Distinct Patents (Class 138/116)
  • Patent number: 6246820
    Abstract: In a device for placing a structural element in a cable installation conduit in order to sub-divide it, the structural element has a width close to the size of the internal perimeter of the conduit and comprises a plate surmounted by ribs. The device comprises a hot air inlet designed to soften the plate of the structural element; an external cylinder whose diameter is identical to that of the conduit, the cylinder comprising a shaping cone at one end in order to enable the softened structural element in order to gradually take a cylindrical shape; and an internal core fixedly held at a position located in the shaping cone of the external cylinder and positioned inside the softened structural element in order to give it a constant internal diameter when it is being shaped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: France Telecom
    Inventors: Joel Le Cam, Jean-Luc Campion, Pierre Mignon
  • Patent number: 6082781
    Abstract: A pipe connector for connecting at least three pipelines has a main pipe that is continuous in a direction of flow of water. A connection piece branches off from the main pipe, and an inner pipe follows both the main pipe and the connection piece. The inner pipe bears against the inner wall of main pipe and the connection piece such that the inner pipe is positioned on the extreme right portion or on the extreme left portion of the main pipe and the connection piece, with regard to the direction of the flow of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Hage Fittings GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Herbert Spiegel, Robert Boehm
  • Patent number: 6062266
    Abstract: A tube element, especially for the exhaust systems and exhaust gas recirculation systems of combustion engines in vehicles. The element has a single- or multi-ply tube element made of metal which is provided with cylindrical end fittings and at least two annularly corrugated bellows and a connecting pipe forming a single element, with the pipe corresponding with the bellows in diameter as well as in wall thickness, and with the inside diameter of the connecting pipe corresponding substantially with the free inside diameter of the adjacent bellows. The element has a concentric reinforcing pipe at an external radial distance to the connecting pipe, with the ends of the reinforcing pipe, whose inside diameter corresponds with the outside diameter of the bellows, being connected with the radial outward crests of the first corrugations of the bellows following the connecting pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Witzenmann GmbH Metallschlauch-Fabrik Pforzheim
    Inventor: Carlo Burkhardt
  • Patent number: 6032699
    Abstract: A secondary containment system for containing fuel leaks or leaks of other environmentally hazardous fluids includes a containment chamber and a detection system for detecting leaks. The containment system includes a fluid-carrying inner pipe and a containment pipe surrounding the inner pipe with an interstitial space being defined between the two pipes for containment of leaks. The interstitial space is pressurized with an inert fluid at a constant pressure greater than the pressure of the fluid flowing through the inner fluid-carrying pipe. Monitoring of the pressure of the inert fluid in the interstitial space triggers an alarm indicating that a leak has occurred. The location of the leak can be determined by the use of multiple pressure sensors. The containment pipe is reenforced to withstand pressures of at least 75 psi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Furon Company
    Inventors: William S. Cochran, John Ashley Graeber
  • Patent number: 5996633
    Abstract: Heat-exchanging conduit tubes for a laminated heat exchanger made of aluminum material containing aluminum alloy having a brazing material claded and formed by folding one plate or overlaying two plates and brazing to connect edge joints of the folded plate or the overlaid plates, wherein the folded plate or the overlaid plates have projections protruded from one or both faces of the opposed plates toward the other plate, the projections are joined in contact with a flat face of the other plate or the projections of the other plate, and the edge joints of the folded plate or the overlaid plates are joined, and the height of the edge joint of the each plate is smaller than those of the projections. Thus, the heat-exchanging conduit tubes can be securely brazed to provide flat tubes having a satisfactory pressure resistance, and a method for producing them can be attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Zexel Corporation
    Inventor: Soichi Kato
  • Patent number: 5918640
    Abstract: A twin tube air brake hose for delivering compressed air to brakes on a vehicle such as a truck includes a first tube which serves as a service tube and a second tube which serves as an emergency tube. The first tube and second tube have an inner layer surrounded by a reinforcing layer which is in turn surrounded by an outer rubber layer. The outer rubber layers of each tube are joined by a web which is unitary with the outer layers. Adjacent opposite ends of the twin tube brake hose, the tubes are separated to form free end portions, each of which have a metal fitting. Reinforcing bands are fitted around the twin tube air brake hose just inboard the tail ends to prevent the web from splitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventor: Eric D. Orcutt
