Patents Issued in March 4, 2014
  • Patent number: 8661831
    Abstract: An adaptive vane separator system is provided for use with an inlet filter house of a gas turbine engine system. The vane separator system is coupled to the inlet filter house. The vane separator system includes a slide rail and a plurality of vanes rotatably coupled to the slide rail. The inlet filter house is configured to channel air to an air inlet of a turbine engine. A drive motor is coupled to the vane separator system. The drive motor is operable to selectively move at least one of the vanes to facilitate reducing an amount of moisture channeled through the air inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: BHA Altair, LLC
    Inventors: Etienne Rene Jarrier, Simon Larcombe
  • Patent number: 8661832
    Abstract: The present invention relates to control of engine variable of a gas turbine engine to regulate the surge margins of at least two compressors. A controller (20) receives data measured from engine sensors (22, 23) and uses said data to determine an indication of surge margin for each of at least two compressors (6, 7) of the gas turbine engine. The controller (20) uses the indications of surge margin for each of the compressors to determine a control strategy that balances the requirements of each compressor. In one embodiment a surge margin operating map divided into different control domains (40, 43, 43) is used. The indication of surge margin determined for each compressor is plotted to determine which control domains the current operating point on the surge margin operating map falls within.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Ian A. Griffin, Arthur L. Rowe
  • Patent number: 8661833
    Abstract: A bleed valve module for mounting to a support structure within an aircraft includes a pipe, a plurality of bleed valves connected to the pipe, a plurality of pneumatic actuators connected to the plurality of bleed valves, and a vibration isolating element. The pipe contains a flow of bleed air and includes a plurality of inlets and an outlet. The plurality of bleed valves controls the flow of bleed air in the pipe. The plurality of pneumatic actuators actuate the plurality of bleed valves. The vibration isolating element connects the bleed valve module to the support structure within the aircraft and isolates the bleed valve module from vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Donald E. Army
  • Patent number: 8661834
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for starting an engine which can decrease the amount of compressed air consumed by air motors and can lessen an increase in a size of a compressed air tank and an increase in a size of an air compressor, and in a method of starting an engine using a plurality of air motors, the number of air motors being operative is decreased before the engine can start increasing its engine speed for itself, at starting. That is, during increasing of the engine speed of the engine at the starting, the number of air motors being operative is decreased from, for example, two to one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigenori Tsuji, Hiroo Kanaya, Yasuo Sarai
  • Patent number: 8661835
    Abstract: A bushing for assembling an exhaust duct liner with an exhaust duct in a gas turbine engine comprises a body, a bushing opening and a first tab. The body is insertable into a duct opening in an exhaust duct. The bushing opening extends through the body to receive a shaft of a liner fastener. The first tab protrudes from the body to extend into an interior of the duct to prevent rotation of a head of the liner fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jorge I. Farah, Jason Hickman, Jose Cintron
  • Patent number: 8661836
    Abstract: A refrigerant recovery unit is provided that can recover and recharge refrigerant. The unit is further configured with a pair of service hoses and a refrigerant control circuit operable to receive and transport the refrigerant between the hoses and the storage vessel and to process the refrigerant to substantially remove contaminants from the refrigerant. A fluid connector is provided in fluid communication with the hoses to enable the refrigerant to flow between the hoses and to establish a closed loop through the refrigerant control circuit, and a controller is operatively connected to the refrigerant control circuit and configured to control a flow of the refrigerant through the refrigerant control circuit and through the fluid connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Gary P. Murray, Mark McMasters, William Brown
  • Patent number: 8661837
    Abstract: To maintain an appropriate humidity in a refrigerator using a spray device to spray mist, without depending on a moisture sensor. A refrigerator (100) for forcibly circulating cold air which is gas cooled in a cooling compartment (110), the refrigerator including: a first storage compartment (107) disposed on the way of an air passage; a spray device (131) which sprays mist into the first storage compartment (107); a damper (145) disposed upstream of the first storage compartment (107); a delay unit (156) which generates, based on an open signal issued when the damper (145) is opened, a first signal for stopping the operation of the spray device (131) after an elapse of a first time period, and to generate, based on a close signal issued when the damper (145) is closed, a second signal for starting the operation of the spray device (131) after an elapse of a second time period; and a control unit (146) which controls the spray device (131).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Kakita, Toshiaki Mamemoto, Satomi Ueda
