Patents Issued in March 9, 2010
  • Patent number: 7673429
    Abstract: A ceiling system having a primary grid network which includes a plurality of grid members that are in generally perpendicular relation and form points of intersection. The ceiling system includes one or more joint clips, each of which is attached to the grid network at a point of intersection. Each joint clip partitions the primary grid network into smaller networks, which move independently of one another. At the same time, the appearance of an overall primary grid network is preserved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Worthington Armstrong Venture
    Inventor: Sandor Frecska
  • Patent number: 7673430
    Abstract: The invention comprises a housing for recessed lights within a ceiling. The invention further comprises a system comprising several housings placed adjacent to each other and an associated method for placing the housings within the ceiling. The system has a series of housings with mounting extension and recessed indentations in which the mounting extensions fit so that two or more housings can be positioned adjacent to each other. The housings rest on a support bar and can be fixed into place by clips or fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V
    Inventor: Paul Thompson
  • Patent number: 7673431
    Abstract: Floor covering, including hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction (R) perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels, and provide a snap-action coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Unilin Beheer B.V. besloten, vennootschap
    Inventors: Stefan Simon Gustaaf Moriau, Mark Gaston Maurits Cappelle, Bernard Paul Joseph Thiers
  • Patent number: 7673432
    Abstract: This invention provides double-skin tubular structural members having fiber-reinforced polymer outer tubes, steel or otherwise generally metallic inner tubes and generally a bound aggregate such as concrete in between the tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
    Inventor: Jin-Guang Teng
  • Patent number: 7673433
    Abstract: A variety of a damage-tolerant monolithic structures are disclosed, such structures having a substantially-planar element integral with or welded to one or more stiffening elements. Each stiffening element can includes a first stiffening flange having a generally rail-like structure running along the length of the planar element and one or more webbings connected to the planar element and extending away from the planar element to the stiffening flange, wherein each webbing includes a row of integral holes running along the length of the webbing, the holes being in a shape designed to hinder the propagation of a crack in the monolithic structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Alexander Rutman, Gary G. Cassatt
  • Patent number: 7673434
    Abstract: A filling machine and a filling monitoring method monitor the condition of a pressure roller and do not harm the quality of fluid food. The filling machine includes a first rotary member inside of the joining surface of a longitudinally sealed portion of a packaging material being fed; a second rotary member disposed in opposition to the first rotary member with the packaging material pinched therebetween; a rotation detection signal generator for generating a rotation detection signal in association with rotation of at least one of the first and second rotary members; and a monitoring processor for reading the rotation detection signal and detecting abnormality of rotation of at least one of the first and second rotary members. Damage to the inner surfaces of the packaging material or to the strip tape, and dropping of a sticking resin piece into fluid food contained in the packaging material are prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventor: Shigehiro Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 7673435
    Abstract: A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage material having bottle plate support tables therein. The bottle plate support tables each have removable and replaceable top plate portions to permit replacement of worn friction linings, or to permit the bottle plate support table to handle bottles or containers of different dimensions or shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: KHS Maschinen- und Anlagenbau AG
    Inventor: Heinz Thielmann
  • Patent number: 7673436
    Abstract: A loading assembly for a packaging system includes a carriage coupled and reciprocally moveable relative to a support structure. The carriage is moveable relative to the support structure along a longitudinal axis in a first direction and a second direction opposite said first direction. A continuous loop configured with a plurality of spaced apart receptacles is moveably supported by the carriage. The loop includes a first portion that is moved at a continuous speed relative to the support structure, and a second portion that is alternatively moved and stopped relative to the support structure. Various methods of loading a receptacle are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Triangle Package Machinery Company
    Inventors: Boris Bershadsky, Vadim A. Lubezny
  • Patent number: 7673437
    Abstract: A reclosable package having a slider-operated zipper wherein the contents of the package are accessed through the front wall of the package, not through the top of the package. The reclosable package comprises: a bag body comprising front and rear walls of bag making material; a flexible zipper joined to the front wall and not joined to the rear wall; and a slider mounted to the zipper, the slider being movable in a first direction along the zipper for opening the zipper and movable in a second direction along the zipper for closing the zipper. Alternatively, the flexible zipper is joined to the front wall along first and second zones of joinder disposed at different heights on the front wall, and is joined to the rear wall only in zones of joinder where the zipper is joined to both of the front and rear walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Schneider, Steven Ausnit
  • Patent number: 7673438
    Abstract: A method of forming, filling, and sealing a flexible pouch with a guide pocket includes the steps of forming the pouch, and forming a first crease and second crease in the pouch that each projects outwardly and extends longitudinally from the upper edge, tapering in the direction of the lower edge. The method further includes the steps of opening and filling the pouch with the product and closing the pouch by sealing the upper edge transversely through the guide pocket, such that the first and second crease is eliminated as the upper edge is sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Pouch Pac Innovations, LLC
    Inventor: R. Charles Murray
  • Patent number: 7673439
    Abstract: An agricultural machine for grouping windrows together or for windrowing products lying on the ground includes a main frame supporting a central gathering and windrowing device and two side gathering and windrowing devices connected to support arms that extend laterally during work. Each of the side support arms is articulated relative to the main frame on a substantially vertical axis about which it is foldable at an angle of approximately 90° for transport and each of the side gathering and windrowing devices is articulated on its support arm around a substantially horizontal axis about which it is foldable upwards at an angle of approximately 90° to obtain a reduced machine width for transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Kuhn S.A.
