Patents Examined by David Jones
  • Patent number: 8028560
    Abstract: Vise pliers with duck bill jaws and a brake attached thereto, having utility as a vise pliers tool and/or as a handheld sheet metal brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Custom Spec Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Badiali
  • Patent number: 8028510
    Abstract: A link for a chain, which is used in a linear actuator, comprises a base member and a plate pivotably mounted on the base member. An arm extends from the plate. A first connecting means is disposed on a distal end of the arm to connect the link with a first adjacent link. The plate has a protrusion for releasably engaging a second adjacent link. A second connecting means is disposed on the base member to connect the link with the second adjacent link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Teleflex Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Jon Scott, Eric Fetchko
  • Patent number: 8024916
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cable run element comprising a plurality of links (2) connected in a chain-like manner which are arranged in a starting position, in particular with freely suspended cable run element (1), along a straight line, wherein all links (2) are pivotable relative to one another with respect to their respectively adjacent links (2) in the same swivel plane (99), wherein a number of links (2) have two parallel plates (4) extending parallel to the swivel plane (99) of the cable run element (1) and forming a receptacle (46) for a cable to be run between them, wherein a number of links (2) have guide elements (3) for running a cable in the receptacle (46), wherein connecting elements (5), which connect the links (2) that are pivotable relative to one another are provided in an end region (43) of the parallel plates (4), and wherein counterweights (6) are arranged in an end region (44) of the parallel plates (4) opposite the end region (43) on at least two links (2), so that the center of gra
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Inventor: Johann Kuebel
  • Patent number: 8024950
    Abstract: A hemming apparatus is provided for use with a robot in performing a hemming operation. The hemming apparatus comprises a support housing which mounts to a machine and has a pressurizable interior chamber having forward and rearward portions. A slide member includes a piston which is disposed in the chamber, and a plunger extends outwardly from the piston. Means are provided for attaching the housing to a nose having a central passageway. A bearing shaft is disposed within the central passageway, and means are provided for connecting the bearing shaft to the plunger. A hem roller is attached at the end of the bearing shaft. The rearward and forward portions of the chamber are connectible to a source of fluid pressure such that adjusting the chamber pressures moves the piston, thereby causing the bearing shaft to drive the hem roller into engagement with a work piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Inventors: Aaron E. Harrow, Thomas A. Cox
  • Patent number: 8020274
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for marking a socket. The method includes the steps of providing a socket, pressing the socket to make an indented mark, executing thermal treatment on the socket, coloring a portion of the socket near the indented mark to form a printed layer, vibrating and grinding the socket to remove the printed layer from the socket except the indented mark, and electroplating the socket to form a coating on an external side and an internal side of the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Jing Xiang Kai Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Da-Sen Lin
  • Patent number: 8015854
    Abstract: The present invention relates to means for feeding blanks into the thread rolling part of a thread rolling machine in accurate timing and accurate position. A transport screw for transporting blanks e.g. in a thread rolling machine is disclosed, said transport screw comprises a transport helix for transporting a blank along said transport screw when said transport screw rotates, said transport screw further comprises a feeding area being a widening of said transport helix, whereby said feeding area can receive and feed said blank into said transport helix upon rotation of said transport screw. Further, a method of feeding blanks into a transport screw and a feeding system comprising a transport screw, a blank height adjustment mechanism and a blank alignment mechanism are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Enkotec A/S
    Inventors: Martin Borchsenius Kristensen, Jorgen Duelund Nielsen
  • Patent number: 8015849
    Abstract: Electromagnetic forming can lead to better formability along with additional benefits. The spatial distribution of forming pressure in electromagnetic forming can be controlled by the configuration of the actuator. A type of actuator is discussed which gives a uniform pressure distribution in forming. It also provides a mechanically robust design and has a high efficiency for flat sheet forming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: American Trim, LLC
    Inventors: Allen M. Jones, Dale E. Whetstone, Larry A. Wilkerson, Stephen C. Hatkevich
  • Patent number: 8006531
