Patents Issued in May 31, 2011
  • Patent number: 7950212
    Abstract: A system for supporting a cutterbar of a crop harvesting header includes a first arm pivotably secured to the header. The first arm includes a first portion configured to support the cutterbar. The first arm includes a second portion including a torsion device having a mass of elastic material connected to an adjustment assembly. The second portion is configured to be pivotably rotatable about an axis by the adjustment assembly to selectably increase or decrease a force appliable to the first portion in order to raise or lower the first portion with respect to the header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Ryan M. Figgins, Karl W. Klotzbach, James F. Rayfield, Sunilkumar C. Machhar, Gary L. Bich, Douglas D. Sorensen
  • Patent number: 7950213
    Abstract: A link belt for use as a conveyor belt or power transmission belt is provided. The belt is formed of a plurality of links forming a series in successive overlapping relation. The upper surface of each belt link includes an electrically conductive layer. Additionally, the lower surface of each belt link may have an electrically conductive layer. The conductive layer or layers provide an electrical path along the belt to impede the build-up of static electricity as the belt is run during use. A method for producing the conveyor assembly is also provided. A plurality of layers of reinforcing material are arranged in overlapping relation. A binding material such as thermoset urethane is deposited on the reinforcing material to bind the reinforcing materials together, thereby forming a composite material. An electrically conductive layer is deposited on the composite material, forming a conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Fenner U.S., Inc.
    Inventor: Jeremy M. Bigler
  • Patent number: 7950214
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to auxiliary apparatus for augmenting the pressure head of a gas flowing in a pipeline that may be provided by at least one gas turbine running a first pressure augmenting means, said auxiliary apparatus comprising: a vapor turbine operatively connected to a second pressure augmenting means; first connection means for providing fluid communication between said pipeline and said second pressure augmenting means; second connection means for providing fluid communication between said first pressure augmenting means and said second pressure augmenting means; and heating means for vaporizing a working fluid of said vapor turbine. In one embodiment, a bypass means for said pipeline having a bypass conduit and shut-off valve system are provided for connecting said first pressure augmenting means to the downstream portion of said pipeline via a bypass conduit. In a further embodiment, the vaporizer of the working fluid utilizes the heat of an intermediate fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Ormat Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Lucien Y. Bronicki, Joseph Sinai
  • Patent number: 7950215
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustion system for a turbine engine is disclosed. The gas turbine combustion system may include a plurality of combustor baskets positioned circumferentially about a longitudinal axis of the turbine engine, at least one firing nozzle extending into each of the plurality of combustor baskets and a fuel delivery system in communication with each of the at least one firing nozzles and in communication with at least one fuel source. Each combustor basket may include a fuel flow control device of the fuel delivery system inline with each of the at least one firing nozzles in that combustor basket such that fuel flow to some of the combustor baskets can be shut off while fuel flow to firing nozzles in other combustor baskets remains unobstructed, thereby permitting some combustor baskets to remain non-fired while other combustor baskets are firing to reduce CO emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Nitin Chhabra, Adam Foust
  • Patent number: 7950216
    Abstract: A fuel control system having a combustive energy value evaluator determining a combustive energy value of the fuel, and a controller calculating a desired flow rate based at least on the combustive energy value and controlling a fuel metering device such that the fuel flow rate corresponds to the desired fuel flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Kevin A. Dooley, Joseph Brand
  • Patent number: 7950217
    Abstract: Systems and methods for exhaust gas recirculation in which at least a desired effective oxygen concentration is maintained for stable combustion at increased recirculation rates. Oxygen-enriched gas is injected into the recirculated exhaust gas to achieve the desired effective oxygen concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: American Air Liquide, Inc.
