Patents Issued in December 18, 2012
  • Patent number: 8333084
    Abstract: Disclosed are a refrigerator and a lighting device therefor. Since an optical source, an LED is installed at a height to overlap a guide member, light emitted from the LED is widely dispersed through the guide member. This may allow a user to easily check a discharged degree of ice cubes or water, and to have sophisticated aesthetic feeling. Furthermore, since the optical source is fixed to an optical source accommodation portion by being encompassed thereby, a water leakage prevention function may be enhanced, and an additional coupling member for coupling the optical source may not be required. This may allow the number of components and assembly processes to be decreased, and the production costs to be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jin-Woo Park
  • Patent number: 8333085
    Abstract: An evaporator, in particular for a motor vehicle air conditioner, is provided that includes at least one block constructed largely of tube elements and rib elements, whereby it is possible for a refrigerant to flow through the tube elements, at least one section of the block being provided with a condensation water overflow protection means, which includes at least one restriction plate, the height of the restriction plate in at least one section being lower than a height in at least one second section adjacent to the first section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Behr Industry GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christoph Hipp-Kalthoff, Klaus Voigt, Alexander Argento
  • Patent number: 8333086
    Abstract: In the condenser provided with two of the degassing chambers separated by a cooling fluid, communication between the degassing chambers is prevented even if a pressure difference is increased between the degassing chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignees: The Tokyo Electric Power Company, Incorporated, Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc., Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc., Kobe Steel, Ltd., Danish Technological Institute, Johnson Controls Denmark APS
    Inventors: Ryo Fujisawa, Kazuto Okada, Masatake Toshima, Yoshihiro Nakayama, Koichiro Iizuka, Satoshi Ide, Kunihiko Suto, Kazutaka Kurashige, Ichirou Sakuraba, Daisuke Hayashi, Shinji Shato, Masaki Ikeuchi, Hans Madsboll, Christian Svarregaard-Jensen
  • Patent number: 8333087
    Abstract: A heat transfer system for refrigeration and/or heating of products includes a housing having an internal chamber, a baffle, a spiral pathway around the baffle, a gas flow pathway and a blower to circulate gas along the gas flow pathway. The baffle separates the chamber into upper and lower portions. The spiral pathway includes an upper spiral pathway within the upper portion, and a lower spiral pathway within the lower portion. The gas flow pathway includes an upper gas flow pathway across the upper spiral pathway and a lower gas flow pathway across the lower spiral pathway in which gas flow in the upper and lower gas flow pathways defines a circulation loop. The width of the upper gas flow pathway and upper spiral pathway are similar, and the width of the lower gas flow pathway and lower spiral pathway are similar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Linde, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen A. McCormick, Michael Newman, Robert Muscato
  • Patent number: 8333088
    Abstract: A parallel flow heat exchanger is disclosed having heat transfer tubes with a plurality of relatively small channels, which are aligned in a parallel manner, and wherein the heat transfer tubes are in fluid communication with at least one manifold structure, are received in manifold wall openings and are attached to the manifold structure by brazing process The manifold walls and/or the tubes are modified to minimize the likelihood of brazing material plugging or at least partially blocking any of the plurality of channels In one feature, the openings in the manifold structure are formed by deforming the material of the manifold structure outwardly In another feature, the edges of the heat transfer tubes may be formed such that the outermost end channels within each heat transfer tube extend farther inwardly than do the central channels Various design configurations are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Michael F. Taras, Alexander Lifson
  • Patent number: 8333089
    Abstract: New and improved compositions of doped fluorophosphate glasses for lasers have a high refractive index (nD) of approximately 1.6 to 1.7, high transmission in the near infrared part of the spectrum and a wide glass forming domain. These glass systems, Ba(PO3)2—Al(PO3)3—BaF2-Dopants, utilize dopants from the group of oxides or fluorides of the rare earth elements Sm, Eu, Nd, Er, Yb, Tm, Tb, Ho and Pr as well as MnO; and mixtures thereof. The composition of glass includes chemical durability, efficiency of laser use in the infrared spectrum and improved duration of luminescence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Inventor: Alfred A. Margaryan
  • Patent number: 8333090
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing an optical fiber, includes the steps of: a) producing a soot core preform by depositing a core material on a substrate; b) removing the substrate from the soot preform leaving an axial cavity along the longitudinal axis of the soot core preform; (c) drying and consolidating the soot core preform so as to obtain a glass core preform having an axial hole corresponding to the axial cavity; d) reducing a diameter of the axial hole; and e) stretching the glass core preform so as to substantially close the axial hole, wherein the process further includes the step of measuring at least one geometric characteristic of the axial hole of the glass core preform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Prysmian S.p.A.
