Patents Issued in July 22, 2008
  • Patent number: 7401647
    Abstract: Casing or other well tubulars that have failed are repaired in a manner that doesn't reduce the final inside diameter and doesn't further propagate the failure. The tubular needing repair is first expanded on at least one zone above and below the damaged area. This expansion in an undamaged area arrests failure propagation when the damaged area is then expanded. After the damaged area is expanded, the patch coupled preferably with exterior seals is positioned in the expanded zone of the damaged tubular and expanded. The procedure can also be accomplished in a single trip into the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Perry D. Baycroft, Elmer R. Peterson, Steve Rosenblatt
  • Patent number: 7401648
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for drilling a well bore, placing a liner, cementing and perforating the liner, and injecting or producing fluid, sand-free, through the perforations. The liner has a plurality of outwardly extendable elements for perforation and sand control. The tool also can have a drilling apparatus, a cementing apparatus, a steering apparatus and a formation evaluation apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Bennett Richard
  • Patent number: 7401650
    Abstract: Radially expanding a tubular such as a liner or casing, especially in a downward direction. The apparatus includes at least one driver device such as a piston that is typically fluid-actuated, and an expander device is attached to the or each driver device. Actuation of the or each driver device causes movement of the expander device to expand the tubular. One or more anchoring devices, which may be radially offset, are used to substantially prevent the tubular from moving during expansion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: E2 Tech Limited
    Inventor: Alan MacKenzie
  • Patent number: 7401651
    Abstract: A method for performing a service operation within a wellbore extending into a formation comprises sealing a first length of the wellbore to define a first isolated formation zone, flowing a pressurized fluid through a tubular string into the first isolated formation zone, and unsealing the first length of the wellbore without venting the pressurized fluid from the tubular string or awaiting depressurization of the first isolated formation zone. An assembly connected to a tubular string for performing a service operation in a wellbore comprises a mandrel with a flowbore in fluid communication with the tubular string, an upper sealing device, a lower sealing device, a selectively operable valve that enables or prevents fluid communication between the flowbore and the wellbore, and a selectively closeable bypass flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventor: Piro Shkurti
  • Patent number: 7401652
    Abstract: A method is shown for fracturing a subterranean formation from a deviated well bore. A plurality of spaced fracture initiation points are created in the well bore. Hydraulic pressure is applied to all of the sets of perforations at the fracture initiation points to extend a plurality of spaced fractures in the formation in directions substantially perpendicular to the deviated well bore direction. The same perforated interval in the wellbore is shot two or more times, using a conventional perforating gun in order to achieve a desired hole count over a shorter distance. The perforating technique is combined with a pumping protocol which better insures that the fracturing fluid being pumped flows more evenly through each set of perforations upon the application of hydraulic pressure rather than the majority of the fluid entering only the first perforated interval of the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Inventor: H. Lee Matthews
  • Patent number: 7401653
    Abstract: Substances to stimulate the extraction of crude oil and a method, of processing them: This invention is about substances to stimulate the extraction of crude oils, especially the ponderous and paraffin one, not clogging the route and the abutting deposits of the oil derrick by changing the deposit's reology and also about solubility of the aggregates which were made from paraffin resins on the oil derrick's circulation route, using a similar chemical vector to the prodrugs from the medicine industry. The substance to stimulate the extraction of crude oil by increasing the fluidization characterized by the fact that 90% from the volume is made by mixing three fractions oil types from the distilled mineral coal: ?20-30% phenol oil (fraction distilled from 170-190° C.); ?20-40% absorption oil (fraction distilled from 250-270° C.); ?20-40% polymerized oil (fraction distilled from 320-350° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Inventors: Nicolae Slemcu, Mircea Ioan Razvan Vasiliu, Cristian Dragos Toanchina
  • Patent number: 7401654
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for testing a blowout preventer (BOP) by: using a drillpipe to install a test plug into one end of the throughbore of a (BOP); using a valve in the BOP to isolate the opposite end of the throughbore of the BOP, using piping to connect the output of a cementing unit to the throughbore of the BOP; using the cementing unit to increase the pressure in the throughbore of the BOP to a predetermined level; displaying the pressure in the piping as a function of time; and displaying the pressure in the piping as a function of time for the same blowout preventer system at an earlier time when leakage was deemed to be within predetermined acceptable limits. The pressure decline caused by a leak can be detected reliably and efficiently with high-resolution pressure data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventor: Charles M. Franklin
  • Patent number: 7401655
    Abstract: A method for producing gas from a well with low pressure involves running a bottom hole pressure test to graph a P-Q curve. The operator computes a frictional pressure drop due to friction of the gas flowing through the production tubing to the surface. A packer is set above perforations in the well. A screw pump is selected that has a capacity equal to the sum of the frictional pressure drop plus a desired wellhead pressure. The screw pump has a flow rate capacity determined from the P-Q curve. The operator may vary the frequency of a downhole motor to achieve the desired wellhead pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Joseph E. Vandevier, John L. Bearden
  • Patent number: 7401656
    Abstract: A rig (10) for selectively inserting coiled tubing or threaded tubulars into a well includes a mast (14) extending upward from a mast carrier (12), and a coiled tubing injector (16) and a coiled tubing reel (26) supported on a coiled tubing carrier (28) separate from the mast carrier. The mast (14) may be pivotal on the mast carrier to attach the coiled tubing injector 16 to the mast while the injector is supported on the coiled tubing carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Xtreme Coil Drilling Corp.
