Patents Issued in December 1, 2009
  • Patent number: 7624671
    Abstract: A hydraulic actuator for a hydraulic servomotor (4) is disclosed. The hydraulic servomotor (4) is of a kind having at least one defined end position, and has a first chamber (5) and a second chamber (6) associated therewith. The actuator is connected to a fluid source (2) and a fluid drain (3). The actuator comprises a first valve (7) fluidly connected between the fluid source (2) and the first chamber (5), a second valve (8) fluidly connected between the first chamber (5) and the fluid drain (3), and a third valve (9) fluidly connected between the fluid source (2) and the second chamber (6). The actuator further comprises a flow channel (10, 17), preferably comprising a flow restrictor (12, 18), in fluid communication with the second chamber (6). The valves (7, 8, 9) are such that, in the case of a power cut off, they will prevent a fluid flow out of the first chamber (5), and a fluid flow out of the second chamber (6) takes place via the flow channel (10, 17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Sauer-Danfoss Aps
    Inventors: Brian Nielsen, Ole Ploug, Chad M. Patterson
  • Patent number: 7624672
    Abstract: In order to decrease internal friction of a heat engine that converts a reciprocating motion of a piston into a rotational motion, a piston apparatus (1) forms an air bearing between a crankshaft (30) and a bearing unit (9B) provided in a crankcase (9) and between an eccentric portion (30c) of the crankshaft (30) and a large end portion (201) of a connecting rod (20) by feeding a gas therebetween from a crank-side hollow portion (31) of the crankshaft (30). The piston apparatus 1 also forms an air bearing between a piston pin (40) and a small end portion (202) of the connecting rod (20) by feeding a gas therebetween from a piston pin-side hollow portion (43) in the piston pin (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisaku Sawada, Shinichi Mitani, Hiroshi Yaguchi
  • Patent number: 7624673
    Abstract: Single-dose capsule comprising a sealed moulded-plastic casing (10) having an end wall (16) provided with orifices (24) and a bottom sealing foil (17). A chamber (30) is formed between the said foil (17) and the bottom surface (18) of the perforated end wall (16) and is filled with the beverage percolated through the said orifices (24) before it is discharged directly towards an underlying container through the spout created at the moment of opening or tearing of the said bottom foil (17), immediately before the start of percolation. USE: preparation of a percolated of the beverage. ADVANTAGES: high quality of the beverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Hausbrandt Trieste 1892 SPA
    Inventor: Martino Zanetti
  • Patent number: 7624674
    Abstract: A household appliance for cooking under pressure, the appliance being provided with bistable calibrated leakage means suitable for taking up an open position in which the pressure inside the appliance is allowed to increase continuously to above a determined pressure P0, while also allowing air to be bled from the appliance, and a closed position corresponding to an absence of leakage of air to the outside, the open position being sustained until a predetermined pressure value P1 is reached. Rather than being sustained until the predetermined pressure P1 is reached, the open position is sustained for one of a predetermined time interval ?t after P0 is reached, and until a predetermined temperature value T1 is reached. The appliance is provided with at least one closure/opening safety means whose position is sensitive to pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventors: Eric Chameroy, Pascal Roland Clément Murat
  • Patent number: 7624675
    Abstract: A barbeque pit smoker is provided, the smoker including a cooking pit having a first side, a second side, and a front side; an access door disposed on the front side of the cooking pit; a firebox disposed adjacent to the first side of the firebox; an adjustable pit entry port in communication between the cooking pit and the firebox; an upright chimney disposed adjacent to a second side of the cooking pit, the upright chimney in communication with the cooking pit; a first end of a shaft disposed on the adjustable entry port, whereby communication between the cooking pit and the firebox may be regulated; and a first rotating handle disposed on a second end of the shaft, the rotating handle disposed proximate to the access door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Inventor: Jose D. Galdamez
  • Patent number: 7624676
    Abstract: Frying ingredients are fry-cooked within a frying oil layer used for fry cooking, under the conditions meeting a relationship of HA/SA1/2=0.6 to 3.5, where SA denotes the surface area of the frying oil layer and HA denotes the height from the bottom to the surface of the frying oil layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Nisshin Oillo Group, Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Nishida, Akira Okumura, Toshiyuki Inui
  • Patent number: 7624677
    Abstract: An apparatus for preparing curd and feeding same to a curd processing apparatus, comprising a number of curd tanks and a pipe system connected with the curd tanks and provided with pumping means to feed curd from the curd tanks to the curd processing apparatus, wherein at least a number of curd tanks are provided with a first outlet and a second outlet, the pumping means being connected with the two outlets of said curd tanks, such that a curd tank can be pumped out via both outlets simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holding & Finance S.A.
