Patents Issued in July 5, 2011
  • Patent number: 7971404
    Abstract: Systems and methods for installing one or more modular panels onto a wall or other surface. Such systems may include at least one panel retainer mounted to a substantially vertical surface and at least one panel connected to the panel retainer in a removable fashion. In these systems, the interaction of at least one deformable body and at least one groove facilitates connecting the panel to the panel retainer in a removable fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Fry Reglet Corporation
    Inventors: William J. Timko, Mark Brinkman
  • Patent number: 7971405
    Abstract: A drywall repair patch is disclosed. It includes a coated sheet attached to an adhesively coated porous substrate, which includes a porous sheet and a layer of dry, water-hardenable cement product carried on at least one side of said porous sheet. The repair patch is free of any rigid supporting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: The Great Wall Patch Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel R. Hansen
  • Patent number: 7971406
    Abstract: A shingle layer of shingle is provided having an increased thickness adhesive coating on at least a portion of its rear surface, with granules embedded therein, with the granules being of a size range that is larger than the fine particles normally applied to the rear surface of a shingle layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: CertainTeed Corporation
    Inventor: Husnu M. Kalkanoglu
  • Patent number: 7971407
    Abstract: Wall blocks and methods of constructing walls from the wall blocks which have a side connection system interlocking adjacent blocks whereby a side of the block is provided with a channel or slot that is configured to engage a corresponding projection on the adjacent block. The side connection system may alternatively have a connection receiving cavity formed by channels or slots on the sides of the blocks which are configured to align with a channel or slot from adjacent blocks where a connector may be received to interlock the blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Keystone Retaining Wall Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. MacDonald
  • Patent number: 7971408
    Abstract: A transportable and erectable stairtower having a removable/slidable wheel carriage and a removable installation section arranged for transporting and erecting the stairtower. The stairtower has vertical column members and lateral members defining levels of the stairtower. Removable staircases extend between alternate levels of lateral members. A platform landing is formed at the intersection of first and second stair segments of the staircase. Removable ramps may be connected to the stairtower above, below, and at a position corresponding to the platform landings. A safety device in the form of catch pans, gutters, and leaders may be provided to protect workers by collecting debris and rainwater. A transporting vehicle may be connected to the installation section to transport the stairtower to a desired location. A lifting vehicle may be used to lift the stairtower from a horizontal to a vertical orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Inventor: Richard Hayes, Sr.
  • Patent number: 7971409
    Abstract: A beam shoe for attaching a (first) beam end-on to a load-bearing construction, especially to a second beam disposed in the same plane as the beam to be attached and running at right angles thereto, the beam shoe comprising an originally flat, one-piece, strip-like sheet-metal portion or blank, which is shaped to an upwardly open channel-shaped retaining member having a web-like rectangular bottom for bracing the beam to be attached on the beam shoe as well as two web-like, parallel retaining legs, the retaining member embracing, in assembled condition, an end portion of the beam to be attached at the underside and side faces thereof, the legs, which are bent over upwardly from the bottom at right angles and disposed along two opposite borders of the bottom, being provided with through holes for rod-like fasteners such as nails in particular in order to join the beam shoe to the beam to be attached, the inside spacing of the legs therefore being (at least) as large as (and if necessary somewhat larger than) t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeppe Mølbæk Bak, Henrick Bentsen, Ian Harrison, Jørn Ipsen, Charles-Henri Mathis
  • Patent number: 7971410
    Abstract: A unitary framing tie is provided for use in securing framing members in wood framed construction. The tie comprises a generally U-shaped base having: a pair of longitudinally spaced apart coplanar plates; a pair of substantially parallel, opposed flanges depending downwardly from the plates; and a pair of substantially parallel, opposed sidewalls extending upwardly from the plates. In operation, the tie provides an apparatus capable of securing two framing ties together bilaterally, which may be installed before or after the framing members are affixed together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Inventor: Alvin Jerke
  • Patent number: 7971411
    Abstract: A method for securing a building to a foundation provides hold-down units that perform double-duty by acting as a compressive load on a floor immediately therebelow due to the force of a seat or base portion thereof. Meanwhile, a flange portion of each hold-down device extends upward to fasten to the upright members in an upper floor applying tension thereto. Thus, an anchoring rod extending through multiple floors of the shear walls may reduce the number of total hold-down devices by an amount approaching half that otherwise required. Likewise, the number of more expensive, automatic, take-up devices used is reduced by approximately half.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Inventor: Alfred D. Commins
  • Patent number: 7971412
    Abstract: Stairway balusters are described which includes baluster extensions for ease in use, adjustability and convenience during installation, replacement or remodeling. The various extensions illustrated all allow the baluster shaft to adjust longitudinally. If a single baluster is being replaced on site, the baluster can be shortened using the adjustable features while removing. Also, during retrofitting the described method allows a baluster to be shortened, positioned in place and then lengthened to the desired height without undue modification or effort by the installer. Various extension embodiments are demonstrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: S.V. International Corp.