    Inventors: Marco Ruzzier, Cristiano Ruocchio, Franco Cocchini, Antonio Adigrat
  • Patent number: 8333091
    Abstract: Garage Door Track Lock to prevent overhead opening garage door from opening. Lock with Z Flange is placed securely through garage door vertical track on one side with back plate and shackle inserted through lock cylinder on opposing side and is securely in place above roller. When the lock secured in this way it prevents garage door opening. Lock cannot be cut with bolt cutters or pried off. Garage Door will be able to open when lock is unlocked with a key. The lock uses a Z Flange welded on Master Lock M46XKAD (or equivalent) and a round back plate is welded to the Master Lock shackle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Inventor: David Alan Worley
  • Patent number: 8333092
    Abstract: A plug 2 used for a piercer according to the invention includes a tip end portion 23, a cylindrical portion 24, a barrel portion 25, a mandrel coupling portion 22, and an injection hole 21. The injection hole 21 penetrates from the surface of the cylindrical portion 24 to the surface of the mandrel coupling portion 22 and an externally supplied lubricant is injected from the hole. A clearance forms between the pierced material and the cylindrical portion 24. The injection hole 21 is formed at the cylindrical portion 24, and therefore the material in the process of piercing does not contact the injection hole 21. Therefore, an inner surface defect attributable to the contact between the material and the injection hole 21 can be prevented from being generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Shimoda, Tomio Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 8333093
    Abstract: The invention is based on a method of producing bent spring elements from a spring steel strip (14), wherein a feed unit (16) delivers the spring steel strip (14) from a supply roll (12) to a bending unit (32) having at least three bending rollers (34) and a reverse bending roller (36), of which at least one bending roller (34) and the reverse bending roller (36) can be adjusted transversely to the spring steel strip (14) by bending motors (60, 62), and wherein a cutting-off unit (44) adjoins the bending unit (32), said cutting-off unit (44) cutting off the spring steel strip (14) into individual spring elements by means of cutting-off tools (46, 48; 76, 78). It is proposed that the cutting-off tools (46, 48; 76, 78) be movable in the longitudinal direction of the spring steel strip (14) in a numerically controlled manner and that they be synchronized with the feed movement of the spring steel strip (14) during the cutting-off operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Kleckner, Julius Mazurkiewicz, Paul Criel
  • Patent number: 8333094
    Abstract: In an arrangement for bending tubular workpieces, in which a workpiece is supplied to a bending head for bending and is supported from the inside during the bending process in the bending region by means of a mandrel introduced into the workpiece, with the mandrel comprising a mandrel element and a traveler, sitting movably in the workpiece and the traveler being longitudinally displaceable in the workpiece by means of a feed device (14), the traveler is produced from a magnetizable material and the feed device comprises a magnetic device which is applied to a position corresponding to the position of the traveler outside of the workpiece, with a positive magnetic engagement being formed between the magnetic device and the traveler, with the traveler being displaceable in the workpiece via the magnetic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Wafios Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Jürgen Wolf
  • Patent number: 8333095
    Abstract: An apparatus includes, in combination, a roll former with rolls configured to form a structural beam from sheet material, and a sweep unit for longitudinally sweeping a beam in any of vertical, horizontal, or combination directions. The sweep unit has a first pair of forming rolls positioned to engage first opposing sides of the structural beam and has a second pair of forming rolls positioned to engage second opposing sides of the structural beam. The sweep unit movably supports the first and second pairs of forming rolls so that any selected one of the forming rolls continuously engages an associated side of the structural beam while an associated one of the forming rolls opposing the selected one forming roll moves downstream and around the selected one forming roll. This provides a very stable beam-bending condition promoting dimensional stability during the sweeping process, and hence dimensional accuracy and repeatability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Richard D. Heinz, Bryan E. Gould
  • Patent number: 8333096
    Abstract: A method includes, in combination, a roll former with rolls configured to form a structural beam from sheet material, and a sweep unit for longitudinally sweeping a beam in any of vertical, horizontal, or combination directions. The sweep unit has a first pair of forming rolls positioned to engage first opposing sides of the structural beam and has a second pair of forming rolls positioned to engage second opposing sides of the structural beam. The sweep unit movably supports the first and second pairs of forming rolls so that any selected one of the forming rolls continuously engages an associated side of the structural beam while an associated one of the forming rolls opposing the selected one forming roll moves downstream and around the selected one forming roll. This provides a very stable beam-bending condition promoting dimensional stability during the sweeping process, and hence dimensional accuracy and repeatability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Richard D. Heinz, Bryan E. Gould
