Patents Issued in July 1, 2008
  • Patent number: 7392622
    Abstract: An external soffit system for a conservatory roof which prevents unwelcome insects or birds from forming nests and provides a more aesthetically appealing appearance of the conservatory. The soffit also provides a platform from which lights or speakers may be mounted. The soffit and supporting structure also provide added protection to the conservatory roof structure from the elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Park Lane Conservatories Limited
    Inventors: Mark A. Back, John Michael Riley
  • Patent number: 7392623
    Abstract: An eaves beam with framing which includes an eaves beam with an upper member and a lower member. The framing is comprised of an upper beam and a lower beam. The eaves beam can be pre-attached to the framing, allowing for a more efficient installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Park Lane Conservatories Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark A. Back, John E. Welsh, J. Michael Riley
  • Patent number: 7392624
    Abstract: A practical method of manufacturing, assembling, and constructing a single silo or building or a cluster of polygonal storage silos using a column comprising horizontally-arrayed structural column panels. Column panels within a top horizontal array vertically aligning with column panels of a next lower horizontal array such that no discernible gap exists between top and bottom edges of column panels within the column. Seams, where top and bottom edges of column panels meet, preferably occur in different horizontal planes from each other throughout the column, thereby creating a stagger of column components in relationship to each other. Multiple layers of column components with the same, similar, or different configurations can be added to preferably cover seams of underlying column components to enhance structural integrity. A structure built with these columns can be constructed using a cost-effective and relatively safe method of jack-lifting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Inventor: Dwight Eric Kinzer
  • Patent number: 7392625
    Abstract: A nail fin is adapted to be used with a fenestration frame assembly adapted to be fastened in a building support structure. The nail fin includes a substantially bendable metallic flange member having an anchor portion adapted to be retained in the frame assembly and pivotally connected to an attachment portion adapted to be fastened to the support structure along a hinge defined by a series of spaced apart openings formed through the flange member. The metallic flange member is formed with a coextruded first strip covering the openings and defining barbed elements around the anchor portion. The metallic flange member is formed with a second coextruded strip defining a solid attachment template adapted to be fastened to the support structure and forming a seal adapted to be engaged against the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Wisconsin Plastic Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley J. Bruggink, Steve Laumann
  • Patent number: 7392626
    Abstract: A smooth edge strip for engaging a carpet edge at a floor edge adjacent a wall is held in place by a bracket having a bracket body defining a mounting plate for attachment to the wall at the floor edge and a channel portion for receiving the smooth edge strip so as to hold the smooth edge strip flat on the floor. The channel portion includes an upper leg across the top of the strip which connects to the wall plate at the corner with the floor by a downwardly inclined portion. The wall plate is arranged at an angle to provide spring bias tending to hold the channel and the strip held thereby in contact with the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Inventor: Blair Farrend
  • Patent number: 7392627
    Abstract: A profiled rail system (1) is used for bridging floorcovering transitions, ends or staircase edges. The profiled rail system (1) has a base profile (2) and a covering profile (3). The base profile (2) has at least one vertical leg (6), on which an inner shell (9) of a rotary joint (10) is provided. This rotary joint (10) supports the covering profile (3) such that it can be pivoted. For this purpose, two webs (11) oriented downward are provided on the covering profile (3) and, in order to form an outer shell of the rotary joint (10), have at least two partly cylindrical inner contours (12) which lie one above another. These inner contours (12) are formed so as to match the inner shell (9) of the rotary joint (10). In this way, step by step adjustability of the covering profile (3) is implemented. The rotary joint (10) can be clicked as desired into respectively one of the partly cylindrical inner contours (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Hermann Friedrich Kuenne GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Frank Sondermann
  • Patent number: 7392628
    Abstract: A shutter assembly mounts to a building and includes a right stile and a left stile disposed in spaced opposing relationship with one another. A first bar is mounted to the right stile and presents at least one recess facing outwardly away from the right stile for receiving a decorative member. A second bar opposing the first bar is mounted to the left stile and presents at least one recess facing and opposing the recess of the first bar for receiving the decorative member. The first and second bars each have at least one biasing device extending into the respective recesses of the first and second bars and engage the decorative member for biasing the decorative member outwardly away from the respective stiles to prevent movement of the decorative member relative to the stiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Tapco International Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Logan, Nathan Greenway, Clyde G. Allen, Charles E. Schiedegger
