Patents Issued in August 31, 2010
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Patent number: 7784255Abstract: A rotary cutter deck unit that has an overall dual-deck configuration. Upper and lower deck plates do not engage each other at any location, but the deck unit includes front and rear end spacers, at least one of which has a plurality of bends, and two of which are secured to the upper deck plate to form a box-like weldment. The lower deck plate is secured to this spacer at an intermediate location.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2008Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Bush Hog Inc.Inventors: Fred P. Moore, Jr., Jack L. Harrington
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Patent number: 7784256Abstract: A harvesting device for mechanical harvesting of vegetables and the like, the harvesting device having a pair of circular supports rotates on an axle disposed and are disposed in a housing. The circular supports are positioned on opposite sides of a picking path defined by a void in the housing and through which the vegetables pass as the harvester moves. Each circular support having at least one picking element extended into the picking path.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2009Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Santa Fe IngredientsInventor: Henry Rodriguez
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Patent number: 7784257Abstract: The invention is a device for the safe and efficient collection of debris displaced across a collection field. Utilizing a plurality of spikes which pierce and penetrate articles of debris, the invention contemplates the accumulation of articles of debris on the spikes. When the device has become loaded with debris, the device self ejects the debris using a compression spring force trigger mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2008Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Inventors: Ronnie D. Williams, Robert Williams, Michael Ray Cook
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Patent number: 7784258Abstract: A rope-like structure, such as a core-spun rope, a cord or a rope, disclosed wherein the individual fibers, threads, strands and/or cords are provided in the form of longitudinal fibers of a longitudinal fiber structure which are joined to another fiber which extends in a substantially crosswise manner or at any particular angle in relation to the longitudinal fibers, such that the longitudinal fibers of the longitudinal fiber structure are mutually non-slip and essentially cannot move backwards in relation to each other, wherein the other fibers are untied, at least on one occasion, in relation to the longitudinal fibers and the latter are thus retained thereby.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2005Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Textilma AGInventor: Ruedi Hess
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Patent number: 7784259Abstract: A cable carrier (10) has top (18) and bottom (16) longitudinally continuous sides, with one side (18) more flexible and the opposite side (16) less flexible. The sides are made of continuous sheets of material to define a closed tubular shape in which energy carriers can be housed and supported. The sheets may be integral, or have integral parts, and can be extruded. The carrier may be longitudinally openable with a zipper structure (125) to permit loading of energy carriers.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2005Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: A&A Manufacturing Co., Inc.Inventors: James D. O'Rourke, Jay R. O'Brien, Mark A. Zanolla
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Patent number: 7784260Abstract: A shaft coupling device to couple first and second shafts, said device comprising a fluid coupling having a first portion attached to the first shaft and a second portion attached to the second shaft wherein the device further comprises engagement means operable to switch the device between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the engaged position having each of the first and second shafts engaged with its respective portion of the fluid coupling and the disengaged position having at least one of the first and second shafts disengaged from its respective portion of the fluid coupling.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2008Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Rolls-Royce plcInventor: Martin C. Spalton
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Patent number: 7784261Abstract: A combined cycle power plant (10) that is optimized to reduce total life cycle cost rather than only thermal efficiency. A steam bottoming cycle (16) is fed with exhaust gas (14) from a gas turbine topping cycle (12). The topping cycle incorporates multiple stages of combustion in order to maintain a desired high temperature of the exhaust gas being delivered to the bottoming cycle while at the same time avoiding peak combustion temperatures that would produce undesirable levels of NOx emissions. Accordingly, no post-combustion exhaust gas treatment is needed. In one embodiment, an aspirated compressor (36) provides compressed air to a torus-configured combustion chamber (20) that is integrated with a first stage of vanes (22), and a plurality of stages of in-situ reheat combustion (26, 28) are utilized. In other embodiments, torus-configured combustion chambers may be utilized for more than one of the stages of combustion.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2006Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.Inventor: David A. Little
