Patents Examined by Christopher W. Fulton
  • Patent number: 11307032
    Abstract: A laser level is provided. The laser level has a housing and a laser inside the housing. The laser level also has a laser fixing plate and a front cover plate. The laser is disposed in a mounting slot of the laser fixing plate. A sliding block is disposed in a space formed between the laser fixing plate and the front cover plate. A minus-shaped laser beam splitter and a cross-shaped laser beam splitter are disposed on the sliding block in a vertical direction. Both sides of the sliding block are further respectively provided with a sliding block pusher disposed in a way of passing through two sides of the housing. The sliding block pushers can move the sliding block in the vertical direction. The laser level can achieve positional exchange between the minus-shaped laser beam splitter and the cross-shaped laser beam splitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Zhejiang Rongsheng Tools Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Zhiwei Zhuang, Jianrong Qian
  • Patent number: 11300981
    Abstract: Water-jet cleaning system and a method of cleaning a heat exchanger. The equipment includes a rotary tool having a lance with at least two degrees of freedom. The lance's movements relative to openings defined in the heat exchanger face plate are controlled via a smart indexing controller. The controller includes an electronic communication device that is specifically programmed to selectively activate various components of the rotary tool and a water delivery system. The programming utilizes an observed, learned, or uploaded pattern of the heat exchanger tube openings to selectively rotate the lance relative to the rotary tool's mounting assembly or linearly move the lance towards or away from the mounting assembly. The controller moves the lance to align a nozzle thereon with a selected opening in the face plate and then delivers a high pressure water jet therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: TERYDON, INC.
    Inventors: Terry D. Gromes, Sr., Terry D. Gromes, Jr., Kristen E. Griffin, Jon M. Shockey, Jr., Gordon W. East, William C. Jackson
  • Patent number: 11300410
    Abstract: A device and method for projecting visible level laser lines onto a work surface and measuring distances along the level laser lines. The device includes a self-leveling laser housing that allows the lasers to level when activated. The device also includes separate distance measuring lasers and a handheld display used to measure distances from the center of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Sure Hang, LLC
    Inventor: Jayson Hill
  • Patent number: 11300395
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a measurement apparatus designed to fit on the end of a measuring tape for measuring the length of an elongated member having a beveled cut end. The measurement apparatus may have a first receptacle for measuring from an acute point of the beveled cut end. The measurement apparatus may have a second receptacle for measuring from an obtuse point of the beveled cut end. The second receptacle may be offset from the first receptacle by an offset distance in a lengthwise direction. The measurement apparatus may include a tape channel positioned between the first and second receptacles. The measurement apparatus may include a longitudinally adjustable hinge and a latch. The longitudinally adjustable hinge and the latch may be used to secure the measuring tape in the tape channel. The longitudinally adjustable hinge may also be used to adjust the offset distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Inventor: Justin Story
  • Patent number: 11293754
    Abstract: There is provided a surveying instrument including a monopod which is installed on a reference point, a surveying instrument main body which is provided at a known distance from a lower end of the monopod and a known angle with respect to an axis of the monopod, two auxiliary legs which extend downward from a middle portion of the monopod at a predetermined angle, and a lower image pickup module which is provided at a known position with respect to the surveying instrument main body, wherein the surveying instrument main body comprises a measuring unit, a measuring direction image pickup module, and an arithmetic control module, wherein the surveying instrument main body is supported by three points by the monopod and the auxiliary legs, and a positional change or a rotational change of the surveying instrument main body is calculated based on a change of the lower image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: TOPCON Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Hirano, Kaoru Kumagai, Fumio Ohtomo, Kazuki Osaragi, Nobuyuki Nishita, Tetsuji Anai, Noriyasu Kiryuu
  • Patent number: 11294399
    Abstract: Water-jet cleaning system and a method of cleaning a heat exchanger. The equipment includes a rotary tool having a lance with at least two degrees of freedom. The lance's movements relative to openings defined in the heat exchanger face plate are controlled via a smart indexing controller. The controller includes an electronic communication device that is specifically programmed to selectively activate various components of the rotary tool and a water delivery system. The programming utilizes an observed, learned, or uploaded pattern of the heat exchanger tube openings to selectively rotate the lance relative to the rotary tool's mounting assembly or linearly move the lance towards or away from the mounting assembly. The controller moves the lance to align a nozzle thereon with a selected opening in the face plate and then delivers a high pressure water jet therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: TERYDON, INC.
