Patents Issued in August 21, 2012
  • Patent number: 8245630
    Abstract: The invention relates to a portable cordless hand held device and method for heating or reheating food directly in a dish such as a plate, bowl, cup, platter or serving bowl with steam, hot air or their mix and applying this steam and/or heat to foods conveniently and at anytime needed or desired after the food has been served to the consumer at the table or otherwise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Inventor: F. William Houraney
  • Patent number: 8245631
    Abstract: A forming machine includes a drum having an outer heating surface, a reservoir disposed below the drum and having a surrounding wall with a top edge that can contact the outer heating surface and that has a profile conforming to that of the outer heating surface, an applying disk disposed inside the reservoir and having perforations, and a rotary shaft extending into the reservoir to rotate the applying disk and movable upwardly or downwardly to raise or lower the applying disk. The reservoir is movable between non-contact and contact positions, where the top edge is spaced below and moves upward to abut against the outer heating surface, respectively. The applying disk is movable between pre-applying and applying positions, where the applying disk is lowered into the reservoir for dipping into the dough and is raised for applying the dough to the outer heating surface, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Inventor: Chao-Hung Lin
  • Patent number: 8245632
    Abstract: The egg-boiling device includes a plurality of stackable trays that each contains a plurality of egg cradles. Each egg cradle is capable of supporting an egg in an upright position during the boiling process. Each tray has a handle key way that enables a corresponding handle to engage each tray for movement of the tray into or out of a cooking pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Inventor: Terry Fields
  • Patent number: 8245633
    Abstract: A bread baking support for a baking appliance, the support having at least one mold of elongated shape having a substantially semicircular cross-section. The longitudinal edges of the support have substantially vertical walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventors: Michel Klinger, Lionel Reyes
  • Patent number: 8245634
    Abstract: Forming a perforated sheet which comprises a foil component and at least one flexible non-stick coating applied onto a surface of the foil component, wherein a plurality of apertures are then punched through the foil component and the at least one flexible non-stick coating to create a set of colored sequins and confetti with different colors on opposite surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Inventors: Richard J. Maiaro, Kenneth Lauro
  • Patent number: 8245635
    Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic alignment apparatus for rubber bands which automatically aligns a rubber band so as to automate a rubber banding process. The automatic alignment apparatus for rubber bands includes a pair of alignment rods installed in parallel on a plate, screw grooves respectively formed on outer circumferential surfaces of the alignment rods, alignment grooves formed on upper parts of the alignment rods, limit parts formed above the alignment grooves to prevent an aligned rubber band from being separated from the alignment rods, a driving unit and a power transmission unit to rotate the alignment rods, a first sensing unit to sense the rubber band aligned by rotation of the alignment rods, a second sensing unit to sense a consumption state of rubber bands temporarily banded onto the alignment rods, and a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Zeus Techno, Inc.
    Inventors: Chi Hyun Kim, Hee Soo Woo
  • Patent number: 8245636
    Abstract: Doctor blade assembly for rotogravure printing units, having a support structure for a doctor blade, a holding device of the support structure and a moving device for moving the holding device. The holding device includes a mounting suitable to fix either a chambered doctor blade or a non-chambered doctor blade to the moving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Bobst Group Italia S.p.A.
