Patents Issued in November 29, 2007
  • Publication number: 20070271868
    Abstract: The invention of the present application provides a system of brick and rod for the construction of walls with high resistance to extreme gravitational, lateral, and cyclic forces. This system allows the construction of a wall made of bricks reinforced with a skeleton of rods. The brick of this system is a rectangular block with horizontal and vertical protuberances and cavities which permits horizontal and vertical interlocks with the adjacent bricks of the wall. The brick is also perforated by holes which are aligned with the holes of the vertically adjacent bricks of the wall, thus forming a continuous vertical hole that goes throughout the entire height of the wall. The rod of the system crosses the bricks through the continuous hole of the wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventor: Ricardo E. Abella
  • Publication number: 20070271869
    Abstract: The corner member acts structurally and as a trim cap for cladding. The corner member can accept multiple types of cladding with or without sheathing in channels formed in the corner member. The corner member may also comprise return flanges or a separate mounting flange that extend into the structure and are exposed to allow for fastening of internal accessories or other items that need an internal mounting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Justin C. Andrikanich, Thomas E. Hanna, Timothy M. Pierzynski, Erik Skov
  • Publication number: 20070271870
    Abstract: The disclosed technology enables manufacturers to efficiently design and manufacture structural wall panels, floor panels and roof panels from cold-formed steel for use in residential and commercial construction. The panels are individual components that can be installed at a building site to form a structure that includes walls, floor and a roof. Structures may be manufactured in a manufacturing facility and delivered to a construction site for installation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Vincent Mifsud, Giuseppe Aprile, Michael Churchill, Michele Tancredi
  • Publication number: 20070271871
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an adjustable star wheel and guide rail assembly for use with containers being processed on an automated handling line between machines such as rotary packaging machines. Star wheels derive their name from their general shape. The star wheels of this invention have fingers that support containers, such that they convey the containers as the star wheel rotates. Conveniently, the fingers of the present invention may be set in any position within their range of movement. In addition, a supporting guide rail may be adjusted, for example by rotation on cams. Thus, the fingers and the guide rail may be set to convey containers of varying sizes whilst keeping the container's centres travelling along the centreline of the conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Ian Spence, John Robertson, Allan Rodger
  • Publication number: 20070271872
    Abstract: Banding machine for logs (1) of sheet material fed by a conveyor belt (2) to a packaging apparatus adapted to band it with a banding web (11) up to form a tubular wrapper around it. The packaging apparatus of the banding machine comprises a pusher (7) operated by an actuator (8), which pushes the log (1) in a channel (10) where a packaging sheet (11) is arranged stretched in front of the log, as an obstacle, along all the length of the machine through a passage (12). According to the invention, the conveyor belt (2) and the packaging apparatus (7) are arranged at different heights, respectively at a first and a second height (H1 and H2). Another pusher (14) can be provided, operated by a cylinder piston (15) at a first height (H1), in addition to the pusher (7) at the second height (H2), independent from each other. Furthermore, a lifting member (13) is provided, which receives the log (1) from the first pusher (14) and moves from the first height (H1) to the second height (H2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: MTC- MACCHINE TRASFORMAZIONE CARTA S.R.L.