    Inventors: Terry D. Gromes, Sr., Terry D. Gromes, Jr., Kristen E. Griffin, Jon M. Shockey, Jr., Gordon W. East, William C. Jackson
  • Patent number: 11287258
    Abstract: A laser projection device with compact frame is provided, as is a corresponding frame or mount for one or more laser projection devices. In one embodiment the frame or mount includes a coupling interface that permits multiple coupling positions with respect to a laser projection device, such as at 90 degree intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel A. Gould, Benjamin T. Jones, Andrew Kenneth Dorscheid, Gregory R. Strommen, Jacob D. Hadfield
  • Patent number: 11287241
    Abstract: A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) for measuring the coordinates of an object in space is provided. The AACMM includes a base and a manually positionable arm portion having an opposed first end and second end, the arm portion being rotationally coupled to the base, the arm portion including a plurality of connected arm segments, each arm segment including at least one position transducer for producing a position signal. A wire wound torsion spring is operably coupled between two of the connected arm segments. A first measurement probe is coupled to the first end, the first measurement probe having a first extension element. An electronic circuit is provided that receives the position signal from the at least one position transducer and provides data corresponding to a position of the first measurement probe. A probe end is disposed between the first measurement probe and the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: James P. Phipps, Dragos M. Stanescu, Kishore Lankalapalli
  • Patent number: 11279590
    Abstract: A system and method for non-contact measurement of remaining spooled material. The system comprises at least one optical signal source configured to illuminate spooled material with an optical beam having an optical beam width that illuminates the material remaining in the spool. The optical beam width and spacing are such that spooled material is illuminated by each optical signal source. The system includes drive circuitry configured to drive the at least one optical signal source using pulses. The system further includes at least one optical signal receiver configured to receive light reflected from each of said light pulses. The system still further includes a processor configured to: establish a number and drive strength of the pulses; and cause measurements to be performed of the remaining spooled material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: David Alan Bultman, Rudy Padilla
  • Patent number: 11273549
    Abstract: A bendable tube having pre-marked horizontal and vertical alignment guides which allow a user to form successive bends of the tube in the same plane. The horizontal and vertical alignment guides are coplanar with a horizontal plane and a vertical plane which axially bisect the tube and are perpendicular to each other. The horizontal and vertical alignment guides allow the tube to be precisely aligned within a bending apparatus, ensuring that the horizontal alignment guides remain coplanar with the horizontal plane when performing a horizontal bend, and that the vertical alignment guides remain coplanar with the vertical plane when performing a vertical bend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Inventor: John Gorgoglione
  • Patent number: 11273550
    Abstract: A tool for assisting the process of marking or cutting structures in a predefined manner is disclosed. The tool comprises a rod member having a longitudinal axis and a plate member rotatably attached to the rod member. The tool comprises an arm removably attached to the rod member and to the plate member. The plate member is rotatably attached to the rod member by means of a structure comprising a joint and one or more magnetic or magnetizable structures configured to provide a magnetic force between the rod member and the plate member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Angle.Design ApS
    Inventor: Niels Freitag
  • Patent number: 11268800
    Abstract: The present application discloses a method for calibrating a measuring probe in a gear cutting machine by using a workpiece received in a workpiece holder of the gear cutting machine, wherein the measuring probe includes a measuring probe tip which is movably arranged on a measuring probe base, wherein the deflection of the measuring probe tip relative the measuring probe base can be determined via at least one sensor of the measuring probe, and wherein the measuring probe is traversable relative to the workpiece holder via at least two axes of movement of the gear cutting machine. The method comprises rotating the workpiece via an axis of rotation of the workpiece holder and traversing the measuring probe via the at least two axes of movement of the gear cutting machine such that in the case of a perfect calibration the touch point of the measuring probe tip on the tooth flank would remain unchanged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: LIEBHERR-VERZAHNTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventor: Johannes Van Hauth
  • Patent number: 11248896
    Abstract: A hole location target includes a self-centering insert having a centerline and a laser beam emitter attached to the self-centering insert. The axis of the emitted laser beam is concentric to the centerline of the self-centering insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jerald A. Hull, Philip L. Freeman
  • Patent number: 11247326