    Inventor: Renzo Melotti
  • Patent number: 8245637
    Abstract: A device and a method for separating printing plates from a stack uses a lifting device for lifting the printing plates and at least one separating element to be moved under the lifted printing plates. The structurally simple device is able to react flexibly to different printing plate formats and, at the same time, avoids damage to a surface to be imaged of the individual printing plates. In order to avoid such problems, the device includes at least three separating elements which, as they move under a lifted printing plate at any time, are continuously disposed at distances from one another having a ratio that always remains constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Axel Trilk
  • Patent number: 8245638
    Abstract: Color separations of a printing image are aligned on a printing material perpendicular to the transport direction of the printing material. A front edge and a rear edge of a register mark are detected. Their distances and, at least in some regions, their widths along the traveled distance of the transport belt between the detection of the front edge and of the rear edge of the register mark are determined. Misalignments of the imaging devices used for the color separations are determined and corrected using these distances and widths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Ralph Petersen
  • Patent number: 8245639
    Abstract: An igniter fixing structure includes a plurality of igniter bodies having an ignition portion and an electroconductive pin, each of the igniter bodies being fixed, by a resin, to a peripheral edge of a port formed in a plate-like portion serving as a fixing object, the number of the port being the same as that of the plurality of the igniter bodies, and a single retainer as a support member for the plurality of igniter bodies. The retainer has a plurality of support portions each having a hole for passing the electroconductive pin therethrough and a connection plate portion that connects the plurality of support portions, at least the support portions are embedded in the resin in a state in which the electroconductive pin passes through the hole, and at least the connection plate portion is disposed to abut against the plate-like portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Katsuda, Mikio Yabuta
  • Patent number: 8245640
    Abstract: Molten droplets of a metal fuel, such as aluminum, are dispersed into air or water for a reaction releasing energy for military or other purposes. In one warhead embodiment, a cylinder of solid metal is disposed within a ceramic heat insulator; heaters of thermite-like material are embedded in the metal; and an explosive dispersing charge is disposed around or at one end of the cylinder. On activation, the heaters are ignited to melt the metal, and the charge then detonated to disperse droplets of the molten metal. In a related embodiment, the metal and heaters are within a containment having an atomizing nozzle at one end and, oppositely of the metal from the nozzle, a piston and gas generator. When the metal is melted, the gas generator is activated to expel molten metal droplets from the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Gerrit T. Sutherland, Phillip J. Miller, Harold W. Sandusky
  • Patent number: 8245641
    Abstract: A method for enabling safe/arm functionality in weapons. The method including: attaching the weapon to an airframe; providing an elastic element in the weapon; releasing the weapon from the airframe to release a stored energy in the elastic element; converting the stored energy to an electrical energy; and providing the electrical energy to one or more components in the weapon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Omnitek Partners LLC
    Inventor: Jahangir S. Rastegar
  • Patent number: 8245642
    Abstract: A small arms projectile for a small arms weapon is provided within a cartridge cover (1). A release element (15) is provided for preventing movement of the projectile's initiator (11) into an armed position. A channel (5) is formed between the initiator (11) and the projectile's explosive charge (8) and a slidable shield (6) is provided therein. An insert element (10) is also located in the channel for preventing movement of the shield (6) into its armed position. The insert element (10) is held in place by the cartridge cover (1). When the projectile exits the cartridge cover (1) following firing, the insert element (10) is configured to move out of the channel (5) to allow the shield (6) to move into its armed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Olympic Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Michael Alculumbre
  • Patent number: 8245643
    Abstract: A delay unit (10) comprises a timing strip (14) and, optionally, a calibration strip (20) deposited on a substrate (12). The timing and calibration strips comprise energetic materials which optionally may comprise particles of nanosize materials, e.g., a fuel and an oxidizer, optionally applied as separate layers. A method of making the delay units comprises depositing onto a substrate (12) a timing strip (14) having a starting point (14d) and a discharge point (14e) and depositing onto the same or another substrate a calibration strip (20). Timing strip (14) and calibration strip (20) are of identical composition and are otherwise configured, e.g., thickness of the strips, to have identical burn rates. The calibration strip (20) is ignited and its burn rate is ascertained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Dyno Nobel Inc.
