is disposed directly adjacent a respective stud. So disposed, the elongated member extends upwardly next to an adjacent stud and the end plate extends over the lower track. A series of fasteners are connected between the elongated member and the adjacent stud, and between the end plate and the underlying lower track and support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: The Steel Network, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward R. diGirolamo, Michael L. Torres
  • Patent number: 7299594
    Abstract: An apparatus for at least one of providing a decorative shelf, decorative framing, decorative shelving, decorative paneling and a decorative member for supporting and hanging preselected articles. The apparatus comprises a panel member formed with a brick like design adjacent an outer surface thereof and having each of a first predetermined shape and a predetermined thickness and at least one of an opening, having a second predetermined shape, formed in the panel member to provide a frame like member for at least one of a mirror and a picture and a means formed in the brick like design for supporting at least one of a shelf and a bracket for supporting and hanging such preselected articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventors: Todd E. Chornenky, Daniel Chornenky
  • Patent number: 7299595
    Abstract: A fabric wall panel system includes fabric wall panels mounted by means of a ceiling track with a downwardly open channel and a base track with a panel support surface. Each fabric wall panel is mounted by inserting the top of the fabric wall panel into the downwardly open channel and supporting the fabric wall panel on the panel support surface of the base track. The fabric wall panel may be custom fabricated to eliminate vertical seams or provided in standard size panels with vertical seams between panels. A corner trim piece hides the vertical seam at the corner of the room, a vertical seam trim piece hides the vertical seams, and an outside edge trim piece covers exposed edges of the wall panels. The base track includes a removable trim attachment strip with decorative trim. The base track may be used to trim around openings such as windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: Andy W. Anderson, Sr.
  • Patent number: 7299596
    Abstract: A framed shear wall has a pair of crossed tension straps passing through the studs that make up the shear wall. The straps are preferably rods and are preferably attached to upstanding plates installed at the corners of the wall. Each of two straps is preferably attached to an opposite side of the upstanding plate such that the straps do not interfere with each other where the straps cross. The straps preferably include threaded ends and the upstanding plates preferably have threaded receptacles sized to accept the threaded ends of the straps such that the straps can be tensioned before and/or after installation. In one embodiment, the upstanding plates are bolted through a bottom surface of the wall into a threaded anchor plate at floor level, and the threaded anchor plate is attached to a top of a wall on a floor below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: John Hildreth
  • Patent number: 7299597
    Abstract: A clip for securing metal plates in walls constructed using masonry blocks. The clip includes a plate portion and a block portion. The block portion has members that form an opening that fits over a member of a masonry block. The plate portion also has members that form an opening that receives and secures a metal plate. When the block portion is placed on the member of a masonry block, the clip holds a metal plate in a fixed position relative to the masonry block. One member of the block portion can be angled. The block portion may also include a gripping portion that is used to secure the clip to a masonry block. The plate portion may include a spacer to secure the metal plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: Lawrence Ray Holt
  • Patent number: 7299598
    Abstract: A device for use in the installation of lightweight concrete roof systems includes a base element having a substantially flat portion and a wire tie. The wire tie extends from the base element and terminates at opposite ends which may be formed in a ring or loop. In use, the base element is mechanically fastened to the bar joist, through the steel deck, of the roof system. The terminal ends of the wire tie are secured to steel-welded wire reinforcement fabric overlying a layer of lightweight concrete, thereby securing the lightweight concrete to the steel deck of the roof system and preventing separation of the lightweight concrete due to external forces such as wind sheer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventors: Henry Gembala, David Gembala, Tom Steier
  • Patent number: 7299599
    Abstract: A roofing component adhering assembly includes a bitumen layer having first and second major surfaces and at least a first release sheet substantially coextensive with the first major surface of the bitumen layer. The first release sheet is separable from the first major surface of the bitumen layer so that the bitumen layer of the roofing component adhering assembly can be used to adhere together overlapping surfaces, such as end and/or lateral edge portions, of first and second roofing components. The roofing component adhering assembly is especially well suited for adhering surfaces together where one of the surfaces is a granule surface, such as an end edge portion of a cap sheet. Preferably, styrene-butadiene-styrene modified bitumen is used to form the bitumen layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Johns Manville
    Inventor: Raymond C. Swann
  • Patent number: 7299600
    Abstract: A device for sealing filter bags for products for infusion, where each filter bag is made from a flat web (1) of filter paper and has applied to it a tag (1b) and a tie string (1a) connecting the tag (1b) to the filter bag itself, comprises at least: a sealing sonotrode element (3) positioned so that it faces a first path (P) along which the flat web (1) is fed and so as to seal the string (1a), which is arranged according to a defined pattern, and the tags (1b) to each other and to the flat web (1) of filter paper'.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A.
