Patents Issued in August 16, 2016
  • Patent number: 9416765
    Abstract: Apparatus for converting wave motion on a body of water into electrical power includes an electrical power generating system. The system includes a floatable housing. An electrical power generating unit is disposed within the floatable housing. The electrical power generating unit includes two spaced apart wheels which are connected by a drive element, and at least one generator for generating electrical power. A weight is connected to the drive element. When the system is tilted by wave motion, the weight moves toward the lower wheel, thereby turning the wheels and generator(s) and creating electrical power. In an embodiment, a plurality of systems are connected by connectors to form a power generating array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Inventor: Robert Georges Skaf
  • Patent number: 9416766
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises an asymmetric heaving floating body that resists influence from viscosity effects. The asymmetric heaving floating body is coupled to a Permanent Magnet Linear Generator (“PMLG”) that serves as a power take off (“PTO”) system. A support structure for the apparatus is designed so as to restrain lateral force and pitching moment. Similarly, the asymmetric floating body is designed to minimize viscosity effects when in motion to transfer incident wave energy to the PTO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Inventors: Farshad Madhi, Ronald W Yeung, Meghan E Sinclair
  • Patent number: 9416767
    Abstract: A method for handling a wind powerplant's rotor hub or to handle a wind powerplant's rotor using a hoist, in particular for erecting a wind powerplant or for assembling or disassembling a rotor to and from such a powerplant, in particular a hub or a rotor being configured by means of one assembly side to the wind powerplant's tower, the hub or rotor being raised or held by the hoist. In the raised state, the hub is tilted by a tilting mechanism acting on it out of the initial, raised position by a predetermined angle of tilting, or the rotor is tilted by a tilting mechanism acting on the rotor blade roots of the rotor through a predetermined angle of tilting. A mechanism to handle a wind powerplant's rotor hub of a wind powerplant's rotor, in particular for assembling or dismantling a rotor to or from its wind powerplant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: SENVION SE
    Inventors: Alf Trede, Oliver Heinecke, Carsten Eusterbarkey
  • Patent number: 9416768
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an airfoil shaped body with a leading edge and a trailing edge extending along the longitudinal extension of the body and defining a profile chord, the airfoil shaped body comprising an airfoil shaped facing that forms the outer surface of the airfoil shaped body and surrounds an internal volume of the body, a distance member that is connected to the facing inside the body and extends from the facing and into the internal volume of the body, and at least one reinforcing member that operates in tension for reinforcing the facing against inward deflections and that is connected to the facing inside the internal volume of the body at the same side of the profile chord as the connection of the distance member to the facing and to the distance member at a distance from the facing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: BLADENA ApS
    Inventor: Find Mølholt Jensen
  • Patent number: 9416769
    Abstract: A method to control the operation of a wind turbine is provided. According to the method a sound of a bat in the area of the wind turbine is detected. According to the detected sound of the bat in the area of the wind turbine a parameter for the operation of the wind turbine is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Kaj Skov Nielsen, Tony Stokholm
  • Patent number: 9416770
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aerodynamic wind energy conversion device and a method for controlling such a device. The aerodynamic wind energy conversion device comprises an aerodynamic wing; at least a first tractive line and a second tractive line; wherein ends of the tractive lines are connected to line connection points located at the aerodynamic wing; at least a first and a second reefing point located across the aerodynamic wing and is characterized in that the length of the second tractive line is shorter than the length of the first tractive line; and wherein the first reefing point is spaced from the first line connection point in a first reefing distance and the second reefing point is d spaced from the second line connection point in a second reefing distance, such that the second reefing distance is longer than the first reefing distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: SKYSAILS GMBH
    Inventors: Xaver Paulig, Bernd Specht
  • Patent number: 9416771
    Abstract: A method for controlling aerodynamic loads in wind turbine (20), includes stopping rotation of blades (22) of the turbine about a rotor shaft axis (38); stopping rotation of a nacelle (30) of the turbine about a vertical yaw axis (36); pitching each blade of the turbine about its respective pitch axis (43) into a stable pitch angle range (52B-52C or 52E-52F) in which a resulting root twisting moment (52) created by a current wind loading (48, 50) on the respective blade is in a direction urging pitch rotation of the blade toward a position of lower root twisting moment; and releasing the blades to rotate passively about their respective pitch axes during subsequent changing wind directions (VR1). A blade may be designed to better align a root zero twisting moment (52A, 52D) in the stable pitch angle range with a minimum (48B, 48D, 50B, 50D) wind loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: John M. Obrecht, Karsten Schibsbye