  • Patent number: 7392629
    Abstract: A suspended ceiling comprising a pair of parallel main grid tees, the tees being of the type having its panel supporting flange forming a hollow with a downwardly open slot, a plurality of identical stabilizer bars spacing said main grid tees a predetermined distance, trim strips assembled on said main grid tees, the trim strips each having a first portion hooked into the hollow flange of a respective tee and a second portion abutting a web of the respective tee, the stabilizer bars being arranged to engage opposite sides of reinforcing bulbs of the main grid tees to hold the same against relative lateral horizontal movement from their desired positions, the stabilizer bars engaging the trim strips in a manner that holds their second portions in abutment with the webs of their respective tees. The stabilizer bars are formed of sheet metal and have bendable tabs that can be bent to hold said trim strip second portions in contact with the webs of their respective tees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: USG Interiors, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Bankston, Gregory M. Ahren, John Harcula
  • Patent number: 7392630
    Abstract: A packaging system utilizes two sides of a loading carousel, which reduces both the height and footprint of the packaging system. Mass and inertia are also reduced, allowing higher operational speeds. The loading carousel receives opened cartons on a first side and lowers them over product groups on a second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: Colin P. Ford
  • Patent number: 7392631
    Abstract: A blistering machine for producing blister packs has a production line, which includes consecutively: at least one thermoforming station of a first continuous band of thermoformable material; a station for feeding the products and filling the blister band; a feeding station of a second band, feeding the second band over the blister band; a closing station, including two opposite rollers; and a cutting station, in which the blister pack band is cut into respective blister packs. A tension mechanism is situated upstream of the closing station, to cooperate with the rollers of the closing station, to perform a selected tension on at least the first band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatichie S.p.A.
    Inventor: Roberto Conti
  • Patent number: 7392632
    Abstract: A transfer station in a container filling plant comprising an input, an output, a conveyor for feeding containers, a plurality of spaced apart webs disposed upstream of the input of the transfer station, and vertically oriented rotatable directing elements, each rotatable about its vertical rotational axis and disposed upstream of the webs for contacting the bodies of the containers to steer the containers into the receiving spaces between the webs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: KHS Maschinen-und Anlagenbau AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Wiedemann, Klaus Jendrichowski
  • Patent number: 7392633
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for supplying and processing packages arranged on carrier elements, especially drinks packages, using a continuous conveyor belt on which the carrier elements are arranged. The aim of the invention is to be able to further process carrier elements which are continuously supplied by means of a conveyor belt in a processing station in a reliable manner with few technical resources. To this end, two advancing rollers are provided to the right and to the left of the conveyor belt, the rotational axes thereof being perpendicular to the plane of the conveyor belt; two rotating clock belts are provided in the running direction of the conveyor belt, behind the advancing rollers; said clock belts rotate in a plane parallel to the plane of the conveyor belt, and respectively comprise a strand facing the other clock belt; and the strands facing each other run parallel to each other, at a distance corresponding to the width of the carrier elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: SIG Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Heil, Thomas Vetten
  • Patent number: 7392634
    Abstract: A machine and method for printing and feeding a top web onto a bottom web in a form, fill and seal machine without stressing the bond formed between the two webs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Inventors: Anthony J. Maye, Gregory P. Rochon
  • Patent number: 7392635
    Abstract: Systems for enclosing at least one target product in a covering material, include an elongate product chute having an outer surface and opposing receiving and discharge end portions with an interior cavity extending therethrough and an elongate breech loading chute alignably positioned generally above the product chute, the elongate loading chute configured to direct at least one target product into the product chute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Tipper Tie, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. May, Samuel D. Griggs, Matthew Lowder
  • Patent number: 7392636
    Abstract: A method for making pods (1) for products for infusion comprises the steps of: feeding a first portion (5) of filter material; making a compressed disk (2) of product, the disk being equivalent to a single dose of the product, at respective dosing and forming stations (3, 4); placing the compressed disk (2) on the first portion (5) of filter material; and superimposing a second portion (6) of filter material over the first portion (5) of filter material with the compressed disk (2) on it in such a way as to form the pod (1). The invention also relates to an apparatus that embodies this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A.