    Inventor: Alessandro DE MATTEIS
  • Publication number: 20070271873
    Abstract: A filling machine and a method for filling foodstuffs, particularly beverages, in composite packages open on top and for sealing the packages, using a package transport device, a sterilization unit, a drying unit, a filling unit, and a sealing unit, are shown and described. In order to have more time available—at the same output—for the individual processes (sterilization, filling, and sealing processes), and in order to prevent undesired foaming, multiple aggregates, made of a sterilization unit, drying unit, and filling unit, which are assembled into processing lines, are positioned fixed on a rotating rotary machine (1) and the transport direction of the composite packages (P) runs radially around the axis of rotation (R) on the rotary machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Klaus Baltes, Jorg Berger
  • Publication number: 20070271874
    Abstract: The apparatus comprises a rotary turret 18 having circumferentially spaced grooves 30a, 30b, 30c for receiving pre-cut lengths of zipper 58 consisting of first and second interengageable profile strips. Sliders 46 for engaging and re-engaging the profiles are mounted on the zipper lengths by a rotary slider applicator 42. A web 12 of plastics material is fed beneath the turret 18 and receives the zipper lengths which are secured to the web by a heated sealing bar 60. The web with zippers attached is fed to a form-fill-seal machine 20 on which the web is formed into individual bags which are filled and separated from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventor: Murray Leighton
  • Publication number: 20070271875
    Abstract: According to one aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for accumulating products, (1) such as a refrigeration apparatus, comprising: at least one station (2) where products are to be accumulated; the station having an entry (9) for products (10) at one end and an exit (11) for products (10) at an opposite end; infeed means (3, 4), for conveying the products to the station entry; outfeed means (5, 6) for conveying products away from the station entry; and moving means (7) for moving products from the station entry into the station and for moving products out of the station at the exit to the outfeed means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: GORDON BROTHERS INDUSTRIES PTY. LTD.
    Inventor: John Mott
  • Publication number: 20070271876
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of distributing beverages or liquid food products including transportation, by a commercial distributor, or flexible bags (10) filled with the beverage or liquid food products. Flexible bags (10) are located in the bulk transport containers (30) and transported to consumers of the product in required quantities. Flexible bags (10) are delivered to a consumer, the beverage or liquid food product being dispensed for consumption ban an end consumer. Through each step in the distribution method, hazard and critical control points during distribution and dispensing are minimised, the “one way” nature of the preferred embodiment of the method minimising recovery and recycling costs at well as potential hygiene problems associated with re-use of containers currently in use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: THE WATERBOYS PTY LTD
    Inventor: David Davies
  • Publication number: 20070271877
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for casing, extracting and dosing fibres. The inventive device is characterised in that it comprises a unit for casing fibres with a constant density in a very long cylindrical plastic bag and a unit for extracting and dosing same during the production of concretes and mortars with fibres. The inventive conditioning enables automated fibre addition for the production of concretes or mortars, while guaranteeing maximum safety in relation to dosing, and facilitates stock management.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventor: Jean Sebille
  • Publication number: 20070271878
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus to bend a first and second cross seal of the bag made of a flexible packing material towards the side-wall. The present invention further relates to a packaging machine including the inventive apparatus and a method for producing a bag made of a flexible packaging material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Peter Hendriks, Rudolf Van Gulik
  • Publication number: 20070271879
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for wrapping a napkin around one or more utensils. The apparatus includes a wrapping area defining a trough dimensioned to receive one or more utensils. A utensil dispenser and napkin delivery mechanism may be provided to deliver the utensils and a napkin, respectively, to the trough. The apparatus may also include a wrapping mechanism that wraps the napkin around the utensils. In some cases, a tension mechanism may be included to selectively limit movement of the napkin during wrapping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Gerald Hoffman, Glen Lindahl
  • Publication number: 20070271880