  • Patent number: 5891111
    Abstract: The invention relates to a surgical drain (1) comprising a plurality of individual ducts (2-7) juxtaposed and joined in pairs.According to the invention this drain is in the form of a tube whose wall is composed of said individual juxtaposed ducts (2-7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Porges
    Inventor: Bernard Ismael
  • Patent number: 5887625
    Abstract: A flat pipe includes a hollow body having a pair of upper and lower walls extending substantially parallel to each other, and opposite lateral sides joined thereto, and a plurality of spacers closely fit between the upper and lower walls of the body and interconnected by a permeable sheet. The spacers are arranged at equal intervals to define a plurality of parallel fluid passages. The spacers are fused to opposite sides of the sheet in alternating relationship so that the sheet is inclined between adjacent spacers. The spacers are resistant to compression and deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Inventor: Kei Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5881803
    Abstract: A heat exchanger comprises a pair of spaced fittings each having a first opening on one side thereof for communication with a fluid carrying conduit. The fittings are connected to one another by at least one pair of tubes extending from second sides of the fittings in fluid communication with the first openings. The tubes diverge away from one another as they extend from the fittings and may be provided with heat dissipating fins. The tubes are preferably semi-circular in cross-section and in one form of the heat exchanger the tube ends are received by round openings in the fitting. By this construction, the use of header tanks and their associated disadvantages is avoided and a heat exchanger is provided which can withstand high internal pressures and is readily manufactured in a cost effective manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: THMX Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Johnny Jiayan Liu, Gary Johnson
  • Patent number: 5765598
    Abstract: An improved pipe construction is disclosed having an inner and outer surface, intermediate walls extending between the inner and outer surfaces, and a plurality of primary and secondary internal cells. There are twice as many secondary internal cells as there are primary internal cells. Each of the primary internal cells is of a circular cross-section, while each of the secondary internal cells is of a three-sided cross-section. The primary and secondary cells are wound about the central longitudinal axis of the pipe. A method of forming the pipe of this structure is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James B. Goddard, Lester H. Gabriel
  • Patent number: 5507319
    Abstract: The section of a main pipe wall made of synthetic resin material is formed to be substantially triangular and one inclined wall approaches the other inclined wall while the inclined wall goes over a center line passing through a top of both the inclined walls forming the main pipe wall and the approaching posture is capable of being maintained by itself. A second pipe wall, the wall thickness of which is smaller than that of the main pipe wall, is integrally connected with the inside of the pipe main wall, the section of the second pipe wall is substantially triangular, a bottom of the second pipe wall and predetermined portions of both the inclined walls at the bottom side adhere to a bottom of the main pipe wall and both the inclined walls, and a small space is formed between a top of the second pipe wall and the top of the main pipe wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Inventor: Shiro Kanao
  • Patent number: 5305797
    Abstract: A conduit tube is arranged to include intersecting partition walls dividing the associated conduit tube into four compartments to permit transport and positioning of cable within each compartment in a discrete relationship. The first and second ends of the conduit tube include locking blades, with each locking blade arranged for reception within an associated slot of a second tube member to secure a plurality of the conduit tubes together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Inventor: John D. Roy, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5302107
    Abstract: An elongate flexible vacuum tube including an inner porous liner of intertwined flexible fibers of nylon or the like connectable between a vacuum source and the interior of a flexible vacuum bag covering a part formed of uncured thermosetting resin, or of superposed sections or laminae with thermosetting adhesive therebetween, under an overlying porous breather pad of intertwined fibers. An end of the liner can be positioned in intimate contact with the breather pad to form a vacuum path therewith so that a vacuum can be pulled on the part from a vacuum source, through the porous liner and breather pad, while it is being cured in an autoclave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: Airtech International Inc.
