Operating Means Patents (Class 292/25)
  • Patent number: 11814194
    Abstract: A satellite dispenser is disclosed. In various embodiments, a satellite dispenser as disclosed herein includes a dispenser body defining an interior cavity configured to receive a payload; and a composite guide rail comprising a groove configured to receive at least a portion of a payload, the composite guide rail having an orientation that substantially aligns a longitudinal axis of the groove with an ejection axis of the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Rocket Lab USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Beck, Peter Barlow, David Yoon, Ben Malcolm
  • Patent number: 11719023
    Abstract: A lower lock device includes a base being fixed to a slide door, a first hook and a second hook each including a base end portion being rotatably supported by the base, and a driving link that is rotatably supported by the base, and drives the first hook and the second hook. The first hook and the second hook rotate between an engaged position of sandwiching a lower striker by tip portions being close to each other and a retracted position in which the tip portions are separated from each other. The driving link is displaced between a first position in which the first hook and the second hook are disposed in the engaged position and a second position in which the first hook and the second hook are disposed in the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshitsugu Oda, Shinsuke Takayanagi, Masayuki Uchitsunemi
  • Patent number: 11384564
    Abstract: A safety switch (2) with a latching unit (12), by means of which an associated actuator (3) is held in a latched position. The latching unit (12) has an arrangement of latching jaws (14). Each latching jaw (14) is spring-mounted by means of a spring unit (15). The latching jaws (14) are concentrically arranged and each face one another with a first free end and delimit an insertion opening (A). The latching jaws (14) are held in latched position by the spring forces generated by the spring units (15). The latching jaws (14) can be displaced against the spring forces of the spring unit (15), which serves to enlarge the insertion opening (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Euchner GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Ilo Grimm
  • Patent number: 10589608
    Abstract: If a roof member 12 of a vehicle retractable roof 11 is made of aluminum, a roof side stopper 65 is fixed to a reinforcing plate 50 together with a roof bracket 55, a contact surface 65 coming into contact with a vehicle side stopper 60 is disposed at a position except for a sealing surface 67 provided on the roof member 12. Then, the deformation of the roof member 12 can be reduced, the interference with the sealing surface can be avoided, and the weight of the roof side stopper 65 can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: WEBASTO JAPAN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Syuji Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9765555
    Abstract: A latch assembly for a vehicle hood includes a hood mount securable to the hood. First and second recesses are formed in the hood mount. The latch assembly includes a cab mount assembly having a mounting bracket, a link, and a handle. The mounting bracket is securable to the cab, and the link has a first end rotatably coupled to the mounting bracket. The handle has a first end rotatably coupled to a second end of the link about a first axis. The handle further includes a trunnion extending laterally from each of two sides of the handle to define a second axis. As the latch assembly moves from an unlatched position to a latched position, each of the trunnions engages one of the first and second recesses in the hood mount so that the handle rotates relative to the hood mount about the second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: PACCAR INC
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Evans, Wallace A. Peltola, Jonathan Duncan
  • Patent number: 9308804
    Abstract: A method of attaching functional components to a roof element of a vehicle is provided. The method including the steps of: applying a curable material in a low-viscosity state which is molded in sections by a first mold surface, wherein a second mold surface is used for further shaping sections of the curable material, and wherein an opening remains accessible towards an environment through which the curable material is introduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: ROOF SYSTEMS GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Joachim Roeder, Stefan Vogel, Martin Niscack, Pavol Hurban, Andre Schaper, Andreas Kunze, Charles Wassen
  • Patent number: 9255429
    Abstract: A 2-step guide hood latch apparatus for a vehicle is provided, which by removing a conventional safety lever, a driver can open a hood merely with two times of manipulation of a release handle indoors without going out of the vehicle, thereby solving the conventional inconvenience of having to put the hand into the hood and manipulate the safety lever. To this end, the 2-step guide hood latch apparatus includes a pawl rotatably mounted on a base plate, a claw rotatably mounted on the base plate in such a way to be held with the pawl, and a guide lever, an end portion of which is hinge-coupled to the pawl by a hinge structure, and a center portion and the other end portion of which are coupled to the claw to induce 1-step lock and 2-step lock states of the claw, in which a hood is opened merely with manipulation of a release lever inside a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sang Il Kim, Chang Gi Ha, C H Jung