    Inventors: Tailai Hu, Pavol Pranda
  • Patent number: 7950218
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bypass turbomachine comprising a gas turbine engine provided with a fan disposed on a longitudinal axis of the turbomachine, and an annular nacelle surrounding the engine so as to define a cold stream flow channel, the nacelle having an upstream end surrounding the fan of the engine and a stationary downstream end forming a gas exhaust nozzle, the nozzle having a throat section that corresponds to its smallest cross-section. The turbomachine further comprises means for taking in air from the cold stream flow channel upstream from the nozzle throat section, and means for injecting the taken-in air downstream from the nozzle throat section so as to open the throat section artificially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Albert Bruno Beutin, Eric Landre
  • Patent number: 7950219
    Abstract: A dual mode combustor of a gas turbine engine contains at least one dual mode combustor device having a combustion chamber, a fuel air mixing element, a high frequency solenoid valve and a fuel injector. During a first mode of operation the dual mode combustor device operates in a steady, constant pressure deflagration mode, receiving its fuel from the fuel injector. In a second mode of operation the dual mode combustor device operates in a pulse detonation mode, receiving its fuel from the high frequency solenoid valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Venkat Eswarlu Tangirala, Adam Rasheed, Anthony John Dean
  • Patent number: 7950220
    Abstract: A counter-rotating blade stage in lieu of a stator stage may compensate for relatively low rotational speed of a gas turbine engine spool. A first spool may have at least two compressor blade stage and at least two turbine blade stage. A combustor is located between the at least two compressor blade stage and the at least two turbine blade stage along a core flowpath. The at least two counter-rotating compressor blade stage is interspersed with the first spool at least two compressor blade stage. A transmission couples the at least two additional compressor blade stage to the first spool for counter-rotation about the engine axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Brian D. Merry, Gabriel L. Suciu, John P. Nikkanen
  • Patent number: 7950221
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for controlling catalytic processes, including catalyst regeneration and soot elimination. An alternating current is applied to a catalyst layer and a polarization impedance of the catalyst layer is monitored. The polarization impedance may be controlled by varying the asymmetrical alternating current. At least one of water, oxygen, steam and heat may be provided to the catalyst layer to enhance an oxidation reaction for soot elimination and/or to regenerate the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Catelectric Corp.
    Inventor: Victor Stancovski
  • Patent number: 7950222
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for cleaning combustion soot from an exhaust gas aftertreatment sensor. The system and method determine whether to conduct a sensor desoot event, and if it is determined that a sensor desoot event is to be conducted, the exhaust gas temperature is increased such that the temperature of the sensor correspondingly increases to or above a desoot temperature, the exhaust gas temperature is then controlled to maintain the temperature of the sensor at or above the desoot temperature for a predefined time period, and the exhaust gas temperature is then decreased after the temperature of the sensor has been at or above the desoot temperature for the predefined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventor: Edmund P. Hodzen
  • Patent number: 7950223
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for controlling the reducing agent in an exhaust gas aftertreatment system of an internal combustion engine with an exhaust gas duct in which an SCR catalyst is provided in the direction of flow of the exhaust gas. A reducing agent-generating system (RGS) comprising an NOx and CO/H2 production unit as well as a combined NOx storage/ammonia production unit in the standard gas path of the reducing agent-generating system. Ammonia is delivered upstream from the SCR catalyst to reduce nitrogen oxides, starting materials for producing the ammonia being fed at least in part to the NOx and CO/H2 production unit via a fuel inlet and an air inlet. An AGC matrix of the combined NOx storage/ammonia production unit is cooled at least intermittently by means of an inner and/or outer cooling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Breuer, Markus Gloeckle, Buenyamin Duru, Martin Bohnet
  • Patent number: 7950224
