Did You Know...
...that several people are credited with the invention of the flush toilet? Most people have heard of Thomas Crapper (1837-1910), the sanitary engineer who invented the valve-and-siphon arrangement that made the modern toilet possible. Another claimant to "the throne" was British inventor Alexander Cumming who patented a toilet in 1775. Then there's a nameless Minoan (a native of ancient Crete) who lived 4,000 years ago who supposedly was ahead of his time and created the first flush toilet!
PatentStorm News
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7357465 | Brake pedal feel simulator A brake pedal feel simulator is provided which reduces the simulation force provided to the brake pedal during emergency or failed conditions. The simulator generally comprises a first spring having a first spring rate and a second spring having a second spring rate... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7350870 | Integrated compensator module An integrated compensator module that protects cable and conduit assemblies from excessive loading. Also, a primary cable and conduit assembly that transfers motion to a plurality of secondary cable and conduit assemblies. The conduit portions of the secondary cable... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7216579 | Variable flow control devices, related applications, and related methods Devices for adjustably controlling a flow of fluid through a common passage and through first and second auxiliary passages are disclosed. The flow control devices may be used for controlling the steering of a vehicle having independently controlled driven structure... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7194859 | Intensifier An intensifier is operable to supply force and includes a housing defining a cavity. A ram is slidably positioned within the cavity and partially extends from the housing. The intensifier also includes a force transfer rod and a plurality of power pistons. The ram i... | 03/27/2007 |
| 6952852 | Mattress structure A mattress (900) provides a user with three-dimensional firmness zoning, the mattress (900) cooperating with a mattress shell (720). The mattress (900) includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced, transversely extending resilient blocks... | 10/11/2005 |
| 6929104 | Vertically oriented dual circuit pilot master cylinder A dual circuit pilot master cylinder for a full power brake system provides a minimally sized package for installation in a vehicle cab interior. The master cylinder utilizes a side-by-side disposition of the primary and secondary cylinders and a brake pedal linkage... | 08/16/2005 |
| 6895749 | Double-acting pressure intensifying cylinder and method for intensifying pressure in the cylinder A double-acting pressure intensifying cylinder and method, wherein a first cylinder a second cylinder are connected via an operation chamber in series. The first fluid chamber is provided with a first piston and the second fluid chamber is provided with a second pis... | 05/24/2005 |
| 6851355 | Pressing method, pressing mechanism and resin molding device The pressing method includes the first step of displacing a sub-piston provided within a sub-cylinder from its initial position to press working fluid such that the working fluid is introduced via a check valve into a main cylinder to displace a main piston provided... | 02/08/2005 |
| 6789389 | Piston-cylinder mechanisms and pressure control units utilizing such piston-cylinder mechanisms A piston-cylinder mechanism includes a cylinder (50) that defines a cylindrical bore (51). Two pistons (52, 53) are disposed within the cylindrical bore, so that a first pressure chamber (57), a second pressure chamber (58) and a t... | 09/14/2004 |
| 6729132 | Remotely and directly pedal operated hydraulic compact booster for bi-directional braking A bi-directional braking assembly for a vehicle includes a hydraulic booster assembly for applying proportional fluid pressure to a brake assembly and is actuated by a forward pedal. A master cylinder actuated by a rear pedal communicates fluid to the hydraulic boos... | 05/04/2004 |
| 6705682 | Hydraulic brake apparatus for a vehicle A vehicle hydraulic brake apparatus includes a hydraulic pressure generator which generates a power pressure irrespective of operation of a brake pedal and a regulation valve which regulates the power pressure to a predetermined pressure corresponding to an operatio... | 03/16/2004 |