  • Patent number: 8333097
    Abstract: An application for a device that bends a workpiece includes a rotary hydraulic actuator. The rotary hydraulic actuator is fluidly coupled to a controlled source of hydraulic fluid pressure and has an rotating flange that turns responsive to the hydraulic fluid pressure. A bending member is coupled to the rotating flange of the rotary hydraulic actuator and rotates responsive to the rotational motion of the rotating flange. A bending mandrel is mounted on a face of the bending member at a center of rotation of the bending member and a force mandrel mounted on the face of the bending member. An actuator controls the hydraulic fluid pressure and clips are provided for attaching the device for bending to a boom of, for example, a skid-steer loader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Inventor: Robert Frear
  • Patent number: 8333098
    Abstract: A bending method for forming, in a material in which several straight portions extending in parallel with each other and a first-end side coupling portion and a second-end side coupling portion provided alternately to couple first-end portions and second-end portions, respectively, of adjacent ones of the straight portions with each other are successively formed, folded portions respectively in a pair of the straight portions provided on both sides of the first-end side coupling portion. A length from one of the folded portions to the first-end side coupling portion is different from a length from the other of the folded portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin Aw Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Saito, Shingo Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 8333099
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making a tube for a telescopic device. The method includes the step of cutting a section from tubular raw material to provide a semi-product of the tube with a desired value of length, the step of pressing the wall of the semi-product of the tube for a first time to make cavities on an external side of the wall of the semi-product of the tube, and the step of pressing the wall of the semi-product of the tube for a second time to deepen the cavities so that the tube is made with a desired depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Inventor: Han-Ching Huang
  • Patent number: 8333100
    Abstract: A press machine able to press-work a strip-shaped material during which it can prevent the strip-shaped material from moving or warping or can prevent the strip-shaped material from partially cracking and a processing method using that press machine. A multi-process press machine provided with a drive source M, a camshaft 1 driven by the drive source M and having a plurality of independent first cams 1a, 1b, and 1c and second cams 1h, 1i, and 1j, a plurality of die sets each comprised of a pair of a punch 2 and a die 3 connected with the first cam, a material holding member 7 pressing the strip-shaped material W against the die 3 when connecting with and pressing the second cam, and a base 5 supporting the dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kengo Takeshita, Takeshi Kurosawa, Nobuyuki Morikawa
  • Patent number: 8333101
    Abstract: A shiftable workpiece transfer apparatus for transferring a workpiece to a press while simultaneously shifting the workpiece centerline. Such a transfer apparatus includes cooperating workpiece transfer tables, the movement of which is directed by respective guide rails. A first workpiece transfer table is directed along a path that is substantially parallel to the centerline of the press line. The second workpiece transfer table is directed along a path that is skewed with respect to the centerline of the press line by an amount sufficient to produce a desired shift of the workpiece centerline. As the second transfer table moves along the skewed guide rail and toward the first transfer table, the workpiece is automatically moved across the surface of the first transfer table to a desired centerline offset point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jay Shields
  • Patent number: 8333102
    Abstract: An assembly for actuating a pipe expander, the assembly comprising a first actuator, arranged to engage a pipe expander head and actuate the same a second actuator, spaced apart from the first actuator and operatively engaged therewith such that operation of the second actuator effects operation of the first actuator to actuate the pipe expander head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Inventors: Adam Van Opynen, Lambert Van Opynen
  • Patent number: 8333103
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a force measuring probe comprises providing a probe having an insertion tube with a distal tip, a joint comprising a resilient member, a joint sensor in conjunction with a processor coupled to the probe wherein the processor has a memory of an axial displacement threshold for the joint stored therein; applying force to the distal tip; measuring the displacement and deflection of the distal tip; correlating the measured displacement and deflection of the distal tip to the applied force and storing the correlation in the memory until reaching the axial displacement threshold; applying force greater than the axial displacement threshold to the distal tip to define a new force value; measuring the position of the distal tip in a plane transverse to the direction of force exerted on the distal tip; correlating the measured position of the distal tip in the plane transverse to the direction of force to the new force value and storing the correlation in the memory until reaching a pre-establ
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Biosense Webster (Israel), Ltd.
