Patents Issued in January 19, 2010
  • Patent number: 7647769
    Abstract: A hydrostatic transmission assembly includes a first gerotor motor, a pump housing, a first variable displacement pump, a second gerotor motor, and a second variable displacement pump. The first gerotor motor includes a first output shaft aligned along a first axis. The pump housing connects to and contacts the first gerotor motor. The first variable displacement pump includes a first driven shaft mounted to the pump housing and aligned along a second axis, the second axis being generally perpendicular to the first axis (the first output shaft axis). The first variable displacement pump is in fluid communication with the first gerotor motor via passages in the pump housing. The second gerotor motor includes a second output shaft generally aligned along or generally parallel to the first axis. The second gerotor motor is connected to the pump housing on an opposite side of the pump housing as the first gerotor motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: White Drive Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Hollis N. White, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7647770
    Abstract: In a hydraulic four-wheel drive vehicle, a rear transaxle incorporates a hydraulic motor for driving rear wheels, a front transaxle incorporates a hydraulic motor for driving front wheels, and hydraulic pressure fluid pipes interposed between the front and rear transaxles are extended along at least one of left and right side plates of a frame of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Iwaki, Shiro Ueno, Norihiro Ishii, Hideaki Okada, Fumitoshi Ishino, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Shinichi Hirose, Hironori Sumomozawa
  • Patent number: 7647771
    Abstract: A thermally driven piston assembly's housing has (i) a first material slidingly fitted therein, and (ii) at least one plug of a second material slidingly fitted therein and abutting the first material. The first material is one (e.g., a liquid crystal elastomer) that undergoes a stiffness change and/or a dimensional change when subjected to a temperature change in the temperature range of interest. When subjected to the temperature change while in the housing, the first material is restricted to changing dimensionally along a single dimension. The second material retains its shape and size throughout the temperature range of interest. As a result, the plug moves in the housing in correspondence with the dimensional change of the first material or the plug's movement is damped by the stiffness change of the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Donald L. Thomsen, III, Robert G. Bryant
  • Patent number: 7647772
    Abstract: An exemplary vane fronting surface for a variable geometry turbine includes a white layer that comprises nitrides. Such a layer may be formed using gas nitriding. As described, trials demonstrate that such nitriding reduces friction between a vane fronting surface and vanes of a variable geometry turbine. Consequently, nitriding can enhance longevity and controllability of a variable geometry turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Lorrain Sausse, Daniel Frank, Clemence Filou, Gary Agnew, Tanguy Domange
  • Patent number: 7647773
    Abstract: The present invention features geothermal systems that use of a well field open loop scheme by interconnecting the well field through a system of mains and controlled branches, the latter composed of multiple (2-5) wells. The proposed design lends itself to the use of modular well field kits that minimize installation cost, insures equal return water distribution to the active wells, creates standardization and insures best practices. The benefits of individual branch control include the ability to serve the building load in staged delivery, thereby minimizing well field parasitic load, and maximizing the time available for well field thermal relaxation and availability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: American Refining Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Albert A. Koenig
  • Patent number: 7647774
    Abstract: A cryogenic and thermal source cogeneration method for converting energy from a heat source, through a cryogenic heat transfer process, into mechanical and/or electrical energy, comprising, utilizing a vapor compression cycle (2) to absorb heat from the heat source and, utilizing a Rankine cycle (4) for energy transfer, for converting thermal energy to mechanical and/or electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Blue Earth Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Alan Shirk, Gary A. Storck, Jr., Wesley W. Welgel
  • Patent number: 7647775