    Abstract: According to the invention, an insertion system for collating sheets of printed material for insertion into an envelope is disclosed. The insertion system includes an insertion machine, application software and an operating system. Included in the application software is a first function and a second function, where the first function performs tracking for each packet and the second function controls operation of the insertion machine. Each packet includes a plurality of pieces of printed material that may ultimately be sealed in an envelope. The operating system runs the application software at any given instant and executes the first and second functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: First Data Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Smith, Jeffery Nowlin, Jay Greene, Mark Tonack
  • Publication number: 20070271881
    Abstract: A packaging and filling system is provided, which decreases the waste amount of the reel, reduces the environmental load, and produces various kinds of containers in small quantities. The packaging and filling machine which obtains a food filled container by means of the process of forming the container and filling the food using the web-shaped laminated packaging material comprises a packaging material reel 2 wound in a roll shape with a first packaging material 1, a film reel 4 wound in a roll shape with a second packaging material 3, and lamination means 6 to obtain a laminated packaging material 5 by laminating the second packaging material 3 to the first packaging material 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2004
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Shunichi Maemura, Yuzo Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20070271882
    Abstract: An apparatus for packaging small identical objects in respective pockets of a package strip where the pockets are in a succession of identical arrays has a conveyor extending and displaceable from an upstream loading end to a downstream transfer end and having a plurality of sections each formed with an array of pockets dimensioned to hold a respective one of the objects. The array of each section corresponds to at least two of the arrays of the package strip interleaved with each other so that each section can hold a number of the objects equal to at least twice what one of the arrays of the package strip can hold. The objects are fed to the conveyer at the upstream end ordered such that at the transfer station there is one of the objects in each of the pockets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Harald Litke, Wolfgang Krahl, Markus Habdank, Martin Seiffert
  • Publication number: 20070271883
    Abstract: Disclosed are improved polymer materials. Also disclosed are fine fiber materials that can be made from the improved polymeric materials in the form of microfiber and nanofiber structures. The microfiber and nanofiber structures can be used in a variety of useful applications including the formation of filter materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Hoo Chung, John Hall, Mark Gogins, Douglas Crofoot, Thomas Weik
  • Publication number: 20070271884
    Abstract: An assembly for collecting material entrained in a gas stream comprising a housing having a head part and a body part, and inlet and outlet ports. A chamber port is provided in the head part having internal walls defining a primary chamber with a first end communicating with the chamber port and an opening at a second end. The axis of the first and second ends of the primary chamber are non-aligned. A flow conduit device has a first end which can fit into the primary chamber in the housing head part so that it is directed generally towards the chamber port in the housing and a second end which is directed towards the body part of the housing to provide a conduit for gas to flow between the body part of the housing and the outlet port. The flow conduit reduces turbulence in the flow of gas within the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: John Pearson, Thomas Bittle, Raymond Trowsdale, Brian Lane
  • Publication number: 20070271885
    Abstract: In a filter housing (100) for at least one axial flow filter element (70) capable of receiving axial flow between its end faces and having at least one continuous sealing collar on its outer circumference which can be pressed against a sealing flange (18) on the housing, a plurality of filter elements (70) can be inserted side by side into cutouts (19) of a common clamping frame element (30). Each of the sealing collars rests on the clamping frame element (30) which is plane parallel to the at least one sealing flange (18) and displaceable toward the sealing flange (18) by a clamping device (50).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: Mann & Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Mario Rieger, Werner Blossey, Lorenz Eilert
  • Publication number: 20070271886
    Abstract: A filter element (1), which is formed particularly of a flat element wrapped into a compact body and which along its outer circumference has at least one continuous main sealing ring (2) disposed adjacent an end face (4) on the intake side, is provided with an additional emergency sealing collar (3) which encloses the filter body and is disposed near the end face (5) on the outlet side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: MANN & HUMMEL GmbH