    Inventors: John Childs, Lawrence J. Shank, III
  • Patent number: 8245644
    Abstract: A smoke generating system that complies with the EPA's standard design criteria, which call for separate black and white smoke generation chambers, a smoke stack with exhaust fan, an electronic opacity monitor (transmissometer), and a recording device for the transmissometer data. It includes a redesigned black smoke burn chamber that can be operated on diesel fuel only, eliminating the need for toluene. The white smoke generator is improved by including an automatic temperature control circuit to maintain fuel evaporation chamber temperatures between 700 and 900 degrees F. The unit also employs an induced draft fan (injector) dilution air system. This system eliminated the prior art fan system and significantly improves the dilution air flow characteristic by establishing a gradual differential flow gradient. The entire system is mounted on a self-contained chassis that can be transported to any desired location. In addition, audio equipment installed provides amplification for the instructor during classes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Inventor: Erik H. Haas
  • Patent number: 8245645
    Abstract: A mine defeating projectile includes a housing defining an inner cavity, a plurality of channels extending through a front surface of the housing and to the inner cavity, and a plurality of cutout sections extending through as side wall thereof. The projectile further includes a fragmentation sleeve disposed in the inner cavity of the housing and a slider sleeve disposed in the inner cavity of the housing abutting an aft end of the fragmentation sleeve. The slider sleeve includes an explosive train and the slider sleeve is frangibly attached to the housing. The projectile further includes a finned section attached to an aft end of the housing. The finned section defines a protrusion for initiating the explosive train. The protrusion is spaced apart from the explosive train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Antonio Paulic, Lance Benedict
  • Patent number: 8245646
    Abstract: A dual tamper vehicle is provided. The dual tamper vehicle has a single articulated frame assembly having two sets of tampers. The articulated frame assembly is, essentially, a bifurcated vehicle having a forward, first vehicle and a trailing, second vehicle joined by a primary coupling having three axes of rotation. The primary coupling having three axes of rotation allows the two vehicles to roll, pitch, and yaw relative to each other thereby allowing the single, long rail bifurcated vehicle to travel over a railroad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Harsco Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Miller, Anthony P. Delucia
  • Patent number: 8245647
    Abstract: A path switching facility for crossed paths comprises: at least one article transport vehicle configured to travel along a first path and a second path that crosses the first path; a guide rail for guiding a guided roller of the article transport vehicle; a travel rail for guiding and supporting travel wheels of the article transport vehicle; a rotatable guide rail and a rotatable travel rail both located in a crossing area; a push operating portion provided to the article transport vehicle to push one of the rotatable guide rail and the rotatable travel rail; and, an operatively connecting device for coupling a rotation of the rotatable guide rail with a rotation of the rotatable travel rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keisuke Oguro, Motohiro Fujita, Yuuya Takemoto
  • Patent number: 8245648
    Abstract: A guided vehicle transportation system is described in the application. The system includes guard wheels and a guard rail positioned along a center line of a guide track. The guard rail has a groove in which the guard wheels are received with a predetermined clearance between the periphery of the guard wheels and side walls of the groove. The guard rail has a flange extending toward the groove at the top of each side wall. The vehicle has first arms extending in longitudinal direction and being attached rotatably at a central part of an axle provided for suspending each pair of front wheels and rear wheels, and the guard wheels are attached rotatably and directly to the both end parts of the first arms or attached rotatably to both end parts of second arms each of which is attached to a corresponding end part of the first arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunji Morichika, Katsuaki Morita, Masahiro Yamaguchi, Kosuke Katahira, Yasuhiro Nagamichi
  • Patent number: 8245649
    Abstract: The specialized table apparatus provides for a child to be positioned in the center of the table top, with various toys and devices placed around them on the table top. The removably fitted table top corrals toys and other devices within the side rails that extend above the table top, thereby helping to prevent a child from inadvertently knocking devices off of the apparatus. The L-shaped legs provide for greater stability and for greater support of the table top and the house that is selectively fitted atop the table top. Various surfaces of the apparatus are provided in both erasable surfaces and magnetic surfaces. A storage area is provided adjacent to one side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Inventors: Timothy S. Ratliff, Vicky Ratliff
