Patents Issued in May 4, 2010
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Patent number: 7707860Abstract: There is provided a washing machine combined with a dryer. In the washing machine, a tub is provided, a lint collector is connected to the tub to collect lint, an air-vent pipe is connected to the lint collector, a dryer duct is connected to the tub and it is provided with a blower fan therein, and a water drain line is provided to discharge water from the tub to an outside of the washing machine.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2005Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Sog Kie Hong, In Chul Jeong
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Patent number: 7707861Abstract: The brake bolt and the lock cylinder of the vehicle lock are mounted in a part of the vehicle for preventing the rotation of a wheel of the vehicle in a locked state. The brake bolt and lock cylinder are mounted in a brake bolt bore and a lock bore, respectively, located in the swing arm, the chain guard, or a lock body mounted over the axle-retaining nut. The vehicle lock engages a ventilation hole on the rotor, a ventilation hole on the sprocket, the teeth of the sprocket, or a hole on the hub to prevent rotation of the wheel in the locked state. Preferably, the lock cylinder is mounted to the vehicle in both the locked state and the unlocked state, and in the unlocked state the brake bolt is removed from the brake bolt bore for operation of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2009Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: New Hampton Technologies LLCInventors: Eric Xavier, Adam Xavier
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Patent number: 7707862Abstract: A multi-point door lock assembly has a central lock and an extension bolt for securing the door to a door frame. The assembly has an actuator positioned at the central lock and moveable between a first and second position along an axis. The assembly further has an elongated extension bolt residing along a bolt axis. The actuator and the bolt are secured in a configuration that displaces the axis of the bolt in spaced relationship from the axis of the actuator by an adaptor having a body length. The adaptor has a first end connected to the actuator and a second end connected to the extension bolt, and an intermediate portion between the first and second ends configured to displace the bolt axis for the bolt to pass through an interior portion of an associated door member.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2008Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Newell Operating CompanyInventors: Christopher G. Walls, Lyle Edward Hansel
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Patent number: 7707863Abstract: An ignition switch device is provided with a switching device 2 having a key hole 2a, and capable of being rotationally operated in a predetermined direction with an ignition key K inserted to start and stop the engine of an industrial machine, a case 3 covering the switching device 2 and formed with an insertion hole 3b allowing the key hole 2a to face the outside, a shutter 4 rotatable between a closed position where the insertion hole 3b of the case 3 is closed, and an open position where the insertion hole 3b is opened to allow the key hole 2a to face outside, and a protruding portion 7 formed within the range of rotation of the shutter 4 while protruding from the surface 3a of the case 3 and whose protruding end contacts the rear surface 4b of the shutter 4 while the shutter 4 rotates.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2008Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignees: Asahi Denso Co., Ltd., Kubota CorporationInventors: Akihiko Tsuchikiri, Takehiro Sakai, Masaaki Ueda, Keisuke Miura, Hiroshi Kawanami
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Patent number: 7707864Abstract: A lock includes a housing with a plug located in the housing. The plug is adapted to rotate in the housing about an axis. The lock also includes a moveable element comprising a first region with a first diameter, a second region with a second diameter that is less than the first diameter, and a third region with a third diameter that is less than the second diameter. The moveable element is located at least partly in the housing. The moveable element is adapted to move in an axis of motion substantially radial relative to the axis of the plug and to prevent rotation of the plug when the moveable element is in a first position along the axis of motion and to allow rotation of the plug when the moveable element is in a second position along the axis of motion.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2005Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Inventors: Justin Melendez, Mitchell Shuster
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Patent number: 7707865Abstract: A flaw detection apparatus and flaw detection method for automatically detecting the occurrence of a flaw in a mother tube manufactured by rolling a hollow shell using a mandrel mill are provided. A flaw detection apparatus (100) according to the present invention includes a wall thickness gauge (1) which is installed on the exit side of a mandrel mill (M) and which measures the tube wall thickness in each of the reducing directions of a hollow shell (P) in the #1-#5 stands of the mandrel mill, rolling load measuring devices (2) which measure the rolling load in the #1-#5 stands, and a decision unit (3) which determines whether there are flaws in the mother tube based on the measured value of the tube wall thickness in each of the reducing directions of the hollow shell (P) and the measured value of the rolling load in each stand.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2008Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd.Inventor: Kenichi Sasaki