  • Patent number: 8661838
    Abstract: Described is a method as well as an apparatus for vacuum cooling of food produce through moisture removal, which method comprising the steps of loading the food produce to be cooled into a vacuum chamber, lowering the pressure inside the vacuum chamber to a predetermined pressure level and maintaining the vacuum chamber at this predetermined pressure level both by removing air through a vacuum pump system for a sufficient of time to allow heat transfer out of the food produce to take place, and condensing water vapor inside the vacuum chamber through a refrigeration system. The method and apparatus is unique in that the step of lowering the pressure inside the vacuum chamber to the predetermined pressure level is carried out using a single stage vacuum pump and the step of maintaining the vacuum chamber at this predetermined pressure level is carried out using a two stage vacuum pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: FLSmidth A/S
    Inventor: Louis Schwartz
  • Patent number: 8661839
    Abstract: A portable recovery unit for automatically filling a background tank of blended refrigerant includes a main tank for holding recovered refrigerant from a vehicle A/C system which has a first chemical composition, and an auxiliary tank for holding an auxiliary supply of fresh refrigerant which has a second refrigerant composition. The auxiliary tank is arranged in fluid communication with the main tank so that fluid can be transferred from the auxiliary tank to the main tank. An electronic controller controls the flow of fluid from the auxiliary tank to the main tank. A refrigerant identifier is coupled to the main tank to sample and analyze the refrigerant in the main tank in order to determine the chemical composition of the refrigerant in the main tank, so the refrigerant in the main tank can be purified to an acceptable level based on that analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC
    Inventor: Mark McMasters
  • Patent number: 8661840
    Abstract: A liquid circulation heating system performs air-heating by heating a liquid to produce a heated liquid and releasing heat of the heated liquid from a heating radiator. This liquid circulation heating system includes: a heat pump circuit for circulating a refrigerant, having a radiator for heating the liquid by radiating heat from the refrigerant; and a solar heating apparatus for heating the liquid by solar heat. In this liquid circulation heating system, a first passage passing through the radiator and a second passage passing through the solar heating apparatus are formed as passages through which the liquid flows to produce the heated liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Isayama, Kazuo Nakatani, Takayuki Takatani, Noriho Okaza, Takashi Sawada, Yuuki Yamaoka, Masahiro Ohama
  • Patent number: 8661841
    Abstract: An ice making assembly includes a support and a mold rotatably mounted to the support configured for forming an ice cube therein. The mold has a base, a side wall attached to the base, and an opening in the side wall spaced from the base. An auger has a shaft with a proximal end fixed to the base of the mold, a distal end outside of the mold, and a central section between the proximal end and the distal end and extending through the opening. The auger also has a threaded portion. An inner mold is non-rotatably fixed to the support and extends into the mold. The inner mold defines an outer shape of the ice cube. The inner mold has at least one wall non-concentric with reference to a center line of the auger. A motor rotates the mold and auger relative to the support and inner mold. The inner mold is configured to prevent the ice cube from rotating with the mold and auger, the auger thereby moving the ice cube out of the mold and the inner mold via the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alan Joseph Mitchell, Kevin Farrelly Nolan
  • Patent number: 8661842
    Abstract: An icemaker in a refrigerator is disclosed, by which heat generated from a heater to detach ice is prevented from being transferred to an inside of the refrigerator. The present invention includes an icemaker body provided to a prescribed position of the refrigerator to make to ice from a supplied water, a heater provided to the icemaker body to generate heat to facilitate detachment of the made ice, and a heater shielding unit provided to prevent the heat generated from the heater from being supplied to an inside of the refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jong Gon Kim, Oh Chul Kwon, You Min Park, Young Hoon Gwak, Hyeon Po Cho, Bon Young Koo, Myung Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 8661843