    Inventor: Rodolfo Caroli
  • Patent number: 7299601
    Abstract: A stopper change device (10) includes an airtight chamber body (21) detachably mountable on a head of a bottle, a gas supply port (19) for supplying N gas to the chamber body, an air vent valve (57) for discharging air from the chamber body, a first supporting structure (28) movable upward and downward for supporting a corkscrew, and a second supporting structure (34) movable upward and downward for containing a substitute stopper. The first and second supporting structures are mutually position changeable, and one of them is selectively placed above an opening of the bottle. When the first supporting structure (28) is placed above the opening, a bottle stopper can be pulled in N gas atmosphere. On the other hand, when the second supporting structure (34) is placed above the opening, the substitute stopper is mountable on the head of the bottle in N gas atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventors: Eiji Yoshida, Keiichi Yahagi, Hiroyuki Matsunaga, Satoshi Otake, Hiroki Matsumoto, Tatsuro Ishimatsu, Yusuke Yoshida, Kagenori Nagao, Satomi Kudo, Eri Kawaguchi, Ikuo Andreas Nakayama, Yuta Ogino, Syotaro Nakajima
  • Patent number: 7299602
    Abstract: A device including a rotating capping head with axial displacement, characterized in that the head is provided with means for screwing a cap on the neck, and means for crimping the cap beneath a crimping ring. The axial displacement includes a first axial displacement of the head activating the screwing means and a second axial displacement of the head activating the crimping means, so as to produce successively, and in one single axial displacement of the head, a screwing step and a crimping step constituting the capping process. The inventive device enables the cap to be screwed and crimped in one single step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Pechiney Capsules
    Inventors: Guy Denom, Jean-Marie Bourreau
  • Patent number: 7299603
    Abstract: A method of operating a front opening shipping box is provided. The operating method comprises providing a front opening shipping box. The front opening shipping box includes at least a container body, at least an air extraction pipeline and at least a gas inlet pipeline. The container body has at least two openings. The air extraction pipeline is disposed on the surface of the container body and linked to the container body through one of the two openings. The gas inlet pipeline is also disposed on the surface of the container body and linked to the container body through the outer opening. Then, a number of wafers are loaded inside the container body. Next, through the air extraction pipeline and the gas inlet pipeline, air is pumped out from the inside of the container box while the gas is injected into the container body simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Jian-Ping Horng, Cheng-Chien Lin, Wen-An Lu, Yu-Mei Lin, Wu-Fu Weng
  • Patent number: 7299604
    Abstract: To be able to weld different items, in particular films of different thickness and composition, in an optimized way in each case, it is proposed in the case of a welding jaw circulating along a closed path, for example a transverse welding jaw of a vertical tubular bag machine, to provide a sealing time factor (Kt) that can be set as desired within an open interval from zero to one and is equal to a quotient of a sealing time (ts) and a cycle time (tz) for a circulation of the welding jaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Rovema Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Roman Kammler, Walter Baur
  • Patent number: 7299605
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a foil package from foil laminate sheet stock. The foil laminate has a top foil sheet and a bottom polymeric sheet laminated to the foil sheet. A cavity is molded into the bottom foil sheet, wherein the cavity has a bottom, a depth and a periphery, such that all of the periphery is substantially arcuate at any horizontal cross-section along the depth of the cavity. The top planar sheet is heat sealed to the bottom molded sheet. The molding process substantially reduces or eliminates curling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Trezza, II, David A. Szabo
  • Patent number: 7299606
    Abstract: In a machine (1) for filling containers with fluid products, different fluid substances are directed by means of a rotary valve assembly (19) into a tank (7) furnished with separate compartments (12, 13, 14, 15), isolated one from another and equipped each with at least one filler valve (8) by which a given quantity of one of the fluid substances is dispensed from the tank (7) into each container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche A.C.M.A. S.p.A.
