Patents Issued in November 27, 2007
  • Patent number: 7299734
    Abstract: A synchronous or synergeticly timed fuse is installed into ordnance (bombs, artillery shells, depth charges etc.), the ordnance is delivered to a target area and a simultaneous (synchronous), or a synergetic (not neccessarily synchronous yet the energies add together to be greater than their individual parts), explosion event occurs. This explosion event can be enhanced by the shape the ordnance is configured in (a shaped charge on the order of meters or kilometers).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: Craig L Holloway
  • Patent number: 7299735
    Abstract: A plurality of embodiments of disruptor all have a container with an enclosure for explosive material with a wall which can he located in any one of a number of different positions using one or more tubular spacers (12) optionally of various sizes thereby to provide a wide range of capacity of enclosure and hence explosive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: Sidney C. Alford
  • Patent number: 7299736
    Abstract: A Controlled-Harm Explosive Reactive Armor (COHERA) is made of explosive layered between two plates of material with predetermined fragmentation having controlled harm prevention properties. The fragmentation is predetermined and prevents harm to personnel and equipment nearby a reacting COHERA. The controlled harm prevention qualities of a COHERA are determined according to a Harm Specification and to accompanying harm delimiting parameters. Furthermore, the COHERA is configured to prevent sympathetic initiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Rafael Armament Development Authority Ltd.
    Inventor: Meir Mayseless
  • Patent number: 7299737
    Abstract: A method and apparatus providing an action system for a firearm. The action system includes a primary roller-lock mechanism located rearward of an ejection port. The primary roller-lock mechanism includes a bolt and a first primary roller caged within the bolt. A bolt carrier ramp is attached to a bolt carrier. A barrel extension ramp is attached to a barrel extension. The first primary roller, bolt carrier ramp, and barrel extension ramp cooperate to effectively delay movement of the bolt and bolt carrier in response to firing of the firearm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Snake River Machine, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Hajjar, Warren Stockton
  • Patent number: 7299738
    Abstract: An axial piston machine having a swashplate or an oblique axis which can be adjusted by means of servopistons and has a valve segment and an adjustment unit for the electrically proportional adjustment of the volumetric displacement. The adjustment unit comprises proportional magnets which can be activated electrically, and a control piston for controlling the oil pressure which moves the servopistons. The proportional magnets act on the control piston along a common tappet axis, a feedback device for feeding back the current swashplate or oblique-axis valve-segment position to the control piston being provided. The feedback device comprises spring levers 6, 6? which can pivot about an axis, the spring levers 6, 6? each being mounted on the pivot axis 5 with a bearing shell 15, which are each composed of two component shells which support the spring lever 6, 6? at separate locations on the pivot axis 5, and which each essentially enclose a half-space about the pivot axis 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Sauer-Danfoss Inc.
    Inventors: Reinhardt Thoms, Carsten Fiebing, Bernd Hames, Martin Wüstefeld
  • Patent number: 7299739
    Abstract: A fluid pressure cylinder has a piston rod 18 fixed to a piston 26 and projecting outside a cylinder body 23. A lock surface 43 inclining to a radial direction of the piston rod 18 is formed in an engagement member 31 provided in the piston rod 18. A lock rod 35 reciprocating in an about right-angle direction to the piston rod 18 is built into a lock cylinder 33 provided in the cylinder body 23. The lock rod 35 is provided with: a large-diameter section 35a fitted into a guide hole 36 formed in the lock cylinder 33; and a slide contact section 37 provided in the large-diameter section 35a via a constriction section 35b. The slide contact section 37 contacts with a radial-inner portion of the lock surface 43 when the lock rod 35 comes nearest to the piston rod 18.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Koganei Corporation
    Inventors: Akio Nakata, Masakazu Tetsuka
  • Patent number: 7299740
    Abstract: A reciprocating axial displacement mechanism is disclosed generally comprising a housing, a rotating device, a displacement device having first and second undulating surfaces disposed in the housing, and a cam connected to the rotating device and disposed between the first and second undulating surfaces. The cam either has an undulating shape or has first and second undulating surfaces such that, as the cam rotates with the rotating device, the cam slides along the first and second undulating surfaces of the displacement device to cause the displacement device to move back and forth along the longitudinal axis of the rotating device. In certain embodiments, the displacement device is a pumping device, or an actuator for a pumping device, in a compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Haldex Brake Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew W. Adams
  • Patent number: 7299741
    Abstract: A hydraulic pressure actuator having an inner tube and a mesh sleeve covering the outer periphery of the inner tube and longitudinally extendable by pressure fluid fed into the inner tube, wherein a low friction body formed in an elastic cylindrical body by knitting fine fibers in a circumferential direction without a seam is disposed between the inner tube and the mesh sleeve, and the low friction body contributes to an increase in the life of the hydraulic pressure actuator repeatedly performing extension/retraction motions. The hydraulic pressure actuator is used as an actuator for driving a CPM device which supports the extremity of a human body by ay least one of a plurality of members combined with each other and performs the rehabilitation of the joints of a handicapped by operating the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuaki Hiramatsu, Makoto Konami, Yutaka Satoh, Taisuke Matsushita, Shigekazu Suzuki, Katsuhiro Kuroda, Kazuo Ooki, Akibiko Toda
