Patents Issued in January 15, 2008
  • Patent number: 7318408
    Abstract: For setting a predetermined target control amount concerning running of a vehicle according to an operation amount for a predetermined operation member for running the vehicle, an operation amount obtaining part obtaining the operation amount for the operation member; a trouble determining part determining whether or not a trouble occurs in any one of the operation member and the operation amount obtaining part; a target control amount setting part setting a trouble occasion target control amount which is a target control amount for a trouble occasion when the trouble determining part determines that a trouble occurs in at least any one of the operation member and the operation amount obtaining part; and a correcting part correcting the trouble occasion target control amount set by the trouble occasion target control amount setting part in such a manner that on-spring vibration of the vehicle is damped, are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Takamatsu, Shoji Inagaki, Yasuhiro Nakai, Kenji Kawahara
  • Patent number: 7318409
    Abstract: A system and method for utilizing a humidity sensor with an internal combustion engine of a vehicle is described. Specifically, information from the humidity sensor is used to adjust a desired air-fuel ratio to reduce engine misfire while improving vehicle fuel economy. Further, such information is also used to adjust timing and/or lift of the valve in the engine cylinder. Finally, diagnostic routines are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michael J. Cullen
  • Patent number: 7318410
    Abstract: An electronic throttle valve system more suitable for use in straddle type vehicles. A straddle type vehicle has an electronic throttle valve system for adjusting the amount of intake air to an internal combustion engine. The electronic throttle valve system includes a throttle valve, an electric motor and a control unit. A guard mechanism is provided on a valve shaft of the throttle valve. The guard mechanism includes a pulley with which the throttle cable is engaged and a lever pulley which rotates in conjunction with the opening of the pulley. A cushion spring is provided on an edge face of a notched portion of the lever pulley, the edge face generally coming into contact with a protrusion that extends from the valve shaft of the throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masato Yokoi
  • Patent number: 7318411
    Abstract: A system for determining a minimum ignition coil charge duration of an internal combustion engine to meet a desired level of combustion stability includes a sensor in communication with a controller. The sensor is configured to measure the ionization current of a cylinder of the internal combustion engine and output to the dwell controller. The controller is configured to determine a combustion stability criterion based upon the ionization signal and determine the minimum ignition coil charge duration based upon the combustion stability criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Guoming G. Zhu, Ross D. Pursifull
  • Patent number: 7318412
    Abstract: An engine ECU executes a program including the steps of: starting an engine by transiently increasing an amount of fuel injection when a start request is detected; prohibiting calculation of a learn value when a condition for stopping transient increase is not satisfied; stopping transient increase when the condition for stopping transient increase is satisfied; steadily increasing the amount of fuel injection in accordance with a coolant temperature TW; and permitting calculation of a learn value during steady increase in accordance with the coolant temperature TW.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukikazu Ito, Kenichi Kinose
  • Patent number: 7318413
    Abstract: An engine ECU executes a program including the steps of: detecting an engine speed NE and an engine load (S100, S110); when determination is made of being in an idle region based on the engine speed NE and engine load (YES at S120), determining whether in a high load idle region or a low load idle region (S130); reducing the operation sound by stopping a high-pressure fuel pump in a high load idle region (S150); and aiming for combustion stabilization without stopping the high-pressure fuel pump in a low load idle region (S170).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Iwahashi
  • Patent number: 7318414
    Abstract: A fuel injection system operates under a substantially constant pump speed and creates multi-pressure levels by diverting the fuel flow. Fuel pressure can be switched from one steady pressure level to another level on-demand instantly. This superimposes and overlaps typical fuel injection events in the linear operating ranges under different pressure levels, significantly increasing the fuel injection dynamic range. Lower fuel injection when idle or during city driving reduces fuel consumption per mile traveled and reduces exhaust emission that causes smog in metropolitan areas. The system delivers additional power to the engine instantly at peak load on-demand, reduces idle speed with the engine running smoothly, does not change fuel tank temperature, and may enhance the life of the fuel pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: TMC Company
    Inventor: Shou L. Hou
  • Patent number: 7318415