    Inventor: Steven Acreman
  • Patent number: 7624678
    Abstract: This invention reveals a crank roller paper cutting device, which comprises a base, a supporter, a handle part, a master roller, a slave roller, and a group of speed-reducing gears. Via the group of speed-reducing gears, handle part correlates to the master roller and slave roller at one terminal, both of the master roller and slave roller are captured by the open bores therewith on the supporter. While the other ends of master roller and slave roller are suspended in the air, where a removable positioning block is attached. Upon the above said positioning block, there are two open bores or blink holes in correspondence to the master roller and slave roller respectively. Around the master roller and slave roller are many removable regulating cylinders or one regulating cylinder in different thickness. This crank roller paper cutting device is reasonable in design, easy to use and safe in operation for a wide range of applications, particularly valuable for kindergarten enlightenment education.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Inventor: Yeqing Deng
  • Patent number: 7624679
    Abstract: An unloader for a cotton compacting structure such as a module builder, including loose cotton retaining apparatus configured and operable for retaining loose cotton carried from, and returning the loose cotton to, the compacting structure. Apparatus of the invention can include an array or arrays of individual upstanding filaments, or flaps, located on a cotton conveying surface of a door arrangement or ramp extending from the compacting structure and over which a mass of compacted cotton or module is unloaded. The apparatus is configured to allow passage of a mass or module of compacted cotton thereover, while preventing passage of at least a substantial portion of any loose cotton following the mass or module along the surface. The apparatus is also configured for returning the loose cotton to the compacting structure upon folding or closing of the door or ramp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Kevin S. Richman, Kenneth W. Brown, Frank C. Dupire, Jimmy Ray Hargett
  • Patent number: 7624680
    Abstract: This format adaptation sleeve for a rotary press comprises an outer surface. In the non-mounted state, the outer surface of the adaptation sleeve is frustoconical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Goss International Montataire SA
    Inventor: Jacques Metrope
  • Patent number: 7624681
    Abstract: A detonator assembly for initiating an explosive comprises a power source, an initiator, and a switch coupled between the power source and initiator. The switch has a trigger input responsive to a stimulus to activate the switch, where activation of the switch causes electrical energy to be provided to the initiator. The stimulus comprises at least one of a clock-based stimulus, a pressure stimulus, a light stimulus, an acoustic stimulus, and a vibration stimulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Goodman, Christian C. Spring
  • Patent number: 7624682
    Abstract: A kinetic energy rod warhead includes a projectile core which includes a plurality of individual projectiles, an explosive charge about the core, at least one detonator for the explosive charge, and an explosive sheet on each end of the projectile core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Richard M. Lloyd
  • Patent number: 7624683
    Abstract: A kinetic energy rod warhead bay configuration includes a plurality of bays. Each bay includes a plurality of rods, an explosive for deploying the rods, and a detonator for detonating the explosive. One bay is structured and arranged as a first bay. One bay is structured and arranged as a last bay with rods configured to have more drag than the rods of the first bay. At least one other bay is structured and arranged as an intermediate bay. The rods of the intermediate bay are configured to have more drag than the rods of the first bay but less drag than the rods of the last bay to space apart the rod sets of the bays upon deployment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Richard M. Lloyd
  • Patent number: 7624684
    Abstract: A cableway with suspended tram and remote bogie is disclosed. This includes a self-contained motor, traction and support sheaves with provision for adjusting the height of the tram below said cable for limiting vertical acceleration caused by travel along the cantenary curve of the cableway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Inventor: Richard David Morris
  • Patent number: 7624685
    Abstract: A guideway and chassis system of wheel-based, rail running vehicles includes a guideway system having substantially horizontal bases, two parallel rails, and mainly vertical guide rails extending along both sides of the rails, with mainly horizontal inward flanges in a vertical distance above the bases. The chassis includes a set of main wheels arranged to run on the rails and a set of guide wheels arranged to bear against the guide rails to ensure the lateral position of the vehicle. The flanges are localized closely above the top side of the guide wheels to restrict the ability of the guide wheels to upward vertical movement. The width of the flanges is sufficiently small so as to not interfere with the main wheels, thereby allowing the top of the main wheels to extend above the horizontal flanges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Posco Group Ltd.