  • Patent number: 7299742
    Abstract: An apparatus for preparing hot beverages includes a boiler and a device for inhibiting scale. That device comprises at least one ultrasound transmitter located at the boiler, inside the boiler or in the region of the boiler. The ultrasound transmitter is operatively coupled to the boiler and excites it to oscillate with its natural frequency. In a preferred embodiment, an ultrasound receiver and an amplifier is provided whose input is connected to the ultrasound receiver and whose output is connected to the ultrasound transmitter. The advantage of the invention is that the boiler always oscillates with its natural frequency, so that the sound energy is optimally used and can be kept lower than it would be for the same effect without resonance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: SAECO IPR Limited
    Inventors: Helmut Meineke, Peter Keller
  • Patent number: 7299743
    Abstract: This invention combines several processes into on easy to use product. The glass sphere dramatically enhances the aeration procedure by gently exposing air to thin waves of wine as wine passes over the surface of the sphere. The integrated filter provides a larger surface than normally found in wine filtration devices. The supporting structure secures the decanter in such a way that consumers can easily dispense wine without handling a wine bottle or conventional decanter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: James R. Moore
  • Patent number: 7299744
    Abstract: Tires are packaged in a stack by positioning the tires on a packaging device having a set of parallel alignment rollers such that the rollers contact the treads of the tires to orient the tires as a stable stack, with the respective center axes of the tires being substantially parallel to the axes of the rollers. At least one of the rollers is rotated to rotate all of the tires in the stack about their respective center axes to align the center axes of all of the tires with a longitudinal axis of a cylinder defined by the stack. After stopping the rotation, the stack is compressed in the axial direction while the alignment of the tire axes with the cylinder axis is maintained. One or more bands are then wrapped around the stack while maintaining the compression. Then the compression is released to release the stack which remains restrained by the bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Paul Charvet
  • Patent number: 7299745
    Abstract: A juice press as used in the production of wine for removing liquids from solids, having a horizontally positionable press frame that allows a vertical press mechanism to be rolled to a first position for interference-free loading of a press basket with material to be pressed, and then rolled to a second operating position located over the press basket. The press basket has a liquid channeling plate having an arrangement of holes and channels that creates a perimeter seal along a circumference at the bottom of a loaded press basket. The liquid channeling plate traps naturally occurring sludge along the circumference bottom and allows for efficient evacuation of extracted juice from the bottom of the basket as the press mechanism is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: American Basket Press Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Ned Nelson, Ross Mickel
  • Patent number: 7299746
    Abstract: A refuse bin comprises a refuse container (10) having a top opening (12) and a lid (14) hinged relative to the container to cover the opening. A compacting mechanism is fitted to the lid and comprises a compacting plate (22) mounted under the lid and an actuating rod (24) coupled to the compacting plate through an aperture (26) in the lid. The coupling is such that the rod (24) may be maneuvered from a storage position wherein the rod lies across the top surface of the lid and the plate is drawn up under the lid to an operative position wherein the rod stands upright over the aperture in the lid and may be pushed downwardly through the aperture to push the plate down into the container. The compacting mechanism further comprises a ratchet mechanism (50, 52, 54) for releasably locking the actuating rod (24) against movement upwardly through the aperture in the lid such that refuse in the container can be compacted by force applied to an edge (48) of the lid opposite the hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Garbage Genie Concept 2000 Limited
    Inventor: Yvan LaPorte
  • Patent number: 7299747
    Abstract: A pulpifier includes a holder having a compartment and a rear handle. A perforated screen is located in the compartment. A presser extends into the compartment and moves towards the screen. A front clamp extends from the holder for affixing the holder to a vessel supporting the pulpifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: Kwok Kuen So
  • Patent number: 7299748
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for an embosser stamp in which the embosser stamp has an operating lever for controlling movement of the seal or embossing plates. Holes are disposed in the sides of the embosser stamp and through the operating lever. When the holes in the operating lever are aligned with the holes in the sides of the embosser stamp, a locking rod is placed through the aligned holes. Movement of the operating lever is restricted when the locking rod is inserted through the aligned holes. One end of the locking rod has a stop mechanism and the other end has a hole for receiving a lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventors: Craig J. Petersen, Thomas P. Govern