    Abstract: An ice pusher is provided. The ice pusher incorporates a cam and a linear actuation arrangement for removing ice from an evaporator plate of an ice-making machine. The cam provides a helix shaped ramp structure having a cam surface. The linear actuation arrangement has an input end and an output end. The input end is in slidable contact with the cam surface such that the linear actuation arrangement linearly moves relative to the housing upon rotation of the cam to effectuate the removal of ice from the evaporator plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventors: Jerome C. Klopp, James E. Pearson, Jermaine Ealy
  • Patent number: 8661844
    Abstract: A heating, venting, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for a vehicle according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a blower, an evaporator, a heater core, and a single door. The blower is operable to blow air. The evaporator is positioned downstream from the blower and is operable to cool air flowing through the evaporator. The heater core is positioned downstream from the evaporator and is operable to heat air flowing through the heater core. The single door is positioned downstream from the heater core and is rotatable to control airflow through the heater core and to direct airflow to at least one of a first outlet and a second outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventors: John Klinkhammer, Jason Hendry
  • Patent number: 8661845
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a heat exchanging section for performing heat exchange between a refrigerant and a cooling medium and a passage section. The passage section includes a first passage and a second passage for supplying the refrigerant to the heat exchanging section and a supply passage for supplying the refrigerant to the first passage and the second passage. The first passage and the second passage define a first opening portion and a second opening portion opening at an end of the supply passage. A minimum distance between an opening edge of the first opening portion and an inner surface of the supply passage is equal to a minimum distance between an opening edge of the second opening portion and the inner surface of the supply passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Thuya Aung, Nobuharu Kakehashi, Tomohiko Nakamura, Hideaki Sato
  • Patent number: 8661846
    Abstract: A refrigerant system can be operated in either vapor injection mode or unloaded mode. A restriction to the vapor injection flow is incorporated into the refrigerant system. The restriction is placed on the vapor injection line upstream of a point where the injection line meets the unloader line. In this case, the flow is restricted for the vapor injection mode of operation to a desired level. However, when the refrigerant system operates in the unloaded mode, there is no restriction to the by-pass flow, which is beneficial to the system performance in this mode of operation. In one of the embodiments, the restriction area can be adjusted to achieve the best performance during the vapor injection mode of operation in relation to the operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Lifson, Michael F. Taras
  • Patent number: 8661847
    Abstract: A process is described for producing a clean gas, which is provided, in particular, for testing a pressurized construction component (100) for leaks, which process includes the steps of providing a liquefied gas mixture (1) which contains the clean gas (2) and at least one foreign gas (3) in a gas separation unit (20), enriching the clean gas (2), wherein the at least one foreign gas (3) is transferred to a surface region of the liquefied gas mixture (1), and taking off the enriched clean gas (2), wherein the enriched clean gas (2) flows out of a volume region of the gas separation unit (20) via a guide unit (22), and wherein a foreign gas barrier (23) is formed at the guide unit (22), using which the foreign gas (3) in the liquefied gas mixture (1) is passed out from an opening in the guide unit (22). A device for producing a clean gas, a noble-gas-free gas composition and a process for testing a construction component pressurized with a test gas for leaks are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Inventor: Robert Brockmann
  • Patent number: 8661848
    Abstract: Articles of jewelry, including ring assemblies (100, 300, 400, 700, 1300) permitting secured, removable, rotatable, placement of rings within such ring assemblies (100, 300, 400, 700, 1300). In some embodiments, an ornamental support structure (412, 712, 715, 1312) comprises a hinge permitting a rotatable movement of a portion of the ring assembly to permit placement of the ring structure. In other embodiments, pinch clasps (520, 620, 820, 920, 1020, 1120, 1220, 1320) are used for such ring assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Inventor: Claude Bisserier
  • Patent number: 8661849
