Patents Issued in April 1, 2014
  • Patent number: 8683892
    Abstract: A split torque gearbox system provides a multiple path, three stage power gear train that transmits torque from a high-speed engine to a low speed output shaft, while providing equal gear load distribution with a floating pinion in the second stage of reduction. The number of the split modules in the gearbox depends on gearbox configuration, number of high speed input shafts, and transmitted power. The split modules are located around a last stage output gear that combines power from each module and transmits the power to an output such as a main rotor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventor: Yuriy Gmirya
  • Patent number: 8683893
    Abstract: A ratchet wrench includes a main body provided at an end portion thereof with an accommodation, a pawl installed in the accommodation, and a ratchet wheel rotatably installed in the accommodation and engaged with the pawl. The main body has a through hole into which a plug is detachably inserted. The through hole of the main body is provided through a surface of the main body and communicated with the accommodation. Removing the plug from the through hole of the main body enables lubricant or cleaner to be poured through the through hole into and out of the accommodation for lubricating or cleaning the internal parts of the ratchet wrench so as to make the ratchet wheel run more smoothly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventor: Chih-Min Chang
  • Patent number: 8683894
    Abstract: A positioning structure for a ratchet wrench contains a ratchet wrench including a driving head, a receiving cavity, a first groove, a second groove, and a hole. The receiving cavity has a driving member, and the driving member having a toothed portion. The first groove has two opposite retaining blocks each having a plurality of locking teeth so as to engage with the toothed portion and having an orifice and a receiving aperture, and between two receiving apertures is defined a first resilient element. The second groove has a directional control member mounted, and the directional control member has a limiting portion, a recessed portion, an actuation portion, and a shaft, wherein a second resilient element is fitted onto the shaft and is inserted into the hole of the second groove, and the actuation portion is inserted into two orifices of the two retaining blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventors: Yu Wen Chen, Tien Sung Chen
  • Patent number: 8683895
    Abstract: There is provided a device for the delivery of surgical fasteners. The device improves the penetration of the fasteners and reduces the effort required for a surgeon to hold opposing pressure in order to deploy the fastener. The device comprises a lever in mechanical cooperation with a resilient element for storing energy; a drive mechanism which cooperates with at least one surgical fastener; and a release mechanism for rapidly releasing stored energy from the resilient element to the drive mechanism. In certain embodiments, at least partial depression of the lever stores energy in the resilient element while release of the lever from the at least partial depressed position does not release the stored energy from the resilient element. Additionally, the drive mechanism converts stored energy from the resilient element upon activation of the release mechanism to deliver the at least one surgical fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Kensey Nash Corporation
    Inventor: John E. Nash
  • Patent number: 8683896
    Abstract: Instrument handles isolate the functions of supporting the instrument and actuating controls on the instrument. An instrument handle may be grasped and supported by the less dexterous digits and palm of a human hand, and controls mounted on the instrument handle may be actuated by the more dexterous digits. The instrument handle may couple to an end effector so that the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder remain in a comfortable position when the end effector is positioned to act effectively on a selected portion of a workpiece, such as a surgical site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Medicine Lodge, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel E. Gerbec, Joseph Q. Marietta, Brandon T. Walker, E. Marlowe Goble
  • Patent number: 8683897
    Abstract: A turning machine for producing non rotationally symmetric surfaces of synthetic spectacle lenses, having a support plane E, a machine bed made of cast iron with a width b1 and a mass m1, a linear motor with an actuator comprising a turning tool holder and an oscillation axis Z, a workpiece spindle with a rotational axis C and a movement axis X, wherein the machine bed has at least two bearing surfaces arranged at a distance for the linear motor and for the workpiece spindle, and between the two bearing surfaces, a chip space is provided which is limited at least partially by the machine bed, wherein the linear motor is supported on the first bearing surface and the workpiece spindle is supported on the second bearing surface in relation to the chip space opposite the linear motor, wherein the mass of the machine bed has the maximum value m1, and the value m1 lies between 100 kg and 500 kg, between 150 kg and 300 kg, between 170 kg and 200 kg or 180 kg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Schneider GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gunter Schneider, Helwig Buchenauer, Ulf Börner, Klaus Krämer
  • Patent number: 8683898
