Patents Issued in March 31, 2015
  • Patent number: 8991262
    Abstract: A capacitive pressure sensor includes a semiconductor substrate, a first insulating portion configured to define a sensor region, a reference pressure chamber configured to divide a lower portion of the sensor region in a direction, a second insulating portion configured to divide a surface portion of the sensor region above the reference pressure chamber in the direction, and a trench configured to divide the sensor region in the direction. The sensor region is divided into at least three semiconductor parts by the reference pressure chamber, the second insulating portion, and the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Goro Nakatani
  • Patent number: 8991263
    Abstract: A device, assembly and method for clamping single fibers that utilizes snubbing surfaces simultaneously with magnetic gripping action are described. The device can be fabricated at miniature sizes with very low mass and volume, which are desirable requirements for testing of small fibers in highly sensitive force-transducing load frames. Advantageously, the combined use of snubbing surfaces and magnetic gripping greatly reduces the probability of slippage or fiber failure at the grip during testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Eric D. Wetzel
  • Patent number: 8991264
    Abstract: A magnetic flowmeter for measuring flow rate of a process fluid, includes a magnetic coil arranged to apply a magnetic field to the process fluid. A pair of electrodes are electronically coupled to the process fluid and arranged to sense a voltage induced in the process fluid related to the applied magnetic field and the flow rate of the process fluid. A molded flow tube of a non-conductive material is arranged to receive a flow of the process fluid. The flow tube is molded around the magnetic coil and the pair of electrodes and is configured to support the magnetic coil and the pair of electrodes. Flow meter circuitry is configured to apply a current to the magnetic coil and receive the resultant voltage sensed by the pair of electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Bruce Rogers, Joseph Alan Smith
  • Patent number: 8991265
    Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a flexible membrane deformable in response to pressure. The flexible membrane covers a cavity and includes a strain gauge that produces signals corresponding to deformation of the flexible membrane. The flexible membrane is a flexible monolithic integrated circuit foil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Ronald Dekker, Frederik Van Der Graaf, Johannes Fransiscus Maria Velthuis, Jacob Roger Haartsen
  • Patent number: 8991266
    Abstract: A threaded member capable of detecting tightening force includes a head section, a threaded rod section and at least one strain sensor. The head section has a bottom face, a skirt section and a receiving space. The threaded rod section is disposed under the bottom face of the head section. A sink section is formed on the bottom face of the head section. The strain sensor is disposed on the bottom face of the head section and positioned in the receiving space. Due to the sink section, when the head section is strained and deformed, the strain sensor can sensitively and precisely detect the strain capacity of the head section and provide the tightening force of the threaded member for a user to more precisely tighten the threaded member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Kabo Tool Company
    Inventor: Chih-Ching Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8991267
    Abstract: A system and method of measuring engine torque by interposing a hub 20 between a power source/engine and a driven device such as a propeller 24. The hub 20 is preferably made unitary of a single material and includes a strain gauge 48/49 to measure twisting forces. The gauge output is transmitted 44 to a receiver not part of any rotating component. A housing 50 shields the gauge but is rigidly connected to only one part of the hub and thus does not impact the strain gauge measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Miles Kenney, Hussam El-Jobran, Timothy C. Owen
  • Patent number: 8991268
    Abstract: A method for determining a break-away force in an actuator is provided, the actuator comprising an actuator armature including a positioning element movable in relation to the actuator housing. The positioning element is movable by means of an actuator drive such that a driving force is applied through the actuator drive to the positioning element. The actuator is in a resting state in the beginning, the driving energy required for moving the actuator drive is successively increased, wherein the driving energy is converted into a driving force by driving means, and a measurement value at the actuator drive is measured by at least one sensor, wherein as soon as a change of the measurement value is detected, a state is verified in which a holding force counteracts the movement of the position element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Samson AG
    Inventor: Fausto Crespo Vidal
  • Patent number: 8991269
    Abstract: An inlet apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus may include a first conduit for sampling, and a second and third conduit for directing flow throughout the inlet apparatus. Flow may be induced in two opposite directions through the second conduit, which affect the flow of gas through the first conduit for sampling. The various conduits of the apparatus may be connected to a device for inducing flow in different directions. The duration of the flow in a particular direction affects the amount of sample gas that enters a detection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Chemring Detection Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Charles Wallis, Paul J. Rauch, Matthew Todd Griffin, John Michael Alfred Petinarides