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification system (1) comprises a DPF device (13) and a selective catalytic reduction type catalytic device (SCR catalytic device) (14) provided, in that order, from the upstream side of an exhaust passage (12) of an internal combustion engine (11). During ordinary operation, a NOx emission amount is calculated from a NOx emission map for ordinary operation, while during forced regeneration of the DPF device (13), a NOx emission amount is calculated from a NOx emission map for forced regeneration. A supply amount of aqueous ammonia solution (S) corresponding to the calculated NOx emission amount is then calculated. The aqueous ammonia solution (S) is then supplied into an exhaust gas (G) at the upstream side of the selective catalytic reduction type catalytic device (14) such that the amount supplied is brought to the calculated supply amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventor: Shinji Hara
  • Patent number: 7950225
    Abstract: An exhaust control system for an internal combustion engine provided with an exhaust gas processing device and a NOx purifying catalyst which are arranged in series in an exhaust system, comprises: a first temperature detector for detecting a temperature of the exhaust gas processing device; a second temperature detector for detecting a temperature of the NOx purifying catalyst; a control means for controlling an exhaust temperature to conduct a regeneration process for removing sulfur contents trapped by the NOx purifying catalyst; and a control mode selection means for selecting one of a plurality of exhaust temperature control modes according to a relationship between an output from the first temperature detector and an output from the second temperature detector, wherein the control means conducts exhaust temperature control according to the control mode selected by the control mode selection means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Komatsu, Norio Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7950226
    Abstract: In an exhaust aftertreatment system, two LNTs having differing compositions are configured in series downstream from an inline fuel reformer. The downstream LNT is adapted for desulfation at higher temperatures than the upstream LNT. During desulfation, the system develops temperature gradients with the temperatures increasing in the direction of exhaust flow. The ordering of the LNTs is designed utilize these gradients. In a preferred embodiment, the system also includes two SCR catalysts having different compositions. The SCR catalyst with a composition adapted to tolerate higher temperatures is located nearer the downstream end of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignees: Eaton Corporation, Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: James Edward McCarthy, Jr., Owen Herman Bailey
  • Patent number: 7950227
    Abstract: An exemplary compressor for a turbocharger includes a compressor wheel that includes first and second compressor faces oriented back-to-back and a bore for mounting the compressor wheel to a shaft along a rotational axis of the compressor wheel; and a compressor housing that includes a first air inlet oriented to pass inlet air in an axial direction along the rotational axis to the first compressor face, a second air inlet positioned a distance radially from the rotational axis and oriented to pass inlet air in an axial direction parallel to the rotational axis and radially toward the rotational axis to the second compressor face, and a single volute that receives compressed air from the first and second compressor faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Don Arnold, Gary Vrbas, Martin Verschoor
  • Patent number: 7950228
    Abstract: A turbo charge system of an engine minimizes energy loss of exhaust gas as a consequence of a crossover pipe that connects exhaust manifolds respectively mounted to cylinder heads at both sides of the engine with each other and that is mounted in each cylinder head, and the crossover pipe is formed as a double pipe structure. The turbo charge system of the engine may include a pair of exhaust manifolds respectively mounted to cylinder heads at both sides of the engine; a pair of turbo chargers connected respectively to the pair of exhaust manifolds and increasing intake air amount by using energy of exhaust gas; and a crossover pipe connecting the pair of exhaust manifolds with each other, wherein a crossover pipe is mounted in each cylinder head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Sung Il Yoon, Hyoung-Hyoun Kim
  • Patent number: 7950229
    Abstract: An exhaust system has first and second exhaust gas turbochargers for a V-8 internal combustion engine having an ignition sequence of a 90° crank angle from one cylinder to the next in each of two cylinder banks. The exhaust system includes a first-through-fourth exhaust lines from the cylinders to the two exhaust gas turbochargers, with two cylinders respectively being assigned to an exhaust line. One exhaust turbocharger is respectively assigned to two exhaust lines. The two cylinders assigned to an exhaust line having an ignition interval of a 360° crank angle. The first and the second exhaust lines assigned to an exhaust gas turbocharger having an ignition sequence displaced with respect to one another by a 180° crank angle. As a result, the opening phase of the charge cycle intake valves can be prolonged, which leads to a significantly higher power of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christian Schwarz, Hubert Graf, Werner Verdoorn