    Abstract: A high-speed shear for transversely cutting rolled strip with knife carriers which can be driven for rotation and are arranged in pairs opposite each other. The knife carriers are supported on shafts of gear wheels arranged at a fixed axial spacing in pairs opposite each other in a shear cassette. The shear cassette is mounted within an outer frame and the shear cassette is provided with a lifting device for raising or lowering the shear cassette within the outer frame. In a method for operating the shear, the two knife carriers are moved into a horizontal position for allowing the strip end to enter or travel through, and the shear cassette is moved within the outer frame into a raised transfer position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: SMS Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Horst Grafe, Volker Loth, Jürgen Merz
  • Patent number: 8683899
    Abstract: The present invention includes a chain type cutting apparatus for continuous cutting of a rope of a center-filled consumable product into individual pieces, which includes a first continuous elongate rotary chain with a plurality of first open die cavity portions and a second continuous elongate rotary chain with a plurality of second open die cavity portions. The first and second die cavity portions are mutually engageable to form a closed die cavity about a rope of center filled consumable product, forming pieces. The invention incorporates four main variables, dwell time, chain length, chain speed and the number of closed die cavities in simultaneous engagement. These four variables can be altered to increase the output of the product, as well as maintain a satisfactory seal of the center-filled consumable product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Intercontinental Great Brands, LLC
    Inventor: Bharat Jani
  • Patent number: 8683900
    Abstract: A torch guide device for cutting target material is presented, the torch guide device including a torch cradle assembly coupled to a rail assembly. The torch cradle assembly is configured for holding a torch to align a torch tip of the torch to the target material. The torch cradle assembly is movable along the rail assembly for cutting the target material along a cutting path. The connector member couples the torch cradle assembly to the rail assembly. The connector member comprises a pivot for pivoting the torch cradle assembly relative to the rail assembly. The torch cradle assembly, in a first position, pivots about the pivot to engage at least a portion of the rail assembly to establish an orientation of the torch tip relative to the target material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventors: Netta Jewell Hurt, Mitchell Loyd Hurt
  • Patent number: 8683901
    Abstract: To enable fabrication of a precise stamped product having an extremely low surface roughness. Ripples 24 having depths ranging from 10 to 100 nm are formed with periodicities ranging from 100 to 1000 nm on a stamping tool surface that comes into contact with a workpiece material. The ripples 24 have a stripe shape extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of sliding between the stamping tool (die 21) and the workpiece material (the direction of the arrow a). The ripples 24 serve as micro pools. For example, a product that is required to have a surface roughness of the order of several tens of nm or lower can be satisfactorily stamped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Limited
    Inventors: Akinobu Sato, Akiko Suzuki, Takeshi Kawano
  • Patent number: 8683902
    Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus that performs a cutting process on a booklet formed by a bundle of center-folded sheets of paper includes: a conveying member that conveys the booklet; a leading edge stopper capable of reciprocating in a booklet conveying direction and used for setting a cutting position by abutting on a center-folded portion of the booklet; and a supporting member that supports the booklet when the cutting position of the booklet is to be set. When the booklet is being conveyed, the conveying member and the conveyed booklet are located in a contact position, and when the cutting position of the booklet is to be set, each of the conveying member and the conveyed booklet is located in one of separated positions, and the cutting position of the booklet is set by the leading edge stopper while the conveyed booklet is supported by the supporting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Kyosuke Nakada
  • Patent number: 8683903
    Abstract: The powered endless belt (14) of a lower conveyor (12) transports workpieces (16) past a scanning station (18) and then past a slicing station (20), whereat the workpieces are sliced into desired thickness by a powered blade (23). An upper hold-down conveyor (24) includes a powered belt (26) that assists in holding the workpieces stationary and stable as workpieces travel past the slicing station (20). In this regard, the belt is of a compliant construction and is operated at a low enough tension to enable it to substantially conform to the contour of the upper surface of the workpiece, thereby to apply a substantially uniform load about the entire upper surface area of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: John Bean Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Strong, Norman A. Rudy, Nicholas C. Tipper
  • Patent number: 8683904
    Abstract: A target transportation device includes a first transportation portion which is capable of applying a transportation force toward a downstream side from an upstream side of a transportation path to a target, a second transportation portion which is provided on the transportation path at a position at the downstream side with respect to the first transportation portion in a transportation direction and is capable of applying a transportation force toward the downstream side from the upstream side of the transportation path to the target while nipping the target, and a cutting member which is provided on the transportation path at a position between the first transportation portion and the second transportation portion and is capable of cutting the target in the width direction perpendicular to the transportation direction of the target. The second transportation portion is configured so as to be capable of changing a nipping position of the target in the transportation direction of the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masato Mitsuhashi