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Patent number: 7707866Abstract: A die separator cylinder for use in separating first and second portions of a metal forming die set comprises a housing including a bore. A piston is adapted to reciprocate in the bore between an extended position and a depressed position. The die separator cylinder further includes gas flow paths leading to and from the bore that define asymmetrical gas flow rates relative to each other so that said when the bore is charged with an inert gas, the inert gas biases the piston to the extended position with a force that varies depending upon a time interval elapsed since the piston moved from the depressed position to the extended position.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2006Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Barnes Group Inc.Inventors: Harold I. Lanterman, Henry J. Kelm, Terry L. Gang, Jr., Steven J. Reilly
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Patent number: 7707867Abstract: A method for calibration of motion sensors included in a vehicle electronic brake control system includes measuring sensor offset errors at different points in the assembly of the system and the vehicle and then combining the offset errors to obtain net offset errors for use with an electronic brake system.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2007Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes CompanyInventors: Mike Babala, Kevin Fontenot
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Patent number: 7707868Abstract: A method for determining the operability of at least one pressure sensor of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, in which the ambient pressure is first determined by the pressure sensor, and the ambient pressure determined by the pressure sensor is then compared to the ambient pressure determined by a reference pressure sensor not belonging to the internal combustion engine.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2007Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Christof Thiel, Andreas Bethmann
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Patent number: 7707869Abstract: An operating method is disclosed for the selective detection of a target gas in a gas mixture to be measured by a field effect transistor with a gas-sensitive layer disposed on a carrier substrate, wherein the gas mixture to be measured is prepared by an electrochemical element such that the measured gas mixture includes minimal amounts of interfering gases that interfere with the measurement of the target gas, and/or at least one target gas is activated such that it is detected by the gas-sensitive layer.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2005Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Micronas GmbHInventors: Maximilian Fleischer, Hans Meixner, Elfriede Simon, Uwe Lampe, Roland Pohle
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Patent number: 7707870Abstract: A method and apparatus to test for oil leaks in an engine component after being machined. The method and apparatus include a wash station that washes the engine component after being machined, and a buffer that heats the engine component to a first temperature. An oil leak test station tests the engine component at about the first temperature for oil leaks.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2007Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Chrysler Group LLCInventor: Anthony T. Bustamante
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Patent number: 7707871Abstract: A system for detecting leaks in a unit. The novel system includes a first mechanism for injecting a first gas into an interior or an exterior of the unit, a second mechanism for sampling gas from an exterior or an interior of the unit to determine if the first gas has leaked out of or into the unit, respectively, and a third mechanism for controlling a differential pressure between the interior and exterior of the unit during sampling. In an illustrative embodiment, the differential pressure is controlled by injecting a second gas into the exterior or interior of the unit to replace the sampled gas, and using pressure regulators to control the pressures of the first and second gases such that the differential pressure remains constant during sampling.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2007Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventor: Peter C. Lukens
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Patent number: 7707872Abstract: A manufacturing process, system, and method is described that facilitates the assembly and testing of a hydraulic manifold with integral closed loop pressure sensing and feedback.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2006Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: David E. Herbert, David R. Sosnowski
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Patent number: 7707873Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, there is a force sensor for a probe based instrument. The force sensor can comprise a detection surface and a flexible mechanical structure disposed a first distance above the detection surface so as to form a gap between the flexible mechanical structure and the detection surface, wherein the flexible mechanical structure is configured to deflect upon exposure to an external force, thereby changing the first distance over a selected portion of the gap, the change in distance at the selected portion orienting a probe tip of the force sensor for multi-directional measurement.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2008Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Georgia Tech Research CorporationInventor: Fahrettin L. Degertekin