  • Patent number: 7950230
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery apparatus including a Rankine cycle which includes a heater for heating an operation fluid by waste heat from a heat-generating device, an expansion unit for converting energy of expansion of the operation fluid flowing out from the heater into mechanical energy, and a condenser for condensing and liquefying the expanded operation fluid, a temperature detector for detecting the temperature of the operation fluid on the inlet side of the expansion unit, a pressure detector for detecting inlet-side pressure of the expansion unit, a pressure detector for detecting outlet-side pressure of the expansion unit, and a control unit. The control unit controls a command rotational speed of the expansion unit based on superheated degree information at the inlet of the expansion unit obtained from the operation fluid temperature and the inlet-side pressure, and pressure information in which the outlet-side pressure is considered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Michio Nishikawa, Kouji Yamashita, Hiroshi Kishita, Keiichi Uno
  • Patent number: 7950231
    Abstract: A diesel or HHCI engine has an air intake and an exhaust for products of combustion. A pair of turbochargers receive the products of combustion in a series relationship and an exhaust aftertreatment device receive the products of combustion from the downstream turbine. A power turbine receives the output from the exhaust aftertreatment device and an EGR system of the power turbine passes a selected portion of the output to a point upstream of the upstream turbocharger compressor. A device adds fuel to the aftertreatment device to regenerate the particulate filter and the power turbine recoups the additional energy. The power turbine may be used to drive accessories or the prime output of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Carl T. Vuk
  • Patent number: 7950232
    Abstract: A head loss element is interposed between the outlet from the pump delivering high pressure fuel and the pipe feeding combustion chamber injectors. A servo-valve for feeding a hydraulic actuator of a variable-geometry component of the engine has an HP admission inlet connected to the outlet from the pump upstream from the head loss element and an LP outlet connected to the feed pipe downstream from the head loss element. Thus, the flow rate taken upstream from the head loss element for driving the actuator is compensated by the flow rate reinjected downstream from the head loss element, thereby avoiding any movement of the variable-geometry component giving rise to a disturbance in the flow rate delivered to the injectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Hispano Suiza
    Inventors: Philippe Galozio, Cédric Montarou, Denis Morin
  • Patent number: 7950233
    Abstract: A combustor is provided having one or more apertures adapted to asymmetrically introduce air adjacent the fuel nozzles to reduce smoke resulting from unburned hydrocarbons in a gas turbine engine combustion system by impeding escape of unburned hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Hisham Alkabie, Kian McCaldon
  • Patent number: 7950234
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention are directed to a ring seal segment having a base portion and a frame portion. The base portion and the frame portion are a unitary structure. The frame portion is made of four unitary side walls: a forward wall, an aft wall and a pair of transverse side walls. The side walls can be arranged in a rectangular configuration. At least a part of the base portion can be coated with a thermal insulating material. A ring seal segment according to aspects of the invention is well suited to withstand the expected operational loads in the turbine section. The transverse side walls can provide bending strength to the base and can strengthen the forward and aft side walls. Transition regions between the side walls and the base portion are strengthened by three perpendicular planes that cooperate to provide structural strength to the ring seal segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: David Charles Radonovich, Douglas Allen Keller, Jay Alan Morrison, Malberto Fernandez Gonzalez, Anthony L. Schiavo
  • Patent number: 7950235
    Abstract: A jet engine is constructed of a fanjet; a plurality of ramjets provided around said fanjet; a plurality of air flow spaces between said fanjet and said plurality of ramjets; and a cooling jacket provided around said plurality of ramjets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Inventor: Donald Giddings
  • Patent number: 7950236