    Inventor: Kok Jit Lim
  • Patent number: 7971413
    Abstract: An automatic system for orderly packaging of plastic preforms in carton boxes includes a manipulator unit (6) having a vacuum gripping head (23) and one or more units (10) for handling and inserting separators (12) in the carton box (13) to be filled. The head (23) includes a plurality of compartments (30) conforming to the shape of the preforms (2) whereas the separator (12) has a plurality of partitions (12a) parallel to one of its sides and equally spaced at a distance at least corresponding to the length of the preform (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Lanfranchi S.r.l.
    Inventor: Lino Lanfranchi
  • Patent number: 7971414
    Abstract: An apparatus for transferring a plurality of tablets of a product from a first blister card to a second blister card includes a press plate, a transfer fixture, and a tray. The press plate is adapted for displacement between a first position and a second position to force the plurality of tablets out of a plurality of blisters carried by the first blister card. The transfer fixture includes a plurality of passageways, each of which is adapted to receive one tablet of the plurality of tablets from the first blister card. The passageways further direct the tablets into a corresponding plurality of blisters carried by the second blister card. The tray supports the second blister card adjacent the transfer fixture for receiving the tablets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Walgreen Co.
    Inventors: Sean McGonagle, Greg Pankow, J. Randolph Lewis, Victor Lee
  • Patent number: 7971415
    Abstract: A grass mowing machine has a frame with an adjustable width toolbar including a center section and left and right outer sections telescoping into the center section. A pair of cutting units are mounted to lift arms pivotably connected to outboard ends of the outer sections of the adjustable width toolbar. A hydraulic lift cylinder is mounted between an inboard end of each lift arm and the adjustable width toolbar at a selected mounting point in the center section. The mounting point of the center section is aligned with a mounting point in one of the outer sections to provide a specified toolbar width suitable for the cutting units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: David Lawrence Phillips
  • Patent number: 7971416
    Abstract: A mounting assembly to mount the base of a hydraulic motor on a mower deck includes a cast iron mounting plate having stiffening structures around the perimeter and spanning the perimeter, and rubber isolators between the mounting plate and the mower deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Stanley Kermit Hall, Jeffrey David Witwer, James Edward Muse, Roger Howard Tesch, John Louis Bocksnick
  • Patent number: 7971417
    Abstract: An elective down pressure system for cutting units of a grass mowing machine with lift and lower mechanisms connected to the lift arms with lost motion couplings that may be set to either a downforce position in which the lift and lower mechanisms urge the lift arms to apply downforce to the cutting units while they are on the ground surface, or a no downforce position in which the lift and lower mechanisms discontinue urging the lift arms to apply downforce once the cutting units are on the ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Todd Allen Link
  • Patent number: 7971418
    Abstract: A header for an agricultural harvester has left side and right side endless belt conveyors and a central conveyor for carrying crop to a central aperture in the header and an extendible and retractable cutter bar assembly disposed immediately in front of the leading edges of the conveyors that can be extended and retracted in the direction of travel through an agricultural field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: William P. Conrad, Jeffrey A. Nelson
  • Patent number: 7971419
    Abstract: A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a flexible cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a flexible draper assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly to permit the draper assembly to flex with the cutterbar assembly and operable to receive severed crop material from the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes fore-and-aft extending rollers, fore-and-aft extending arms disposed between the rollers, and an endless flexible belt entrained around the rollers, with the arms being disposed within the belt. The draper assembly further includes support panels on the arms to support the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Inventors: Christopher T. Sauerwein, Gagan Sethi
  • Patent number: 7971420
    Abstract: A draper platform (102) with an elongate, laterally extending frame (110), has a suspension system has two independent hydraulic circuits (502, 504), that can be independently filled and emptied to selectively lift the left side and the right side of the draper platform (102). Two hydraulic cylinders (306, 406) are disposed on the left side of the draper platform (102) in fluid communication with a gas-charged accumulator (506) to form the first hydraulic circuit (502), and to support the draper platform (102) on a gauge wheel (218) and the left side of a feederhouse (104). Two additional hydraulic cylinders (510, 512 are disposed on the right side of the draper platform (102) in fluid communication with the second gas-charged accumulator (514) to form the second hydraulic circuit (504), and to support the draper platform (102) on a gauge wheel (220) and the right side of the feederhouse (104).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Douglas John Bollin