  • Patent number: 7299749
    Abstract: A lithographic printing plate support comprising a substrate having thereon a porous layer comprising metal oxide particles bound by a compound containing a metal atom and a phosphorus atom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Tadabumi Tomita, Yoshinori Hotta
  • Patent number: 7299750
    Abstract: Especially in hunting, the choice of bullets has to be such that it is in keeping with the wild animals to be hunted. According to the desired effect on the target, deformation bullets or partial fragmentation bullets are used. Since both types of bullets are different, the position of the point of impact from the same weapon is different. According to the type of bullet used, the weapon must be oriented differently in relation to the target. This can be obstructive and if insufficient attention is paid, can result in misses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Ruag Ammotec GmbH
    Inventors: Irene Schikora, Friedrich Riess, Bernd Krause
  • Patent number: 7299751
    Abstract: The present invention provides a releasable skate retarder for railway cars. The retarder includes a plurality of spring packs including springs which bias shoe carrying beams toward running rails, trapping wheels of a railway car entering the retarder between the shoes and the running rails, and applying a frictional force to the railway car wheels for stopping the railway car and retaining the railway car in the retarder. The retarder is operable in a release mode in which an operating mechanism moves the shoe beams to a release position in which the spring force is released, allowing the railway car to move freely through the retarder. The retarder is operable in a service mode in which the operating mechanism moves the shoe beams outwardly, allowing the insertion of shims which cause the shoes to be repositioned closer to the running rails to compensate for shoe wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Trackside Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory F. Kickbush
  • Patent number: 7299752
    Abstract: A trolley retrieval system for transporting or returning trolleys from a finish area back to a start area for traveling along a cable. The systems may include a cable held in suspension between the first and second supports. A retrieval line may be suspended in a closed loop extending from proximate the first support to proximate the second support. A trolley for traveling along the cable may be selectively connectable to the retrieval line. A motivator may selectively circulating the retrieval line around the loop. A controller may control operation of the motivator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: Eric S. Cylvick
  • Patent number: 7299753
    Abstract: A table may include a table top with a first section that is selectively movable between a use position and a collapsed position, and a second section that is selectively movable between a use position and a collapsed position. The table may also include a first pedestal that is movable between a first position in which the first pedestal supports the first section of the table top in the use position and a second position in which the first section of the table top may be moved between the use position and the collapsed position. The table may include a second pedestal that is movable between a first position in which the second pedestal supports the second section of the table top in the use position and a second position in which the second section of the table top may be move between the use position and the collapsed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: L. Curtis Strong
  • Patent number: 7299754
    Abstract: A table may include a table top and one or more legs, which may be movable between an extended and a collapsed position relative to the table top. The table may also include one or more securing members that are sized and configured to receive at least a portion of the one or more legs in the collapsed position. Additionally, the table may include one or more mounting members that are sized and configured to receive another portion of the table such as a cross bar. Advantageously, the securing members and mounting members may be attached to the table top by a snap, friction or interference fit, which may allow the securing members and mounting members to be attached to the table top at any time during the manufacturing process. It may also allow the table to be used with different types of securing members, mounting members and legs. In addition, it may allow the securing members and mounting members to be replaced, if desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventors: Carl R. Stanford, L. Curtis Strong, Ray Adams, David C. Winter, Edward G. vanNimwegen
  • Patent number: 7299755
    Abstract: A pivotable folding utility table includes a table top having a pair of support pedestals pivotally attached thereto. A first pivotal support brace including a distal end and a proximal end attached to the first support pedestal. A second pivotal support brace including a distal end and a proximal end attached to the second support pedestal. The distal ends of the first and second pivotal support braces pivotally attached to a retaining assembly preferably mounted in relation to the table top. Specifically, the retaining assembly includes a cross-brace member operably disposed through openings formed in the distal ends of the first and second pivotal support braces, thus providing a pivotal engagement in relation to the table top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Lifetime Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl R. Stanford
  • Patent number: 7299756
    Abstract: A waste processing apparatus for processing a column of waste in a processing chamber having one or more gas outlets at an upper part thereof and one or more plasma torches an output end thereof extending into a lower part of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: E.E.R. Environmental Energy Resources (Israel) Ltd.