    Inventor: Jens Geiser
  • Patent number: 7673440
    Abstract: An energy guiding chain with a plurality of links, which are connected to each other in articulated fashion, is provided where the links consist at least partly of an electrically conductive material that permits the discharge of electrical charges over at least part of the chain length, and is characterized in that the links are designed such that they are in contact with each other over the full pivoting angle on contact areas that move relative to each other and are in permanent contact and/or in that at least one connecting element connecting two or more links to each other in each case is provided, and in that the contact areas, and the areas of the links or the connecting element connecting them, form a continuous conductivity path with low electrical resistance, which extends at least over several links and permits use of the chain in ESD protection zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Igus GmbH
    Inventors: Gunter Blase, Frank Blase
  • Patent number: 7673441
    Abstract: A slider chain including a plurality of sliders joined together by divisible bridging pieces (30), and including a linking device at each end in order to interconnect the ends of two slider chains so as to form a longer chain overall. The sliders include an attachment mechanism which is not of cylindrical revolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: S2F Flexico
    Inventors: Antony Roger, Michel Barreaux
  • Patent number: 7673442
    Abstract: A method for operating a turbofan engine assembly is provided. The turbofan engine assembly includes a core cowl which circumscribes the core gas turbine engine, a nacelle positioned radially outward from the core cowl, a fan nozzle duct having an area defined between the core cowl and a portion of the nacelle, a first cowl and a second cowl that define a portion of the nacelle wherein the second cowl is repositionable with respect to the first cowl, and a thrust reverser assembly wherein the second cowl surrounds the thrust reverser assembly. The method includes varying an operating speed of the fan assembly from a first operating speed to a second operating speed. The method further includes selectively positioning the second cowl between a first operational position and a second operational position to vary the area of the fan nozzle duct to facilitate improving engine efficiency at the second operating speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jorge Francisco Seda, Thomas Ory Moniz, Robert Joseph Orlando, Alan Roy Stuart, Kenneth S. Scheffel
  • Patent number: 7673443
    Abstract: Method for lambda control in an internal combustion engine with a catalytic converter in an exhaust tract and at least one lambda probe mounted inside the catalytic converter. With this arrangement of the upstream probe there are signal delays which slow down the lambda control. To compensate, the measurement signals from the first lambda probe are applied to a lambda analysis unit which corrects measurement signal delays, and the corrected lambda probe signal is applied to a unit for lambda control. Both lambda probes are connected to a unit for lambda control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Paul Rodatz, Gerd Rösel, Hong Zhang
  • Patent number: 7673444
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification apparatus includes an NOx reduction catalytic converter disposed in an engine exhaust passage to reductively purify NOx in exhaust gas using ammonia or its precursor as a reducing agent, a first concentration sensor which detects an ammonia concentration in an exhaust gas moving on a downstream side of the NOx reduction catalytic converter, and a control unit which incorporates therein a computer. The control unit conducts calculation to estimate an ammonia concentration in the exhaust gas moving on the downstream side of the NOx reduction catalytic converter, and when a difference between the ammonia concentration detected by the first concentration sensor and the estimated ammonia concentration by the calculation becomes larger than a first predetermined value, determines that the NOx reduction catalytic converter is deteriorated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakazu Yano, Takayuki Adachi
  • Patent number: 7673445
    Abstract: A mechanical apparatus including a combustion engine, a conduit for transporting an exhaust stream away from the engine, a first catalytic NOx storage and conversion region disposed along the conduit, and a second catalytic NOx storage and conversion region disposed along the conduit at a location downstream from the first catalytic NOx storage and conversion region is disclosed. Each of the first catalytic NOx storage and conversion region and the second catalytic NOx storage and conversion region includes at least one catalytic metal configured to convert NOx to NO2 when the engine is supplied a lean air/fuel mixture, and at least one NOx adsorbing compound configured to adsorb NO2 for storage when the engine is supplied a lean air/fuel mixture, and wherein the one of the first and the second catalytic NOx storage and conversion regions has a lower concentration of catalytic metal than the other of the first and second catalytic NOx storage and conversion regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christian T. Goralski, Jr., Joseph R. Theis, Gopichandra Surnilla, Justin Ura, Shane Elwart
  • Patent number: 7673446