  • Patent number: 9416772
    Abstract: A wind power plant is characterized in that a measurement device (18) is provided for the determination of the load on an electric motor (13, 14), wherein the control device (16, 17) reduces the load on the motor (13, 14) by reducing the rotational speed of the rotor (11), by changing the blade angle of the at least one rotor blade (12, 12?) and/or by reducing the output of the wind power plant (10) when a preselectable first load limit of the electric motor (13, 14) is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: SENVION SE
    Inventors: Jens Altemark, Heinz-Hermann Letas, Eckart Hopp, Thomas Kruger
  • Patent number: 9416773
    Abstract: A power distribution system for a wind turbine having a base and a nacelle, the wind turbine being coupled to a power grid. The system can include a main power circuit, the main power circuit including a generator, a main power transformer, and a first current interrupter. The system can further include an auxiliary circuit, the auxiliary circuit including a second current interrupter, an auxiliary transformer, and at least one auxiliary component, and a junction coupled to the main power circuit, the auxiliary circuit, and the power grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: GAMESA INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY, S.L.
    Inventors: Patxi Mendizabal Abasolo, Andre Roche
  • Patent number: 9416774
    Abstract: Systems and methods for harvesting energy including a chassis with a spinning barrel shaped turbine, solar energy collection devices mounted on the chassis, and a kinetic energy harvesting device, mounted on the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Inventor: Donnie E. Jordan, Sr.
  • Patent number: 9416775
    Abstract: A micropump according to the invention uses an eccentric cam member rotating within a pump housing to sequentially open and close valves in the pump housing to withdraw fluid from a reservoir and provide metered amounts of the fluid to a cannula port for administration to a patient. The micropump may be used in a disposable pump for continuous infusion of medication such as insulin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Focht, Joseph Gordon, Justin Fisk, Matthew J. Perry
  • Patent number: 9416776
    Abstract: A microfluidic distributing device having a plurality of microchannels for the analysis of a fluid sample (such as blood). The microfluidic distributing device has a fluid sample entry port from which subsamples of the fluid sample are distributed to the plurality of microchannels in which fluid subsamples are treated for analysis by test devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Ledden, Dafeng Chen, James E. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 9416777
    Abstract: An electrochemical actuator drive system and method that provides for full control of an electrochemical pump system having at least three electrochemical actuators, including two valve actuators, and one pump actuator. The driving circuit is based on a standard H-bridge driving circuit wherein part of the circuit is shared among actuators. Because the system only needs to operate either the pump actuator or one of the valve actuators at any given time, part of the H-bridge driving circuit can be shared among the three actuators, thereby permitting the use of four half-bridge driving circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Andrew Leonczyk, David Durfee, Roland Croteau, Prestor Saillant
  • Patent number: 9416778
    Abstract: A self-gettering differential pump for a molecular beam epitaxy system has a collimator with a length greater than its diameter mounted in front of a source in extended port geometry, wherein the reactant delivered by the source also serves as a gettering agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY
    Inventors: Seongshik Oh, Yong-Seung Kim
  • Patent number: 9416779
    Abstract: Method of controlling multiple variable displacement hydraulic pumps determined relative to operator commands. If non-second-pump-dominated command, a respective adjusted displacement request is determined based upon the lesser of the operator requested torque limited displacement and an adjusted torque limited displacement that calculated based upon and the torque limited displacement of the respective pump and a scaling factor calculated based upon the first relief valve set pressure and respective pump pressure. If second-pump-dominated command, the set pressure of a relief valve associated with one of the pumps is instead utilized in calculating the scaling factor in the above strategy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Corey L. Gorman, Adam Nackers, Jeremiah C. Johnson, John J. Krone
  • Patent number: 9416780
    Abstract: A method for use in producing a stator for a progressing cavity apparatus which includes the use of electroforming to produce the stator tube. A stator tube for a progressing cavity apparatus which is produced using electroforming and a stator for a progressing cavity apparatus which includes a stator tube produced using electroforming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: David Joe Steele