    Inventors: Ingemar Andreasson, Andrew Howarth, Hanyoung Choi, Christin Sangolt
  • Patent number: 7624686
    Abstract: A magnetic levitation bogie apparatus includes an upper inner circular ring permanent magnet mounted onto a bottom surface of a chassis; a bogie located below the chassis; a lower inner circular ring permanent magnet mounted onto an upper surface of the bogie, and aligned substantially with and spaced from the upper inner permanent magnet at a predetermined distance; an upper sleeve being mounted onto the chassis and coaxial with the upper inner permanent magnet; a lower sleeve being mounted onto the bogie and coaxial with the lower inner permanent magnet; and a rotation shaft coupled between the upper sleeve and the lower sleeve. The bogie apparatus of the present invention is simple in structure, long in life duration, low in cost, superior in vibration-damping effect, thus achieving good comfortableness of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Inventor: Lingqun Li
  • Patent number: 7624687
    Abstract: A truck apparatus for a railway car includes a pair of wheel sets each having a pair of wheels joined by an axle. A frame is provided for carrying one end of a railway car body and a system positions the frame in a pendulum fashion from each axle end in order to independently decouple, from each other, vertical, lateral and longitudinal forces applied to the frame by the wheel sets during operation of the railway car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Sharma & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Anand R. Vithani, David C. Brabb, Anand Prabhakaran, Som P. Singh
  • Patent number: 7624688
    Abstract: Shown is a pallet assembly having a lid and a pallet, either or both of which can include one or more cam lock assemblies. A sleeve can be placed between the lid and pallet with the lid and pallet cam lock assemblies engaging the sleeve to secure the pallet for shipping things. Alternatively, the sleeve can be folded and placed between the lid and pallet with the lid cam lock assemblies engaging the pallet to secure the pallet assembly for empty return and later reuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Universal Package System, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Jimmy D. Kulbeth, Raymond C. Niehaus, James Neil Davis
  • Patent number: 7624689
    Abstract: A twin sheet plastic pallet comprising an upper plastic sheet and a lower plastic sheet. The upper plastic sheet has a generally planar configuration and includes an upper face defining a platform surface for the pallet and an underface. The lower plastic sheet includes a generally planar main body portion and a plurality of spaced raised portions each including a top wall elevated above the level of the main body portion and fused to the underface of the upper sheet and a plurality of spaced upstanding legs connecting the top wall to the main body portion and defining fork lift passages for the pallet. The lower sheet further includes a plurality of upstanding pillar portions spaced about the periphery of the main body portion and the upper sheet further includes a plurality of downstanding pillar portions spaced about the periphery of the upper sheet main body portion and fused to respective upstanding pillar portions of the lower sheet to form spaced pillar structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Shuert Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Lyle H. Shuert
  • Patent number: 7624690
    Abstract: An inclined hearth combustor which generally includes a primary combustion chamber having a plurality of stepped hearths, a secondary combustion chamber in communication with the primary combustion chamber and a boiler having an inlet in communication with the secondary combustion chamber. The secondary combustion chamber includes a refractory-lined cyclone separator for removing fly ash from combustion gases exiting the primary combustion chamber and the boiler inlet is surrounded by the cyclone separator. The primary combustion chamber may further include an ash transfer ram movably disposed between two stepped hearths, wherein the ash transfer ram includes a top layer of refractory material extending rearwardly from a leading edge thereof. The ash transfer ram may further include a plurality of V-shaped wheels attached to a bottom surface thereof, a replaceable wear plate disposed on a side surface thereof and/or a wiper blade fixed on a forward face thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: eco/Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: E. Larry Beaumont, Edward P. Champagne, Joseph A. Giardina, Chester L. Halek, Joseph W. McCarthy, Kevin J. O'Rourke, E. Scott Porter, Mark N. Rice, Kevin G. Rousseau
  • Patent number: 7624691
