Patents Examined by Edward Tolan
  • Patent number: 10054168
    Abstract: A clutch cover for use with virtually any combination of make and model of engine components and method of making the same is disclosed. The clutch cover is made by spin forming a sheet of metal and removing material as needed to coincide with the corresponding engine components. Therefore, the exact design of the cover including attaching holes and apertures related to release levers may be quickly and easily formed in the clutch cover. Furthermore, a heat management system is provided that includes the addition of fins or other apertures through the clutch cover to increase the air flow to reduce the temperature within the clutch cover to cool engine components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Accel Performance Group LLC
    Inventor: Ross A. McCombs
  • Patent number: 10046473
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing a notched corner board is disclosed. The method includes cutting bent board stock into fixed lengths; forming a slit in or near an end of the corner board; and bending/folding a part of the corner board between the end and the slit to create a notch or flap in the corner board. The apparatus includes one or more cutting tools configured to form a slit in or near a first end of the corner board, a support block configured to support the corner board as the slit is formed, one or more rollers configured to move the corner board towards the cutting tool(s), a frame to which the cutting tool(s), the support block, and the roller(s) are directly or indirectly attached, a motor, and a punch. The motor controls movement of the punch to form the notch in the corner board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Inventor: Clyde Ulrich
  • Patent number: 10040110
    Abstract: A forming system that forms a metal pipe by expansion in a die includes a heater that heats at least an end part of a metal pipe material, a fluid supply unit that supplies a fluid into the metal pipe material to expand the metal pipe material, and a controller that controls the heater and the fluid supply unit, the fluid supply unit has a nozzle that supplies the fluid from the end part of the metal pipe material into the metal pipe material, and the controller controls the heater so as to heat the end part of the metal pipe material at least before the supply of the fluid by the fluid supply unit, and controls the fluid supply unit so as to expand the end part of the metal pipe material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Ishizuka, Norieda Ueno, Masayuki Saika, Takashi Komatsu
  • Patent number: 10035203
    Abstract: A method for separating hollow sections after the extrusion process, the hollow sections being separated to create a component with a predefined geometrical shape by way of a punching operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Ulrich Bruhnke
    Inventor: Ulrich Bruhnke
  • Patent number: 10022761
    Abstract: The invention relates to a forming device (10) for plastically deforming a component (54), in particular a sheet component, with a top part (12) of the forming device (10) and with a bottom part (14) of the forming device (10), between which the component (54) is fixable and deformable by a relative movement (20) between the bottom part (14) and the top part (12), with a machine rack (22) accommodating the top part (12) and the bottom part (14), which bounds a working area (28) of the forming device (10), in which the component (54) is deformable, at least in certain areas, and with a sensor device (40) for non-contact monitoring the working area (28) at least in certain areas by means of radiation (42) capable of being emitted by the sensor device (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: SCHECHTL MASCHINENBAU GmbH
    Inventor: Matthias Schmelmer
  • Patent number: 10020519
    Abstract: A molding method and a molding device are provided for removing distortion in a separator. In the molding method and the molding device, first and second dies which correspond to a product shape of first and second pre-molded surfaces of a separator base material. In a first molding step, the first die is pressed by applying an impact force towards the first molding surface side of the separator base material causing the separator base material to move towards the second dies. In the second molding step, the second dies are pressed towards the second molding surface side of the separator base material, and the molding part of the separator base material is sandwiched between the first die and the second dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoto Taguchi
  • Patent number: 10010982
    Abstract: An embodiment includes a suspended supporting device for targeted compression treatment of rotating shaft products, including: a containment frame including: a main portion; and an articulating arm including an attachment for at least one targeted compression cartridge, the at least one targeted compression cartridge including at least one angled compression element; a support element attached to the main portion and providing internal stabilization to the supporting device; a mechanism providing motion to the articulating arm with respect to the main portion; and an attachment mechanism for suspending the supporting device via attachment to an external element. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: ELLWOOD NATIONAL INVESTMENT CORP.