    Inventor: William R. Dahlgren
  • Patent number: 5281053
    Abstract: An underground tubular structural system capable of having a very large cross section, for the construction of urban or rural conduits, underground passages and other civil engineering installations. At least two conduits (S1) (S2), namely, a high conduit (S2) and a low conduit (S1), are superposed and at least the high conduit (S2) is formed in cross section by at least two prefabricated elements, namely a lower element (4) (6) in the shape of an inverted U capping the low conduit (S1) and bearing along two lateral sides (14) of the latter and an upper covering element (2') (5) capping the lower element (4) (6) of the high conduit and closing the section (S2) towards the top. One or more supplementary conduits can easily be added to an already existing conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Inventor: Marcel Matiere
  • Patent number: 5092710
    Abstract: An underground tubular structural system capable of having a very large cross section, for the construction of urban or rural conduits, underground passages and other civil engineering installations. At least two conduits (S1) (S2), namely a high conduit (S2) and a low conduit (S1), are superposed and at least the high conduit is formed in cross section by at least two prefabricated elements, namely a lower element (4) (6) in the shape of an inverted U capping the low conduit (S1) and bearing along two lateral sides (14) of the latter and an upper covering element (2') (5) capping the lower element (4) (6) of the high conduit and closing the section (S2) towards the top. One or more supplementary conduits can easily be added to an already existing conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Inventor: Marcel Matiere
  • Patent number: 4900048
    Abstract: A bicycle frame made essentially entirely of an integrally bonded composite structure throughout its main structural tubular members and at the joints securing these tubular members to each other. The tubular members, which have round and aero cross sections, and the joints are laid up using layers and strips of high strength resin-impregnated unidirectional carbon fiber fabric. A non-compressible filler material is added at the joints to support the carbon fiber fabric so that its outer surfaces are all non-concave wherever possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Inventor: Gleb Derujinsky
  • Patent number: 4879852
    Abstract: An apparatus is described that has been created to maintain a constant level of saturation of water near the foundation of houses, buildings, or the like. The maintenance of such a level of moisture is essential to the structural integrity of foundations especially in those geographic locations where the level of soil moisture varies significantly from season to season. Soil, when it absorbs water, expands. This soil can exert tremendous pressure on the foundation of a house. To prevent cracking of foundations, and thus, to prevent the need for costly repairs, the apparatus described herein provides sufficient moisture to the soil surrounding the foundation of a house such that additional moisture (i.e. rain) does not cause the soil to expand dramatically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1989
    Inventor: Kenneth C. Tripp
  • Patent number: 4715443
    Abstract: A coiled baffle system, primarily for conducting well treating operations, is disclosed. The baffle system preferably comprises a baffle which is inserted into a tubing within a well bore to segment the tubing into a high pressure conduit and a low pressure conduit. The baffle system of the present invention may also be provided with electrical conductors for attachment to a variety of subsurface tools or sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1987
    Assignee: Exxon Production Research Company
    Inventor: John L. Gidley
  • Patent number: 4682456
    Abstract: An improved cellular flooring service distribution system is disclosed comprising a cellular flooring unit in which a dividing means provides a plurality of open parallel conduits in a single valley of a corrugated sheet, an overlying trench providing a plurality of transversely oriented parallel passageways which have access to said conduits and an isolating means to selectively isolate at least one conduit and passageway from the remaining conduits and passageways. Cover means and access housings are also provided. Since the above components do not require any special fabrication, they can be efficiently and cheaply mass produced, preferably from sheet metal. Service lines may be placed in open conduits and passageways prior to covering to eliminate the need for feeding the lines through enclosed cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignee: Cyclops Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas W. Hartman, Thomas G. Ryan
  • Patent number: 4593506
    Abstract: An improved cellular flooring service distribution system is disclosed comprising a cellular flooring unit in which a dividing means provides a plurality of open parallel conduits in a single valley of a corrugated sheet, an overlying trench providing a plurality of transversely oriented parallel passageways which have access to said conduits and an isolating means to selectively isolate at least one conduit and passageway from the remaining conduits and passageways. Cover means and access housings are also provided. Since the above components do not require any special fabrication, they can be efficiently and cheaply mass produced, preferably from sheet metal. Service lines may be placed in open conduits and passageways prior to covering to eliminate the need for feeding the lines through enclosed cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1986