    Abstract: An air nozzle has an attachment arrangement for solid fuel burners with fluidized beds. The air nozzle has a body having an inlet and an outlet defined therein. A pipe end is inserted into the inlet. The attachment arrangement secures the pipe end inside the body. The attachment arrangement has a first part engaging a through hole of the body and a second perpendicular part that engages a cavity of the pipe end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Metso Power AB
    Inventor: Lennart Nordh
  • Patent number: 7624692
    Abstract: A sand dispenser for a scarifier wherein the sand dispenser is mounted on the scarifier and comprises: a sand hopper having an outlet at a lower end of the hopper; a gate located below the outlet and moveable between an open position and a closed position for controlling the flow of sand through the hopper and into a distributor, the distributor including a row of distributing lines through which sand is directed to flow and enter grooves in the ground created by blades of the scarifier, wherein each distributing line is aligned with a groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Inventor: Graham Dryden
  • Patent number: 7624693
    Abstract: An embroidery sewing machine hooping device has an attachment bracket attached to a base formed to suit each size and shape of machine embroidery hoop. The base provides a stable platform while hooping material and is equipped with a non-skid or non-slip material limiting side-to-side slippage when hooping materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Inventor: David F. Fabec
  • Patent number: 7624694
    Abstract: A resilient device, such as a fender, includes a mounting portion connected to a resilient leaf spring portion. The leaf spring portion is designed to collapse and absorb a substantial amount of energy upon impact with another object while a free end of the leaf spring slides along a front side of the mounting portion. In a preferred embodiment, the leaf spring portion is extruded of a high-strength abrasion-resistant plastic material having a low coefficient of friction, such as ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). The leaf spring portion may include multiple access holes sized to admit a tool for installing or removing the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Inventor: Karl L. Aschenbach
  • Patent number: 7624695
    Abstract: The invention relates to a testing device for hull shells, wherein the test specimen is joined to a complementary structure with legs, having a U-shape in cross section, and at the ends of the legs there are provided lengthwise flanges in the lengthwise direction of the complementary structure with means of attaching the hull shell to the complementary structure and of applying and absorbing corrective forces, while at the borders of the complementary structure in the lengthwise direction there are provided transverse flanges for applying and absorbing of test forces in six degrees of freedom. The complementary structure (1) is formed as a soft box of composite materials and the U-shaped cross section of the complementary structure (1) consists of a horizontal straight segment (11) and two ellipsoidal segments (12) adjoining each side, forming the legs (3) of the U-shaped complementary structure (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: IMA Materialforschung und Anwendungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Götze, Mirko Sachse, Roald Best, Udo Berthold, Georg Grötzschel
  • Patent number: 7624696
    Abstract: A modular signaling system for a runway. The signaling system includes a plurality of attachable modules, each particular module from the plurality of modules including a signaling surface, an attachment to attach the particular module to another module from the plurality of modules, and a support connected to the signaling surface. The attachment is connected to the signaling surface and the support is supporting the particular module over the runway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Inventors: Normand Desourdis, Pierre Gervais
  • Patent number: 7624697
    Abstract: An improved traffic cone (FIG. 1) in which the base's front of the traffic cone (3) has a semicircle shape (4, 5, 6), that prevents liquid spillage from spreading from one are to another. The center of the semicircle base will vary in height and width depending on the size of the conical body. The larger the cone, the larger the base, width and height of the semicircle thus allowing the traffic cone's base to contain and prevent liquid spillage from spreading beyond the semicircle area by containing, holding and preventing the spreading of water or other liquid material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Inventor: John Louis Toles
  • Patent number: 7624698