    Abstract: An annular exhaust duct of a gas turbine engine includes inner and outer cases co-axially disposed, and radially spaced apart by a plurality of airfoils radially extending therebetween. The outer case includes a connection apparatus for supportably connecting the exhaust duct to the gas turbine engine and the inner case includes an axial end portion at a rear end thereof for connection with a tail cone. The axial end portion bends radially and inwardly at a rear extremity thereof to stiffen the rear end of the inner ease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Eric Durocher, Guy Lefebvre
  • Patent number: 7950237
    Abstract: A turbine engine provides a spool supporting a turbine. The spool is arranged in a core nacelle and includes a thrust bearing. A fan is arranged upstream from the core nacelle and is coupled to the spool. A fan nacelle surrounds the fan and core nacelle and provides a bypass flow path that includes a fan nozzle exit area. A flow control device is adapted to effectively change the fan nozzle exit area. A controller is programmed to monitor the thrust bearing and command the flow control device in response to an undesired load on the thrust bearing. Effectively changing the fan nozzle exit area with the flow control device actively manages the bearing thrust load to desired levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Zbigniew M. Grabowski, Michael Winter
  • Patent number: 7950238
    Abstract: A method is provided for performing a transfer from gas fuel operation to liquid fuel operation in a gas turbine with a dual fuel system. The method includes initiating a predetermined uncontrolled liquid fuel prefill flow rate through the liquid fuel system, sensing an onset of the uncontrolled liquid fuel flow to the combustor nozzles, and initiating transfer from gas fuel operation to liquid fuel operation when the flow of uncontrolled liquid fuel at the combustor nozzles is sensed. The onset of uncontrolled liquid fuel flow to the combustor nozzles is determined by monitoring changes of Fuel Normalized Power (FNP), a parameter sensitive to uncontrolled liquid fuel flow, and determining when FNP exceeds a threshold algorithm value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Iasillo, Jason D. Fuller, William F. Seely
  • Patent number: 7950239
    Abstract: A method for operating a gas turbine plant utilizing sequential combustion is provided. The gas turbine plant includes a compressor for compressing inducted combustion air, a first combustion chamber for combustion of a first fuel by utilizing the compressed combustion air, with a first turbine which is connected downstream of the first combustion chamber, and a second combustion chamber for combustion of a second fuel by utilizing the gases which emerge from the first turbine, with a second turbine which is connected downstream of the second combustion chamber. The method provides quick running up with simultaneously low emissions and homogeneous distribution of the turbine inlet temperature is achieved by the second combustion chamber being completely shut down for achieving a low partial load mode of the gas turbine plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Darrel Lilley, Rolf Anders Lindvall, Falk Ruecker, Rudolf Lachner
  • Patent number: 7950240
    Abstract: In a method for operating a gas turbine plant (10) with a compressor (11) for the compression of combustion air sucked in from the surroundings, with a combustion chamber (15) for generating hot gas by the combustion of a fuel with compressed combustion air, and with a turbine (12), in which the hot gas from the combustion chamber (15) is expanded so as to perform work, temperatures and pressures are measured at various points in the gas turbine plant (10), and a combustion chamber exit temperature is derived from the measured temperatures and pressures and used for controlling the gas turbine plant (10). Improved temperature determination is achieved in that the composition of the gas, in particular the water content in the exhaust gas of the turbine (12), is determined, and in that the specific water content in the exhaust gas of the turbine (12) is taken into account in deriving the combustion chamber exit temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Anton Nemet, Jürgen Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 7950241
    Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a method for creating a refrigeration system comprising a piston device for the compressor and expander functions normally provided by a Carnot cycle. Solutions for modifying the overall system to utilize the pulsed nature of the piston action are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Inventor: David M Baker
  • Patent number: 7950242
    Abstract: A refrigerant compressor has a control valve for controlling the degree of conveyance of the refrigerant compressor by setting a drive housing pressure pC of the refrigerant compressor. A control body controls a conveying-side control line between a discharge chamber, acted upon by high pressure of the compressor, and the drive housing of the compressor, and also controls a suction-side control line between the drive housing and a suction chamber, acted upon by suction pressure of the compressor variably in a throttling and/or shutting-off manner. The control body is driven electromagnetically. To improve the refrigerating capacity and the control behavior of the refrigerating system, the control body, which can shut off both the conveying-side and the suction-side control line, is also driven by means of a pressure cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Joan Aguilar Rojas, Roland Caesar