    Inventors: Valeri G. Gnedenko, Alexandre L. Souris, David Pegaz
  • Patent number: 7299757
    Abstract: A zigzag sewing machine including a needle bar having a sewing needle attached thereto, a needle swing mechanism that laterally swings the needle bar, a needle plate disposed on an upper surface of a sewing machine bed, and a feed dog constituted by a first to fourth teeth that feed a workpiece cloth by projecting/retracting from the needle plate. The zigzag sewing machine further includes a feed dog longitudinal transfer mechanism that longitudinally moves the feed dog, a feed dog lateral transfer mechanism that laterally moves the feed dog, and a control unit that controls the feed dog lateral transfer mechanism so that one of the teeth is associated with a needle drop point of the sewing needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyasu Niizeki, Hiroshi Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 7299758
    Abstract: A boat lift transportation assembly for boat lifts is attachable to and removable from any cantilever boat lift. It comprises a steerable front lever that is positioned adjacent the front upper and lower cross-members of the boat lift and left and right rear levers positioned adjacent the rear upper and lower cross-members. Each lever has a wheel on the bottom so that the boat lift is automatically placed on wheels when the boat lift is raised, provided the levers have been positioned previously. Besides the wheel on the bottom, each lever has a height adjustable beam having a lower and upper hook. The boat lift's lower cross-members sit on the rest areas of the lower hooks and the boat lift's upper cross-rnembers are restricted by the upper hooks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: Jonathan J. Bogart
  • Patent number: 7299759
    Abstract: A bowsprit or davit assembly is for raising and lowering, and for firmly securing, an anchor. The assembly includes an elongate frame member, of a substantial U-shape in cross-section, adapted to be mounted on a surface (deck of a vessel). The, frame member includes respective front and rear U-shaped sections (2) and (1). The front section (2) includes respective first and second rotatable members (10) and (15) for receiving and guiding a rope or cable, the rotatable members (15) being displaced from one another in both the vertical and horizontal directions. An elongate member (20) extends between opposed wall members of the front section (2), at or in the vicinity of the uppermost free edges thereof. Opposed flaps (7) extend laterally normal of the outermost free end of opposed wall members of the front section (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: Rex William Francis
  • Patent number: 7299760
    Abstract: A floating terminal for offloading an LNG carrier vessel in the sea. The floating terminal of open frame construction is moored toward its front end with a rotatable mooring arrangement so that the terminal may weathervane in response to environmental forces. Marine thrusters are provided at the aft end of the terminal for swinging the terminal away from and back toward a line defined by the path toward the terminal of an approaching LNG carrier. Offloading equipment and heat exchangers are provided on a deck of the floating structure. When an LNG carrier vessel approaches the terminal, the thrusters swing the floating terminal away from the carrier vessel approach line while a hawser at the front end of the terminal pulls the vessel close to the terminal. The floating terminal swings back toward the carrier vessel in response to operating the marine thrusters in an opposite direction until the carrier vessel and floating terminal are side-by-side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Sofec, Inc.
    Inventors: L. Terry Boatman, Yonghui Liu
  • Patent number: 7299761
    Abstract: Wakeboarding performance is improved using a vessel which is fitted with a skeletal towing frame having spaced supports attached on opposite sides of the vessel while coupling upper extremities of the supports with a horizontal bridging portion, to which a tow rope attachment point is fitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Correct Craft, Inc.