    Inventors: Thomas D. Wood, Richard D. Havinga
  • Patent number: 7401657
    Abstract: A ground scraper designed to be pulled by a tractor or the like includes a pair of parallel frame rails with a scraper blade between them and perpendicular to them. The scraper blade can lowered to a preferred depth of scraping and can be raised above the bottom of the frame for towing. Dual-wheeled trucks on the rear of the frame can be raised off the ground to allow the frame to contact the ground for scraping and can be lowered into contact with the ground, also raising the frame off the ground, for towing on roads or the like. The rear of a tongue can be raised relative to the front of the tongue to pick up the front of the ground scraper frame for transporting the ground scraper and then the rear of the tongue can be lowered relative to the front of the tongue, allowing the frame to contact the ground. The exact angle of the tongue can float up and down in order to allow towing on uneven terrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Inventor: Charles A. Huber
  • Patent number: 7401658
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a blade preferable for being mounted on various kinds of work machines, particularly work machines for digging, carrying of soil and leveling, in which increase in a quantity of soil per tractional force is achieved with a simple structure to reduce consumption horsepower and increase fuel consumption efficiency thereby leading to low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihisa Matsumoto, Masatake Tamaru
  • Patent number: 7401659
    Abstract: A positioning structure of the transmission device of a screw fastening apparatus is disclosed. The transmission device includes a stopping block, gear body and a braking body. An elastic rim is positioned between the lateral side of the stopping block and the inner face of a mobile seat. The gear body is H-shaped structure and one lateral side is provided with a plurality of slanting holes for corresponding protruded blocks, and the other lateral side is provided with a plurality of engaging holes. One side of the seat plate of the braking body is protruded with a shaft for mounting with the gear body, and the stopping block and the elastic rim are mounted to the hole on the mobile seat, and the seat plate is provided with a plurality of engaging blocks to engage with the engaging holes of the gear body. The other lateral side of the seat plate corresponding to the center of the shaft is a slot to accommodate a spring urging a square-shaped board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Mobiletron Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming-Chieh Hsu
  • Patent number: 7401660
    Abstract: A latch mechanism for a power tool, such as a hedge trimmer, having a housing accommodating a motor and a handle assembly adapted to pivot relative to the housing in a plurality of positions. The latch mechanism includes a lever carrying a first and second retaining member that moves into and out of engagement with the handle assembly for locking and unlocking the handle assembly relative to the housing. The retaining members are biased towards their engaging conditions by a spring. An interlock member on lever cooperates with an arm member to prevent disengagement of the first and second retaining members from the handle assembly when the motor is actuated, and for preventing actuation of the motor when the first or second retaining member is in a retracted condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Stones
  • Patent number: 7401661
    Abstract: A vibration reduction and lubricating mechanism for a powered hammer includes a power driven piston in a cylinder that reciprocatingly drives a ram, which repetitively strikes a beat piece, which repetitively strikes a tool received in a tool holder. The vibration reduction and lubricating mechanism includes a first chamber defined in a housing of the powered hammer. A second chamber is defined within an end portion of the cylinder facing the beat piece, forward of the ram. A passageway is in communication with the first and second chambers. A counter mass is mounted for oscillating movement within the first chamber. When the hammer is operated, the counter mass is caused to oscillate to counteract vibration in the housing and to cause lubrication fluid to move between the first and second chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Ulrich Berghauser, Thomas Stanke
  • Patent number: 7401662
    Abstract: A powered hand tool comprising a pneumatic motor including a cylinder, a main body formed as a hollow tube member, a main body rear end being formed with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the main body being axially disposed for engagement with the pneumatic motor, a main body front end with an interior surface fitted for engagement with a lock nut, the pneumatic motor having a rotary shaft axially extending out of the main body front end wherein the diameter of the pneumatic motor is smaller than the diameter of the hollow tube member, an internal isolation layer composed of a vibration isolation material placed in the hollow tube member so that the vibration isolation material is engaged with and adjacent the ends of the hollow tube member and the pneumatic motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Honsa Ergonomic Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas W. Honsa