  • Patent number: 9416781
    Abstract: A gear pump includes a plurality of gear wheels rotatably retained in a pump housing and that engage in one another for the conveyance of a medium. One of the gear wheels is driven by a pump shaft, which can be coupled to a drive by means of a coupling end. To maintain a uniform conveyance flow, in particular with strongly fluctuating operational pressures, during alternating load states, within a single rotation, a brake ring is disposed on the circumference of the pump shaft, which acts with at least one brake surface on a friction surface of the pump shaft or on a friction surface of the pump housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: OERLIKON TEXTILE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Ulrich Helbing, Arkardiusz Tomzik, Dietrich Witzler
  • Patent number: 9416782
    Abstract: An oil pump has a pump body, an outer rotor, and an inner rotor. The pump body includes a rotor chamber, an inlet port and an outlet port formed in the rotor chamber, an inlet passage communicating with the inlet port, an outlet passage communicating with the outlet port, a relief valve, a relief chamber formed on a discharge side of the relief valve, and an oil return passage formed from the relief chamber to the inlet passage. The outer rotor is supported by the inner circumferential support wall of the rotor chamber. The oil return passage is formed in the inner circumferential support wall as a groove-like recess and opens along an outer circumferential surface of the outer rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: YAMADA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kan, Hiroyuki Taguchi, Sentaro Nishioka
  • Patent number: 9416783
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotor for a fluid pump, in particular for use in the medical sphere, the rotor being compressible for bringing to the place of use and thereafter being expandable. The compressibility is assisted by the provision of cavities, in particular also production of the rotor at least partially from a foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: ECP ENTWICKLUNGSGELLSCHAFT MBH
    Inventors: Joerg Schumacher, Mario Scheckel, Henning Schlicht
  • Patent number: 9416784
    Abstract: Provided is an exhaust pump that comprises connecting opening portions that can be deburred easily and that are suitable for enhancing gas evacuation performance. A rotor (a cylindrical rotating member) of an exhaust pump comprises a plate body that has a ring-like projection on a reverse side outer peripheral section of the rotor, and a cylindrical body that is fitted into an outer periphery of the ring-like projection. Connecting opening portions of the exhaust pump comprise holes that are formed by notching an outer peripheral section of the plate body and an outer peripheral section of the ring-like projection, and a portion (specifically, a hole) of the holes that opens in the form of a horizontal hole is covered by an outer-peripheral upper end portion of the cylindrical body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Edwards Japan Limited
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Sakaguchi, Akihiro Ito, Akihiko Wada
  • Patent number: 9416785
    Abstract: A fan motor includes a base member including a bottom plate portion, a bearing support portion, and a screw receiving portion. The bottom plate portion extends in directions perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a central axis below a circuit board. The bearing support portion extends upward from the bottom plate portion and has a cylindrical or substantially cylindrical shape. The screw receiving portion is arranged to project upward from the bottom plate portion on a radially outer side of the bearing support portion. At least a portion of the screw receiving portion is arranged in a hole portion defined in the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Oguma
  • Patent number: 9416786
    Abstract: An adjustable delivery volume rotary pump, including: first and second housing structures; a delivery chamber comprising a first chamber wall formed by the first housing structure, a second chamber wall formed by the second housing structure, a fluid inlet in a low-pressure region and a fluid outlet in a high pressure region; a pump wheel rotatable about a rotational axis in the delivery chamber; and a pressing device for generating pressing force. The second housing structure can be moved relative to the first housing structure from a first to a second position, against the pressing force. In the second position, a gap exists between the first and the second chamber walls and fluid can escape from the delivery chamber by bypassing the inlet and the outlet, or a circulation of the fluid which reduces the delivery rate of the rotary pump arises in the gap within the delivery chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: SCHWABISCHE HUTTENWERKE AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Claus Welte, Uwe Meinig
  • Patent number: 9416787
    Abstract: A method and arrangement for determining the flow rate (Q) produced by a pump, when the pump is controlled with a frequency converter, which produces estimates for rotational speed and torque of the pump, and the characteristic curves of the pump are known. The method includes determining the shape of a QH curve of the pump, dividing the QH curve into two or more regions depending on the shape of the QH curve, determining on which region of the QH curve the pump is operating, and determining the flow rate (Q) of the pump using the determined operating region of the characteristic curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: ABB Technology Oy