  • Patent number: 7971421
    Abstract: A walk reel mower includes a pair of inclined rigid links for mounting the reel cutting unit to the reel mower frame for rolling about a longitudinal axis, and a pair of vertical support arms for mounting the reel cutting unit to the reel mower frame for pitching about a transverse axis. An integrated gearbox houses both the traction and reel drives, including the differential that is part of the traction drive, as well as a parking brake. A flexible drive shaft powers the cutting reel from the gearbox and is made from materials that do not require petroleum based lubricants to avoid the possibility of damage to the turf or grass. A single control handle located on the handle of the mower actuates both the reel and traction drives. The reel cutting unit includes a back plate which has a portion formed as a hollow beam for strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Gerald E. Goman, Robert D. Patton, Donald B. Schnotala
  • Patent number: 7971422
    Abstract: A device for fastening emergency equipment to a vessel includes a hydrostatic release mechanism, a tether, and a float-free link. The tether is attached to the hydrostatic release mechanism and provides an attachment point for lashing the emergency equipment to the vessel. The tether may also be threaded through openings in the curved partially tubular body of the float-free link. A breakable bridge is integrally coupled to the body of the float-free link to form a closed loop. The breakable bridge is designed to be the break point when the emergency equipment needs to be freed from a vessel that has sunk below a predetermined depth. When the vessel sinks below the predetermined depth, the hydrostatic release mechanism severs the tether thus freeing the emergency equipment from one point of attachment to the vessel. The bridge is designed to break when the strain on the fastening line, e.g., the painter line, is between a predetermined minimum force and maximum force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: General Pneumatics Corp.
    Inventors: Taila Shnayder, Mark S. Raskin
  • Patent number: 7971423
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine incorporating a starter mounted on the gear box is disclosed. The gas turbine engine includes an AGB gear housing mechanically connected with an engine shaft for driving auxiliary machines and an air starter mounted on the housing, the starter and housing enclosures being in communication such that the lubricating oil of the starter should be distributed from the AGB housing. The oil enclosure of the starter is pressurized by a source of air, being independent from the AGB housing. Advantageously, the pressurization air is taken from a pressurization enclosure of an engine bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Hispano Suiza
    Inventors: Chloe Avila, Jean-Louis Charbonnel, Marie-Lise Dardenne, Corinne Follonier, Pierre Charles Mouton
  • Patent number: 7971424
    Abstract: A high-efficiency heat cycle system including a compressor, a first turbine, first and second heat exchangers 7 and 8, a first pump, and an expander, and a composite heat cycle power generator using the high-efficiency heat cycle system. Working gas Fg compressed in the compressor (C) drives a first turbine (S) and is thereafter cooled by passing through a heat dissipating side of a first heat exchanger (7) and then raised in pressure by a first pump (P) to form high-pressure working liquid Fe, the high-pressure working liquid is expanded and evaporated in an expander (K) to form working gas Fg, said working gas Fg is heated by passing through a heat receiving side 82 of the second heat exchanger before being introduced into the compressor C. A heat dissipating side 81 of the second heat exchanger comprises a heat dissipating portion of a refrigerating machine or a heat dissipating portion for waste heat from a heating machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Inventor: Noboru Masada
  • Patent number: 7971425
    Abstract: The concentration of the urea of a urea solution is identified accurately and immediately. A pulse voltage is applied for a predetermined time to a urea concentration identifying sensor heater including a heater and an identifying liquid temperature sensor provided in the vicinity of the heater, a urea solution to be identified is heated by the heater, and the concentration of the urea is identified with a voltage output difference V0 corresponding to a temperature difference between an initial temperature and a peak temperature in the identifying liquid temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Takahata, Toshiaki Kawanishi, Kiyoshi Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 7971426