    Inventors: Davide Bonatti, Enrico Galimberti, Stefano Cavallari
  • Patent number: 7299607
    Abstract: A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage, having a filling element for filling bottles with a liquid beverage and a filling machine having such a filling element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: KHS Maschinen- und Anlagenbau AG
    Inventors: Ludwig Clüsserath, Dieter-Rudolf Krulitsch
  • Patent number: 7299608
    Abstract: A quick change module operable for being removably attached to and extending below a forming tube of a conventional vertical form, fill, and seal machine to produce a wide assortment of differently sized vertical stand-up pouches or gusseted flat bottom bags. The quick change module comprises at least one pair of adjustable forming plates located below the forming tube. The lateral distance between each pair of forming plates can be adjusted by shifting the position of each forming plate along a corresponding slotted bracket. A gusseting mechanism mounted to the frame of the machine can be positioned between each pair of forming plates imparting a vertical crease along the length of the bag while it is being formed and advanced down the forming tube of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Garrett William Kohl, Jerry Mike Reaves, Steven Kenneth Tucker, Jeryl Edwin White
  • Patent number: 7299609
    Abstract: A piston-cylinder arrangement is provided for mounting and actuating the lower tool of an indexing packaging machine, which has an annular piston head that has a ratio of outer diameter to inner diameter that is less than two, and which drives a relatively oversized hollow piston rod having a protruding mounting portion that projects upwardly and outwardly from the main cylinder, to the upper end of which is mounted an upper mounting plate connected to the lower tool of a station of the packaging machine. The oversized piston rod or shaft ensures stable and tilt-free mounting of the lower tool that ensures the parallelism thereof with the upper stationary tool, while providing more than the necessary force for activating the lower tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: Moshe Epstein
  • Patent number: 7299610
    Abstract: A zero turning radius mower is provided with twin operating levers that are manipulated by the driver to control steering, speed and forward or reverse direction of the mower. When the two drive levers are in the neutral mode, they may be swung outwardly to widespread positions to facilitate operator dismount. If both drive levers are spread apart, a park lever may be operated by the driver to position blocking bars into the path of the levers to prevent their return from the widespread positions. Once the engine is shut off, it can only be restarted when the mower is in its park mode with the park lever engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Great Plains Manufacturing, Incorporated
    Inventor: Alan F. Piontek
  • Patent number: 7299611
    Abstract: The cotton harvester includes a cotton picker housing having at least one plant lifter defining a plant row channel extending back into the housing to a plant compressor sheet. A picker rotor is mounted in the cotton picker housing adjacent to the plant row channel and traverse to the plant compressor sheet. A doffer in the housing near the picker rotor removes picked cotton from the picker rotor and moves the picked cotton to an outlet at the rear of the cotton picker housing. A power unit includes an internal combustion engine mounted on the housing including a rotatable output selectably connectable in rotatably driving relation to the picker rotor and the doffer for imparting rotation thereto. The power unit can also selectably drive at least one wheel of the harvester for moving it over the ground at a speed corresponding to a rotational speed of the picker rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Jesse H. Orsborn, Kevin S. Richman, Monroe C. Barrett, Scott W. Tenbrink
  • Patent number: 7299612
    Abstract: A rotary motor blade has rotational mounting structure in its body member to mount the blade to a power driven motor and thereby rotate the blade. The body member includes at least one free end extending outwardly of the mounting structure with the free end having a front leading edge and a rear trailing edge interconnected by a tip. At least a portion of the front leading edge is tapered to comprise a cutting edge. At least one and preferably a plurality of air flow deforming elements such as indentations are formed in the front leading edge and extend inwardly from the exposed outer surface of the front leading edge to disturb air flow along the rotating blade and enhance the creation of vortices which allow the flow to go from the front leading edge to the rear trailing edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: John Schuyler
  • Patent number: 7299613
    Abstract: A mulching mower unit comprising a mower deck having a top plate, and a plurality of rotary blades arranged side by side inside the mower deck. A mulching baffle for providing at least part of boundary walls of a plurality of mulching chambers is detachably attached to the interior of the mower deck. A vertical guide wall constituting the mulching baffle has an inclined surface. A terminal end guide surface is formed in a terminal end portion of the vertical guide wall with respect to a direction of rotation of the rotary blade in a region around an opening for allowing the adjacent mulching chambers to communicate with each other, whereby grass clippings are deflected inwardly of the mulching chamber with which the terminal end guide surface is associated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Samejima, Masatoshi Yamaguchi, Junichi Kitamura
  • Patent number: 7299614
    Abstract: A novel rake minimally consists of: at least two tine frames, each tine frame having a plurality of tines coupled thereto; a tine frame coupling for coupling to proximal ends of each of the tine frames; pivot mechanisms coupled between the tine frames and the tine frame coupling; a rake handle coupled at a proximal end to the tine frame coupling, and adapted for being grasped at a distal end for raking activity; and a locking mechanism adapted to lock the tine frames into an operational raking configuration, and adapted to unlock the tine frames for transition to a non-raking stowage configuration. When the tine frames are unlocked, the tine frames are adapted to have their distal ends pivoted toward the distal end of the rake handle into the stowage configuration with the distal ends of the tine frames being at least in close proximity of the rake handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: James Sanders
  • Patent number: 7299615
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for twisting two or more strands of yarn together in accordance with a pre-selected and changeable pattern so as to obtain twisted yarn with a selected twist level extending for a selected length of the yarn and other selected twist levels and/or twist directions extending for various other lengths of the yarn so that a package of finished yarn has a variable twist pattern which is reproducible and changeable. The yarn twisting apparatus has a drive for pulling the yarn through the twist inserting apparatus, and controllable fluid twisting devices for twisting the yarn together. A programmable controller controls ratios of the speeds at which the product package drive is operated and pressures or other parameters of fluid jets effecting fluid twisting of the yarn. The programmable controller can also vary the time that each selected ratio is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Mannington Mills, Inc.