  • Patent number: 8991270
    Abstract: An apparatus for analyzing a fluid of volume V includes a filter having a filter surface or area A, the filter being capable of allowing the fluid to flow through the filter surface. The fluid's volumetric flow density, averaged over the filter surface, is jmean. The apparatus further includes a scanner for scanning the filter surface with a scan rate B. The area A is optimized based on the volume V, the scan rate B and the volumetric flow density jmean to minimize the sum of filtering time and scanning time. Instead of one filter, at least two filters may be used each having a different area A. The apparatus also includes a mechanism for selecting one of the filters and placing the selected filter in an operating position, where the scanner scans the filter surface face of the selected filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Sjoerd Stallinga, Stefano Cattaneo
  • Patent number: 8991271
    Abstract: A portable nanoparticle sampler for collecting respirable particulate matters and nanoparticles is composed of a tangential flow cyclone, a multi-microorifice impactor and a filter cassette. The tangential flow cyclone can remove the microparticles with cutoff aerodynamic diameter (dpa) larger than 4 ?m and guide the airflow to the multi-microorifice impactor located below the cyclone. The multi-microorifice impactor includes a multi-orifice nozzle and a rotary impaction plate for enabling the microparticles with dpa from 100 nm to 4 ?m to be uniformly collected on a silicone-oil-coated impaction substrate. The remnant microparticles with dpa smaller than 100 nm are collected by the filter cassette. Therefore, compared with the prior art, the portable nanoparticle sampler is characterized by low pressure loss and accurate microparticle sizing to meet the requirement of nanoparticle sampling at workplaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
    Inventors: Shi-nian Uang, Chuen-Jinn Tsai, Chun-Nan Liu, Shao-Ming Hung
  • Patent number: 8991272
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed technology provide a detecting device for recovering of release film and a recovery apparatus for release film. The recovery apparatus comprises clips for gripping release film, the detecting device comprises: a detecting sensor; a mobile module coupled onto one clipping arm of the clip. When the release film is gripped by the clip, the release film shifts the mobile module to a first position where the mobile module portion enters the detection scope of the detecting sensor; when the release film is not gripped by the clip, the mobile module shifts to a second position, where the whole mobile module portion withdraws out of the detection scope of the detecting sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignees: Boe Technology Group Co., Ltd., Hefei Boe Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jinjun Wang, Kweonho Park, You Zheng, Haibin Liu, Xu Li, Yujie Wang
  • Patent number: 8991273
    Abstract: An inspection apparatus for inspecting high voltage insulators is disclosed. The inspection apparatus includes a first platform having first and second linkages, at least one outer gripping mechanism having first and second arms extending outwardly from the first platform, a second slidable platform adapted to slide along the first and second linkages, and at least one inner gripping mechanism having third and fourth arms extending outwardly from the second slidable platform. The outer and inner gripping mechanisms are adapted to move between an open position where the insulator is received by the outer and inner gripping mechanisms and a closed position where the outer and inner gripping mechanisms engage the insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew John Phillips, Jason Cary Nave, Glynn Ray Bartlett, Cody Michael Porter, Ian Royappan Meinzen
  • Patent number: 8991274
    Abstract: A mounting surface of an agricultural work vehicle power takeoff system. In one example, an agricultural vehicle includes a power takeoff (PTO) device. The PTO device includes a drive shaft and a mounting surface. Furthermore, the mounting surface includes a plurality of threaded apertures for coupling an auxiliary system to the PTO device, and a pilot configured to engage with a complimentary pilot of the auxiliary system to facilitate alignment of the PTO device with the auxiliary system. The mounting surface and the auxiliary system have the same mounting configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Thomas B. Tuttle
  • Patent number: 8991275
    Abstract: A link member includes a first pin hole, a second pin hole, a first engaging portion, and a second engaging portion. The second pin hole is an elongated hole extending in a longitudinal direction of a two-way push-pull chain. The pin is movably inserted into the second pin hole and fixed to the first pin hole. With the pin being movably inserted into the second pin hole, adjacent link members are expandable and contractible relative to each other by a length. The length is greater than a length of a portion where the first engaging portion contacts the second engaging portion in a state where the adjacent link members are contracted relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventor: Masayuki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8991276