    Inventors: Jussi Tamminen, Tero Ahonen, Jero Ahola
  • Patent number: 9416788
    Abstract: A turbo compressor includes a case; compression stages which are disposed in a plural number in a rotatable manner with respect to the case via a sliding part; an oil tank in which a lubricant oil to be supplied to the sliding part is stored; a pressure equalization pipe which communicates the oil tank with the vicinity of the inlet of the compression stage; and a check valve which allows only the movement of the fluid from the oil tank side to the compression stage side in the pressure equalization pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kentarou Oda, Minoru Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 9416789
    Abstract: A closure device for monitoring leakage of a process fluid through a bore of a compressor casing is provided. The closure device may include a body configured to be detachably coupled with the compressor casing about the bore of the compressor. The body may define a fluid passage and a plurality of grooves. The plurality of grooves may be defined about an outer circumferential surface of the body and may be axially spaced from one another. The closure device may also include a plurality of seals at least partially disposed in respective grooves of the plurality of grooves. The plurality of seals may be configured to engage an inner surface of the compressor casing such that adjacent seals of the plurality of seals at least partially define an annular gap therebetween fluidly coupled with the fluid passage and configured to contain the leakage of the process fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Dresser-Rand Company
    Inventor: Robert A. Bennitt
  • Patent number: 9416790
    Abstract: A method and apparatus controls a compressor, where the compressor inlet gas may contain water and/or non-aqueous liquid. The method includes the steps of measuring temperature at the compressor inlet and/or outlet side, measuring pressure at the compressor inlet and outlet side in order to determine a compressor pressure ratio, measuring fluid mixture density at the compressor inlet and/or outlet side, measuring individual volume fractions of gas, water and non-aqueous liquid at the compressor inlet and/or outlet side, measuring fluid velocity at the compressor inlet and/or outlet side, and determining individual flow rates of gas, water and non-aqueous liquid on the basis of the measured individual volume fractions of gas, water and non aqueous liquid and the fluid velocity at the compressor inlet and/or outlet side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: STATOIL ASA
    Inventors: Lars Brenne, Jan Høydal
  • Patent number: 9416791
    Abstract: To design the rotor as compressible in the radial direction in a fluid pump, in particular for microinvasive medical use, said rotor is configured as stretchable in its longitudinal direction by push elements and pull elements acting axially on it. A fluid pump is presented herein having a drivable rotor which is rotatable about its longitudinal axis and which has at least one impeller blade. The rotor at least partly comprises an elastically compressible and expandable material and is elastically stretchable by elements acting axially on it in the direction of its longitudinal axis. A push element and a pull element engage at different ends of the rotor and/or of a housing of the fluid pump. The push element and the pull element are configured to apply tension to the rotor by applying force in mutually opposite directions at the different ends of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: ECP ENTWICKLUNGSGESELLSCHAFT MBH
    Inventor: Thomas Toellner
  • Patent number: 9416792
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical machine having a fan wheel which comprises an injection-moulded blade carrier ring with fan blades as well as an annular insertion part which is integrated into the blade carrier ring and which comprises passage openings via which the blade carrier ring is connected to the fan blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Erdogan Dikmenli
  • Patent number: 9416793
    Abstract: A centrifugal fan includes a housing and a fan body. The housing includes an upper cover and a lower cover. The fan body is disposed in the housing and includes a hub and at least a blade. The hub is pivotally connected to the lower cover. The blade includes an air intake portion and an air exhaust portion. The air intake portion is connected to the peripheral edge of the hub. The air exhaust portion is connected to the air intake portion and is disposed between the upper cover and the lower cover. The width of the air exhaust portion is gradually reduced along a direction away from the air intake portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
    Inventor: Ing-Jer Chiou
  • Patent number: 9416794