    Inventors: Yevgeny Bonyak, Doron Ludwin
  • Patent number: 8333104
    Abstract: A measuring device for detecting and evaluating an impact, jolt or the like is formed with an impact face, against which the impact, jolt or pulse which is to be evaluated strikes. A sensor, for example a force sensor, detects values of the force which act on the impact face as a result. A sensor, for example an acceleration sensor, detects values of the acceleration which act on the impact face as a result. An evaluation unit processes the determined force and acceleration values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Oberleitner
  • Patent number: 8333105
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods are described for preconcentrators, chemical sensing systems and gas chromatographs. A preconcentrator is described that comprises a hollow enclosure containing a sorbent material. The enclosure may be a capillary tube that can be formed in to a desired shape and that may be heated. Heating may be accomplished by passing an electrical current through the capillary or other hollow enclosure form. The sorbent material can be a liquid, a solid, a porous ceramic material and/or a chemiselective polymer. The sorbent material can be coated to the inner wall of the enclosure. The hollow enclosure may be maintained in an insulated chamber. The preconcentrator acts to concentrate a vapor passed through the preconcentrator to a chemical sensing array that can detect chemicals present in the vapor. A gas passed through the hollow enclosure can provide a chemically concentrated input to a chromatographic column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Seacoast Science, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Day Lucas, Manna Leon Warburton, Todd Mlsna, Sanjay V. Patel, Stephen Terrence Hobson
  • Patent number: 8333106
    Abstract: An oscillatory measurement system is disclosed that includes a visual recorder for detecting irregularities such as bubbles in a fluid to be measured. Techniques are provided for scanning the recorder across the oscillatory tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Rudolph Research Analytical
    Inventor: Jeff A. Wagner
  • Patent number: 8333107
    Abstract: Very accurate measurements of mass transfer can be made rapidly by permitting diffusion of an agent desired to be measured into or out of a small, very precisely known volume of a microdialysis probe, then rapidly pumping or flushing (“pulsing”) the probe with a known volume of fluid as a single pulse. The diffusion and pulsing may be repeated. The method, hereinafter called pulsatile microdialysis (PMD) to distinguish it from prior art continuous flow microdialysis, is useful for measurements in a number of processes, including protein binding, adsorption to binding agents such as activated charcoal, release from microemulsion drug delivery systems, determination of drug diffusion coefficients and concentrations, and for various other purposes. The method is based on mathematical manipulation of Fick's Laws. Resulting equations were verified against experimental data using methazolamide, warfarin and benzocaine as test drugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Inventor: Robert A. Bellantone
  • Patent number: 8333108
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of automotive heat exchanger assemblies, and, in particular, assemblies with cores with headers and end tanks and/or male and female connections. The present invention also relates to a method of making a positive leak path to determine leaks prior to employment of heat exchanger assembles. The present invention further relates to a method of determining whether or not a leak seal is temporary by providing a positive leak path at the point of assembly or initial evaluation or testing a heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Valeo, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Lorentz, Stephen Gunn, Eric Leroy, Nicolas Lelievre
  • Patent number: 8333109
    Abstract: In a method for diagnosing an injection valve (5), in an overrun fuel cut-off phase the fuel supply to the fuel rail (4) is closed, and after the fuel supply has been closed off a first fuel pressure in the fuel rail (4) is measured, and after the first measurement of the fuel pressure an injection valve (5) is actuated for a test injection. After the test injection a second fuel pressure in the fuel rail (4) is measured, a differential pressure value (?P) is formed from the first and second measured fuel pressures and a difference of an operating parameter from a reference parameter is determined from the differential pressure value (?P), and when a previously defined maximum difference is exceeded the injection valve (5) is detected as being defective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Carlos Eduardo Migueis, Michael Stahl, Matthias Wiese
  • Patent number: 8333110