  • Patent number: 8245650
    Abstract: A portable, compact computer and projector stand is provided that is adapted to be utilized in conjunction with a cellular phone storage adapter and a cup holding adapter. The cell phone storage adapter is formed of a separable housing forming a containment cavity therein. An attachment pin is mounted cantilevered from the outer periphery of the housing to provide for attachment through impingement with a first receiving hole in the table top. A closed cell foam insert fitted within the containment cavity is adapted to graspingly receive, and consequently securely hold, a cellular telephone, portable digital assistant (PDA) or similar handheld electronic device. The cup holding adapter for use in conjunction with the stand incorporates a coaster support platform having an attachment pin mounted cantilevered from the outer periphery of the platform to provide for attachment through impingement with a second receiving hole in the table top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Inventor: Mark McKsymick
  • Patent number: 8245651
    Abstract: A suspended storage shelf includes a platform supported by a support frame having at least one platform support element and at least two suspension posts, optionally adjustable in length, attached a platform support element. A fastener secures the support frame to a structure. Optionally, the suspension posts are attachable over a continuous or discrete range of locations on the platform support element. In an embodiment with two or more panels, the panels form a continuous surface by, for example, being positioned adjacent one another along the platform support element, being secured to one another such as with a coupling, and/or being secured to the platform support element. Optionally, the panels are positioned along the platform support element and the length of the platform support element is such that the suspension posts clamp the panels in adjacency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Inventors: Michael J. Mikich, Dwayne Dunseath, Timothy M. Matthias, Mark C. Torosian
  • Patent number: 8245652
    Abstract: A medical worktable has a base, a lifting device and a platform device. The base has a lower casing and an upper casing detachably connected to the lower casing. The lifting device is adjustably mounted on the base and has a pressurized air cylinder, an inner tube and an outer tube. The pressurized air cylinder is mounted in the upper casing and is securely mounted on the lower casing. The inner tube is mounted around the pressurized air cylinder and abuts the cylinder shaft. The outer tube is mounted around the inner tube and is securely mounted on a mounting board of the pressurized air cylinder. The platform device is mounted on the lifting device, is opposite to the base and has a mounting seat and a platform. The mounting seat is securely connected to the inner tube. The platform is mounted on a top of the mounting seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Modernsolid Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chin-Jui Hung
  • Patent number: 8245653
    Abstract: Binding systems are described for applying compressive forces on the refractory hearth and/or refractory sidewall of a circular furnace having an outer metal shell which may be segmented. One preferred binding system comprises a tensioning band having one or more segments which extends around the furnace hearth and/or sidewall, with a resilient connection being provided between the opposite ends of the band and, where the band is segmented, resilient connections are also provided between the ends of adjacent segments. Another preferred binding system comprises a plurality of pivoting members provided around the circumference of the furnace. Each pivoting member is acted upon by a force-generating member which applies a controlled amount of force to the pivoting member and causes it to apply a compressive force to the hearth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Hatch Ltd.
    Inventors: Felim P. McCaffrey, Nils W. Voermann, Clarence A. Nichols, Robert J. Veenstra, Jimmy Sarvinis, Jr., Keith E. Joiner, Brett T. Emery
  • Patent number: 8245654
    Abstract: An embroidery hoop (1) for a sewing machine or embroidery machine having two hoop parts, namely the lower hoop part (3) and the upper hoop part (5). The two hoop parts (3, 5) are connected to each other by a hinge that can be released without the use of tools. The embroidery material is clamped between the inner hinge element (9) on the lower hoop part (3) and the outer hinge element (15) on the upper hoop part (5). Through this measure, an embroidery material can be embroidered at any position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: BERNINA International AG
    Inventors: Michael Konig, Frank Prufer, Markus Muller
  • Patent number: 8245655