    Abstract: If a high-pressure pump discharges fuel in an injection waiting period from injection setting to injection start, fuel pressure to occur at injection start time is estimated and a fuel pressure correction coefficient is calculated based on the estimated fuel pressure. If there is no fuel discharge in the injection waiting period, the fuel pressure sensed at the injection setting is regarded as the fuel pressure of the injection start time, and the fuel pressure correction coefficient is calculated based on the sensed fuel pressure. A final injection period is calculated by correcting a basic injection period with the fuel pressure correction coefficient. Thus, fuel pressure correction of the injection period is performed accurately even if actual fuel pressure fluctuates due to the fuel discharge from the high-pressure pump during the injection waiting period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 7318416
    Abstract: A liquid fuel system for an internal combustion engine includes a fuel supply line, a fuel pump connected to the supply line and having an outlet to a carburetor or a liquid fuel injector. A mechanical contact between the pump and a component of the internal combustion engine transmits a cyclic motion from the engine to the pump to cause the pump to pump at a cyclic rate determined by the engine. The pump is a variable displacement pump, so the output flow rate of the pump is diminished by a sufficient backpressure at the outlet of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Inventor: Howard C. Stewart
  • Patent number: 7318417
    Abstract: An injection unit has an injector arrangement connected to a pressure reservoir by a pressure line arrangement The injector arrangement has at least one servo injection valve and a control valve for the release of fuel from a control chamber into a fuel return line leading to the fuel tank The Valve may be operated by a piezoelectric actuator to cause a displacement of a nozzle body in the direction of an injection passage opening for initiating an injection process by pressure reduction in the control chamber. The fuel return line has a controllable valve, which restricts the fuel flow in the fuel return line in the actuated state. It is, thus, possible to reduce the effects of a change of length of the piezoelectric actuator, which exceeds the so-called tolerance gap in the servo injection valve, which are detrimental to the operation of the injection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Richard Lang, Gerald Plank
  • Patent number: 7318418
    Abstract: A common rail a diesel engine includes a branching connection body firmly fixed on common rail body by friction welding. A fronting face of the branching connection body to be fixed on the common rail body by friction welding is in the shape of a cone whose center part is slightly projected and whose peripheral part is a gentle cone face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Usui Kokusai Sangyo Kaisha Limited
    Inventors: Shoichiro Usui, Masayoshi Usui, Yasuji Sakamoto, Eiji Watanabe, Yasuaki Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 7318419
    Abstract: In a method for determining the actuator energy required for the different injection types of an actuator of an internal combustion engine, the actuator is impinged by a control signal in such a way that an actuator signal is generated and an injection parameter of the internal combustion engine is set in such a way that said actuator signal is generated at a specific stored time. The first injection type in the combustion cycle is first deactivated in order to determine the actuator energy of said type from the second injection type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Roland Dietl, Hans-Peter Rabl
  • Patent number: 7318420
    Abstract: A drive control circuit supplies power to a solenoid coil in an in-cylinder injector of a cylinder in response to a fuel injection signal. A failure detection circuit to detect disconnection failure at an in-cylinder injector is arranged to be shared among cylinders whose phase of each stroke differs 360 degrees in crank angle. An engine ECU detects failure including identification of the injector with disconnection failure based on a failure detection signal from the failure detection circuit, and a crank angle detected by a crank angle sensor. The driver is notified of the failure detection result through the engine ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichi Kinose
  • Patent number: 7318421
    Abstract: A startup controller calculates a fuel pressure difference across a discharge stroke of a high-pressure pump at an end of an initial discharge after cranking is started. At the injection setting, the startup controller estimates a fuel pressure increment from an injection setting to an injection start based on the fuel pressure difference. The startup controller adds the fuel pressure increment to a fuel pressure sensed at the injection setting to estimate a fuel pressure at the injection start. The startup controller determines whether to perform or to prohibit the injection based on whether the estimated fuel pressure at the injection start is equal to or higher than an injection permission fuel pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 7318422