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Patent number: 7784262Abstract: The present invention relates to an exhaust gas guide of a gas turbine, which is situated between the gas turbine and a downstream waste heat boiler or a downstream gas diverter and which comprises a flow channel which has a cross-section expanding in at least some areas in the main flow direction, having installed surfaces influencing the flow. In order to achieve a more compact implementation of the exhaust gas guide and simultaneously avoid or reduce pressure losses, the installed surfaces are implemented as a swirl device generating a leading edge swirl, which is situated in the diverging area of the flow channel and is implemented to distribute the exhaust gas flow uniformly over the flow cross-sectional area upon entry into the waste heat boiler or the gas diverter. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for mixing the exhaust gas of a gas turbine with hot exhaust gas streams generated in an auxiliary firing of at least one burner.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2006Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Balcke Durr GmbHInventors: Stefan Leser, Michael Kaatz, Miroslav Podhorsky
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Patent number: 7784263Abstract: A method for determining sensor locations in a gas turbine engine is provided. The said method includes providing a turbine rear frame including a radially inner surface, a radially outer surface and a plurality of circumferentially-spaced struts extending between the inner and outer surfaces, wherein a strut sector is defined between each pair of circumferentially-adjacent struts, providing a plurality of fuel nozzles that are each aligned with a strut sector, selecting one of the plurality of fuel nozzles as a primary index nozzle and positioning each of a plurality of sensors relative to one of the plurality of nozzles using a corresponding positioning angle such that each of the plurality of sensors coincides with a gas flow temperature distribution profile between each pair of circumferentially-spaced nozzles.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2006Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Robert Louis Ponziani
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Patent number: 7784264Abstract: One embodiment of a transition-to-turbine seal (300) comprises a first, flattened section (302) adapted to be received in a peripheral axial slot (320) of a transition (325), and a second, generally C-shaped section (301). The generally C-shaped section (301) comprises a flattened portion (305) near the first, flattened section (302), and a curved portion (306) extending to a free edge (307). A fiber metal strip component (309) may be attached to the flattened portion (305) to define a first engagement surface adapted to engage an upstream side (336) of an outer vane seal rail (337), and a second engagement surface 308, adjacent the free edge (307), provides an opposed wear surface adapted to engage a downstream side (338) of the outer vane seal rail (337). System embodiments also are described, in which such transition-to-turbine seal (300) is isolated from a hot gas path (350) by provision of a plurality of cooling apertures (327) in the transition (325).Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2006Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.Inventors: Adam J. Weaver, Raymond S. Nordlund, David B. Allen, Daniel O. Davies
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Patent number: 7784265Abstract: A pulse detonation combustor (PDC) assembly includes an upstream chamber forming an inlet plenum, a downstream chamber including a downstream portion of at least one PDC tube, and an integrated PDC head coupled to the upstream chamber and the downstream chamber. The integrated PDC head is configured to facilitate fuel injection and ignition within the PDC tube. The PDC tube includes an inner seal surface and an outer seal surface configured to mate with the inner seal surface, wherein the inner seal surface includes an elevated section thereon that engages with the outer seal surface such that the PDC tube is free to partially pivot about a longitudinal axis thereof.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2006Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Adam Rasheed, Anthony John Dean
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Patent number: 7784266Abstract: A method of supplying air to a vehicle is provided, wherein the method includes modulating a flow of air from between a fan assembly of a turbofan engine and a high pressure compressor of the turbofan engine with a core driven fan stage coupled in parallel to the high pressure compressor. The method also includes channeling the air from the core driven fan stage to the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2006Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: John Lewis Baughman, Rollin George Giffin, Ronald Burton Steinmetz
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Patent number: 7784267Abstract: A detonation engine which creates thrust by generating a detonation wave, wherein the overall engine structure is simplified, and continuous output can be obtained, comprises: a rotational flow generation device which generates rotational flow about an axis in a mixed gas of air and fuel or of oxygen and fuel; a detonation chamber arranged downstream from the rotational flow generation device, formed in a ring-shape radially extended and continuous in the circumferential direction, which continuously combusts in the circumferential direction the mixed gas in which the rotational flow is generated to generate detonation waves, and draws it in from the radial inside and exhausts it to the radial outside; and a nozzle which is connected to the detonation chamber, and jets the high temperature and pressure combustion gas generated by the detonation waves flowing from the detonation chamber, to the rear while expanding it, and converts it into thrust.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2005Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignees: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Akihiro Tobita, Toshitaka Fujiwara, Piotr Wolanski