    Abstract: An exhaust emission control system for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The exhaust emission control system has a first passageway and a second passageway disposed to receive exhaust in parallel. The exhaust emission control system also has a valve arrangement configured to regulate the flow of exhaust to the first and second passageways, and at least one sensor configured to sense a parameter indicative of a constituent of the exhaust. The at least one sensor generates a signal corresponding to the sensed parameter. The exhaust emission control system also has a controller in communication with the valve and the at least one sensor. The controller is configured to affect operation of the valve in response to the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Svetlana Mikhailovna Zemskova, Julie Marie Faas, Christie Susan Ragle, Matthew Owen Stefanick, Ronald Graham Silver
  • Patent number: 7673447
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, in particular in a motor vehicle, with an exhaust line in which an oxidation catalyst is provided for treatment of the exhaust gases coming from the internal combustion engine. To be able to heat the oxidation catalyst more rapidly in a cold start of the internal combustion engine, a pre-oxidation unit may be provided in the exhaust line upstream from the oxidation catalyst and connected to a secondary fuel supply and adapted so that it partially oxidizes the secondary fuel supplied in combination with an oxidizer in a catalyst heating operation and the partially oxidized intermediate products are supplied to the oxidation catalyst for complete oxidation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: J. Eberspaecher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Gerd Gaiser
  • Patent number: 7673448
    Abstract: A self-cleaning diesel exhaust particulate filter system is disclosed wherein burn-off of collected particulate matter is accomplished at normal exhaust gas temperatures, the filter system being provided with a catalyst mixture of a co-formed ceria-zirconia composite and, optionally, a base metal oxide, the presence of which allows regeneration of filters at temperatures that are readily achieved in diesel exhaust systems, including operating conditions that are at low load where lower exhaust temperatures exist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: BASF Catalysts LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Voss, Kevin Hallstrom, Ramesh M. Kakwani, Shiang Sung
  • Patent number: 7673449
    Abstract: A torque converter in which the inner turbine output diameter or the inner pump input diameter is smaller than the inner stator passage diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kapplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventor: Bhaskar Marathe
  • Patent number: 7673450
    Abstract: More efficient, economic vehicular torque converters comprising novel integrated one-piece turbine/impeller blade-core assemblies with innovative fluid coupling means for greater torque capacities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Betilingungs
    Inventors: Wei Wang, Philip George, Christopher Shamie, Bhaskar Marathe
  • Patent number: 7673451
    Abstract: A hydraulic drive system for storing and releasing hydraulic fluid includes a high pressure storage device, a low pressure storage device, and a pump-motor operating at a range of pump-motor speeds for converting between hydraulic energy and mechanical energy. The pump-motor is disposed between the high pressure device and the low pressure device. In normal operation, the hydraulic drive system enters a motoring mode where hydraulic energy is released from the high pressure storage device and converted to mechanical energy using the pump-motor. It also enters a pumping mode where mechanical energy is converted into hydraulic energy. A neutral state exists where hydraulic energy is neither stored nor released from the high pressure storage device. When the pump-motor includes a swash-plate or similar structure, compensating for drift during normal operation helps to promote efficient operation of the hydraulic drive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Randy Anderson, Doug Gilbert
  • Patent number: 7673452
    Abstract: A motor-driven supercharger of the invention is provided with a cooling fluid flow rate adjusting device (a flow rate adjuster (37) and a controller (40)) capable of adjusting a flow rate of a cooling fluid. On the basis of the flow rate adjuster (37) and the controller (40), a flow rate of a cooling fluid (41) is set to a first flow rate (a large flow rate) for cooling an electric motor (20) in a state where a temperature difference obtained by subtracting a temperature of the cooling fluid (41) from a temperature of the electric motor (20) is equal to or more than a predetermined temperature equal to or more than zero, and the flow rate of the cooling fluid (41) is set to a second flow rate (a small flow rate) which is smaller than the first flow rate and is for suppressing a heating effect to the electric motor (20) in a state where the temperature difference is lower than a predetermined temperature equal to or more than zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7673453