    Inventors: Ronald F. Dexter, Judith A. Shafer, Roger L. Garrett
  • Patent number: 10010929
    Abstract: An apparatus to produce a self-piercing and clinch nut includes a first forging die assembly, a second forging die assembly, a third forging die assembly, a transfer mechanism, and a controller. The first forging die assembly subjects a blank to first processing. The second forging die assembly is adjacent to the first forging die assembly, and subjects the blank, which has undergone the first processing in the first forging die assembly, to second processing. The third forging die assembly is adjacent to the second forging die assembly, and subjects the blank, which has undergone the second processing in the second forging die assembly, to third processing. The transfer mechanism transfers the blank between two adjacent forging die assemblies among the first to third forging die assemblies. The controller controls operations of the first to third forging die assemblies and the transfer mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: SHINJO HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tadashi Shinjo
  • Patent number: 9999917
    Abstract: A method for cold-forging a thin-walled portion by which a thin-walled portion having a set thickness is formed directly from a metal base plate having a sufficiently large thickness and an explosion-proof valve are provided. Blade side surfaces of upper and lower dies for shearing the metal base plate are set in an overlapping manner with a predetermined clearance ? therebetween. Sheared surfaces are formed with the blade side surfaces of the upper and lower dies in the metal base plate along a processing direction while leaving the set thickness t2 therebetween and the metal base plate is compressed by the overlapped portions until work-hardened to form the thin-walled portion with the horizontal width ? and the set thickness t2 between the sheared surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: SMK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Haruhiko Kondo, Ryo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9996053
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to forming nano- and/or micro-replication directly embossed in a bulk solidifying amorphous alloy comprising a metal alloy by superplastic forming of the bulk solidifying amorphous alloy at a temperature greater than a glass transition temperature (Tg) of the metal alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Crucible Intellectual Property, LLC
    Inventors: Sean Timothy O'Keeffe, Tran Quoc Pham, Theodore Andrew Waniuk
  • Patent number: 9993866
    Abstract: Provided is a press forming apparatus for a semi-solid metal material, including: a slide caused to make a reciprocating linear motion; a sub-slide mounted so as to be movable relatively to the slide; a fluid pressure mechanism interposed between the slide and the sub-slide, which is capable of moving the sub-slide relatively to the slide by fluid pressure; an upper die mounted to the sub-slide; and a lower die. The press forming apparatus is configured to press-form the material while applying predetermined pressure to the material for a predetermined period by bringing, along with descent action of the slide, the upper die into contact with the material fed into the lower die, then stopping the slide at a predetermined position, and moving the upper die mounted to the sub-slide relatively to the slide by the fluid pressure mechanism under a state in which the slide is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: AIDA ENGINEERING, LTD.
    Inventors: Seiji Nakamura, Yuji Abe, Setsuo Toda
  • Patent number: 9987674
    Abstract: A method of making at least a component for a rim base of a multi-piece wheel for a vehicle, comprising providing a workpiece of tubular configuration and hot upset forging the workpiece in press tooling to form a part thereof to a required configuration, wherein the part of the workpiece is heated to a forging temperature in situ in the press tooling, preferably by induction heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: GKN Land Systems Limited
    Inventor: Eigil Egsgaard
  • Patent number: 9987697
    Abstract: A one piece hand tool is provided for cleaning and chasing water faucet threads. The hand tool has an engagement end and an operating end spaced along a central tool axis. Intermediate the engagement end and operating end, an external surface is provided with an overall hexagonal configuration. The engagement end is open for accessing an internal threaded surface for engagement with water faucet threads to be cleaned. Four equally spaced vertical grooves parallel with the central tool axis are provided in the internal threaded surface of the hand tool and disrupt the internal threaded surface to contain debris during operation of the tool. The internal threaded surface has sharp leading and trailing edges for cleaning and chasing the water faucet threads during engagement and disengagement with the hand tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignees: MAGNA INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: William Dean Fleming, Theodore Bradley
  • Patent number: 9987672
    Abstract: A hydraulic tube expander includes expanding jaws engageable with an interior surface of a tube to expand the tube; a source of hydraulic fluid, a valve located between the source and the expanding jaws and a single-action release actuator operatively coupled to the valve. The valve is moveable between open and closed positions. In the closed position, hydraulic fluid can pass from the source to the expanding jaws and in the open position the hydraulic fluid can pass from the expanding jaws to the source. The actuator is movable between first and second positions. In the first position the valve is in the closed position. Movement of the actuator in a direction from the first position toward the second position moves the valve into the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: IRWIN INDUSTRIAL TOOL COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph Houle, Roman Lomeli