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Patent number: 7784268Abstract: A system and method of driving a fuel pump and/or an oxidizer pump in a propulsion system includes pumping an oxidizer from an oxidizer supply to a rocket engine with the oxidizer pump. A first portion of the pumped oxidizer is used for combustion in the rocket engine. The heat from the combustion of the first portion of the oxidizer is then transferred to a second portion of the pumped oxidizer to convert the second portion of the oxidizer to a super-heated gaseous oxidizer. The super-heated gaseous oxidizer operates a motor, which drives the oxidizer pump and/or the fuel pump.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2006Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: XCOR AerospaceInventors: Jeffrey K. Greason, Daniel L. DeLong, Douglas B. Jones
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Patent number: 7784269Abstract: A propulsion system for a rocket engine and a method of cooling a rocket engine includes a propellant tank fluidically coupled to the rocket engine to hold a pressurized propellant, a coolant tank to hold a coolant, a first heat exchanger thermally coupled to the rocket engine and fluidically coupled to the coolant tank, a second heat exchanger thermally coupled to the propellant tank and fluidically coupled to the first heat exchanger, and a third heat exchanger disposed inside the propellant tank to thermally couple a propellant withdrawn from the tank for combustion to a propellant disposed inside the tank. The coolant flows from the coolant tank to the first heat exchanger and through the first heat exchanger to cool the rocket engine. The propellant withdrawn from the propellant tank receives heat from the propellant disposed inside the tank through the third heat exchanger to convert to a gaseous propellant when withdrawn from the propellant tank as a liquid propellant.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2006Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Xcor AerospaceInventors: Jeffrey K. Greason, Daniel L. DeLong, Douglas B. Jones
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Patent number: 7784270Abstract: The invention relates to a mixer for a bypass turbomachine, the mixer comprising a member having a sinusoidal portion at its end defining inner lobes and outer lobes, each outer lobe comprising a pair of plane radial walls spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction and interconnected by an outer dome, each inner lobe comprising a pair of plane radial walls spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction and connected together by an inner dome, the walls of the outer lobes being disposed to extend the walls of the inner lobes radially, the radial walls of a given outer lobe extending radially in mutually parallel directions, with these walls, when extended geometrically, defining a zone from which the axis of symmetry of the cylindrical member is excluded.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2007Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: SNECMAInventors: Laurent Christophe Dussillols, Alexandre Alfred Gaston Vuillemin
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Patent number: 7784271Abstract: Deterioration of a catalyst provided in an exhaust system of the engine is determined. Air-fuel ratio sensors are provided in the upstream side and the downstream side of the catalyst. Air-fuel ratio is changed. Based on the sensor outputs in the upstream die and the downstream side of the catalyst, a parameter of a catalyst model representing a state of the catalyst is identified. The parameter is compared with a threshold to determine a state of the catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2007Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kiyoshi Saito, Eisaku Gosyo, Hiroaki Nishino
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Patent number: 7784272Abstract: An engine exhaust treatment system using a control system is described. In one form of the present invention, engine exhaust gas contaminates are passed through a selective reduction catalyst and a contaminate reducing agent is injected into the catalyst. The amount of contaminates present in the exhaust proximate to the selective reduction catalyst are sensed using at least one sensor. In one embodiment, input signals are sent to a control system from the sensor or sensors and a feedforward control combined with a feedback loop is used to transform these signals and a predetermined catalyst output contaminate value into an output signal. The output signal instructs a provider to inject contaminate reducing agents in a manner to efficiently track the desired predetermined catalyst output contaminate value.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2004Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Cummins Inc.Inventors: Qingwen Song, Guoming George Zhu, Jerilyn Tsai
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Patent number: 7784273Abstract: An exhaust emission purifying apparatus has a NOx reduction catalytic converter in an exhaust passage of an engine, for purifying nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas by reduction with urea aqueous solution; an injection nozzle injecting the urea solution toward an exhaust upstream side of the converter in the exhaust passage; and fins disposed on an exhaust upstream side of an injection position of the urea solution in the injection nozzle, for generating a spiral swirling flow of the gas swirling about a center corresponding to the central axis of an exhaust pipe. The swirling flow generated in the exhaust gas prior to the injection-supply of the urea aqueous solution promotes mixing of the solution with the gas to thereby promote the hydrolysis of the urea solution. And the exhaust gas and ammonia generated from the urea solution are uniformly mixed together.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2006Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignees: Nissan Diesel Motor Co., Ltd., Tokyo Roki Co., Ltd.Inventors: Isamu Kanaya, Koutarou Honda, Tomoko Amemiya, Kiminobu Hirata, Nobuhiko Masaki, Shinya Obana, Daisuke Shirai, Hitoshi Hiramoto, Naobumi Yamada