  • Patent number: 7401663
    Abstract: An electric motor driven hand-held tool, such as a drilling, hammering or screw driving tool having a tool housing within which is located an integrated switch unit (6). The switch unit (6) includes an electronic motor control unit (8), a first actuator which is actuated by a manually operable power member (4) and to which the control unit is responsive to power the motor and a second actuator (10) which is actuated by a manually operable forward/reverse member (14) and to which the control unit is responsive to drive the motor in a selected forward or reverse direction. The forward/reverse member (14) is located remotely from the switch unit (6) on a portion of the tool housing which can be seen by a user of the tool during normal operation of the tool. To facilitate this a linkage arrangement (16) is provided for actuating the second actuator (10) in response to a manual actuation of the forward/reverse member (14). The linkage (16) is pivotally mounted on a closed end of a jam pot motor casing (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Craven, Rainer Herting, Michael Stirm, Michael Kunz
  • Patent number: 7401664
    Abstract: A top drive system for wellbore operations, the top drive system including motor apparatus, a main shaft driven by the motor apparatus, the main shaft having a top end and a bottom end, a quill connected to the main shaft, and a gear system interconnected with the quill and the motor apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Varco I/P
    Inventors: Lawrence E. Wells, Preston Fox, Cliff Swiontek, Svein Stubstad
  • Patent number: 7401665
    Abstract: A wireline drill train is used to drill an elongated, small diameter, lateral branch borehole from near the base of a main well. The drill train, includes a drill module, a first self-propelled thrust module coupled to the drill module, and a second self-propelled thrust module pivotally coupled to the first self-propelled thrust module. Each thrust module includes at least two extendible thrusters. Each extendible thruster includes a six-bar mechanism and a traction tread. The drill train further includes a first articulated linkage linking the first self-propelled thrust module to the drill module, and a second articulated linkage linking the second thrust module to the first thrust module. The second articulated linkage includes a thrust-transmission bar and three retractable stiffener bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Julio C. Guerrero, Demos Pafitis, Alex Arzoumanidis
  • Patent number: 7401666
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a drilling tool includes a tubular body defining a longitudinal axial cavity extending therethrough and defining at least one cutter element recess. The drilling tool also includes a cutter element at least partially disposed within the at least one cutter element recess and includes at least first and second cutting arms at least substantially disposed within the cutter element recess in a retracted position. The first and second cutting arms are operable to move from the retracted position to an extended position in which the first and second cutting arms extend at least partially beyond a periphery of the tubular body. The first and second cutting arms and the tubular body enclose a space when the first and second cutting arms are in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Security DBS NV/SA
    Inventors: Philippe Fanuel, Jean-Pierre Lassoie, Olivier Mageren, Luis Quintana, Erik Stein Moi, Erik Dithmar
  • Patent number: 7401667
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-purpose drilling tool with a boring head, a drill twist connected thereto and a downstream clamping shank, a cutting element (1) being provided on the working side of the boring head. The cutting element (1) has a face (9, 24) with a rake angle (?) having a value of ??0° b, the cutting element (1) having a flank (10, 13) with a lip clearance angle (?) having a value of 5°???15° and, in particular, ??10°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Duscha, August Haussmann
  • Patent number: 7401668
    Abstract: A roller cone drill bit is disclosed which includes a bit body adapted to be coupled to a drill string. A bearing journal depends from the bit body. A single roller cone is rotatably attached to the bearing journal. The roller cone has a plurality of inserts disposed at selected positions about the cone. The journal defines a rotation angle with respect to an axis of rotation of the bit such that the roller cone includes a wall contact zone and a bottom contact zone. At least one of the inserts disposed in the wall contact zone has an extension portion terminating in a substantially planar upper surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: George Bodo Witman, Peter Wilson, Scott D. McDonough, Michael A. Siracki
  • Patent number: 7401669