  • Patent number: 7950243
    Abstract: An integrated energy production system and carbon dioxide reaction system for enhancing the energy efficiency and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions of thermally activated power production methods. The system utilizes heat of reaction from the carbon dioxide reaction system to directly reduce the fuel requirements of the thermally activated power production method. The system, when utilizing a reverse fuel cell, achieves concurrent carbon dioxide sequestration resulting from the fuel combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Inventor: Michael H. Gurin
  • Patent number: 7950244
    Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating cooling of an electronics rack is provided. The apparatus includes an air-to-liquid heat exchanger and system coolant inlet and outlet plenums mounted to a door of an electronics rack. The inlet and outlet plenums are in fluid communication with the heat exchanger and respectively include a coolant inlet and coolant outlet in the top portions thereof. System coolant supply and return hoses are disposed above the electronics rack and respectively couple in fluid communication the inlet plenum to a system coolant supply header and the outlet plenum to a system coolant return header. The hoses are each flexible, partially looped and of sufficient length to allow for opening and closing of the door. Stress-relief structures are coupled to at least one end of the hoses to relieve stress on the ends of the hoses during opening or closing of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Roger R. Schmidt, Howard P. Welz
  • Patent number: 7950245
    Abstract: In a refrigerator, cold air discharged from a cold air fan is guided by a guide member such that it flows directly to an evaporator. The guide member reduces flow of air through a gap between an inner surface of a cold air generating compartment and the evaporator. The guide member also includes a drainage portion configured to guide defrost water generated at the cold air fan to a position beneath the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Youn Seok Lee, Jang Seok Lee, Min Kyu Oh, Kyeong Yun Kim, Su Nam Chae
  • Patent number: 7950246
    Abstract: The invention is an assembly of abutting vacuum insulated panels configured and arranged to form a retention chamber with a slip surface providing a low kinetic coefficient of friction interposed between the panels within the abutment areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Minnesota Thermal Science, LLC
    Inventors: William N. Mayer, William T. Mayer, Kurt O. Mankell
  • Patent number: 7950247
    Abstract: A refrigerator, in which a guide member is arranged at an inlet of a cold air generating compartment that houses an evaporator. The guide member uniformly distributes cold air introduced into the cold air generating compartment to upper and lower portions of the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Youn Seok Lee, Jang Seok Lee, Min Kyu Oh, Kyeong Yun Kim, Su Nam Chae
  • Patent number: 7950248
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a main body cabinet which includes an external cabinet, and an internal cabinet disposed inside the external cabinet and including a partition wall forming first and second storage compartments partitioned right and left, one of the first and second storage compartments being provided thereunder with a component compartment accommodating a compressor between the external cabinet and the internal cabinet but the other one being not provided thereunder with the component compartment; a bottom cabinet which is coupled to a bottom of the main body cabinet and accommodates a condenser for condensing a refrigerant received from the compressor accommodated in the component compartment. Thus, the capacity of the storage compartment increases, so that the inner space of the storage compartment can be efficiently used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyu-su Cho
  • Patent number: 7950249
    Abstract: A portable insulated cooler has a bottom space adapted to hold ice cubes. A removable perforated panel suspended over the bottom space separates the bottom space from a central cooled storage area. A removable frame suspended above the central cooled areas holds ice cube containing flasks. Each flask has a large closable opening in its upper broad flat face to easily receive ice cubes. The lower broad face of the flask forms a cooling upper margin of the central cooled area so that the contents of the area are cooled from both top and bottom. The flasks have a flange around the upper face to rest upon the frame, while most of the flask is below the frame. This enables the insulated cooler top to close. By cooling from both top and bottom, the central area is more uniformly cooled. Opening the cooler top to access the central area creates less heat gain than with prior art devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Inventors: Robert J. White, Richard W. White