  • Publication number: 20140077675
    Abstract: A two-way lock mechanism is disclosed in the present invention. The two-way lock mechanism includes a gear, a first sub-gear, a second sub-gear, a third sub-gear, a fourth sub-gear, a first hook, a second hook and a latch. The latch moves a first distance along a first direction to simultaneously rotate the gear, so as to respectively rotate the second sub-gear and the third sub-gear relative to racks on the first hook and the second hook, and to separate the first hook and the second hook from corresponding fixing portions. The latch further moves a second distance along a second direction opposite to the first direction for simultaneously rotating the gear, so as to respectively rotate the first sub-gear and the fourth sub-gear relative to the racks on the first hook and the second hook, and to separate the first hook and the second hook from the corresponding fixing portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Jyun-Shuo Liang, Hung-Li Chen
  • Publication number: 20140021839
    Abstract: A fixing element, a cover device and a multifunction printer are provided. The multifunction printer includes a machine body, the cover device and the fixing element. The cover device is disposed on the machine body and includes a first cover, a second cover and a third cover, wherein the second cover is between the first cover and the third cover. The fixing element passes through and is fixed on the second cover. The first cover and the second cover open relative to the third cover when the fixing element locks the first cover and the second cover, and the first cover opens relative to the second cover and the third cover when the fixing element locks the second cover and the third cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicants: Cal-Comp Electronics & Communications Company Limited, KINPO ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Chang-Kai Hsiung
  • Patent number: 7775563
    Abstract: The two-point mortise latch of the present invention includes, a central actuator having teeth that are meshed with the teeth of a gear wheel, wherein the gear wheel and the central actuator are pivotally connected to at least one hook, via the hook arm. Wherein the top and bottom surfaces of the hooks have guide protrusions that are set in a guide their respective guide areas. The hooks are designed to contact the bottom interior surface of the keeper housing when latched. The central actuator and gear are meshed together via teeth. In addition, the central actuator and gear wheel are biased with springs so as to facilitate opening and closing of the door latch. The components of the present invention are retained inside of the housing, which is set inside the lock stile of a door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Vision Industries Group
    Inventors: Luke Liang, Toni Liang, David Chen
  • Publication number: 20090267356
    Abstract: What has been developed is a keyless door lock that prevents young children from opening doors their parents or caretakers do not wish them to open. The lock is a bolting mechanism type lock or a latching type lock having no keyed lock access side to it, but rather, a means for locking and unlocking the lock, such as a knob, on one or both sides of the door that when turned, unlocks the door. The lock is positioned within the door at a height that is unreachable by small children. The lock is useful for locking doors internal to the home (e.g., doors to medicine closets, cleaning supply closets, garage doors, doors at the top of stairs) as well as doors that provide access to the exterior of the home and therefore access to leave the premises of the home without supervision. Adults and older children, however, are never locked in or out of the room or house as no key is required for operating the lock, merely the turning of a knob.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventor: Robert W. VanHellemont
  • Patent number: 7578531
    Abstract: A lock is described for sliding aluminium door or window panels, wherein are used discrete hooking and locking mechanisms. The hooking mechanism comprises an oblong hook profile (21) which rotates automatically in a hooking or unhooking position into a vertically extending frame profile (1) which bears a respective recession shaping, as the sliding door/window panel is simply pulled in the opening or shutting direction, respectively. The locking mechanism operates so that, when being controlled by the user, it is set in a position for capturing the hooking mechanism in the hooking position, by capturing the immobilisation arm of the above mentioned, otherwise freely and automatically rotating, oblong hook profile (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Inventor: Athanasios Leontaridis
  • Patent number: 7559584
    Abstract: A dual-hook locking assembly mounted in a casing subassembly is actuated from outside of the latter by a handle which causes a locking subassembly to operate between an unlocked and a locked position. By rotating the driving handle, a gearing subassembly including a pair of meshed segmental gears drives the locking subassembly between the aforementioned positions. The gearing subassembly and the locking subassembly are directly interconnected. An adjusting subassembly is used for positioning the locking subassembly with respect to a strike plate of a door. The adjusting subassembly comprises several guiding plates. The latter and the gearing subassembly have a common center of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Vanguard Plastics Ltd.