    Abstract: A freeze indicator employs, as active indicator element, dispersion of solid particles in a liquid medium which can be water or aqueous and which coagulates to provide an irreversible appearance change when subject to freezing. The liquid dispersion can be contained in an indicator volume around which extends a vapor block layer. The vapor block layer can prevent loss of liquid vapor from the dispersion and consequent drying out and dysfunctionality of the freeze indicator. For containing an aqueous medium, bilayer and trilayer laminate materials can be used which have a low water vapor transmission rate. The active indicator element can be a dilute colloidal dispersion of a metal such as gold or silver or other inorganic pigment material in water or an aqueous medium. Some embodiments avoid use of dispersants and the like and employ an active indicator element consisting of inorganic pigment particles, water and optionally an ice nucleating agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Temptime Corporation
    Inventors: Dene H. Taylor, Thaddeus Prusik, Dawn E. Smith
  • Patent number: 7624699
    Abstract: The pointer illuminator includes: an optically transparent pointer member having a reflecting surface for a pointer, which surface reflects, light incident on a predetermined surface of incidence and guides the light to a tip of the pointer; a light source arranged around a drive shaft of the pointer member; and an optically transparent light-guiding member, which guides light from the light source to the surface of incidence and includes a first light-guiding reflecting surface provided on a face of the light-guiding member, an angle which the face forms with a center axis of the light source becoming smaller as the face leaves the light source so that the first light-guiding reflecting surface reflects the light from the light source to convert the light into approximately parallel light rays, whereby the light-guiding member guides the parallel light rays to the surface of incidence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Harada, Yoshiyuki Furuya
  • Patent number: 7624700
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method, composition and kit for preventing spoilage of feed in a bird feeder by use of a spoilage reducing composition that comprises an effective amount of a moisture absorbing material, an optional support material, and an optional functional additive that are formed into a shaped body that is combined with an bird feeder, bird feed and/or bird seed to effectively absorb water and water vapor thereby reducing spoilage of feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Inventor: Dennis B. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 7624701
    Abstract: A removable cap assembly having a cap with a curved side wall having an inner surface and an outer surface. A top portion extends from the side wall. A boss extends perpendicularly from the top portion in the shape of an inverted trapezoid, where the boss has a bottom and a top. A first circumferential rib extends perpendicularly from the top of the boss. A stopper is dimensioned to seal the opening, having an inverted trapezoidal shape complementary to the boss. The stopper is maintained in the cap by the inverted trapezoid shape of said boss. The stopper includes a disc shaped base, a cylindrical wall portion extending from the base, a first groove in the base surrounding the wall portion dimensioned to receive the bottom of the boss. An appliance member is adapted to be positioned within the hole and extending through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Ver Hage Enterprises
    Inventor: Richard P. Ver Hage
  • Patent number: 7624702
    Abstract: The automatic pet watering apparatus provides for very limited human intervention in the operation after installation. No power supply or animal training is needed. The saddle valve provides for supply hose attachment without need of plumbing tools or expertise. Essentially, the only component of the apparatus which may require adjustment or replacement is the inlet valve. The overflow hose provides a safety measure should the valve ever stick, allowing drainage to a chosen area. The semi-ellipsoid shaped bowl housing also has a cavity whereby mass may be added. Flexible supply hose, feed hoses, and overflow hose provide for convenient location of the apparatus components. More than one feed hose can be provided, and more than one bowl housing with bowl can be provided, allowing one reservoir to feed a plurality of bowls, negating added expense when more bowls are needed to either feed more animals or feed one animal in more than one location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Inventor: Paul L. Fritz
  • Patent number: 7624703
    Abstract: A method for reducing ammonia concentration in an aqueous medium caused by the presence of fish gill/urine discharge, fish faeces and uneaten organic fish-feed particulate matter in recirculating aquaculture tanks. Fish in fish tank water are remotely located or partially isolated from the fish tank water utilized by the sono-molecular-conversion apparatus. Transient cavitation-created, collapsing microsized bubbles generated in the fishless portion of the fish tank water completes ammonia nitrification, mineralization and denitrification therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Inventor: Robert Edward Vago