    Abstract: An electric power device for a vehicle has a case that is divided into a first case and a second case. The first case and second case are coupled so as to be separable from each other by the shock of a crash. In the power device, furthermore, a part of the first case and the second case, or a coupling member coupling the first case to the second case, is laminated, and a shock breakage pin to be broken by a predetermined shock penetrates through a laminated portion to couple the first case to the second case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Fujii, Tatsuhito Horiuchi, Hideo Shimizu, Wataru Okada
  • Patent number: 7401670
    Abstract: To provide a drainage structure for a fuel cell electric vehicle wherein gas exhausted from a fuel cell is exhausted into the air via a muffler and generated water from the fuel cell can be moderately exhausted. In a drainage structure is provided for a fuel cell electric vehicle that includes a fuel cell for generating electric power by reacting hydrogen and oxygen, a hydrogen cylinder for supplying gaseous hydrogen to the fuel cell, a dilution box for storing gas exhausted from the fuel cell and generated water, a drainage pipe for directing water to the dilution box and a scupper provided on the drainage pipe and open toward the side of the body. A control valve that is opened or closed at predetermined times is arranged in connection with the drainage pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Horii, Junya Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7401672
    Abstract: A radiator mounting system for a skid steer vehicle includes an air box with a front wall having an opening sized to receive engine fan blades, an oil cooler disposed in the air box, a radiator; and a radiator frame supporting the radiator that is hingeably coupled to the air box. The radiator has plastic tanks and an aluminum core and the frame extends around the periphery of the radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Robert D. Kurtz, Jr., Braden G. Cammauf, Kevin W. Ward
  • Patent number: 7401673
    Abstract: A bulldozer is provided with a boat shaped main frame and a substantially U-shaped gate frame as a frame structure that mounts a cap having a rollover protection structure (ROPS) and forms the skeleton of the bulldozer. The gate frame is installed on the upper portion of the main frame, has a pair of left and right columns that are disposed along a substantially vertical direction, and has a beam that connects the upper ends thereof. Mount units for mounting the cab and stopper units for firmly grasping the cab are arranged on the upper surface of the beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumasa Fukazawa, Masayuki Mukaino, David Andrews
  • Patent number: 7401674
    Abstract: A snowmobile includes a seat having a rear end with a rear end face. The rear end face is inclined upwardly and rearwardly from an upper surface of a tunnel of a frame so that a cavity is defined beneath the seat between the inclined rear end face of the seat and the upper surface of the tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Norman O Berg, Keith W Peppel, Richard H Bates, Jr., Edwin M Monsrud
  • Patent number: 7401675
    Abstract: A vehicle body includes a front frame, a rear frame, a control unit, a fixing screw, a battery, and a locking unit. Thus, the rear frame is combined with and detached from the front frame easily and rapidly, thereby facilitating a user assembling and disassembling the vehicle body. In addition, the fixing hooks of the front frame are snapped onto the fixing stubs of the rear frame, and the locking hook of the control unit on the support post of the rear frame is locked in the locking hole of the front frame, thereby forming a three-point support structure by the fixing hooks, the fixing stubs and the locking hook, so that the rear frame is combined with the front frame rigidly and stably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Chienti Enteprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Feng-Chu Chang
  • Patent number: 7401676
    Abstract: A mounting portion structure of a propeller shaft center bearing in a Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) vehicle where the engine power is transmitted to the rear wheels by using the propeller shaft includes a tunnel formed at the center of a center floor panel along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. A mounting bracket is equipped at the tunnel and is mounted with the center bearing. A pocket groove is formed at the mounting bracket for rendering a closed box with the tunnel, and a pipe nut is equipped at the pocket groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Ki-Chang Kim
  • Patent number: 7401677
    Abstract: A steering system (10) for a vehicle (16) comprises a housing (20) having first and second end portions (32, 34) and an intermediate portion (50). A steering member (66) is supported for axial movement in the housing (20). A piston (100) fixed for movement with the steering member (66) has opposite end faces (104, 106). First and second springs (130, 132) engage the end faces (104, 106) of the piston (100) and bias the piston and thereby the steering member (66) in first and second axial directions toward a straight ahead position. Steering linkage (124, 126) connected with the piston member (100) transmits movement of the piston member (100) to steerable wheels (12, 14) of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin E. Boyle, Terry D. Carson, Mark A. Cartwright, Stephen J. Green, Kurt Achenbach