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device that includes: a first chamber (3) for measuring a constant volume, and in which the fuel is injected; pressure (5a, 5b) and temperature (6) sensors associated with said first chamber (3); and a second measuring chamber (8) located downstream from the first, into which the fuel drained from the first chamber is sent. The volume of the second chamber (8) varies according to the movement of a piston (11), the movement of which is measured by means of a sensor (13). One or more additional measuring chambers (8a, 8b, . . . 8n) of variable volumes are connected in parallel with the second chamber (8) and also receive the fuel drained from the first chamber (3), the volumes received in said different chambers being added up to obtain the total volume supplied for a single injection step. The device can be used for high injection rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: EFS SA
    Inventor: Francois Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8333111
    Abstract: A method for determining a sample flow volume is disclosed herein. The method includes withdrawing the sample flow at a first and second flow rate from a gas flow, measuring a concentration of at least one gas component and measuring at least one of an airway pressure and flow. The method also includes generating first measurement results based on the concentration, generating second measurement results based on the at least one of the airway pressure and flow and setting a suitable point of comparison. The method further includes determining a first and second time delay between the point of comparison of the first and second measurement results of the first and second flow rate, providing information about the first and second sample flow rate and determining the sample volume based on differences between the first and second time delay. A corresponding arrangement is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Mika Hietala
  • Patent number: 8333112
    Abstract: Techniques for reducing the frequency split between the Coriolis-coupled modes in disc resonator gyroscopes (DRGs) by perturbing the mass distribution on the disc resonator based on an identified model are disclosed. A model-identification method of tuning a resonator comprises perturbing the mass and measuring a frequency response matrix of the resonator. The frequency response matrix includes a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs and the resonator has a plurality of coupled resonance modes. A reduced structural mechanics matrix model of the resonator in sensor and actuator coordinates is identified from the measured frequency response matrix and analyzed to determine generalized eigenvectors of the structural mechanics model and their variations due to selected mass perturbations which is then estimated to improve degeneracy of the plurality of coupled resonance modes based on the generalized eigenvectors of the mass and the stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David M. Schwartz, Dong-Joon Kim, Robert T. M'Closkey, A. Dorian Challoner
  • Patent number: 8333113
    Abstract: An acceleration sensor includes a substrate and a first mass element, which is connected to the substrate in such a way that the first mass element is rotatable about an axis, the first mass element being connected to a second mass element in such a way that the second mass element is movable along a first direction parallel to the axis, and the first mass element being connected to a third mass element in such a way that the third mass element is movable along a second direction perpendicular to the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Classen, Lars Tebje
  • Patent number: 8333114
    Abstract: A microstructure inspecting device 10 which measures a damping characteristic value of a moving portion of a microstructure includes a pressure wave generating device 1 and a pulse generating device 2 which apply an impact to the moving portion without directly contacting the microstructure, and a vibrometer 4 which measures a displacement of the moving portion for a predetermined period of time after the start of free vibration of the moving portion without contacting the moving portion. The pressure wave generating device 1 is a sound wave generating element of thermal excitation type, a piezoelectric sound wave generating element, or an electromagnetic vibration element, and is driven by a pulse signal of the pulse generating device 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Masato Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8333115
    Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection apparatus operable within a channel associated with a structure is described. The apparatus includes at least one transducer and a holder. The holder includes a material having a flexibility and tensile strength such that a spring force is provided for maintaining a position of said holder within the channel of the structure. The holder includes a plurality of transducer indexing nodes therein for mounting of the transducers, and each node provides a single point of contact between the holder and the transducer. The transducer indexing nodes are fabricated having a material flexibility and tensile strength with respect to a remainder of the holder for positioning of the transducers along surface variances that define the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jeffry James Garvey, Patrick L. Anderson, Barry A. Fetzer
  • Patent number: 8333116