    Abstract: A fluid pump includes an electric motor with a casing and a drive shaft extending from the casing, a pumping element coupled to the drive shaft for rotation with the shaft to take in fluid and discharge it under pressure. The fuel pump casing may be sealed and a housing coupled to the casing may provide the inlet and outlet passages for fluid flow to and from the pumping element. The housing may be received in or communicated with other housing or module assemblies to provide a wide array of fuel pump assemblies. The pumping element may include one or more gear rotors, a turbine pumping element, or other pumping element, as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Walbro Engine Management, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Douyama, Joseph M. Graham, Kerry E. Griffka, Kevin L. Israelson, Ronald H. Roche
  • Patent number: 7318423
    Abstract: In the DME fuel supply device for a diesel engine, the time necessary to retrieve DME fuel remaining in the injection system after stopping the diesel engine into the fuel tank can be reduced. In a non-injection state, a three-way valve (71) is controlled to be OFF to form a communication passage in the direction indicated by the arrow B and a two-way valve (72) is controlled to be ON. DME fuel delivered from a feed pump (5) is delivered to an aspirator (7), passed from an inlet (7a) to the outlet (7b) thereof and returned to a fuel tank (4). That is, the DME fuel circulates via the aspirator. A vapor-phase pressure delivery pipe switching solenoid valve (75) is controlled to be ON and opened so that flow can pass through a vapor-phase pressure delivery pipe (73) connecting the vapor-phase (4a) in the fuel tank (4) and the inlet of the fuel gallery (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Bosch Automotive Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Nozaki, Toshifumi Noda, Daijo Ushiyama, Teruaki Ishikawa, Yukihiro Hayasaka
  • Patent number: 7318424
    Abstract: A fuel system comprising a fuel tank having an opening. A cap is removably coupled to the fuel tank and operable for sealingly closing the opening to prevent ingress and egress of air through the opening. An overfill chamber is in communication with the fuel tank, and a hydrocarbon collection chamber is in communication with the overfill chamber. A valve is disposed between the hydrocarbon collection chamber and the overfill chamber. The valve includes a reference axis and is configured to permit fluid communication between the overfill chamber and the hydrocarbon collection chamber only when an angle between a vertical axis and the reference axis is less than about thirty-five degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Miniature Precision Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Callahan, Juris Julijs Pruzinskis, Brent J Ertl, Hans Henning Bishop
  • Patent number: 7318425
    Abstract: A fuel vapor treatment apparatus includes a first canister, a purge passage, an atmosphere passage, a first detection passage provided with a restrictor, and a passage-changing valve for changing the connection passage of the first detection passage between the purge passage and the atmosphere passage. The apparatus further includes a second canister connecting with the first detection passage on the opposite side of the passage-changing valve across the restrictor. A differential pressure sensor detects a pressure difference between both ends of the restrictor. An ECU computes the concentration of fuel vapor on the basis of the detection result of the differential pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masao Kano, Shinsuke Takakura, Tomoaki Nakano, Noriyasu Amano, Shinsuke Kiyomiya, Yuusaku Nishimura
  • Patent number: 7318426
    Abstract: A fuel-control manifold has a non-integral body with at least three pieces joined together. The fuel-control manifold has a tank port, an engine supply port, a fueling port, and a shutoff valve, all in the upper body segment. The shutoff valve includes a controllable shutoff valve closure having a shutoff-valve first side in fluid flow communication with the tank port and a shutoff-valve second side in fluid flow communication with the engine supply port and with the fueling port. There are a defueling port in a lower body segment, a vent port in the upper body segment, and a defuel/vent valve in a middle body segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Circle Seal Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: Thao Hoang
  • Patent number: 7318427
    Abstract: In a method of operating a reciprocating-piston internal combustion engine with a combustion chamber in which a fuel mix with fresh gas is provided via intake ports and combustion exhaust gases are discharged through exhaust ports which can be opened by intake valves and, respectively, exhaust valves which are actuated by a valve operating mechanism, wherein an operating mode with external ignition, in which the fuel mix is ignited by a spark plug, is provided in part of the load range of the internal combustion engine, and an operating mode with compression ignition, in which the control of the gas exchange valves is altered so as to retain combustion exhaust gases in the combustion chamber for participation in the formation of the fresh mix is provided in another load range of the internal combustion engine, during a change in the operating mode the valve lift of at least one of the gas exchange valves is altered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Götz Brachert, Rüdiger Herweg, Kai Kanning, Matthias Pfau, Jochen Schaflein, Hans-Jürgen Weiman
  • Patent number: 7318428
    Abstract: A paint ball gun is disclosed including a dispenser having a locking connector designed to lockingly engage a locking connector on a gun feed tube or one end of a hollow connecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Avalon Advanced Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Ho
  • Patent number: 7318429