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine fueling system includes a number of spray bars having conduits extending through associated vanes. A number of fuel injector nozzles are along each conduit. Each of the nozzles are positioned to discharge an associated fuel stream from one of the sides of the associated vane. A number of wear members are each mounted relative to the associated one of the nozzles for a range of motion relative thereto. The wear members movably cooperate with the associated vane to accommodate operating deflection and/or tolerances of the spray bars and vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Marc J. Muldoon, Tor W. Sherwood, Meggan H. Harris, Robert T. Brooks
  • Patent number: 7647776
    Abstract: A fluid flow control system includes a valve, in which a control element regulates flow through a metering orifice. A further control element regulates flow through an orifice downstream of the orifice and is responsive to the pressure downstream of the orifice and to an opposing control pressure on a line. The element is positioned in accordance with the pressure in a chamber controlled by an electrical valve. The pressure in line is set to provide a required pressure drop across the orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Goodrich Control Systems Limited
    Inventor: Trevor S. Smith
  • Patent number: 7647777
    Abstract: A fluid delivery skid with a pre-fill system for supplying fluid has one or more stages including a first valve and a second valve, each having an open and closed position. The stages have active and inactive states to provide a desired flow rate of fluid to an apparatus for distribution of the fluid. In an active state, fluid is received in the stage and pressurized with the first valve open and the second valve closed. Further, in an active state, fluid is released with the first valve closed and the second open. In an inactive state, at least the second valve is closed. A control unit is connected to a pump unit and controls operation of the pump to regulate the stages to supply pressure at a level determined to achieve the desired flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Gas Turbine Efficiency Sweden AB
    Inventor: Robert Bland
  • Patent number: 7647778
    Abstract: It is known that power is normally extracted within a gas turbine engine from a shaft in order to drive auxiliary devices such as electrical power generators. With high extraction rates from such shafts there is mismatching in rotational speeds between the shafts which must be adjusted through leakage taken from valves 8, 9. By measuring parameters and in particular pressure at a number of positions or parts within an engine arrangement 1 and comparing those parameters either through ratios or directly with reference values a controller can be configured in order to choose the correct sequence and scheduling of the valves 8, 9 opening to balance shaft speed. In such circumstances more efficient operation of the engine arrangement can be achieved over a wider range of engine speeds including idling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Netsebrak T Zewde, Arthur L Rowe
  • Patent number: 7647779
    Abstract: A combustion system for an engine, such as a gas turbine engine is provided. The combustion system has a ceramic component, such as ceramic combustor liner, and at least one metal support component, such as a metal ring or a plurality of metal cones, for providing radial and axial support to the ceramic component. The at least one metal support component includes a structure, such as axial slots or radial slots, for minimizing stress and for increasing compliance of the metal support component with respect to the ceramic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Shi, Jason Lawrence, David J. Bombara, Richard S. Tuthill, Jeffrey D. Melman
  • Patent number: 7647780
    Abstract: An automotive seat air-conditioning system includes a vehicle seat 1 having a seat portion 1b used by an occupant and a seatback 1a against which the occupant rests his/her back, and a blower 22 for sucking in the air-conditioning air 8 flowing in the compartments. Further, the air-conditioning air 8 is sucked in by the blower 22 from the air inlet 6 formed on the surface of the seatback 1a. At the same time, the air-conditioning air 8 is blown out from a surface portion of the vehicle seat 1 other than the air inlet 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Aoki, Keizou Nimura
  • Patent number: 7647781
    Abstract: A device for reducing losses relating to the start-up of an industrial production line for ice cream provided with a traditional freezer. The invention relates to a device enabling the tubing used to convey the ice cream from the freezer to the dosing machine. Said device comprises a protector disposed around said tubing and a refrigerating fluid which can circulate therewithin with the aid of a pump which is actuated by a control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Inventor: Philippe Heine
  • Patent number: 7647782