    Inventor: Brandon S. Kersey
  • Patent number: 7299616
    Abstract: This invention describes a miniaturized hybrid diesel-electric engine formed by a closed-loop system powered by plasma-aided combustion of JP-8 fuel (or other hydrocarbon fuels) working in tandem with a vapor cycle utilizing miniaturized expanders and condensers. The output of this engine is electric power and mechanical work. Water, or organic fluids, heated by the combustion product developed inside a special burner, undergoes an explosive, quasi-supersonic conversion to steam. This steam drives a high-speed turbine connected together with a gas turbine outputting shaft work. This work output is utilized to power internal subsystems, cool down the miniaturized condensers, and to produce torque and electric power. The dimensions of this miniaturized hybrid-engine are so compact that it can fit inside the battery compartment of most applications requiring high-density miniaturized power sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: Claudio Filippone
  • Patent number: 7299617
    Abstract: This invention relates to a gas turbine having a combustion chamber arrangement and a turbine chamber connected downstream of said combustion chamber arrangement, wherein the combustion chamber arrangement includes a plurality of individual combustion chambers formed by input areas and transition areas converging in an annular gap leading to the turbine chamber and wherein the longitudinal axes of the individual combustion chambers are placed at an angle relative to an engine axis that is defined by the axial extension of the turbine chamber. In order to improve said gas turbine by visibly reducing the thermal and mechanical loads of the individual combustion chambers in the transition area so that cooling requirements can be lowered in said area, the transition area of at least one individual combustion chamber into the turbine chamber is deflected in the direction of the engine axis and substantially in the input area of the turbine chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Iris Oltmanns, legal representatives, Peter Tiemann, deceased
  • Patent number: 7299618
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustion apparatus has a plurality of combustors provided in a circumferential direction within a turbine casing chamber formed by a casing, each combustor comprising a combustor inner tube and a combustor transition pipe, but lacks a turbine bypass mechanism for controlling the amount of compressed air discharged from a compressor into the turbine casing chamber. The combustion apparatus comprises an exhaust port member fitted into a manhole opening in the casing and communicating with the outside of the turbine casing chamber, bleeding pipes for uniformly bleeding compressed air discharged into the turbine casing chamber, a circular pipe for recovering compressed air bled by the bleeding pipes and discharging the compressed air to the exhaust port member, and an opening and closing valve for controlling the amount of exhaust which the circular pipe discharges to the outside of the turbine casing chamber via the exhaust port member, thereby possessing a turbine bypass mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Terazaki, Yoshiyuki Kanezawa, Hideto Horikawa
  • Patent number: 7299619
    Abstract: A gas turbine cycle that utilizes the vaporization of liquefied natural gas as a source of inlet air chilling for a gas turbine. The cycle uses regeneration for preheating of combustor air and offers the potential of gas turbine cycle efficiencies in excess of 60%. The systems and methods permit the vaporization of LNG using ambient air, with the resulting super cooled air being easier to compress and/or having fewer contaminants therein. As the air is easier to compress, less energy is needed to operate the compressor, thereby increasing the efficiency of the system. A portion of the vaporized natural gas may be used as the combustion fuel for the gas turbine system, thereby permitting multiple turbines to be operated using a single topping cycle. In alternative embodiments, the vaporization of the LNG may be used as part of a bottoming cycle to increase the efficiencies of the gas turbine system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Power Generation, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Briesch, Gerald J. Feller
  • Patent number: 7299620
    Abstract: An ignition system having improved reliability for a gas turbine combustor is disclosed. The ignition system comprises an outer housing having at least one fuel passage and an electrode extending therethrough forming a generally annular passage for cooling air to pass to a mixing chamber. Fuel and air mix in the mixing chamber to form a combustible mixture that is ignited by the electrode. The outer housing further comprises a plurality of air swirl holes to effectively cool the walls of the mixing chamber as well as to provide improved flame stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventors: Peter Stuttaford, John Henriquez, Paul Economo
  • Patent number: 7299621