    Abstract: An inspection vehicle structured to inspect a portion of the turbine disk, preferably the blade attachment hubs, while the turbine disk is disposed within a turbine housing assembly is provided. A turbine disk is generally planar but includes a inner hub and an outer blade attachment hub. The inner hub is coupled to a shaft and the blade attachment hub provides a surface to which removable blades are attached. The area between the inner hub and outer blade attachment hub is substantially planar. The inner and blade attachment hubs are the “inspection areas” that the inspection vehicle is structured to inspect. The inspection vehicle travels over, and is magnetically coupled to, the planar surface between the two hubs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Paul J. Boone, Jeffrey Monaco, Tom Nenno, Richard Fredenberg, Corey Adamonis, Benjamin Bachman
  • Patent number: 8333117
    Abstract: Isolation elements comprise a housing comprising a longitudinal bore formed therein and at least one recess formed in at least one longitudinally extending side of the housing. The at least one recess is in communication with the longitudinal bore. At least one diaphragm is attached proximate a periphery thereof to the housing and seals the at least one recess at the at least one longitudinally extending side of the housing. Sensor assemblies may include an isolation element including a housing and a diaphragm coupled thereto. Methods of forming an isolation element for use with a sensor comprise forming a longitudinal bore in a housing; forming at least one recess in at least one longitudinally extending side of the housing; coupling at least one diaphragm to the housing; and positioning the at least one diaphragm such that a primary direction of displacement of the at least one diaphragm extends into the at least one recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Quartzdyne, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Brown, Diana R. Clark, K. Robert Harker, Lon J. Perry
  • Patent number: 8333118
    Abstract: An improved capacitive manometer includes a diaphragm including a common electrode and an electrode structure including a center electrode and ring electrode. The diaphragm is movable between (i) a zero position when the pressure on each side of the diaphragm is the same and (ii) a maximum differential position when the maximum measurable differential pressure is applied to the diaphragm. A support structure is arranged to support the diaphragm so that the diaphragm is constrained relative to the electrode structure. The common electrode is spaced from and axially aligned with the center and ring electrodes. The electrode structure is secured relative to the diaphragm at at least three clamping locations. The angle defined within each right plane containing a point of constraint of the diaphragm and the point of each clamping location relative to the plane of the diaphragm in the zero position is between 60° and 90°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven D. Blankenship
  • Patent number: 8333119
    Abstract: A measuring transducer includes: a transducer housing with an inlet-side flow divider having exactly four flow openings and an outlet-side flow divider having exactly four flow openings; as well as exactly four, straight, measuring tubes connected to the flow dividers. Each of the four measuring tubes opens into one the flow openings of the inlet-side flow divider and into one the flow openings of the outlet-side flow divide. Additionally, the measuring transducer includes an electromechanical exciter mechanism for producing and/or maintaining mechanical oscillations of the measuring tubes such that the measuring tubes are excitable pairwise to execute opposite phase bending oscillations in a shared imaginary plane of oscillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Martin Anklin-Imhof, Ennio Bitto, Christof Huber, Alfred Rieder
  • Patent number: 8333120
    Abstract: A measuring transducer comprises: a transducer housing, an inlet-side, flow divider having exactly four spaced flow openings and an outlet-side, housing end by means of an outlet-side, flow divider having exactly four spaced flow openings; as well as exactly four, straight, measuring tubes connected to the flow dividers. Each of the four measuring tubes opens with an inlet-side, measuring tube end into one the flow openings and with an outlet-side, measuring tube end into one the flow openings of the outlet-side, flow divider. Additionally, the measuring transducer includes an electromechanical exciter mechanism, wherein the exciter mechanism is embodied in such a manner, that, therewith, the measuring tubes are excitable pairwise to execute opposite phase bending oscillations in, in each case, a shared imaginary plane of oscillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Ennio Bitto, Alfred Rieder, Martin Anklin, Christof Huber
  • Patent number: 8333121
    Abstract: A measuring system comprises: a measuring transducer, through which medium flows and which produces oscillatory signals dependent on medium viscosity and/or a Reynolds number of the flowing medium; and transmitter electronics for driving the measuring transducer and for evaluating oscillatory signals. The measuring transducer includes: four, mutually spaced, flow openings; an outlet-side flow divider with four, mutually spaced, flow openings; four, mutually parallel, straight, measuring tubes for conveying flowing medium, connected to the flow dividers electromechanical exciter mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Flowtec AG