    Abstract: A cap frame includes an annular cap frame body detachably attachable to a feed mechanism of an embroidery sewing machine and holds a cap so that a predetermined part of the cap is embroidered. The cap frame further includes a pressing member which has a proximal end mounted on the cap frame body so that the pressing member is pivotally movable thereby to be switchable between a pressing position where the pressing member presses a vicinity of the predetermined part of the cap from outside and an open position where the pressing member allows the cap to be attached to or detached from the cap frame, and a guide member which guides the pressing member so that the pressing member is prevented from being caught on another member of the cap frame, when the pressing member is switched between the pressing position and the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kawaguchi, Junnosuke Matsuda, Takahira Osamura
  • Patent number: 8245656
    Abstract: A sewing machine including an image capturing unit disposed at a position capable of capturing images of the stitches formed on the workpiece cloth and capturing images of the stitches at least from either upper and undersides of the workpiece cloth; an extracting section that extracts, from the image data of the stitches captured by the image capturing unit, a region occupied by an opposite side thread appearing at an interlace of the needle thread and the bobbin thread; a calculating section calculating an area of the extracted region; an evaluating section that evaluates a tension balance between the needle thread and the bobbin thread based on the area calculated by the calculating section; and a controller controlling the thread tension adjustment mechanism to modify the tension balance of the stitches based on a result of evaluation by the evaluating section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiko Mori, Yasuo Miyake
  • Patent number: 8245657
    Abstract: A personal watercraft is disclosed, having a straddle-type seat disposed on a deck. The seat has a seat profile. A storage compartment is disposed rearwardly of the seat. A rear platform is pivotally connected to a rear portion of the watercraft. The rear portion has a raised portion protruding therefrom. The raised portion of the rear portion forms at least in part the storage compartment. The rear platform permits access to the storage compartment when in a raised position, and sealingly closes the storage compartment when in a lowered position. A highest point of the rear platform is disposed lower than the seat profile when the rear platform is in the lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.
    Inventors: Kim Ross, Sebastien Clement, Andre Cote, Richard Simard, Gilbert Lefrancois
  • Patent number: 8245658
    Abstract: There are disclosed systems and methods for supporting cargo tanks within the hold of a liquefied gas carrier by establishing a series of spaced-apart pedestals along the longitudinal axis of a tank, said pedestals positioned in conjunction with the ship's structural components. These pedestals are of wood or other suitable thermal insulating and load bearing material fixed to the tank below its circumferential diameter along both the starboard and port tank sides. The pedestals rest on structural longitudinal stringers laying port and starboard in the horizontal plane and fixed and supported by the ship's hull structure. Longitudinal and transverse pedestal movement is controlled by stops attached to the stringers at one or more of the pedestals. The stops contact the pedestals via bearing pads which constrain the pedestal in one direction but permit its movement in another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Inventors: John Randolph Holland, Wolfgang Fichelmann, Juergen Wollert
  • Patent number: 8245659
    Abstract: Mechanical member (1; 100; 200) for a means of transport such as a boat—where said mechanical member has a support shaft (2; 101; 201), provided with a main axis (Y) that is mountable on the means of transport. Sliding bodies (3; 108; 202) are connected to the support shaft (2; 101; 201) through a union or connector (4; 203), which includes shaped disks (5;6;102;103;104;105;) and radial shock absorbers (17) mounted at the end of the shaped disks so that the sliding bodies (3, 108, 202) come into contact with any adjacent structures to direct the movement of the means of transport and prevent damage to adjacent structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Inventor: Giorgio Besenzoni
  • Patent number: 8245660
    Abstract: A dip coating apparatus and method of dip coating. The apparatus includes a guide surface, a bendable tube, a carriage, and a support assembly. The bendable tube redirectionally engages the guide surface intermediate the first and second longitudinal ends of the tube. The carriage is vertically repositionable and cooperatively engages the tube proximate the first longitudinal end of the tube, whereby vertical repositioning of the carriage effects a change in the vertical distance between the first and second longitudinal ends of the tube. The support assembly releasably suspends an elongate workpiece for introduction of at least a portion of the workpiece into the tube through the first longitudinal end of the coating tube as the carriage is vertically repositioned upwards towards the support assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Oakriver Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Reilly Dillon, Rachel Poker, Gary Johnson, Daniel Garrett
  • Patent number: 8245661