    Abstract: Apparatus (10) for converting liquid (60) in a container (50) to a semi-frozen slurry (61) or frozen ice particles, where a refrigerant (41) is contained within a refrigerant cavity (40) defined by two walls (20, 30), the flexing/deformation of at least one of the walls (20, 30) agitating the liquid (60) to assist the conversion thereof into the semi-frozen slurry (61) or ice particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Inventor: Alfio Bucceri
  • Patent number: 7647783
    Abstract: A diagnostic system and method for a compressor assembly including a compressor and a motor protector includes logic circuitry associated with the motor protector and operable to analyze a status of the motor protector as a function of time and identify a specific fault cause. The diagnostic system also includes a demand signal sensor and a current sensor, wherein the logic circuitry is associated with the sensors to further enable the diagnostic system to determine a specific fault cause.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nagaraj Jayanth, Hung Pham
  • Patent number: 7647784
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes a main refrigerant circuit and a liquid level detection circuit. The main refrigerant circuit includes a compressor that compresses gas refrigerant, a heat source side heat exchanger, a receiver that stores liquid refrigerant, and user side heat exchangers. The liquid level detection circuit is arranged so as to be capable of drawing out a portion of the refrigerant in the receiver from a first predetermined position of the receiver, reducing the pressure of the refrigerant and heating it, measuring the temperature of the refrigerant, and then returning the refrigerant to the intake side of the compressor, in order to detect whether the liquid level in the receiver is at the first predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhide Mizutani, Hiromune Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 7647785
    Abstract: The present invention provides an air conditioning system that can appropriately adjust humidity. The air conditioning system is an air conditioning system that comprises a plurality of indoor units that jointly air conditions a same space, comprising a first indoor unit and a second indoor unit. The first indoor unit comprises a first indoor heat exchanger that adjusts the temperature in the space. The second indoor unit comprises a second indoor heat exchanger and a humidifying element. The second indoor heat exchanger adjusts the temperature in the space. The humidifying element adjusts the humidity in the space. Further, the air conditioning system, during humidity adjustment, adjusts the humidity in the space by the humidifying element with greater priority than adjusting the temperature in the space by the second indoor heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryuusuke Fujiyoshi, Osamu Tanaka, Masakazu Hirai
  • Patent number: 7647786
    Abstract: In an automotive air-conditioning system, when pollen mode control is effected by a vehicle occupant, air outlet mode is forcibly set to a face mode. Further, the air flow amount determined from the air flow amount Vm used in the usual auto mode and the air flow amount f(Tw) used during warm-up control or the air flow amount determined by the air flow amount correction value f(Tam) having a relatively small upper limit value when ambient temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature (15° C.), whichever is larger, is taken as the set value for the air flow amount in the pollen mode control. With this arrangement, when coolant temperature and ambient temperature are low, a relatively small amount of air can be blown to the upper part of the occupant's body, and thus, while maintaining the pollen removal effect, occupant discomfort can be reduced by preventing a fast flow of air from being blown toward the occupant's face, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Yamaguchi, Kenichi Kato, Katsuhiko Samukawa
  • Patent number: 7647787
    Abstract: A data center is configured using alternating rows of racks containing heat-generating electronic devices and air conditioners. Fluid, such as water or a refrigerant, for the air conditioners is supplied through pluming below a raised floor, such as those commonly found in current data centers. Attached to this plumbing are standard fluid couplings configured to couple to either air conditioners or liquid cooling units. These air conditioners and liquid cooling units use the same fluid so that they may share the plumbing. As data center migrates to liquid-cooled racks, a fraction of the air conditioners are replaced with liquid conditioning units in such a way that the data center contains both air-cooled and liquid-cooled racks without substantial reduction in efficiency of the air-cooling system. Since the air conditioners and liquid conditioning units use the same couplings and the same fluid, no infrastructure change is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Christian L. Belady, Eric C. Peterson
  • Patent number: 7647788