    Abstract: A utility tool device for an archery bow. The device comprises one or more tools which are commonly used by archers for the proper maintenance, repair and operation of a bow. These tools include: a nock wrench, one or more Allen wrenches, a broadhead wrench, a shot counter and a sharpener. The device can be incorporated directly into the riser of a bow or attached to the bow riser in areas which will not interfere with the operation of the bow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Inventor: Nibal Achkar
  • Patent number: 7318430
    Abstract: A stabilizer for an archery bow including a base housing, end housing and at least one intermediate housing provided on a plurality of rods with a resilient member provided between the rods and the housings surrounding each of the plurality of the rods and in compression such that each rod does not directly engage with the housing and is isolated therefrom by the resilient member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Leven Industries
    Inventor: William L. Leven
  • Patent number: 7318431
    Abstract: A biomass pellet burning stove has a hopper storing biomass pellets which are transported from the hopper to a feeder tube with a rotating disc having slots for holding biomass pellets and allowing the biomass pellets to move from the slots into a feeder tube which directs the biomass pellets to a burn pot. The burn pot has first and second biomass burning chambers that separately burn biomass pellets by an efficient, environmental and economic compatible process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: BixBy Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark N. Holtan, Ross C. Embertson
  • Patent number: 7318432
    Abstract: A solar collector plate (2) has a solar radiation receiving front absorber plane (3) that is wiped at its rear side by a cooling liquid (4) flowing in channels (5). Cavities (7), preferably behind the channels (5) and integrated in the solar collector plate (2), and that can be closed off by the very liquid flow (4), provide a closed air volume that gives a dampening effect regarding kickbacks and pressure transients in the liquid (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Solarnor AS
    Inventor: John Rekstad
  • Patent number: 7318433
    Abstract: An improved gas delivery device for infants which is simple and easy to use is disclosed and described. The gas delivery device can include a gas supply chamber and a nipple directly connected to the supply chamber. The gas supply chamber can define a substantially hollow region and can have a front portion which has the nipple connected thereto. The front portion has a plurality of holes which are designed to direct gas forward from the hollow region toward the infant. The nipple can be a substantially continuous material. Such a gas delivery device is unobtrusive, easy to use, and inexpensive to manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Inventor: Daniel S. Cockerham
  • Patent number: 7318434
    Abstract: A dry powder inhaler consisting of first chamber having an orifice for holding a dry powder and a gas, and a second chamber for receiving a deaggregated form of the dry powder and for communicating the deaggregated dry powder to a user. A synthetic jet drives the dry powder from the first chamber to the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Microdose Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Anand V. Gumaste, John Bowers
  • Patent number: 7318435
    Abstract: An inhalation device for the uptake of medicaments that are in the form of dry powder contained in the blisters of specially designed single dose blister strips. The device is comprised of a mouthpiece (A), a strip support surface area (B). and one or more storage areas (C). Furthermore, the single dose blister strip is described. It is comprised of two sheets (17, 20) that are fixed in such a manner so that when they get separated the powder becomes available for inhalation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Inventor: Dimitrios Pentafragas
  • Patent number: 7318436
    Abstract: A medicament container configured to improve entrainment of the medicament in the air and to improve deposition of the medicament in the lungs includes an upper layer and a bottom layer with medicament disposed therebetween. The upper layer is punctured to provide first and second openings to allow airflow to enter and exit through the upper layer of the medicament container. In a preferred embodiment, the medicament container has a projection which forms an elbow-shaped medicament containment/flow channel between the upper layer and the lower layer. The medicament container is preferably used in a housing which selectively controls airflow through the medicament container and the housing to improve deep lung deposition of the medicament.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Innovative Devices, LLC
    Inventor: John M. Snow
  • Patent number: 7318437
    Abstract: A nasal assembly for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a frame having an integrally formed first connector portion. A nozzle assembly includes a gusset or base portion and a pair of nozzles. At least one inlet conduit is structured to deliver breathable gas into the frame and nozzle assembly for breathing by the patient. A pair of second connector portions are removably and rotatably connected to respective first connector portions of the frame and are in communication with respective inlet conduits, e.g., directly or via angle connectors. A headgear assembly is removably connected to the pair of second connector portions and/or the angle connectors so as to maintain the frame and the nozzle assembly in a desired adjusted position on the patient's face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: ResMed Limited