    Abstract: A serial fan assembling method includes the steps of providing a first and a second fan; providing a union member having a bottom panel and two side panels, which together define a receiving space having a top forming a first open side and two axially opposite ends respectively forming a second open side; connecting the first fan to the side panels of the union member via the first open side; and connecting the second fan to the side panels of the union member via the first open side, or connecting the second fan to the bottom panel of the union member via one of the second open sides, so that the first and the second fan connected to the union member are serially located in the receiving space and connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Asia Vital Components (China) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wen-Hao Liu
  • Patent number: 9416795
    Abstract: The invention concerns a reverse osmosis system (1) with a membrane unit (2) comprising an inlet (3), a permeate outlet (4) and a concentrate outlet (5), a high-pressure pump (8) that is connected to the inlet (3), a pressure exchanger (11) connected on its concentrate side (10) to the concentrate outlet (5), and a booster pump between the pressure exchanger (11) and the inlet (3). It is endeavored to make the energy consumption as small as possible. For this purpose, the booster pump is made as a displacement pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventors: Welm Friedrichsen, Palle Olsen, Erik Haugaard
  • Patent number: 9416796
    Abstract: Disclosed is an energy-accumulation apparatus including an accumulator body assembly defining a pneumatically-pressurizable chamber. The pneumatically-pressurizable chamber is configured to communicate with a pneumatic-pressure source. The pneumatic-pressure source is positioned on a shore and being located away from a body of water. The energy-accumulation apparatus also includes an outer surface extending from the accumulator body assembly. The outer surface is configured to securely contact a sloped floor zone of a body of water at a position being spaced apart from a shore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Hydrostor Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis VanWalleghem, Cameron Lewis
  • Patent number: 9416797
    Abstract: The invention discloses a system and method for controlling a wellbore. The method comprises the steps of: providing a capping stack comprising a number of releasable modules, each module having a size and weight within predetermined limits, wherein said modules include at least one ram type blow out preventer module, and wherein said modules include a connector module for connecting the capping stack to an attachment point of the wellbore; transporting said modules by cargo airplane to a location near the wellbore; interconnecting the modules to provide the capping stack; and connecting the capping stack to the attachment point of the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Johannes Van Wijk
  • Patent number: 9416798
    Abstract: A composite valve is used in a hydraulic circuit. The composite valve is interposed between a stack valve and a hydraulic power supplier and between the stack valve and a multifunction valve coupled to a hydraulic device. The composite valve includes: stop valves opening/closing communication between the hydraulic power supplier and the stack valve and stop valves opening/closing communication between the stack valve and the multifunction valve; and bypass circuits respectively including stop valves opening/closing communication between the hydraulic power supplier and the multifunction valve, the bypass circuits provided closer to the hydraulic power supplier than the stop valves. This structure makes it possible to simultaneously perform various functions: repair, checking, and/or maintenance on the stack valve; flushing; and repair, checking, maintenance, and/or a trial run of the hydraulic device. The composite valve has uniform circuit configurations, which facilitates production of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: U-Tec Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Uenishi, Yuji Kondo
  • Patent number: 9416799
    Abstract: To achieve flow demands for high flow services, a hydraulic system shares a flow between a hydraulic transformer and one or more hydraulic pumps. The hydraulic transformer is in selective fluid communication with the pumps and actuates a first load. A second load is driven by an actuator in selective fluid communication with the pumps and the hydraulic transformer. The hydraulic system includes a controller to reduce dynamic responses in the system by causing flow sharing between the hydraulic transformer and a directional flow control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Per William Danzl, Vishal Vijay Mahulkar
  • Patent number: 9416800
    Abstract: A carrier-gas mixture is directed through a fluid flow path in a combined heat and mass transfer device, which can be operated at sub-atmospheric pressure. Heat and mass are transferred from or to the carrier-gas mixture via interaction with a liquid composition that includes a vaporizable component in a liquid state to substantially change the content of the vaporizable component in the carrier-gas mixture via evaporation or condensation. The mass flow rate of the carrier-gas mixture is varied by extracting or injecting the carrier-gas mixture from at least one intermediate location in the fluid flow path, and/or the mass flow rate of the liquid composition is varied by extracting or injecting the liquid composition from at least one intermediate location in the fluid flow path; and the flow of the carrier-gas mixture or the liquid composition is regulated to reduce the average local enthalpy pinch in the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, King Fahd University of Petroleum Minerals