    Inventors: Jacob Rebel, Kai Zhang, Hong Chen
  • Publication number: 20080258475
    Abstract: A two point lock includes two pivotally mounted security hooks having sliding faces that engage sliding faces of a spring-loaded mishandling pin when the mishandling pin is vertically extended and the security hooks are rotatably retracted. The mishandling pin is vertically retracted when it abuts a jamb. When the mishandling pin is vertically retracted, the sliding faces disengage so that the security hooks can rotate to lock onto a striker on the jamb. Thus, the mishandling pin prevents the security hooks from being slammed into the striker before a door or a window is fully closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: UNION TOOL EXPORTERS, LTD.
    Inventors: Stanley Chung, Brian Bourgoin, Jeffrey M. Briggs, Paul DeMarseilles
  • Patent number: 7267377
    Abstract: A latch assembly for a movable closure element. The latch assembly has a housing, a first rotor movable relative to the housing selectively between a) a first latched position and b) a release position, and a second rotor movable relative to the housing selectively between a) a first latched position and b) a release position. The first rotor has a first throat to receive a strike element. The latch assembly further has an operating assembly with a latched state and an unlatched state. The operating assembly in the latched state releasably maintains the first rotor in its first latched position and the second rotor in its first latched position. The first rotor is movable substantially parallel to a reference plane as the first rotor moves between its first latched and release positions. The first rotor has a non-uniform thickness taken orthogonally to the reference plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Tri/Mark Corporation
    Inventors: Ricci L. Marzolf, Joe Daniel Knight, Bruce E. Kallevig, Bruce E. Frohman
  • Patent number: 7204526
    Abstract: A hood latch assembly includes a safety lever that is operative in conjunction with the movement of a latch plate so as to ensure a sufficient space between the safety lever and a hood. Namely, the safety lever is arranged in a folded condition when the latch plate constrains a striker of a hood, i.e. the hood is securely closed by the latch assembly. The safety lever is tilted up into an upright position only when the striker becomes freed from the constraint of the latch plate. Such an arrangement of the hood latch assembly provides a sufficient space between the safety lever and the hood to reduce any impact on a human body when a pedestrian collides with a hood of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Chang Su Seo
  • Patent number: 7178839
    Abstract: A latch assembly connected to a lock face of a sliding door includes two hooks which are connected to two activation plates respectively. Two rotation gears each have teeth engaged with the activation plates which are moved to pivot the two hooks when the two gears are rotated. A safety member is biased by a spring and includes a contact pin which movably extends through the lock face on the sliding door so that the safety member is pushed when the contact pin is pushed by a fixed door when the sliding door is in close position. The safety member further has an engaging pin which is removably engaged with the recess of the activation plate so that when the sliding door is in open position, the activation plate cannot be moved and the hooks are remained in the sliding door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Imperial USA, Ltd.