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Patent number: 7784274Abstract: A compact system for introducing hydrocarbons in the form of engine fuel into the bearing housing for a turbocharger adjacent the turbine wheel shaft. The hydrocarbons are directed outward by centrifugal force and are vaporized by the heat of the impeller. As a result the hydrocarbons are available substantially immediately after the turbine to interact with a catalyst to increase the temperature of the exhaust stream for regeneration of a diesel particulate filter.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2007Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventor: Richard Edward Winsor
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Patent number: 7784275Abstract: A diesel engine system having an exhaust system with a catalyst and a diesel particulate filter includes a first module that determines a light-off temperature of the catalyst based on an exhaust flow rate (EFR) through the exhaust system and a second module that selectively generates an enable signal based on the light-off temperature and a catalyst temperature. A DPF regeneration sequence is enabled based on said enable signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2005Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Inventors: Chad E. Marlett, Rahul Mital
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Patent number: 7784276Abstract: It is intended to efficiently remove particulate substances, such as NOx and soot, without poisoning by Sox, etc. from dilute-combustion effecting internal combustion engines, combustion equipment, etc. There is provided an exhaust gas purifier to be installed in exhaust passage (2) of internal combustion engine (1) or the like, comprising, disposed in the exhaust passage (2), NOx adsorbent (4) capable of temporarily adsorbing nitrogen oxides even in an atmosphere of excess air and capable of desorbing the adsorbed nitrogen oxides upon temperature rise or in a reducing atmosphere, adsorbed substance desorbing means (3) arranged on an exhaust upstream side as compared with the NOx adsorbent (4) and capable of heating the exhaust or converting it to a reducing atmosphere, and combustion device (5) arranged on an exhaust downstream side as compared with the NOx adsorbent (4) and composed of fuel nozzle (6) and igniter (7). In normal operation, the NOx adsorbent (4) adsorbs NOx contained in exhaust gas.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2005Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.Inventor: Taisuke Ono
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Patent number: 7784277Abstract: 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. An approach for compensating for temperature changes using varying pressure limits helps to maintain the hydraulic drive system in normal operation, thereby promoting efficiency within the hydraulic drive system.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2007Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Randy Anderson, Doug Gilbert
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Patent number: 7784278Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic drive, comprising a hydraulic cylinder (1), divided into a first operating pressure chamber (4) and a second operating pressure chamber (5), by an operating piston (3). The hydraulic drive further comprises a closed hydraulic circuit (39), with a first hydraulic pump (43), connected to the first operating pressure chamber (4) via a first working line (7), by means of a first connector (10) and to the second operating pressure chamber (5) via a second working line (13), by means of a second connector (12). In addition, an open hydraulic circuit (40) is provided, with a second hydraulic pump (8), connected to the first operating pressure chamber (4), by means of a third connector (11). A fourth connector (14) on the second hydraulic pump (8) is connected to a hydraulic reservoir element (75).Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2005Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Brueninghaus Hydromatik GmbHInventors: Georg Jacobs, Johannes Honnef
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Patent number: 7784279Abstract: A steam valve has: a valve casing; a valve seat; a main valve body slidable to abut to or to detach from the valve seat; a bypass valve body slidably disposed in the main valve body; a cylindrical flow guide surrounding the annular wall of the bypass valve body; and a strainer surrounding the main valve body and the flow guide. The bypass valve body has a steam passage and the annular wall that protrudes out of the main valve body when the bypass valve body is in an open position. The annular wall has steam inlet ports. The flow guide guides steam from outside to flow through a space between the annular wall and the flow guide so as to admit steam into the steam passage in the bypass valve body through whole peripheral part of the annular wall.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2007Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Osamu Shindo