    Abstract: A system for coating a surface comprising providing a source of iron-based amorphous metal, the iron-based amorphous metal including devitrified ferrite; directing the iron-based amorphous metal toward the surface by a spray for coating the surface; and separating at least a portion of the devitrified ferrite from the spray before the spray reaches the surface. Also an apparatus for coating a surface comprising a source of iron-based amorphous metal, the iron-based amorphous metal including devitrified ferrite; an application system for directing the iron-based amorphous metal toward the surface by a spray for coating the surface, and a system for separating at least a portion of the devitrified ferrite from the spray before the spray reaches the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignees: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, Sandia National Laboratories
    Inventors: Phillip D. Hailey, Sumner D. Day, Joseph C. Farmer, Nancy Yang, Thomas M. Devine, Jr., Larry Kaufman
  • Patent number: 8245662
    Abstract: A method and a configuration provide dynamic control of a liquid supply for a moisturizing storage device for sealing glued edges of a envelope flap of letter envelopes. Once a measured value has been measured for a sealing liquid which is stored in the tank of a moisturizing apparatus, the type of sealing liquid that is used is qualitatively analyzed on the basis of the measured value and of at least one material parameter as a comparison value. The amount of liquid stored in the moisturizing storage device is then measured by at least one further measurement to allow dynamic control of the liquid supply to the moisturizing storage device as a function of the material parameter and of at least one measured value, which is related to the liquid consumption, in the result of the at least one measurement of the amount of liquid stored in the moisturizing storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Gerhardt, Wolfgang Muhl
  • Patent number: 8245663
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for handling workpieces in a processing system. The workpiece vertical lift mechanism (200), which is disposed inside a process chamber (40) of the processing system, is adapted to transfer a workpiece (55) to and from a pedestal portion (286) of an electrode (24). The pedestal portion (286) is configured to support the workpiece (55) during processing. The workpiece vertical lift mechanism (200) including a workpiece fixture (290) movable relative to the pedestal portion (286) between a first position in which the workpiece fixture (290) holds the workpiece (55) in a non-contacting relationship with the pedestal portion (286) and a second position in which the pedestal portion (286) projects above workpiece fixture (290) so as to transfer the workpiece (55) from the workpiece fixture (290) to the pedestal portion (286).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventor: James P. Fazio
  • Patent number: 8245664
    Abstract: A method and installation for automatically determining the readiness of an animal for being weaned off liquid feed and onto dry feed. The height of an animal in an animal installation is automatically measured using a height measurement system at a selected location within the installation. A suitable location within an installation for providing a height gauge may include a feeding station, a cleaning station or other treatment station of an animal. Additional parameters may be used for the determination of readiness to wean in combination with dry feed consumption rate, such as animal age, weight or other animal dimensions. In determining the height, the method may include making a determination of the overall physical condition of the animal and may include a determination of the height-to-weight-ratio of an animal. The installation may include an automatic animal weighing system. Measured values may be stored in a control system memory for monitoring the growth of individual animals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: DeLaval Holding AB
    Inventors: Ron Mulder, Lars Arnerup
  • Patent number: 8245665
    Abstract: An on demand food and water dispenser for pets comprises a base structure, having a base floor and a surrounding substantially vertical base wall structure, capable of holding water; a food bowl, having a bowl floor and a surrounding substantially vertical bowl wall structure attached to the base floor within the base structure but not contacting the base wall structure, the bowl capable of holding food; and a dual-chambered container attached within the base structure but not contacting the base wall structure, capable of receiving, storing and dispensing on demand from a first chamber dry pet food into the food bowl and on demand from a second chamber water into the base structure. The base structure receives dispensed water from the second chamber to create a water-filled moat that inhibits crawling insects from accessing the food bowl or food stored in the first chamber of the dual chambered container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Inventor: Shelley Sue Willett
  • Patent number: 8245666
    Abstract: A novel bird feeder is disclosed comprising a top portion with a hook, a cap and shield, and a bottom portion with a feeder body and a tray the top portion and the bottom portion being interconnected by a cable. One end of the cable is affixed to the bottom portion of the bird feeder and the other end of the cable is attached to a spring biased coil assembly located in the top portion. The bottom portion is then reversibly dislocatable from the top portion between an in-use condition and a re-supply condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Inventors: Kim A. Sena, Jeffrey A. Ellen