    Inventor: Miao-Hsueh Tsai
  • Patent number: 7036851
    Abstract: A latch system for securing a sliding window to a fixed member, the latch assembly including a latch housing, a catch housing, and a latch assembly. The latch assembly includes first and second latch arms and an actuator. The latch arms are pivotally secured to the latch housing and include first, actuated ends that are disposed within the latch housing and second, latching ends that are disposed outside of the latch housing and received by the catch housing. The actuator is slidably secured to the latch housing and operable to engage the latch arms' actuated ends so as to pivot the latching ends out of engagement with the catch housing and thereby permit the latch housing and the window associated therewith to move relative to the fixed member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Joel Andrew Romig
  • Patent number: 6923478
    Abstract: A lock, especially for motor vehicles, for securing a movable part, such as a pivoting flap, in position with respect to a stationary part, such as a housing, includes two rotary latches at a certain distance apart, wherein two closing pieces engage in the rotary latches when the latches are in the closed position. The locking elements are connected to a shaft and are rotatable synchronously with the shaft. At least certain sections of the shaft have torsional rigidity in the rotational direction, but flexibility in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Huf Hülsbeck & Fürst GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Armin Geurden
  • Patent number: 6729661
    Abstract: A locking device is provided for locking two structural parts that are moveable relative to each other. A latch hook is disposed in a reference plane and is adapted to swivel on a joint with an axis center. An actuating element is provided for swivelling the latch hook about a latch hook axis. A rocking lever interacts with the actuating element for rotation about a rocking lever axis. The lever is connected with a first end of a steering arm via a first rotary joint. A second end of the steering arm is connected with the latch hook via a second rotary joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Juan Perez-Sanchez
  • Publication number: 20040026931
    Abstract: A lock, especially for motor vehicles, for securing a movable part, such as a pivoting flap, in position with respect to a stationary part, such as a housing, includes two rotary latches at a certain distance apart, wherein two closing pieces engage in the rotary latches when the latches are in the closed position. The locking elements are connected to a shaft and are rotatable synchronously with the shaft. At least certain sections of the shaft have torsional rigidity in the rotational direction, but flexibility in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventor: Armin Geurden
  • Patent number: 6672632
    Abstract: The device comprises a housing encasing a pair of upper and lower hooks, for counter-rotational movements; a pair of upper and lower adjusting assemblies, vertically spaced in parallel with the pair of upper and lower hooks for positioning the latter within the housing; an actuating assembly including a double-armed pivot having a cylindrical body and a pair of radially extending arms, disposed between the pair of upper and lower hooks; and a pair of upper and lower connecting links, mounted between the double-armed pivot and the pair of upper and lower hooks. Upper and lower connecting links are different, to accommodate the cylindrical body, in all the positions of the hooks. The upper connecting link can partially wrap around, the cylindrical body. The lower connecting link can partially wrap around, the cylindrical body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventors: Daryl F. Speed, Christopher D. Isfeld, Mark Rees-Howlett, Brent A. Foster
  • Publication number: 20030164614
    Abstract: The invention provides for an electromagnetic lock (10) for a door. The lock (10) includes a backing plate (12) which is connectable to a door frame, an electromagnet (14), a housing (30) for the electromagnet, and an armature plate (16) connectable to a door (32) which is displaceable relative to the housing (30) between a closed condition in which it engages the housing and an open condition in which it is spaced from the housing. The lock (10) also includes two locking arms (18) which are movable between an operative position in which they engage the armature plate (16) and the backing plate (12) to capture the armature plate in the closed condition and an inoperative position in which they allow the armature plate to disengage the housing (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventor: Derek Fly
  • Patent number: 6578885
    Abstract: A remotely operated bull rope release comprises a support, a releasable member having a spherical head and a remotely controlled release mechanism for releasing the end of the releasable member for separation from the support. The release mechanism includes a pair of gripping members pivotally mounted on the support on laterally opposite sides of the spherical head for displacement toward and away from the head and having spherical surfaces for capturing the head therebetween to hold the releasable member on the support. A latched, spring biased drive shaft is actuated to displace the gripping members in response to a control signal to release the head and to propel the releasable member away from the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Inventor: Jerry R. Tillman