    Abstract: The invention relates to aerodynamically matching the rear fan of a turbojet having two fans and a low-pressure compressor at the front of the intermediate casing, said fans being driven by two independent shafts. Said compressor is disposed between the blades of the two fans and includes at least one ring of rotor blades around the periphery of a wheel driven by the drive shaft for the front fan, and at least two grids of stator vanes disposed on either side of the ring of rotor blades and inside a grid carrier ring. A stationary outer grid and a stator of variable pitch connect the ring to the fan casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Snecma Moteurs
    Inventors: Jacques Bart, Fabienne Lacorre, Yann Lebret, Vanessa Le Rousseau, Patrick Morel
  • Patent number: 7299622
    Abstract: Method and arrangement for providing a component (1) for being subjected to high thermal load during operation. The component includes a wall structure, which defines an inner space for gas flow. The component is formed by at least a first part (5) that includes an inner wall (8), an outer wall (9) and at least one cooling channel (11) between the walls. An end portion of said inner wall of the first part of the component is joined to a second part (6). The joint (18) is located at a distance from the interior of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Volvo Aero Corporation
    Inventor: Jan Häggander
  • Patent number: 7299623
    Abstract: A method for controlling the temperature and/or space velocity of exhaust gas provides control of the maximum temperature of the exhaust gas to prevent thermal damage to the Diesel engine components and associated aftertreatment devices during regeneration of the aftertreatment devices. The method includes controlling intake and/or exhaust valve opening timing and duration, either singly or in combination with selective individual cylinder cutout, in response to sensed engine operating parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Rudolf H. Stanglmaier, Ryan C. Roecker, Charles E. Roberts, Jr., Lee G. Dodge, Christopher J. Chadwell, Darius Mehta, Daniel W. Stewart
  • Patent number: 7299624
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying apparatus provided in an exhaust passage connected with an engine includes an upstream catalyst that is provided in the exhaust passage, and that removes NOx; a downstream catalyst that is provided downstream of the upstream catalyst in the exhaust passage; and a supply device that supplies an oxygen-activating component to a portion of the exhaust passage located between the upstream catalyst and the downstream catalyst. In the exhaust gas purifying apparatus, the upstream catalyst removes NOx, and then an oxygen-activating component is supplied to the exhaust gas. Further, the downstream catalyst removes a hydrocarbon compound contained in the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirohito Hirata, Masaru Kakinohana, Masaya Ibe
  • Patent number: 7299625
    Abstract: During sulfur release control in an internal combustion engine, a rich period and a lean period are alternately repeated. The air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas is controlled toward a target air-fuel ratio (14.3) by adding fuel from a fuel adding valve in the rich period. An ECU determines whether the actual air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas detected by an air-fuel ratio sensor has reached a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio each time the rich period ends at which addition of fuel from the fuel adding valve is stopped. A counter counts the number of times the ECU has determined that the actual air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas has not reached the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. When the value of the counter becomes greater than or equal to a permissible value, the ECU determines that there is an abnormality in the sulfur release control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Uchida, Tatsumasa Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 7299626
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine (100) and exhaust system therefor includes the step of initiating a regeneration event in a diesel particulate filter (DPF 109) (401). A first oxygen concentration (213) of a gas upstream of the DPF 109, and a second oxygen concentration (215) of the gas downstream of the DPF 109 are sensed (403) to infer a rate of combustion of material in the DPF (405) based on the difference between the first (213) and the second (215) oxygen concentrations. The rate of combustion is compared to a threshold value (409) and the regeneration event in the DPF 109 is terminated (411) if the rate of combustion is above the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick D. Barasa, Timothy J. Gundrum
  • Patent number: 7299627
    Abstract: Method and assembly for extracting energy from a flowing fluid. It is proposed to regard all devices of the assembly together as one flow body. In particular those devices on the upstream side of the assembly are set such that they exert lateral (horizontal and/or vertical) forces on the fluid flow, as a result of which flows are produced that guide fast fluid through the energy-extracting devices and guide slow fluid precisely away therefrom. The assembly includes a wind farm and the devices that generate the lateral forces are a type of vortex generators for the atmospheric boundary layer; more particularly they are horizontal or vertical wind turbines positioned at an angle to the wind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Stichting Energieonderzoek Centrum Nederland