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Patent number: 7784280Abstract: In an engine having at least one cylinder with a reciprocating piston and a connecting rod for driving rotation of a crank disk and a crankshaft, a cam sleeve is moved along the crankshaft in response to a change in engine speed. The cam sleeve is coupled to a cam ring that moves with the cam sleeve and in a spiraling motion about the longitudinal axis of the crankshaft. A follower engages an outer face of the cam ring and is movable against a push rod that opens an injector valve. The follower is structured and disposed to move in response to contact with a lobe on the outer face of the cam ring to urge the push rod against the injector valve.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2007Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Cyclone Power Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Harry Schoell
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Patent number: 7784281Abstract: A propulsion apparatus for synchronizing the revolution speeds of a plurality of engines, each engine having a screw propeller shaft. A single regulator lever synchronously adjusts a revolution speed of the propeller shafts of the engines. When an output rpm of one of the engines has dropped, a control means lowers the revolution speed of the propeller shafts of the remaining engines to a revolution speed which is synchronized to the revolution speed of the propeller shaft of the engine whose rpm has dropped. Synchronization of revolution speeds of the remaining engines with the engine having reduced output rpm is terminated if the output rpm of that engine falls below a predetermined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2009Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.Inventors: Fumiya Kotou, Tomohiro Otani, Hitoshi Adachi, Hideo Shiomi
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Patent number: 7784282Abstract: A fuel injector is provided. The fuel injector includes a nozzle, a cooling assembly, and a tip coupled to the nozzle. The tip includes a base including a cooling channel defined therein, a first transition member extending outwardly from the base and in flow communication with the cooling channel, and a second transition member extending outwardly from the base and in flow communication with the cooling channel, wherein the base, the first transition member, and the second transition member are formed integrally together. The tip is configured to couple to the cooling assembly to channel a flow of cooling fluid through the cooling channel via the first transition member and the second transition member.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2008Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: James Purdue Masso, Monty Harned, Shashishekara Sitharamarao Talya
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Patent number: 7784283Abstract: A sound-absorbing exhaust nozzle center plug for an aircraft gas turbine engine can include an outer skin and at least one forward cavity within the outer skin. At least one aft cavity can be located within the outer skin and substantially aft of the forward cavity. A perforated wall including a plurality of first openings can be disposed between the forward and aft cavities. The outer skin can include a second plurality of openings providing an acoustic pathway through the outer skin and into the forward cavity. The forward and aft cavities can be configured to absorb and dissipate relatively low-frequency sound energy emitted from an aircraft gas turbine engine's combustor.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2006Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Rohr, Inc.Inventors: Jia Yu, Eugene W. Chien
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Patent number: 7784284Abstract: A propulsion gas exhaust assembly in an aircraft propelled by hot gases produced along the axis of the latter by a gas generator is disclosed. The exhaust assembly includes a duct which forms a vertical elbow and a nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2007Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: SNECMAInventors: Edgar Brunet, Thomas Daris, Alain Pierre Page, Jackie Raymond Julien Prouteau
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Patent number: 7784285Abstract: An exhaust flow nozzle for use with a jet engine. The exhaust flow nozzle includes a beveled downstream edge portion that helps to direct noise generated by the jet engine upwardly away from a ground surface during takeoff and landing operations. One specific embodiment makes use of a linearly moveable flow altering component that is positioned outside the final flow nozzle. When the flow altering component is in its retracted position it has no effect on the exhaust flow leaving the flow nozzle. Alternative embodiments involve the use of varying edge shapes for the final flow nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2008Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: Krishnamurthy Viswanathan
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Patent number: 7784286Abstract: A gas turbine unit as well as a method for operating a gas turbine with high-pressure turbine and a low-pressure turbine unit are disclosed. A very quick and at the same time easily controllable augmentation or reduction of the shaft power of the gas turbine unit can be achieved by providing at least one liquid droplet injection device on the upstream side of said compressor for injecting liquid into the stream of intake air in order to increase the shaft power generated by the gas turbine unit. The amount of water mass flow corresponding to the desired increase or decrease of shaft power output of the gas turbine unit is added or reduced in the form of liquid droplets in a substantially stepless manner and immediately within a time interval that is determined by the design characteristics of the liquid droplet injection device.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2006Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LtdInventors: Giacomo Bolis, Gustav Hagström, Jürgen Hoffman, Thorsten Wasmuth