  • Patent number: 6540433
    Abstract: A fastening member is either retentively engaging or contacting a one piece member, and includes a biasing slot therein. A screw extends through the biasing slot and engages at least one biasing member on one side of the slot. The screw extends into the other piece, and rotation of the screw draws the first piece and the second piece together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventor: Stephan A. Cummings
  • Patent number: 6508494
    Abstract: A locking arrangement for a switchgear cabinet, having a lock and two locking bars, wherein the locking bars are displaced in opposite directions to each other when the lock is operated. A dependably operating locking arrangement can be produced if in end areas facing away from the lock, the locking bars are hingedly coupled to respective lever arms of a locking lever. The locking lever has a second lever arm which is coupled to the first lever arm in the area of a pivot hinge and has an inclined pad. The pivot axis of the pivot hinge is arranged at a distance with respect to a push direction of the associated locking bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Rittal-Werk Rudolf Loh GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Reuter, Rolf Benner, Michael Scholl
  • Patent number: 6336667
    Abstract: A compact, lightweight latch (38) especially adapted for use with an emergency deployment oxygen mask container (20) is provided which is made up of a minimum of parts and which can be delatched in multiple ways. The latch (38) includes a latch assembly (40) designed to be mounted in the oxygen mask container box (22) and a cooperating latch pin (44) secured to a cover (24). The assembly (40) has a primary latch body (46) supporting a diaphragm (48), latch member (50) and shiftable piston (52); the latch member (50) includes a plurality of laterally displaceable, hook-shaped locking legs (86) configured to interfit with latch pin (44). The piston (52) is shiftable in opposite axial directions within latch member (52), and cooperating surfaces on the member (50) and piston (52) serve to positively displace the latching legs (86) in response to piston movement. During pneumatic operation, the piston (52) is shifted within latch member (50) under the influence of diaphragm (48).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Ford, Gary Hannah, Sebastien A. Ramus, Sara G. Weinstein
  • Patent number: 6312045
    Abstract: A vehicle body side structure is provided to prevent deformation of a structural member due to deformation of a door during a side collision. The vehicle body structure reduces the possibility that the structural member contacts an occupant and obtains an excellent impact absorption effect when the door contacts the occupant. The vehicle body structure has a body side portion with the structural member, and a door coupled to the body side portion to open and close relative to the structural member. An energy absorption member is coupled to the door. A door engagement mechanism is coupled between the door and the side structural member. The door engagement mechanism is arranged to hold the door and the structural member together. A collision sensor generates a collision signal when a side collision is detected by the collision sensor. A door release mechanism is connected to the door engagement mechanism to release the door from the structural member in response to the collision signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuichi Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 5901992
    Abstract: An electromechanical locking mechanism for door leaves whose holding force can be adjusted continuously and which at the same time offers the possibility, when the locking mechanism is energized, of also releasing the closed door from and returning it to the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: DORMA GmbH+ Co. KG
    Inventor: Bernd Winkler
  • Patent number: 5642909
    Abstract: A latch system which includes a latch bar slidable up and down on an interior of an enclosure door. The latch system has a rack member mounted on the latch bar extending through an orifice in the door to engage an actuator on the exterior of the door. The latch bar has glides and retainer clips mounted to the latch bar for positioning the bar relative to the door. The door may include a gasket for sealing an enclosure, with the latch bar mounting outside of the sealed area. Retainer fingers include a roller which engage a latch catch mounted to the enclosure frame. The finger members and the rack members are reversible for mounting in either direction so that the door may be reversed at any time. The latch catches are configured for receiving a finger member at either end for engagement of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Federal-Hoffman, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Swan, Robert Gerald Lau
  • Patent number: 5547234