    Assignee: Cyclops Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas W. Hartman, Thomas G. Ryan
  • Patent number: 4513601
    Abstract: The forming punch (18) comprises two planar surfaces (20, 22) interconnected by an edge (23), two portions of a cylinder which passes through the edge (23) and a curved surface centered on this edge. This punch (18) is inserted in the tube to the point of the tube to be deformed and then the tube is compressed between a V-shaped groove (34) in a die (36) and a curved groove (40) in a compression member (38). The punch (18) is thereafter withdrawn from the tube by axially sliding the punch out of the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1985
    Assignee: Cycles Peugeot
    Inventor: Alain Herbulot
  • Patent number: 4420016
    Abstract: A spine for flexible aquarium air hoses includes a plurality of rib members, each having at least three radially disposed ribs, and each adjacent pair of rib members are connected at the centers by a substantially flexible connecting member. The spine is inserted inside the flexible hose at areas where the hose is to be bent, thereby preventing kinking of the hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1983
    Inventor: Ralph A. Nichols
  • Patent number: 4337814
    Abstract: Tires are typically inflated through an air conduit mounted on the tire carcass and extending through a hole in the metal rim on which the tire is mounted. Now and then relative slipping between the tire and rim has caused the air conduit to be sheared off, deflating the tire. The present invention overcomes this problem by moving the air conduit (26, 33, 37) completely away from the rim. The air conduit (26, 33, 37) extends from the air chamber (12) through the track wall (10) to the side wall (8) of the carcass (7) and terminates in an air valve receptacle (27) accessible at the side wall (8) of the carcass (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1982
    Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co.
    Inventor: Charles E. Grawey
  • Patent number: 4324028
    Abstract: A low-cost method of fabricating a solar absorber panel for use with a flat plate solar collector system is disclosed in which a plurality of formed elongated substantially U-shaped members are fixed in a predetermined configuration to the reverse side of a single sheet absorber member forming therewith hollow fluid passages or ducts. The fluid duct members are provided with a series of tabs which alternately protrude through spaced slits in the absorber panel such that when the tabs are folded over, a tight interlocking construction is produced. The ends of the single sheet absorber may then be folded to form inlet and outlet manifolds connecting the ends of the series of spaced ducts including closing end tabs or the manifolds may be fabricated of U-shaped tabbed members in the manner of the connecting passages. After the mechanical assembly, the entire unit is sealed as by pumping liquid solder under pressure through the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1982
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventor: Asbjorn M. Severson
  • Patent number: 4302151
    Abstract: A draft tube for a reaction turbine is formed of two gutter-shaped members of semi-circular transverse cross-section which are secured along their edges to a dividing plate. Flat guide plates are secured in the gutters to permit flattening the stream of water during its passage through the curved part of the draft tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1981
    Assignee: Ateliers des Chamilles S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Piguet, Andre Culaud
  • Patent number: 4286630
    Abstract: Surface ducting comprising a body portion and a removeable lid, the body portion having a base, first longitudinal channels defined by longitudinally extending ribs which are upstanding from the base, and a pair of second longitudinal channels which are arranged one on each side of the first channels and which are each defined by a side wall of the body portion which is upstanding from the base and one of the ribs, the first and second longitudinal channels being of the same height, the first channels being for receiving elongate members, the second channels being narrower than the first channels and being for receiving fixing means, and the lid having integrally formed retainer means for clipping in the second channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1981
    Assignee: Happer Systems Limited
    Inventor: George T. Happer
  • Patent number: 4269231
    Abstract: Ducting for installing below a surface, which ducting comprises a body portion and a lid, the body portion having a first longitudinal channel, a pair of second longitudinal channels arranged one on each side of the first channel, and at least two separate channel insert members which are a removable fit in the first channel and which are for receiving elongate members, the lid having retainer means for clipping in the second channels, each channel insert member having base and side walls, and the channel insert members occupying substantially the entire cross-sectional area of the first channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1981
    Assignee: Happer Systems Limited
    Inventor: George T. Happer
  • Patent number: 4218607