  • Patent number: 8683905
    Abstract: Methods of skiving metal using a skiving blade to form a shaving and methods of forming fins in a heat exchanger by skiving using a skiving blade. Where the metal body used to form the shaving or fin is made from a metal material having a hardness greater than that of aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Unison Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Douglas Swinford, Michael Ralph Storage
  • Patent number: 8683906
    Abstract: A ammunition loading machine is provided. The ammunition loading machine includes a base frame. A rake assembly is mounted to the base frame and configured to index a linear row of cases along a first linear axis. A platen assembly is also mounted to the base frame and is movable relative to the base frame along a second linear axis that is orthogonal to the first linear axis. A propellant hopper is fixedly mounted to the base frame. The platen assembly is movable relative to the propellant hopper to transfer propellant from the propellant hopper to a propellant filling mechanism that is movable with the platen assembly. The rake assembly is adjustable to accommodate multiple different sizes of cartridges. The rake assembly and platen assembly are commonly linked to a cam drive mechanism for simultaneously moving the rake assembly and the platen assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Dixon Automatic Tool, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy R. Baxter, Emery Johnson
  • Patent number: 8683907
    Abstract: Disclosed are a system and method for discharging electrical potential into the earth to disable or destroy electronics and/or explosive devices. The disclosed system includes an electrical power supply providing a pulsed electrical potential exceeding 30,000 volts with at least 30 Joules of energy in each pulse. The system includes a cathode emitter and an anode emitter configured to be moved along the earth in close proximity to the earth. The electrical potential is discharged into the earth through the cathode emitter and/or the anode emitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Xtreme ADS Limited
    Inventors: Varce Eron Howe, Peter V. Bitar, Rick Lee Busby, Leroy Ernest Lakey
  • Patent number: 8683908
    Abstract: A personal armor assembly protects a person from being harmed from behind. The assembly includes a plurality of armor plates. Each armor plate is curved wherein each armor plate is configured to cover an associated dorsal section of a person. A body member is configured to be worn by the person. Each armor plate is coupled to the body member wherein the body member extends between the armor plates. The body member has a plurality of forwardly extending portions forming a plurality of loops wherein the body member is configured to extend around a body of the person. The armor plates are supported against the dorsal side of the person. A plurality of biasing members is coupled to and extends between adjacently positioned armor plates. The biasing members urge the armor plates into an upright position wherein the armor plates provide support to the person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventor: Montree Lewis
  • Patent number: 8683909
    Abstract: An exemplary hunting rifle support includes a mounting bracket mountable to a tree using a strap extending through apertures. A gun can be supported above or be hung below the appendages of a support arm that pivotally extends out from the mounting bracket. Support flanges extending from a mounting bracket base allow for upright and stable mounting to support structures, and gripping flanges resist tilting from the swiveling of the support arm. Fasteners extending to varying degrees through opposing support flanges rotate the mounting bracket with respect to the mounted tree. A pair of primary flanges extending from the mounting bracket base forms a primary valley, and a secondary flange between the primary flanges forms a secondary valley, the valleys able to complementarily receive portions of the support arm. A barrel support member extending above the support arm stabilizes the gun as the hunter aims at a target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Oak Sturdy, LLC
    Inventor: William J. Copus
  • Patent number: 8683910
    Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder includes a cylinder assembly having a cylinder, defining an inner hydraulic chamber and being for reciprocating receipt of a piston and piston rod therein; a piston rod extending from the inner hydraulic chamber exteriorly of the cylinder; and a piston head assembly connected with the piston rod and disposed for reciprocation within the cylinder assembly. The piston head assembly includes a piston head and a valve assembly including a passageway defined in the piston head and a valve member having an outer surface and being sized and configured for reciprocation in the passageway between extended and retracted positions therein, the valve member defining at least one flat defined along the outer surface and at least one transition surface between the outer surface and the flat, the transition surface forming an angle with the flat of less than 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Foster Hydraulics, Inc.