    Abstract: A locking device for locking in closed position the openable top (1) of an open automobile, comprising connected to a frame rib (3) of the top framework (2) of the openable top: a twisting handle (4), locking hooks (5), and a transmission (6) by which said locking hooks are connected with each other and with one joint twisting handle (4) for transmitting the motion of said twisting handle to said locking hooks in order to bring them simultaneously into opening position, respectively into locking position, and a fixing lug (8) connected to the body (7) of the open automobile and disposed for engagement with a locking hook. The transmission (6) comprises an angle drive (10) placed on the foremost frame rib (3) of the top framework of the openable top, which is operated in a plane substantially parallelling the top, i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Valmet Automotive
    Inventor: Matti Kinnanen
  • Patent number: 5294157
    Abstract: A closure device for a lower opening of a coke drum pressure vessel is quick acting. The opening has an annular flange. An annular movable support encircles the pressure vessel above the flange. A stationary support secures to the flange below the movable support. A number of coil springs are evenly spaced around the stationary support between the stationary support and the movable support. Hydraulic cylinders between the movable and stationary support move the movable support axially relative to the stationary support. A head will abut the flange. Hooks mounted to the movable support will engage the head and pull the head tightly upward into engagement with the flange when the retracting cylinders are released. Pivotal cylinders will pivot the hooks between engaged and disengaged positions. The bias of the springs is independently adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignee: ABB Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Smith, Joseph Fruchtbaum
  • Patent number: 5290076
    Abstract: A closure device for a lower opening of a coke drum pressure vessel is quick acting. The opening has an annular flange. An annular movable support encircles the pressure vessel above the flange. A stationary support secures to the flange below the movable support. A number of coil springs are evenly spaced around the stationary support between the stationary support and the movable support. Hydraulic cylinders between the movable and stationary support move the movable support axially relative to the stationary support. A head will abut the flange. Hooks mounted to the movable support will engage the head and pull the head tightly upward into engagement with the flange when the retracting cylinders are released. Pivotal cylinders will pivot the hooks between engaged and disengaged positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: ABB Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Smith
  • Patent number: 5228825
    Abstract: There is disclosed a flange or pressure vessel closure device and method for deheading a coke drum. The coke drum deheading device has an annular retaining element spring biased from a lower flange of a coke drum, and a plurality of hooks which extend from the retaining element to engage a cradle holding the bottom head against the flange. When it is desired to disengage the head from the flange, the hook retaining element is moved by a first set of cylinders toward the flange to release tension from the hooks so that they can be disengaged from the bottom head by pivoting them outwardly using a second set of cylinders or other hook pivoting means. The bottom head can then be disengaged from the flange, lowered and moved laterally away from the coke drum on a hydraulic table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: The M. W. Kellogg Company
    Inventors: Joseph Fruchtbaum, Frederick B. Kronmiller
  • Patent number: 5062668
    Abstract: A safety door lock for a door of an electrical appliance includes a longitudinally displaceable detent bolt mounted in a door of an appliance, a door lock housing having an opening receiving the free end of the detent bolt, and a longitudinally displaceable switching slide that having a stub end adapted to engage with the free end of the detent bolt. After engagement, further longitudinal displacement of the detent bolt causes movement of the switching slide to its "on" position. A biasing mechanism urges the switching slide toward an "off" position in which a detent mechanism latches the detent bolt in a locking position upon insertion of the detent bolt in the door lock housing. The detent mechanism includes a releasable locking latch which clamps the switching slide in the "on" position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Assignee: Ellenberger & Poensgen GmbH
    Inventors: Oswald Onderka, Fritz Krasser
  • Patent number: 5004280
    Abstract: A power striker for door latch employed on the sliding side door of a van type vehicle includes a power driver rotary drive member which upon rotation through 180.degree. is operable to drive a slide member in linear movement between opposite end limits. A striker pin may be mounted directly on the slide or coupled by linkage to the slide to be located in a ready position when the slide is at one end limit and in an actuated position when the slide is at its other end limit. When in its ready position, the pin is latched to the closing door before the door reaches its fully closed position. The pin is then driven to its actuated position to power the door to its fully closed position against the resistive force exerted by the compressible door seal. The rotary to linear drive coupling develops a sinusoidally increasing door closing force during the final door closing movement and provides a positive retention of the striker pin in its ready and actuated positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Assignee: ITT Corporation