    Abstract: An animal watering apparatus has an exterior housing with a water pipe disposed therein leading from a below ground source of water under pressure to an above ground outlet valve mechanism which can be actuated by an animal to release water directly into the animal's mouth. A longitudinally extending electric heating element disposed within the housing in immediate heat exchange relationship with one side of the water pipe continually supplies heat to the pipe to prevent freezing of the water therein. Thermal insulation surrounds the heating element and pipe. A circuitous passageway, provided within the heated portion of the pipe by means of an open-ended tubular member disposed therein, causes continuous water circulation in the pipe for preventing build-up of heat at the water outlet valve of the watering device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1980
    Inventor: Wayne B. Noland
  • Patent number: 4134605
    Abstract: An arrangement for connecting an attachment to a vacuum cleaning device includes two connecting sleeves, one on the attachment and the other on the device. One of the connecting sleeves has an inner and an outer portion which together bound a groove in which a projecting portion of the other connecting sleeve is received in the assembled condition. The shapes of such portions are identical but the dimensions thereof are proportionately different. Each of the portions includes a part-cylindrical circumferential zone and a polygonal zone gradually merging with the part-circular zone and complementing the same into the respective circumferentially complete portion. The other connecting sleeve may have a transverse wall at the polygonal zone, which abuts against a corresponding transverse region of the one connecting sleeve, and a seal may be sandwiched therebetween in the assembled condition. Another seal may be accommodated in the groove in the assembled condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1979
    Assignee: Vorwerk & Co. Interholding GmbH
    Inventors: Wieland Guhne, Paul Lienenluke
  • Patent number: 4120347
    Abstract: A two-passage conductor, especially for conveying air in air conditioning installations, which includes a pipe having a flexible air impermeable diaphragm fastened to the pipe along diametrically oppositely located longitudinally extending sections of the pipe which are located substantially in the central longitudinal plane of the pipe, whereby the pipe is subdivided into two passages arranged alongside each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1978
    Inventor: Imre Molnar
  • Patent number: 4091261
    Abstract: An animal watering apparatus of a type having an inlet pipe connected to a source of water under pressure and an outlet valve which can be actuated by an animal to release water directly into the animal's mouth. A tubular casing is disposed around the water supply pipe. A conduit is disposed along side the water supply pipe within the casing and has a heating element therein for preventing the freezing of the watering apparatus. Still another conduit is disposed within the casing for allowing a power supply cord to be connected to the heating element. The casing being filled with an insulation material such a urethane foam. A baffle structure is provided in the water supply line for causing the water within the water supply line to continually circulate and thereby prevent a buildup of heat in the water which the animals are drinking and furthermore distributing the heat from the heating element along the entire water supply pipe so as to insure that it does not freeze.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1978
    Inventor: Wayne B. Noland
  • Patent number: 3934617
    Abstract: A jacketed pipe assembly of inner and outer tubular members having respective inner and outer corrugated metal tubes arranged in spaced relationship to define therebetween a fluid-circulating chamber adapted for the circulation therethrough of a temperature controlling fluid for aiding in the flow of a processing fluid through the inner tubular member. Coupling sleeves are connected by continuous welds to opposite ends of the inner corrugated tube, and means are connected to the outer ends of the outer corrugated tube and to the respective coupling sleeves to define therebetween respective opposite ends of the fluid-circulating chamber. The continuous connecting welds are surrounded by the fluid-circulating chamber, but are isolated therefrom by being enclosed within respective enclosures which are vented exteriorly of the pipe assembly so that cross-contamination between the inner corrugated tube and the surrounding fluid-circulating chamber will be prevented in the event of rupture of the continuous welds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1974
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1976
    Assignee: Controls Southeast, Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Henderson
  • Patent number: 3934618
    Abstract: A jacketed pipe assembly of inner and outer tubular members including respective inner and outer corrugated metal tubes arranged in spaced relationship to define therebetween a fluid-circulating chamber adapted for the circulation therethrough of a temperature controlling fluid for aiding in the flow of a processing fluid through the inner tubular member. Means including connecting welds are provided for interconnecting respective opposite ends of the inner and outer tubular members in such a manner as to define opposite end walls of the fluid-circulating chamber and to insure that cross-contamination between the inner corrugated tube and the surrounding fluid-circulating chamber will be prevented in the event of rupture of the connecting welds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1974
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1976
    Assignee: Controls Southeast, Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Henderson