    Inventor: Tim Foster
  • Patent number: 8683911
    Abstract: A linear actuator includes a guide block constituting a guide mechanism. In the guide block, a pair of installation grooves are formed in a lower surface facing toward a cylinder main body. Ball circulation members having therein ball circulation holes are installed respectively in the installation grooves. Additionally, ball circulation passages through which balls circulate are provided. The ball circulation passages are made up from roll-reversing sections disposed on opposite ends of the ball circulation members, the ball circulation holes, second ball guide grooves formed in both side surfaces of the guide block, and first ball guide grooves of the slide table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichiro Ishibashi, Seiji Takanashi, Motohiro Sato, Jiro Mandokoro, Koji Hara, Toshio Sato
  • Patent number: 8683912
    Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder contamination prevention system for preventing large and small contaminants from entering into a hydraulic cylinder, including a hydraulic cylinder rod cover for underwater use with at least one automatic valve for preventing water circulation between the outside environment and the enclosed environment of the cylinder rod cover when the cylinder is stationary, egress of water from the cylinder rod cover when the cylinder is retracted, and ingress of water into the cylinder rod cover when cylinder is extended, and an external and abrasive cylinder rod scrubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Sunstream Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Hey, William J. Setter
  • Patent number: 8683913
    Abstract: A piston includes a piston head, a ring zone and a piston skirt having load-bearing skirt wall sections and rear connecting walls which interconnect the skirt wall sections and piston-pin bosses which run on a boss axis that is set back from a piston axis and penetrate the connecting walls. The peripheral lower edge of the connecting walls is convex in relation to an axis and the upper edge of said connecting walls, preferably below the ring zone, is concave in relation to an axis perpendicular to a piston-pin axis. The piston is equipped with a reinforced section in the vicinity of the piston head running radially behind the ring zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: KS Kolbenschmidt GmbH
    Inventors: Willi Sikorsky, Ralf Buschbeck, Albert Haberl
  • Patent number: 8683914
    Abstract: The baster has a bellows for use in providing suction to draw basting liquid into a tapered tube, and compression to eject the liquid out of the tube. A valve at the lower tip of the tube provides resistance to the unwanted outflow of liquid from the tube to greatly reduce or eliminate dripping. Preferably, the valve has the form of a flexible membrane over the lower tip of the tube, with a plurality of slits which cross one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Fox Run USA, LLC
    Inventor: Rodney W. Robbins
  • Patent number: 8683915
    Abstract: A molding unit for forming and cooking meat, comprising a single recipient-shaped bottom die a concavity of which faces upwards and is destined to contain meat, and a single cover aligned with a mouth of the concavity of the bottom die, which cover is joined to the bottom die and positioned below the bottom die, such as to be destined to close a further mouth of a further concavity of a bottom die of a molding unit which is identical and positioned below the molding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Fava S.N.C. de Adele Turetta & C.