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus for forming orthogonal joints in conduits. The apparatus includes a first piece including a first plurality of curved openings and a second piece including a second plurality of curved openings. The apparatus includes a hinge configured to couple the first piece to the second piece and to enable the first and second pieces to be configurable in each of a closed position and an open position, where, when in the open position, the first piece is positioned adjacent to the second piece and, when in the closed position, the first and second pieces are configured to define a channel for receiving a conduit and each of the first plurality of curved openings is aligned with a corresponding one of the second plurality of curved openings. The apparatus further includes one or more magnets coupled to the first or the second piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Nation Wide Products LLC
    Inventor: Jason Darby
  • Patent number: 11243061
    Abstract: A wheel comprehensive detecting device, comprises a lower lifting and rotating system, a measuring system I, a measuring system II, a upper pressing system, a translation system, a measuring system III, a measuring system IV. The present disclosure in use is capable of measuring the wheel bolt hole position, the runout of the flange plane, the runouts of the upper and lower rim end faces, the runouts of the upper and lower bead seats, the height of counterbore end face of the bolt hole, the height and offset of the riser end face, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: CITIC DICASTAL CO., LTD
    Inventors: Guorui Wu, Bowen Xue, Jiandong Guo
  • Patent number: 11241765
    Abstract: Workpiece-holding tools and techniques are described. Workpiece-holding tools and techniques are usable to ensure consistent and durable alignment of various workpieces while providing access for performing attachment techniques thereon. In one example, the workpiece-holding tool is configured to allow objects to be held or removably affixed to an alignment surface. Holding objects with the workpiece-holding tool ensures that the alignment of objects with an alignment surface does not change while a user is operating upon a workpiece, e.g., as by joining aligned objects together, without interfering or obstructing access to the objects. The ability to hold objects is enhanced by the inclusion of cutouts that provide increased access to interior surfaces of the workpiece-holding tool, such as to increase the area available for use of clamps or other fastening devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Fireball Tool Works, LLC
    Inventor: Jason A. Marburger
  • Patent number: 11236987
    Abstract: A coordinate positioning apparatus having a load bearing structure. The load bearing structure has at least one elongate corner piece providing at least two bearing surfaces, one on each side of the corner, for a carriage moveable along the load bearing structure, and at least one piece of sheet material which extends along the at least one elongate corner piece and provides at least one load bearing facet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventors: Hugo George Derrick, Stephen Paul Hunter, David Andrew Larkham, David Roberts McMurtry
  • Patent number: 11235954
    Abstract: A method for mounting a guide rail in an elevator system elevator shaft first carries out mounting steps by a mounting device having a carrier component, an installation component and a control apparatus controlling the installation component. The control apparatus determines, on the basis of an actual position of the mounting device and a desired position of a guide rail to be installed, a position of a marking on a shaft wall of the elevator shaft relative to the actual position of the mounting device. Based on the marking, an installation step determines the desired position of the guide rail. The marking is applied to the shaft wall by the installation component. The previous steps are followed by the steps of alignment the guide rail in relation to the marking and fastening the guide rail to the shaft wall, which steps can be performed manually by an installer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventors: Andrea Cambruzzi, Erich Bütler, Philipp Zimmerli, Raphael Bitzi
  • Patent number: 11231275
    Abstract: A length selectable spirit level and measurement device for simultaneous measurement and leveling includes a first bar and a second bar. The first bar has a channel positioned therethrough, which extends between opposed ends thereof. A pair of slats positioned in the channel is slidably engaged to the first bar and thus selectively extensible therefrom. Respective indicia of a plurality of indicia coupled to the slats are alignable with a pair of points to measures a distance between the points. The second bar has a set of orifices positioned therethrough, each of which has a spirit bubble tube positioned therein and coupled to the second bar. The spirit bubble tube indicates an orientation of a longitudinal axis of the second bar relative to horizontal. The first bar is selectively engageable to the second bar so that the slats are selectively extensible in parallel with the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Inventor: Stewart Bunting
  • Patent number: 11221215
    Abstract: A level, such as a digital level, with various features or embodiments, such as an ultrasonically welded lens covering a display screen, a pipe insert molded in front of a light sensor, one or more button assemblies, and cartridge assemblies that are used to secure compartments within the frame of a level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Leidel, Eric Mackey