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Patent number: 7707874Abstract: A misfire determination device for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, of which an output shaft is connected, through a torsion element, to a downstream shaft downstream of the torsion element, includes: an first portion for detecting an output shaft rotational speed that is the rotational speed of the output shaft; a second portion for detecting a downstream shaft rotational speed that is the rotational speed of the downstream shaft; a third portion that calculates a component caused by an influence of resonance due to torsion of the torsion element on the output shaft rotational speed, based on the acquired output shaft rotational speed and the acquired downstream shaft rotational speed; and a fourth portion for determining the occurrence of the misfire in the internal combustion engine based on a rotational speed that is obtained by subtracting the calculated component from the detected output shaft rotational speed.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2008Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takashi Suzuki
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Patent number: 7707875Abstract: The invention provides a soot collection quantity measuring device for a diesel particulate filter. The soot collection quantity measuring device for a diesel particulate filter includes: an anion charging unit that is provided in an exhaust pipe in front of a diesel particulate filter and has a plurality of conductor flat plates in parallel with one another, and a capacitor that is provided at the back of the anion charging unit and has upper and lower electrode plates connected to a direct-current high-voltage power supply. The soot particulates pass through the anion charging unit which is negatively charged, and the charged soot particulates are collected in the upper electrode plate by an electric field between the upper and lower electrode plate.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2006Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventor: Kyung-Min Lee
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Patent number: 7707876Abstract: A method for estimating the magnitude of a tire force acting on a rolling tire is disclosed, wherein: using at least seven sensors mounted on a tire sidewall portion, surface strain is simultaneously measured at seven measuring positions; with respect to a combination of the seven measuring positions, a coefficient matrix representing correlation with seven force components is defined, and a equation including the coefficient matrix is defined; using the data on the surface strain measured with the sensors, the equation is computed to find at least one of the seven force components, e.g. air pressure. The estimated air pressure is compared with a reference pressure, to determine whether the tire pressure is dropped or not. Further, a secondary sensor is mounted in a peculiar region where the surface strain is substantially not affected by the vertical load.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2008Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.Inventor: Akihiro Miyoshi
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Patent number: 7707877Abstract: A volume measuring apparatus is provided with: an acoustic tube whose one end is communicated with a container in which an object to be measured is contained; another container communicated with the other end of the acoustic tube; a partition chamber which defines a sealed space disposed adjacent to the another container and which includes a partition plate for dividing the sealed space and an inner space of the another container; and an electromotive-type speaker which is disposed in the sealed space and whose acoustic wave output surface is disposed opposite to the partition plate. A processing device obtains a volume of the object to be measured, on the basis of an acoustic signal associated with an acoustic wave outputted into the another container via the partition plate from the acoustic wave output surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2005Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignees: Kyoto University, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Japan Space Forum, Mayekawa Mfg. Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takahisa Nishizu, Akihiro Nakano, Yasuo Torikata, Tomoki Yamashita
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Patent number: 7707878Abstract: A circulation pump for circulating downhole fluids is provided. The circulation pump includes a cylindrical pump housing, a shaft secured in the pump housing extending in a longitudinal direction thereof, an impeller rotating around the shaft in the pump housing, a cylindrical magnetic coupler rotating around the pump housing, the cylindrical magnetic coupler including a magnet, and a motor positioned outside of the pump housing and connected to the magnetic coupler to rotate the magnetic coupler around the pump housing. The impeller is provided with a magnetic piece, which is capable of being magnetically connected with the magnet of the cylindrical magnetic coupler to cause the impeller to rotate around the shaft by rotating the cylindrical magnetic coupler around the pump housing.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2007Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Kazumasa Kanayama, Ryuki Odashima, Shunetsu Onodera, Hitoshi Sugiyama, Hideki Kinjo