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic coupling that has a primary impeller and a secondary impeller. A drive shaft drives the primary impeller. The drive shaft has a first end, a second end, a central axis, and a prespecified segment between the first and second ends. There is at least one supply channel for introducing a working medium to the toroidal working chamber. The at least one supply channel is formed in the drive shaft at the central axis along the prespecified segment. The plurality of evacuation channels evacuates the working medium from the toroidal working chamber, and the plurality of evacuation channels is formed in the drive shaft radially about the at least one supply channel. The plurality of evacuation channels is formed from the first end up to at least the second end with the first end being located a predetermined distance from the toroidal working chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Voith Turbo GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Markus Kley
  • Patent number: 7673454
    Abstract: In a combustor, divisional fluid passages of a first group, and divisional fluid passages of a second group are present on an inner peripheral side, and divisional fluid passages are also present on an outer peripheral side, and swirl air flows are gushed from the divisional fluid passages. When the total amount of fuel supplied to the combustor is small as in a speed increasing state or in a low load state, fuel is injected only into the divisional fluid passages of the first group. Since a fuel injection region is limited to a position on the inner peripheral side, particularly, a specific position, the concentration of a fuel gas comprising a mixture of fuel and air is lean, but is higher than a flammability limit concentration, even when the total amount of fuel is small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keijiro Saito, Satoshi Tanimura, Atsushi Yuasa, Toshihiko Saito
  • Patent number: 7673455
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor includes a liquid fuel nozzle for jetting out liquid fuel; a pre-mixture chamber wall provided with the liquid fuel nozzle at a center thereof, having a hollow conical shape gradually spreading in the direction in which the fuel is jetted out, and defining a pre-mixture chamber therein; a plurality of air inlet holes bored through the pre-mixture chamber wall and introducing the combustion air to the pre-mixture chamber such that angles at which the combustion air is introduced to the pre-mixture chamber through the air inlet holes are deflected at least toward the circumferential direction of the pre-mixture chamber wall; and a plurality of gaseous fuel nozzles disposed around the pre-mixture chamber wall in an opposing relation respectively to the plurality of air inlet holes and jetting out gaseous fuel substantially coaxially with axes of the air inlet holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shouhei Yoshida, Yoshitaka Hirata, Kazuyuki Itou, Tomoya Murota, Hiroshi Inoue, Tomohiro Asai
  • Patent number: 7673456
    Abstract: A turbomachine combustion chamber includes an inner annular wall, an outer annular wall surrounding the inner wall so as to co-operate therewith to define an annular space forming a combustion area, a plurality of fuel injector systems including pilot injectors alternating circumferentially with full-throttle injectors, and at least one air admission opening out into the upstream end of the combustion area in a substantially longitudinal direction. The outer wall has a plurality of pilot cavities extending between the two longitudinal ends of the outer wall and extending radially towards thereof, the pilot cavities being fed with air from outside the combustion chamber in a common substantially circumferential direction. Each pilot injector opens out radially into a pilot cavity, and each full-throttle injector opens out radially between two adjacent pilot cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Laurent Bernard Cameriano, Michel Pierre Cazalens, Sylvain Duval, Romain Nicolas Lunel
  • Patent number: 7673457
    Abstract: A turbine engine annular combustion chamber, including longitudinal walls connected by a transverse chamber bottom and a single-piece cowling, the chamber bottom and the cowling each including an inner flange and an outer flange each with a plurality of holes made in it for the passage of fixing systems for fixing the cowling on the chamber bottom. Each fixing system has associated with it at least one tangential slot formed on the corresponding flange of the chamber bottom and/or on the corresponding flange of the cowling, each slot being formed in the immediate vicinity of the corresponding fixing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Florian Andre Francois Bessagnet, Mario Cesar De Sousa
  • Patent number: 7673458
    Abstract: A method for operating a turbofan engine assembly including a core gas turbine engine is provided. The method includes varying an operating speed of the turbofan engine assembly from a first operating speed to a second operating speed. The method also includes selectively positioning a first arcuate portion and a second arcuate portion of a split cowl assembly to vary a throat area of a fan nozzle duct defined downstream from the core gas turbine engine to facilitate improving engine efficiency at the second operating speed. The split cowl assembly is downstream from the core gas turbine engine and inside the fan nozzle duct. A turbofan engine assembly and nozzle assembly are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul D. Kemper, Thomas Ory Moniz, Jorge Francisco Seda
  • Patent number: 7673459