  • Patent number: 7401678
    Abstract: A curved leaf spring which is a first urging member surrounds an outer wheel of a second bearing, and urges, through the second bearing, a second end of a worm shaft in a direction in which the distance between the center of the worm shaft and the center of a worm wheel is shortened. A second urging member includes an annular support member received by an end surface of the outer wheel and a plurality of elastic pins extending in a direction in parallel with the axial direction of a support member. The elastic pins have fixed ends fixed to the support member and free ends that come into elastic contact with an end wall of a housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Jtekt Corporation
    Inventors: Susumu Yuasa, Yoshiaki Takagi, Etsuro Kitami
  • Patent number: 7401679
    Abstract: The present invention relates to mounting of a sound tube inside a shell of a hearing aid. The invention provides a sound tube adaptor, a tool for insertion of the adaptor and a method for attaching a sound tube to a shell, the sound tube adaptor facilitating attachment of a sound tube to a shell, having a first end for attachment to one end of a sound tube and a second end that is adapted to be received inside the shell in a hole in the shell in such a way that the adaptor and the sound tube extend inside the shell from the hole towards the entrance of an ear canal of a user when the shell is positioned in the ear canal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: GN Resound A/S
    Inventor: Klaus Sommer Ipsen
  • Patent number: 7401680
    Abstract: A hearing protection earplug having a shell worn at least in part in a user's ear canal, an active unit having an acoustic output transducer and an arrangement for producing output audio signals for said output transducer, and a detachable connection of the active unit to said shell, the shell including a sound passage extending between an outer opening of said shell and an inner sound output opening of said shell and having a valve mechanism which is moveable, upon connecting said active unit to said shell, from a closed position acoustically closing said sound passage into an open position acoustically opening said sound passage, said valve mechanism being biased towards said closed position when said active unit is removed from said shell, and wherein said output transducer is acoustically connected to said sound output opening via said sound passage when said active unit is connected to said shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Phonak AG
    Inventor: Roland Kurth
  • Patent number: 7401681
    Abstract: An auxiliary mounting device 10 for an in ceiling speaker system comprises a ceiling reinforcing element 11 and an elongate element 21. The ceiling reinforcing element 11 includes a flat plate portion 12 and a vertical portion 14 provided to extend vertically from the flat plate portion, 12. The vertical portion 14 is capable of being in a slidable state in which the vertical portion 14 is vertically slidable and in a fixed state in which the vertical portion 14 is fixed so as not to vertically displace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: TOA Corportion
    Inventors: Ken Iwayama, Takashi Nishino
  • Patent number: 7401682
    Abstract: An acoustic liner 20 includes a remote panel 26, a perforated proximate panel 22 transversely spaced from the remote panel and one or more partitions 32 spanning across the space between the panels. At least one baffle 44 cooperates with the partitions to define a resonator chamber 34b and an associated neck 56 for establishing communication between the resonator chamber and a fluid stream G flowing past the proximate panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: William Proscia, Christopher D. Jones
  • Patent number: 7401683
    Abstract: The present invention automatically detects the onset of instability of an elevator active ride control system and activates a system shutdown if it occurs. As an elevator car is guided along rails by guide elements, a plurality of sensors mounted on the car measure vibration transverse to a direction of travel. The signals from the sensors are input to a controller which in turn produces a controller output signal. This signal is used to energize an actuator positioned between the car and the guide elements and thereby dampen the vibrations acting on the car. As instability sets in, a controller signal increases. The controller signal is monitored by a comparator such that the actuator is deactivated if the controller signal becomes greater than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Josef Husmann, Elena Cortona
  • Patent number: 7401684
    Abstract: An automatic announcing device for an elevator which enables fine voice volume adjustment according to the environment of use in which a guidance announcement is made and which allows an easy and efficient voice volume adjustment operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masao Fujita
  • Patent number: 7401685