    Inventors: Prakash Narayan Govindan, Gregory P. Thiel, Ronan K. McGovern, John H. Lienhard, Sarit K. Das, Karim M. Chehayeb, Syed M. Zubair, Mohammed A. Antar
  • Patent number: 9416801
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for draining fluid from a structure on an aircraft. The apparatus comprises a drainage tube, a housing, a number of inlet holes in the housing, and a number of outlet holes in the housing. The drainage tube has first end that connects to a structure on an aircraft and a second end opposite the first end. The housing connects to the structure. The drainage tube is located within the housing. Air flows into the housing during flight of the aircraft through the number of inlet holes in the housing. The air flows out of the housing during flight of the aircraft through the number of outlet holes. The air flowing into the housing through the number of inlet holes and out the housing through the number of outlet holes directs fluid out of the drainage tube and away from the structure during flight of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert Henry Willie, David F. Cerra
  • Patent number: 9416802
    Abstract: A family of Radar energy Absorbing Deformable Low Drag Vortex Generators (RAD-LDVG) is described herein. This family of devices are fabricated in such a way that it can conform to aircraft surface features while reducing radar returns from structural details. Vortex generators (VGs) are typically used to reattach or smooth gross flowfields over aircraft surfaces. By doing so, an airfoil or wing can maintain attached flow at higher angles of attack and/or higher lift coefficients than one without the VGs. These devices are also used to reattach and/or smooth flows that encounter crossflow-induced instabilities and/or adverse pressure gradients on the upper surfaces of wings or near aircraft boattails. Other uses include reduction of buffet, vibration, flutter, cavity resonance or general bluff-body pressure drag reduction. Although conventional rigid VGs do generate vortical aerodynamic structures, two major problems are often experienced: i.) the inability to conform to curved surfaces, ii.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: University of Kansas
    Inventor: Ronald M. Barrett
  • Patent number: 9416803
    Abstract: A clip for holding items such as folding currency and credit cards that includes a pair of spring arms joined to a base plate with a top and a bottom integrally joined to the spring arms opposite the base plate and extending inwardly therefrom with an aperture formed in the top and a corresponding detent formed in the bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Geraghty, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald M. McGarity, Mark McGarity
  • Patent number: 9416804
    Abstract: An object holding device featuring multiple tabbed diaphragms in embodiments of the invention solves the lack of a previously existing elegant solution to store cleaning rags, cleaning implements and other flexible objects. The preferred embodiment of the present invention features a housing containing multiple tabbed diaphragms, which in the aggregate, when used as intended by the inventor, apply enough force to an object to hold an object within the tabbed diaphragms. Said embodiment also enables its user to easily remove objects from the plurality of tabbed diaphragms without causing damage to either the object or the tabbed diaphragms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Inventor: Sam Simakis
  • Patent number: 9416805
    Abstract: A solenoid operated locking mechanism uses a permanent magnet to secure a lockable rod to the solenoid locking mechanism. A solenoid operated plunger determines the location and movement of locking members that extend into a locking chamber, thus controlling the movement of the lockable rod past the locking members. Inserting the lockable rod into the locking mechanism forces the plunger against a spring toward a permanent magnet that holds the plunger in the locked position until an electrical pulse energizes the solenoid which reduces or cancels the permanent magnet's magnetic field and allows the lockable rod to be withdrawn from the locking chamber. The locking mechanism only requires energy to be applied to the solenoid to release the locking rod from the solenoid. The locking mechanism only requires energy to be applied to the solenoid to release the locking rod from the solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Magnet-Schultz of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Cascolan, Roland Mueller
  • Patent number: 9416806
    Abstract: A latching device for insertion into a tube provides two large flat buttons one on each side to lock the tube relative to an outer tube or to two parallel plates. A tubular housing with open ends slides into the tube between the side walls of the tube with the ends of the housing substantially butting inside surfaces of the side walls. The buttons are mounted on respective slide members mounted in the housing spring biased apart so that the buttons can be depressed. One or two set screws acting as stop members can be inserted after the housing is moved to the required location in the tube to prevent depression of the buttons to a position inward of the inner surface of the tube so that the housing is held in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Tuffbuilt Products Inc.