    Inventor: Antonio Fava
  • Patent number: 8683916
    Abstract: An apparatus for frying foodstuffs, the apparatus comprising a fryer having inlet and outlet longitudinal ends, an oil recirculating system coupled to the fryer, a heat exchanger for heating the oil in the oil recirculating system, a hood above the fryer for collecting steam generated during the frying process, a conduit for conveying steam from the hood, and a compressor for compressing the steam, the compressor having an input connected to the conduit and an output for compressed steam connected to the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Frito-Lay Trading Company GmbH
    Inventors: Ahmed Nadim Khan, Keith Robert Johnson, Nico Vandecasteele
  • Patent number: 8683917
    Abstract: A stencil assembly for use in depositing filling onto wafers includes a stencil tube defining a lengthwise passage for flow of filling, the stencil tube including an outer surface, and at least two axially spaced apart filling outlets passing through a wall of the tube. A first stencil die is positioned along the stencil tube and has an inner surface facing the outer surface of the tube in a region axially aligned with one filling outlet of the stencil tube, the first stencil die including at least one outlet extending from the inner surface of the first stencil die to an outer surface of the first stencil die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Ankush B. Mittal
  • Patent number: 8683918
    Abstract: A system for removing debris from tree crop product utilizes a plurality of screening and transport rollers which have disk-shaped members having projections that are curved and extend rearwardly in a direction opposed to the direction of rotation of the rollers, at least a portion of the projections of adjacent rollers overlapping to form voids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventors: Rick Witham, Ed Witham, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8683919
    Abstract: A strap forming assembly for a strapping machine includes a first forming wheel having a circumferential groove formed in a rim thereof and a second forming wheel cooperating with the first forming wheel and having a mating a circumferential crown extending therefrom. The first and second forming wheels cooperate to define a forming wheel nip therebetween. The forming wheel nip is non-planar. Strapping material fed into the forming wheel nip is permanently, longitudinally deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Haberstroh, Jeffrey D. Termanas, Wayne J. Thas, Michael J. McMahon, Robert G. Kobetsy
  • Patent number: 8683920
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for filling and/or tamping product in a container is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present disclosure is related to a device for filling a container with a material including a conduit comprising a top opening and a bottom opening, and a tamper integrally coupled to the conduit. The tamping face may be configured to move in a straight path along the axis normal to the plane of the bottom opening from the second position to a third position. The shape of the perimeter of the tamping face may be configured to mirror the internal shape of a provided container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventor: Jesus R. Oropeza
  • Patent number: 8683921
    Abstract: A decorating machine applies artwork to a product having a central axis and a frustoconical surface around its central axis. The decorating machine includes a film with artwork, a moveable deck, and a roller. The moveable deck includes a rotating mount on which the product is rotatably mounted. The product undergoes a pendulum-like movement on the deck while the product rotates relative to the moveable deck. The roller has a frustoconical shape that generally corresponds to the frustoconical surface of the product. The film is located between the roller and the product. The roller provides heat and pressure to the film such that the artwork attaches to the frustoconical surface of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: The Beckwood Corporation, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Poeling, Jeffrey E. Debus
  • Patent number: 8683922
    Abstract: A method of controlling the ink feed to a printed substrate in a lithographic printing press is provided which includes providing, for each of a plurality of ink zones, an ink coverage requirement for a printing unit of the lithographic printing press; color scanning a first ink zone of a plurality of ink zones on a printed substrate as it exits the printing unit of the lithographic printing press; calculating, for each one of the plurality of ink zones, a dynamic flow change based on the static flow change for said each one of the plurality of ink zones and the ink coverage requirement for said each one of the plurality of ink zones; and providing a flow setting for each one of the plurality of ink zones based on the dynamic flow change for said each one of the plurality of ink zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Goss International Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Ragy Adly Isaac, John Sheridan Richards
  • Patent number: 8683923
    Abstract: A carriage assembly for mounting to a track following a curvilinear path, said assembly comprising a trolley mountable to said track through a track engagement assembly, an orientation of the trolley varying with an orientation of the track; a carriage rotationally mounted to the trolley, such that the carriage is free to rotate about two axes relative to the trolley, wherein rotation about the two axes maintains the carriage in a horizontal orientation independent of the orientation of the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventors: Patrick MacMahon, Philip Maddox