    Inventor: Roberto Conti
  • Patent number: 7392637
    Abstract: An apparatus for packing products includes a product information acquisition stage arranged to acquire information relating to one or more characteristics of products on a product packing line; a bag supply system arranged to supply bags sequentially as individual products on a conveyor approach a packing apparatus; and a bag opener arranged to automatedly take up a bag from the bag supply system as each individual product approaches the bag opener, and to subsequently machine open a mouth of each bag to a controlled extent based on information relating to products being packed acquired at the upstream product information acquisition stage. An apparatus for packing products includes a product information acquisition stage arranged to acquire information relating to one or more characteristics of products on a product packing line; a product packing stage; and two or more generally parallel conveyors arranged to deliver products of different sizes to the packing stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Sealed Air (New Zealand)
    Inventor: John Paul Koke
  • Patent number: 7392638
    Abstract: An inventive method, system and apparatus are provided for syringe handling, and more particularly, for syringe labeling, filling and capping operations. To facilitate syringe handling, an inventive apparatus includes a plurality of syringe bodies interconnected in a predetermined orientation by a belt. Such belt may be of pliable construction and may define a predetermined spacing in between adjacent ones of the syringe bodies. The syringe handling apparatus may provide for the placement of contents-related information on belt segments between adjacent syringe bodies and for separating the belt segments, wherein a flap is left interconnected to each syringe body. The syringe handling apparatus may provide for automated filling of the syringe bodies wherein cap removal, filling and cap replacement operations are completed free from manual handling. An improved cap and method for capping medical male luer fittings is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Baxa Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Eugene Baldwin, Joseph V. Ranalletta
  • Patent number: 7392639
    Abstract: A method for forming a top seal on a carton being conveyed along a processing path on a form, fill and seal packaging machine using a top sealer including opposing sealing jaws is provided. The carton includes top fin panels configured for sealing to one another to form a top seal. The method includes actuating a first control valve to provide communication between a first pressurized fluid source and a first port of an actuator for moving the actuator toward a first position. The actuator is operatively connected to the sealing jaws to move the sealing jaws in a clamping direction while moving toward the first position. A second control valve is actuated to inhibit fluid escape from the actuator through a second port of the actuator to inhibit movement of the sealing jaws in the clamping direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Evergreen Packaging Inc.
    Inventors: Cletus Emerich Kreher, George Allen Morden
  • Patent number: 7392640
    Abstract: In a counting machine, a feeding tray contains articles in bulk to supply the articles to a rotating disc-shaped support with a plurality of through holes. A check station has a transparent plate operating to keep the articles in the holes and cooperating with vision devices provided for checking integrity and presence of articles in the through holes A rejection station has plurality of wings to keep/release articles into/from respective through holes according to signals coming from the vision devices. Also a discharge station has a plurality of wings to release/keep articles from/into respective through holes, according to signals coming from the vision devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Tonazzi Vasquali S.r.l.
    Inventor: Fabio Vasquali
  • Patent number: 7392641
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for creating a vacuum in, and sealing containers for the preservation of vacuum packed products. It includes a plate or tray base (11, 41) forming at least a part of a suction chamber and having at the rear a couple of constraint means, and a top body (12, 42) which forms the remaining part of said suction chamber and which houses an aspirator group and holds a sealing bar and means for controlling the functions of the device. The body is movable above the plate or tray base between a raised open position and a lowered closed position and removable by means of a free and independent manipulation of the plate or tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Flaem Nuova S.p.A.