    Inventors: Michael K. Gunaratnam, Philip R. Kwok, Robin G. Hitchcock, Lee J. Veliss, Memduh Guney, Richard Sokolov, Perry D. Lithgow, Donald Darkin, Susan R. Lynch
  • Patent number: 7318438
    Abstract: A method of making an internal nasal apparatus (10) configured to retain and deliver a quantity of compound within the nose of a user over a minimum period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Inventor: Thomas W. Brown
  • Patent number: 7318439
    Abstract: A respiratory mask assembly for use in the delivery of non-invasive positive airway pressure to a user. The assembly includes a rigid shell having a channel portion defined by an inner wall, an outer wall and a channel floor, a face-contacting cushion acting to space the shell away from the user's face and a sealing tab extending from the cushion to engage a portion of the shell to provide a continuous airtight seal between the cushion and the shell. A retaining ring within the mask assembly is configured to secure the cushion to the shell. The retaining ring has a first portion including at least one clip configured to pass through at least one slot portion such that an underside surface of the at least one clip engages a section of the shell when the retaining ring is positioned within the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: ResMed Limited
    Inventors: Milind Chandrakant Raje, Timothy Tsun-Fai Fu, Amal Shirley Amarasinghe, Joanne Elizabeth Drew, Robert Henry Frater, Memduh Guney, Clive Solari
  • Patent number: 7318440
    Abstract: An eye patch that is usable with eyeglass frames includes a flexible body and at least one fastener. The fastener(s) fasten the flexible body to the front of the frames. The flexible body substantially blocks both frontal and peripheral vision of an eye of a wearer of the eyeglass frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Inventor: Beth N. Grijalva
  • Patent number: 7318441
    Abstract: A hair grooming tool is disclosed. The hair grooming tool is generally used for Rastafarian men or for individuals with Rastafarian hairstyles. The hair grooming tool to be used has a main central core with a number of extensions attached to the main central core. A number of tanks are located within the main central core and the extensions attached to the main central core, with the tanks including hot oil or wax that is to be applied to hair. The extensions also include a number of blades that can be used or folded back when not in use. A control panel controls several aspects of the hair grooming tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Inventor: Francis Clerie
  • Patent number: 7318442
    Abstract: An automatic car wash system is provided for processing multiple vehicles simultaneously. The system according to one embodiment includes an elongate path, a plurality of stations for processing the vehicle, at least two detectors for indicating the presence of the vehicles. The system provides instructions to the drivers of the vehicles so that the vehicles travel through the system under their own power, and thus conveyor systems can be avoided, yet throughput remains high. In one embodiment, the system includes a radio transmitter that is operable to direct specific information to each of the vehicles via radio signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Inventor: Michael MacDowell
  • Patent number: 7318443
    Abstract: A pagoda-shaped umbrella includes a center post, a crown fixed to an upper end of the center post, a runner movable along the center post, a plurality of ribs each coupled to the runner by a stretcher, and a canopy supported by the ribs. A canopy retainer is mounted to the canopy to move to the topmost position when the canopy is open. A collar movably fits over the center post between the runner and the crown and a pair of slide bars extending from the collar, along opposite sides of the center post and movably through openings defined in the crown. Upper ends of the bars are fixed to the canopy retainer. When the runner is moved upward to drive the stretchers and the ribs for opening the canopy, the runner gets into contact with and thus drives the collar upward, which in turn causes upward movement of the retainer to the topmost position thereby shaping the canopy as a pagoda.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Inventor: Joen-Shen Ma
  • Patent number: 7318444
    Abstract: An umbrella frame provides a stable and enduring support for an umbrella canopy while also allowing canopies of varying shapes and sizes to be mounted thereto. The umbrella frame includes a hub assembly, namely, a main hub member mounted about a central pole member of the umbrella frame which offers improved means for attaching brackets thereto which are structured to pivotally receive a plurality of strut members therein, which strut members are, in turn, pivotally secured to a plurality of rib members interconnected with an upper, secondary hub. The main hub member of the present invention preferably includes an upper portion, a lower portion, and a channel having at least one ledge formed therebetween, with a band formed from a flattened strip of metal secured within the channel about the hub member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: TUUCI Engineering & Design, Inc.