    Abstract: A system for providing air to a compressor of an auxiliary gas turbine engine of an aircraft. A system turbine has an inlet adapted to receive compressed air from the aircraft. A system compressor is mechanically coupled to the system turbine and has an inlet adapted to receive atmospheric air. The outlets of the system turbine and the system compressor are fluidly connectable to the inlet of the compressor of the auxiliary gas turbine engine. A method includes providing compressed air from an aircraft to an inlet of a system turbine mechanically coupled to a system compressor. The method includes providing atmospheric air to an inlet of the system compressor. The method includes providing the inlet of the compressor of an auxiliary gas turbine engine with air from an outlet of the system turbine and with air from an outlet of the system compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Karl Edward Sheldon, John Turco
  • Patent number: 7673460
    Abstract: A system of attaching an injection system to a turbojet combustion chamber base. It comprises a deflector welded onto the chamber base. The deflector comprises an annular portion having an edge forming a retaining shoulder directed toward the front of the turbojet and the injection system comprises a collar on which is formed a retaining shoulder directed toward the rear of the turbojet and pressing against the retaining shoulder of the deflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Didier Hippolyte Hernandez, Romain Nicolas Lunel, Christophe Pieussergues, David Pinchon, Guillaume Sevi
  • Patent number: 7673461
    Abstract: A structural turbine engine casing is disclosed. The casing includes a central hub, at least one intermediate shroud, and an external ring, which are concentric, the external ring and the intermediate shroud being connected via links, the intermediate shroud and the central hub being connected by a series of radially fastened hollow arms. The series of arms includes at least one main arm and at least one secondary arm, each main arm being arranged in the continuation of a link and having a mass which is greater than that of a secondary arm arranged at a distance from the links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Laurent Bernard Cameriano, Nicolas Pierre-Marie Girard
  • Patent number: 7673462
    Abstract: Method and apparatus (thermal controller) for controlling a thermoelectric device to affect the temperature of an internal thermal zone in a hard disk drive to enable a first heat transfer from an internal heat transfer interface included in a thermal interface to an exterior heat transfer interface thermally coupling to the exterior of said hard disk drive, and applying to enable a second heat transfer from the exterior heat transfer interface to the internal heat transfer interface. The thermoelectric device may include the thermal controller. An external cover may include the thermal controller. The hard disk drive includes the thermal controller directing the thermoelectric device. Systems including at least one of the hard disk drives. Manufacturing these apparatus and these apparatus as products of these processes are part of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Sullivan, George Tyndall
  • Patent number: 7673463
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a housing defining at least one chamber and a condenser system in which a refrigerant flows. The condenser system includes a condenser, a switching device, and a hot gas loop in flow communication with one another. The condenser system is configured to be in heat transfer relation with the chamber and the switching device is configured to allow the refrigerant to bypass the hot gas loop when a thermal demand of the refrigerator is met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffery A. Tupis, Martin Severance
  • Patent number: 7673464
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for identifying an optimal placement of an item within a storage unit. The process identifies an item for placement in the storage unit. The process determines a preferred storage temperature range for the identified item. The process then selects an optimal placement location within the storage unit for the identified item based on the preferred storage temperature range and a set of temperature readings for the storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William Kress Bodin, Michael Lee Masterson, Stephen James Watt
  • Patent number: 7673465
    Abstract: An air conditioning system and an apparatus for protecting the same. The air conditioning system comprise an outdoor unit, a plurality of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit by each refrigerant line, and a refrigerant line closing unit installed at the refrigerant line of the indoor unit for preventing a refrigerant flowing on the refrigerant line of the indoor unit from being introduced into the outdoor unit when power supply to one or more indoor units is cut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Heuk Choi, Yoon Been Lee, Baik Young Chung, Se Dong Chang
  • Patent number: 7673466