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Patent number: 7707879Abstract: There is provided a gear pair evaluation apparatus capable of performing accurate tooth surface analysis based on actual tooth surface measurement information without using information about a reference tooth surface. A processing unit 6 associates three-dimensional coordinate data on a gear tooth surface 102G and three-dimensional coordinate data on a pinion tooth surface 102P with each other at a predetermined meshing rotational position and converts the three-dimensional coordinate data into three-dimensional coordinate data on a cylindrical coordinate system based on the gear 101G. The processing unit 6 generates functions representing points on the pinion tooth surface 102P on the basis of the three-dimensional coordinate data on the pinion tooth surface 102P and calculates the coordinates of points on the pinion tooth surface 102P that correspond to points (grid points) on the gear tooth surface 102G by using the functions.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2006Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Keiichiro Tobisawa, Masaki Kano, Kohei Saiki
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Patent number: 7707880Abstract: Monitoring method and system are provided for dynamically determining rack airflow rate and rack power consumption employing a heat exchanger disposed at an air outlet side of the electronics rack. The method includes: sensing air temperature at the air outlet side of the electronics rack, sensing coolant temperature at a coolant inlet and coolant temperature at a coolant outlet of the heat exchanger, and determining airflow rate through the electronics rack; and outputting the determined airflow rate through the electronics rack. The determining employs the sensed air temperature at the air outlet side of the rack and the sensed coolant temperatures at the coolant inlet and outlet of the heat exchanger. In one embodiment, the heat exchanger is an air-to-air heat exchanger, and in another embodiment, the heat exchanger is an air-to-liquid heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2008Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Robert E. Simons
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Patent number: 7707881Abstract: Described is a component for a fill level measuring device or for a pressure measuring device. The component may include a coating with a microsmooth surface so that the microsmooth surface remains essentially free of any deposits.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2006Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Vega Grieshaber KGInventors: Joern Jacob, Joergen Motzer, Thomas Deck, Josef Fehrenbach
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Patent number: 7707882Abstract: An insulation beverage container (10) is provided and includes a gauge (40) for indicating the level of beverage held in the container (10). The gauge (40) includes a float (42) positioned within the container (10), a visual indicator (44) extending outside of the container (10), and a link (46) connecting the float (42) to the indicator (44) to move the indicator (44) with the float (42) as the position of the float (42) varies with the level of the beverage in the container (10).Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2006Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Thermos L.L.C.Inventor: Marvin Lane
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Patent number: 7707883Abstract: An instrument for measuring gravitational acceleration from within a borehole, the instrument including: a light source having a semiconductor that comprises a bandgap greater than about two electron volts (eV); and a gravimeter for receiving light from the light source and providing output light with a characteristic related to the gravitational acceleration, the gravimeter implemented at least one of a nano electro-mechanical system (NEMS) and a micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS); wherein the light source and the gravimeter are disposed in a housing adapted for insertion into the borehole.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2007Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventor: Rocco DiFoggio
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Patent number: 7707884Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for measuring the absorption and displacement of a fluid by a material. The apparatus comprises a container having graduated marks for measuring the volume, and change in volume, of a fluid (such as, but not limited to, a liquid) and a section for holding the material to be evaluated.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2006Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Inventor: Bryce P. Simons
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Patent number: 7707885Abstract: The invention concerns gyrometric measurement compensated as a function of the instantaneous internal temperature of a mechanical resonator in a gyrometric measurement device comprising a loop controlling the amplitude of the resonator vibration and a gyrometric loop delivering a gyrometric signal (S); the gain control (P) of the loop varies as a monotonous function, preferably increasing and of the first order, of the internal temperature of the resonator in a given range of temperature; during a calibrating step, a correspondence is established and stored between the values of the gyrometric scaling factor (Fe) and the gyrometric bias (S0) and the values of the gain control signal (F), that is F(P) and Q(P) respectively; in operation, the following operations are carried out: P?F(P), P?Q(P), and ??est=F(P)·S+Q(P) which is a more precise analog estimate, compensated as a function of the internal temperature of the resonator, of the mechanical rotation of the sensitive axis of the resonator.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2006Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Sagem Defense SecuriteInventor: José Beitia