    Inventor: Dougan H. Clarke
  • Patent number: 7318445
    Abstract: In a fuel vapor pipe structure including a plurality of cut valves for passing or cutting a fuel vapor at inside of a fuel tank, a pipe joint connected to the cut valves for communicating the fuel vapor to a canister, and a resin tube for connecting the cut valve and the pipe joint, the resin tube is bent to pipe by making a length of the resin tube longer than a length of connecting connection tube portions of the cut valve and connection tube portions of the pipe joint and arranging the connection tube portion of the cut valve to shift from a straight line of connecting a center of the cut valve and a center of the pipe joint by a predetermined angle in a horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Piolax, Inc.
    Inventors: Atsushi Ohshiro, Ryo Nishino
  • Patent number: 7318446
    Abstract: A structure for protecting pipeline sections has a base, a housing affixed to the top surface of the base and having a plurality of side walls extending at an acute angle with respect to a top surface of the base, and an accessing door connected to the housing in a position above the base. The interior of the housing is vented to the atmosphere. The plurality of side walls includes a pair of triangularly-shaped walls and a pair of trapezoidally-shaped walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Inventor: John Tarver
  • Patent number: 7318447
    Abstract: A pressure loaded pilot valve system and method for a regulator valve is provided. The system includes a regulator valve connecting an inlet line to an outlet line, a servo control valve assembly, and a pilot valve assembly. A supply line is connected to the servo control valve, and a pilot loading pressure line connects the servo control valve to the pilot valve assembly An exhaust line connects the servo control valve to the outlet line, thereby avoiding waste, pollution, etc. associated with bleeding excess pilot pressure to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC.
    Inventor: Stephanie Marie Law
  • Patent number: 7318448
    Abstract: A swimming pool cleaning device includes a fluid distribution system for controlling its operation. More particularly, the distribution system includes a housing having an inlet for receiving a supply of pressurized fluid, a pair of outlet openings and a valve chamber positioned between the inlet and the outlet openings. A piston, including a valve member, is movably mounted in the housing so as to be movable between a first position, in which the valve member closes one of the outlet openings so as to divert pressurized fluid to the other one of the outlet openings, and a second position, in which the valve member closes the other one of the outlet openings so as to divert pressurized fluid to the one of the outlet openings. A valve is provided for controlling the movement of the piston between the first and second positions. The piston has a passage extending therethrough so as to permit flow of pressurized fluid from the valve chamber to the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignees: H-Tech, Inc., Henkin-Laby, LLC
    Inventors: Eric C. Fleischer, Donald R. Davidson, Bernhard Schaub, Melvyn L. Henkin, Jordan M. Laby
  • Patent number: 7318449
    Abstract: A mixer cartridge contains a plate-type control system, the control plate of which is displaceable and twistable by an actuating element configured as a double-armed lever. The displacement leads to an opening and closing of the valve, while the twisting serves to alter the temperature. According to the invention, it is envisioned that the maximum opening and closing position of a holding plate controlling the movable control plate is limited by stops. For the actuating element, a stop is also provided, which acts in the same way, yet is arranged such that it still has a minimum distance from the actuating element when the holding plate is already bearing against the stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Hansgrohe AG
    Inventors: Andreas Ginter, Joachim Blattner, Juergen King
  • Patent number: 7318450
    Abstract: A mixing cartridge for single-lever mixing faucets, which comprises a substantially cylindrical container accommodating a base disk, arranged proximate to one of the end faces of the container and moving two intake ports connectable respectively to a cold and hot water feed ducts, a mixing disk, superimposed on the base disk and crossed by a mixing port. The mixing disk is movable with respect to the base disk, by way of an actuation connected to the mixing disk varying its position and that of the mixing port with respect to the intake ports to vary the degree of opening or the ratio between the degrees of opening of the intake ports. The mixing port is connected to a discharge duct that exits from the container at the end face of the container that lies opposite the base disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Carlo Nobili S.p.A. Rubinetterie