  • Patent number: 8245667
    Abstract: A liquid nectar hummingbird feeder has a reusable base with a feeding basin that receives a disposable cartridge containing a pre-filled volume of liquid nectar. The cartridge has a single bottleneck opening at a lower end which is initially sealed by a breakable seal in the form of a film layer of foil, coated paper stock, plastic or the like. The base includes a cartridge mounting and opening structure adapted to secure and open the cartridge bottleneck opening by rupturing the film layer seal to allow liquid nectar to flow from the cartridge into the feeding basin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Woodstream Corporation
    Inventors: Chad Mateer, Christopher J. Kamery, Marko Lubic
  • Patent number: 8245668
    Abstract: An apparatus to deter pets from lying on a seat portion which extends between opposite arms each on an end of a piece of furniture comprising: i) a large spring having an extended length sufficient to extend across a width of the seat portion of the piece of furniture, the spring having a sufficient diameter to extend across a substantial depth of the seat portion; ii) a fabric sleeve loosely surrounding the large spring, the sleeve also having a length sufficient to extend across a width of the seat portion of the furniture; iii) two end panels, each attached to an opposite end portion of the large spring and an end portion of the fabric sleeve; and, iv) end panel attachment mechanism spaced around a periphery of the end panels to attach the end panels together in a storage position with the spring compressed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Inventors: Gordon R. Alberti, Kathryn L. Alberti, Nancy C. Alberti
  • Patent number: 8245669
    Abstract: A water heating system, comprise a tank, a heating element, and a controller that is coupled to the heating element. The controller comprises a base, a housing, a relay, logic and, a temperature sensor. The base is composed of thermally conductive material, and the housing is composed of electrically insulating material. The housing is coupled to the base, and the logic is configured to control the a state of the relay. Further, the temperature sensor contacts the base and is coupled to the logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: Terry G. Phillips, James Bullington
  • Patent number: 8245670
    Abstract: A sensor housing system maintains a sensor—which is used in monitoring an extreme temperature environment such as a combustion unit—at a desired ambient temperature. The system comprises one or more sensors housed within an internal chamber and cooled by air or an inert gas. Gas within the chamber cools the sensor and then exhausts to a second internal chamber which, in turn, exhausts to atmosphere. Both chambers are housed in a directional ball pivot that provides access to the extreme temperature environment and adjusts the angle of the sensor. An air tube having a sweep is directed toward the external surface of the glass wafer and directs a hot gas stream across the surface of the wafer. A failsafe device retracts the chambers from the extreme temperature environment in case of power failure or if for some reason the sensor becomes too hot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Inventor: David W. Schmitt
  • Patent number: 8245671
    Abstract: The present description relates to operation and control of a fuel reformer. In one embodiment, an engine constituent is adjusted in response to limiting an amount of reformate supplied to the engine during a condition of reformer degradation. The approach can improve engine operation. In this way, consequences of reformate system degradation may be reduced by limiting use of the reformate system after degradation is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas G. Leone
  • Patent number: 8245672
    Abstract: A single-cylinder or in-line multi-cylinder engine is provided. The engine includes a crankshaft, a piston, a cylinder body, a cylinder head, and a gear change mechanism. The piston is connected to the crankshaft. A cylinder is formed in the cylinder body. The piston is housed in the cylinder. The cylinder head is attached to an end of the cylinder body. The gear change mechanism is disposed to the rear of the crankshaft. An axis of the cylinder extends upward obliquely to the rear from the crankshaft side. The axis of the cylinder passes in front of an axis of the crankshaft when viewed from a direction in which the crankshaft extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Yokoi, Shidehiko Miyashiro
  • Patent number: 8245673
    Abstract: An engine comprising: a shaft (6) having a first multilobate cam (5a) axially fixed to said shaft (6) and an adjacent second multilobate cam (5b) differentially geared to said first multilobate and a pair of diametrically opposed pistons (1a, 1b) which pistons of a pair of pistons are rigidly interconnected by a connecting plate (4) and wherein, reciprocating motion of said pistons imparts rotary motion to said shaft via contact between said pistons and the camming surfaces of said multilobate cams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Revetec Holdings Limited