  • Patent number: 7950250
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a jet ejector method includes providing a primary jet ejector having a primary inlet stream, coupling one or more secondary jet ejectors to the primary jet ejector such that all of the jet ejectors are in a cascaded arrangement, bleeding off a portion of the primary inlet stream and directing the portion of the primary inlet stream to the secondary jet ejector that is closest to the primary jet ejector in the cascaded arrangement, and directing a motive fluid into the secondary jet ejector that is farthest from the primary jet ejector in the cascaded arrangement. The method further includes, at each secondary jet ejector, receiving at least some of the portion of the primary inlet stream and at least some of the motive fluid to create respective mixtures within the secondary jet ejectors, and at each secondary jet ejector, directing at least a portion of the respective mixture to adjacent jet ejectors in the cascaded arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignees: Terrabon Adve, LLC, The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Mark T. Holtzapple, Gary P. Noyes, George A. Rabroker
  • Patent number: 7950251
    Abstract: The piece of jewellery comprises at least two rings (2, 4) that can nest inside each other and have different diameters. These rings are assembled to each other so as to pivot relative to each other. The piece of jewellery can thus pass from a configuration wherein the rings are tilted to a configuration wherein they are nesting, such that the surface of the smaller ring (2) is concealed. The piece of jewellery further comprises indexing means (26, 11c) comprising a stud (26) secured to one of the rings (2, 4) and which is arranged for cooperating with the edge (30) of an elongated aperture (11c) made in another ring (4), so as to immobilize the rings selectively in a plurality of relative positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Management Services AG
    Inventor: Olivier Silvant
  • Patent number: 7950252
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a formed article comprising forming an upper surface of a forming material comprised of a thermosoftening substance into a desired shape by positioning the forming material on a forming surface of a mold and heating the forming material to a temperature permitting deformation to bring an entire surface of a lower surface of the forming material into tight contact with the forming surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Mikio Chisha, Masaaki Matsushima, Noriaki Taguchi
  • Patent number: 7950253
    Abstract: A molding device includes an upper mold 10 (first mold), a lower mold 20 (second mold) and a body mold 30 that aligns axes of the upper and lower molds 10, 20 with each other by being fitted to an exterior of the upper mold 10 and an exterior of the lower mold 20 with the body mold 30 straddling the upper and lower molds 10, 20. The lower mold 20 is supported by a support member 50. The support member 50 can support the lower mold 20 with the lower member 20 being in a floating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: FujiFilm Corporation
    Inventor: Masanori Utsugi
  • Patent number: 7950254
    Abstract: A washing system for use in cleaning or washing a soiled substrate or substrates, the system comprising: a. a washing zone for contacting and washing the soiled substrate with wash liquor; b. a feed supply for providing hot or cold feed water to the washing zone; c. a wash liquor cleanup and recycle zone in fluid communication with the washing zone d. an effluent storage and/or discharge zone; and optionally one or more of e. a product dispensing zone; f. means for sonically or ultrasonically treating the soiled substrate in the washing zone or in a washing pre-treatment zone; g. an electrolysis zone for electrolysing the feed water or wash liquor; h. a wash liquor disinfection zone; and i. a feed water softening zone; The wash liquor cleanup and recycle zone preferably comprises an ultrafiltration or microfiltration device having a cut-off in the range from about 1000 Daltons to about 1 ?m, preferably from about 0.05 ?m to about 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Peter Gerard Gray, Graeme Duncan Cruickshank, Adam Costello, Michael Duncan
  • Patent number: 7950255
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the degree of tangling of fabric items during a wash process based on at least one of the motor speed or motor current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Farhad Ashrafzadeh, Kalyanakrishnan Vadakkeveedu, Raveendran Vaidhyanathan
  • Patent number: 7950256