    Inventors: Ennio Bitto, Alfred Rieder, Martin Anklin, Christof Huber, Michael Kirst
  • Patent number: 8333122
    Abstract: A device for applying a force to a planar surface includes a tub, a cavity, a membrane, and an opening. The tub includes a bottom wall, at least one sidewall, and a cavity defined between the bottom and sidewalls. The membrane is disposed within the cavity and a perimeter edge of the membrane is fixed to the tub. The opening is formed in the tub and adapted to receive a pressurized fluid to fill a portion of the cavity below the membrane to displace at least a portion of the membrane away from the bottom wall to apply a force to the planar surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: UL LLC
    Inventors: Marijo Cosic, Stefan Scheller, Thomas Malysa
  • Patent number: 8333123
    Abstract: A sample processing apparatus comprising: a plurality of measuring units, each of which measures a sample; a sample conveyance unit for conveying a sample to at least one of the plurality of measurement units; a display unit; and a display controller for controlling the display unit to display an analysis result of a sample which the analysis result has been obtained based on the measurement by at least one of the plurality of measurement units, and controlling the display unit to display conveyance status information indicating a conveyance status of the sample which analysis result has not been obtained yet based on the measurement by at least one of the plurality of measurement units, is disclosed. A sample information display apparatus is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroo Tatsutani, Hiroyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8333124
    Abstract: A kit of parts is for assembling a diffusive dosimeter for the detection of pollutants, said kit of parts includes a housing (1, 50), a first adsorbant (2) to be placed inside the housing and a first spacer (3) to be placed on top of the adsorbant, to define a thickness (L) and a first surface area (A) of a diffusive layer. The kit also has a first protective layer (5) placed on top of the spacer and a first cover (6) having an opening (7), to be placed on top of the protective layer, in a manner to close off the assembled dosimeter at its circumference. The kit has at least one or more additional spacers (15,16,17), each additional spacer being able to replace the first spacer and each spacer defines a different surface area, so that each spacer allows a measurement with a different uptake rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Vlaamse Instelling Voor Technologisch Onderzoek (Vito)
    Inventors: Eddy Goelen, Robert Bormans
  • Patent number: 8333125
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system with which fuel cell stacks can be tested automatically or manually so that production of pollutants and consumption of electricity are little. The system runs various analyses and tests on the fuel cell stacks and provides operative conditions such as temperatures and fluid flows needed in the tests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Atomic Energy Council—Institute of Nuclear Energy Research
    Inventors: Yu-Ching Tsai, Wen-Tang Hong, Hung-Yu Wang, Wei-Ping Huang, Ruey-Yi Lee
  • Patent number: 8333126
    Abstract: A dual clutch transmission is described having first and second input shafts and allowing at short axial length many degrees of freedom for providing various transmission ratios of the individual driving gears. A loose wheel of a reverse driving gear is provided on a third drive shaft and engages a first gear wheel of a step wheel. A fixed wheel of a second forward driving gear is provided on one of the input shafts and is engaged by a second gear wheel of a step wheel. The step wheel is switchable by a first gear shifting clutch that is provided on the second drive shaft and is designed as a first single gear shifting clutch allowing to connect only the step wheel in a rotationally fixed manner to the second drive shaft such that the step wheel co-rotates with the second drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Getrag Ford Transmission GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Enstroem, Andreas Hegerath
  • Patent number: 8333127
    Abstract: A transmission connectable to an input member and has an output member, first and second transmission input shaft members, first and second countershaft members, a reverse shaft, a plurality of co-planar gear sets and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. The torque transmitting devices include a plurality of synchronizer assemblies and a dual clutch assembly. The transmission is operable to provide at least one reverse speed ratio and a plurality of forward speed ratios between the transmission input members and the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Tejinder Singh, Patrick S. Portell
  • Patent number: 8333128