    Inventor: Alberto Nobili
  • Patent number: 7318451
    Abstract: A flapper valve assembly has a valve plate for attachment to a fluid device, such as a heat exchanger. The valve plate has a fluid port for permitting intermittent flow to or from a flow chamber in the fluid device. A resilient flapper covers the fluid port and has at least one transverse tab with resilient, laterally disposed tangs, so that the tabs snap into slots in the valve plate to prevent rotation of the flapper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Dana Canada Corporation
    Inventors: Yuri Peric, Brian Ernest Duke
  • Patent number: 7318452
    Abstract: An accumulator in which a pressure sealed chamber and a pressure flow-in chamber are formed by an operation member including a metallic bellows provided within a housing constituted by a gas end cover and a bottomed tubular shell, wherein a cross sectional inner outline of a peripheral edge portion of the gas end cover is an oval shape which is concave to the pressure sealed chamber side, and a dead space is not formed, so that a capacity of a volume adjusting spacer is reduced by eliminating a dead space, a working step is reduced by simplifying a shape of the gas end cover, and a margin of welding penetration depth is increased by thickening of a backing metal portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: NOK Corporation
    Inventors: Hisao Yoshihara, Kenji Sasaki
  • Patent number: 7318453
    Abstract: A spacing and centering device for a rigid double-wall duct, for example of the winding type, which is intended for the transport of hydrocarbons. The rigid duct comprises two coaxial tubes which are separated by an annular space. The spacing and centering device is housed in the annular space in order to maintain a distance between the two coaxial tubes. An element made from a material having low heat conductivity and comprising an aerogel element is at least partially covered with a casing of polymer-type plastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Technip France
    Inventor: Philippe Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 7318454
    Abstract: A flexible tubular pipe for transporting hydrocarbons, the pipe comprising at least one carcass, an internal pressure sheath and one or more armor layers. The carcass forms the innermost structural element of the pipe and consists of an interlocked spiral winding of a strip or wire with some shape. The turns of the carcass are internally covered with an anti-turbulence sheath pierced with holes which is intended to oppose turbulence of the hydrocarbon flowing through the pipe and prevent associated resonance phenomena.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Technip France
    Inventor: François Dupoiron
  • Patent number: 7318455
    Abstract: The present invention provides a pipe body of which the edge sections contact with each other stably and which can be formed only by means of only a press processing without performing a welding in mass-producing, wherein separation-prevented engagement due to deformation of at least one of the engagement sections absorbs the spring back in the press processing. Also, the present invention provides a pipe body, a metal plate for the pipe body and a forming method of the pipe body using the sheet metal for the pipe body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takafumi Kondou, Keiji Ishino
  • Patent number: 7318456
    Abstract: A modular weaving machine includes a loom chassis and a plurality of modular warp units. The warp units are each configured for supporting a plurality of removable bobbins thereon, the bobbins being pre-loadable with a plurality of warp threads. The loom chassis is configured to receivably support the warp units thereon, so that the warp threads are disposed in parallel, spaced relation to one another, extending in a downstream direction. A plurality of shedding actuators are coupled to the loom chassis and configured to form a shed with warp threads of each of the warp units. A weft insertion module is configured to insert a weft thread through the shed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Samir A. Nayfeh, Jonathan D. Rohrs
  • Patent number: 7318457
    Abstract: A heald frame including two posts, two cross members and connectors which are used for securing at least one post to at least one corresponding cross member. Each connector includes an intermediate tubular fixing element which is disposed in a housing provided in the cross member and indented with respect to a front face of the cross member and which element defines an internal volume in which a protrusion extending from the at least one post is seated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Staubli Faverges
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Pages, Bertrand Cazin