Patents Issued in March 13, 2008
  • Publication number: 20080060351
    Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment assembly and method enables lateral removal of an aftertreatment component from between first and second assembly components for servicing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Kenneth Pawson, Jay V. Warner, Patrick M. Pierz, Randolph G. Zoran
  • Publication number: 20080060352
    Abstract: In a system and method for reduction of nitrogen oxides from exhaust gases generated by a lean-burn internal combustion engine, a lean NOx catalyst is arranged to be connected to an exhaust conduit of the lean-burn internal combustion engine, an injector is arranged for injecting a reduction agent to be used by the lean NOx catalyst in a reduction process, and a fuel tank contains the reduction agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2004
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: VOLVO LASTVAGNAR AB
    Inventors: Peter Jozsa, Edward Jobson
  • Publication number: 20080060353
    Abstract: Ceramic support bodies for the after-treatment of exhaust gases of internal combustion engines is provided. On a jacket of the support body heat-resistant elevations are subsequently applied that fix the bed against movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Andreas Steigert, Thomas Weidner, Bernd Fuhrmann
  • Publication number: 20080060354
    Abstract: A priority flow rate control valve (4) increases a distribution ratio of pressurized oil to a power steering device (1) of a fork-lift track via a power steering oil passage (9) as a differential pressure between a power steering pressure (PS) in the power steering oil passage (9) and a pilot pressure (LS) decreases. A load signal port (24) which outputs a pressure indicative of a load exerted on the power steering device (1) and the power steering oil passage (9) are connected via two orifices (26A, 26B), and the pilot pressure (LS) pressure is extracted from a point between the two orifices (26A, 26B). By providing a bypass passage (31, 35) which bypasses one of the two orifices (26A, 26B) and a bypass valve (30) which opens and closes the bypass passage (26A, 26B), a response of the priority flow rate control valve (4) can be increased temporarily.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventor: Masayuki KOORIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20080060355
    Abstract: A device is provided. The device includes an inlet manifold configured to direct an exhaust gas flow within the device, an air inlet configured to introduce an airflow within the device and at least one surface of the device having a Coanda profile configured to entrain incoming air through the exhaust gas flow to generate a high velocity airflow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: ANDREI TRISTAN EVULET
  • Publication number: 20080060356
    Abstract: An engine system includes an engine having an intake manifold and a turbocharger that supplies compressed air to the intake manifold. An engine control module calculates a desired pre-throttle pressure of air before the throttle and calculates a desired manifold air flow into the engine. The engine control module determines a desired pre throttle pressure area based on the desired air per cylinder, desired manifold pressure and RPM and generates control signals to control the engine with the turbocharger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Michael Livshiz, Douglas J. Babcock, Joseph R. Dulzo, Emil Ritzen, Anne E. Vondracek, Lennarth Zander
  • Publication number: 20080060357
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved, commercially available organic working fluid, which is operable under a broad range of temperatures, is thermally stable, has a high auto-ignition temperature, low freezing point and high critical temperature and is benign to the environment, and safe for human use. Such an organic working fluid is useful in organic Rankine cycle (ORC) power plants or units and other systems of the like as an intermediate fluid for heat-recovery wherein heat from various heat sources is transferred using the intermediate fluid to a further working fluid and converted into work, and the intermediate fluid is also exploited to produce electricity. Such organic working fluids are also operable as heat transfer fluids either in ORC power plants or units or in other heat transfer systems. For this purpose the present invention presents a working fluid comprising at least one highly branched, heavy iso-paraffin hydrocarbons, or a mixture of two or more of such hydrocarbons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: Ormat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ohad ZIMRON, Lucien Bronicki
  • Publication number: 20080060358
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mixing hole arrangement for improving homogeneity of an air and fuel mixture in a combustor, the mixing hole arrangement comprising a plurality of mixing holes defined by a liner, wherein at least one of the plurality of mixing holes is a mixing hole that is at least one of sized and positioned to impede penetration of a fluid flow into a primary mixing zone located in a head end of the combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Predrag Popovic, Derrick Walter Simons, Krishna Kumar Venkataraman
  • Publication number: 20080060359