    Abstract: An electronic selector lever module for generating gear shifting signals for an automatic transmission of a vehicle. The swivel motion of the gear selector lever, within a main shifting path, is transformed into rotational motion for an angle sensor. The sensor is positioned on a printed circuit board and is actuated by a rotor. To guide the rotor relative to the angle sensor, the rotor either surrounds a rounded part of the printed circuit board or surrounds a rotor guidance which is mounted on the printed circuit board. The mechanical linking point is a short sleeve at a slider, which both belong to the rotor, needed for the shifting path motion, and which also drive the tilting lever for the transverse motion. The slider can be moved, relative to the rotor, along rails, either radially and directly at the rotor, or tangentially to the pivot point of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Schober, Thomas Deichler, Hans-Ludwig Gotz
  • Patent number: 8333129
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a robotic manipulator arm includes a robotic joint, a rotational position sensor, and a control system. The rotational position sensor is coupled to the main housing of the robotic joint. The control system is connected to the rotational position sensor. During normal rotational motion toward a commanded motor position of joint output, the control system determines that normal joint un-slipped motion is occurring with respect to the joint output in response to the motor input commands. Responsive to joint slip during commanded motor motion, the control system compares position data from the rotational position sensor to commanded motor position to generate an error value and, based on the error value, compensates for the joint slip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: S.A. Robotics
    Inventors: Sam Johnson, Taylor Drew Ritchie, Gerald Vincent Castillo, Jr., Eric D. Schroder, Eric James Versluys
  • Patent number: 8333130
    Abstract: An operating pedal device for a vehicle includes an operating pedal mounted on a pedal support fixedly secured to a vehicle to be pivotable about an axis of a support shaft and operative to be depressed by a driver; a reactive member, connected to the operating pedal via at least one connecting section which allows relative pivotal movement therebetween about a connecting pin to which an output is transferred at a rate depending on an operational force of the operating pedal and which is applied with a reaction force corresponding to the output; and a load sensor electrically detecting the operational force. A member pivotably connected via the connecting pin defines a sensor mounting hole allowing insertion of the connecting pin and mounting of the load sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Toyoda Iron Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Noboru Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 8333131
    Abstract: A device (2) for a vehicle drivetrain (1) with a transmission unit (3) for changing various transmission ratios. The device (2) comprising a reversing gear system (4) arranged on an input side of the transmission for reversing the rotational direction. A hydrodynamic torque converter device (5) located upstream of the reversing gear system (4). A hydraulic device (6) which, in the power flow direction is located between the reversing gear system (4) and the transmission unit (3) and can be brought into active connection with them for producing a torque that can be applied in the area between the reversing gear system (4) and the transmission unit (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Jurgen Legner
  • Patent number: 8333132
    Abstract: A cutting edge portion intermediate form that is a pre-sintered body of the cutting edge portion and a supporting portion intermediate form that is a fully sintered body of the supporting portion are manufactured separately. Full sintering is then performed where front end portion of the supporting portion intermediate form is inserted into an insertion hole of the cutting edge portion intermediate form. During sintering, cobalt particles in powdered materials are converted into a liquid phase, and contracting occurs. Because the supporting portion intermediate form has already been fully sintered, only the cutting edge portion intermediate form contracts. The front end portion of the supporting portion intermediate form is squeezed by the cutting edge portion intermediate form. The carbide tip is therefore created in which the cutting edge portion and the supporting portion are strongly bonded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: OSG Corporation
    Inventors: Youichiroh Shimoda, Mikio Fukuda
  • Patent number: 8333133
    Abstract: A drive system cooperates with other tools, such as the drive mechanism of a socket type ratchet wrench to enable a user to use the wrench for its intended purpose at high speed by pulling an endless belt. The belt is contained within a chamber created by the attachment system in a manner to allow the belt to engage with an outer surface of a pulley. The pulley connected to the drive shaft of the socket type ratchet wrench to cause force to be transferred from the belt to the wrench drive shaft. The system utilized a cover operably coupled to the pulley to contain the belt while minimizing interference with the wrench. The cover contains the belt while also allowing an opposite end of the belt to hang loose and thus be easily accessible by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Spinzit Tools LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Emil Brovold