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Patent number: 7707886Abstract: The invention relates to a microgyroscope, that is to say an inertial micromechanical sensor dedicated to the measurement of angular velocities, which is produced by micromachining techniques, and has a novel arrangement of the modules for measuring the movement of the vibrating masses. The gyroscope comprises two symmetrical moving assemblies (30, 50; 30?, 50?) that are coupled by a coupling structure (20, 20?, 22). Each of the two assemblies comprises a moving mass (30) surrounded by a moving intermediate frame (50). The frame (50) is connected to the coupling structure (20, 20?, 22) and can vibrate in two degrees of freedom in orthogonal directions Ox and Oy of the plane of the wafer. The mass (30) is connected, on one side, to the frame and, on the other side, to fixed anchoring regions (34, 36) via linking means (40-46; 52-58) that allow the vibration movement in the Oy direction to be transmitted to the mass without permitting any movement of the mass in the Ox direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2006Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: ThalesInventors: Claude Rougeot, Bernard Chaumet, Bertrand Le Verrier, Jerome Willemin
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Patent number: 7707887Abstract: A passage detection apparatus is configured to detect the change in the properties (propagation state of sound wave, dielectric constant, etc.) of a specific space, which changes according to the passage of an object in the specific space and the size of the object. The passage detection apparatus includes a pair of detection units configured to transmit and receive signals to and from an external device. The specific space is formed by the space between the first detection unit and the second detection unit. The first detection unit is supported by a first substrate. The second detection unit is supported by a second substrate that is parallel to the first substrate, and arranged at the position corresponding to the first detection unit supported by the first substrate.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2007Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Takao Ohnishi, Kunihiko Yoshioka, Shuhei Fujita
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Patent number: 7707888Abstract: A vibration sensor for detecting a vibration of a vibrating object includes a plurality of detecting members. Each of the detecting members includes a vibrating portion disposed to be separated from the vibrating object, a transmitting portion for transmitting the vibration from the vibrating object to the vibrating portion, and a detecting portion disposed on a vibrating face of the vibration portion. The detecting portion outputs an electrical signal corresponding to a resonance of the vibrating portion. At least two of the vibrating portions of the detecting members have resonance frequencies, which are different from each other.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2007Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Takahiko Yoshida, Makiko Sugiura
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Patent number: 7707889Abstract: A method for determining oscillations of a rotating blade disc of a turbomachine is provided. The method utilizes the steps including, arranging a substance that emits a light quanta when excited by an external excitation source to emit the light quanta, exciting the light emitting substance by the external excitation source to emit the light quanta, sensing the emitted light quanta by a light sensor, and evaluating a signal from the sensor tot determine the osciallation behavior of the blade disc. A corresponding apparatus is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2005Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Reinhold Maurus, Frank Woditschka
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Patent number: 7707890Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system for detecting vibrations from a component. The system operates by coupling vibrations from a component to a membrane using a flexible connecting line. The membrane converts the vibrations into acoustic waves that are transmitted through a medium. Finally, a microphone detects the acoustic waves in the medium and converts the acoustic waves into electrical signals.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2007Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Oracle America, Inc.Inventors: George Popescu, Kenny C. Gross, Aleksey M. Urmanov
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Patent number: 7707891Abstract: A pressure measuring cell has a first housing body and a membrane arranged proximate the housing body, both of ceramic. The membrane has a peripheral edge joined to the first housing body to create a reference pressure chamber. A second housing body made of ceramic material is opposite the membrane and is joined to the peripheral edge of the membrane, the second housing body together with the membrane forming a measurement pressure chamber. The second housing body has a port for connecting the pressure measuring cell to a medium to be measured. The first housing body, the second housing body and the membrane are tightly connected along the peripheral edge of the membrane in a central area of the first housing body a hole is formed, reaching through the first housing body and at least in the central region of the membrane and opposite the hole a surface of the membrane is formed as a first optically reflective area.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2008Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Inficon GmbHInventors: Jarkko Antila, Dietmar Bertsch, Felix Mullis, Martin Wüest