    Abstract: A temperature management apparatus for managing the temperature of cells 11, which includes an air intake duct 1, a fan unit 3, a first temperature detector (temperature sensors 25, a temperature detecting part 23) for detecting temperature Tb of the cells 11, a second temperature detector (a temperature sensor 26, a temperature detecting part 23) for detecting ambient temperature Ta, and a control device 20. The fan unit 3 has a fan 4 and a motor 5. The control device 20 has a storage part 22 and a deciding part 21. The storage part 22 stores a cooling-necessitating temperature Tc and a heating-necessitating temperature Th. The deciding part 21 directs the fan unit 3 to drive the fan 4 in a case where the temperature Tb of the cells becomes equal to or higher than both the temperature Ta of the air and the cooling-necessitating temperature Tc, or in a case where the temperature Tb of the cells becomes equal to or lower than both the temperature Ta of the air and the heating-necessitating temperature Th.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic EV Energy Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Okuda, Akihiro Aoyama, Yusai Murakami
  • Patent number: 7647789
    Abstract: An evaporator unit includes an ejector, an upwind side heat exchanger for evaporating a discharge side refrigerant flowing from the ejector, and a downwind side heat exchanger for evaporating a suction side refrigerant to be drawn into the ejector. The ejector has a nozzle for decompressing refrigerant, and a refrigerant suction port, from which refrigerant is drawn by a high-speed flow of refrigerant jetted from the nozzle. The upwind side heat exchanger has a refrigerant superheat area, which is offset from a refrigerant superheat area of the downwind side heat exchanger in a direction perpendicular to an air flow to be cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Thuya Aung, Yoshiyuki Okamoto
  • Patent number: 7647790
    Abstract: A refrigeration system can incorporate a cooling-liquid injection system that can inject a cooling liquid into an intermediate-pressure location of the compressor. The cooling liquid can absorb the heat of compression during the compression of the refrigerant flowing therethrough. The refrigeration system can include an economizer system that injects a refrigerant vapor into an intermediate-pressure location of the compressor in conjunction with the injection of the cooling liquid. A refrigeration system can include a liquid-refrigerant injection system that can inject liquid refrigerant into an intermediate-pressure location of the compressor. The injected liquid refrigerant can reduce the discharge temperature of the refrigerant. The liquid-refrigerant injection system can be used with the cooling-liquid injection system and/or the economizer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kirill Ignatiev, Jean-Luc M Caillat
  • Patent number: 7647791
    Abstract: A composite mold includes a mold base, a protective film provided on the mold base, and a water-cooling heat dissipation system disposed within the mold base. Wherein, the protective film is comprised of with a plurality of RexIry layers and a plurality of SiC layers, the RexIry layers and the SiC layers are alternatively stacked one on another, x is in the range from 0.25 to 0.55, and y is in the range from 0.45 to 0.75. Alternatively, the protective film is comprised of an RexIry layer, a catalyst layer and a carbon nanotube layer in that order, x is in the range from 0.25 to 0.55, and y is in the range from 0.45 to 0.75.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Charles Leu
  • Patent number: 7647792
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a porous silica preform includes the steps of supplying fuel gas for generating an oxyhydrogen flame to a glass synthesizing burner; supplying Gas A containing silicon and Gas B containing fluorine to the burner; synthesizing glass particles; and depositing the glass particles around a starting rod, in which when glass particles are deposited directly on the starting rod, a supply of Gas A and a supply of Gas B supplied to the burner are adjusted so that a ratio of the number of fluorine atoms to the number of silicon atoms in the gas supplied to the burner satisfies the following Formula (1): {(number of F atoms)/(number of Si atoms)}?0.1 ??(1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Kentaro Ichii, Takakazu Gotoh, Naritoshi Yamada, Koichi Harada
  • Patent number: 7647793
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device comprising multiple parallel guide grooves (4) each of which receives a composite twin needle (1, 2) including two laterally open hooks (5, 6), arranged respectively through the first ends of two flat rods, one of which (1a-1c), is adjacent the base of the guide groove (4) and the other (2a-2c) is adjacent to the inner rod (1a-1c), means (10, 11) to cause the second end of said rods (1a-1c, 2a-2c) to be engaged with means controlling the knitting (12-15) of a face stitch, respectively, of a reverse stitch, the terminal edge of the rod (2a-2c) forming a gliding ramp (7). Each twin needle (1, 2) is associated with two adjacent jacks (18, 19), one (18) for forming a loop, alternately for retaining a stitch and the other (19) for releasing said loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Inventor: Anton Percy Spielmann