    Abstract: An aerofoil assembly for the supply of fluid to a gas turbine engine, the aerofoil having a first part with a profile intended to provide a leading edge when located in a gas turbine engine, a second part with a profile intended to provide a trailing edge when located in a gas turbine engine, wherein the first part has features that engage with complementary features on the second part to form a releasable arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Gary Eadon, Andrew C. Graham
  • Publication number: 20080060360
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine having an inner combustor wall and an outer combustor wall with a number of heat shields mounted internally thereto with fasteners. Each combustor wall has an end wall defining a combustor dome with a number of: fuel nozzle openings; impingement air openings; and heat shield fastener openings. Each of the end walls has an overlapping portion with mutually engaging sealing surfaces with the openings within the overlapping portions being aligned in overlapping pairs, where an exterior overlapping portion has at least one of the aligned openings of one overlapping pair being of larger dimension than the aligned opening in an interior overlapping portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Honza Stastny, Jeffrey Richard Verhiel
  • Publication number: 20080060361
    Abstract: A multi-height ramp injection system, for use in a supersonic propulsion system, comprises a plurality of multi-height ramp injectors for variably introducing a fuel into an airflow in a combustor. In one embodiment of the invention, the multi-height ramp injectors comprise a plurality of tall injectors for fueling an inner portion of the airflow, and a plurality of short injectors for fueling an outer portion of the airflow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Calvin Q. Morrison, Raymond B. Edelman
  • Publication number: 20080060362
    Abstract: An expansion joint for use between a turbine duct and an exhaust duct. The expansion joint may include a flange attached to the turbine duct and a number of plates attached to the exhaust duct that extend towards the flange. The plates and the flange may include a gap therebetween, the gap being narrower when the turbine duct is hot than when the turbine duct is cold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Nicholas Philip Poccia, Carlos Serafim Albuquerque Fernandes, Matthew John Canham, Ian James Morton, Thomas M. Albert
  • Publication number: 20080060363
    Abstract: Systems and methods for selectively cooling heat-generating electronic components in an enclosure. According to one embodiment, an enclosure houses a plurality of heat-generating electronic components. Air enters the enclosure at the front and is exhausted at the rear. After passing through one or more upstream components, air diverges into at least first and second airstreams within the enclosure. The first airstream is re-cooled by a cooling system having a thermoelectric cooling module. The thermoelectric cooling module is configured such that a first side is cooled and a second side is heated in response to an applied voltage. A voltage regulator may govern the voltage in response to one or more temperatures sensed within the rack system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Martin Joseph Crippen, Albert Vincent Makley, Jason Aaron Matteson, William Joseph Piazza
  • Publication number: 20080060364
    Abstract: A thermoacoustic device 1 is provided which has in a loop tube 2, a first stack 3a provided between a first high-temperature side heat exchanger 4 and a first low-temperature side heat exchanger 5, and a second stack 3b provided between a second high-temperature side heat exchanger 6 and a second low-temperature side heat exchanger 7, so that heat at the first stack side is prevented from being transported to the second stack side even when a large acoustic wave is generated in the tube. In the above device, self-excited standing and traveling waves are generated by heating the first high-temperature side heat exchanger 4, and by the standing and traveling waves, the second low-temperature side heat exchanger 7 is cooled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: The Doshisha
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Watanabe, Shinichi Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20080060365
    Abstract: A refrigeration system includes an internal heat exchanger (23) capable of controlling the temperature of refrigerant flowing towards an expander (12). Upon change of the operating conditions, the internal heat exchanger (23) controls the temperature of the refrigerant to control the specific volume or the flow rate of the refrigerant, thereby eliminating imbalance between the flow rate through a compressor (11) and the flow rate through the expander (12). In a cooling operation in which the refrigerant circulation amount is larger than in a heating operation, the cooling capacity of the internal heat exchanger (23) is enhanced as compared to that in the heating operation, thereby increasing the flow rate of refrigerant into the expander (12) without part of the refrigerant bypassing the expander (12). This prevents the COP of the refrigeration system from being deteriorated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Katsumi Sakitani, Michio Moriwaki, Yume Inokuchi, Yoshinari Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20080060366