    Abstract: A hydraulic system (1) for actuating at least one shifting element (2) of a transmission. The hydraulic system comprises a regulating valve device (3) that can be preset and has a regulating valve slide (8), and a shifting valve device (4) which can also be preset and has a shifting valve slide (6). The shifting valve device (4) interacts with the regulating valve device (3). The regulating valve slide (8) and the shifting valve slide (6) are coaxially aligned with one another and move in opposite longitudinal directions within a common boring (24) of a housing (25). Each of the slides has a control surface (5, 14) which faces toward one another and can be pressurized with a pressure signal (p_VS) via a common pressure chamber (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Markus Herrmann, Thilo Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8991277
    Abstract: Each tooth of a worm wheel has a first tooth flank in which a helical surface portion is arranged on one side in a rotational axis direction of the worm wheel and a concavely curved surface portion is arranged on the other side in the rotational axis direction, and a second tooth flank in which a concavely curved surface portion is arranged on the one side in the rotational axis direction and the helical surface portion is arranged on the other side in the rotational axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Jtekt Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Hamakita, Michitoshi Mitsumaru
  • Patent number: 8991278
    Abstract: A overload protection mechanism protects a driven load, such as a driven lever. An overload lever is pivotally coupled to a first part of the driven load. The overload lever has a first end that receives an applied force and an opposing second end. A zero length spring mechanism is coupled to a second part of the driven load spaced apart from the first part and to the second end of the overload lever. The zero length spring mechanism urges the second end of the overload lever toward the second part of the driven load with a force that is substantially proportional to the distance between the second end of the overload lever and the second part of the driven load. A stop mechanism is coupled to the zero length spring mechanism to maintain a minimum distance between the second end of the overload lever and the second part of the driven load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas G. Cooper
  • Patent number: 8991279
    Abstract: Disclosed is a steering column for a vehicle. By the steering column, a manipulation convenience of the driver can be increased by performing a tilting or telescoping operation by using a pressure of air or oil without using an adjusting lever. Further, the number of components and manufacturing costs can be significantly reduced by easily adjusting an operating force of the actuator using a pressure of air or oil and an operating force of the lever according to the type of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventor: Sung Hun Park
  • Patent number: 8991280
    Abstract: Steering apparatus having variable steering ratios are disclosed herein. An apparatus disclosed herein includes a steering drum to rotate about a longitudinal axis in a first direction and a second direction different than the first direction. The steering drum has a shape to provide a varying steering ratio when the steering drum is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventor: Justin M. Wireman
  • Patent number: 8991281
    Abstract: A foot actuated pivoting lever is provided. The lever may include: a lever member having two ends, one end configured to attach to a mechanism configured to receive an input from the lever member; and a pedal pivotally attached proximate to the other end of the lever member, wherein the pedal is configured to pivot between a first and a second position, wherein in the first position, the pedal lies on top of a section of the lever member and, in the second position, the pedal extends beyond the lever member. A mechanism for actuating a piston may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: John Kleifgen, Jose Barrios
  • Patent number: 8991282
    Abstract: A wave gear unit has an input shaft positioned along a center axis by first and second input bearings. A first unit end plate at the first-input-bearing side is a composite member in which a bearing housing member of an iron-based material is integrated with an end plate main body member of a lightweight material. A second unit end plate at the second-input-bearing side is integrated with a rigid internally toothed gear, and is a composite member in which a second member of a lightweight material is integrated with a first member of a lightweight material. The first member has an end plate main body portion of the second unit end plate and a gear main body portion of the rigid internally toothed gear, while the second member has a bearing housing portion of the second unit end plate and a teeth formation portion of the rigid internally toothed gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Harmonic Drive Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Yajima, Junichi Kurogi
  • Patent number: 8991283
    Abstract: A drive system (2) for a motor vehicle (1) has a transmission (11) for driving at least one drive axle (13, 14) of the motor vehicle (1). An internal combustion engine (3) optionally is connected operatively to the transmission (11) or decoupled therefrom. A first electric machine (17) optionally is connected operatively to the at least one drive axle (13, 14) or to an output shaft (39) of the transmission (11) or decoupled therefrom. A second electric machine (19) is connected operatively to the internal combustion engine (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Martin Fuechtner
  • Patent number: 8991284