  • Patent number: 7647794
    Abstract: A washing machine using steam and a method for controlling the same is disclosed. The washing machine with a steam generator (100) selectively supplying steam into a drum (30) according to the present invention includes a course select part (420) for a user to select a wash course, a steam select part (430) for a user to select whether steam washing is operated and a controller (440) for controlling the steam generator (100) based on a wash course selected from the course select part (420) (an inputted wash course) and a signal selected from the steam select part (430). The present invention has an advantageous effect that convenience is improved for a user to use the washing machine using steam as well as washing performance is improved, because disadvantages due to malfunctions of a steam generator are prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Seog Kyu Park, In Geun Ahn
  • Patent number: 7647795
    Abstract: In order to obtain a low cost washing clothes case capable of washing a delicate clothes stored therein without damage and with sufficiently removing dirt from the clothes, the washing clothes case is for storing laundry therein on washing by a clothes washing machine. The washing clothes case comprises a container made of hard plastics and having at least one opening portion capable of opening and closing, a floating member attached on one of an outer surface and an inner surface of the container, and a plurality of water holes formed on a region of the container at which the floating member is not attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Inventor: Mami Kitaya
  • Patent number: 7647796
    Abstract: A device that includes a cable with a locking device/head at the end of the cable. The cable is coupled to a housing and is retractable from an extended position towards the housing for easy storage and portability. The locking device can be stored within a compartment. If keys are used with the lock, the keys may be stored within the housing when the device is not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Acco Brands USA LLC
    Inventor: Justin Francke
  • Patent number: 7647797
    Abstract: A programmable electronic lock with a closing tongue is actuated with an actuating mechanism formed by a mobile knob acting as a button joined to the closing tongue. Actuation of the mobile knob generates a movement of the closing tongue and closure of the lock. Recovery of the mobile knob to its initial position generates an opening of the lock. Furthermore, an electronics board is activated with a transponder key and controls operation of the lock by deactivating and subsequently activating a blocking mechanism formed by a motor that actuates a punch via a gear mechanism. When the punch is in a blocking position it is located against the actuating mechanism. When the punch is in an unblocking position, it is separated from the actuating mechanism and allows the movement of the closing tongue by unblocking the actuating mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Ojmar S.A.
    Inventors: Ana Viso Cabrera, Ramón Gabikagogeaskoa Sanchez, Beatriz Vierna Garcia
  • Patent number: 7647798
    Abstract: A lock includes a core rotatably disposed within a barrel. A plurality of tumbler pins are disposed in shafts in the core and communicate with a keyway. A side-pin shaft intersects each tumbler pin shaft at a selected angle. Each tumbler pin includes a side hole at a position along its length that aligns with the side-pin shaft when a proper key is inserted. An independent side pin is disposed in each side-pin shaft. One end of each side pin rests against its associated tumbler pin and the other end of each side pin is tapered and extends into a channel in the barrel. The side pins are biased outwardly by a spring towards the channel. The angle at which each side-pin shaft intersects each tumbler shaft may be different. The spacing between tumbler pin shafts may be different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: VSR Lock, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark David Jones, Drannon Owen Tidwell
  • Patent number: 7647799
    Abstract: A key blank including a generally elongate shaft portion defining first and second generally flat oppositely directed side surfaces, joined by edge surfaces, at least one of the first and second side surfaces cuttable to form key cuts that define a key combination surface, and at least one key combination element movably disposed in the elongate shaft portion and adapted for touching a lock combination element disposed in a cylinder lock plug, wherein the at least one key combination element has inherent energy for applying an urging force against the lock combination element. A key formed from the key blank and lock therefore are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Mul-T-Lock Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Dani Markbreit, Effi Ben-Aharon