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Patent number: 7784287Abstract: An aircraft engine is provided with at least one pulse detonation device, and the operational frequency of the pulse detonation device is varied over an operational range of frequencies around a mean frequency value. The pulse detonation device can be positioned upstream, downstream or adjacent to a turbine section of the engine. An additional embodiment of the present invention is an aircraft engine provided with more than one pulse detonation device, and the operational frequency of one, or more, of the pulse detonation devices is varied over an operational range of frequencies around a mean frequency value.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2005Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Bruce John Badding, Adam Rasheed, Anthony John Dean
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Patent number: 7784288Abstract: A method of protecting a turbine compressor of a gas turbine engine that is part of an integrated gasification combined-cycle power generation system that includes an air separation unit that may include the steps of: (1) extracting an amount of compressed air that is compressed by the turbine compressor; (2) supplying the extracted amount of compressed air to the air separation unit; and (3) varying the amount of compressed air extracted from the turbine compressor based upon a desired compressor pressure ratio across the turbine compressor. The method further may include the step of supplying the air separation unit with a supply of compressed air from a main air compressor. The amount of compressed air supplied to the air separation unit by the main air compressor may be varied based upon the amount of compressed air extracted from the turbine compressor.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2006Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Robert T. Thatcher, James A. West
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Patent number: 7784289Abstract: In a cooling system (10) for cooling heat-generating installations (44, 46, 48) in an aircraft, with a refrigerating installation (12), at least one refrigeration consumer (44, 46, 48) and a refrigeration transport system (14) connecting the refrigerating installation (12) and the refrigeration consumer (44,46, 48), it is provided that the refrigerating installation (12) comprises at least one refrigeration machine (18, 20) which covers the maximum refrigeration requirement of the at least one refrigeration consumer (44, 46, 48) and in that the at least one refrigeration consumer (44, 46, 48) is supplied with cold generated in the refrigerating installation (12) via a refrigerating agent circulating in the refrigeration transport system (14).Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2004Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbHInventors: Thomas Scherer, Matthias Witschke, Ahmet Kayihan Kiryaman
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Patent number: 7784290Abstract: A refrigeration system is provided that includes a low voltage control circuit, a high voltage control circuit, a refrigeration system component, a contactor, a plurality of detection points, and a diagnostic device. The contactor is controlled by the low voltage control circuit to apply supply voltage from the high voltage control circuit to the refrigeration system component. The detection points are serially positioned with respect to one another within the low voltage control circuit and/or the high voltage control circuit. The diagnostic device has a plurality of indicator lights, where each indicator light is in electrical communication with a different one of the plurality of detection points.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2007Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Carrier CorporationInventor: Rajendra K Shah
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Patent number: 7784291Abstract: An interactive system for controlling the operation of an HVAC system is provide that comprises a thermostat for initiating the operation of the HVAC system in either a full capacity mode of operation or at least one reduced capacity mode of operation, and a controller for an outside condenser unit having a condenser fan motor and a compressor motor, the controller being capable of operating the compressor in a full capacity mode and at least one reduced capacity mode. The system also comprises a controller for an indoor blower unit having a blower fan motor, the controller being capable of operating the blower fan motor in a full capacity mode an at least one reduced capacity mode. The system further includes a communication means for transmitting information between the outside condenser unit controller and at least the indoor blower controller, where the information relates to the operation of the indoor blower and the outdoor condenser unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2007Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.Inventors: William P. Butler, Steven L. Carey, Hung Pham, Nagaraj Jayanth
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Patent number: 7784292Abstract: An ice level detection structure for ice makers is located on an ice maker to detect the ice level of ice cubes actually stored in an ice trough. It includes a detection rack located above the ice trough. The ice maker has a motor and a transmission means to transmit the detection rack. Through mechanical transmission the detection rack can accurately judge the ice level of the ice cubes actually stored in the ice trough.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2007Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Zippy Technology Corp.Inventors: Hong-Yi Lee, Chia-Hsin Hsu