    Inventor: Jan Vetesnik
  • Patent number: 9416807
    Abstract: A modular, faceted-component node system for uniting adjacent ends of elongate frame elements at selectively different types of frame-element-junction nodes in a frame structure including (a) a first type faceted node component adapted for attachments to it of ends of plural, elongate frame elements, operable as a singularity to form in a frame structure a first-type frame-element-junction node, and a second type faceted node component for joining, and cooperating with, different pluralities of the first-type node component to form, selectively with such component pluralities, in a frame structure a plurality of different, second-type frame-element-junction nodes—the first and second type node components including, respectively, concave and convex, angularly faceted surface regions that are complementary to one another, and that accommodate facet-to-facet, matching-facet-coextensive, selective joinder of the two component types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: ConXtech, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Simmons
  • Patent number: 9416808
    Abstract: A mounting apparatus with self-sealing properties that is used for installing solar modules and other types of equipment and material by attaching it through roofing or other exterior or interior surfaces is disclosed. The mounting apparatus uses a bolt with a toggle to mount a body to the structural sheathing rather than bolting to a structural framing member. A nut is tightened on the bolt to secure the toggle on one side of the roofing or other exterior or interior surfaces while a plunger is simultaneously driven to dispose a sealant. Using the mounting apparatus eliminates the need for finding the centerline of a structural framing member and assures the quality and the integrity of the seal around the mounting apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Inventor: Christopher Rex McKenna
  • Patent number: 9416809
    Abstract: A rivet stud has a rivet body with an elongated shank, a flange, and an axial bore in which is located a tension mandrel, which has a mandrel shank with a drawing end projecting out of a head end of the rivet body that is separable from the mandrel shank at a predetermined breaking point and which has a mandrel head that is supported on a foot end of the rivet body. The mandrel shank is provided with locking means that secure it in the rivet body after setting of the rivet stud, and the predetermined breaking point is located such that the breaking point lies inside the bore of the rivet body after setting of the rivet stud. Located on the mandrel head is a mounting stud that projects from the mandrel head on the side opposite the mandrel shank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: NEWFREY LLC
    Inventors: Stefan Schneider, Reimar Saltenberger
  • Patent number: 9416810
    Abstract: Elastomeric joining element retaining devices are disclosed. In an aspect, a retaining device is disclosed which is constructed from an elastomeric material such as polyurethane and designed to receive and align an assembly or “stack-up” of nuts, bolts, washers, and/or other joining elements. The retaining device retains and aligns the assembly, enabling a user to install the assembly accurately without dropping or misaligning portions of the assembly. Such retaining devices ease the process of installing or removing joining elements in hard to reach locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: RTODDS ENGINEERING, LLC
    Inventor: R. Todd Swinderman
  • Patent number: 9416811
    Abstract: The description provides a method of forming a seal around an end of a fastener protruding from a structure. The cap includes a cap body with a cavity; a sealing material inlet comprising an opening in the cap body; three or more ridges protruding from the cap body into the cavity; and three or more channels between the ridges. The method includes: installing the cap body over the end of the fastener so that it is enclosed within the cavity and contacted by the ridges; injecting sealing material into the cavity via the sealing material inlet so that the sealing material flows along the channels, fills the cavity, contacts the end of the fastener, and contacts the structure; and curing the sealing material to form the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventor: Richard Dobbin
  • Nut
    Patent number: 9416812
    Abstract: A nut includes a thread portion and a pressing portion. The thread portion is formed at an end of the nut. The thread portion includes a threaded inner wall surface for engaging with a screwing shaft of a screwing piece. The pressing portion is extended from the thread portion and formed at the other end of the nut. A wall thickness of the pressing portion is smaller than a wall thickness of the thread portion. An outer wall surface of the pressing portion is aligned with an outer wall surface of the thread portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: KABO TOOL COMPANY
    Inventor: Chih-Ching Hsieh
  • Patent number: 9416813
    Abstract: An aircraft boarding bridge or stairs with a bellows attached to a head frame of the aircraft boarding bridge or stairs by a fastening device. The fastening device has a positive connection acting at least in to spatial directions, wherein the positive connection is fixable by an at least non-positive connection member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Hübner GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jens Bachmann
  • Patent number: 9416814
    Abstract: A cradle has a base, a hinge joint coupled with the base, and a holder. The holder is connected to the base at the hinge joint. The holder has a first case, a second case coupled with the first case, and at least two gripper arms coupled with the first case so that the gripper arms configured to hold the portable device on the first case. The first case and the gripper arms are swivel together on the second case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: HSM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Young Kyu Yeo