    Inventors: Borden M. Larson, William N. Snook
  • Patent number: 7299762
    Abstract: A mechanism for maintaining a surface such as a landing pad in a desired orientation with respect to a supporting surface includes a pair of columns that rotate with respect to each other. The angle at which the columns engage, or the angle at which the columns engage the surface and the supporting surface, are offset with respect to a line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylinders. By selectively rotating the columns with respect to each other and with respect to the supporting surface, the tilt and orientation of the surface are adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: FAC Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Farid A. Chouery
  • Patent number: 7299763
    Abstract: A boat hull has at least one ventilating propulsion tunnel formed therein open to the water forward of the hull's transom and adapted to contain a propeller of the propulsion system. The tunnel has a leading edge forward of the transom and an interceptor plate projects downwardly from the hull at the leading edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Navatek, Ltd.
    Inventors: Steven Loui, Scott Yamashita
  • Patent number: 7299764
    Abstract: The boat hull includes a hull body having an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower surface of the hull body is divided into a fore portion, a central portion and an aft portion, with a central recess being formed in the central portion and an aft recess being formed in the aft portion. The central recess has a substantially V-shaped cross-sectional contour having a height and a width that both increase in the fore-to-aft direction. The aft recess has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional contour and is in communication with the central recess. The aft recess extends in the fore-to-aft direction from a rear edge of the central recess to an aft edge of the lower surface of the hull body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: Wayne N. Davis
  • Patent number: 7299765
    Abstract: A support assembly for a signal such as a signal flag or the like, which is structured for multiple uses by the provision of an end piece removably attached in different operative positions to the distal end of a staff having an elongated configuration of variable length. The multiple uses of the support assembly is due to the end piece comprising a tool, preferably in the form of a hook, such that when the end piece/tool is disposed in at least one of the operative orientations, the staff and end piece/tool can be used as a boat hook assembly. When so used, a shaft structured to support the signal flag thereon may be disposed on the interior of the staff, along with the flag furled thereabout. Another of the operative orientations comprises the flag shaft disposed exteriorly of the staff in an exposed position for display of the signal flag thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: James Phelps
  • Patent number: 7299766
    Abstract: A fluid-applying device for applying a fluid to a teat of a dairy animal. The fluid-applying device comprises a fluid detector for determining a fluid application pattern of the fluid on the teat of the dairy animal. The fluid detector comprises a computer loaded with comparing software for comparing the determined fluid application pattern with a previously stored reference criterion, for emitting a comparison signal which is indicative of the comparison result, and for determining the teat length, the tip of the teat, and the fluid application distance, measured from the tip of the teat, over which the fluid has been applied to the teat, and for emitting a fluid signal comprising data in relation to the determined fluid application distance. The reference criterion may be a threshold distance with which the determined fluid application distance is compared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Lely Enterprises AG
    Inventors: Karel Van Den Berg, Eduard Lodewijk Meijer, Cornelis Antonius Maria Snijders, Geert Cornelis Steen
  • Patent number: 7299767
    Abstract: A housing for small pet animals includes a pedestal portion 1, a fixing side plate 3 uprightly attached to the pedestal portion 1, an activity wheel 5 with one side opened toward the fixing side plate 3 and the other side closed by closing members 52c. The wheel 5 is disposed above the pedestal portion 1 with the one side closed by the fixing side plate 3. The housing further includes a housing equipment immovably attached to the fixing side plate 3 and disposed in a housing space surrounded by the fixing side plate 3 and the activity wheel 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tominaga Jyushi Kogyosho
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Tominaga, Robert C. Krause, Hikaru Nakagawa, Kozo Sakai, Keqian You
  • Patent number: 7299768
    Abstract: The water heating apparatus has an upright cylindrical thermally insulated storage tank, an axially extending exhaust gas pipe passing centrally through the storage tank and a combustion chamber under the storage tank. An atmospheric gas burner, which has a complete premixing fuel gas/air supply system, is arranged within the combustion chamber. The exhaust gas pipe has a section extending within the combustion chamber, which preferably extends towards the bottom of the combustion chamber and has an end located a few centimeters from the bottom, so that the combustion gases have a longer dwell time in the combustion chamber and the exhaust gas pipe in order to improve heating efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Ceramat, S.coop.