    Abstract: A torque wrench comprising a hollow housing comprising an outer wall and an inner wall each having a proximal end and a distal end, the inner wall being spaced from the outer wall so as to provide a gap therebetween, the proximal end of the outer wall being connected to the proximal end of the inner wall, and the distal end of the outer wall being configured to engage a workpiece housing; a mechanical multiplier disposed within the inner wall, the mechanical multiplier comprising a torque input shaft and a torque output shaft, the mechanical multiplier being connected to the inner wall, and the torque output shaft being configured to engage a workpiece fastener; and a torque monitoring system comprising at least one strain gauge mounted to the inner wall proximally of the midpoint of the inner wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventor: George L. Castle
  • Patent number: 8991285
    Abstract: The invention provides a ratchet tool that includes a tool head, a drive including a sun gear, a ratchet mechanism, and planet gears mounted to a carrier and meshed with the sun gear. The tool head has drive teeth meshed with the planet gears. The ratchet mechanism is mounted to the tool head and is operative to directly couple the tool head to the input when the tool head is rotated in a first direction and to uncouple the tool head from the input when the tool head is rotated in a second opposite direction. Rotation of the tool head in the second direction, while the user holds the carrier stationary, rotates the drive in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventor: Ernest A. Mennecke, IV
  • Patent number: 8991286
    Abstract: Coupling mechanisms for engaging and releasing a tool attachment such as a socket from a drive element include an engaging element and an actuating element. The actuating element can include a collar or other manually-accessible part, and various features allow for a relatively small outside diameter for the collar or other part. These features include configuring the actuating element to contact the engaging element within the drive element, placing the biasing elements within the drive element, and forming guides for parts of the actuating element within the drive element. Also, the engaging element can move along a direction that is oriented at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the drive element, in whole or in part. The engaging element can have a first part that moves obliquely in the drive element and a second part that moves radially in the drive element to engage the tool attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Joda Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: John B. Davidson, C. Robert Moon, Jana T. Charvat
  • Patent number: 8991287
    Abstract: A combined method of machining and applying a surface texture to a work piece and a tool assembly that is capable of machining and applying a surface texture to a work piece are disclosed. The disclosed method includes machining portions of an outer or inner surface of a work piece. The method also includes rotating the work piece in front of a rotating cutting tool and engaging the outer surface of the work piece with the rotating cutting tool to cut dimples in the outer surface of the work piece. The disclosed tool assembly includes a rotating cutting tool coupled to an end of a rotational machining device, such as a lathe. The same tool assembly can be used to both machine the work piece and apply a surface texture to the work piece without unloading the work piece from the tool assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Rohit Arun Bhapkar, Eric Richard Larsen
  • Patent number: 8991288
    Abstract: The machine tool system includes a machine tool, a loader and a support frame structure. The machine tool includes a bed and a processing equipment disposed above the bed to process a work. The loader includes a guide unit disposed above the machine tool and a movable body movable along the guide unit to load and unload the work relative to the processing equipment. The support frame structure includes left and right stands installed on a floor surface at left and right sides of the bed to support the guide unit from below and a reinforcement member inserted in a throughhole, which is provided in the bed so as to extend in a leftward and rightward direction, in a non-contact fashion without contacting an inner face of the throughhole, with left and right ends thereof connected to vertically halfway portions of the associated stands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8991289
    Abstract: In a method for slicing food products, a cutting blade carries out a primary movement defining a cutting plane and a product to be sliced is supplied to the cutting blade by means of a conveying device to bring the product into engagement with the cutting blade. The cutting blade moved is from time to time at a speed different from the speed of the primary movement while it is in engagement with the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Weber Maschinenbau GmbH Breidenbach
    Inventor: Markus Gerhardt
  • Patent number: 8991290
    Abstract: A shearing apparatus may comprise a frame and a shearing assembly configured to shear a portion of a tire along a shear plane, the shearing assembly including a lower shear blade structure and an upper shear blade structure mounted on the frame. The apparatus may also comprise a tire indexing structure configured to advance a portion of the tire a distance through the shear plane for shearing the portion of the tire from a remainder of the tire. The tire indexing structure may include a tire clamping assembly to clamp onto the tire and movable between an initial and a final position to move the tire through the shear plane, a carriage assembly to move the tire clamping assembly between the initial and final positions, and a guide defining a path along which the carriage and tire clamping assemblies are movable between the positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Eagle International, Inc.