    Abstract: A bending machine designed to bend and shape sheet metal comprises a blade-holder unit (10) with a ā€œCā€ shaped cross-section, mobile along two mutually orthogonal directions with respect to a fixed bed, and on which one or more bending blades are fixed. This machine comprises a kinematic system for driving the operating units, in which servomotors (15, 21, 22) and epicyclical reduction gears are used for the movement of the blade-holder unit (10). Moreover, the blade-holder unit (10) of the bending machine uses an articulated mechanism consisting of two mechanical units (13, 14) which form a closed kinematic chain with five members connected by five kinematic turning pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Finn-Power Oy
    Inventors: Luigi Patuzzi, Maurizio Felici, Mikael Norbert Haag
  • Patent number: 7992416
    Abstract: Ultrasonic peening treatment is desirable where an application of a compressive stress is helpful to reduce the incidence of crack formation on highly stressed parts. Ultrasonic peening treatment can be performed in field applications without requiring a rotor to be removed from the machine. The system includes an acoustic element that excites peening media within a peen chamber. A frame is attachable to an assembled turbine rotor component and includes support structure engageable with the acoustic element. The frame is cooperable with a chamber tooling that defines and encloses the peen chamber together with the turbine rotor component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Raymond Joseph Stonitsch, Diane Marie Beagle, Jean-Michel Duchazeaubeneix, Patrick Cheppe, Philippe Jacob, Vincent Desfontaine
  • Patent number: 7739893
    Abstract: A two-way bending machine for a reinforcement includes a hollow worktable with a top, a drive mechanism, a bending mechanism and a retaining mechanism, the drive mechanism powered by a bi-directional motor to drive the bending mechanism at a reduced rotation, the bending mechanism being extended to the top where a turntable is provided, multiple positioning holes at the center of and on the turntable for insertion of a positioning member and a retaining member to hold the reinforcement in position, the retaining mechanism including two retaining blocks, a track and an air cylinder with both retaining blocks alternatively traveling laterally to get close to the left or the right side of the turntable to serve a support in the bending.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Inventor: Chun-Jen Chien
  • Patent number: 7269986
    Abstract: A method of forming an elongated metal blank into a structural component having a predetermined outer configuration. The method includes providing a shape imparting cavity or shell section formed from a rigid material which includes an inner surface defining the predetermined shape, placing the metal blank into the cavity or shell section, and forming the metal blank into the component by heating axial portions of the metal blank and forcing a fluid at a high pressure into the metal blank until the metal blank at least partially conforms to at least a portion of the inner surface of the cavity or shell section to form the structural component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Hot Metal Gas Forming IP 2, Inc.
    Inventors: George D. Pfaffmann, William C. Dykstra, Marc R. Matsen
  • Patent number: 7263867
    Abstract: A flexible bushing for a cam follower, comprising a substantially rigid inner sleeve including an inner cam follower engaging surface, a length of the inner sleeve being greater than a thickness of a ram into which the flexible bushing is inserted, a substantially rigid outer sleeve including an outer ram engaging surface, a length of the outer sleeve being substantially equal to the thickness of the ram, the inner and outer sleeves being substantially concentric, and a shock absorbing flexible material disposed between the inner and outer sleeves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Intech Corporation
    Inventors: Georg Bartosch, Todor S. Mihov, Chris Ballard
  • Patent number: 7260973
    Abstract: A propeller straightening apparatus utilizes a pair of adjustable hydraulic cylinders to apply pressure to a selected propeller blade of the propeller. Adjustments can include lateral, longitudinal and tilt angle. A propeller mount holds the propeller in a fixed position during straightening. The mount can be quickly loosened so that the propeller can be rotated to present a different propeller blade to the hydraulic cylinders. The cylinders have polyurethane tips portions that help grip the surface of the propeller. The apparatus can bend a selected propeller blade to change rake and/or pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Inventor: Hoyt Peden
  • Patent number: 7254982
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrohydraulic pressing device (1) that can be operated using one hand. The device comprises a working head (30), an electric motor (4), a pump (20), a hydraulic reservoir (33), and a gear mechanism (19) extending between the electric motor (4) and the pump (20). A holding area (5) around which a hand is placed is provided and an actuating switch (39) is assigned to this area. The aim of the invention is to improve a pressing device of this type with regard to the handling thereof. To this end, the invention provides that the holding area (5) is formed around the electric motor (4), and the actuating switch (39) is situated between the electric motor (4) and the working head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Gustav Klauke GmbH