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method and a system for ensuring the operation of the safety circuit of an elevator or escalator, said safety circuit containing safety contacts (10, 12, 14) connected in series with a contactor (16). In the method, the largest bypass current coming to the contactor in a fault situation is defined, a testing device (202) is connected in series with the safety circuit, said testing device containing at least one resistor (26), which is used to produce a desired test current that is larger than the largest bypass current, and the neutral point (18) of the safety circuit is shifted if the contactor (16) remains energized by the aforesaid test current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Nils-Robert Roschier, Olof Ahlskog
  • Patent number: 7401686
    Abstract: A device in a vehicle brake arrangement for determining the applied brake force comprises an enclosed elastically deformable medium (20), on which the reaction force from the brake force is to act. An axially movable push rod (22) is in contact with the medium (20) for transmitting a force therefrom, and sensor means (26; 28) are provided for sensing the force in the push rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Haldex Brake Products AB
    Inventor: Lars Severinsson
  • Patent number: 7401687
    Abstract: A dual clutch engine coupling damper includes a slipping ECCC clutch in series with a plurality of damper springs, and a bypass clutch in parallel with the damper springs. The ECCC is adapted for use when the vehicle engine is running and the bypass clutch is adapted for use when the vehicle engine is being started. The dual clutch engine coupling damper incorporates a single pressure plate design adapted to actuate both the ECCC clutch and the bypass clutch. The single pressure plate design is compact and minimizes axial space requirements for the apparatus. Additionally, the components of the present invention are primarily stamped parts which may be produced in an inexpensive and efficient manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: John C. Schultz
  • Patent number: 7401688
    Abstract: A torque converter 1 with a lock-up device 4 is provided to improve damping performance while suppressing an increase in the axial dimension. A torus 3 of the torque converter 1 includes an impeller 10, a turbine 11 and stator 12. The torus 3 has a shape such that a radial direction dimension is longer than an axial dimension thereof, and a longitudinal axis t1 is inclined away from a straight line P perpendicular to a rotational axis such that a radially outer portion of the longitudinal axis t1 is closer toward the engine than a radially inner portion thereof. The torsion springs 52 are located adjacent on the front cover side of a radially inner portion of the torus 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Exedy Corporation
    Inventors: Takao Fukunaga, Tomohiro Tasaka
  • Patent number: 7401689
    Abstract: A hydraulic system for providing pressure and volume flows in a double-clutch transmission. A first clutch and a second clutch are preceded by at least one changeover valve which, in a first state, guides lubricating flow to the first clutch and cooling flow to the second clutch, and, in a second state, guides lubricating flow to the second clutch and cooling flow to the first clutch. The cooling flow is preferably variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Getrag Ford Transmissions GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Hegerath, Martin Leibbrandt, Reinhard Moehlmann, Ulrich Eggert
  • Patent number: 7401690
    Abstract: The invention seeks to minimize the vibration and noise in a clutch plate system, by damping either or both the clutch plate and pressure plate with the use of various engineered viscoelastic materials. A clutch plate assembly is provided, comprising a plate body having a first surface and a second surface. In a first embodiment of the invention, the plate body is formed from a laminated sheet structure including two layers of steel having a viscoelastic core between the two layers and coextensive with the two layers. The viscoelastic core may be tunable to damp at different temperatures. In a second embodiment of the invention, an engineered viscoelastic material is used as a layer of bonding material for the first and second surface of the plate body. A method for damping a clutch plate assembly is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Material Sciences Corporation
    Inventors: Jeff Lazowski, Eric Denys
  • Patent number: 7401691
    Abstract: A mountainous or valley-shaped curved part 13 is provided in a part of a footstep guide rail 3 for guiding a movement of footstep rollers 5 linked by a footstep chain 7, the part being positioned in the vicinity of a drive sprocket 9. Consequently, owing to meshing of the footstep rollers 5 with the drive sprocket 9, an unevenness in velocity of the footstep rollers 5 is absorbed by the curved part 13, so that a moving velocity of the footstep rollers 5 moving on the downstream of the curved part 13 is maintained constantly, suppressing vibrating of the footsteps 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Toshiba Elevator Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Ishikawa, Tadashi Munakata, Yoshio Ogimura, Nobuhiko Teshima, Shigeo Nakagaki, Hitoshi Kawamoto, Kenichi Fujii, Tomohiko Matsuura, Yoshifumi Ikeda, Kazuhisa Hara, Takayuki Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7401692