    Inventor: Riccardo Abate
  • Patent number: 7392642
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a device for the packaging of free-flowing fill materials in a tube-shaped casing with a feeder tube to conduct the flow of fill materials. The feeder tube features a hookup, a mouth, a basically straight first segment adjoining the hookup, with a first longitudinal axis, and a second segment that is conjoined with the first segment and proximate to the mouth. The first segment is designed to accept and conduct a casing on its outer surface. The casing infeed consists of a plastic filmstrip, which is formed into a tube around the first feeder tube segment. The second segment is designed to further conduct the plastic filmstrip-derived, newly formed casing. Alternatively, a supply of casing and/or net material may be loaded onto the second segment from its mouth. Upstream and ahead of the first segment, the feeder tube features a feeder tube swivel bearing (140) around the first longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Poly-Clip System GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Klaus Töpfer
  • Patent number: 7392643
    Abstract: A lawn mower having upper and lower cutter blades in a cutter housing is provided. The blades are disposed with a phase difference such that upper blade edge parts of the upper cutter blade are advanced forward with respect to lower blade edges of the lower cutter blade in the rotation direction, whereby interference of the upper cutter blade with the air-lifting parts of the lower cutter blade is avoided, and the noise produced by the rotation of the upper and lower cutter blades is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Warashina, Tommy Plouraboue, Guillaume Vizzutti, Patrick Templier
  • Patent number: 7392644
    Abstract: A cotton packager for mounting on a chassis of a cotton harvester interchangeably with a cotton basket, allowing for pivotal movement of the packager between an operating position and a tilted unloading position. The packager includes a pivotable fluid cylinder which attaches to the chassis in place of a fixed front lift cylinder of the basket, and a rear pivot which attaches to the chassis in place of a rear lift cylinder. As a result, a rear open end of the packager can be lowered closer to a surface onto which cotton is to be unloaded, and drivers for an unloader door of the packager can be subjected to less damaging loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Covington, George H. Hale, Gary R. Gallens
  • Patent number: 7392645
    Abstract: An accessory to a bed knife gage and bar that holds the bar in place against the rollers on a lawn mower cutter. The accessory comprises a movable permanent magnet attached to a rod and handle, the rod, in turn, attached to the bar. Engagement of the permanent magnet with the mower cutter bed knife holds the bar and gage in place obviating the need for the user to hold the bar in place while using the gage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Precision Tool Products Co.
    Inventor: Scott Elmore
  • Patent number: 7392646
    Abstract: A feed roller primarily for feeding crop into a feeder house of a combine harvester is located above and behind a feed draper and includes an outer flight and retractable fingers for feeding the crop through the zone behind the draper and into the feeder house. The fingers rotate about a finger axis offset from the roller axis so that they extend to a maximum at the draper and are retracted behind the roller to release the crop. When the roller is reversed to release a blockage, the fingers are also reversed in direction and the finger axis is moved rearwardly to the opposite side of the roller so that the fingers are extended behind the roller at the feeder house and retracted at the draper. This movement is done automatically on reversing the roller and uses power from the reversal to move the finger axis using a clutch. An anti-distortion wheel is mounted on the finger shaft to prevent retraction of the finger ends into the roller which can cause damage by loss of proper guidance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: MacDon Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Roger L. Patterson
  • Patent number: 7392647
    Abstract: A method for forming a cabling media includes providing a wire pair including first and second conductor members. Each of the first and second conductor members includes a respective conductor and a respective insulation cover surrounding the conductor thereof. The first and second conductor members are twisted about one another to form a twisted wire pair having a twist length that purposefully varies along a length of the twisted wire pair. The method may include: imparting a purposefully varied pretwist to the wire pair using a wire pair twist modulator; and imparting additional twist to the wire pair using a wire pair twisting device downstream of the wire pair twist modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: CommScope, Inc. of North Carolina
    Inventors: Wayne Hopkinson, Trent Hayes, Borivoje Antonijevic, Craig Masters, Ross Beames, Eamonn Wyer, Robert Black
  • Patent number: 7392648
    Abstract: A rotor spinning machine has a plurality of spinning stations, each of which comprises an opening roller and a draw-in roller for supplying sliver to the opening roller and each of which is equipped with control devices for individual drives of the draw-in rollers. The control devices each have a connection mechanism, to which an additional control card can be attached for producing effect or novelty yarn with predetermined effects. The control card comprises a processor, which meets the elevated computing power requirements for producing effect or novelty yarn and can be activated via a data bus system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Oerlikon Textile GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Iris Biermann, Christoph Haase, Karl Kamps, Lorenz Kreitzen, Ralf Siewert
  • Patent number: 7392649