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Patent number: 7707892Abstract: A mounting structure for a pressure sensor serves to facilitate easy attachment of the pressure sensor as well as easy detachment thereof without requiring any large work space. A pair of elastic snap fit portions (8) are formed on a surge tank (4) so as to protrude from a surface thereof, and have engagement protrusions (8a) formed at their one end, respectively, so as to protrude to a side opposite to a case (2). A pair of engaged portions (2b) are formed on the case (2) so as to be engaged with the engagement protrusions (8a), respectively. The snap fit portions (8) are forced to flexibly deform to the pressure sensor (1) when the pressure sensor (1) is attached to and detached from the surge tank (4).Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2008Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventor: Seizo Fujimoto
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Patent number: 7707893Abstract: An industrial robot including a tool flange at an end of an outer arm of the robot. A tool is secured to the tool flange. A sensor is configured to sense forces and/or torques applied to a tool secured to the tool flange. The sensor is built into the structure of the robot in the region of the tool flange.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2006Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: ABB ABInventors: Görgen Johansson, Ingvar Jonsson
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Patent number: 7707894Abstract: An apparatus structure and measurement method are provided to retain high precision and high reliability of a semiconductor mechanical quantity measuring apparatus which senses a mechanical quantity and transmits measured information wirelessly. As to a silicon substrate of the semiconductor mechanical quantity measuring apparatus, for example, a ratio of a substrate thickness to a substrate length along a measurement direction is set small, and a ratio of a substrate thickness to a substrate length along a direction perpendicular to the measurement direction is set small. The apparatus upper surface is covered with a protective member. It is possible to measure a strain along a particular direction and realize mechanical quantity measurement with less error and high precision. An impact resistance and environment resistance of the apparatus itself can be improved.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2008Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Takashi Sumigawa, Hiroyuki Ohta
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Patent number: 7707895Abstract: The invention relates to a method for examining the resistance of a connection between two bodies, whereby one of the bodies only has a small mass. A correspondingly directed force is exerted upon the connection until disconnection thereof. The force used is the centrifugal force which acts at a distance from a rotational axis in a concentric manner about said rotated connection. Said method is particularly advantageous if the body having a small mass is a coating which is applied to the other body. In order to obtain a sufficiently high centrifugal force, an examining stamp is applied to the body having the small mass and/or the coating on the side oriented away from the connection. The adhesion between the body and/or the coating and the examining stamp is greater than between both of the bodies and/or the coating and the other body.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2005Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: BAM Bundesanstalt fur Material-Forschung und-PrufungInventors: Uwe Beck, Georg Reiners, Christian Berndt, Sylke Grune, Rüdiger Uhlendorf
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Patent number: 7707896Abstract: The method and apparatus employ a resilient element having end definition points that are constrained between stops spaced apart at a separation S. The separation S is less than a free length L between the end definition points when not constrained, causing the resilient element to bow and resulting in a displacement m of a central region of the resilient element. The displacement m changes responsive to the net change in the separation S and the free length L. When the geometry is set such that the displacement m is very small, a relatively large change in displacement m results from small net changes. The change in the displacement m can be monitored to provide a micro strain gauge. The stops can be mounted to a substrate which differs from the resilient element in its response to a selected environmental stimulus to provide a sensor for the environmental stimulus.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2008Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Inventor: James A. Kuzdrall
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Patent number: 7707897Abstract: Multi-phase flow is estimated in a flow meter having a first and a second stage by empirically deriving an algorithm for the water and gas fractions, measuring pressures within the flow meter, and estimating a total mass flow rate based on the measured pressures. A corrected total mass flow rate is calculated using a liquid/gas slip correction technique. The oil fraction can be determined from the corrected total mass flow rate and gas and water fractions.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2008Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventor: Joo Ong
