52nd week of 2008 patent applcation highlights part 18 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20080315486 | SHEET FINISHER, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE SAME, AND SHEET FINISHING METHOD - A sheet finisher of the invention includes a saddle stitch unit configured to stitch a center of a sheet bundle in which printed sheets are bundled, a fold unit that includes a pair of fold rollers and presses the center stitched by the saddle stitch unit into a nip of the fold rollers to form a fold line, and a fold reinforcing unit configured to reinforce the fold line, and the fold reinforcing unit includes a roller unit that includes a first roller and a second roller, and moves along a direction of the fold line while nipping and pressing the fold line of the sheet bundle by the first roller and the second roller, a drive unit configured to move the roller unit along the direction of the fold line from a standby position, and a nipping unit that includes a first nip plate and a second nip plate, places the sheet bundle on the first nip plate, and nips the sheet bundle at a position between the fold line and the fold unit by the first nip plate and the second nip plate, and a position of the nip of the fold rollers and a position of a nip generated by the first roller and the second roller are disposed to be substantially coincident with a position on an imaginary plane extending from a sheet bundle placement surface of the first nip plate. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315487 | SHEET FINISHER, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE SAME, AND SHEET FINISHING METHOD - A sheet finisher of the invention includes a saddle stitch unit configured to stitch a center of a sheet bundle in which printed sheets are bundled, a fold unit configured to fold the center stitched by the saddle stitch unit and to form a fold line, and a fold reinforcing unit configured to reinforce the fold line formed by the fold unit, the fold reinforcing unit includes a placement table on which the sheet bundle transported from the fold unit is placed, and a roller unit that includes a reinforce roller and moves the reinforce roller along a direction of the fold line while pressing it to the fold line, and the placement table is provided with a groove-like edge clearance along an edge of the sheet bundle. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315488 | SHEET FINISHER, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING THE SAME, AND SHEET FINISHING METHOD - A sheet finisher of the invention includes a saddle stitch unit configured to stitch a center of a sheet bundle in which printed sheets are bundled, a fold unit configured to fold the center stitched by the saddle stitch unit and to form a fold line, and a fold reinforcing unit configured to reinforce the fold line formed by the fold unit, the fold reinforcing unit includes a roller unit that includes a reinforce roller with a structure for preventing an occurrence of a wrinkle, and moves along a direction of the fold line while applying pressure by the reinforce roller to the fold line of the sheet bundle transported from the fold unit, and a drive unit configured to move the roller unit along the direction of the fold line from a standby position located at a position separate from an end of the sheet bundle. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315489 | SHEET PROCESSING APPARATUS AND SHEET PROCESSING METHOD - There is provided a technique in which while the occurrence of a sheet jam is avoided, a pair of folding rollers for a folding process and a stapler for a staple process can be disposed to be close to each other, and a contribution can be made to the improvement of productivity. A staple unit is provided which performs a staple process to a bundle of sheets transported to a specified staple position in a sheet transport path, and staples the bundle of sheets by causing a press unit that presses a sheet surface of the bundle of sheets when the staple process is performed to cooperate with a reception unit that is disposed to face an inside of the sheet transport path through a hole provided in an inner wall of the sheet transport path and receives the bundle of sheets pressed by the press unit, and a vicinity of an upstream side edge of the reception unit in a sheet transport direction on the sheet transport path is covered by an elastic member supported by one of a wall surface of the sheet transport path and the reception unit. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315490 | SHEET STACKING APPARATUS AND SHEET PROCESSING APPARATUS EQUIPPED THEREWITH - A sheet stacking apparatus includes: a stacking tray which stacks a fold-processed and ejected sheet, and descends in response to a mass of stacked sheets; and a first sheet pressing member which holds the stacked sheets downward from an upper side of the stacked sheets at a constant height. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315491 | SHEET PROCESSING APPARATUS AND SHEET PROCESSING METHOD - There is provided a technique which can stably realize a high precision folding process irrespective of the number of sheets and the material of sheets constituting a bundle of sheets as an object of the folding process. At least one of information relating to the bundle of sheets as the object of the folding process by a folding blade and information relating to an environment in which the folding process is performed is acquired, and based on the acquired information, a position where the folding blade is brought into contact with the bundle of sheets as the object of the folding process is adjusted. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315492 | SHEET PROCESSING APPARATUS - In a sheet processing apparatus that performs processing for sheets after image formation such as sorting or stapling of the sheets, sheets conveyed into a waiting tray are temporarily stopped while being kept clamped by a driving roller and a pinch roller in the waiting tray and the clamping is once released. A waiting tray unit on a left side is shifted to a right side by a predetermined amount, whereby an end of the stacked sheets is pushed and shifted by a lateral wall on the left side. Thereafter, the sheets are clamped again by the roller pair and discharged. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315493 | PRINTING ASSEMBLY FOR PRINTING AND BINDING PAGES - Provided is a printing assembly for printing and binding pages. The assembly includes pinch rollers for feeding a sheet of paper into the assembly, and a printhead arrangement arranged after the rollers for printing on the paper. The assembly also includes an adhesive applicator arranged after the printhead for applying adhesive to the printed paper, as well as a binding press arranged after the applicator for binding printed sheets of paper together. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315494 | SHEET POST-PROCESSING APPARATUS AND SHEET POST-PROCESSING METHOD - In a sheet post-processing apparatus, a sheet guide is arranged above a processing tray that aligns stacked one or plural sheets. The sheet guide is moved by racks to be spaced apart from or brought close to the processing tray. The racks are controlled to be driven on the basis of the number of sheets stacked on the processing tray or the thickness of a stack of the sheets to adjust a space between the processing tray and the sheet guide. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315495 | SHEET PROCESSING APPARATUS - In a sheet processing apparatus that performs processing for sheets after image formation such as sorting or stapling of the sheets, when the sheets are subjected to processing in a processing tray, after the sheets are discharged to the waiting tray, a paddle operation is started to drop the sheets to the processing tray. When the paddle is in a position where the paddle does not come into contact with the sheets on the processing tray, the rotation of the paddle is stopped once to prevent the paddle from interfering with the sheets. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315496 | Sheet decurling device and image forming apparatus - A moving unit includes first and second transportation paths that can selectively link to main transportation path of a recording sheet, a first roller arranged between the first and the second transportation paths, second and third rollers capable of making contact with the first roller across the first and the second transportation paths, respectively. When the moving unit moves to a position at which the first transportation path or the second transportation path is linked to the main transportation path, a mechanism varies a pressing force of the second roller or the third roller with respect to the first roller. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315497 | FEEDING APPARATUS AND RECORDING APPARATUS - The invention provides, as an aspect thereof, a feeding apparatus that includes: a target-medium feeding roller that feeds a target medium; a target-media placement unit on which target media are placed, the target-media placement unit being able to move toward and away from the target-medium feeding roller; a first urging unit that urges the target-media placement unit toward the target-medium feeding roller; a target-media-placement-unit retraction movement unit that moves the target-media placement unit away from the target-medium feeding roller; a movement unit that is provided at a downstream position as viewed from the target-media placement unit in a target-medium-feed direction and is able to move toward and away from the target-medium feeding roller; and a second urging unit that urges the movement unit toward the target-medium feeding roller. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315498 | TABBED SHEET SUPPORT UNIT, SHEET FEEDING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A tabbed sheet table is detachably attached to a lifting and lowering tray when a tabbed sheet is fed. A tabbed sheet regulating member is provided in a side surface on an upstream side in a sheet feeding direction of the tabbed sheet table while being movable in a vertical direction. The tabbed sheet regulating member includes an abutting portion and a contacting portion. The abutting portion is vertically extended, and the abutting portion abuts on a tab of the tabbed sheet. The contacting portion is extended along the tabbed sheet table, and the contacting portion is contacted on the top-most tabbed sheet placed on the tabbed sheet table. In lifting a tray, a length in a vertical direction of the tabbed sheet is set such that a state in which the regulating member is contacted on the tabbed sheet is maintained irrespective of the lifting of the tray. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315499 | Methods And Devices For Improving The Reliability Of Feeding Media Sheets Within An Image Forming Device - The present application is directed to devices and methods for moving media sheets in an image forming device. In one embodiment, a contact member includes a contact roller that contacts a top-most media sheet in a stack of media sheets positioned on a support surface in an input area of the image forming device. A hub extends outward from an axial side of the contact roller. The hub includes a smaller length than the contact roller, forming a gap between the hub and the top-most media sheet when the contact roller is in contact with the top-most media sheet. The hub prevents or reduces transverse buckling of the top-most media sheet when it is moved from the stack of media sheets. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315500 | Paper Feed Mechanism and Image Generating Apparatus - This paper feed mechanism includes a paper feed cassette integrally having a paper contact portion on a position deviating from the center of a rear-side inner wall surface in the cross direction by a prescribed distance in the cross direction and an apparatus body mountable with the paper feed cassette, and the apparatus body includes a driving portion rotating a paper feed roller in a paper feed direction and a paper discharge direction and a control portion bringing the rear end of the paper into contact with the paper contact portion for generating torque for the paper and thereafter transporting the paper to the apparatus body in paper feeding. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315501 | Compact Structure Device for Extracting Sheets from Two Trays and Respective Printer | 2008-12-25 |
20080315502 | Feeding apparatus, and image forming apparatus incorporating feeding apparatus - A feeding apparatus including a feeding roller for conveying a sheet, a separation roller for conveying the sheet in a reverse direction, a transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotational force to the feeding roller, a limited force reverse transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotational force to the separation roller through a torque limiter, a forced reverse transmission mechanism for directly transmitting the rotational force to the separation roller, a temperature detector and a controller, wherein the controller controls the separation roller to receive rotational force through the forced reverse transmission mechanism after the limited force reverse transmission mechanism transmits the rotational force to the separation roller, then allows the limited force reverse transmission mechanism to transmit the rotational force to the separation roller, or to rotate the feeding via the transmission mechanism and the limited force transmission mechanism to transmit the rotational force to the separation roller. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315503 | SHEET PROCESSING APPARATUS - In a sheet processing apparatus that, for example, sorts or staples sheets after image formation, when preceding finishing is not completed on a processing tray, a third sheet fed anew into a waiting tray of a sheet placing member configuring a sheet waiting unit, which temporarily puts a sheet conveyed thereto on standby, is stacked to be shifted such that leading ends of second and third sheets are located further on a conveying direction upstream side than a leading end of a first sheet. Consequently, longitudinal alignment in the processing tray after that is surely performed. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315504 | SHEET DISCHARGE APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND SHEET DISCHARGING METHOD - A sheet discharge apparatus includes a discharge portion configured to discharge sheets, a wall member provided below the discharge portion, a tray configured to receive the discharged sheets from the discharge portion, and a holding member provided on the wall member to approach relatively the tray, holding the sheets between itself and the tray, and moving linearly by holding the sheets. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315505 | SHEET POST-PROCESSING APPARATUS AND SHEET POST-PROCESSING METHOD - A bundle claw attached to a sheet conveyor belt includes a concave portion having a bottom surface for regulating a position of a trailing end of the sheets, and, in the bottom surface, a surface on a lower side that comes into contact with the sheet conveyor belt is formed deeper than a surface on an upper side to form the step portion between the surface on the lower side and the surface on the upper side. Therefore, when a small number of sheets are discharged from a processing tray to a stacking tray, a trailing end of the sheets is located on the lower surface side of the concave surface of the bundle claw, where the trailing end of the sheets should be originally located, and does not move to the upper surface side of the concave surface of the bundle claw. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315506 | SHEET POST-PROCESSING APPARATUS AND SHEET POST-PROCESSING METHOD - When a sheet is conveyed from a processing tray to a stacking tray, a bar-like pushing member is moved in a direction of the stacking tray in synchronization with an ejector. Consequently, simultaneously with the movement of the sheet by the ejector, a lower surface of a leading end of the sheet is pushed to relax and reduce a contact force between the lower surface of the leading end of the sheet and the stacking tray (or an upper surface of a sheet already stacked on the stacking tray). As a result, static friction at the leading end of the sheet is changed to dynamic friction and the entire sheet is conveyed to the stacking tray without bending. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315507 | SHEET PROCESSING APPARATUS AND SHEET PROCESSING METHOD - There is provided a technique in which in a sheet processing apparatus including a switchback portion in a sheet transport path, a contribution can be made to the improvement of maintenance in the case where a sheet jam occurs in the vicinity of a switchback position. In a sheet processing method of a sheet processing apparatus for performing a specified process to a sheet, the sheet processing apparatus includes a first sheet transport path for transporting the sheet, and a second sheet transport path that is for performing switchback transport of the sheet transported in the first sheet transport path and includes at least one of a hole, a projection and a recess in the vicinity of a meeting position between the second sheet transport path and the first sheet transport path, and the first sheet transport path and the second sheet transport path are enabled to be integrally pulled out to the outside of the sheet processing apparatus. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315508 | SHEET PROCESSING APPARATUS AND SHEET PROCESSING METHOD - There is provided a technique in which a retracting operation of a bundle of sheets from a stapler after a staple process can be stably performed irrespective of the number of sheets constituting the bundle of sheets or the transport resistance. When the bundle of sheets subjected to the staple process is moved by a stacker in a direction of retracting from the stapler, an alignment roller is caused to come in contact with the bundle of sheets held by the stacker and to assist the movement of the bundle of sheet. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315509 | STACK-LIKE ARRANGEMENT OF FLAT OBJECTS AS WELL AS METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FORMING THE ARRANGEMENT - A stack-like arrangement of printed products with folded edges, in which arrangement the printed products are all arranged with identical orientation, has an increased stability, if it comprises stack sections, within which the folded edges of the printed products indeed lie on top of each other, but wherein the stack sections are arranged displaced in relation to each other, such that the stack sections with folded edges protruding from the arrangement alternate with stack sections with edges opposite the folded edges protruding from the arrangement. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315510 | ALIGNMENT DEVICE FOR USE WITH A BOOK BINDER - An alignment device for substantially aligning a plurality of signatures of a book block comprising a projection and an actuator coupled to the projection. The actuator may be actuable to move the projection within a path of the book block such that the projection contacts an edge of at least one of the plurality of signatures and positions the at least one of the plurality of signatures into substantial alignment with the other signatures of the book block. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315511 | Feeding apparatus, and image forming apparatus incorporating feeding apparatus - A feeding apparatus including a feeding roller for conveying a sheet, a separation roller for conveying the sheet in a reverse direction, a transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotational force to the feeding roller, a limited force reverse transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotational force to the separation roller through a torque limiter, a forced reverse transmission mechanism for directly transmitting the rotational force to the separation roller, a temperature detector and a controller, wherein the controller controls the separation roller to receive rotational force through the forced reverse transmission mechanism after the limited force reverse transmission mechanism transmits the rotational force to the separation roller, then allows the limited force reverse transmission mechanism to transmit the rotational force to the separation roller, or to rotate the feeding via the transmission mechanism and the limited force transmission mechanism to transmit the rotational force to the separation roller. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315512 | SHEET PROCESSING DEVICE - A posture control device has a posture detecting section, an upstream conveying section, a posture control section, and a downstream conveying section along a conveying path for mail items. The distance from a nip of the upstream conveying section and a nip of the posture control section (D-E distance) is designed to be substantially as long as the longest one of the mail items to be processed by the device which has the greatest length along a conveying direction. The distance from the nip of the posture control section and a nip of the downstream conveying section (E-F distance) is designed to be slightly longer the shortest one of the mail items to be processed by the device which has the shortest length along the conveying direction. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315513 | PAPER FEEDING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND SETTING INFORMATION SWITCHING METHOD - To provide a paper feeding device that can switch setting information only with an easy action of sheet removal and setting in a predetermined position. The paper feeding device includes a first detecting unit that detects whether a sheet is set in a predetermined position, a second detecting unit that detects whether the sheet removal and setting is performed in the predetermined position after the setting of the sheet is detected by the first detecting unit, and a switching unit that switches setting information concerning the sheet when the sheet removal and setting is detected by the second detecting unit. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315514 | SHEET PROCESSING APPARATUS AND SHEET PROCESSING METHOD - There is provided a technique which can greatly improve throughput at the time when, after a folding process is performed to a bundle of sheets, the bundle of sheets subjected to the folding process is transported to a downstream side, and can prevent a wrinkle from occurring in the bundle of sheets at the time of the folding process. A sheet transport speed of a pair of rollers is changed from a first transport speed to a second transport speed at a specified timing between when a folding blade finishes a pressing operation of the bundle of sheets and starts a return operation to a waiting position and when a rear edge of the bundle of sheets pressed into a nip of a pair of rollers by the folding blade passes through the nip of the pair of rollers. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315515 | Image forming apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes a first guide portion disposed to be movable for opening a transportation path of a medium; a second guide portion disposed to be movable for opening the transportation path and arranged adjacent to the first guide portion; a first transportation member for transporting the medium to the transportation path; and a second transportation member for discharging the medium from the transportation path to outside the image forming apparatus. Further, when the first guide portion and the second guide portion close the transportation path, the second guide portion is arranged to guide a rear edge of the medium. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315516 | Card Viewing Device - This invention is directed toward devices which all a person to view playing cards without having to actually pick up the cards themselves. There are two basic versions of the invention: a portable version which can be carried by the user, and an installed version which sits in a cavity cut out from a card playing table. Both versions have sides to prevent others from seeing the cards, a mirror to reflect the cards up onto the eyes of the user while the cards remain face down on the table, and a ramp, or means by which a user can pull cards from a table over the mirror. A number of accessory items can be added to the installed version, such as advertising gaskets between the rim of the device and the table, various LCD screens and control buttons displayed around the edges of the devices, and other such add-ons. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315517 | CARD SHUFFLING DEVICE AND METHOD - A device for shuffling a deck of playing cards is described. The cards are placed in a compartment having a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, and dimensioned so that the cards are constrained in rotation in two of the three axes. The device is oriented so that a thickness dimension of the deck is horizontal, and groups of cards of the deck of cards are ejected in a vertical direction so as to provide a spacing of between a top edge of cards at rest and a bottom edge of the cards being ejected. The time duration of the ejection process is sufficient to effectively randomize the deck of cards. The ejection of cards may be by a plurality of pistons, and the pistons may be actuated by a motor, a solenoid or by air pressure. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315518 | Portable piece game set - A portable piece game set comprises a gameboard and a plurality of pieces. The gameboard includes two boards, where on an inner surface of a first board has a plurality of recessed piece seats for placing pieces, and a second board is connected with and used for covering the first board. Each piece includes a holding part and a positioning part, where the holding part is used for players to position or place the piece and the positioning part is fit with the recessed piece seat for placing the piece on the inner surface of the first board. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315519 | VEHICLE RACING CARD GAME AND METHOD OF PLAY - A vehicle racing card game according to embodiments of the invention includes a number of track cards that can be arranged by the players to form a race course. A vehicle racing card game also includes a number of vehicle cards to be played by the players. In some embodiments, players advance along the race course by playing their vehicle cards one at a time, and by scoring points depending, for example, on how closely certain graphical elements of a players vehicle card matches corresponding graphical elements of the track card corresponding to their position along the race course. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315520 | Game Assembly - Layout game comprising a number of cards ( | 2008-12-25 |