  • Patent number: 7647800
    Abstract: Shot for use in a peening installation, the shot having: hardness greater than or equal to 800 HV; density greater than or equal to 8 g/cm3; and pieces having a maximum dimension less than or equal to 1.5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Patrick Cheppe, Vincent Desfontaine, Jean-Michel Duchazeaubeneix
  • Patent number: 7647801
    Abstract: A system for ultrasonically peeing surfaces includes a sonotrode comprising a body material and a vibrating surface, the vibrating surface coated with a coating material having a hardness greater than the body material, a treatment chamber defined at least in part by the vibrating surface, and at least one piece of shot within the treatment chamber to be excited by the vibrating surface of the sonotrode, the at least one piece of shot having a hardness greater than or equal to 800 HV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Patrick Cheppe, Vincent Desfontaine, Jean-Michel Duchazeaubeneix
  • Patent number: 7647802
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a one-piece flexible tube connector includes obtaining a tube blank having an initial length, an initial outer diameter, and an initial wall thickness. The tube blank is secured in a fixture and fed longitudinally into a forming tool. During the forming process, one of the tube blank and the forming tool is spun increasing an initial wall thickness of a portion of the tube blank to a second wall thickness, while the initial outer diameter of the tube blank is controlled. The thickened portion of the tube blank extends along a second length of the tube blank that is less than the initial length. After the spinning process, an attachment feature, such as a barbed feature, is formed or machined into the thickened portion of the tube blank to produce the one-piece flexible tube connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Sunspring America, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Lee Knirk, Scott S. Sheppard, Gary Orelyn Crawford
  • Patent number: 7647803
    Abstract: A rotary forming apparatus of the type having a pair of central rotors, and one or more die carriers swingably mounted on the rotors, for repeatedly forming a sheet metal work piece moving along a linear path, rotor bearing supports for supporting the rotors at least at one end thereof, die carrier guides on the die carriers at an end thereof adjacent to the rotor bearing supports, and, at least two cam plates adjacent to each the rotor bearing support, for guiding the die carriers guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Inventor: Ernest R. Bodnar
  • Patent number: 7647804
    Abstract: A method of rolling a material in two more continuous passes is disclosed. The method includes rolling the material with a flattened-shaped caliber in a first pass, and subsequently rolling with a square-shaped caliber in a second pass. The rolling is performed with a first pass caliber having a flattened shape, wherein the ratio of the length (2A01) of minor axis of the first pass caliber to an initial width (2A0) is (A01/A0)?0.75; and a second pass caliber, wherein the ratio of a diagonal dimension (2AS1) of the second pass caliber to the length (2B1) of the major axis of the material after the first pass is (AS1/B1)?0.75 to introduce the large strain into the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: National Institute for Materials Science
    Inventors: Tadanobu Inoue, Shiro Torizuka, Eijiro Muramatsu, Kotobu Nagai
  • Patent number: 7647805
    Abstract: A precision metal sheet bend angle adjustment device is provided, which includes a lifter plate, a wedge plate, a support plate and a positioning frame. The lifter plate has a tapered bottom face. The wedge plate has a tapered top face and side recesses. The support plate has a top guiding grove and the positioning frame includes a rotary dial and adjustment screw. The support plate is fixed on the positioning frame. The wedge plate is located on top of the assembly such that it is able to slide within the guiding grove of the support plate. The adjustment screw of the rotary dial is inserted into the side recess of the wedge plate. The lifter plate rests on top of the wedge plate within the positioning frame such that, as the wedge plate slides back and forth, the lifter plate moves up and down within the positioning frame by rotating the rotary dial clockwise or counter clockwise. The die of the metal sheet bending equipment can be moved vertically while sitting atop the lifter plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Inventor: Takahisa Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7647806