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Patent number: 7784293Abstract: An air handling system for cooling and/or heating a room includes a sleep mode. The system includes a fan assembly to transport air from the system into the room. A user interface transmits a sleep mode signal upon activation of the sleep mode by a user. A control unit controls the climate control unit to gradually change an ambient temperature in the room over a predetermined period of time in response to the sleep mode signal transmitted by the user interface. Further, the fan assembly has a substantially continuously adjustable speed within a range of speeds defined by a predetermined upper limit and a predetermined lower limit. The control unit adjusts the speed of the fan assembly according to a desired speed of the fan assembly input via the user interface. A multi-position switch defines the predetermined upper and lower limits.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2007Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.Inventors: Gary Violand, Paul Fasolo
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Patent number: 7784294Abstract: A refrigerator unit is configured for a container in which it is possible to know the quantity of air that is ventilated. The refrigerator unit is equipped with a ventilation mechanism, an opening degree detecting mechanism, and a recording unit. The ventilation mechanism ventilates the air inside the container. The opening degree detecting mechanism acquires ventilation data related to the quantity of air ventilated by the ventilation mechanism. The recording unit records the ventilation data acquired by the opening degree detecting mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2008Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.Inventor: Takashi Tanaka
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Patent number: 7784295Abstract: A level control algorithm for an HVAC refrigeration system is provided. The control algorithm utilizes a fuzzy logic methodology to automatically adjust a flow of refrigerant in the system to maintain a desired liquid level in the condenser. The fuzzy logic methodology incorporates a plurality of fuzzy logic control algorithms each having different membership functions and other control parameters that can provide different degrees of level control in the condenser. A particular fuzzy logic control algorithm is selected based on the amount a measured liquid level in the condenser deviates from the desired liquid level in the condenser.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2009Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: York International CorporationInventors: Daniel Keir McCormick, William Fred McQuade
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Patent number: 7784296Abstract: A control procedure operates an expansion valve of an air conditioning system. The control procedure utilizes a first control procedure to bring a calculated superheat value within a range of a target superheat value, and a second control procedure to cause the calculated superheat value to match the target superheat value. Both the first and second control procedures preferably use Proportional, Integral, Derivative control algorithms.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2007Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Nordyne Inc.Inventors: Yi Chen, Jie Chen, Allan J. Reifel, David L. Koesterer
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Patent number: 7784297Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a cooling heating device in which a suitable operation can be performed in harmony with fluctuations of cooling and heating loads to reduce energy consumption, and the cooling heating device includes an outdoor heat exchanger having one end connected to a refrigerant outlet-side pipe of a condenser via an expansion valve and having the other end connected to a suction-side pipe and a discharge-side pipe of a compressor and configured to perform heat exchange between a refrigerant and outside air; a changeover valve which executes control so as to pass the refrigerant discharged from the compressor through the condenser or the outdoor heat exchanger and supply the refrigerant from the outdoor heat exchanger to the compressor or supply the refrigerant from the evaporator to the compressor; and a control unit which controls the compressor, the expansion valve and the changeover valve based on a cooling operation signal in response to a cooling load of the cool tarType: GrantFiled: February 27, 2007Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masahisa Otake, Koji Sato
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Patent number: 7784298Abstract: A refrigerator which can control a supercooling degree corresponding to user's taste or kinds of food, and a cooling control method thereof are disclosed. The refrigerator has a function of supercooling a drink, and includes an input unit to select a slush level for adjusting a supercooling degree of the drink in response to a user's command, a memory unit to store information about a supercooling temperature of the drink corresponding to a selected slush level, and a controller to adjust the supercooling degree of the drink by controlling a temperature within the supercooling compartment based on the information about the supercooling temperature of the drink stored in the memory unit.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2006Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Joo Young Ha, Yong Han Kim, Jeong Han Kim, Young Shik Shin, Won Jae Yoon, Jae Seung Lee, Hye Ran Lee, Jung Soo Lim, Chang Hak Lim, Kyung Hee Hahm