  • Patent number: 9975159
    Abstract: To minimize the setup times in the case of a tool changeover on rolls, the movement sequences are separated into transverse movements and vertical movements using a tool changeover system and method for changeover of at least one tool disposed on a roll shaft in a working position. In one aspect, the tool changeover system includes a tool changeover rack, a vertical transport and a transverse transport. A drawing frame separate from the tool changeover rack can be transported transversely separately with reference to the tool changeover rack. The tool changeover rack has a device for connecting with the vertical transport and a tool accommodation for accommodating the tool. The drawing frame has a device for connecting with the transverse transport and a device for connecting with the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: SMS group GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Bieniek, Markus Schaprian, Ralf Rode
  • Patent number: 9968984
    Abstract: A porous metal body is manufactured by which a flow rate of a fluid flowing in an axial direction and a radial direction of the porous metal body can be equalized in the circumferential direction of the porous metal body, and a strength of the porous metal body can be increased. The manufacturing can include at least a step of preparing an intermediary body made of a tubular wire mesh, a star-shaped polygonal body forming step of forming a star-shaped polygonal body by alternately forming, in a circumferential direction of the intermediary body, a plurality of protrusions protruding radially outwards and a plurality of recesses receding radially inwards, and a molding step of inserting the star-shaped polygonal body into a mold that restricts an inner peripheral side and an outer peripheral side of the star-shaped polygonal body and compressing the star-shaped polygonal body from one side in an axial direction of the star-shaped polygonal body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI FILTER MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyohisa Kikuchi, Satoshi Arai
  • Patent number: 9968975
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for producing a microporous metal foil comprising (a) passing a metal foil through a gap between a pattern roll having large numbers of high-hardness, fine particles on the surface and a hard roll while pressing, to provide the metal foil with large numbers of fine penetrating pores, with a thin hard plastic film interposed between the metal foil and the pattern roll, and a thick soft plastic film interposed between the metal foil and the hard roll; and (b) adjusting tension applied to each of the metal foil, the hard plastic film and the soft plastic film to such an equal level that the metal foil is not broken during forming the fine penetrating pores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Inventor: Seiji Kagawa
  • Patent number: 9956603
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing the surface of a workpiece includes: a first rotating body connected to a first rotating shaft and including a first protruding portion connected to a part of the outer circumference thereof; a second rotating body connected to a second rotating shaft and including a second protruding portion connected to a part of the outer circumference thereof; and a third rotating body connected to a third rotating shaft and including a third protruding portion connected to a part of the outer circumference thereof, wherein the first to third rotating shafts are in the same plane, a first angle between the first and second rotating shafts, a second angle between the first and third rotating shafts, and a third angle between the second and third rotating shafts are identical, outer circumferences of the first to third rotating shafts adjacent to one another form a pathway through which a workpiece can pass, and the size of the pathway is adjusted by moving the first rotating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF MACHINERY & MATERIALS
    Inventors: Jong-Kweon Park, Seung Kook Ro, Sung Cheul Lee, Byung-Sub Kim, Kornel Ehmann
  • Patent number: 9956604
    Abstract: A radial compression mechanism incorporates an introduction funnel that truncates down to a cylindrical cavity for radial compressing articles. The introduction funnel facilities the loading of an article into the cylindrical cavity and enables incremental radial compression of articles, such as stents. The radial compression mechanism employs a plurality of compression dies that are configured radially about the cylindrical cavity and move in unison to cause the cylindrical cavity to open or close. The compression dies are coupled with a base and drive mechanism for moving them in unison. A method of loading a delivery catheter with a radially compressed article, such as a stent, includes positioning a delivery catheter over a compressed portion of an article that extends from an exit end of the cylindrical catheter. One or more drive mechanism may be used to automatically and incrementally load a compressed article into a delivery catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Blockwise Engineering LLC
    Inventors: Jeremiah J Warriner, Ed Goff
  • Patent number: 9933092
    Abstract: A method includes: bending a sheet about a mandrel such that the sheet is tubular, wherein the sheet includes a first longitudinal end portion and a second longitudinal end portion; engaging the first longitudinal end portion with the second longitudinal end portion; and passing the sheet between a first knurling wheel and a second knurling wheel such that the first knurling wheel applies a first knurling pattern to the sheet over the first longitudinal end portion and the second longitudinal end portion and the second knurling wheel applies a second knurling pattern to the sheet over the first longitudinal end portion and the second longitudinal end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Deflecto, LLC
    Inventor: Roman Sindelar