    Abstract: The present teachings provide control systems and methods for monitoring the performance of an absorption refrigerator. The system includes a temperature sensor that senses the temperature of a generator of a cooling arrangement. The circuit may communicate with the sensor and turn off a heat source of the cooling unit if a sensed temperature condition of the generator exceeds a predetermined temperature condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: David Leistner, Wayne A. Schneider, Carl Onken, Santosh Nerur
  • Publication number: 20080060367
    Abstract: A method of operating a directed relief valve to ventilate a refrigerant by sensing the concentration of refrigerant leakage from the air conditioning system, and if the first concentration exceeds a threshold, by sensing a second concentration. If the first and second concentrations exceed a predetermined concentration, the system will send a leak message to the operator and/or ventilate the refrigerant to the surrounding atmosphere. The system continuously monitors the refrigerant leakage concentration when the vehicle engine is operative, but only periodically monitors the refrigerant leakage concentration when the vehicle engine is inoperative.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Mark James Zima, Taylor R. Eckstein
  • Publication number: 20080060368
    Abstract: A multi-fluid cooling system and method for cooling an electronic device are provided which employ freeze protection when in a shipping state. The cooling system includes a coolant loop having an expansion tank containing first and second fluids, which are immiscible and of different densities, and the second fluid freezes at a lower temperature than the first. The coolant loop further includes a first valve for facilitating coupling of the first fluid into the coolant loop and a second valve for facilitating coupling of the second fluid into the coolant loop, the first and second valves being independently controllable. Control logic electronically controls actuation of the first and second valves to automatically pass the first fluid through the coolant loop when the system is in an operational state and to automatically maintain the second fluid in the coolant loop when the system is in a shipping state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Michael J. Ellsworth, Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Roger R. Schmidt, Robert E. Simons
  • Publication number: 20080060369
    Abstract: An air-conditioning system for a vehicle according to the present invention has an ECU which executes a control routine for controlling the cooling performance of a refrigeration circuit during vehicle acceleration. The control routine includes the steps of detecting demanded vehicle-acceleration degree, detecting evaporator exit air temperature at the time vehicle acceleration starts, selecting acceleration-period cooling performance on the basis of the demanded acceleration degree and the exit air temperature, and outputting a capacity control signal to a compressor on the basis of the acceleration-period cooling performance selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: Sanden Corporation
    Inventor: Tomonori Imai
  • Publication number: 20080060370
    Abstract: A method of controlling a cooling system is provided for a hybrid power system that includes an engine that employs an engine cooling circuit to deliver coolant to the engine, the engine cooling circuit including a radiator and a main fan to draw air through the radiator. When the hybrid power system further includes an inverter, then the inverter is cooled via an inverter cooling circuit that is formulated as one portion of the cooling system to deliver coolant to the inverter, the inverter cooling circuit including a heat exchanger located such that the main fan draws air through the heat exchanger when the main fan is active. The cooling system also includes a secondary fan to selectively draw air though the heat exchanger during operation of an inverter cooling circuit coolant pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: Cummins Power Generation Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Keene, Mitchell E. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20080060371
    Abstract: A compact refrigeration apparatus for cooling sealed electronics enclosures having a sealed electronics enclosure, a single closed liquid/vapor refrigerant circuit, a compact single speed refrigerant pumping device, fluid connection lines, a compact first heat exchanger comprised of one or more, a compact refrigerant flow control device, a compact second heat exchanger of a design that prohibits entrapment of liquids and particulates comprised of one or more fans, and a compact refrigerant apparatus electronic control circuit. An AC power supply and power supply converter operably coupled to and providing AC power either directly to the refrigeration apparatus AC motor component or operably coupled first to a DC rectifier component that then provides DC power to the refrigeration apparatus DC motor component, first heat exchanger fan motors, second heat exchanger fan motors and apparatus control circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventor: John David Jude
  • Publication number: 20080060372