    Abstract: A drive for operating a movable part with respect to a fixed part includes: a driving member having a linear shape and being made of a shape-memory alloy; and a crimp terminal for holding one end of the driving member at the fixed part or the movable part. At least a part to which the driving member is crimped in the crimp terminal is made of stainless steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Kosaka, Yoshie Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7647807
    Abstract: A torque transducer unit for in-line calibration measurement of the output torque of a power wrench (S) includes a torque transferring spindle provided with a torque sensing device, two constant velocity universal joints, for instance Rzeppa-type couplings, and two coupling members for connecting the spindle at one end to the output shaft of a power wrench (S) and at the opposite end to a test joint. The spindle and the torque sensing device are protected from bending and friction related forces by the universal joints such that occurring misalignments between the power wrench (S) and the test joint do not jeopardize an accurate and reliable torque measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Tools AB
    Inventor: Gunnar Christer Hansson
  • Patent number: 7647808
    Abstract: An apparatus for calibration of a fluid-operated power torque tool having a housing and a drive has a non-turnable torque measuring unit for measuring a torque generated by the tool, a non-turnable abutment unit, a first connecting element configured for connecting the drive of the tool with the torque measuring unit, for measuring a torque generated by the tool when a fluid pressure is applied to the tool, an adjustable braking unit configured for providing an adjustable braking force, a second connecting element configured for connecting the housing of the tool with the adjustable braking unit to apply the adjustable braking force to the housing so as to increase a turning resistance to turning of the housing of the tool, so that when the tool is operated the housing of the tool starts turning at a force determined by the braking unit while the drive of the tool apply an opposite and equal force to the measuring unit, so that when the braking force is increased a fluid pressure required for the tool increas
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Inventor: John K. Junkers
  • Patent number: 7647809
    Abstract: A method of indicating the presence of mechanical impact is used with a low-ductility material, such as a composite material, having a tensile elongation to failure of less than about 2 percent. The method includes preparing an indicator paint having an impact-sensitive component that produces a visible change when subjected to a mechanical impact, applying the indicator paint to the surface of the low-ductility material, placing the low-ductility material having the indicator paint thereon into circumstances where it may be subject to the mechanical impact, and thereafter inspecting the low-ductility material having the indicator paint thereon for the presence of the visible change. The method may be used to establish design criteria for the low-ductility material by establishing an impact-effect threshold value from the step of inspecting, and determining a design limit for the low-ductility material responsive to the impact-effect threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Spectrum Aeronautical, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel E. Cooney
  • Patent number: 7647810
    Abstract: A solid particle counting system for measuring solid particle number concentrations from engine or vehicle exhausts in real-time includes an evaporation unit, a diluter arrangement, and a particle counter. The diluter arrangement mixes the dilution gas with the gases from the evaporation unit at a dilution ratio, and the diluter arrangement includes a flow meter located upstream of the evaporation unit for measuring the flow of gases into the evaporation unit which, in turn, flow into the diluter arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Horiba Ltd.
    Inventors: Qiang Wei, Scott T. Porter, Ichiro Asano, Montajir MD. Rahman, Takeshi Kusaka
  • Patent number: 7647811
    Abstract: A solid particle counting system for measuring solid particle number concentrations from engine or vehicle exhausts in real-time includes a diluter arrangement, a particle counter, and a flow splitter. The diluter arrangement mixes the dilution gas with flowing sample gases. The flow splitter receives the output flow from the diluter arrangement, provides a portion of this flow to the particle counter, and provides a by-pass flow that is received by a vacuum pump. A second flow route to the particle counter includes a valve arranged such that opening the valve during the starting of the vacuum pump reduces a pressure pulse at the particle counter caused by the starting of the vacuum pump, thereby avoiding work fluid backflow from the particle counter prior to the vacuum pump stabilizing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Horiba Ltd.