    Abstract: A method is described for controlling operation of a reductant injection system. In one example, a pump of the reductant injection system is operated at a pressure to inject reductant into an exhaust system based on voltage supplied to the pump. The method can allow operation of the reductant injection system during degradation of a pressure sensor that is used to determine reductant flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt
  • Patent number: 7971427
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshihisa Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 7971428
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification device for an internal combustion engine comprises, an exhaust passage including a catalyst for conveying exhaust gas discharged from the engine to the outside, and a bend formed by bending a portion of the exhaust passage directly upstream of the catalyst, the bend causing exhaust gas discharged from the engine to collide against a corner portion between an inlet end face of the catalyst and such portion of a wall of the exhaust passage that follows the outside of the bend, thereby increasing pressure at the corner portion, compared with the other portion of the inlet end face, and an additive injection valve fitted to the outside of the bend of the exhaust passage to inject an additive in such manner that the injected additive passes just above the corner portion and falls on the inlet end face of the catalytic converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Mitsubishi Jidosha Engineering Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kimura, Mitsutaka Kojima, Kojiro Okada, Kei Shigahara, Michihiro Hata, Kazuhito Kawashima, Kazuo Koga, Kazuto Maehara, Hajime Ishii
  • Patent number: 7971429
    Abstract: The disclosure concerns a procedure for the regeneration of a particle filter and the desulfurization of a NOx storage catalytic converter in an exhaust gas aftertreatment system of an internal combustion engine. The disclosed procedure allows for the necessary heating energy and fuel consumption required to completely or partially regenerating the particle filter to be significantly reduced. Furthermore, an increase in efficiency of the NOx storage catalytic converter results, because the process reduces the average sulfur absorption on account of a greater frequency of desulfurization phases. In so doing, the NOx emissions after the NOx storage catalytic converter can further be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Forthmann, Frank Schweizer, Stefan Scherer
  • Patent number: 7971430
    Abstract: A system for treating exhaust gases from an engine is described. The system includes, the exhaust gases routed from the engine to atmosphere through an exhaust passage, the system comprising: an injector directing a spray of reductant into the exhaust gases routed from the engine to atmosphere; an exhaust separation passage that separates an exhaust gas flow received from the engine into a plurality of separate exhaust gas flows; a plurality of oxidation catalysts, each of which receives one of the plurality of separate exhaust gas flows; a flow combining passage that receives the plurality of separate exhaust gas flows and combines them into a re-combined exhaust gas flow; a turbocharger that receives the re-combined exhaust gas flow from the flow combining passage; and a selective catalytic reduction catalyst positioned downstream of the turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christine Kay Lambert, Yinyan Huang, Harold Huimin Sun, Christopher Oberski
  • Patent number: 7971431
    Abstract: An exhaust gas system for an internal combustion engine, in particular a motor vehicle engine, is provided having, in one form, two cylinder banks arranged at an acute angle to one anther and each having at least one exhaust gas outlet, a so-called V-engine, having exhaust gas guide elements arranged in the region of the inner angle, including a housing surrounding the exhaust gas outlets of both cylinder banks in a gas tight manner and having at least one exhaust gas outlet opening is characterized in that the housing is made in two parts, with a first part which is connected to the one cylinder bank and surrounds its exhaust gas outlets and with a second part which is connected to the other cylinder bank and surrounds its exhaust gas outlets; in that the two parts each have a side facing the other part and having at least one housing opening via which the two parts communicate with one another; and in that an expansion compensation element is arranged between the two parts and surrounds the housing opening
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Friedrich Boysen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rainer Diez, Marcus Ramusch, Ramazan Sahan, Werner Verdoorn
  • Patent number: 7971432
    Abstract: A flow diffuser for vehicles of the type having an engine and an exhaust pipe generally includes a substantially tubular body having an outer surface and a first end configured for attachment to an exhaust pipe. The flow diffuser further includes a diffusion portion including at least one channel having a root end located near the outer surface, an exit port, and a channel axis extending between the root end and the exit port, the channel increasing in flow area along the channel axis to reduce exhaust gas velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: PACCAR Inc