    Abstract: A movable data center or container enclosed data center is disclosed in which a plurality of data processing modules, a plurality of heat exchange modules, and a plurality of fans are operatively arranged. The enclosure defines a continuous closed-loop air passage between a exterior walls and interior walls. The data processing modules, heat exchange modules, and fan units are arranged in an alternating pattern adjacent to the sidewalls of the enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Daniel Hillis, Bran Ferren
  • Publication number: 20080060373
    Abstract: An isolation valve assembly, a coolant connect/disconnect assembly, a cooled multi-blade electronics center, and methods of fabrication thereof are provided employing an isolation valve and actuation mechanism. The isolation valve is disposed within at least one of a coolant supply or return line providing liquid coolant to the electronics subsystem. The actuation member is coupled to the isolation valve to automatically translate a linear motion, resulting from insertion of the electronics subsystem into the operational position within the electronics housing, into a rotational motion to open the isolation valve and allow coolant to pass. The actuation mechanism, which operates to automatically close the isolation valve when the liquid cooled electronics subsystem is withdrawn from the operational position, can be employed in combination with a compression valve coupling, with one fitting of the compression valve coupling being disposed serially in fluid communication with the isolation valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Levi Campbell, Richard Chu, Michael Ellsworth Jr., Madhusudan Iyengar, Donald Porter, Roger Schmidt, Robert Simons
  • Publication number: 20080060374
    Abstract: A portable cooling system providing a controlled rate of cooling. The system includes a cool water device, a remote switching unit, and a thermal pad. The cool water device includes a coolant storage chamber separated from a pumping chamber by a baffle. The pumping chamber includes a pump and a discharge line with a flow restrictor for the fluid being returned from the thermal pad. In one embodiment, the remote switching unit actuates the portable cooling system and includes a timer feature for shutting down the system after a predetermined time. In another embodiment, the switching unit actuates a controller that sends a pulse stream to the pump to control the cooling water flow rate. The thermal pad includes fluid conduits that distribute the cooling water over the surface of the pad. In various embodiments, the thermal pad is a flat pad, a bonnet-shaped pad, and a cap-shaped pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: ADROIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Scott Gammons, Clifford E. Gammons
  • Publication number: 20080060375
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a supplemental heating system including a liquid heat generator having a hydrodynamic chamber for selectively heating a fluid. The hydrodynamic chamber having an inlet port for delivering the fluid to the hydrodynamic chamber, and a discharge port for removing heated fluid from the hydrodynamic chamber. The inlet port is fluidly connected to a first check valve and the discharge port is fluidly connected to a second check valve. The first check valve adapted to receive an input from the second check valve. The first check valve operable to close the fluid path between the first check valve and the inlet port in response to an input received from the second check valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Jeremy J. Sanger, Franco Garavoglia
  • Publication number: 20080060376
    Abstract: Provided is a modular vacuum storage apparatus and method for storing, dispensing, preserving and shipping perishable items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Edward Espinosa, Jean Gleason
  • Publication number: 20080060377
    Abstract: The use of sealants based on organosilanes for refrigeration and air conditioning systems is made possible by control of the rate of introduction and viscosity of the sealant mixture within certain ranges. An appropriate choice of organosilane sealant is made to allow effective sealing of small pinhole size leaks in the air conditioning or refrigeration system. The organosilane is then combined with a miscible lubricant at particular ratios to provide the proper mixture viscosity for injection into the refrigerant system to prevent bearing seizure. Specific orifice sizes are selected for an apparatus to ensure that the composition is injected at the flow rates required to prevent liquid slugging and subsequent compressor shutdown or failure. In addition, effective introduction of the mixture requires certain procedures be performed. Injection procedures are also described that prevent temporary or catastrophic equipment shutdown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: BRASSCORP LIMITED
    Inventors: Paul Appler, George Cranton, Jack Brass
  • Publication number: 20080060378