| 6609370 | Dual hydraulic booster assemblies for vehicle hydraulic braking systems A dual hydraulic booster assembly for a braking system of a tractor or like vehicle has a logic valve operable in a first mode to control the supply of pressure fluid for braking on one side of the vehicle to facilitate steering, and in a second mode of o... | 08/26/2003 |
| 6502396 | Two stage brake valve A two-stage brake valve, has a pair of stages with different effective areas which become effective in succession upon an actuation of the valve, including a larger area fill chamber and a smaller area pressure chamber. A fill stage pressure relief valve ... | 01/07/2003 |
| 6270323 | Hydraulic power conversion device A hydraulic power conversion device includes a main oil container, a pair of hydraulic pumps, a motor, a twin-circuitry hydraulic cylinder mechanism including a first hydraulic cylinder, a first piston, a piston rod, a sealer, a second piston, a high pres... | 08/07/2001 |
| 6079209 | Hydraulic power conversion device A hydraulic power conversion device includes a main oil container having an inlet for supplementing hydraulic oil, a pair of hydraulic pumps connected to the main oil container, a motor drivingly connected with the hydraulic pumps, a twin-circuitry hydrau... | 06/27/2000 |
| 6065289 | Fluid displacement apparatus and method The present invention relates generally to fluid displacement apparatuses and methods. The inventive apparatus comprises: a housing having an interior space; a crankpin positionable in the interior space; and a plurality of articulated displacement member... | 05/23/2000 |
| 6026934 | Hydraulic lift with yoked cylinders A hydraulic lift system including a master cylinder, a plurality of slave cylinders, a yoke interconnecting the master and slave cylinders, and a plurality of lift cylinders each in fluid communication with one of the slave cylinders. The extension of the... | 02/22/2000 |
| 5960629 | Control apparatus for a brake booster A control apparatus (12) in a brake system (10) has a housing (20) with an inlet port (26), a gear port (32), a relief port (38), and an outlet port (42). A piston (44) located in a first bore (22) has a first peripheral surface (50) with first (52) and s... | 10/05/1999 |
| 5890364 | Master cylinder having a single service piston with compensation and damping sections An improved compensation piston arrangement for use with a dual circuit master cylinder having a single service piston for simultaneously pressurizing a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber, wherein the compensation piston arrangement provides f... | 04/06/1999 |
| 5887432 | Brake master cylinder with axially movable sleeve A brake master cylinder with a plunger piston is acted upon by a brake linkage. A floating piston is arranged between two working spaces and separates the first and the second working space fluidically from one another. Each of the two working spaces open... | 03/30/1999 |
| 5878574 | Master cylinder having nested concentric pistons An improved force transfer arrangement for use in a dual circuit master cylinder having a pair of nested concentric pistons for pressurizing a pair of respective fluid chambers, wherein the force transfer arrangement imparts an input force from an input p... | 03/09/1999 |
| 5857334 | Vehicle brake booster A vehicle brake booster comprises: a body having an input port, an output port, and a flow path through which the input port is communicated with the output port; a first piston which is arranged in the flow path, and on which the hydraulic pressure in th... | 01/12/1999 |
| 5857335 | Hydraulic impulse rotational motor A hydraulic pressure amplifier, coupled to a turbine, for creating a fluid impulse directed to a blade of the turbine causing it to rotate. The hydraulic pressure amplifier is comprised of a series of connected sections with each section having a large cy... | 01/12/1999 |
| 5832727 | Hydraulic oil well pump drive system A hydraulic oil well pump drive system for driving an oil well sucker rod includes a master piston positioned within a master cylinder for axial displacement between first and second ends of the master cylinder. The master piston has a piston drive rod wh... | 11/10/1998 |
| 5802853 | Valve housing assembly for a brake valve A two-stage brake valve includes a valve housing. The valve housing contains a chamber, one side of which serves as an equalizing reservoir which is connected directly or indirectly with at least one brake cylinder bore which is formed in the valve housin... | 09/08/1998 |
| 5778672 | Brake valve A two stage brake valve communicates fluid pressure to a brake mechanism. The brake valve has an inlet for receiving pressurized brake fluid from a pump, a reservoir port, a stepped bore and a stepped piston member comprising a larger diameter prefill pis... | 07/14/1998 |