  • Patent number: 8683924
    Abstract: System, apparatuses, and methods for supporting a trailer on a rail. The systems, apparatuses, and methods include a trailer for a rail. The trailer includes a first wheel to be supported by a first horizontal rolling surface of the rail, a wheel bracket attached to the first wheel by a first axle, and a trailer body attached to the wheel bracket, the trailer body having a hitch at a first end and having a coupler to receive the hitch of a second trailer at a second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Swanson Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas L. Hutchinson
  • Patent number: 8683925
    Abstract: A trolley having a trolley upper portion; a trolley wheel carriage secured to the trolley upper portion; and a trolley lower portion extending downwardly from said trolley upper portion, allowing the trolley to be displaced along a box to box cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventor: James Liggett
  • Patent number: 8683926
    Abstract: Systems and methods of transporting containers are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus for transporting shipping containers is provided. The apparatus is configured to move along rails of a railroad track. The apparatus comprises a coupling configured to couple with a trailer configured to transport shipping containers. The coupling is attached to a source of magnetic flux. The source of magnetic flux is positioned so as to be driven by a source of varying magnetic flux positioned along the railroad track. In one embodiment, the source of magnetic flux comprises one or more permanent magnets and the source of varying magnetic flux comprises at least one electromagnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventors: Sandor Wayne Shapery, Raymond William Holdsworth, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8683927
    Abstract: A wheel truck for a railroad car, including: a front wheel pair assembly and a rear wheel pair assembly; two side frame assemblies, each side frame assembly including a square box and journal-box guides; two spring suspension devices; and a bolster assembly including two ends disposed on the two spring suspension devices, respectively. The bolster assembly includes a pilot hole in the center and two mounting holes on the two ends, the pilot hole is rotationally matched with a cylindrical upper center plate of a car body for transmitting vertical and horizontal forces from the car body, and the two mounting holes are disposed above the two spring suspension devices, respectively. Each mounting hole receives a lower side bearing, and the lower side bearing is matched with a corresponding upper side bearing disposed on each side of the car body for transmitting the vertical load from the car body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: CSR Yangtze Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mingdao Sun, Yong Xu, Baolei Wang, Yongjiang Li, Hui Luo, Wanlu Gong, Guangyi Xiao
  • Patent number: 8683928
    Abstract: A laser barrier system for an optical table includes a plurality of laser barrier panels hingeably mounted to the edge of the table by a plurality of spaced hinge brackets. The hinge brackets include a horizontal flange secured to the surface of the table, a lower pivot support extending downwardly from the flange and an upper support column extending upwardly from the flange. Each hinge bracket supports a vertically extending jamb member secured to the upper support column. Each laser barrier panel is hingeably supported by pivot pins between a pair of spaced hinge brackets and their associated jamb members, and is hingeably movable about the pivot pins between a closed position and an open position. Each laser barrier panel is maintained in the closed position by a spaced pair of rotatable latch tabs that selectively engage with the adjacent jamb members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Sean Anderson
  • Patent number: 8683929
    Abstract: A table may be sized and configured to nest with another table to reduce a height of a plurality of stacked tables in a nested configuration. The table may include a table top with a receiving portion disposed at least proximate an intersection of an upper surface and a sidewall. The table top may also include a lip and a lower portion of the lip may include a contact surface that is sized and configured to contact an upper surface of an adjacent, nested table. The lower portion of the lip may also include an engaging portion that is sized and configured to be disposed in a receiving portion of an adjacent, nested table. The contact surface and the engaging portion may be directly adjacent to each other in the lower portion of the lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Lifetime Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Wendell Peery, David C. Winter, Mitch Johnson
  • Patent number: 8683930