    Abstract: The invention discloses jewelry made of disinfected, pulverized and chemically bonded primary teeth. The teeth are pulverized into two or more parts, located in a mold, and bonded with a bonding agent to form a tooth matrix that is shaped for connection to a jewelry frame. In another embodiment, a hollow interior of a deciduous tooth is filled with a bonding agent. The tooth is positioned in a mold with other tooth particles and bonded to form the tooth matrix. In another embodiment, the hollow interior and/or occlusal of a deciduous tooth is filled with a bonding agent to form a tooth matrix for mounting on a jewelry frame. A display side of the tooth is positioned adjacent to a display surface in a mold. A bonding agent fills the space between the tooth and the mold to form a solid tooth matrix. The solidified tooth matrix is machinable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Shawdon, LP
    Inventor: John G. Fischer
  • Patent number: 8661850
    Abstract: A method keeps the width of the manufactured sheet substantially the same by attaching edge directors for the formed sheet to the manufacturing apparatus structure instead of to the forming block. Thus, sheet glass may be manufactured to specification for a longer time with the same forming block. An additional method adjusts the width of the manufactured sheet by changing the distance between the edge directors. Thus sheet glass may be manufactured to different width specifications with the same forming block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Richard B. Pitbladdo
  • Patent number: 8661851
    Abstract: Process for producing a structure on one of the faces of a glass ribbon, carried out continuously using a printing device, in which: the printing device (8) is placed in a zone (A) in which the ribbon (B) is at an average temperature T1 insufficient for printing the pattern of the printing device onto the ribbon according to the nature of the pattern to be printed, to the pressure between the printing device and the ribbon and to the time during which the ribbon is in contact with the printing device; that face to be etched, upstream of the printing device (8), is heated so as to bring a limited and sufficient thickness of the ribbon to a temperature T2>T1 necessary for printing the pattern of the printing device onto the ribbon according to the nature of the pattern to be etched, to the pressure between the printing device and the ribbon and to the time during which the ribbon is in contact with the printing device, while still keeping the rest of the ribbon at a temperature close to T1; the heat flux tra
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Fives Stein
    Inventors: Wolf Stefan Kuhn, Bertrand Strock, Francois Pahmer, Eric Bleuset
  • Patent number: 8661852
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and to a method for the continuous fining or homogenizing of inorganic matter, preferably low-viscosity glass melts in an apparatus. The device and method are distinguished in that the inclusion of bubbles and the occurrence of striations in the glass end product are significantly reduced or even entirely avoided when the melt contact surface of the apparatus has iridium or a high-iridium alloy as its material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventors: Michael Leister, Volker Ohmstede, Guenter Weidmann
  • Patent number: 8661853
    Abstract: A process for producing a glass in the production of a glass molded article formed of an optical glass by melting and clarifying a glass raw material to prepare a molten glass and molding said molten glass, the process comprising preparing a glass raw material that gives an oxide glass comprising, by cationic %, 12 to 65% of B3+, 0 to 20% of Si4+, 0 to 6% of Ge4+, 15 to 50% of total of La3+, Gd3+, Y3+, Yb3+, Sc3+ and Lu3+, 4 to 54% of total of Ta5+, Zr4+, Ti4+, Nb5+, W6+ and Bi3+, 0 to 35% of Zn2+, 0 to 9% of total of Li+, Na+ and K+, and 0 to 15% of total of Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+ and Ba2+, a total content of said cationic components in the oxide glass being 99 to 100%, and said glass raw material comprising carbonate and sulfate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoaki Negishi, Yasuhiro Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 8661854
    Abstract: Disclosed is a glass sheet bending system including a press bending station for bending a glass sheet into a desired shape. The press bending station includes a glass mounting bed on which the glass sheet is to be temporarily put until the glass sheet is pressed on the glass forming surface of a mold. This system is characterized in that the glass mounting bed includes a slat conveyer whose crawler is driven in the conveyance direction of the glass sheet or a belt conveyer whose belt is driven in the conveyance direction of the glass sheet. By this system, the glass sheet having no distortion can be produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Central Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Takeshi Mori, Takeshi Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 8661855