    Inventor: Alexander Groehl
  • Patent number: 7299769
    Abstract: A water heater is shown having a closed metal tank with an upwardly mounted combustion chamber and burner/blower assembly. Curved fire tubes convey the products of combustion from the chamber to an exterior mounted flue assembly. The closed tank is enclosed by a rotomolded jacket. A support stand with vertically arranged support legs supports the tank in a normally vertical position but also allows the tank to be pivoted to a horizontal position on the support stand for maintenance or repair operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: PVI Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Michael James Hubbard, Mark Allen Ferguson, Frank Austin Myers, Paul James Bothner
  • Patent number: 7299770
    Abstract: An engine is cooled using high pressure water injected into the piston with the water converted to high pressure steam by the heat from combustion with heat transfer taking place in passages in the piston and in and between grooves in the piston and the cylinder sleeve. The high pressure steam is conducted between the piston and cylinder walls to lubricate, so there will be no need for piston rings, with a part of it passing into the crankcase, and a part of it going into the combustion chamber where it contributes to power production. The piston skirt has a spring-loaded washer access to a void in a lower passage for balancing pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: Douglas G. Thorpe
  • Patent number: 7299771
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine (200) includes a coolant pump (212) having a pump outlet (214), and a first exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler (206) fluidly connected to the pump outlet (214). A crankcase (202) is fluidly connected in parallel with the EGR cooler (206) to the pump outlet (214) for receiving coolant therefrom. A cylinder head (204) is fluidly connected to the crankcase (202) for receiving coolant therefrom. A thermostat (232) is fluidly connected between the cylinder head (204) and the coolant pump (212). A valve system (238) has a first selectable position fluidly connecting the flow from the first EGR cooler (206) to the flow in the cylinder head (204), and a second selectable position fluidly connecting the flow from the first EGR cooler (206) to the thermostat (232) in bypassing relation to the cylinder head (204). Each of the first or second position is effected in response to an engine operating parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Puning Wei, Zhengbai Liu
  • Patent number: 7299772
    Abstract: A piston for an internal combustion engine defining an axis of motion and including an annular cooling gallery defined within the piston. The cooling gallery extends annularly about the axis of motion of the piston. A plurality of annularly spaced fan blades is positioned within the cooling gallery. Each fan blade is oriented diagonally within the cooling gallery to direct a cooling fluid in an annular direction about the axis of motion of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Hardin
  • Patent number: 7299773
    Abstract: A cylinder for a two-stroke engine has a cylinder wall defining a cylinder interior. A cylinder head closes of a combustion chamber in the cylinder interior. An exhaust is connected to the cylinder interior. At least one transfer passage having a transfer port opens into the cylinder interior. The at least one transfer passage is disposed in the cylinder wall for connecting a crank case of the two-stroke engine to the combustion chamber. The at least one transfer passage has at the level of the transfer port at least one flow deflecting rib having a radial spacing from the transfer port in a radial outward direction relative to a longitudinal cylinder axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Florian Hoche, Niels Kunert, Horst Denner
  • Patent number: 7299774
    Abstract: The invention relates to a valve control for actuating at least one valve, especially an inlet or outlet valve of an internal combustion engine, wherein the dimension of the valve lift of the at least one valve corresponds to a superposition of two cam profiles which can be adjusted in phases in relation to each other and are displaced synchronously. The aim of the invention is to improve the construction and functioning of the valve control. As a result, a guiding means between an intermediate element and the first cam profile is embodied as third cam profile which is formed in a complementary manner with respect to the first cam profile and rotates in a synchronous manner therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Mahle Ventiltrieb GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Lechner, Falk Schneider
  • Patent number: 7299775
    Abstract: A variable valve operating device is provided that allows an ideal valve timing-lift characteristic to be realized by associating a change in a valve timing with a change in a valve lift amount. A rotation motion of a drive cam is transmitted to a slide surface of a swing member via an intermediate member. Positions of the intermediate member on the slide surface are varied in association with the rotation of a control shaft by an interlock mechanism. The slide surface is formed to be curved toward the drive cam so that the distance from the center of a camshaft increases toward the farthest point from the swing center of the swing member within the area which the intermediate member contacts from the nearest point from the swing center of the swing member within the area which the intermediate member contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Tateno, Toshiaki Asada, Shuichi Ezaki
  • Patent number: 7299776