    Inventor: Paul J. Troxler
  • Patent number: 7971433
    Abstract: A system and method for treating exhaust gasses from an engine is described. In one example, the exhaust gasses are routed from the engine to atmosphere through a helical exhaust passage. The helical exhaust passage includes a plurality of spatially separated exhaust passages that separates the exhaust flow into separated smaller flows, wherein the smaller flows are re-introduced into a common passage and re-combined to form a single exhaust flow, and wherein the plurality of spatially separated exhaust passages induces a helical flow pattern within the re-combined exhaust flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Michael Kabat, Furqan Zafar Shaikh, Bryan Christopher Stoll, Sandro Balestrino, Michael Levin
  • Patent number: 7971434
    Abstract: A variable capacity pump and two variable capacity motors are connected in a closed circuit. First to fourth drive gears are fitted to motor shafts of the variable capacity motors via clutches. A first driven gear, which meshes with the first and third drive gears, and a second driven gear which meshes with the second and fourth drive gears are fitted to an output shaft. Equivalent capacities of the variable capacity motors are made different. Control is exerted such that the capacities are decreased to zero in order of equivalent capacities. To decrease the capacity of each variable capacity motor, the gear change ratio of the variable capacity motor the capacity of which has decreased to zero is changed to decrease the equivalent capacity and, at the same time, the capacity is increased to maximum. This increases the gear change ratio for the continuously variable transmission and controls acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Ishizaki, Hikosaburo Hiraki, Koichiro Itou
  • Patent number: 7971435
    Abstract: A hydraulic transmission comprises a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor, which are mounted onto a center section to be fluidly connected to each other through a closed fluid circuit formed in the center section. A neutral valve is connected to the closed fluid circuit. The neutral valve is fitted into an outward opened end of a vertical slanted oil hole of the closed fluid circuit. Alternatively, the neutral valve is fitted into an outward opened end of a straight oil hole having an opposite outward opened end into which a charge check valve is fitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironori Sumomozawa, Shigenori Sakikawa, Ryota Ohashi
  • Patent number: 7971436
    Abstract: A rotary steam engine of a simple constitution capable of efficiently obtaining mechanical energy not only from a heat source of a high temperature but also from various heat sources in a low-temperature state such as the exhaust heat of an internal combustion engine. The engine has a rotor 1 having a plurality of displacement chambers 11 provided in a sealed container 2 which is filled with a liquid. A steam-generating portion 4 is arranged under the rotor 1 and where the liquid vaporizes being heated by the exhaust heat of an internal combustion engine. The vaporized stem is jetted from a flow-out passage 42 toward the displacement chambers 11 of the rotor 1. The steam stays in the displacement chambers 11 and, therefore, buoyancy acts onto the displacement chambers 11 on one side of the rotor 1. The rotor 1 rotates to produce the rotational energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventor: Yasushi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7971437
    Abstract: A thermal energy storage apparatus is disclosed. The thermal energy storage apparatus has a phase change medium. The thermal energy storage apparatus also has an inner manifold area having at least one inner feed port. The thermal energy storage apparatus also has an outer manifold area having at least one outer feed port and fluidically coupled to the inner manifold area. The inner manifold area and the outer manifold area are configured to be substantially immersed in the phase change medium. Methods of constructing and controlling embodiments of related thermal energy storage apparati are also disclosed, as well as embodiments of related heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Bell Independent Power Corporation
    Inventors: Brian J. Flynn, Gerald Geiken
  • Patent number: 7971438
    Abstract: Environmental concerns have resulted in consideration of the effects of condensation trails from gas turbine engines. By provision of a condensation stage in a heat exchanger arrangement for a gas turbine engine the level of condensation within a final exhaust gas flow G from an engine is reduced. Furthermore, by cooling of the exhaust gas flows for mixing with by-pass air flows a water partial pressure at an exhaust gas exit temperature can be provided which is below the eutectic liquid to vapor phase transition and therefore avoid condensation (contrail) formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Mark D Taylor, Frank G Noppel, Ritindar Singh
  • Patent number: 7971439