    Abstract: An auxiliary power device for attachment to an existing refrigeration unit of a refrigerated trailer to serve as a power source to a truck cab, thereby allow operation of electrical devices in said cab without idling of the truck's engine. The auxiliary power device comprises a housing attached beneath the existing refrigeration unit, an electric generator enclosed within the housing, and a pulley assembly mounted in the housing and connected by drive shaft to the generator. The pulley assembly is connected via drive belt to the diesel motor in the existing refrigeration unit. When the generator is activated a first relay governs the speed of the diesel motor in the refrigeration unit, which turns the generator to generate power, and a second relay prevents drainage of the refrigeration unit battery. The power from the generator is routed through a breaker panel mounted in the cab of the truck for distributing and regulating power from the battery and/or generator into the truck cab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Inventor: David H. Pacy
  • Patent number: 7673467
    Abstract: A refrigerated display merchandiser in which is stored food products and which is ordinarily exposed to prevailing ambient light is provided with transparent sheets which function as filter media to prevent harmful light from reaching the foods stuffs. The filtering media comprises a transparent sheet affixed to the display merchandiser as well as about any fluorescent lighting disposed within the merchandiser. The transparent sheet is either clear (untinted), or tinted, and passes either red or blue light or alternatively, absorbs ultraviolet light including both UV-A light and UV-B light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Inventor: Leo D. LaRose, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7673468
    Abstract: A heat exchanger having a plurality of tubes that define refrigerant passages extending vertically from a lower end to an upper end. A bottom header is in fluid communication with the passage at the lower end of the tube, and a top header is in fluid communication with the passage at the upper end of the tube. A plurality of plates extends rearwardly from the tubes to a distal edge. Adjacent plates extending from adjacent tubes are closed off at the distal edges by a connector, and adjacent plates extending from the same tube have a rear opening between the distal edges for receiving air into the assembly. A plurality of orifices is disposed along the plates to allow air from the rear opening to flow downstream between the tubes. A water tank and wicking material are provided for wetting the plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohinder Singh Bhatti, Ilya Reyzin, Shrikant Mukund Joshi
  • Patent number: 7673469
    Abstract: A refrigerator with an ice dispenser includes a spiral type time delay unit for controlling the opening and closing of an ice duct. A duct cap opens and closes an ice duct formed in the refrigerator. A rotating shaft of the time delay unit is operably connected to the duct cap. Foldaway catching members on a rotating shaft intersect with a threaded cylindrical body. The catching members fold back to allow a quick opening of the ice duct. The catching members then interact with the threaded cylindrical body as the ice duct closes to delay the closing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kyong Bae Park, Nam Soo Cho, Dong Hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 7673470
    Abstract: According to one aspect, there is provided a refrigerator including a refrigerating chamber formed at a relatively upper portion of a refrigerator body and a freezing chamber formed at a relatively lower portion of the refrigerator body, which comprises an ice-making chamber which is partitioned in the refrigerating chamber by insulating walls and includes an icemaker for making ice and an ice storage for storing the ice made in the icemaker. The temperature in the refrigerating chamber can be accurately controlled, the loss of cold air can be minimized and the structures for supplying water into the icemaker and the dispenser can be simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Ill-Shin Kim, Seon-Il Yu, Kun-Jun Seok, Yong-Chol Kwon
  • Patent number: 7673471
    Abstract: A refrigeration appliance is provided which includes a cabinet with a first openable door providing access to a first refrigeration compartment and a second openable door providing access to a second refrigeration compartment. The second openable door has a portion thereof positioned below a portion of the first openable door. A rail separates the first refrigeration compartment and the second refrigeration compartment. A water dispenser is contained in the rail, as well as electronic controls for the refrigeration appliance. The dispenser is arranged to be stationary relative to the refrigeration appliance while the doors are open or closed. The rail may be removed and replaced, and with the water and electronic controls located in the rail, repairs are performed more efficiently and flexibility in manufacturing is enhanced. A drip tray is formed in an exterior side of the second openable door below the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Shawn Egan, Bobbie J. Gilman
  • Patent number: 7673472
    Abstract: A refrigerator door having a dispenser is disclosed. The refrigerator door includes an outer case forming a front appearance of the refrigerator door, an inner case forming a rear appearance of the refrigerator door, and an insulation layer disposed between the outer case and the inner case. First and second mounting frames are installed at both side ends of the refrigerator door and have first and second mounting slots longitudinally formed in the first and second mounting frames in opposition to each other. The dispenser is detachably coupled to a front surface of the outer case and includes a housing, which forms an external appearance of the dispenser and is formed with a recess section. An external plate section is coupled to the front surface of the outer case except for an area in which the dispenser is installed, forming an external appearance of the refrigerator door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Yong-Chol Kwon