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for removing molten glass from flow channels for the transport of production glass that are installed between a melting furnace and an extraction point for the production glass. The flow channel has a glass-resistant inner lining. A drainage unit for bottom glass is installed upstream of the extraction point for the production glass. In order to keep electrodes away from the molten glass, but still maintain a local and temporal influence on the temperature profile within the cross section, the inner lining, at least in the area of the drainage unit, is formed of a fusion cast electrically conductive material which has a drainage opening for the bottom glass with a drainage slit above it. At least two electrodes are installed on opposite sides of the flow channel and the drainage unit for the bottom glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Beteiligungen Sorg GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jürgen Gröβler
  • Patent number: 8661856
    Abstract: In an optical fiber manufacturing method, the cooling device and the coating device are connected in an airtight manner and by preventing a cooling gas, flowing inside the cooling device, from flowing into the coating device by a meniscus of resin inside of the coating device, a flow of the cooling gas inside the cooling device is discharged to an outside of an upper end of the cooling device as an upward stream; helium gas as the cooling gas flows into a lower portion of the cooling device and carbon dioxide gas as the cooling gas which is separated from the helium gas flows into a side lower than a position where the helium gas flows in, during the forcible cooling; and a flow rate of the helium gas and a flow rate of the carbon dioxide gas are individually controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Okada
  • Patent number: 8661857
    Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing an optical fiber preform, comprising obtaining a base material ingot by sintering a porous glass base material at a high temperature to change the porous glass base material into glass while retaining an unsintered portion at one end thereof that is not completely changed to glass; and while relatively moving a heating means in a longitudinal direction of the base material ingot, applying a tensile force to a heated portion and beginning to extend the unsintered portion from one side to decrease a diameter of and extend the base material ingot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8661858
    Abstract: A home laundry machine (1) having an outer casing (2) and, inside said casing (2), a laundry container (3, 5) for housing the laundry to be dried, and a steam generator (15) for feeding a given amount of steam into the laundry container (3, 5), and which in turn has a tubular vaporizer (16) containing a given amount of water; a heater (19) for boiling and converting the water in said tubular vaporizer (16) into steam; and a steam exhaust pipe (20) for feeding the steam produced in the tubular vaporizer (16) into the laundry container (3, 5), and which has at least one tubular portion (20a) contacting the heater (19), so that the steam flowing along the tubular portion (20a) receives a certain amount of heat from said heater (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventors: Alberto Santarossa, Roberto Colombo, Angelo Irrera, Maurizio Biasi
  • Patent number: 8661859
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a door lock device of a drum washing machine and a drum washing machine having the same, a door of which is opened by force of a predetermined magnitude or greater. The door opening is accomplished by providing a door lever of the door lock device with a bent portion. The bent portion formed at the door lever creates a predetermined angle X° between a contact point between a holding protrusion of the door lever and a raised portion of a body of the washing machine, a center point of a door lever shaft, and a contact point between a handle contact portion of the door lever and a door handle, allowing the door to be opened upon receiving force of a predetermined magnitude or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Han Kyu Choi
  • Patent number: 8661860
    Abstract: A glass bowl for a door assembly of a washer including a housing, a tub inside the housing, the tub having a rotating drum, the door assembly having a see-through portion for viewing into the tub, the see-through portion including the glass bowl, the door assembly pivotably coupled to the housing and movable between an open and closed position. The glass bowl includes a base portion for securing the glass bowl to the door assembly, and a bowl portion configured to extend into the interior of the housing, wherein the bowl portion includes a sidewall extending from the base portion toward the interior of the housing, a first bowl face that faces toward the interior of the housing and an indentation formed in an upper surface of the sidewall that guides at least a portion of water or washing fluid flowing downward onto the glass bowl toward the rotating drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: BSH Home Appliances Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Murrell, Oliver Schöne
  • Patent number: 8661861