| 5711151 | Brake-pressure modulation device A brake-pressure modulation device in which a hydraulic unit, fitted with solenoid valves, with return pumps, accumulators and dampers of an anti-lock brake system also has a tandem brake master cylinder. The hydraulic unit has a housing with a standard l... | 01/27/1998 |
| 5649424 | Two-stage pressure cylinder A two-stage pressure cylinder having a work cylinder (17,100) with a work piston (18,108), and piston rod (20,110) for contact with a work piece, in which the work piston is movable, an oil cylinder (56,116) to contain hydraulic fluid (H), an oil piston (... | 07/22/1997 |
| 5526644 | Oil intensifier cylinder An oil intensifier cylinder having a hollow cylindrical body. An intensifier piston is slideably positioned in the body. An intensifier rod is connected to and extends from the intensifier piston. An outer reservoir piston is slideably positioned in the b... | 06/18/1996 |
| 5447026 | Hydraulic oil well pump drive system A hydraulic oil well pump drive system for driving an oil well sucker rod includes a master piston positioned within a master cylinder for axial displacement between first and second ends of the master cylinder. The master piston has a piston drive rod wh... | 09/05/1995 |
| 5442916 | Control valve assembly for total pressure hydraulic brake A control valve assembly for a total pressure hydraulic brake is provided with an input port, and output port, a remote control input port connected to a hydraulic fluid supply, a first response which is moved together with depression of a brake pedal, a ... | 08/22/1995 |
| 5431015 | Flexible bellows actuation system A closed loop fully self-contained actuation system for converting a mechanical input motion into a mechanical output motion, which actuates a device such as a flight control surface on an aircraft, comprises an input actuator including a first fluid pres... | 07/11/1995 |
| 5414998 | Tandem master cylinder having little pressure-imbalance Tandem master cylinder comprises primary and secondary pistons (3,4) moved apart by means of two springs (9, 10). Only one (9) of the two springs is prestressed in the rest position of the piston. The pressures in the primary 6 and secondary 7 chambers ar... | 05/16/1995 |
| 5410768 | Method and apparatus useful for the maintenance of blood circulation A method for preventing bedsores is disclosed which includes rocking the patient slowly at a rocking cycle period in the range of 1 to 120 minutes. Preferably, the entire bed is rocked using a hydraulic system characterized by synchronous motion of the ma... | 05/02/1995 |
| 5394701 | Brake valve with prefill chamber unloading valve Left and right two stage brake valves communicate fluid pressure to left and right brake mechanisms, each brake valve having an inlet for receiving pressurized brake fluid, a reservoir, a stepped bore and a stepped piston. The stepped bore and the stepped... | 03/07/1995 |
| 5327723 | Master cylinder compensation ports A master cylinder having first and second compensating ports with a plurality of openings therein for rapidly allowing fluid communication between a reservoir and first and second chambers to maintain the master cylinder in a ready condition with respect ... | 07/12/1994 |
| 5289682 | Arrangement of a master cylinder and brake booster An arrangement for a master cylinder and a vacuum booster for an automotive vehicle is provided including a vacuum booster having a first travel axis generally parallel with a travel axis of a vehicle and a housing for attachment to the vehicle, a master ... | 03/01/1994 |
| 5287700 | Flexible bellows actuation system A closed loop fully self-contained actuation system for converting a mechanical input motion into a mechanical output motion, which actuates a device such as a flight control surface on an aircraft, comprises an input actuator including a first fluid pres... | 02/22/1994 |
| 5261235 | Hydraulic pressure actuating systems and reservoirs for same A hydraulic pressure actuating system has a master cylinder pivotally mounted to the dash panel in line with the actuator pedal, a remotely mounted hydraulic fluid reservoir assembly positioned at the high point of the system for selfbleeding, and an actu... | 11/16/1993 |
| 5259195 | Fluid pressure intensifier The subject invention relates to a fluid pressure intensifier (32) for increasing the pressure of an incompressible fluid and comprises a fluid reservoir (112) supplying fluid to a cylinder housing (72). The housing (72) includes first inlet (88) and outl... | 11/09/1993 |