    Inventors: Mario Rieger, Werner Blossey
  • Publication number: 20070271887
    Abstract: A nestable fluid filter comprises a frame surrounding a filter media, the frame has a unitary portion unitary with an outer portion of the filter media, depending from the unitary portion is a portion flaring outwardly at an obtuse angle from the unitary portion, the flared portion is unitary about the filter media, a mounting surface depends from the flared portion and is in a substantially parallel plane with the filter media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Mike Osborne, Steve Kapsalis, Dennis Porter, Mike Montague
  • Publication number: 20070271888
    Abstract: A porous ceramic support for a gas separation membrane formed by sintering a green body containing grains of a refractory ceramic oxide with a high coefficient of thermal expansion and grains of a reactive binder precursor. Upon sintering, the reactive binder precursor reacts with at least one gaseous, liquid or solid reactant to create a reaction bond that binds the refractory ceramic oxide grains. The support configuration can be a tubular, flat plate, hollow fiber, or multiple-passageway monolith structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Peter Hayward, Richard Higgins, Robert Goldsmith, Bruce Bishop
  • Publication number: 20070271889
    Abstract: Wet laid, nonwoven, fibrous mats suitable for making MERV 6 or higher, filters, and methods of making the nonwoven mats filter media are disclosed. The mats include a blend comprising a major portion of glass fibers, a minor portion of man-made polymer fibers, such as polyester fibers and about 0-30 wt. percent of chemically cross linked bleached Kraft pulp the fibers, and optionally fully bleached softwood Kraft pulp, the fibers being bound together with a cured binder having a Tg in the range of about minus 30 to about 50 degrees C. The mats are pleated prior to assembling the filter in conventional manner. The only fibrous mat in the filters is wet laid fibrous nonwoven mat and the pleated filter media needs no other means of support in the filter frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventor: Alan Michael Jaffee
  • Publication number: 20070271890
    Abstract: Wet laid, nonwoven, fibrous mats suitable for making MERV 6 or higher filters, and methods of making the nonwoven mats are disclosed. The mats include a blend comprising a major portion of glass fibers and a minor portion of man-made polymer fibers, such as polyester fibers, the fibers being bound together with a cured binder having a Tg in the range of about minus 30 to about 50 degrees C. The mats are pleated prior to assembling the filter in conventional manner. The only fibrous mat in the filters is wet laid fibrous nonwoven mat and the pleated filter media needs no other means of support in the filter frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventor: Alan Michael Jaffee
  • Publication number: 20070271891
    Abstract: Disclosed are improved polymer materials. Also disclosed are fine fiber materials that can be made from the improved polymeric materials in the form of microfiber and nanofiber structures. The microfiber and nanofiber structures can be used in a variety of useful applications including the formation of filter materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Hoo Chung, John Hall, Mark Gogins, Douglas Crofoot, Thomas Weik
  • Publication number: 20070271892
    Abstract: A lawn mower, which is driven by an electric motor or an internal combustion engine, has an operation handle 80, which is formed by connecting through a grip part 82 rear ends of left and right long handgrips 81L, 81R extending rearward from the body of the lawn mower supported by wheels 6 and 7. A first operation member 84 is provided near a central portion of the grip part 82 of the operation handle 80, and a second operation member 85 is swingably supported by the operation handle 80. The second operation member 85 is arranged on the front side of the grip part 82 so as to freely move to and from the grip part 82. The lawn mower is driven by sequential operation of the first and second operation members 84, 85. Thus it is possible to constantly keep the lawn mower stable, enabling easy and quick operation, and improving operability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masayuki SASAOKA
  • Publication number: 20070271893
    Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine, in particular a self-propelled forage harvester, has a chopper drum that includes chopping blades, a sharpening device that is assigned to the chopper drum and is drivable via a drive for sharpening the chopping blades, wherein the sharpening procedure for sharpening the chopper drum is activated when the agricultural harvesting machine is in a non-working mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Manfred Pollklas, Hans Rauch
  • Publication number: 20070271894
    Abstract: The Bauer Blade is a lawn mower blade used to cut vegetation. The invention is the first inexpensive, molded or die cast, replacement blade for a conventional lawnmower that will not harm the operator who inadvertently places body parts within the mower cavity, without sacrificing performance of the lawnmower blade. The invention is inexpensive because it is, essentially, a one-piece molded or die cast apparatus. Additionally, the invention will not harm bystanders because the blade does not produce dangerous high speed projectiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventor: Steve Bauer