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Patent number: 7784300Abstract: This invention provides a refrigerator using a gaseous working fluid such as air and based upon the well-developed structure of reciprocating compressors or rotating engines. The invention combines the compression functionality of a compressor and the expansion functionality of a turbine in an air cycle machine into a single refrigeration unit having a simple mechanical structure, and provides a significantly increased heat removal time period before the expansion stroke to reduce the temperature of the working fluid under a substantially constant volume without increasing the number of strokes per discharge in a cycle. Moreover, the need of using a man-made chemical as the working fluid is eliminated.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2007Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Inventor: Yiding Cao
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Patent number: 7784301Abstract: Frozen products requiring cold insulation are housed inside of the cold-insulating container structured of a vacuum heat-insulating material, and the cold-insulating containers are loaded in a refrigerator vehicle, cold-insulating vehicle, or room-temperature vehicle other than a freezer vehicle for delivery. Each of the peripheral walls, lids, and bottom faces of this container is made of a sheet material enveloping the vacuum heat-insulating material therein. In each of the peripheral walls adjacent to the peripheral walls connected to the lids, the vacuum heat-insulating material is divided along folding line so as to be foldable.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2005Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Masato Sasaki, Takao Sato, Haruyuki Ishio
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Patent number: 7784302Abstract: The invention relates to a soldered refrigerant condenser that consists of a heat exchange network with flat pipes and corrugated ribs, of collector pipes that fluidically communicate with the flat pipes, and of a collector (10) that is arranged in parallel to one of the collector pipes. Said collector accommodates a dryer and/or a filter (31) and fluidically communicates with the collector pipe via two overflow openings (13, 14). The dryer is configured by a chamber containing a drying agent (28) and limited by a section (18) of the collector (10, 11) and two endplates (23, 24) that extend through the cross-section of the collector (10, 11).Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2003Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignees: Behr France Hambach S.A.R.L., Behr GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Patrick Jung, Sylvain Louis, Alain Maurer, Christian Michels, Gerrit Wölk
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Patent number: 7784303Abstract: A positive displacement expander includes a volume change mechanism (90) for changing the volume of a first fluid chamber (72) of an expansion mechanism (60). The expansion mechanism (60) includes a first rotary mechanism (70) and a second rotary mechanism (80) each having a cylinder (71, 81) containing a rotor (75, 85). The first fluid chamber (72) of the first rotary mechanism (70) and a second fluid chamber (82) of the second rotary mechanism (80) are in fluid communication with each other to form an actuation chamber (66). Meanwhile, the first fluid chamber (72) of the first rotary mechanism (70) is smaller than the second fluid chamber (82) of the second rotary mechanism (80). The volume change mechanism (90) includes an auxiliary chamber (93) fluidly communicating with the first fluid chamber (72) and an auxiliary piston (92) for changing the volume of the auxiliary chamber (93). The auxiliary chamber (93) is in fluid communication with the first fluid chamber (72) of the first rotary mechanism (70).Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2005Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Katsumi Sakitani, Michio Moriwaki, Masakazu Okamoto, Eiji Kumakura, Yume Inokuchi, Tetsuya Okamoto, Yoshinari Sasaki
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Patent number: 7784304Abstract: Non-slip, non-constrictive, self-adhesive ice bag device for use with confined patients that comprises a flexible, preferably water-impermeable outer cover with an open end that is sealable with a leak-proof closure means, said cover having a layer of adhesive to temporarily attach said cover, when it is filled with the cooling medium, or one or more cooling packs containing the cooling medium, to the inside or the outside of a patient-care fabric that is arranged to be in close contact with an injured area of the patient, such that said cooling medium is then in close contact with said injured area, without slippage, and without the need for a potentially constrictive strapping and/or wrapping means.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2005Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Inventors: Dennis Sam Trinh, David Lam Trinh, Albert Long Trinh
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Patent number: 7784305Abstract: The slide for an Omega necklace has an ornamental front face and a catch attached to a rear face thereof. The slide has loops that an Omega necklace chain can slide through. The catch is preferably in the form of a figure 8 (or modified figure 8) safety clasp that is elongated and curved. The clasp may be fixed either vertically or horizontally on a hinge and snaps closed, having a first loop at one end that pivots in a tube and a second loop or buttonhole at the opposite end that engages a ball-shaped catch. The hinge may be oriented to accommodate either the vertical or horizontal arrangement. The curved clasp can accommodate the bails of various sizes and types of pendants, and allows the slide to be worn alone or with a pendant suspended from the slide.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2008Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Inventor: Joan T. Slinkard