  • Patent number: 7624704
    Abstract: In a frame element for placement onto an aquarium container so as to extend around the top opening thereof, wherein the frame element includes a frame member of rectangular cross-section having at least one web which extends around the top edge area of the walls of the container so as to abut the top edges thereof, at least one transverse element extends between opposite areas of the frame member for retaining the opposite areas of the frame member and the side walls of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Juwel Aquarium GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Gerd Köhlmoos
  • Patent number: 7624705
    Abstract: A small animal habitat having a base and removable hood composed of a plurality of lune-shaped hood sections that are movable with respect to one another enabling them to be nested one above another so that the front and/or back of the hood may be opened. Hubs that connect the hood sections together and mount the hood to the base also define passages for the animal in and out of habitat and provide access to other habitat components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Rolf C. Hagen, Inc.
    Inventor: Robin Plante
  • Patent number: 7624706
    Abstract: An animal sorting paddle comprises a handle having a paddle head attached to a lower end thereof. The tip of the paddle head can be positioned adjacent a corner formed by the ground and by a substantially vertical wall of a pen, stall or chute when the user holds the handle at an upper end of the handle at an angle relative to the ground. The tip of the paddle head has a pointed, arrowhead shape so that the sides of the arrowhead shape are generally adjacent the ground and the wall of the pen, stall or chute when the tip of the paddle head is adjacent the corner. This pre-vents small animals from squeezing beneath the paddle head. The paddle head can be reversibly mounted to the handle to allow either the pointed, arrowhead shaped tip to be used or a flat, straight tip formed on the other end of the paddle head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Miller Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne A. Plekkenpol, Jerry J. Zien
  • Patent number: 7624707
    Abstract: An over fire air (OFA) port arrangement for a pulverized coal-fired boiler or furnace has at least one OFA port through each of the sidewalls for injecting OFA to increase residence time for each burner level. Plural OFA ports may be employed, staggered both vertically and horizontally to effectively deliver over fire air to the burner flames at the appropriate time and location to most efficiently reduce the formation of fuel NOx. OFA port configurations for both single-wall and opposed-wall fired furnaces and boilers are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Babcock & Wilcox Power Generation Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Albert D. LaRue
  • Patent number: 7624708
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for operating a continuous steam generator. The aim of the invention is to provide, with little technical complexity and for any operating state, a synchronous variation of the feed-water mass flow passing through the evaporator heating surface and of the heat input into the evaporator heating surface. To this end, a regulating device for the discharge of feed-water is allocated to a device for adjusting the feed-water mass flow. The control variable of said regulating device is the feed-water mass flow, while its set-point value in relation to the feed-water mass flow depends on the set-point value associated to the power of the steam generator. The actual value of the feed-water density at the entry of the pre-heater is fed to the regulating device for the discharge of feed-water as one of the input values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Axel Butterlin, Rudolf Kral, Frank Thomas
  • Patent number: 7624709
    Abstract: This invention provides an internal combustion engine that has a substantially increased expansion ratio, a variable compression ratio, and subsequently a significantly improved thermal efficiency. This improvement in thermal efficiency is attained without involving a complex mechanical structure or an enlarged engine size. The engine comprises at least a piston and cylinder assembly including a piston reciprocatingly mounted within the cylinder space, and at least two combustion chambers associated with said cylinder, each said combustion chamber having a port leading to said cylinder space and a combustion-chamber valve, said valve opens and closes said port to establish or block the communication between said combustion chamber and cylinder space, wherein said internal combustion engine is adapted to operate on preferred cycles in accordance with load conditions to substantially increase the engine's expansion ratio or provide a variable compression ratio mechanism under part load conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Inventor: Yiding Cao
