Patents Examined by Christopher Besler
  • Patent number: 9926027
    Abstract: The method is for producing a bus using a cutaway van chassis, the bus being of the type having a sliding passenger door and the chassis being of the type having a passenger door frame including a horizontal rail, an A-pillar extending to the rail and a B pillar extending to the rail, the A-pillar being adapted to receive a swinging door. In the method, the B-pillar and the rail are removed to produce a modified chassis and the remainder of the bus is constructed about the modified chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: DUR-A-BUS COACH BUILDERS LTD.
    Inventors: Lorenzo D'Urso, Joseph D'Urso, Michael Pilca
  • Patent number: 9926911
    Abstract: One or more controllers may perform one or more methods to control one or more air deflector units of one or more wind turbine rotor blades. The methods include per-blade control methods that may be performed, e.g., to reduce blade loading caused by wind gusts. The methods also include collective control methods that may be performed, e.g., to reduce tower motion and/or rotor speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Butterworth, Tobias G. Wehrhan
  • Patent number: 9927818
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for automatically tuning a combustor of a gas turbine engine during a transient period, such as when a state of the gas turbine engine is changing. Once it has been determined whether the state of the gas turbine engine is changing, it is then determined whether a lean blowout is imminent, which is based conditions being monitored. A stability bias is applied to the system if either the state is changing or if lean blowout is imminent until the lean blowout is no longer determined to be imminent. The stability bias monitors operating conditions of the gas turbine engine and determines when one of the operating conditions has overcome a threshold value. Once a threshold value is overcome, a fuel flow fraction is adjusted by a predefined increment. The application of the stability bias is gradually terminated once it is determined that the lean blowout is no longer imminent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA IP UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Hany Rizkalla, Donald Gauthier, Sumit Soni, Peter John Stuttaford
  • Patent number: 9923434
    Abstract: An end band and method of forming an end band for a rotor. The end band includes a hollow cylindrical band, wherein at least a portion of the band has a grain flow in a direction parallel to the hoop stress of the band. The end band also includes at least a portion having a grain flow in a direction perpendicular to the hoop stress of the band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kavithas Ponnampalam, Jong-Yeong Yung, William Louis Wentland, Craig R. Legros, Kevin L Dickerson, Davis S. Behling
  • Patent number: 9920635
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides various embodiments of cooling circuits, turbine blades with cooling circuits, and methods of forming such turbine blades, having raised rib turbulator structures, which may be used in gas turbine engines. In one exemplary embodiment, a cooling circuit for directing a flow of fluid is disclosed, the cooling circuit includes a cooling circuit wall and a plurality of raised turbulator ribs, each turbulator rib of the plurality of raised turbulator ribs being spaced apart from the cooling circuit wall to allow the fluid to flow between the cooling circuit wall and the plurality of turbulator ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Ramakumar Venkata Naga Bommisetty, Dhanvantri Joshi, Sridhar Murari, Jong Liu, Malak Fouad Malak
  • Patent number: 9914165
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for delivering collars to swage guns for swaging. One embodiment is an apparatus that includes a frame, arms movably attached to the frame, a tensioner mechanism that applies force to drive the arms towards each other, and fingers that each extend from an arm. The fingers each include a lengthwise structure. The lengthwise structure includes an arcuate portion dimensioned to mate with an arcuate portion of another finger to form a hollow cylindrical receptacle. The lengthwise structure also includes a channel extending to the arcuate portion, dimensioned to mate with a channel of another finger to form a hollow tunnel for delivering a collar to the receptacle when the fingers are partially apart from each other. The arms of the apparatus each include a contact area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Chris J. Erickson
  • Patent number: 9909559
    Abstract: A method for performing uptower maintenance of a wind turbine in order to replace the main bearing on the turbine shaft is disclosed. Embodiments of this method to perform maintenance may include installing a rotor lock to resist rotation of the main shaft during maintenance, providing a lifting device in order to elevate the main shaft, removing the main bearing from its main bearing housing, and installing a replacement split main bearing. A crane may also be installed uptower to assist in the maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Inventus Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Martin E. Lohan, Per Eske Fenger, Charles Asheim, Miguel A. Gonzalez, Daniel M. Brake