    Abstract: An ejector for a refrigerant cycle device includes a nozzle portion for decompressing and expanding refrigerant flowing therein, and a body portion which accommodates the nozzle portion to support the nozzle portion at a support portion. The body portion has a refrigerant suction port from which refrigerant is drawn by a high-speed refrigerant flow jetted from a nozzle outlet of the nozzle portion. The nozzle portion is located in the body portion to have an ejector refrigerant passage through which the refrigerant flows. In the ejector, the nozzle portion is supported in the body portion to have the following relationship of 0<L/d?14, in which L/d is a ratio of a length (L) between a downstream tip portion of the support portion and the nozzle outlet to a diameter (d) of the nozzle outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Mika Gocho, Hirotsugu Takeuchi, Yoshiaki Takano, Hiroshi Oshitani, Yasuhiro Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20080060379
    Abstract: A cryogenic refrigeration system for lyophilization is disclosed. The cryogenic refrigeration system includes a cryogenic heat exchanger system adapted for vaporizing a liquid cryogen and using the gaseous cryogen to cool heat transfer fluid and a heat transfer cooling circuit that cools the lyophilization chamber as well as the condenser. The disclosed heat transfer cooling circuit includes a primary recirculation loop adapted for cooling the lyophilization chamber with the heat transfer fluid, a secondary recirculation loop adapted for cooling a condenser with the heat transfer fluid, and one or more valves operatively coupling the cryogenic heat exchanger system, the primary recirculation loop, and the secondary recirculation loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventor: Alan Cheng
  • Publication number: 20080060380
    Abstract: The process that includes providing the following elements for treating source refrigerated LNG, a heat exchanger/condenser through which refrigerated LNG passes, a vaporizer receiving LNG from the heat exchanger/condenser to produce heating grade LNG product, a distillation column producing distillate condensed in the heat exchanger/condenser to produce vehicle grade LNG, some of which is returned to the distillation column, the distillation column having input of refrigerated LNG, the distillation column having a lower outlet through which produced C2+is delivered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventor: Ross M. Brown
  • Publication number: 20080060381
    Abstract: A ferroelectric film wherein 5 to 40 mol % in total of at least one of Nb, V, and W is included in the B site of a Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 ferroelectric which includes at least four-fold coordinated Si4+ or Ge4+ in the A site ion of a ferroelectric perovskite material in an amount of 1% or more. This enables to significantly improve reliability of the ferroelectric film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Kijima, Hiromu Miyazawa, Yasuaki Hamada, Eiji Natori
  • Publication number: 20080060382
    Abstract: The invention relates to glass powder, especially a biologically active glass powder, which includes a plurality of glass particles and which is characterized by the following features: the glass particles are made up by >90 % of non-spherical particles; the geometry of the individual non-spherical particle is characterized by a ratio of length to diameter of 1.1 to 105.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Guido Rake, Hildegard Romer, Peter Schreckenberg, Jose Zimmer, Frank Bullesfeld, Jorg Fechner, Cevin Czisch, Udo Fritsching
  • Publication number: 20080060383
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for testing for the presence of nickel sulfide inclusions in an object made of glass. In order to be able to perform this in an energy-saving and rapid manner, according to the invention a method is proposed for testing for the presence of nickel sulfide inclusions in an object made of glass, such as a tempered safety glass, during a tempering or hardening thereof, the object being brought to a temperature of at least 500° C. and at this temperature an electromagnetic radiation emitted from the object being recorded and evaluated, after which the object is intensely cooled in order to temper or harden it. The invention further comprises a device for testing for the presence of nickel sulfide inclusions in an object made of glass, such as a tempered safety glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: GLASSIQ GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Schuller
  • Publication number: 20080060384
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a device for controlling the temperature of glass by temporarily mounting the device on the glass and causing the flow of thermal energy into or out of the glass to raise or lower the temperature of the glass. In an embodiment, there is provided a windshield heating and cooling device that may heat and/or cool a windshield in the area of damage to be repaired. Such a device may have a thermoelectric control module, one or more heat sinks, and an attachment mechanism for attaching the device to a glass member to bring the device into thermal contact with the glass member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: GLAS-WELD SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Randy Mackey, Michael Boyle
  • Publication number: 20080060385
    Abstract: A hot glass sheet roll assembly wheel (60) and resultant roll assembly utilizing such wheels includes an annular tire (64) having a central axis A, a synthetic resin rim (70) molded in situ within the tire, and a central formation (70) for supporting the wheel about the central axis A.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: GLASSTECH, INC.