  • Publication number: 20070271895
    Abstract: A riding lawn mower vehicle having a riding traveling vehicle body and a mower operatively connected via a lifting/lowering link mechanism to the vehicle body to be lifted and lowered relative thereto, the mower vehicle comprising: a pair of right and left hand-operated traveling control members; a lifting control pedal having a lifting stepping face and configured to cause the mower to be lifted; a lowering control pedal having a lowering stepping face and configured to cause the mower to be lowered; and the lifting stepping face and the lowering stepping face being located laterally to each other on a floor of a driving section of the riding traveling vehicle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuaki Nogami, Yoshikazu Togoshi
  • Publication number: 20070271896
    Abstract: The invention relates to a leaf stripper comprising a frame (1) which is equipped with a circular housing (9) in which a cutter blade (5) and a blade turbine (10) are rotation mounted to a shaft (6) which is in turn driven by a motor (7). In addition, an apertured plate (3), which is equipped with parallel openings (4), is mounted on the frame and the cutter blade. Moreover, a suction device (15) is mounted to a sleeve (11) which is mounted on the side of the frame. According to the invention, the plant to be stripped is positioned on the apertured plate during the leaf stripping operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Philippe Bonny, Alexandre Singy
  • Publication number: 20070271897
    Abstract: The present invention includes a nontwisted composite tether comprising one or more composite rods encased in a jacket and a method for manufacturing same. A portion of the rods may be bundled into one or more strands, provided however that the rods comprising the strands are not twisted into twisted strands in the assembled nontwisted tether. Such untwisted strands, if any, additionally are not twisted relative to each other. Temporary and/or permanent buoyancy may be to the tether. The present invention includes methods for preparing, transporting, and installing a composite tether on a floating platform. The tether, preferably assembled at a waterfront, is launched into the water and towed to an offshore installation site, where the tether is upended and connected via a bottom end connector on the tether to an anchor foundation in the seabed and connected a top end connector on the tether to the floating platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Shaddy Hanna, Mamdouh Salama
  • Publication number: 20070271898
    Abstract: A combined cycle power plant (10) that is optimized to reduce total life cycle cost rather than only thermal efficiency. A steam bottoming cycle (16) is fed with exhaust gas (14) from a gas turbine topping cycle (12). The topping cycle incorporates multiple stages of combustion in order to maintain a desired high temperature of the exhaust gas being delivered to the bottoming cycle while at the same time avoiding peak combustion temperatures that would produce undesirable levels of NOx emissions. Accordingly, no post-combustion exhaust gas treatment is needed. In one embodiment, an aspirated compressor (36) provides compressed air to a torus-configured combustion chamber (20) that is integrated with a first stage of vanes (22), and a plurality of stages of in-situ reheat combustion (26, 28) are utilized. In other embodiments, torus-configured combustion chambers may be utilized for more than one of the stages of combustion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventor: David A. Little
  • Publication number: 20070271899
    Abstract: The sensible heat of an exhaust gas of a power generator, a combustion device, or a transport device 21 in a virtual area wherein a plurality of energy-consuming devices 23 are provided (energy supply and demand grid) is recovered as H2 or CO+H2 by reforming dimethyl ether (DME); and the H2 or CO+H2 is supplied as fuel for the energy-consuming devices 23 or as a chemical raw material within the energy supply and demand grid or to another energy supply and demand grid. By forming an energy cycle in society using DME, for example, waste heat of factories and electric power plants can be effectively utilized as energy in society as a whole, e.g., as energy for consumers or transportation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: JFE HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Tsuguhiko Nakagawa, Tetsuo Tsuyuguchi, Yasutsugu Ogura
  • Publication number: 20070271900
    Abstract: The present invention provides high humidity gas turbine equipment including a compressor compressing air, a combustor combusting the compressed air and a fuel, a gas turbine driven by the combustion gas, a generator driven by the gas turbine to generate power, a humidifier humidifying the compressed air by directly contacting it with hot water, and a regenerative heat exchanger heating the humidified compressed air by exhaust gas of the gas turbine and feeding it to the combustor, heat exchangers generating hot water for the humidifier utilizing a factory exhaust heat medium from the outside, a boiler generating steam to be supplied to the outside utilizing the exhaust gas of the gas turbine, and a boiler generating steam to be supplied to the outside utilizing the compressed air discharged from the compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Kenji SASAKI, Yoshiki Noguchi