    Inventor: William W. Schap
  • Patent number: 4961600
    Abstract: A safety tank cover clamp 10 has first and second elongated claw members 24 and 25 pivotally attached to yoke member 11. Threaded cylindrical traveler member 17 is treadedly engaged with treaded throughhole 16 in yoke member 11. Upper end 18 of traveler member 17 has handle 20 pivotally attached thereto. Lower end 19 of traveler member 17 supports a pivotally mounted engagement foot 22 for engaging tank opening cover 3. Right and left springs 31 and 32 are each generally centrally attached to one of the elongated claw members. The second ends of right and left springs 31 and 32 are attached to pivotally mounted spring centering bracket 34 which itself is centrally and pivotally attached to yoke member 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1990
    Inventors: Dale E. Points, Timothy L. Everhart
  • Patent number: 4826224
    Abstract: A latch assembly for securing a microwave oven door comprising two latch pawls engaging latch hangers, a vertically reciprocable or movable member having an elongated hole, a rack and two spaced legs, a spring-biased pinion contacting with a push-button. The force applied by the spring bias facilitates closing and opening the door. Upon pushing a button which rotates the pinion counter-clockwise, thereby reciprocating the movable member having the rack upwardly to disengage the latch pawls from the latch hangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Assignee: Goldstar Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang L. Lee
  • Patent number: 4664431
    Abstract: For use with a container with a removable cover at the top opening, at least one pair of cover tightening members are pivotally linked with each other and are mounted to the cover so that they can be operated to tighten the cover to the container or release it from the container. Specifically, each of the tightening members has an internally threaded central bore through it for accommodating its operating member which is also threaded to engage the central bore. The tightening member further includes stationary or fixed pawls at both ends thereof that engage or disengage with the flanged lateral sides of the container. Thus, when the operating member advances through the central bore, the pawls are disengaged from the flanges to allow the cover to be removed from the container, and when operating members are retracted, the pawls are made to engage the flanges to tighten the cover to the container. In either case, one tightening member is operatively associated with the other by means of the pivotted links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1987
    Assignee: Tipton Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Hisamine Kobayashi, Katsuhiro Izuhara
  • Patent number: 4457146
    Abstract: A door lock for sliding doors of trucks, vans and the like includes an exterior handle assembly and an interior handle assembly for actuating components carried in an interior housing assembly. The components include a pair of rotary latch bolts projecting through openings formed in opposite sides of the housing assembly. A pair of strikes are carried on spaced portions of a vehicle wall at locations on opposite sides of a vehicle access opening which is controlled by the door. The door is movable between a latched-closed position wherein one of the latch bolts latchingly engages one of the strikes to hold the door closed, and a latched-open position wherein the other of the latch bolts latchingly engages the other of the strikes to hold the door open. A thumb-operated lock control slide is carried by the housing assembly and provides one means for locking and unlocking the lock from inside the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1984
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventor: Lee S. Weinerman
  • Patent number: 4238091
    Abstract: The locking mechanism of the cradle is associated with a safety catch articulated on a fixed support and capable of pivoting automatically against a return element in retracting beneath the floor of the vehicle, by the raising of the cradle with the help of the locking mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1980
    Assignee: Regie Nationale des Usines Renault
    Inventors: Philippe Clain, Christian Faye
  • Patent number: 3971580
    Abstract: In a transit vehicle having a row of hingedly suspended windows along each side thereof, an individually, manually releasable latch is mounted adjacent the lower end of each window. An inflatable latch actuating member is concealed within each latch, and when inflated moves the latch to unlatched condition. Conduit means interconnects a selected plurality of the inflatable latch actuating members and leads to a valve controlled by the vehicle operator, which valve, when actuated, admits pressurized fluid through the conduit means to inflate its selected plurality of inflatable members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1976
    Assignee: Rohr Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith W. Tantlinger, Theodor C. Schubach