    Abstract: A washing appliance, particularly a laundry washer or a dishwasher, comprises a tank (2) for loading washing liquor and items to be washed and control means adapted to carry out a predetermined washing program. It further comprises an inclined drain surface (2a) for collecting a portion of the washing liquor and means (6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12) for assessing properties of such liquid on the basis of the drainage behavior thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Dieter Grimm, Robert Huettner
  • Patent number: 7950257
    Abstract: A dryer or a washing machine includes a cabinet which forms an exterior of the dryer or the washing machine. A drum is rotatably mounted in the cabinet and a steam generator is provided outside the drum to supply steam to the drum, where the steam generator includes a water chamber to hold water, the water chamber having a heater mounted thereto for heating the water. The steam chamber is provided above the water chamber to hold steam generated as the water is heated, where the steam chamber has a steam discharge opening for discharging the steam, where the steam discharge opening is provided with a separator for isolating a steam discharge area from other areas and where the water chamber has a vertical direction length relatively greater than a horizontal direction length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Mun Kim, Jong Deuk Bae, Heung Gi Kim, Ki Chul Woo, In Geun Ahn, Kyeong Hwan Kim, Kyung Chul Woo, Kyu Won Lee, Young Soo Kim, Ji Maeng Kim
  • Patent number: 7950258
    Abstract: A drum type washing machine including a tub, the tub having a wall for mounting a driving unit thereto, a drum mounted inside the tub, a shaft passed through the tub and coupled to the drum, for trans mission of driving force from a motor to the drum, at least one bearing, a bearing housing, a stator to form the motor with a rotor, wherein the stator includes an annular helical type core, an insulator insert molded with the helical type core to cover an outside surface of the helical type core, and fastening portions formed as a unit with the insulator projected from an inside circumferential surface of the helical type core toward a center of the stator, for fastening the stator to the tub supporter, wherein the fastening portion has a fastening hole at a center fastening the stator to the wall of the tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Soung Bong Choi
  • Patent number: 7950259
    Abstract: A trimming turret including a first trimmer head including a first pilot. The turret is configured to receive a stress induced plastically deformed container having earing about a respective opening in the container, and at least one of (i) direct the container to the first trimmer head so that the pilot becomes located inside the opening, and (ii) direct the first trimmer head to the container so that the pilot becomes located inside the opening. The turret is configured to trim off the earing from the container with the first trimmer head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Belvac Production Machinery, Inc.
    Inventor: Harold James Marshall
  • Patent number: 7950260
    Abstract: A movable die 18 including a first groove 52 and a second groove 54 that extend in a direction in which hemming is performed is moved by a robot 22, and is positioned and set with respect to a wheel arch portion 16 in a vehicle 12 on a production line 14. The movable die 18 is mounted, positioned and fixed with respect to the vehicle 12 by a clamping mechanism 58. A guide roller 32 is rolled while the guide roller is engaged with the first groove 52, and a flange 17 is inclined by a conical surface of a tapered roller 38 of a hemming roller 30 that moves in an interlocking manner with the guide roller 32. Next, the guide roller 32 is rolled while the guide roller is engaged with the second groove 54, and the flange 17 is bent by a cylindrical surface of a cylindrical roller 40 of the hemming roller 30. The movable die 18 is separated from the vehicle 12 after the hemming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kinouchi, Eisaku Hasegawa, Noriko Uematsu
  • Patent number: 7950261
    Abstract: A press forming apparatus comprises an upper die provided with an upper drawing die, a punch, an upper movable blank holder, and a trimming member and a lower die provided with a lower drawing die, a die, an outer periphery drawing die, and a lower movable blank holder. The upper die is lowered with respect to the lower dye, and the outer periphery portion of a blank is held by the trimming member and the upper blank holder. The central portion of the blank is drawn by the upper and lower drawing dies. The outer periphery portion of the blank is trimmed by the trimming member and the outer periphery drawing die, and drawing of the outer periphery portion of the blank is started by the upper drawing die and the outer periphery drawing die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Yutaka Giken Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiro Sasaki, Masahiro Morishita