    Inventors: Les Pederson, Joe Brehmer
  • Patent number: 8991291
    Abstract: A multiple slicing device includes a frame including a receptacle and a plurality of cutting elements, and a working portion including an activation mechanism, a cam mechanism, and a forcing member. The activation mechanism can include two handles where moving one of the handles toward the other handle collapses the forcing member via the cam mechanism, onto a food item placed in the receptacle between the forcing member and the cutting elements, to efficiently and simultaneously cut or slice the food item into multiple pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Chef'n Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Holcomb, Matthew Krus, Adam A. Jossem, Jonah S. Griffith, David Hull
  • Patent number: 8991292
    Abstract: Firearm projectiles and methods of manufacturing firearm projectiles from a supply of clad wire. In some embodiments, the clad wire is manufactured as electrical wire, such as copper-clad steel wire. Bullets and shot, as well as methods of forming bullets and shot, from clad wire are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Amick Family Revocable Living Trust
    Inventor: Darryl D. Amick
  • Patent number: 8991293
    Abstract: A semi-automatic pistol is provided having a barrel, a frame and a slide. The slide is adapted for linear motion along the frame during a firing sequence and has a forward end and a block end. The forward end has an upper cam follower surface and a lower cam follower surface on the inside surface adjacent to the barrel. The barrel has a ramp cam surface adjacent to the chamber end of the barrel to effect locking and unlocking of the barrel relative to the slide during the firing sequence, a bottom cam surface and a top cam surface. The bottom cam surface and the top cam surface extend from the front end toward the chamber end of the barrel and each have undulating surfaces that moves against the lower cam follower surfaces of the slide to cause oscillation of the barrel while the slide moves during the firing sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Kimber IP, LLC
    Inventors: Yury Karfiol, John Goliber
  • Patent number: 8991294
    Abstract: An armor plate comprising alternating protection layers of light-weight high-strength fiber and reinforcing layers of high tensile strength oblong bodies, and a method for production of armor plates, the method comprising: arranging alternating protection layers of light-weight high-strength fabric and reinforcing layers of high tensile strength oblong bodies; and fastening the layers of the construction together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Plystone Ltd.
    Inventors: Victor Shkatov, Zigmund Bluvband
  • Patent number: 8991295
    Abstract: A cartridge gas energized firearm mechanism has a receiver assembly having upper and lower receivers. A bolt carrier is moveable within the upper receiver and has a wall structure having a planar gas key seat surface intersected by a gas port. A gas key is mounted to the bolt carrier and has a planar gas key surface in face-to-face seating engagement with the planar gas key seat surface of the bolt carrier, thus establishing a planar surface interface. The gas key has a cartridge gas supply passage in gas communication with the gas port. A tubular seal member is positioned in sealing engagement within seal receptacles of the bolt carrier and gas key and prevents cartridge gas leakage through the planar surface interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventor: Mark C. Larue
  • Patent number: 8991296
    Abstract: The compressor is provided with an oil separator for separating oil from refrigerant gas introduced into a separation chamber, an annular space for reserving oil separated from the refrigerant gas, and a reservoir chamber for reserving the thus separated oil. The oil separator is provided in a cylindrical hole formed in a discharge chamber from which the refrigerant gas is discharged and a lid for partitioning the cylindrical hole from the discharge chamber is provided in the cylindrical hole. The oil separator introduces the refrigerant gas from the discharge chamber to the separation chamber via the introduction passage. The annular space is provided around the lid and connected to the reservoir chamber via an oil passage. The reservoir chamber is connected to a crank chamber of a pressure lower than that in the discharge chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Yoshinori Inoue, Hirokazu Mesaki, Masaya Sakamoto, Atsuhiro Suzuki, Akinobu Kanai, Tomoji Tarutani, Naoki Koeda, Osamu Nakayama
  • Patent number: 8991297
    Abstract: A compressor includes a housing; a compressor liner positioned within the housing and at least partially defining a first cylinder with an inlet and an outlet; a piston positioned within the first cylinder and configured to compress air flowing into the first cylinder through the inlet; a cylinder head at least partially defining the first cylinder; and a sealing assembly for sealing an interface between the compressor liner and the cylinder head. The sealing assembly includes a ring seal at an interface between the cylinder head and the compressor liner; a vent port on an opposite side of the ring seal from the first cylinder; and a vent tube extending between the vent port and the inlet such that air leaking through the ring seal from the first cylinder flows through the vent port, through the vent tube, and into the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Potter, Trung Tran
  • Patent number: 8991298
    Abstract: Apparatus for drainage by well points, including a piston pump and a drive motor coupled to the piston pump by means of a transmission and provided with a drive shaft, which transmission is received in a housing and includes at least one crankshaft and a drive rod coupled thereto, the drive rod is coupled by means of a cross-head to a piston rod of the piston pump and the housing forms an oil sump and the transmission further includes an assembly of a worm and a worm wheel co-acting therewith and mounted on the crankshaft and the worm is provided on a worm shaft extending transversely relative to the crankshaft and vertically in operating mode of the apparatus for drainage by well points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: B.B.A. Participaties B.V.