20080315522 | Methods and devices for playing a modified Baccarat game - Aspects of the present inventions concerns methods and devices for playing a game with predetermined rules using at least one standard deck of 52 actual or virtual playing cards, wherein at least two but no more than three cards are dealt to a first hand, at least two but no more than three cards are dealt to a second hand, and a player wagers on either (i) the first hand having a score closer or equal to a predetermined high value than the second hand, (ii) the second hand having a score closer or equal to the predetermined high value than the first hand, or (iii) the first and second hands having the same score, wherein the predetermined rules make the odds of the first hand having a score closer or equal to the predetermined high value more likely than the second hand having a score closer or equal to the predetermined high value. Such aspects include permitting a player to place an ante bet with a wager on the first hand having a score closer or equal to the predetermined high value than the second hand, collecting the ante bet from the player if the score of the first hand does not equal the score of the second hand, and paying the player an ante bet payoff if the score of the first hand equals the score of the second hand. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315523 | BETTING CARD GAME - A betting card game for play by a plurality of players against a dealer using at least one deck of playing cards, a payout being received by one player when the numerical value of their three cards totals 7 or 11. A first bet is placed by the player before the start of a game and a second bet is placed by the player after the player and dealer have each been dealt a set of three cards each. One of the dealer's three cards are placed face-up to be visible to all players. After placing a second bet, each player is given the option of substituting one card from their hand with a new card from the deck. The dealer is likewise given the option of substituting one card from their hand with a new card from the deck. If the numerical value of three dealer cards totals 7 or 11, the dealer keeps a payout in the amount of the first and second bets of the player. In the event the dealer cards total 7 or 11 and the player cards have an equal numerical value, then the game is a tie. Predetermined number combinations may be established so that a player wins when the sum of their cards equals the predetermined numeric combination, but only if they have paid a bonus bet before the start of the game. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315525 | Playing cards and method for playing card games therewith - A novel card game in which cards are dealt and placed into a space on a three-by-three grid in order to create the most number of high-scoring poker hands out of the eight possible hands; three rows, three columns and two diagonals. Using the present invention, numerous different games can be played with one or more players and using a deck of standard playing cards, a computer, a handheld device or a gaming machine. The present invention can also be used for lottery tickets and the like. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315526 | Card Deck and Related Methods of Use for Enhancing Standard Card Games - An Enhanced Deck of playing cards and related methods of use comprising a core deck of cards with either about 52 to about 54 cards or about 72 cards, with said deck featuring suits of spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs, and where an obverse of at least one of the cards of said deck further includes an indicia for a dimension of information; and where supplemental decks with additional dimensions of information or numbers of cards may be used to modify existing card games. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315527 | Sealing arrangement, sealing ring and use thereof - A sealing arrangement is provided, including a sealing ring for sealing two machine elements from one another, the sealing ring being configured in an installation space for the second machine element that is open toward the first machine element to be sealed, and sealingly contacting the surface to be sealed of the first machine element, by way of at least one dynamically loaded first sealing lip. The sealing ring is arranged under elastic axial and radial preloading within the installation space. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315528 | Gasketed Collar For Reducing Electromagnetic Interference (Emi) Emission From Optical Communication Module - A gasketed collar for reducing EMI emission from a communication module is presented. The gasketed collar includes a conductive metal collar designed to fit at least partway around the communication module, and a gasket. The gasket is electrically conductive and compressible. The gasket fits at least partway around the communication module and overlaps the conductive metal collar. A communication module including such gasketed collar and a method of making such communication module are also presented. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315529 | EASE OF ASSEMBLY AID FOR BRUSH SEAL - A brush seal assembly is formed of a bristle array receiving at least one housing member. Alignment structures are formed on the housing and bristle assembly to ensure that the bristle assembly will be properly positioned in a working environment. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315530 | Radial Shaft Seal - A radial shaft seal for a shaft or axle supported in a housing comprises a sealing element lying on the shaft made of a polymer material and a part fixed relative to the housing. The radial shaft seal for a shaft or axle can be supported in the drive train of a motor vehicle. The radial shaft seal can comprise a holding guide means supported on the shaft to hold the sealing element coaxial to the shaft. The holding guide means is connected to the part fixed relative to the housing by means of a flexible sealing membrane. The holding guide means at least in the contact area to the shaft is made of an essentially rigid material. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315531 | Sealing Profile for Joints Between Covering Plates - The invention relates to a sealing profile for the sealing of joints between laid covering panels ( | 2008-12-25 |
20080315532 | Joining Surface Structure for a Plurality of Cases - A joining surface of a lower case including a plurality of grooves and bolt holes. The plurality of grooves are formed with a substantially arced shape and intersect with each other. The bolt holes are used for tightening. The grooves intersect with each other, and connecting sections of the grooves form a continuous groove that separates the inside of the case from the outside of the case. A liquid gasket is filled in the grooves. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315533 | INFLATABLE SEALING DEVICE FOR A MOLDING TOOL - An inflatable sealing device includes a bushing and a plunger which is movably guided in the bushing through application of air pressure from an air supply to execute a predefined limited stroke. A sealing tube is connected to the plunger and has an interior space which is connected to the air supply to radially expand the sealing tube when air pressure is applied. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315534 | Lip Seal for a Cooking Appliance and a Cooking Appliance Provided with Said Seal - A lip gasket ( | 2008-12-25 |