  • Patent number: 7624710
    Abstract: A valve timing controller includes a first rotor having a first gear, a second rotor having a second gear, and a planet gear engaged with the first and the second gear. The first rotor has the support opening and accommodates the second rotor therein. The second rotor has the supporting spindle part which supports the support opening from its inner circumference. The support opening and the supporting spindle part are formed in a minor diameter rather than the second gear which engages the planet gear with lubricant. The supporting opening and the supporting spindle part are positioned at a place which deviates from the second gear in an axial direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Motoki Uehama, Yasushi Morii
  • Patent number: 7624711
    Abstract: A variable mechanical valve control for an internal combustion engine is provided having an underhead camshaft for adjusting a valve stroke and an opening and closing time, making it possible to achieve a very compact transmission gear between the push rod drive and the intake and exhaust valves, to reduce the number of components required for the transmission gear, and to obtain a mechanical, completely variable valve train with an underhead camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignees: Hydraulik-Ring GmbH, Entec Consulting GmbH
    Inventor: Rudolf Flierl
  • Patent number: 7624712
    Abstract: A method of starting an engine is provided. The engine includes a cylinder and a fuel injector configured to directly inject fuel into the cylinder. The method includes: at an engine start condition, receiving a sensed engine position, in response to the sensed engine position correlating with a stored engine stop position, injecting fuel directly into the cylinder at a next suitable engine position for a first combustion cycle, and in response to the sensed engine position not correlating with the stored engine stop position, rotating a shaft of the engine an angular distance without injecting fuel directly into the cylinder until the sensed engine position correlates with another parameter, and thereupon, injecting fuel directly into the cylinder at a next suitable engine position for a first combustion cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 7624713
    Abstract: A crankcase having a mounting structure configured to receive an oil level sight glass fitted on a lower outer portion of the crankcase in a through hole formed therein, and a retainer member clamped to an outer surface of the crankcase to prevent the oil level sight glass from falling off. An outwardly protrudingly rib is formed on the outer portion of the crankcase which is engaged with a cut formed on the retainer member to securely position the retainer member on the crankcase. The retainer member includes a scale mark provided thereon, and the oil level sight glass permits visual observation for checking an oil level of oil held in an oil reservoir disposed at the lower portion of the crankcase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Tawarada, Tsuyoshi Arima
  • Patent number: 7624714
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a four-cycle engine including a lightweight aluminum alloy engine block having a cylindrical bore and an oil reservoir formed therein. A crankshaft is rotatably mounted in the engine block for rotation about a crankshaft axis. A piston reciprocates within the bore and is connected to the crankshaft by a connecting rod. An oil pump driven by the cam gear, which mates with a crank gear that is driven by a crank shaft, inhales oil from the oil reservoir and the valve chamber to splash lubricate into the cylinder bore. The engine is provided with a cylinder head assembly defining a compact combustion chamber having a pair of overhead intake and exhaust ports and cooperating intake and exhaust valves and a circular arc wall which surrounds around webs of the crankshaft so that each crankshaft web splashes and causes the oil to fly to lubricate engine parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: ETG Limited
    Inventors: Katsumi Kurihara, Bin Guo, Shigeo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7624715