    Abstract: An annular turbomachine combustion chamber comprising an inner wall, an outer wall, and a chamber end wall disposed between said inner and outer walls in the upstream region of said chamber, the chamber end wall presenting a central portion and an outer assembly flange, and the outer wall presenting an upstream assembly flange, the chamber end wall and the outer wall being assembled together by their assembly flanges, in which the free edge of said outer assembly flange is curved inwards. In addition, the outer face of the outer assembly flange presents a shoulder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Patrice Andre Commaret, Didier Hippolyte Hernandez, David Locatelli
  • Patent number: 7971440
    Abstract: A voltage regulator is configured to receive an input voltage from a power supply, measure a temperature associated with a heat transfer medium, produce an output voltage to drive a thermo-electric cooler, and vary the output voltage in accordance with changes in the measured temperature. Varying the output voltage results in: 1) extracting of heat from the heat transfer medium when the measured temperature is above a threshold value, or 2) supplying of heat to the heat transfer medium when the measured temperature is below a threshold value. The voltage regulator can cap upper and lower bounds of the output voltage to prevent the thermo-electric cooler from reaching its saturation point. The voltage regulator can be configured to produce an output voltage having reduced voltage ripple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary K. Chan, Hai Ho, Joseph Jacques
  • Patent number: 7971441
    Abstract: An integrated receiver/dryer-accumulator-internal heat exchanger for use in a vehicle HVAC system and a method of operation. The integrated receiver/dryer-accumulator-internal heat exchanger may include an accumulator portion having an accumulator inlet configured to be in fluid communication with an evaporator, and an accumulator outlet configured to be in fluid communication with a compressor; and a receiver/dryer portion mounted within the accumulator portion and having receiver/dryer inlet configured to be in fluid communication with a first portion of a condenser and a receiver/dryer outlet configured to be in fluid communication with a sub-cooler portion of the condenser. The integrated receiver/dryer-accumulator-internal heat exchanger allows for exchanging heat between the refrigerant in the accumulator portion and refrigerant in the receiver/dryer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Munther M. Salim, Lawrence P. Ziehr
  • Patent number: 7971442
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling a vehicle air-conditioner, which can prevent undershoot of an evaporator by performing a maximum capacity control or controlling an discharge capacity of a compressor through the outputting of an discharge capacity control value of the compressor directly before the stop of the air conditioner, and can improve the pleasant feelings of the passengers by preventing delay of response, which converges into the target temperature of the evaporator due to the delay of the decrease of the temperature of the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Halla Climate Control Corporation
    Inventors: Jeonghoon Lee, Saewon Oh
  • Patent number: 7971443
    Abstract: There is provided a temperature switching compartment 3 which can switch the internal temperature thereof between a low temperature side at which a storage material is kept in cold storage and a high temperature side maintained at 50° C., to 80° C. at which cooked food is kept warm, by cooling with a cooler 17 and heating with a heater 15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayasu Nishita, Yoshinari Fujihara, Yasuji Ohshiro, Kayo Takashima
  • Patent number: 7971444
    Abstract: In an electric refrigeration appliance having at least one refrigeration compartment, a refrigerating arrangement having an evaporator, and a control device that controls the refrigeration compartment temperature and that has a temperature sensor; the temperature sensor is located away from the evaporator and in a portion of a refrigeration compartment volume selected with the exclusion of a first top portion of the refrigeration compartment having a volume equal to roughly 8-10% of the total internal volume of the refrigeration compartment, and with the exclusion of a second front portion of a depth equal to at least 10% of the total inside depth of the refrigeration compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: ITW Industrial Components S.R.L.
    Inventor: Roberto Malpetti
  • Patent number: 7971445
    Abstract: A cableless control system for an automobile air conditioner includes a slide pot potentiometer assembly for connection to an actuator arm on the back of a dashboard mounted control assembly. The position of the slide pot potentiometer assembly creates an electrical resistance signal which governs the position of the devices which moves the variable mechanical portions of the automobile air conditioner. The shape of the linear slide pot potentiometer assembly allows for the use of existing hardware and eliminates the need to run sheathed cables from the dashboard mounted control panel assembly to the mechanically variable portions which govern the operation of the automobile air conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Vintage Air, Inc.