  • Patent number: 7673473
    Abstract: A dehumidification cooling apparatus for an indoor sports facility is provided which is capable of realizing dehumidification and cooling at a low operating cost in the indoor sports facility. This apparatus includes: an ice chamber for turning water into ice and storing it; an air supply-and-exhaust pipe which is disposed from the ice chamber to the indoor sports facility, leads to the ice chamber and leads to the upper space of the indoor sports facility; a fan which is disposed in a supply pipe of the air supply-and-exhaust pipe; and a heater which is disposed in the supply pipe of the air supply-and-exhaust pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Tsuchiya Dairy Equipment Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Noriaki Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 7673474
    Abstract: A refrigerator with a thermally insulated housing and integrated elements, suitable for the supply of potable water which can be connected to an external potable water supply. The surfaces of the integrated elements, provided for coming into contact with the potable water, are at least partly provided with a finish which is effective against microbes and/or fungi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Athanasios Athanasiou
  • Patent number: 7673475
    Abstract: The invention concerns an absorption cooling system for a motor vehicle using water as coolant and an absorbent. Said system comprises a circuit designed to ensure circulation of the coolant, when the engine is stopped, from the evaporator (3) to the absorber (4) passing through the electromagnetic valve (10) through the continued operation of the evaporator pump (7) for a predetermined duration and through maintaining the electromagnetic valve (10) in open position after the engine has stopped for another predetermined duration before it is closed. The evaporator pump (7) is kept in operation upon closure of the electromagnetic valve (10) so as to allow the coolant to circulate in the circuit from the evaporator (3) to the boiler (1) passing through the exchanger (6). Said system enables, when the engine is stopped, the zones containing residual deposits of absorbent to be diluted thereby preventing crystallization of said residual deposits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Ecoclim SA
    Inventor: Vitale Bruzzo
  • Patent number: 7673476
    Abstract: A compact and modular cryogenic method and apparatus for liquefying natural gas. The liquefaction process is highly efficient and requires no external refrigeration system, and the apparatus is small enough to be transportable from one remote site to another. A compressed natural gas feed stream is cooled and then expanded to form a bi-phase stream comprising a first refrigerated vapor component and a first liquid component. The first liquid component is then separated from the bi-phase stream and expanded to form a second bi-phase stream comprising a second refrigerated vapor component and a second liquid component. The second liquid component is then introduced into a means configured for storage and transport. The remaining feed stream can then be recycled, and at least a substantial portion of the original feed stream can be processed into liquefied natural gas (LNG).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Cambridge Cryogenics Technologies
    Inventor: Robert Whitesell
  • Patent number: 7673477
    Abstract: An optical fiber processing apparatus comprises reactors (3, 3a, 3b and 3c) that accommodate optical fiber, a single suction pump (7) having an intake port (19) and an outlet port (21), a storage chamber (5) into which deuterium containing gas is delivered, and a circuit portion (9, 59) including a plurality of valves disposed on a plurality of passages connecting the reactors, the suction pump and the storage chamber. The circuit portion includes a first channel for returning deuterium containing gas inside a reactor chamber to the storage chamber, a second channel for delivering air to the reactor chamber thereby rendering the pressure inside the reactor chamber atmospheric pressure, a third channel for decompression of the reactor chamber and a fourth channel for supplying deuterium containing gas in the storage chamber into the reactor chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukinari Shirako, Masaru Itoh, Hiroyuki Sawano, Takahiro Hamada
  • Patent number: 7673478
    Abstract: A needle bed (1) that comprises strips (4) in order to form needle channels (5), with the strips being configured in a comb-like manner. Between the individual teeth of this comb, recesses (28 through 37) are formed, said recesses being disposed to supply fluid to the needle channel (5) and to drain said fluid. The groove (12) that accommodates the strip (4) forms a distributor space where the distribution of the fluid to be supplied to the knitting tools takes place over a section of the strip (4), which section is preferably greater than half the length of the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Groz-Beckert KG
    Inventors: Rainer Krauss, Matthias Seeger