    Abstract: A feeding trough for a sliver opening device of an open-end spinning device, having a concave gripping area for conveying a sliver, lateral walls for guiding the sliver, and a concavely curved support surface for fixing a fiber tuft combed by an opening roller, wherein the feeding trough is pivotable around a shaft parallel to the axis of the opening roller. The feeding trough (8) is arranged in its working position with a gap width A of 0.7 to 1.5 mm between the support surface (13) and adjoining tips (20) of the opening roller set (3) at a combing-in point K, which is constantly reduced to a gap width B of ?0.5 mm over an angle area W in the direction of rotation of the opening roller (2) of at least 30°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Oerlikon Textile GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Heinz-Georg Wassenhoven
  • Patent number: 7392650
    Abstract: A cable or the like protection and guide device is disclosed which prevents inadvertent disconnection due to repeated flexure. Excellent fatigue resistance is exhibited. A cable or the like protection and guide device in which pairs of side plates are respectively formed of a highly-rigid resin front side plate portion connected to a preceding side plate and a highly-rigid resin rear side plate portion is connected to a subsequent side plate. A flexible fatigue resistant resin coupling portion is interposed between the front side plate portion and the rear side plate portion in an integrated manner by using a using two-color molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Akihiko Utaki, Masaaki Ikeda, Shoichiro Komiya
  • Patent number: 7392651
    Abstract: A cowl for a turbomachine nozzle, the cowl having a plurality of repeated patterns disposed circumferentially at a trailing edge, each pattern being asymmetrical about a midplane of the pattern containing a longitudinal axis of the cowl, and each pattern having a first portion inclined radially towards the inside of the cowl and a second portion inclined radially towards the outside of the cowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Snecma
    Inventors: Marius Goutines, Jacques Michel Albert Julliard, Pierre Loheac, Frédéric Raymond Jean Miroudot, Jean-Michel Nogues, Stéphane Thomas
  • Patent number: 7392652
    Abstract: Diesel engine particulate trap regeneration is obtained by concurrently supplying two exhaust gas streams to a particulate trap requiring regeneration. One stream is produced in a reactor/diesel engine operating an efficient stoichiometric ratio. The second stream is produced in a second reactor/diesel engine burning fuel at a low air/fuel ratio to produce an exhaust gas stream carrying a substantial load of unburned hydrocarbons, hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The two streams together carry sufficient thermal energy to ignite the unburned hydrocarbons, hydrogen and carbon monoxide using oxygen from the first exhaust gas stream as oxidizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventor: Stephen P. Heath
  • Patent number: 7392653
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system for a working machine according to the present invention comprises a hydraulic pump for supplying working oil to a hydraulic actuator through a control valve, a relief mechanism disposed on the discharge side of the pump, the relief mechanism assuming an open state when a pump discharge pressure which varies according to the pump flow rate exceeds a predetermined pressure and assuming a closed state when the pump discharge pressure becomes the predetermined one or lower, an ordinary control means for controlling the pump flow rate in accordance with working information, and a pressure feedback control means for controlling the pump flow rate in accordance with the pump discharge pressure. In this system, out of controls performed by both control means, control wherein the flow rate by one control becomes smaller than that of the other is selected, thereby opening/closing control of the relief mechanism is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki Sugano
  • Patent number: 7392654
    Abstract: A drive apparatus for a zero turn vehicle or similar application comprising a pair of pumps mounted in a common housing and having coaxial input shafts and a main input shaft mounted in the common housing perpendicular to the two pump shafts. A pair of center sections or end caps including hydraulic porting are mounted to opposite ends of the common housing, and each center section has a hydraulic motor mounted thereon external to the common housing. A power take off unit may also be mounted to the common housing and driven by the main input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Raymond Hauser, Lonnie E. Holder
  • Patent number: 7392655
    Abstract: In an automotive vehicle having a heater for a heating operation for a passenger room of the vehicle with use of waste heat of an engine, a vapor compression refrigerating device comprises a refrigerating cycle for a cooling operation for the passenger room. The vapor compression refrigerating device further comprises a heating cycle (a heat pump cycle, or a hot gas cycle) for performing a heating operation to engine cooling water by using the high temperature and high pressure refrigerant from a compressor device, wherein a control means activates the heating cycle at a predetermined time before starting an engine when an outside air temperature is lower than a predetermined value. Accordingly, the engine has been already warmed up before a driver gets into the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Inaba, Koichi Ban, Yasushi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 7392656
    Abstract: A steam turbine plant includes an extraction system and a control system for controlling the steam extraction. The extraction system includes an extraction steam flowmeter and a stop valve. The control system sets a warning flow and an extracted steam stop flow for the extracted steam. When the extracted steam flow reaches the warning flow, a warning is issued and after a lapse of a predetermined time period, the stop valve is opened to restrict the extracted steam flow. When the extracted steam flow reaches the extracted steam stop flow, the stop valve is closed to stop steam extraction. A steam turbine plant can thus exercise extraction control to stably supply extracted steam while avoiding turbine trip, even if not equipped with a high-performance and expensive valve device such as an extraction steam control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Onuma, Naoto Koizumi