    Abstract: An air seeder cart apparatus has a primary container assembly with a plurality of primary product containers, with primary fill hatches at tops thereof. An air distribution network comprises product conduits and primary metering devices that dispense agricultural products from each primary product container into one of the product conduits. A secondary product container is mounted on a side of the primary container assembly and has a secondary fill hatch much lower than the primary fill hatches, and a secondary metering mechanism dispenses product from the secondary product container into one of the product conduits. The secondary product container is convenient for receiving bagged agricultural products from a low truck bed. Unopened product bags may be stored on a grate inside the secondary product container so they will be available if required. Weighing of product in the container can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Bourgault Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark Cresswell, Brad Geoffrey Hicks
  • Patent number: 8683931
    Abstract: Expensive seed wasting and crop stunting are avoided by electronically controlling solenoids to selective supply fluid pressure to double acting cylinders. Rams operate links and roller mounted seed doors. Extending or withdrawing the rams closes or opens the doors. Clips on the rams limit door openings. A microprocessor stores field dimensions and planting patterns, spacing of seed planting headers from an onboard GPS and distances of seed travel through spaced seed distribution tubes. The microprocessor electronically controls solenoids to timely shut seed doors in groups before reaching turns or unplanted headlands and to timely open groups of seed doors before reaching planting areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventor: James G. Lafferty
  • Patent number: 8683932
    Abstract: A method is provided for embroidering embroidery elements by means of a processor-controlled sewing machine (1). The method includes: the fabric (2) that is to be embroidered is placed in the required position in relation to a threaded needle (5) on the sewing machine; a plurality of embroidery elements (A, B, C) in the form of software products having pre-programmed embroideries are provided; a group of said embroidery elements, defined as stitch data objects in a memory (M), is selected; an arbitrary curve (KU) along which said group of embroidery elements (A, B, C) shall be embroidered on said fabric (2) is defined by the operator of the sewing machine; said embroidery elements of said group are distributed in a spaced relationship along said curve utilizing a positioning algorithm. According to the method of the invention, a coupling between the embroidery elements of the group and the arbitrary curve is preserved during the full processing by said positioning algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: VSM Group AB
    Inventors: Henrik Eklund, Christian Bondesson
  • Patent number: 8683933
    Abstract: The Device object of the present invention is a solid rocket motor integrated into a propulsion system. The system is designed to be effective for most type of transportation including airplanes, submarines, trains, and ships, such as oil tankers. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventor: Mario Placido Portela
  • Patent number: 8683934
    Abstract: A free-floating, compact, self-stabilizing, self-monitoring, remote-controlled, shallow-water, solar, high-speed, air displacement watercraft lift constructed of polyethylene tanks, and non-metallic structure. This device provides vertical lifting by inflating 4 or more air tanks at once using a blower for each tank, pushing water out an exit hole on the bottom of each tank. Each tank has an electric valve for filling and another for exhausting air. Pairs of tanks are pivotally connected along the centerline, and pairs of tanks are connected with a union tube inside the axles. A monitoring system fills the air tanks if air leaks. The width of the lift is adjusted by adjusting the center bunk height, or by adding a spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Sunstream Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Hey
  • Patent number: 8683935
    Abstract: A mooring leg connector for use with a mooring leg extending up from the sea floor to connect a floating structure to be moored to the seabed wherein disconnection and connection of the mooring leg is done by pulling in and out a connector elongated body extending in the mooring leg direction. The connector has a latch mechanism for fixation of the mooring leg to the floating structure to be moored and preventing movement in the direction of the seabed, and a flexible part with a double articulation axis located at the bottom of the connector body above the attachment member, the connector body being received in a housing which is fixed to a part of the structure to be moored, wherein the latch mechanism includes guiding elements and followers or orientation pins between the body of the connector and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Raymond Bauduin, Jean Braud, Jean Pierre Benoit
  • Patent number: 8683936
    Abstract: A powerboat with a rooster tail depressor (RTD) includes a hull, a propulsion subassembly on the hull, and a rooster-tail-suppressing canopy on the stern that includes a downwardly facing surface no less than six inches above the dynamic water line of the stern where it functions to suppress the powerboat rooster tail for radar signature reduction and increased propulsion efficiency. Various embodiments include one or more of (i) a canopy having a downwardly facing surface that is arched (either curved or faceted), (ii) lift-to-drag ratio enhancing steps in the downwardly facing surface of the canopy, (iii) a rooster-tail-suppressing subassembly configured to enable articulation of the canopy in yaw and in trim, and (iv) operator-controlled port and starboard venting arrangements on the canopy that result in desired laterally directed thrust for enhanced maneuverability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: M Ship Co., LLC.