    Inventors: Qiang Wei, Scott T. Porter, Ichiro Asano, Montajir M D. Rahman, Takeshi Kusaka
  • Patent number: 7647812
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for low cost high resolution chemical detection. The apparatus includes two outer sealing bodies with flow channels etched into the bodies. Two gas chromatography (GC) columns are between the outer bodies, with a valve that switches flow regimes from series flow through the two GC columns to sample flowing directly to each GC column. The flow regimes are achieved with a single pump or dual pumps, and with one to three flow restrictions. The apparatus includes a preconcentration tube for concentrating chemicals of interest from the sample, and a sample switching valve and sampling pump to switch the sample flow from concentrating sample to delivering concentrated sample. The apparatus includes an engineered leak to equalize flow between a sample channel and a detector circuit. The sample channels may have impermeable inserts allowing the apparatus to measure chemicals in the parts-per-billion range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Seer Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil S. Arnold, Gary Bodily, Karen Bodily
  • Patent number: 7647813
    Abstract: A hydrogen sensor (100) with instant response that uses one or more quartz tuning forks (101, 102) while no chemical reactions or other material modifications are involved. Sensor (100) can be used in any application to measure percent range of hydrogen concentrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Applied Nanotech Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Igor Pavlovsky
  • Patent number: 7647814
    Abstract: An environment difference detector includes an elastic surface wave element equipped with a substrate including a surface having an annular surface acoustic wave circulating path, a surface acoustic wave exciting/receiving unit exciting a surface acoustic wave along the circular path and receiving the circulated surface acoustic wave, and a sensitive film disposed on the circular path to change an elastic nature in accordance with a change in an adjacent environment, a speed/intensity measuring unit measuring a circulating speed and intensity of the surface acoustic wave from an electric signal generated by the unit when the unit receives the circulating surface acoustic wave, and an environment evaluation unit evaluating an environment adjacent to the sensitive film from at least one of the circulating speed and the intensity measured by the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignees: Toppan Printing Co., Ltd., Yamatake Corporation, Ball Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Noritake Nakaso, Shingo Akao, Kazushi Yamanaka, Dong Youn Sim, Ichitaro Satoh, Tetsuya Miyagishi
  • Patent number: 7647815
    Abstract: A method of identifying and determining the concentrations of multiple species in a gas sample, includes providing a spectrophone assembly having a detector chamber, supplying the gas sample to the detector chamber and simultaneously passing a plurality of radiations of different wavelengths into the detector chamber to produce multiple acoustic resonances of different frequencies. Acoustic resonances in the detector chamber are simultaneously sensed to produce corresponding electrical signals, and the electrical signals are analysed to identify the species present in the gas sample and determine the concentration of each specie.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Inventor: Robert Anthony Crane
  • Patent number: 7647816
    Abstract: A single car test device includes a housing; a source port, on the housing, to be connected to a source of pressurized air; a brake pipe port, on the housing, to be connected to the brake pipe connector; and valves, in the housing, selectively interconnecting the ports to each other and atmosphere to perform tests. A brake cylinder sensor is to be connected to a brake cylinder tap. A sensor module on an interface device, remote from the housing, is to be mounted on the test ports on a control valve for determining pressure at the test ports. A controller is connected to the valves, the sensor module and the brake cylinder sensor and includes a program performing a plurality of component tests which form a single car test. The interface device includes reservoir charging valves controlled by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: New York Air Brake Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence E Vaughn
  • Patent number: 7647817
    Abstract: The invention discloses a loss detection system to determine and monitor containment losses for open channel networks (10). The system includes at least first and second flow regulators (26, 28) to allow flow of liquid into and out of at least one pool (10) respectively. First and second flow sensors co-operate with respective flow regulators (26, 28) and a computational means communicates with flow regulators (26, 28) and the flow sensors to control operation of flow regulators (26, 28). The computational means determines the containment losses by calculating the measured flow into at least one pool (10) through at least first flow regulator (26) and subtracting the measured flow out of at least one pool (10) through at least second regulator (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Rubicon Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: David Aughton
  • Patent number: 7647818
    Abstract: A process for testing the tightness of containers includes making available a first fluid in the container interior space that is different from a second fluid surrounding the container, creating a negative pressure in the container interior space, testing the interior surfaces of the container side wall for traces of second fluid penetration, and possibly localizing any entry points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Voglsinger