  • Patent number: 7392657
    Abstract: ozone is dissolved ozone in a liquid cryogen. A container containing a liquified cryogen is provided. A gaseous stream of ozone is allowed to flow into at least one adsorption unit containing an adsorbent material, thereby adsorbing ozone thereupon. The cryogen is allowed to flow from the container to the at least one adsorption unit and therethrough thereby extracting an amount of the ozone adsorbed upon the adsorbent material, wherein the cryogen is in either a liquid, gaseous or supercritical phase as it flows through the adsorption unit. ozone becomes dissolved in the cryogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: American Air Liquide, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick W. Giacobbe
  • Patent number: 7392658
    Abstract: A cleaning system for an air conditioner injects a biocide followed at regular intervals, which may be followed by a rinsing flush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Inventor: William G. Hardy, III
  • Patent number: 7392659
    Abstract: Controlling displacement in a variable displacement compressor of an automobile air conditioning system entails detecting the temperature and humidity level of air entering the evaporator, setting a target air probe temperature from inside the automobile, and reading the evaporator air-out temperature at the temperature probe. From these parameters, the evaporator suction pressure can be calculated as can the load on the evaporator and the refrigerant flow rate so that the compressor swash plate angle, and thus, the compressor displacement, can be adjusted. After adjusting the compressor swash plate angle, calculating the absolute value of a difference between the actual air probe value and the vehicle occupant's air probe setting can be performed. If the absolute value is less than 0.5 degrees Fahrenheit, then the compressor stroke can be maintained, but if it is not, then the iteration must again be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Chrysler LLC
    Inventors: Kwangtaek Hong, William L DeWitt, Gary L Baker
  • Patent number: 7392660
    Abstract: A spray cooling system for transverse evaporative spray cooling in a narrow gap, which may generally include a mixing zone, a converging zone, a plurality of cooling conduits, and a re-circulation conduit. The spray cooling system in some of its embodiments, provides, among other things, a feed system for narrow gap evaporative spray cooling, a method for reducing the pressure gradient across the surface from which heat is to be transferred and a housing system which utilizes a baffle to separate the plurality of cooling conduits from a re-circulation conduit and to re-circulate vapor to the entry of the cooling conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Isothermal Systems Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles L. Tilton, John D. Schwarzkopf
  • Patent number: 7392661
    Abstract: An HVAC system controller which estimates the energy cost or savings incurred due to a user-instigated change in a climate control schedule. The HVAC system controller is adapted to operate a multi-zone climate control system in a building, and is especially adapted to operate a retrofit zone climate control system in a residence. The HVAC controller displays the estimated cost or savings to the homeowner, enabling him to make an informed decision about whether to keep the change in the climate control schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Home Comfort Zones, Inc.
    Inventor: Harold Gene Alles
  • Patent number: 7392662
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling a climate control system on a vehicle after entering a heat soak mode in which the outside air temperature associated with the vehicle is affected by absorption of non-ambient heat includes an ambient temperature sensor for sensing a current ambient temperature outside the vehicle. A controller coupled to the ambient temperature sensor compares the current ambient temperature to a stored ambient temperature representative of the outside air temperature prior to entering the heat soak mode. The controller controls the climate control system using the current ambient temperature if the current ambient temperature is less than the stored ambient temperature. If the current ambient temperature is greater than the stored ambient temperature, the controller determines a heat build up affecting the current ambient temperature and controls the climate control system using the current ambient temperature only upon elimination of the heat build up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Chrysler LLC
    Inventor: Shixiang Gao
  • Patent number: 7392663
    Abstract: A two layer type air conditioner for vehicles facilitates drainage of water induced into a blower through an outside air intake to a condensed water outlet and prevents backflow of water to the blower. A blower has an intake duct for inhaling inside air and outside air. A double suction type scroll case mounted on the intake duct is divided into two passages by a partition plate. A blower fan is rotatably mounted in the two passages. A motor turns the blower fan. A case for the air conditioner includes an evaporator for cooling the air blown from the blower and a condensed water outlet for draining condensed water generated from the evaporator. The case is divided into two passages corresponding to those of the scroll case. A drain drains water induced into the blower to the condensed water outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Halla Climate Control Corp.
    Inventors: Sung-Ho Kang, Yong-Eun Seo
  • Patent number: 7392664
    Abstract: A coupling in accordance with the present invention may be used to join devices together without the need for conduits or other intermediaries. A nut may be used to couple the coupling to a first device via a first thread portion and to a second device via a second thread portion. In some embodiments, the coupling may be affixed to one of the first or second devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Danfoss Chatleff, Inc.