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Patent number: 7707898Abstract: According to the invention, a system for determining at least one property of a fluid flow through a conduit is disclosed. The system may include a bearing, at least one blade member, and a monitoring device. The bearing may be coupled with an interior of the conduit, and may include an inner race, where the inner race may rotate. The blade members may be coupled with the inner race, and may extend from the inner race toward the interior of the conduit. The blade members may rotate when a fluid flows through the interior of the conduit, and the inner race of the bearing may rotate when the blade members rotate. The monitoring device may be configured to determine a rate of rotation of the blade members. At least one property of the fluid flow may be determined based at least in part on the rate of rotation.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2008Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventor: Gary Oddie
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Patent number: 7707899Abstract: A force sensor chip including a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of strain resistance elements and temperature-compensating resistance elements corresponding to the resistance elements is disclosed. The structure in the periphery of parts where the strain resistance elements, which are provided to deforming parts in the action part formed on the semiconductor substrate, are disposed is the same as the structure in the periphery of parts where the temperature-compensating resistance elements in the action part are disposed.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2007Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Nobuhiro Sakurai, Takeshi Ohsato
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Patent number: 7707900Abstract: A magnetic shield made of magnetic material in the shape of a thin cylinder is externally fitted and fixed on a cylindrical mold member holding magnetic flux collecting rings so that it has extended sections with appropriate length on both sides in the axial direction, and therefore magnetic noise from outside in the radial direction is shielded directly by the outer surface of the magnetic shield, magnetic noise from both sides in the axial direction is shielded by concentrating the magnetic noise on the end faces of the magnetic shield, and the influence on the magnetic flux collecting rings held in the mold member is eliminated.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2006Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignees: JTEKT Corporation, DENSO CorporationInventors: Toshiharu Ishihara, Taisuke Tsujimoto, Naoki Nakane
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Patent number: 7707901Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring containment force on a load is provided. The apparatus may include a first longitudinally extending arm configured to engage a first side of packaging material wrapped around the load. The apparatus may also include a second longitudinally extending arm configured to engage a second side of the packaging material, the second side being opposite the first side. The apparatus may further include an indicator positioned substantially perpendicularly to the first and second arms, a third longitudinally extending arm, and a force gauge configured to measure a force exerted on the third longitudinally extending arm.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2008Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Lantech.com LLCInventors: Patrick R. Lancaster, III, David E. Eldridge, Curtis W. Martin
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Patent number: 7707902Abstract: A bearing rotor thrust sensor assembly is provided for being secured to a bearing housing having a plurality of fingers extending between a pair of opposite portions of the housing. The assembly includes a first anchor member including a first cleat and configured to couple to a first housing portion of the pair of opposite housing portions, a second anchor member including a second cleat and configured to couple to a second of the pair of opposite housing portions, and a head sensor bracket positioned at least partially between the first and second anchor members. The head sensor bracket includes a load cell including a bridge circuit for producing a signal representative of forces on said cell.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2008Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Frederic Gardner Haaser, Boris Kamentser, Francisco Zul, Eugenia Kamentser
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Patent number: 7707903Abstract: An actuator includes a motor, an input rotation member driven by the motor, an input contacting portion formed on the input rotation member, a bush disposed so as to be relatively rotatable to the input rotation member, a first contacting portion and an engaging portion formed on the bush, a spiral spring including an outer circumferential hook portion in contact with the input contacting portion of the input rotation member, and an inner circumferential hook portion engageable with the engaging portion of the bush, the spiral spring storing a rotational force of the input rotation member as an potential energy via the input contacting portion, an output member disposed so as to be relatively rotatable to the input rotation member, an output contacting portion formed on the output member and in contact with the outer circumferential hook portion of the spiral spring; the output contacting portion transmitting the potential energy stored in the spiral spring to the output member; wherein the bush includes a seType: GrantFiled: July 20, 2005Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yasuhiro Kobayashi