  • Publication number: 20070271901
    Abstract: An outlet nozzle for a jet engine has a gas intake and a gas outlet, at least one opening being provided through the nozzle boundary wall for the injection of a fluid into the nozzle in a direction perpendicular to one plane, for the purpose of controlling the direction of a gas flow from the jet engine so that vectoring occurs substantially tangentially in this plane. A first opening configuration is provided through the nozzle boundary wall on a first side of the nozzle center line and a second opening configuration is provided through the nozzle boundary wall on a second side of the nozzle center line. At least one of said first and second opening configurations has a substantial extension in the axial direction of the nozzle, in order to permit selective injection of the fluid through said opening configuration to a varying extent in the axial direction of the nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: VOLVO AERO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bernhard GUSTAFSSON, Anders LUNDBLADH
  • Publication number: 20070271902
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for regenerating a particle filter (10) integrated into an exhaust line (12) of an internal combustion engine (34), wherein the exhaust gas flows into the filter via an inflow surface (16) and exit the filter via an outflow surface (18). According to the invention, the internal temperature of at least two regions of the filter (10) is monitored during regeneration of the filter; the oxygen content of the exhaust gas is reduced if at least one of the monitored temperatures rises above a critical temperature; the oxygen content of the exhaust gas is increased in order to continue regeneration if all of the monitored temperatures are below said critical temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Remi Noirot, Michel Castagne, Jean-Baptiste Dementhon
  • Publication number: 20070271903
    Abstract: A fluid conveyance apparatus having more than one particulate matter sensing probe situated at two or more locations on the apparatus. Signals from the probes from at least two locations may indicate particulate matter flowing within a fluid through the conveyance apparatus. The times between signals may be indicated the rate of movement of the particulate matter in the conveyance apparatus and also a flow rate and direction of the fluid. The sensing probe signals may be processed into control signals that may go to a flow control mechanism. An example application of the flow control mechanism may be for an exhaust gas recirculation system of an engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Michael Rhodes, Brian Krafthefer
  • Publication number: 20070271904
    Abstract: An exhaust gas sensor for detecting oxygen concentration in exhaust gas is disposed in an exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine. The sensor including a heater is controlled by a system that includes an electronic control unit. Water vapor contained in the exhaust gas is condensed on the sensor when the exhaust gas temperature is low. If the water condensation occurs while the sensor is heated by the heater, a sensor element may be cracked due to local cooling by the condensed water. To avoid the water condensation, the exhaust gas temperature is raised by retarding ignition timing of the engine for a certain period after the engine is started. After the exhaust gas is heated to a certain level, the sensor is heated. Alternatively, heating of the sensor is prohibited until the exhaust gas temperature becomes to a level at which no water condensation occurs. Thus, the cracking of the sensor element is avoided while making a delay of sensor activation minimal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hirofumi Shouda, Eijirou Yamada
  • Publication number: 20070271905
    Abstract: An exhaust purification catalyst warm-up system has an air pump that supplies air upstream from an exhaust purifying catalyst, disposed in an exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine, the pump supplying air when the exhaust purifying catalyst is being warmed up. The exhaust purification catalyst warm-up system also has an atmospheric pressure sensor that detects the atmospheric pressure, wherein correction is performed so that the degree of fuel increase is smaller, the higher is the atmospheric pressure detected by the atmospheric pressure sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomokazu Muraguchi
  • Publication number: 20070271906