  • Patent number: 9908223
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft includes an attaching member releasably connectable to the shaft. A press mechanism is coupled to the attaching member and is configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing. An optical sending unit is configured to output a high intensity light to allow a user to locate a shaft slot of the shaft to align the press mechanism relative to the shaft when the attaching member connects to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: TEMPER AXLE PRODUCTS CORPORATION
    Inventors: John E. Rode, Sean E. Strait
  • Patent number: 9908206
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an novel method of producing heat exchangers having at least two fluid circuits each comprising channels, the method employing diffusion bonding achieved using the hot isostatic pressing (HIP) technique, and to a heat exchanger obtained using this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Emmanuel Rigal, Jean-Marc Leibold, Fabien Vidotto
  • Patent number: 9903523
    Abstract: The present invention is an improved method and assembly for repairing a pipe or the junction of two pipes, such as sewer pipes. The assembly includes a launcher device having a launcher device body, a launcher device opening disposed on the launcher device body, and a main bladder substantially surrounding the launcher device body. The main bladder includes an opening that substantially aligns with the launcher device opening. The assembly further includes an absorbent liner and a lateral bladder having a tubular lateral bladder body portion and a flange portion. The flange portion of the lateral bladder is attached to the exterior of the launcher device body. A method of using the assembly includes impregnating the liner with resinous material; inserting at least a portion of the liner into the lateral bladder; inflating the bladders; pressing the liner against the pipe; and allowing the resinous material to cure and harden.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: LMK Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Larry W. Kiest, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9903205
    Abstract: An impeller for a rotor of a turbomachine includes: a wheel disc mounted on the rotor, the wheel disc having plural grooves arranged along a circumference of the wheel disc and extending in the thickness direction of the wheel disc. A toothed profile is formed on two sides of each groove. A plurality of impeller blades each have one root with two sides on each of which one toothed profile is formed. Each blade is inserted into a groove so as to form a blade-groove combination with the toothed profiles of the root and of the groove in engagement. Each combination having a fixing device that fixes the blade in the groove in the thickness direction and in the radial direction of the wheel disc. Each fixing device has a recess movably received in the groove base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: MAN Diesel & Turbo SE
    Inventor: Bjoern Reinhold
  • Patent number: 9901196
    Abstract: Systems and methods for securing an object to a surface are disclosed herein. The system includes a mounting block having a first section with a first cutout for receiving a ferromagnetic chip, a second section with a second cutout, and a panel. The second cutout may be slightly smaller than the first cutout. The second section is secured to the first section such that the second cutout maintains the ferromagnetic chip in the first cutout. The panel has a front side and a back side, and the back side of the panel has a magnet attached thereto. The mounting block is releasably secured to a surface, such as a wall and the magnet is received in the second cutout such that the magnet is in magnetic communication with the ferromagnetic chip and the back side of the panel is flush with the second section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Inventors: Bryan Azorsky, Ben Gasser
  • Patent number: 9897330
    Abstract: A ventilation hood is mounted to an underside of a cabinet, including a bottom panel and a lower support frame positioned above a cooking appliance, by first and second brackets secured below the cabinet at spaced positions aligned with outermost edge portions of the lower support frame and at least one fastener assembly secured to a front portion of the ventilation hood. Multiple embodiments are disclosed for the at least one fastener assembly, including tabs bent from a housing of the ventilation hood, feet threadably attached to the hood, mounting blocks including snap connectors, threaded fasteners, and pinned bolts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Zachary J. Bruin-Slot, Andrew James Grose
  • Patent number: 9897040