    Abstract: A system for controlling turbulence in a combustion engine having a composite upper intake manifold and a cylinder head. The system includes a composite housing, a composite cartridge, a shaft, a radial gasket, a lever arm, and a press in place gasket. The composite housing includes an open first end and an open second end. The open second end defines a first cross-sectional area. The first end is configured to be welded to the composite upper intake manifold and the second end has a gasket groove. The second end is configured to be connected with the cylinder head. The composite cartridge is positioned within and removably joined with the second end of the composite housing. The composite cartridge includes a body, a flap valve, and bushings. The shaft connected to the flap valve within the composite housing. The press in place gasket is positioned within the gasket groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Dayco Products, LLC
    Inventors: Iliya Goldin, Eric F. Grimminger, Radha Iyer, Debora J. Rapelje, Tony A. Price
  • Patent number: 7624716
    Abstract: A throttle valve of the invention includes a clearance closing member provided along a peripheral edge of a valve body displaceably and elastically deformable in a direction extending along an axis of an intake passage, a direction perpendicular to the axis of the intake passage, and a direction inclined with respect to the axis of the intake passage, for closing a clearance between the peripheral edge of the valve body and an inner wall surface of the intake passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Bessho, Makoto Fujimori, Takio Suzuki, Shigeru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7624717
    Abstract: An internal-combustion-engine combustion condition detection apparatus that can accurately comprehend a combustion condition is obtained. The internal-combustion-engine combustion condition detection apparatus includes an ion-current detection device (41) that detects an ion current generated during combustion and ignition devices including a first ignition device (21) having a first ignition plug (11) that causes main combustion in a combustion chamber (33) and a second ignition device (22) having a second ignition plug (12) disposed in the same combustion chamber (33) as and spaced apart from the first ignition plug (11) of the first ignition device (21); the ion-current detection device (41) detects a combustion ion current that is generated in the second ignition device (22) regardless of whether or not ignition is performed by the second ignition device (22), thereby detecting pre-ignition or a precursor phenomenon of pre-ignition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiko Inada, Kimihiko Tanaya, Koichi Okamura
  • Patent number: 7624718
    Abstract: An engine control system enables engine control to cause ignition timing to approximate MBT without necessarily measuring torque and combustion pressure. The negative ion current in an engine combustion chamber is measured and a first crank angle B corresponding to a first rate in change of the negative ion current curve E is identified. A second crank angle C corresponding to a second rate in change of the negative ion current curve E also is identified. The ignition timing is controlled based upon a third crank angle G that generally is a midpoint between the first crank angle B and the second crank angle C. The third crank angle G becomes a specified target crank angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsugunori Konakawa
  • Patent number: 7624719
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel supplying device of an internal combustion engine, comprising a low-pressure circuit, a high-pressure pump coupled to the low-pressure circuit and conveys fuel into a fuel reservoir, a volume flow control valve assigned to the high-pressure pump, an electromechanical pressure regulator connected to the fuel reservoir and the low-pressure circuit and can direct fuel from the fuel reservoir into the low-pressure circuit, a regulating mechanism which generates an actuation signal for the volume flow control valve by a first controller in a first mode which generating an actuation signal for the electromechanical pressure regulator with the aid of a second controller in a second mode. The mode of the fuel supplying mechanism is switched in accordance with a fuel pressure error value resulting from a detected fuel pressure and a predefined fuel pressure. The mode can additionally be switched according to the throughput of the high-pressure pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Erwin Achleitner, Martin Cwielong, Gerhard Eser
  • Patent number: 7624720
    Abstract: A fuel pressure regulator is provided. The fuel pressure regulator includes a body forming an inlet and an outlet, a seal element positioned intermediate the inlet and the outlet, an armature positioned to apply force to the seal element, and a solenoid coiled around the armature, wherein excitation of the solenoid causes a change in at least one of a position of the armature relative to the seal element and a force applied by the armature to the seal element to vary a regulated fuel pressure set-point at which fuel flows through the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David M. Dokas, Robert Joseph Pyle, Dequan Yu