    Abstract: A system and method for initiation and control of passive regeneration (38) of a diesel particulate filter (34), and the integration of that regeneration strategy with an active regeneration strategy (36) and a strategy (40, 40A) for inhibiting passive regeneration. Passive regeneration can be initiated by driver actuation of an instrument panel device, such as a switch, while the vehicle is parked with the engine idling provided that certain conditions confirming that the vehicle is parked and the engine is at proper temperature are satisfied. Regeneration is inhibited by driver actuation of another switch for a maximum amount of time that may be shorter, or even prevented if DPF loading is too high.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Paul Berke, Matthew Tyo
  • Publication number: 20070271907
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a main catalyst disposed in a main passage and a bypass catalyst disposed in a bypass passage bypassing the main passage on an upstream side of the main catalyst. The bypass passage has a smaller transverse cross-sectional area than the main passage. The internal combustion engine further includes a passage open/close unit, a residual gas amount changing unit, and a controller. The passage open/close unit is disposed in a portion of the main passage bypassed by the bypass passage to switch between an open state and a closed state. The residual gas amount changing unit is configured to change an amount of residual gas inside a combustion chamber. The controller is configured to control the residual gas amount changing unit when a passage opening condition for switching the passage open/close unit from the closed state to the open state is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunsuke Yamana, Sunki I, Kenichi Sato, Kimiyoshi Nishizawa
  • Publication number: 20070271908
    Abstract: An exhaust emission control system that provides on-board ammonia generation includes a valve disposed upstream of the LNT and SCR catalyst that operates to selectively control the flow of engine exhaust gas to an LNT and/or an SCR catalyst; while reformate fuel is being conveyed from a reformer to the LNT, the valve operates to cause the exhaust gas to bypass the LNT and flow directly to the SCR catalyst. The exhaust emission control system further includes a controller provided with an algorithm that monitors engine operating conditions and exhaust gas conditions, estimates the cumulative amount of exhaust gas created by the engine and the amount of NOx stored in the LNT, and calculates the amount of NOx required to be converted to NH3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Mark Hemingway, Brian Christopher, Michael Thornton
  • Publication number: 20070271909
    Abstract: A propulsion system, including a diesel engine, an air inlet circuit, and an exhaust circuit, for exhaust gases coming from the engine. The inlet circuit includes an adjustment mechanism to control the air flow into the engine and the exhaust circuit includes a nitrogen oxides trap for storage of nitrogen oxides contained in the exhaust gases. During a regeneration mode in which the exhaust gases are provided with reducing agents for regeneration of the nitrogen oxides trap, a set point is determined for the air flow, according to the operating status of the engine, the adjustment mechanism is controlled to obtain an air flow close to the set point, a main fuel injection is carried out, and a secondary fuel injection is carried out during a power phase to maintain the exhaust gas in a reducing state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2004
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: RENAULT S.A.S.
    Inventors: Laurent Philippe, Jerome Cruchet
  • Publication number: 20070271910
    Abstract: The module comprises an intake air cooler (2) and a recirculated exhaust gas cooler (4). The intake air cooler (2) comprises an intake air inlet manifold (34) and an intake air outlet manifold (36). An inlet line (38) is connected to the inlet manifold (34) and an outlet line (40) is connected to the outlet manifold (36) of the feed air cooler (2). The recirculated exhaust gas cooler (4) comprises a recirculated exhaust gas inlet manifold (74) and a recirculated exhaust gas outlet manifold (76). A recirculated exhaust gas inlet line (42) is connected to the recirculated exhaust gas inlet manifold. A first bypass directly connects the inlet manifold to the outlet manifold of the recirculated exhaust gas cooler. Application to motor vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventor: Mathieu Chanfreau
  • Publication number: 20070271911
    Abstract: An exhaust system has an exhaust tailpipe cover provided in an outlet region and, on the inside, contains inner exhaust pipes which are disposed spaced apart from the exhaust tailpipe cover by a passage. The passage in the exhaust tailpipe cover results in the exhaust tailpipe cover being exposed to as little thermal loading as possible and avoids transmitting heat to a surrounding vehicle rear part, in particular made of plastic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Bernd Stadler, Volker Hoffmann, Eberhard Storz
  • Publication number: 20070271912