    Abstract: A valve assembly for an internal combustion engine includes: at least two valves supported by a pair of valve stem holders; a bracket; a closing actuator for pivoting and closing the valves upon contact with a closing lobe of a camshaft; one or more opening actuators for opening at least one of said valves upon contact with an opening lobe of the camshaft; and one or more Belleville spring washers, allowing for an adjustment of a sealing load when the respective valves are closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: W. Howard Baker
  • Patent number: 7299777
    Abstract: A connection of a bearing bolt (6) in a cylindrical housing (1) of a roller tappet (2) that is actuated in a direction of a longitudinal axis (Z) is provided, especially for a tappet push-rod valve drive of an internal combustion engine. The bearing bolt (6) is supported in bore holes (7) of the housing (1), which extend in a transverse plane (XY) to the roller tappet (2), perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (Z), and is connected with a positive and/or non-positive fit to the housing (1) through material deformation. The material deformation is provided as one or more segments (9, 10), of which at least one segment (9) completely encloses a radial load zone (16) of the bearing bolt (6), and a section (15) of the bearing bolt (6) extending about the transverse plane (XY) is free from material deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Marco Meisborn, Mario Kuhl
  • Patent number: 7299778
    Abstract: The invention proposes a switchable cam follower (1) for a valve train of an internal combustion engine, said cam follower comprising two elements (2, 3) telescoped into each other and, axially displaceable relative to each other. A bore (4) comprising at least one piston (5) extends in the inner element (2). The piston (5) has, on a portion of its outer peripheral surface (7), a stepped entraining surface (8) that starts from the first front end (6) of the piston (5) facing the outer element (3). For achieving coupling, the piston (5) can be displaced with this entraining surface (8) onto a flat counter surface (10) of the other element (3). The entraining surface (8) of the piston (5) extends, starting from the first front end (6), toward a second front end (11) of the piston (5) while tapering into a conical shape generally in the direction toward a longitudinal axis of the piston (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventor: Andre Kuckuk
  • Patent number: 7299779
    Abstract: A valve stem seal of an internal combustion engine is described wherein the valve stem seal includes an outer peripheral surface and an inner sealing surface. The inner sealing surface minimizes ingress of a liquid upwardly from an intake port area into an overhead engine area by having at least one sealing lip disposed on an upper portion of the inner sealing surface and extending away from the inner sealing surface. The sealing lip includes a generally square lower corner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy A. Hegemier, Cathy Stamback, legal representative, Mark A. Stamback, deceased
  • Patent number: 7299780
    Abstract: A lube-oil pump system for a diesel engine's fuel injection system has a first and second pump. Each pump is a multi-plunger swash-plate type pump. The first pump mounts to a neck portion of a front cover of the engine's crankcase and has a driven gear that meshes with and is driven by gear teeth formed on the engine's camshaft. The second pump mounts vertically stacked on top of the first pump and has its own driven gear that meshes with and is driven by the gear of the first pump. The second pump is configured to operate in the counter-rotational direction as the first pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: Brian M. Thompson
  • Patent number: 7299781
    Abstract: An oil return passage for returning oil from a cylinder head to an oil pan is arranged along the downward first side surface of an engine that is mounted in a vehicle such that a center axis of a cylinder thereof is slanted with respect to a vertical direction of the vehicle. An oil return extension pipe is coupled to an outlet end of the oil return passage, and extends toward a second side surface of the engine that is opposite from the first side surface on which the oil return passage is provided. Thus, engine oil can be reliably returned to the oil pan from the cylinder head of the engine even when the vehicle is experiencing high acceleration in a direction that tends to cause backflow of the oil through the engine oil return system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Mahle Powertrain Ltd.
    Inventors: Noaki Nakada, Manabu Kato, Tomohiro Okamoto, Thomas Hale
  • Patent number: 7299782
    Abstract: A cylinder head structure for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine that is mounted on a vehicle so that a cylinder alignment direction goes along a front-rear direction of the vehicle comprises a cylinder head side wall, an upper deck, and a rib. The cylinder head side wall projects on a periphery of the cylinder head and is provided along the cylinder alignment direction. The upper deck is formed on the cylinder head so as to be positioned between portions of the cylinder head side wall, wherein the upper deck further includes an oil return hole formed near a portion of the cylinder head side wall. The rib extends in a width direction of the cylinder head and is formed on the upper deck in a rear side of the oil return hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironao Netsu, Shin Nomura
  • Patent number: 7299783
    Abstract: A marine propulsion device is provided with an air control system that draws air from the region under the cowl of the outboard motor and induces a flow of air out of the region. The air is caused to flow through a second opening formed in the cowl. As a result, air drawn into the cowl through a first opening can flow either into the engine through its throttle body mechanism or out of the space under the cowl, as induced by the operation of the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Broman, Eric S. Mueller, Paul M. Radavich