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a zipper lock that includes an actuator operatively connected to an actuation plate and a blocking plate positioned relative to the actuation plate so as to at least partially block the movement of the actuation plate when the zipper lock is in the locked configuration. The actuator and the actuation plate are configured for interaction so as to transform movement of the actuator into movement of the actuation plate when the zipper lock is in an unlocked configuration. The zipper lock further includes a latch control plate operatively connected to the actuator, and operatively connected to a latch, in which the latch includes a locking finger configured for locking engagement with at least one locking head that is configured to retain a zipper pull tab to the zipper lock when the zipper lock is in a locked configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: The Sun Lock Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Karl Lai
  • Patent number: 8661862
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for enhancing the security of a cluster box unit which includes a protective enclosure, internal cabinetry, door, hinge and locking system. The cluster box unit may also include outgoing mail compartment doors that are heavily constructed and rigidly reinforced, with the locks carried thereon protectively shielded, and with the extensible bolts of these locks being engaged by brackets that not only lock the outgoing mail compartment doors but also the master loading doors of the cluster box units. The cluster box unit may also include master loading doors are provided with hinges that extend the full height of the doors—hinges that are defined by pivotally interfitting elements of extrusions that very sturdily mount the master loading doors, that prevent prying or bending the doors in the vicinities of their hinges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: The United States Postal Service
    Inventors: Ryszard K. Mikolajczyk, Taurris D. Baskerville
  • Patent number: 8661863
    Abstract: A programmable cylinder lock includes a stator and a cylindrical rotor, mounted therein for rotation around its own axis, has a keyhole, and comprising inside the rotor key followers movable along the longitudinal and transversal directions, and locking pins movable along the longitudinal direction, the followers and locking pins forming together a number of pairs and having toothings for mutually cooperating to define the lock codification, the rotor including a stop bar cooperating with a longitudinal groove of the stator and cooperating with the pins to immobilize them, and a change bar slidingly coupled with the followers to keep them engaged with the pins and to disengage them therefrom when the bar provides a lock programming position. The followers have a projection which engages a side surface of the key and, at the contact of a normal use key, prevents the transversal displacement of the key and the change bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Rielda Serrature S.r.l.
    Inventor: Alberto Loreti
  • Patent number: 8661864
    Abstract: The present invention provides an asset retention system, comprising: an elongate housing configured to receive a plurality of home keys and a visitor key; and an elongate slider coupled to the elongate housing and configured to selectively retain and release the plurality of home keys and the visitor key; wherein the elongate slider comprises a plurality of keyed holes corresponding to the plurality of home keys; wherein the plurality of keyed holes each comprise a narrowed portion configured to retain an associated home key when the elongate slider is translated in a first direction and a widened portion configured to release the associated home key when the elongate slider is translated in a second direction; and wherein the plurality of home keys are selectively retained and released simultaneously. The elongate housing and elongate slider are disposed in a cabinet. Each of the plurality of home keys is coupled to an asset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: KEYper Systems
    Inventor: Dennis E. Guessford
  • Patent number: 8661865
    Abstract: A programmable cylinder lock includes a stator and a cylindrical rotor mounted therein, having a keyhole and including inside the rotor key followers movable along the longitudinal and transversal directions, and locking pins movable along the longitudinal direction, the followers and locking pins forming together a number of pairs and having toothings for mutually cooperating to define the lock codification, the rotor including a stop bar cooperating with a longitudinal groove of the stator and cooperating with the locking pins, and a change bar slidingly coupled with the followers to keep them engaged with the pins and disengage them therefrom when the bar provides a lock programming position. The bar has projections facing the keyhole, and the use key has corresponding recesses to face the projections when correctly inserted in the lock, whereas the change key has a longitudinal groove extending in a position corresponding to the use key recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Rielda Serrature s.r.l.