    Inventor: Ryan D. Zwicker
  • Patent number: 7971446
    Abstract: A system can include an enclosure having an exterior surface and an interior region that is characterized by a width and a length that is longer than the width; a plurality of trays mounted in racks that line a majority of each side of the length of the interior region and that define an aisle therebetween which is suitable for passage by one or more human occupants; cooling coils configured to capture heat generated by the plurality of trays and exhaust the heat outside the interior region; a plurality of connections on the exterior surface for supplying electrical power to the plurality of trays, supplying cooling fluid to the cooling coils, and for receiving cooling fluid discharged from the cooling coils; and doors at either end of the aisle configured and positioned to facilitate emergency egress from the enclosure by a human occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Exaflop LLC
    Inventors: Jimmy Clidaras, William Hamburgen, Andrew Carlson, Steven T. Y. Chow, Winnie Leung, Montgomery Sykora, Donald L. Beaty
  • Patent number: 7971447
    Abstract: A cooling system for a vehicle battery is described. The system has a cooling loop in heat transfer communication with the battery, for removing heat therefrom with a coolant, a first cooling device selectively coupleable to the cooling loop, using a refrigerant fluid to transfer heat with the coolant, and a second cooling device selectively coupleable to the cooling loop, using ambient air to transfer heat with the coolant. Various temperature sensors for sensing an ambient temperature and a battery temperature are provided, and connected to a controller that implements a coolant flow bypass function by commanding operation of a valve to bypass the selected one of the cooling devices in response to the battery and the ambient temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jerome Maitre
  • Patent number: 7971448
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes a heat-exchanger positioned in an outdoor unit and configured to conduct heat-exchange between air provided from outside of the outdoor unit and a refrigerant. The air conditioner also includes a fan configured to generate a flow of the air that is from the heat-exchanger to an outlet of the outdoor unit. The air conditioner further includes a driving unit configured to provide a driving force to the fan. In addition, the air conditioner includes a first member positioned in the flow of the air generated by the fan and a second member configured to guide a flow of the air to reduce collision between the air and the first member when the fan is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Seung Yup Kim, Byoung Chan Kim, Hyung Tae Kim, Dong Soo Lee
  • Patent number: 7971449
    Abstract: Heat-activated heat-pump systems and related methods are disclosed that include a power cycle coupled to a vapor-compression refrigeration cycle both utilizing the same working fluid. The power cycle comprises a boiler, an expander receiving superheated vapor and producing work from the superheated vapor, a condenser, and a pump. A regenerator conducts a first stream of working fluid from the pump to the boiler and a second stream of the working fluid from the expander to the condenser while transferring heat from the second stream to the first stream. The refrigeration cycle comprises a compressor that compresses the working fluid from the evaporator and delivers the compressed working fluid to a condenser. The expander and compressor are coupled together such that at least a portion of the work produced by the expander is utilized for running the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: State of Oregon acting by and through the State Board of Higher Education on Behalf of Oregon State University
    Inventors: Richard B. Peterson, Thomas G. Herron, Monte K. Drost
  • Patent number: 7971450
    Abstract: Deep-freezing apparatus for foodstuffs comprising a deep-freezing compartment, signal display means, sensor means adapted to detect the temperature inside the foodstuffs stored in said deep-freezing compartment, processing means for the signals generated by said sensor means, wherein the apparatus further comprises a neural network adapted to receive the signals issued by a temperature sensor situated inside the foodstuff being deep-frozen and by an information on the time elapsed from the beginning of the deep-freezing process, and further adapted to provide a signal representative of the residual time needed to reach a pre-set (deep-freezing) temperature, as well as processing means adapted to receive the signal output by said neural network and provide in response an information representative of the predicted time needed for a pre-determined temperature to be reached on said first temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Electrolux Professional SpA
    Inventors: Riccardo Furlanetto, Michele Toppano, Daniele Mari, Fabio Sinatra
  • Patent number: 7971451
    Abstract: An air conditioner is installable in a ceiling of an air-conditioned room and is disposed with a casing in whose top surface is formed a suction opening and in whose bottom surface are formed blowout openings, and in which is formed an air flow path that leads from the suction opening to the blowout openings, a blow fan that is disposed in the air flow path, and a heat exchanger that is disposed in the air flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yabu, Hiromune Matsuoka, Norihiro Takenaka, Tetsuya Morizane
  • Patent number: 7971452
    Abstract: A triangular shaped diamond adapted to display a hearts and arrows pattern when exposed to light comparable to the hearts and arrows pattern in a round diamond, comprising: six main crown facets, twelve crown half facets, a table facet, six main pavilion facets and a plurality of girdle facets separating the crown facets from the pavilion facets with each main crown facet having a symmetrically positioned opposite crown facet of substantially equal size surrounding the table facet and having at least one edge in parallel alignment with a corresponding edge in the main crown facet opposite thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Worldwide Diamond Trademarks Ltd.
    Inventor: Roni Rydlewicz
  • Patent number: 7971453
    Abstract: In order to simplify handling of the knitting machine needles and of associate coupling members—in particular when loading the rib dials—a knitting machine needle with a coupling member that is pivotally supported on said knitting machine needle is being provided. The transverse bearing surfaces (21a) and (b), as well as (22a) and (b), said surfaces being at least temporarily in abutment with each other, are disposed to laterally secure the coupling member (3) on the needle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Groz-Beckert KG
    Inventors: Kuno Horn, Jurgen Schneider