    Inventor: Herman D. Wiser
  • Patent number: 7392665
    Abstract: Refrigerator with an icemaker including a cabinet having a mullion wall for compartmentalization of a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber, a case provided to a door on the refrigerating chamber, having a cavity therein, a first duct for supplying cold air from a neighborhood of an evaporator in the freezing chamber to the cavity, the icemaker in the cavity for producing ice, an ice container in the cavity for storing the ice, and a dispenser in the door in communication with the cavity, thereby having ice supplied to a user at an outside of the refrigerator through a dispenser provided to the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Myung Ryul Lee, Seong Jae Kim, Chang Ho Seo, Sung Hoon Chung
  • Patent number: 7392666
    Abstract: An accessory in the form of a metal-wire meshed tube body having a dual structure is provided wherein a metal-wire meshed tube body with fine mesh density is incorporated inside a metal-wire meshed tube body with coarse mesh density. The accessory is provided in the form of a combination of a couple of meshed tube bodies formed by weaving metal wire to have respective different mesh density, wherein a dual-structure meshed tube body 3 is composed of a metal meshed tube body 1 with coarse mesh density positioned outwardly and a metal meshed tube body 2 with fine mesh density positioned inwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Namiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiromasa Namiki
  • Patent number: 7392667
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for shaping a tubular object made of glass or glass ceramics or any other thermoplastic material, comprising the following method steps: the object is heated up to softening; an inner shaping tool and an outer shaping tool are provided for shaping The outside and inside jacket surface of the object, of which at least the inner shaping tool consists at least in the region of its shaping surface of open-pored material with a permeability of between 10?11 and 10?16 m2; a free-flowing pressurized medium is conducted through the open-pored material towards the surface of the object to be shaped; the inner shaping tool is introduced into the object; the outer shaping tool is applied on to the object in order to shape the same
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventors: Christian Kunert, Friedrich Lampart, Jurgen Thurk, Michael Plapp, Roman Oberhaensli
  • Patent number: 7392668
    Abstract: A front end for a glass forming operation including an open channel and at least one burner. The channel surface has at least one burner port and a burner oriented in the burner port at an acute angle relative to the channel surface. The surface may be a top, side or end wall and the burner port is at an acute angle relative to the surface of the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: OCV Intellectual Capital LLC
    Inventors: Harry P. Adams, David J. Baker, Christopher Q. Jian, William W. Toth
  • Patent number: 7392669
    Abstract: A circular knitting machine, comprising a footing with a rotatable, vertical needle cylinder, axial slots on the outer lateral surface of the needle cylinder, that accommodate each a needle, a sub-needle arranged below each needle in a corresponding axial slot connected bilaterally to the needle and having a radial heel, the sub-needle being oscillatable on a radial plane of the needle cylinder, sub-needle actuation cams, for producing movement of the sub-needle along the axial slot to actuate the overlying needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Santoni S.p.A.
    Inventors: Ettore Lonati, Fausto Lonati, Tiberio Lonati
  • Patent number: 7392670
    Abstract: First and second grippers are moveable in the longitudinal direction along needle beds of the weft knitting machine and in a direction that is closer to and away from a needle bed gap of the needle beds, switchable between a state of not holding a yarn and a state of holding the yarn, and moveable independently of each other. A cutter for cutting the yarn is provided on the first gripper. A control section controls the movements and the switching of the states of the first and second grippers, and the cutter so that in a state where the yarn is held by the first gripper and the second gripper, the held yarn is cut with the cutter. The end yarns generated by cutting the yarn with the cutter are not left in cut state, but treated by the first gripper and the second gripper independently of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Shima Seiki Manufacturing Limited
    Inventor: Hiroshi Maeda
  • Patent number: 7392671
    Abstract: A brake hub assembly for a washing machine transmission includes an input shaft, a brake hub, and a deformable isolator insert positioned between the shaft and the hub. The insert includes a plurality of substantially flat legs extending partially into an opening in the brake hub. The legs are deformed by the input shaft when the shaft is positioned within the brake hub. The legs of the isolator insert separate the hub and the shaft and prevent them from rattling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eddie Woodrow Dooley, Mahmoud Fariz Ismail