    Inventors: Johannes Bruin, Harmen Bruin
  • Patent number: 8991299
    Abstract: A fluid actuator includes a housing having a fluid chamber providing a first friction surface. An actuating member is arranged in the fluid chamber and has a second friction surface slideably engaging the first friction surface. The actuating member is configured to slide within the chamber between first and second positions. An insert is constructed from a first thermoplastic material and provides one of the first and second friction surfaces. A body structurally supports the insert and provides one of the housing or actuating member. The body is constructed from a second thermoplastic material molded about the insert and including short reinforcing fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Marc E. Gage, Kevin M. Rankin, Noah M. Toth
  • Patent number: 8991300
    Abstract: The present invention provides a variable displacement swash plate type compressor that reduces wear of cylinder bores and the amount of blow-by gas. Each piston of the compressor has a piston main body, which has a distal portion located at an end corresponding to the compression chamber. A tapering portion and an arcuate portion are formed in the distal portion. The arcuate portion is continuous with an end of the tapering portion that is closer to the compression chamber. The tapering portion and the arcuate portion each have a diameter that increases toward the skirt. The tapering portion has a tapering angle that is in a range from 0.45 degrees to 1.5 degrees. The distance between the distal end of the piston main body and a starting point of the tapering portion on an end closer to the skirt is set in a range from 1.5 mm to 5.0 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki, Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho
    Inventors: Takahiro Moroi, Masakazu Obayashi, Naofumi Kimura, Yoshio Kimoto, Noritaka Nishimori, Yasuhiro Kondoh, Etsuko Hori
  • Patent number: 8991301
    Abstract: A device for steeping barley having a container for containing the barley to be steeped. The container has a floor and the floor has passageways for flowing at least one of steeping water and gases through the passageways. The device further includes a water line system under the floor directly connected to the passageways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Buehler AG
    Inventors: Bernardus Van Dieren, Gerardus Toonen
  • Patent number: 8991302
    Abstract: A brew basket for a brewing apparatus includes a splash protection structure to protect against spilling when the brew basket is removed prematurely with hot brewing liquid therein. The structure is a splash reservoir formed near the handle of the brew basket, extending the interior surface of the brew basket radially outward at the site of the compartment where the basket is pulled out of the brewing apparatus. A well or reservoir attenuates a wave of liquid created by pulling the basket out by directing the wave to the reservoir rather than impact the side wall of the basket, where hot liquid would then tend to splash or spill out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Wilbur Curtis Company
    Inventors: Lucian Hite Lyall, III, Christopher Milner Enright
  • Patent number: 8991303
    Abstract: A beverage preparation machine is electrically operated and has a control unit, at least one functional unit, and an electric circuit for supplying the functional unit and the control unit with current. The electric circuit has a switch for switching the current on or off, through respective first and second operations of an operating element. The switch has a first switch contact and a second switch contact, which are connected in parallel in the electric circuit. The first switch contact is brought into a closed state by the first operation of the operating element, and assumes an open state after the second operation. The control unit provides a control signal so that the second switch contact is closed after the first operation of the switch and opened after the second operation of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Jura Elektroapparate AG
    Inventor: Shahryar Reyhanloo
  • Patent number: 8991304
    Abstract: A brewing unit (1) of an espresso coffee machine including a brewing chamber (25) and at least one spring-loaded pressure valve (16) which is flow-technically arranged between the brewing chamber (25) and a coffee beverage outlet and which opens when the brewing chamber pressure exceeds a structurally predetermined value. In order to produce by means of the coffee machine one kind of coffee beverage selected from at least two kinds of coffee beverages, an atmospheric coffee beverage bypass channel (21) flow-wisely disposed in parallel relative to the pressure valve (16) between the brewing chamber (25) and the coffee beverage outlet (23) may be locked depending on the kind of coffee beverage selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Eugster/Frismag AG
    Inventors: Daniel Fischer, Christian Brendle
  • Patent number: 8991305