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Patent number: 7707904Abstract: A shift range switching device is provided to a shift-by-wire system for an automatic transmission device. The shift range switching device includes a range switching unit for switching a shift range of the automatic transmission device between a P range and the other range. The shift range switching device further includes an actuator including an electric motor and a reduction device. The reduction device transmits driving force of the electric motor to the range switching unit for actuating the range switching unit as instructed. The reduction device has a variable reduction ratio. The reduction device transmits the driving force in switching of the shift range from the P range to the other range at a reduction ratio, which is greater than a reduction ratio in switching of the shift range from the other range to the P range.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2007Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Kiyoshi Kimura, Taku Itoh, Shigeru Yoshiyama
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Patent number: 7707905Abstract: A shift mechanism for a manual planetary transmission has a plurality of control members. Each control member has a slot configuration for each shift rail defined therein. The slot configurations are aligned among plates and a pin member is inserted in each of the slot configurations. Manipulation of any one of the plates produces movement of two or more of the pin members. The pin members are operable upon movement to select the engagement of the synchronizers, which are disposed within a power transmission. The synchronizers establish drive ratios between the input shaft for the transmission and the output shaft for the transmission.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2007Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Inc.Inventor: Raymond J. Haka
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Patent number: 7707906Abstract: An ergonomic inertial positioning system comprises a motion sensor, an angle sensor, and a processor. The motion sensor detects movement of an object. The angle sensor detects angle variation of the heading of the object. The processor determines motion status of the object based on detected data provided by the motion sensor and the angle sensor, and calculates displacement of the object utilizing the detected angle variation thereof based on the motion status.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2006Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Institute for Information IndustryInventors: Chih-Hung Lin, Zhi-Hong Zhu, Yung-Jin Wu, Tung-Wu Lu, Shih-Hsiang Liu
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Patent number: 7707907Abstract: A planar parallel mechanism having a platform movable in a plane along three degrees of freedom is described Existing technology fails to provide a manipulator with three degrees of freedom, wherein the mechanisms for moving the manipulator move in a decoupled fashion A manipulator and method of supporting and displacing an object which provides a solution to this problem comprises a base (1) and a moving portion (2) and articulated support legs (A1,A2,A3) between the moving portion (2) and the base (1) The articulated support legs (A1,A2,A3) are connected to the base (1) by a first translational joint, and jointly restrict movement of the moving portion to displacements in a plane in two translational degrees of freedom and one rotational degree of freedom A decoupled displacement of the moving portion (2) along a first of the two translational degrees of freedom and a decoupled displacement of the moving portion (2) along the rotational degree of freedom both result from actuation of at most two of the firsType: GrantFiled: November 17, 2006Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Socovar, Société en CommanditeInventor: Ilian Bonev
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Patent number: 7707908Abstract: A steering column is attached to a fixing bracket of a vehicle body through a support bracket such that the steering column is inclined with respect to a vertical plane perpendicular to the width direction of the vehicle body. A guide plate is attached to one of both side portions of the fixing bracket. The one side portion is located on the side toward which the rear portion of the steering column is inclined. When the support bracket moves due to external force acting thereon, the guide plate restricts movement of the support bracket in the width direction of the vehicle body to permit the steering column to move toward the front of the vehicle body while at the same time suppressing swaying motion of the steering column, thereby stabilizing the load at the time of absorption of impact.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2005Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Seiji Tanaka, Toshifumi Oheda, Hideaki Okamoto
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Patent number: 7707909Abstract: A device drives auxiliary machines by using power extracted from a multi-shaft gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine may include a LP shaft and a HP shaft. The machines may be installed in a gearbox. The device may include a first mechanical transmission between the HP shaft and the gearbox. The device also may include a hydraulic transmission between the LP shaft and the gearbox. Further, the LP shaft connects a low pressure turbine to a low pressure compressor, the HP shaft connects a high pressure turbine to a high pressure compressor, and the low pressure compressor is upstream of the high pressure compressor.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2006Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Hispano-SuizaInventors: Hugues Henri Raymond Linet, Cyril Franck Mouchnino, Serge Dominique Pettinotti