    Inventor: Alberto Loreti
  • Patent number: 8661866
    Abstract: A method of producing a flat tube T by bending a band-like material M to be worked, wherein the material M to be worked is pre-bent to form a pre-formed groove Md in the material M along the longitudinal center axis thereof. Thereafter, the material M to be worked is gradually moved so that both edge portions of the material M to be worked in the lengthwise direction thereof gradually approach each other with the pre-formed groove Md as a center to form a tubular shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Mitsukawa, Shigenari Takigiri, Shigenobu Furukawa
  • Patent number: 8661867
    Abstract: In the metal billet to be used for hot dilation forming, a forward side with respect to the pressing direction has a quadrate section and its diagonal length is not more than an inner diameter of a container. Moreover, a backward side with respect to the pressing direction has a circular section and its diameter is substantially same as the inner diameter of the container. The metal billet is heated to a temperature suitable for press working and is set into a container for press forming. While a center of a workpiece of the metal billet is being bored by a boring punch to be operated by a pressing machine, the metal billet is hot-dilated so that a bottomed container for a cask is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Funakoshi, Takeshi Tsunezumi, Naohiro Mizuno, Katsuhiko Tokuno, Chikayuki Matsumoto, Yoshiharu Taura, Shigenori Shirogane, Katsunari Ohsono, Toshihiro Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 8661868
    Abstract: A twisting apparatus (30) of preformed bar conductors (25) for bar windings of electric machines comprising a twisting device (50) having at least a first (51) and a second body (52) coaxial to one another and extending around a twisting axis (Zt-Zt) defining an axial direction and respectively comprising a first (A1) and a second (A2) circular array of pockets. The twisting device (50) comprises a system for clamping bar conductors comprising at least one sliding clamping element (72, 92) movable in a radial direction with respect to the axial direction (Zt-Zt) to take up an advanced operative position in which it has an end portion (73, 74, 93, 94) that projects inside an associated pocket and a set-back operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Tecnomatic S.p.A.
    Inventor: Sante Guercioni
  • Patent number: 8661869
    Abstract: A stretch-forming apparatus includes a main frame which carries a die enclosure between jaw assemblies. The die enclosure includes radiant heaters for supplying heat to a workpiece being stretch-formed against the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Cyril Bath Company
    Inventors: Larry Alexander Polen, Thomas Sandy Houston, John E. Owens, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8661870
    Abstract: Provided is a tooling system for use in an associated press comprising a lower tool shoe, an upper tool shoe, a first set of tooling plates, and a second set of tooling plates. The lower tool shoe comprises an upwardly facing surface, part of a shoe locator set defining an axis of elongation, a first locator element defining an axis of elongation, and an offset second locator element defining an axis of elongation. The upper tool shoe comprises a downwardly facing surface, part of a shoe locator set defining an axis of elongation, a first locator element defining an axis of elongation, and an offset second locator element defining an axis of elongation. The first set of tooling plates comprises a first lower tooling plate and a first upper tooling plate. The second set of tooling plates comprises a second lower tooling plate and a second upper tooling plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Spartanburg Steel Products, Inc.
    Inventor: James Corbett Ade
  • Patent number: 8661871
    Abstract: Described herein is a method for testing a microelectromechanical device provided with a microstructure having a fixed structure and a movable mass, which is capacitively coupled to the fixed structure and mechanically connected thereto so as to be movable between a rest position and at least one position of maximum extension. The method envisages: applying a test voltage between the movable mass and the fixed structure so as to set up an electrostatic force between them and displace the movable mass into the position of maximum extension; keeping the movable mass in the position of maximum extension for a time interval; releasing the movable mass from the position of maximum extension; and detecting a current position of the movable mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Giovanni Carlo Tripoli, Tommaso Ungaretti, Ernesto Lasalandra
  • Patent number: 8661872
    Abstract: A testing system tests or calibrates an electronic test subject while rotating the test subject within a thermally controlled chamber. The testing system includes a stationary thermal chamber, a test subject, testing electronics that receive electronic data from the test subject, and a rotating platform inside the thermal chamber to which both the test subject and the testing electronics are mounted. The testing system further includes a platform cover for the rotatable platform that rotates with the rotatable platform, and exposes the test subject to the temperature inside the thermal chamber and insulates the testing electronics from the temperature inside the thermal chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Inventor: William J. Brocker
  • Patent number: 8661873