    Inventor: Bradley Howell-Smith
  • Patent number: 8245674
    Abstract: Provided is a power unit for a vehicle including an engine main body of an engine having: a valve system capable of changing operational modes of each engine valve; valve controlling apparatuses for controlling operations of the valve system; and a crankcase housing a transmission, the engine main body being mounted on a vehicle frame. The power unit for a vehicle achieves reduction in size of the engine main body in a direction along the axis of a cylinder, and increases the freedom of arranging parts designed to be placed on an upper end portion of the engine main body. The valve controlling apparatuses are attached to the top surface of the crankcase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hayato Maehara, Toshiyuki Sato
  • Patent number: 8245675
    Abstract: A first overlap amount that is an overlap amount of overlap between an intake valve opening timing and an exhaust valve opening timing, is calculated based on rotation speed of an internal combustion engine, load on the engine, and temperature of a working fluid. A second overlap amount that is the overlap amount that is set so that the relative rotation phase of at least one of the intake-side camshaft and the exhaust-side camshaft relative to the rotation phase of the crankshaft is fixed when the engine stops, is calculated based on the temperature of the working fluid. The overlap amount is set to equal to the second overlap amount, if the first overlap amount is larger than the second overlap amount. The overlap amount is set to equal to the first overlap amount, if the first overlap amount is less than or equal to the second overlap amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Tomimatsu, Mamoru Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 8245676
    Abstract: A continuously variable valve lift device of an engine may include a cam shaft having an eccentric cam formed on an outer peripheral surface of the cam shaft so that an oscillating outer-race wheel is coupled to and oscillatable along the eccentric cam, an output cam being rotably fitted to the cam shaft, a sliding shaft for varying the position of the output cam by moving straightly in a front and rear direction according to an engine operating condition, in which the sliding shaft has a deviation adjustment member which is formed to be eccentric toward an outer peripheral surface thereof, and a rocker arm rotably fitted to the deviation adjustment member and one end of which is rotably connected to the oscillating outer-race wheel and the other end of which is rotably engaged with the output cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jei Choon Yang, Byong Young Choi, Young Hong Kwak, Ki Young Kwon, Jin Kook Kong, Soo Hyung Woo, Jin Soon Kim
  • Patent number: 8245677
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an insert element (3) for transmitting a force for a camshaft adjustment system. The insert element (3) has a first region (1) with an end surface (4) for receiving the force, and a second region (2) for conducting away the force. The end surface (4) is arranged in such a manner that it has, by means of a locking element (7), at least one force transmission point for receiving the force. The second region (2) is arranged in such a manner that it has, by means of a stator element (6), a force transmission surface for conducting away the force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Kleiber
  • Patent number: 8245678
    Abstract: A variable valve timing control apparatus of an internal combustion engine has a drive rotary member, a driven rotary member, and an electric motor which rotates with the drive rotary member and changes a rotational phase of the driven rotary member relative to the drive rotary member through a current application to a coil. The electric motor is covered with a cover member with a clearance interposed therebetween, and a bearing member is installed between an outer periphery of the electric motor and an inner periphery of the cover member for rotatably supporting the electric motor. The bearing member defines a space portion between an end surface, in a rotation shaft direction, of the electric motor and an opposing inner end surface of the cover member, and the space portion is supplied with lubricating oil by a lubricating oil supplying mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiko Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8245679
    Abstract: A variable valve timing apparatus has a case, a rotor, and a magneto-rheological fluid. The magneto-rheological fluid gives variable braking force to the rotor. The rotor is connected with a phase adjusting mechanism. The phase adjusting mechanism adjusts a phase of an internal combustion engine according to braking force. A sealing device is disposed between the case and the rotor. In one embodiment, the sealing device has a magnet and a plurality of flux guide members. In other embodiment, a diaphragm which acts as a damper mechanism for absorbing an internal pressure change is disposed on a fluid chamber in which the magneto-rheological fluid is kept.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Shingo Morishima