20080315535 | Clamping Device - The invention relates to a clamping device for removably mounting a tool ( | 2008-12-25 |
20080315536 | ELECTROSTATIC CHUCK AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - There is provided an electrostatic chuck. The electrostatic chuck includes: a ceramic base containing alumina and first flux; an electrostatic electrode built in the ceramic base; and a ceramic material containing second flux and provided between the ceramic base and the electrostatic electrode, the ceramic material contacting the ceramic base and the electrostatic electrode. A content rate of the second flux is higher than that of the first flux. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315537 | Apparatus for Transporting Products in Crates or Containers - Apparatus for transporting products including a body having ground wheels ( | 2008-12-25 |
20080315538 | Leveling system and device for a recreational vehicle - A system for leveling recreational vehicles and the like consists of two motors operating simultaneously but independently to lift a trailer or other vehicle having vehicle-axles. The system comprises one portable and motorized lifting unit that can be deployed selectively on either side of the vehicle, or both, as required. The motorized lifting unit comprises a pair of motorized jacking units connected by a common and centrally positioned tube-type rail member. A pair of motorized jacking units electrically couple to a controller. The vehicle battery or another external power supply powers both electric motors. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315539 | Vertical air bag control - A control ( | 2008-12-25 |
20080315540 | SYSTEM FOR ENHANCING USE OF A SHOPPING CART - A vehicle tracking system includes a wheel containing sensor circuitry capable of sensing various types of conditions, such as wheel rotation, wheel vibration caused by skidding, and specific electromagnetic and/or magnetic signals indicative of particular wheel locations. The sensor circuitry is coupled to an RF transceiver, which may but need not be included within the wheel. The wheel may also include a brake mechanism. In one embodiment, the wheels are placed on shopping carts and are used to collect and monitor shopping cart status and location data via a wireless network. The collected data may be used for various purposes, such as locking the wheel of an exiting cart if the customer has not paid, estimating numbers of queued carts, stopping wheel skid events that occur during mechanized cart retrieval, store planning, and providing location-based messaging to customers. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315541 | Motorized Hand Cart for Lifting and Moving Large Heavy Objects - A dual-motor handcart for lifting, steering, and transporting a heavy object, such as a snowmobile, by one person, having two motor-powered wheels or trackdrives for moving and steering attached to a width and height adjustable frame, the frame offering a handle, a pair of legs connected to the handle, lift pads for supporting the heavy object, a length adjustable lift strap for coupling the frame to the heavy object. The operatively independent motors each attached to one of the wheels providing force required for moving and steering. Thumb switches having on, off, forward, and reverse motions settings at desired speeds, control each motor providing for a single person to easily steer a cart fully loaded with a heavy object over smooth or rough terrain. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315542 | Articulating camera transport apparatus and method - An articulating camera transport apparatus and corresponding methods involving an articulating camera truck for accommodating a camera element and for engaging a set of camera dolly tracks, the tracks having a curvature, the truck including a carrier and an undercarriage, the undercarriage having a plurality of articulating wheels and a structure for gimbaling the plurality of articulating wheels for accommodating the curvature and for facilitating a smooth passage of the truck along the tracks. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315543 | Articulating camera transport apparatus and method - An articulating camera transport apparatus and corresponding methods involving an articulating camera truck for accommodating a camera element and for engaging a set of camera dolly tracks, the tracks having a curvature, the truck including a carrier and an undercarriage, the undercarriage having a plurality of articulating wheels and a structure for gimbaling the plurality of articulating wheels for accommodating the curvature and for facilitating a smooth passage of the truck along the tracks. The gimbaling structure has a gimbaling mechanism which includes a rocker arm. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315544 | FOLDING MEANS AND FOLDING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A folding means for a foldable apparatus, the folding means comprising a first member ( | 2008-12-25 |
20080315545 | Axle Stub Bearing Unit - An axle stub bearing unit for a bearing point of an axle stub of a steerable axle of a vehicle is provided, with a radial bearing that is constructed as a needle bearing, and a separate axial bearing that is constructed as a sliding bearing, which are accommodated in a cup-shaped bush ( | 2008-12-25 |
20080315546 | SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE - A suspension system of the present invention pivotally supports a wheel of a motor vehicle. An upper control arm and a lower control arm are cooperable with a spindle, which supports the wheel. A vibration damper is cooperable with the upper control arm. A link interconnects the lower control arm and one of the terminal ends of the vibration damper thereby defining a common axis bisecting the link. The vibration damper moves along the common axis to absorb vibration transferred from a road surface and through the wheel. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315547 | Fender fastenable to a bicycle bracing post - A fender fastenable to a bicycle bracing post includes at least a fender body and a fastening assembly. The fender body has a front section on which a concave portion, a slit and a holding space are formed. The slit can be opened elastically to allow a bicycle rear fork to be held in the holding space. The fastening means and the fender body can be coupled and adjusted to quickly install the fender on the bicycle bracing post. As a result more space is available to hold other bicycle accessories. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315548 | VEHICULAR WHEELCHAIR DOCKING AND CAPTURE APPARATUS - A transit vehicle docking system including a pair of press plates driven inwardly against the opposite side of a wheelchair docked in a docking space in a transit vehicle. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315549 | All terrain adapter for a wheelchair - An all terrain adapter for a wheelchair that removably clamps onto the foot support of the wheelchair and supports a relatively large diameter, slightly inclined swivelling nose gear wheel at an extended distance from the foot support to stabilize the wheelchair when it is being pushed over soft or uneven surfaces and which swivels around when the wheelchair is moved forward to lift the front wheels of the wheelchair clear of the ground. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315550 | Front suspension and steering system for a motorcycle - A suspension and steering system for the front wheel of a motorcycle. The system includes an upright extending along one side of the front wheel at a rake angle, to which the wheel is journalled by means of a cantilevered axle extending from one side of the lower end of the upright. The upright includes a lower section that resides within the inner diameter of the wheel rim and an arcuate upper section that extends upwardly and rearwardly around the wheel rim and tire. The upper end of the upright is connected to a telescoping, splined steering shaft that is journalled to an upper subframe and which transmits steering torque from a handlebar assembly through the upright to the front wheel. The upright is pivotably attached to upper and lower swing arms that extend forwardly from the body of the motorcycle. The lower swing arm extends around the side of the front wheel and functions to locate the lower section of the upright. The upper swing arm is connected to the upper end of the upright and is sprung and damped with a shock absorber assembly connected to the upper subframe. The upright bears and transmits substantially all weight and shock loads between the front wheel and the upper swing arm and body of the motorcycle, allowing the steering shaft to function exclusively to transmit steering torque to the front wheel. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315551 | Motorcycle handlebar - A motorcycle handlebar includes a main handlebar having a tubular body that has opposite ends, with a handle grip secured to each of the opposite ends. The handlebar includes a lower bar secured to the body and extending below the body, the lower bar secured to about the center of the body and having a length that is parallel to, and spaced from, the body. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315552 | Dual-function bicycle seat post assembly - A bicycle seat post assembly includes an outer tube with an inner tube movably inserted thereto, the top end of the inner tube is connected with a seat. The inner tube has a passage defined longitudinally therethrough and a valve is connected to the lower end of the inner tube. A connection member is connected to the lower end of the outer tube and a seal member or an output tube is selectably connected to the connection member. The seal member seals the lower end of the outer tube to form a interior space in the outer tube filled with pressurized air when the bicycle seat assembly is a shock absorbing seat post assembly. The output tube is connected to the connection member to communicate with the longitudinal passage of the outer tube when the seat post assembly is used as a tire pump by reciprocating the inner tube. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315553 | BICYCLE ADAPTED TO DIFFERENT FORMS OF CYCLING - A bicycle adaptable to different forms of cycling. The bicycle includes a frame modification of the location of the crankshaft unit in the frame. The bicycle frame includes a crankset box forming a main housing. The crankset box is positioned at the junction of first and second rods. A detachable body member is mounted in the main housing, and includes a special housing that may be centered or off center relative to the base of the detachable body member. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315554 | Drawbar hitch accessory - In its simplest form the present invention includes a drawbar hitch accessory having a hitch plate having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front edge, a rear edge, a left side edge and a right side edge. The top surface is generally rectangular in shape and is divided into six zones including a front right zone, a front center zone, a right center zone, a rear left zone, a rear center zone and a rear right zone. The rear left zone has a first hook opening extending from the top surface to the bottom surface and is generally centered in the rear left zone. The rear center zone has a second hook opening extending from the top surface to the bottom surface and is generally centered in said rear center zone and the rear right zone has a third hook opening which extends from the top surface to the bottom surface and is generally centered in the rear right zone. The front center zone has a first hitch plate ball mount opening extending from the top surface and is generally centered in the front center zone. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315555 | SLIDER SUSPENSION LOCKING PIN SYSTEM WITH LEAF SPRING - A trailer slider system includes a body rail that slides longitudinally relative to a suspension frame side rail. The body rail includes holes that provide multiple suspension positions. The trailer slider system also includes a pin locking system having at least one pin that is extendable into the holes in a locked position and retractable out of the holes in an unlocked position. A leaf spring biases the at least one pin toward one of the locked position or the unlocked position. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315556 | TRACTOR HITCH ATTACHMENT CONNECTOR - The present invention provides an apparatus and methods for connecting an attachment to a hitch system of a vehicle. The apparatus comprises means for connecting the apparatus to a hitch system and means for connecting the apparatus to an attachment, such as a plow or scraper. The present invention allows the attachment to be extended behind, offset to, or pivoted relative to the vehicle. In addition, the present invention allows multiple attachments to be connected to a vehicle by way of its hitch system. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315557 | Apparatus and methods for remotely controlling fifth wheel hitch assembly - Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments for fifth wheel hitch assemblies are described herein. In one embodiment, a remotely controlled fifth wheel hitch assembly comprises a mounting rail, a head assembly, a locking arm, an actuation mechanism, and a remote control device. The mounting rail is coupled to a towing vehicle and the head assembly is slidably coupled to the mounting rail. The head assembly is capable of securing a trailer to the towing vehicle. The locking arm includes a locked position and an unlocked position. In the locked position, the head assembly is statically secured to the mounting rail. The actuation mechanism is coupled to the locking arm to move the locking arm between the locked and unlocked positions. The remote control device is coupled to the actuation mechanism such that the remote control initiates the actuation mechanism to move the locking arm between the locked and unlocked positions. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315558 | Gooseneck trailer attachment assembly and center deck elevation system - A detachable gooseneck trailer [ | 2008-12-25 |
20080315559 | Work Vehicle - Disclosed is a working vehicle capable of working and driving in stable condition while suppressing the adverse effect caused by the load variation such as sudden dashing from an associated ground working implement. The working vehicle comprises a controller for controlling the variator ratio of its toroidal mechanism to oppose the variation of the load when the toroidal mechanism is loaded on its output side. The controller adjusts the variator ratio appropriately when the engine starts. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315560 | ATTACHMENT MOUNT FOR A TOW CABLE ON AN AGRICULTURAL TRACTOR - A tow cable mounting structure for an agricultural tractor that includes a pin-connection feature for a tow cable so that an easily accessible tow connection anchored to the tractor frame can be provided on the tractor. The mounting structure includes a contoured end portion and a bracing structure to manage stress distribution in the mounting structure and the tractor chassis thereby enabling the attachment mount to be added to a tractor with minimal alteration of the chassis | 2008-12-25 |
20080315561 | Trailer tongue pivot hinge with integrated receiver - Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with a trailer tongue pivot hinge are described herein. In an embodiment, a pivot assembly for a towing trailer includes a first adapter and a second adapter. The first adapter is arranged to be attachable to a first trailer frame member and includes a body; an engagement face forming a front surface of the body; a pivot hinge member extending from the engagement face; and a coupling hinge member extending from the engagement face and opposed to the first pivot hinge member; and a receiver. The receiver is adapted for securing a trailer accessory to the first adapter. The second adapter is arranged to be attachable to a second trailer frame member and pivotably attachable to the first adapter. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315562 | Child Stroller - A child stroller is disclosed comprising two side frames bilaterally set, each side frame comprising a front leg, a rear leg, the upside of the rear leg being rotatably connected with the rear end of the front leg, and a handspike with the lower end connected to the upper end of the rear leg, a positioning device set at the joint of the handspike and the rear leg, a first crossbar set between the two front legs, a second crossbar set between the two side frames, a first locking mechanism set between the first and the second crossbar, the second crossbar being connected to either the handspike or the rear leg or to both. Being locked in unfolding state by the positioning device and the first locking mechanism, the side frame is mainly composed of a front leg, a rear leg and a handspike. The stroller frame is simple and little interference occurs when folding and unfolding the stroller frame. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315563 | Transporter - A transporter for an infant comprising first and second means to receive an infant in the transporter, the means moveable between a first, closed orientation unsuitable for receiving an infant, and a second, open orientation for receiving an infant. The transporter further comprises first and second wheels disposed respectively at first and second ends of the transporter, the second wheel movable between a first operative position providing for a first wheel base and a second operative position providing for a second wheel base, wherein the first wheelbase is different from said second wheelbase, and wherein the second means is movable between the first and second orientations responsive to movement of the second wheel between the first and second operative positions. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315564 | Airbag Assembly, Gear and Operating Method for Said Assembly - The invention relates to an airbag assembly comprising a mechanism for a stationary driver's airbag, i.e. an airbag that does not rotate with the rotation of the steering wheel. Said airbag assembly is configured in such a way that the mechanism is situated inside the steering column. The invention also relates to a gear and an operating method for an airbag assembly of this type. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315565 | Side airbag apparatus - A side airbag apparatus is provided with an airbag which is stored within a vehicle seat. A rear portion of the airbag is fixed to the vehicle seat. Further, the side airbag apparatus is provided with an inflator which is arranged within a rear portion of the airbag and is fixed to the vehicle seat. The side airbag apparatus jets out gas from the inflator in correspondence to an impact applied to a vehicle from a side direction, and inflates and deploys the airbag between a body side portion and the vehicle seat. Further, a vent hole for discharging the gas within the airbag is provided between a gas outlet of the inflator and at least one of an upper end and a lower end of a rear portion of the airbag. Further, the airbag is folded in such a manner as to start and finish an inflation of the airbag finally in the vicinity of the vent hole between the vent hole and the gas outlet. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315566 | INSTRUMENT PANEL WITH INTEGRAL HIDDEN DOOR COVER AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE THEREOF - A cover for an airbag module, comprising: an outer layer having a show surface and an inner surface; a molded tear seam in the inner surface, the molded tear seam defining a deployment door opening in the cover, the molded tear seam extending into the cover from the inner surface, wherein the molded tear seam does not extend through to the outer layer and is not visible through the show surface; and a score provided in the molded tear seam, the score extending from the molded tear seam towards the show surface, a portion of the score being closer to the show surface than the molded tear seam, wherein the score is formed in the molded tear seam after the molded tear seam has been formed. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315567 | Air bag with adaptive venting - An apparatus ( | 2008-12-25 |
20080315568 | Crash Sensor - A crash sensor comprising a support arrangement for supporting opposed ends of a yieldable element directly on one of an outer skin of a vehicle and a component adjacent to the outer skin with the yieldable element substantially parallel with the outer skin of the vehicle. A sensor arrangement in the form of resistors mounted on the yieldable element to generate a signal in response to deformation or bending of the yieldable element. A stiffness and a mass of the yieldable element is selected to achieve such that a period for a complete oscillation of the element at its resonance frequency is of at least 2 milliseconds. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315569 | RIDING LAWNMOWER OUTRIGGER - A riding lawnmower outrigger ( | 2008-12-25 |
20080315570 | Reduced Cost Master/Slave Trailer Landing Gear Apparatus - A landing gear assembly that supports the front end of a truck trailer when the trailer is not being pulled by a truck has a gearing mechanism that provides a two-speed operation for raising and lowering the legs of the landing gear assembly, where the gearing mechanism is entirely contained inside the leg housings of the landing gear assembly and has a simplified, two shaft, five gear construction that reduces the manufacturing cost of the assembly. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315571 | Structure Supporting a Motor Vehicle Front End Assembly Comprising Coupling Means in the Form of a Hollow Body of a Mini-Cradle With Side Members, and Corresponding Vehicle - The invention concerns a structure for a motor vehicle front end assembly, comprising a mini-cradle ( | 2008-12-25 |
20080315572 | REAR VEHICLE STRUCTURE - A rear vehicle structure has an electrical system unit, two side members, two extension parts, two cross members, a rear seat and a cover. The electrical system unit includes first and second electrical system units. Each extension part extends rearwardly from one of the rearward ends of one of the side members. The cross members are located above rear suspension members of the vehicle. The electrical system unit is fixedly attached to a top of at least one of the cross members. The rear seat is installed forward of the first electrical system unit. The second electrical system unit is located along a rearward surface of the rear seat. The cover is installed rearward of the second electrical system unit and has an upright panel that is oriented vertically to provide an enclosed space between a rearward surface of the second electrical system unit and the cover. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315573 | Book attachment for interactive reading - An attachment for a standard book may allow a reader to read to a group of listeners with reduced movements of the standard book. The attachment may slide over and couple to a cover of a standard book The attachment may have pockets or other attachment means that are coupled to the front and/or back cover of the book The pages of the attachment may have text and/or illustrations that substantially correspond to the text and/or illustrations found in the standard book The pages of the attachment may be connected to the attachment means with a spiral or other type of binding. The reader preferably flips pages in the attachment such that the pages in the attachment correspond to pages in the book that are being read. A method of interactive reading can use interactive prompts, suggested activities, and/or additional text for encouraging the reader to involve the listeners. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315574 | Security Feature for Security Documents - The invention relates to a security feature ( | 2008-12-25 |
20080315575 | Tubular Joint - The invention concerns a tubular joint comprising an interlocking tip ( | 2008-12-25 |
20080315576 | Fluid Line Coupling - The invention relates to a fluid line coupling and comprises a receiving part ( | 2008-12-25 |
20080315577 | Threadless quick connect tubular coupling disconnection tool - A quick coupling disconnection tool having a head portion with two engagement projection fingers generally forming a v-shape to accept various hose coupling sizes, a handle, and a shank connecting the handle portion to the head portion. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315578 | Junction Part for Coaxial Pipe Elements, and a Method of Joining Together Coaxial Pipe Elements - A cylindrical junction part for joining together two elements of an assembly of at least two coaxial pipes, comprising an outer pipe containing an inner pipe defining an annular space preferably containing lagging material. The forged junction part forms two annular cavities defined by branches in a fork configuration at each end of said part serving to minimize stresses and fatigue in the join zone between two junction parts at the ends of two lengths of coaxial pipe to be joined together and between each length of pipe and each junction part at the ends thereof. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315579 | Pipe Connection - A pipe connection comprises a connecting piece, a pipe and a clamping ring. The pipe and the clamping ring are made of a material having memory properties. An end of the pipe and the clamping ring have been reversibly expanded co-jointly and firmly and sealingly shrunk to the connecting piece by back shrinkage. Preferably the clamping ring is made from a cross-linked polyolefin by injection molding. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315580 | Coupling with crossable means for couplings to connect endportions of pipes and valves - A coupling to connect two pipes, and to connect pipe fittings and valves with pipes, which includes arcuates provided with inner flanges in their end portions, where said arcuates are positioned around crossable inner means, which means can also be used by different types of cylindrical couplings which couplings require grooves around cylindrical rings mounted around the end portions of pipes; where crossable inner means is comprised of a centrally located partitioner ring located between two pipes, which ring separates two gaskets provided with backup rings which backup rings are provided with radial circumferential grooves for the attachment of said arcuates bridging across said inner means. Said backup rings are attachable to the shoulders constructed around the end portions of two opposite pipes. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315581 | Non-Rotating Coupling Device - The invention is a quick connect and disconnect coupling which limits the free rotation between the female socket and the male plug of the coupling with respect to one another. It comprises a male plug having a coupling end and a female socket having a coupling end with a receiving opening therein to receive the coupling end of the male plug when the connectors are in a coupled condition. A holding mechanism is associated with the ed. The male plug includes a non circular surface that interengages the locking balls within the female quick connect socket to substantially prevent relative rotation of the male plug in relation to the female socket. The coupling is particularly useful for attaching accessories as used in highly pressurized spray applications to allow the ability to rotationally adjust the dispensing action. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315582 | High Pressure Energizable Tube Connector for a Well and Method of Energizing the Connector - A high pressure energizable tube connector for a well comprising a tube; a first connector assembly comprising: a female profile disposed over the tube and a first ferrule disposed over the tube adjacent the female profile; a second connector assembly comprising: an inverted jam nut disposed over the tube and a second ferrule disposed over the tube adjacent the inverted jam nut, wherein the second ferrule extends along the tube in a direction opposite the first ferrule; a nipple comprising a test port, wherein the nipple is disposed over the tube between the first ferrule and the second ferrule; a primary seal formed by compressing the first ferrule into the female profile using a pressure from the test port; and a secondary seal formed by compressing the second ferrule into the inverted jam nut using the pressure from the test port. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315583 | Hybrid Propulsion System For a Watercraft - A propulsion system for a watercraft is described, having a diesel engine ( | 2008-12-25 |
20080315584 | Engine start system with a regulated permanent magnet machine - An electromechanical power transfer system that transfers power between a direct current (DC) electrical power system and a prime mover, comprises: a permanent magnet machine (PMM) comprising a permanent magnet (PM) rotor that rotates a drive shaft of the prime mover, a stator with a multiphase alternating current (AC) winding coupled to the AC bus for developing a rotating magnetic field with a magnetic flux path that causes rotation of the PM rotor and a control coil with a winding that has a configuration to generate a magnetic field with flux that varies the reactance of the stator winding upon the application of current through the control coil; a plurality of AC current sensors for sensing the current in each phase of the multi-phase AC bus and generating respective AC bus current signals that represent the current level of each phase; an average current detector that receives the AC bus current signals and generates a respective current load feedback signal; a back electromotive force (emf) detector coupled to the AC bus that detects back emf generated by the stator in response to the application of AC power to the stator and generates a back emf signal representative of the detected level of back emf; a rotor position/speed estimator that receives the back emf signal and generates an estimated rotor position signal that is representative of the position of the rotor, an estimated rotor speed signal that is representative of the speed of the rotor and a closed loop enable signal that indicates a speed for the electrical starting system to switch from an open loop mode of operation to a closed loop mode of operation; a control coil current sensor for generating a control coil current signal in a control coil current feedback loop that is representative of the level of electrical current in the control coil; a first speed switch that switches between an open loop position reference signal that represents a desired position of the rotor in an open loop mode and the estimated rotor position signal that represents the position of the rotor in a closed loop mode to provide a position reference signal; a second speed switch that switches between an open loop current reference signal that represents a desired control coil current level in the open loop mode and a closed loop current reference signal that represents a desired control coil current level in the closed loop mode to provide a control coil current reference signal; an inverter/rectifier system for converting DC power from the DC power system to multiphase alternating current (AC) power on an AC bus; a control coil current regulator system for regulating current through the control coil; wherein the inverter/rectifier system responds to the position reference signal, the current load feedback signal and a current load reference signal to regulate acceleration of the PMM; wherein the control coil current regulator system responds to the control coil current reference signal and the control coil current feedback signal to regulate current in the PMM; and wherein the power transfer system starts in the open loop mode, the rotor position/speed estimator generates the closed loop enable signal that indicates a speed for the electrical starting system to switch from the open loop mode of operation to the closed loop mode of operation at a predetermined rotor speed, and the first and second speed switches respond to the closed loop enable mode to switch from their open loop mode to their closed loop mode. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315585 | CONTROL SYSTEM FOR TWIN TURBINE WIND POWER GENERATING SYSTEM - A wind turbine control system for twin turbines mounted in common on an accelerator comprising a DC boost converter having pulse width capability, power, speed, current and voltage sensors responsive to an generator driven by one turbine, and a controller. The controller adjusts the PWM duty cycle to adjust generator output whereby to control turbine thrust and thereby adhere to a desired performance curve, and also changes thrust to adjust angular position of the accelerator and thus maintain optimum angle of attack of the wind on turbine | 2008-12-25 |
20080315586 | Generator output circuitry for twin turbine wind power generating system - Improved generator output circuitry for twin turbine includes boost DC converters for each of a pair of generators with their output introduced to a single inverter, which serves both generators and converters in common. The inverter output then proceeds in conventional AC form through a disconnect switch to a power grid. | 2008-12-25 |
20080315587 | PYRAMID ELECTRIC GENERATOR - A pyramid electric generator for harvesting the vibrational energies of Earth's atomic oscillators according to the present invention comprises: (1) an antenna/waveguide that is geometrically optimized; (2) a secondary coil wound with an insulated conductor on a nonconductive coil form, the coil being attached electrically to the conducting surface of the antenna/waveguide such that the secondary coil is attached near the point at which the electric field contacts the antenna/waveguide; (3) the antenna/waveguide connected with the secondary coil serving as a quasi-capacitive series element to provide a specific resonant frequency; and (4) a primary coil of a few turns wound around the secondary coil, the secondary coil being positioned coaxially within the primary coil and acting as a resonant step-up transformer winding, inductively coupled with the primary coil. The generator resonantly couples into specific frequencies of Earth's atomic oscillators and extracts electric energy therefrom. | 2008-12-25 |