    Inventors: Alfredo Serrano, Thomas J. Zalesak
  • Publication number: 20080060386
    Abstract: There are the steps of conveying a glass plate by a roller conveyor including a plurality of rollers; and moving a roller in contact with the glass plate in conveyance to position the glass plate so as to conform a posture of the glass plate to a reference posture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: ASAHI GLASS COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Ryo KANNO, Toshimitsu Sato, Takashi Hirotsu, Tomohiro Suwa, Isao Saito
  • Publication number: 20080060387
    Abstract: A photonic band gap fiber and method of making thereof is provided. The fiber is made of a non-silica-based glass and has a longitudinal central opening, a microstructured region having a plurality of longitudinal surrounding openings, and a jacket. The air fill fraction of the microstructured region is at least about 40%. The fiber may be made by drawing a preform into a fiber, while applying gas pressure to the microstructured region. The air fill fraction of the microstructured region is changed during the drawing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Jasbinder Sanghera, Pablo Pureza, Frederic Kung, Daniel Gibson, Leslie Shaw, Ishwar Aggarwal
  • Publication number: 20080060388
    Abstract: A drive assembly for a washing machine is provided. The drive assembly includes a motor. An input shaft is operatively coupled to the motor and an output shaft is operatively coupled between the input shaft and an agitator. A housing is positioned about at least a portion of the input shaft and at least a portion of the output shaft. A gear assembly is positioned within the housing and drivingly couples the input shaft to the output shaft. A first sleeve bearing is positioned about a bottom end of the input shaft opposing the top end. The first sleeve bearing is configured to radially support the input shaft and define a first radial clearance between the top end of the input shaft and the housing for facilitating radial movement of the top end of the input shaft with respect to the output shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventor: David Duane Warmuth
  • Publication number: 20080060389
    Abstract: A washing fluid tub of a washing machine for accommodating a rotatably driven laundry drum and provided with electrical components in its vicinity, the tub being provided at its outer surface with a plurality of rib structures for diverting any leaking water from the electrical components, at least some of the rib structures being provided with V-shaped drip-off sites for controlling the direction of flow of the water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Barbara Blomberg, Egon Brockschmidt, Matthias Hollenhorst, Thorsten Kuka
  • Publication number: 20080060390
    Abstract: A padlock comprises a shackle, a housing and a combination lock mechanism. The shackle comprises a leg. The housing comprises a first shell and a second shell. The first and second shells co-define a channel for receiving the leg. The first shell has an inner wall formed with a row of first protrusions. The combination lock mechanism comprises a set of teethed sleeves rotatably coupled around the leg of the shackle and a set of numeral wheels rotatably coupled around the teethed sleeves such as to control movements of the leg. The teethed sleeves each defines a first groove corresponding to a respective one of the first protrusions of the first shell. Accordingly, as long as the numeral wheels are dialed to a correct number, all the first grooves of the teethed sleeves are aligned with the first protrusions of the first shell correspondingly so that the leg of the shackle is allowed to move vertically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Chun Yu, Cory Nykoluk
  • Publication number: 20080060391
    Abstract: A combination lock includes: a base mounted securely on a suitcase; a case locking mechanism mounted on the base and operable to move between locking and releasing positions; a dial lock mounted on the case locking mechanism, including a lock controlling member, and operable between locking and releasing states through operation of the lock controlling member; and a key-operated unlocking unit mounted on the case locking mechanism, including a core, and operable in a manner that the case locking mechanism is permitted to move from the locking position to the releasing position when the core is moved from a first angular position to a second angular position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventor: Dick-Ming Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20080060392
    Abstract: A retractable lock for cabinet doors, wherein a cradle in a cutout door portion accommodates a lever handle secured, in a pivoted-in position, by a locking mechanism. The lever handle pivots out of the cradle over an operating displacement, via a pivot bearing, in a plane perpendicular to the door panel. A latching bar on the opposite side of the cradle is longitudinally displaceable, with the operating displacement of the lever handle being converted into longitudinal displacement of the latching bar. In a pivoted-in position of the lever handle, an extension thereof rests against a side of an arm fixedly connected to, and extending from, the latching bar facing the direction of movement of the latching bar into its locking position. A spring disposed between the arm and an abutment of the cradle biases the latching bar into its extended locking position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventor: Rainer Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20080060393
    Abstract: An electronic combination lock includes a door handle having a code entry button and housing a lock assembly and an electrical circuit. The lock assembly includes a lock body, a rotating cylinder, spring loaded lift lock pins and corresponding key pins, a reset cam path and a programming cam path formed on the cylinder, a lift comb for lifting the lift lock pins, a latch for latching the lift comb and a magnet being selectively activated to cause the latch to release the lift comb. The electrical circuit receives a first input signal indicative of an input code entered at the code entry button and a second input signal from a program switch actuated by the programming cam path and is operated to store an entry code when the program switch is actuated and to activate the magnet when an input code matching the stored entry code is received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Fritz Hugo Johansson, James P. Davidson