    Abstract: Milk frothing system (1) including a water conduit (10) that successively interconnects a water reservoir (11); a pump (12); a heater (15), configured to evaporate water; and a mixing node (31). The system further includes an air conduit (20) that successively interconnects an air inlet (21); a first check valve (22); a second check valve (24); and the mixing node. The system also includes a steam/air conduit (30) that successively interconnects the mixing node, and a frothing device (32). The milk frothing system additionally includes an expansion vessel (60), having a water chamber and an air chamber, said water chamber being connected to a point of the water conduit, downstream of the pump and upstream of the heater, and said air chamber being connected to a point of the air conduit, downstream of the first check valve and upstream of the second check valve provided therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Sipke Theo Douma
  • Patent number: 8991306
    Abstract: Valve assembly (8) for fine tuning the temperature of some fluid that has been heated or cooled in a heat exchanging section of a beverage making apparatus (1). The valve assembly (8) comprises a mixing valve (10), having a first inlet (21) for fluid communication with an outlet of the heat exchanging section (6), a second inlet (22) for fluid communication with a source of a hotter or colder version of aforementioned fluid, first and second closing means for altering a flow rate through the first and second inlet respectively, and control means arranged to control the first and second closing means in such way that an increase in flow rate through one of the inlets is matched by a substantially similar sized decrease in flow rate through the other inlet, so that the total flow rate through the mixing valve remains substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Klaas Kooijker, Gertrude Riette Van Der Kamp, Pawel Leshem, Anke Sinnema
  • Patent number: 8991307
    Abstract: A lid for a pressure cooker with a removable lid handle, particularly a lid stem handle, with a technology module that has movable operational elements necessary for the function of the pressure cooker and with a masking module that masks the technology module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Silit-Werke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Roland Grözinger, Karl-Heinz Wontke, Jochen Schobloch
  • Patent number: 8991308
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a baler ejection system that may be used with an agricultural harvester, such as a round baler, waste baler, combine, or cotton harvester. More particularly, the bale ejection system uses the motion of two pairs of parallel arms that extend transversely from the sidewalls of a bale chamber at two sets of distinct pivot points. When activated by the operator of the bale ejection system, the two pairs of parallel arms raise simultaneously to expose an outlet through which the bale may be ejected. The bale ejection system is designed to allow a larger outlet for the bale evacuation as compared to existing bale ejection systems that employ circular motion to expose the bale outlet. A formed bale may become ejected by one or more conveyer belts that exert a rearward force on the bale within the bale chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Martin J. Roberge, Chance Peutert, Evan Brinkman
  • Patent number: 8991309
    Abstract: A round baler is provided having a frame, a baling chamber on the frame for forming a round bale, an unloading area provided between the baling chamber and a ground surface and at least one depositing element which is arranged in the unloading area and which extends parallel to the rotational axis of the round bale and serves for supporting the round bale during an unloading operation. To reduce mechanical stress on the round bale caused by the depositing element and as a result to prevent damage to the round bale, a flat section is provided which, compared to the rollers otherwise usually used as depositing element, provides a higher contact surface for the round bale such that the surface pressure during the impact of the round bale can be decisively reduced compared to the use of a roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Pascal Gresset, Mickael Zabe, Emmanuel Chapon
  • Patent number: 8991310
    Abstract: A system and corresponding methods are disclosed for applying a dampening fluid to a reimageable surface of an imaging member in a variable data lithography system, without a form roller. In one embodiment, the system includes subsystems for converting a dampening fluid from a liquid phase to a dispersed fluid phase, and for directing flow of a dispersed fluid comprising the dampening fluid in dispersed fluid phase to the reimageable surface. The dampening fluid reverts to the liquid phase directly on the reimageable surface. In another embodiment a continuous ribbon of dampening fluid may be applied directly to the reimageable surface. This embodiment includes a body structure having a port for delivering dampening fluid in a continuous fluid ribbon directly to the reimageable surface, and a mechanism, associated with the body structure, for stripping an entrained air layer over the reimageable surface when the reimageable surface is in motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Timothy Stowe, David Biegelsen, Lars Erik Swartz, Jurgen Daniel
  • Patent number: 8991311
    Abstract: A printing apparatus is provided that has a roller for dispensing adhesive tape and a printing wheel in association with an ink reservoir, the tape being presented with its adhesive surface presented to the printing wheel for the printing to be applied to the adhesive surface; and hence is reversed so that the adhesive surface with the printing can be applied to a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventor: Leonid Shpigel