    Inventors: Charles W. Robinson, William F. Burns, III
  • Patent number: 8683937
    Abstract: A submersible vessel comprising: an elongated hull; at least one propeller mounted on a forward end of said hull and adapted to move said hull through water; said at least one propeller being of a size and configuration such that when it is rotated at an appropriate speed, it generates supercavitated water flowing from said at least one propeller and then along an outer surface of said hull so as to diminish friction on the outer surface of said hull and facilitate high underwater speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Juliet Marine Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory E. Sancoff
  • Patent number: 8683938
    Abstract: Provided is an underwater posture stabilization system which, by being attached to various underwater equipment such as undersea equipment and underwater vehicles having different shapes and positions of the center of gravity according to their purpose and the like, allows simply and reliably setting their posture in water (basic posture), is excellent in versatility, is not only excellent in posture stability since, when the posture inclines under the effect and the like of tidal currents and pulsating currents, a moment to restore the posture to its original posture naturally acts, but is also capable of easily changing the posture as needed, and also is capable of stably controlling the posture even in the presence of complicated tidal currents and pulsating currents, and is excellent in reliability, stability, and certainty of posture control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Kitakyushu Foundation for the Advancement of Industry, Science and Technology
    Inventors: Akihito Shoda, Tohru Harada, Ikuo Yamamoto, Kazuo Ishii, Amir Ali Forough Nassiraei
  • Patent number: 8683939
    Abstract: A bookmark for marking pages in a book includes a laminar element for insertion between laminar book parts. A magnetic clip provides attractive clipping force through a laminar book part for gripping the laminar book part. A hinge part defines at least one abutment area in which the hinge part abuts the laminar book part. A releasable page holder includes a flexible element and a page retaining element, the flexible element being attached, at a first end, to the laminar element and, at a second end, to the page retaining element. The first end is located adjacent an edge of the laminar book part and extends from the first end along an edge of the laminar book part, and the second end is movable with respect to the first end by means of flexing of the flexible element away from the laminar book part towards the second end of the elongate flexible element, to enable the page retaining element to engage and retain the page whilst the bookmark is held in place on the laminar book part by the magnetic clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: EIP Limited
    Inventor: Jerome Spaargaren
  • Patent number: 8683940
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for coating a profile surface with metallic texture paint by roll coating in combination with spray coating, and a method for coating thereof. The first major feature of the present invention is an apparatus for coating a profile surface, characterized in that it is provided with a roll coater for roll coating at least one surface of profile with a UV paint served as a binder, and a spray coater, installed at a position next to the roll coater, for spray coating with a metallic texture paint comprising a solvent, acrylic beads and metal powders on the coating layer of UV paint. The second major feature of the present invention is a method for coating a profile comprising the steps of roll coating at least one surface of profile with a UV paint served as a binder, and spray coating with a metallic texture paint containing a solvent, acrylic beads and metal powders on the coating layer of UV paint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Suk Ho Lee, Eun Chun Jung
  • Patent number: 8683941
    Abstract: Device for applying a strip (B) of a viscoelastic material to a receiving surface (S) in relative motion (R) relative to said device, comprising a feed means and an application nozzle (1) having a body (11), into which said feed means (2) emerges, and a head (12) at the end of which there is an outlet orifice (122) of elongate shape in the transverse direction to the direction of the relative motion when the device is operating. The head (12) of the application nozzle (1) is linked to the body (11) of the application nozzle (1) via an articulation (10) which can be deformed along an axis (AA?) perpendicular to the direction of application of the strip (B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignees: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A., Compagnie Generale des Etablissments Michelin
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Delorme, Christophe Ougier