    Abstract: Ultrasound transducers may be mapped by varying a focus-affecting parameter and adjusting the parameter so as to improve focus quality. In some embodiments, mapping involves successively varying the phase of one transducer element, or group of elements, with respect to a constant phase of the other transducer elements, and determining the phase at which a tissue displacement in the ultrasound focus is maximized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Insightec Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoav Medan, Yoni Hertzberg, Dov Maor
  • Patent number: 8661874
    Abstract: A photoacoustic detector includes a sensing region for receiving atmospheric samples. Radiant energy from a source is directed toward the sensing region. A thermal isolator and a displaced optical filter are positioned between the incoming radiant energy and the sensing region so that the radiant energy passes, at least in part, through both elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Rezachek
  • Patent number: 8661875
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for detecting a leak in a gas precharged hydraulic accumulator having an initial gas charge entail activating a hydraulic pump to charge the gas precharged hydraulic accumulator and the hydraulic circuit associated with the gas precharged hydraulic accumulator when the hydraulic circuit and the hydraulic accumulator have a temperature that is substantially equivalent to an ambient temperature, e.g., on a cold start. The hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic circuit is monitored, and when a step in the hydraulic pressure is detected, various quantities are measured and used to determine a volumetric efficiency of the pump for use in later calculations of remaining gas amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Heng Zhou
  • Patent number: 8661876
    Abstract: A testing apparatus for a turbocharger is provided. The turbocharger includes a turbine and a compressor, and a non-contact seal positioned between an oil cavity and one of the turbine and the compressor. In one embodiment, the testing apparatus includes a regulatable air input configured to couple to an outlet of the oil cavity, the regulatable air input coupled to an air supply, and a flow restrictor with at least one pressure gauge coupled to the regulatable air input. The kit includes media embodying instructions that specify correlating an amount of flow to a degree, rate, or amount of leakage past the non-contact seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Matthew John Malone
  • Patent number: 8661877
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for testing float equipment used in the construction of wellbores for the hydrocarbon exploration and production industry. The apparatus has a housing and an opening for receiving an item of float equipment. A seal arrangement is configured to seal with the item of float equipment, such that the housing and seal arrangement together define a test chamber. The test chamber is pressurized to expose at least a part of the item of float equipment in the test chamber to a test pressure. In embodiments of the invention, at least a part of an outside surface and at least a part of the item of float equipment may be simultaneously loaded. The tests performed more closely simulate the conditions to which the equipment is exposed in a wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Sudelac Limited
    Inventor: Paul Howlett
  • Patent number: 8661878
    Abstract: A viscometer assembly includes a first plate with a rail configured to constrain fluid thereon between its edges by surface tension. A second opposing plate has a surface spaced from the rail by a predefined gap of constraining fluid to the rail by surface tension when the rail is inclined and gravity pulls the fluid along the rail. The kinematic viscosity of the fluid is determined as a function of the predetermined gap and the time it takes the fluid to flow along the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Spectro, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick F. Henning, Thomas G. Barraclough, Brian A. Tweed, Eric J. Olson
  • Patent number: 8661879
    Abstract: A designing method of the present invention includes the steps of: measuring a golf swing to obtain a measured result; obtaining a swing model provided with a link model and joint torque data based on the measured result, the link model having at least two links; performing simulation for swing the golf club using the swing model; and obtaining head information in a specific situation during a swing based on a result of the simulation. In the designing method, a plurality of specifications of the golf club and/or the plurality of swing models are used to obtain the plurality of head information, and stability is evaluated using a difference between the head information. In the designing method, it was found that a great lateral moment of inertia of a head and a small depth of a center of gravity of the head contribute to the stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignees: A School Corporation Kansai University, SRI Sports Limited
    Inventors: Takuzo Iwatsubo, Hiroshi Hasegawa, Masahide Onuki
  • Patent number: 8661880
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention have the technical effect of automatically testing an overspeed protection system associated with multiple powerplant machines of a powerplant. An embodiment of the present invention may automatically test the overspeed protection system while at least one of the powerplant machines is in the process of shutting down. Another embodiment of the present invention may automatically test the overspeed protection system by adjusting the speed of a shaft while at least one of the powerplant machines operates at full-speed-no-load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Frederick William Block, Richard Lee Nichols, George Allen Ellis, Steven Michael Sanchez