    Inventor: Egbert Frenken
  • Patent number: 7254935
    Abstract: A ratchet arrangement of a chain splitter comprises a rotating rod integrally formed at a side of the ratchet wrench, and the rotating rod is to be screwed in a threaded hole of a splitter body. The ratchet wrench can reduce the required revolving space and the whole packing of the chain splitter, thus saving the required space when transporting the packed chain splitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Inventor: Hong-Jhen Huang
  • Patent number: 7251924
    Abstract: The present invention provides a non-detachable chain link for a material mover chain. Chain link comprises a body portion having an aperture therethrough and a hook portion including a tip portion. A recess defined by the hook portion is adapted to contain one or more bearing surfaces on the body portion of an adjacent link in a chain comprised of a plurality of such links. The tip portion has a greater width than the aperture to prevent the hook portion from falling through the aperture of an adjacent link. This prevents chain links from coming detached during operation due to an object falling on the chain or excessive slack developing in the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Graetz Contract Mfg., LLC
    Inventors: Jamie Graetz, James Zak
  • Patent number: 7251972
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for reshaping a tube having an initial outside diameter, an initial wall thickness, and an initial length to form a tube have a reshaped outside diameter, a reshaped length, and a reshaped wall thickness, wherein at least one of the reshaped outside diameter, the reshaped length, and the reshaped wall thickness is different than a respective one of the initial outside diameter, the initial wall thickness, and the initial length. The method includes mounting the tube between two axially displaceable pressure rams with the ends of the tube against respective rams; applying an internal hydraulic pressure to the tube; applying an axial mechanical pressure to the tube via the rams; and simultaneously and uniformly cold-working the tube over its entire length by adjusting the internal hydraulic pressure and the axial mechanical pressure as a function of the reshaped outside diameter, the reshaped wall thickness, and the reshaped length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Wilhelm Schulz GmbH
    Inventor: Luca Schulz
  • Patent number: 7251980
    Abstract: A hydraulic operated tool includes a body (B), a pair of jaws (21) mounted with respect to the body so that at least one of the jaws is movable between an opened jaw position and a closed jaw position so as to engage workpiece (W) between the jaws. A ram assembly (2) is disposed in the body and is operatively associated with the jaws. Spring structure (1) causes the ram assembly to move thereby causing the jaws to initially engage the workpiece with a first force. A pump assembly (7) exerts fluid on the ram assembly to move the ram assembly further, causing the jaws to exert a second force, greater than the first force, on the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: LatchTool Group LLC
    Inventors: Bill Gallentine, Myron D. Tupper, Ovidiu Salagean
  • Patent number: 7249480
    Abstract: An in-die hydropiercing device comprises a punch with an annular shearing blade which is operated by a hydraulic cylinder and is received in a ring-shaped die button mounted in one of the dies that form a die cavity for the hydroforming of a part, a center support member that is received in the center of the punch and supports the wall of the part inward of the shearing blade during the hydroforming of the part and also during the piercing of the part with the shearing blade, a slug collector, and a slug retainer that is mounted on the center support member and provides for retention of a slug produced from the piercing operation against the center support member and later releases the slug onto the slug collector for disposal following the opening of the dies and insertion of the slug collector between the open dies and then retraction of the slug collector with the slug for slug disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Mircea M. Ghiran, Gerry A. Harmon
  • Patent number: 7249478
    Abstract: A method for processing sheet metal includes processing and forming a sample and a blank on a work while leaving a microjoint part in a blanking process. The method also includes detecting at least one of a plate thickness of the work in an optional position and a spring-back amount of the sample during bending. Information of at least one of the plate thickness and the spring-back amount is transmitted to a controller of a bending machine in a bending process after the blanking process. Bending is performed by calculating a ram control value in bending using data of at least one of the transmitted plate thickness and the spring-back amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Amada Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tokuro Takehara, Tetsuya Anzai