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a gas turbine engine for mounting to a rear of an aircraft fuselage has a propulsor that rotates on a first axis, and an engine core including a compressor section, a combustor section, and a turbine section, with the turbine section being closer to the propulsor than the compressor section. The engine core is aerodynamically connected to the propulsor and has a second axis. A nacelle is positioned around the propulsor and engine core. The nacelle is attached to the wing of the aircraft. A downstream end of the nacelle has at least one pivoting door with an actuation mechanism to pivot the door between a stowed position and a vertical deployed position in which the door inhibits a flow to provide a thrust reverse of the flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Jesse M. Chandler, Brian D. Merry
  • Patent number: 9897331
    Abstract: A system and method for installing a ventilation hood to an underside of a wall cabinet includes providing structure for initially establishing mounting or anchoring points for the ventilation hood, securing first mounting structure for the ventilation hood, supporting the ventilation hood on the first mounting structure, and then further securing the ventilation hood with an additional fastening arrangement to complete the installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Zachary J. Bruin-Slot, Andrew James Grose
  • Patent number: 9884339
    Abstract: A roller cover and associated pair of cams attachable to opposite ends of the roller cover. Each of the cams has an outer diameter extending radially outwardly beyond an outer diameter of the roller cover a predetermined distance for maintaining the outer diameter of the roller cover a corresponding distance from the surface being coated during rotational movement of the roller cover over the surface to act as a thickness gauge for the coating being applied to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: The Wooster Brush Company
    Inventors: James M. Byrne, Richard K. Bukovitz, Lawrence A. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 9884402
    Abstract: Various kinds of finishing and hardening treatments of holes by methods of plastic surface deformation can find application in many branches of engineering industry. In particular for burnishing holes on a milling or drilling machine tool. A device for diamond-burnishing of holes increases the functional possibilities, improves the quality of the treated hole surface and the endurance of the burnishing tool, provides the opportunity for a precise regulation in order to get the necessary hole caliber, and uses the load of all the weights for obtaining the necessary pressing force. The device structure comprises a housing with a tapered stem, central and terminal arms with crossheads and shafts, bars with weights, a foot with a cylindrical body, and an arbor with a diamond-burnishing tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: SAMARA STATE AEROSPACE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Dmitrii Leonidovich Skuratov, Aleksei Nicolaevich Shvetcov
  • Patent number: 9884359
    Abstract: A die 20 used to form a metal tube into a tubular twist beam part 22 having a U-shaped torsion section 66 is provided. The die 20 includes a punch 44 and side form blocks 34 which simultaneously engage a metal tube and form the metal tube into the tubular twist beam part 22. The form blocks 34 have a curved profile which depends on the desired profile of the tubular twist beam part 22 to be formed. The die 20 includes horizontal spacer blocks 38 and vertical spacer blocks 32 restricting movement of the punch 44 and form blocks 34. The spacer blocks 32, 38 can have various different dimensions and can be easily removed and replaced to adjust the closing position of the die 20 and thus form multiple tubular twist beam parts 22 each having a different dimension and different roll rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Magna International Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Erik Peters, Scott Robert Mooney
  • Patent number: 9878429
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus having a base with at least one guide formed along a length thereof. A fitting clamp and a tube clamp are coupled to the base and spaced apart from one another. A drive mechanism is operable for moving at least one clamp relative to the other clamp along the guide of the base so as to slidingly assemble a tube and fitting together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Inventor: Richard C Raczuk
  • Patent number: 9868606
    Abstract: A rotary drum apparatus comprises a drum that is rotatable about an axis of rotation. The apparatus comprises a first set of first shell segments having a first number of first shell segments. Each first shell segment is releasably connectable with the drum and has an outer surface. The outer surfaces of the first shell segments combine to form a continuous first outer circumferential surface defining a maximum radial distance from the axis of rotation. The apparatus comprises a second set of second shell segments having a second number of second shell segments. Each second shell segment is releasably connectable with the drum and has an outer surface. The outer surfaces of the second shell segments combine to form a continuous second outer circumferential surface located within 10% of the maximum radial distance. The first number of first shell segments is greater than the second number of second shell segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: The Proctor & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Mark Mason Hargett, Bradley Edward Walsh, David Carlton Ordway