    Abstract: A device for restraining the rise of a step roller of an escalator prevents the step roller from colliding with rails of a track in turn around areas at the top and bottom of the escalator. The device comprises: a supplementary roller, which is disposed between an outer rail and an inner rail of the track; an elastic member for biasing the supplementary roller toward the outer rail to roll thereon; and a supporting block to which the elastic member is fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventor: Jeong Rak Kim
  • Patent number: 7401693
    Abstract: A passenger conveyor including an endless conveyor band having a plurality of tread elements connected to and driven by a drive chain at each lateral edge thereof and a moving flange moving in use together with the conveyor band. The moving flange includes a plurality of discs attached to the tread elements and a plurality of bridges each attached between two consecutive discs. At least one bridge is attached to the drive chain by a pin and socket connection and a resilient locking element is arranged so as to bias in use the bridge against the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Andreas Stuffel, Georg Warmbold
  • Patent number: 7401694
    Abstract: A loading system for loading dough balls onto a moving upper surface of a conveyor belt includes a transport mechanism arranged to receive dough balls in a sequential stream and to deliver the dough balls to the moving conveyor belt at a speed equal to a speed of the upper surface of the conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: AM Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: James L. Schultz
  • Patent number: 7401695
    Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus, systems, and related methods for slowing the speed of components in transport systems. The apparatus includes a component track extending between input and output ends and sized for receiving the components, a speed control device mounted adjacent the component track and comprising a projection configured to move within the component track, a sensor positioned upstream of the input end of the component track to detect the speed of the components approaching the component track, and a controller in communication with the sensor and configured to adjust the speed of the projection within the component track based on the speed of the components approaching the component track, to decelerate the components within the component track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventor: Dikrun DerMarderosian
  • Patent number: 7401696
    Abstract: The present invention is featured in that a plurality of transfer pieces composing a transfer conveyer are connected to be able to be piled vertically spirally, the transfer pieces having pairs of spacer members each of which is formed to have an inside-part and an outside part continuing to the inside-part and offsetting outward in lateral direction perpendicular to the transfer direction, an engaging part having a contact face extending in the direction parallel to the transfer direction being formed at the upper and lower end part of the outside-part of the spacer member; the transfer pieces can be piled such that vertically adjacent spacer members contact to each other with the contact face of the upper and lower engaging part; an inside chain and an outside chain are provided for allowing the inner side and outer side spacer members to ride on respective chain to advance the transfer conveyer; and the inside chain and outside chain are driven by a single motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Mayekawa Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Miyanishi, Akira Sekino, Hidenori Ishizaki
  • Patent number: 7401697
    Abstract: A bar of soap having, wrapped laterally of the bar, around at least a longitudinal extent of the bar, a stiffening member comprising a stiff sheet material having at least respective outer surfaces thereof each provided by a plastics material. At least a portion of the stiffening member is transparent to allow the soap to be viewed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventor: David Moss
  • Patent number: 7401698
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed to a tool accessory case having first and second housing members pivotally connected to each other along a hinge portion and forming a tool holding cavity. A latch is connected to the first housing member and is moveable between latched and unlatched positions. The latch has a gripping structure configured for gripping the second housing member, and at least one flexure member configured to contact the first housing member and bias the latch toward the latched position. The latch also has at least one fixed hinge guide for pivoting with respect to the first housing member and with respect to the flexure member. The tool accessory case also has a receiving structure disposed on the second housing member and is configured to receive the gripping structure of the latch when the latch is in the latched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hagen W. Dost, Creighton Wade Nachtigall