    Inventors: Gustave Paul Corten, Koert Lindenburg, Pieter Schaak
  • Patent number: 7299628
    Abstract: An waterwheel (6) using a spiral pump (1) which is attached to a scoop assembly (3) which runs the air and fluid to a separator tank (9), which then allows the air to an air turbine (15) and the fluid to a hydro turbine (16) will produce pressure which will turn the turbines listed which in turn will rotate an electrical generator producing electricity. This system changes the flow of the river in to rotation movement, which produces pressure, which produces mechanical rotational movement to turn a generator, which generates electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: Dennis Buller
  • Patent number: 7299629
    Abstract: A charge pump is provided with two independent outlets that can satisfy the pressure requirements of both a charge circuit and an auxiliary circuit. Preferably, the charge pump is a multiple roller vane pump that has at least one inlet and two outlets independent of each other. The first outlet is in fluid communication with a charge circuit, and the second outlet is in fluid communication with an auxiliary circuit. Because the two outlets are independent of each other, the roller vane pump is able to satisfy the pressure requirements of both the charge and auxiliary circuits. Preferably, the two outlets are diametrically opposed to each other, thereby reducing the load on the driveshaft. Additionally, the roller vane pump may include a second inlet independent of the first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Sauer-Danfoss Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A Betz, Jeff L Herrin, Alan W Johnson
  • Patent number: 7299630
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a locking mechanism for positioning or locking an article comprising a housing 3; an optional active element 6 in operative communication with a connecting means 22, wherein the active element 6 and the connecting means 22 are disposed within the housing 3; wherein the active element 6 upon being activated is capable of exerting a force on the connecting means 22; a compression initiation element 4 located within the housing 3, wherein the compression initiation element 4 comprises a shape memory material, and wherein the compression initiation element 4 upon activation facilitates the activation of the active element 6; and a spring stack 8 disposed adjacent to the compression initiation element 4, wherein the spring stack 8 is in operative communication with the compression initiation element 4 and wherein the spring stack 8 is configured to radially expand within the housing 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Paul R. Meernik
  • Patent number: 7299631
    Abstract: An arrangement (10) for the connection of a brake fluid supply reservoir (12) to a longitudinal brake master cylinder (14) of a motor vehicle, in which at least one lower supply pipe (16) connected to the reservoir is received in a complementary supply bore (18) of the master cylinder (14) and in which vertical immobilization structure (20) is interposed between the pipe (16) and the master cylinder (14). The arrangement is by an intermediate baseplate (22) that is connected to the reservoir (12) by at least one nozzle (24) including the supply pipe (16) and that is lowered vertically onto the master cylinder (14) and then immobilized on the master cylinder (14) by way of vertical immobilization structure (20) that directly snap-fastens to the master cylinder (14) to allow rapid attachment of the pipe (16) to the master cylinder (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Philippe Bourlon, François Gaffe
  • Patent number: 7299632
    Abstract: Disclosed is a floating altazimuth-tracking array of point-focus lenses that concentrate direct sunlight on the upper ends of optical-homogenizer rods bonded to high-efficiency multi-junction photovoltaic cells. The cells are on heat sinks in altitude-tracking linear troughs holding multiple lens-rod-cell assemblies. Swiveling on horizontal axes, the troughs have their heat sinks always submerged in the water of a circular pond. Only knee-high al-together, the troughs and their floating frame rotate in the shallow pond for azimuth tracking. Closely packed floating platforms comprise solar electric farms with maximal land utilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventors: Nikolaus Johannes Laing, William Arthur Parkyn, Jr., Inge Laing
  • Patent number: 7299633
    Abstract: A solar power system capable of storing heat energy and converting sun light to electrical power. The solar power system includes a solar collection system which gathers and transmits concentrated solar energy to an absorber/cavity. The thermal energy is extracted from the absorber/cavity via a fluid and transported to a heat conversion system. The heat conversion system uses the thermal energy to create electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrence H Murphy, William D Otting, Patrick E Frye