  • Publication number: 20080060394
    Abstract: A wheel lock includes a body, an attaching arm, a movable arm, and a working stick. One end of the attaching arm and the movable arm are disposed on the body. The other end of the attaching arm and the movable arm attach to a wheel. The working stick is slidably disposed on the body. When a user wants to lock the wheel the user simply pulls out the working stick. When a user wants to unlock the wheel the user pushes in the working stick. Therefore, when the user uses the present invention, the user does not need to remove the wheel lock from the steering wheel of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventor: AN-CHEN CHENG
  • Publication number: 20080060395
    Abstract: A motor vehicle door lock (3) provided for connection to a vehicle door, in which the motor vehicle door lock (3) comprises a carrier plate (4) whereon the locking pieces (2, 21, 22) are mounted, and a lock housing (32) which at least partially surrounds the locking pieces (2, 21, 22) comprising the carrier plate (4), comprising a counter piece (34) formed from the side (36) of the lock housing (32), which is opposite to the carrier plate (4), the counter piece (34) being provided in such a way that it co-operates with a connection element (7) in the vehicle door (8) by means of a through opening (43) in the carrier plate (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: KIEKERT AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Dirk Hanisch
  • Publication number: 20080060396
    Abstract: An improved actuator used to operate one or more locks on a vehicle. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are configured to lock and unlock multiple locks sequentially rather than simultaneously, allowing for the use of smaller and less expensive motors. Actuator nosepieces can also be changed out allowing the actuators to be easily used with different kinds of locking mechanisms. The actuating member is locked and unlocked by way of a compression spring and plunger assembly that is more robust than a torsion spring as in prior art.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventor: Steven Harvey
  • Publication number: 20080060397
    Abstract: The present invention realizes a locking device for vehicle free from the occurrence of rattle at the portion where the striker is locked. When a lock plate 5 and a latch plate 4 are brought into a locked state and a latch-side recessed portion 4d of the latch plate 4 is engaged with a striker 20, a plate pressing cam 7 rotates clockwise by a restoring force by a coil spring 12, so that its depressing-side cam portion 7e depresses a tip end 6c of a rattle-removing plate 6. A rattle removing-side recessed portion 6d of the rattle-removing plate 6 engages with the peripheral surface of the striker 20, to suppress the rattle of the striker 20. Since the rattle removing-side recessed portion 6d is formed into the shape that matches the peripheral surface of the striker 20, occurrence of rattle can be strictly suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA IMASEN DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventor: Yusuke SATO
  • Publication number: 20080060398
    Abstract: A handle apparatus is provided to a door of a vehicle and inside the vehicle compartment. The handle apparatus includes a handle lever, a locking knob, and cover member. A latch mechanism is released and a door of a vehicle can be opened by operating the handle lever. The locking knob is movable between a lock position and an unlock position by moving a lock operational unit in a specific region. The door gets locked when the locking knob is in the lock position, and the door gets unlocked when the locking knob is in the unlock position. The cover member covers at least a rear region of the specific region in which the lock operational unit can move.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: MITSUI MINING & SMELTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun ODAHARA, Hiroyuki SAKAGAMI
  • Publication number: 20080060399
    Abstract: A structure for reappearing combination number of a combination lock includes a notch adapted to be defined in a proximal end of each sleeve, a cutout adapted to be defined in a distal end of each sleeve to be opposite to the notch, wherein the notch is mis-aligned with the cutout and at least one hole adapted to be defined in the casing to align with a corresponding one of the cutouts when the notches are in alignment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: ABA UFO INTERNATIONAL CORP.
    Inventor: Miko LEE
  • Publication number: 20080060400
    Abstract: In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a lock is provided with a key lock mechanism and the lock has the ability to be relocked after the key lock mechanism has been opened and the key withdrawn from the key lock. Embodiments of the present disclosure may include a zipper lock with lock tongues that engage openings in zipper pulls of an article to be locked, a padlock, a strap lock, and a hard luggage lock. Embodiments of the present disclosure may also include an indicator for signaling that the key lock mechanism has been opened by a key. Embodiments of the disclosure may also include indicia for signaling that the lock is of the type which allows the lock to be relocked with the key removed from the key way of the key lock. Alternatively, embodiments of the disclosure may include a retaining function for retaining the key in the lock until the key lock mechanism is returned to a locked state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: SINOX COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Renny Tse-Haw Ling, Yung-Li Kuo