    Abstract: A water-powered generator having a vessel and a variable density body situated within the vessel. The vessel is partially filled with a fluid, such as water. The variable density body moves between a first position near the bottom of the vessel to a second position between the bottom of the vessel and the top. The variable density body is configured to have a changeable total density such that the total density may be changed from a first density which is greater than the fluid and a second density which is less than the fluid. A means is provided for changing the density of the variable density body between the first density and the second density. Another means is provided to change the density of the variable density body back from the second density to the first density. When the density of the variable density body changes, the variable density body moves up and down within the vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventor: Emory Grant Peacock
  • Publication number: 20070271913
    Abstract: An apparatus for increasing an operation speed of a boom on excavators is disclosed, which enables an unskilled operator to conveniently manipulate a working device by decreasing a rotation speed and increasing a lifting speed relatively when the excavator performs combined operation of boom lift and swing drive to improve its working efficiency. The apparatus includes first and second hydraulic pumps, a first actuator, a pair of second actuators, first to third control valves, a block valve installed in a flow path between the selected second actuator and the second control valve, supplying the hydraulic fluid from a second hydraulic pump to the selected actuator only when the second actuators are driven to be switched according to a control signal of boom lift at combined operation in which the first and second actuators are simultaneously driven, to replenish the first actuator with the hydraulic fluid to be supplied to the second actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventor: Toshimichi Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20070271914
    Abstract: A transmission has a lubricant pump which is arranged in the interior of a transmission housing and which includes a rotor rotationally fixedly connected to a transmission shaft in a pump housing, with the pump housing being rotationally fixedly connected to the transmission housing and being sealed with respect to a cylindrical sealing surface of the transmission housing, and with the lubricant pump pumping into a pressure chamber which surrounds the transmission shaft and which is sealed with respect to the transmission shaft. To achieve a good seal and centration of the pump housing, the pump housing is sealed by means of a resilient ring with respect to the cylindrical sealing surface of the transmission housing, with the ring being received by an outer peripheral groove of the pump housing with radial clearance so that the pump housing can adjust itself in the radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Andreas Bar, August Kriebernegg, Gunter Weber
  • Publication number: 20070271915
    Abstract: A thermo-magnetic actuator includes a housing; a chamber within the housing; a working fluid changing phase upon heating and located in the chamber; an electrical heater disposed within the chamber for heating the working fluid upon application of electrical power to the electrical heater; a piston rod slidably disposed in the housing and movable between a retracted position, retracted with respect to the housing, and an extended position extending substantially outward of the housing, the piston rod being driven and sliding from the retracted position to the extended position in response to heating of the working fluid by the electrical heater; a spring biasing the piston rod toward the retracted position; an electromagnet disposed at an end of the housing and generating a magnetic field when an electric current is supplied to the electromagnet; and a ferromagnetic target assembly attached to the piston rod, sliding within the housing, and attracted toward the electromagnet, when an electrical current flows
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: Thermotion Corporation
    Inventors: Les Safran, Stephen L. Douglass
  • Publication number: 20070271916
    Abstract: A device for producing energy, using a reservoir (1) filled with liquid or submerged in liquid and at least two moving pistons (3, 3?) which are tightly installed in guides (4) in wall of the reservoir. There are at least two pairs of pistons and in the immediate vicinity of each piston (3) there is a weight (5) that can be moved essentially in the radial direction of the reservoir (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventor: Juhani Korhonen
  • Publication number: 20070271917
    Abstract: In a device for operating a first control element for controlling gaseous media, a transmission element is formed on a final controlling element manipulatable by an actuator, the transmission element being able to be moved, on one hand, inside a slot of a slotted lever and being, the other hand, stationary-mounted to a supporting lever, which is attached to a stationary support at a joint location. The first control element is accommodated on the slotted lever, which is manipulatable via the transmission element, the control element being movable between a closed position and an open position in response to manipulation of the final controlling element by the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2005
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventor: Guenther Vogt