Patents Examined by Irene Graves Golabi
  • Patent number: 4771526
    Abstract: A tool for inserting sleeve blanks in damaged steam-generator tubes of light weight capable of being manipulated by ROSA, a remotely operated service arm. ROSA permits the tool to be attached externally of the channel head of the steam generator.The tool includes a fixed gripper and a moveable gripper. The gripping member of each gripper is a flexible sheet or bladder which conforms readily to the surface being engaged. For insertion, the sleeve blank is mounted on a mandrel. The insertion is carried out by operating the grippers repeatedly through the following cycle until the sleeve blank is inserted into the damaged tube:(a) The moveable gripper is set in the lowermost position.(b) The fixed gripper is open.(c) The moveable gripper engages the sleeving assembly.(d) The moveable gripper raises the sleeving assembly to the uppermost position.(e) The sleeving assembly is engaged by the fixed gripper.(f) The moveable gripper is disengaged from the sleeving assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Arzenti, William E. Pirl
  • Patent number: 4753050
    Abstract: A blasting wheel apparatus for treating the interior surface of a hollow workpiece. There is a superstructure which can be moved into position in vertical registry with the open top of the workpiece. The superstructure has hoppers for storing shot pellets to be used in treating the interior surface and a shot feed tube extends downwardly from the hopper so that its open end may be passed through the open top of the cavity and into the interior of the workpiece. A stabilizer structure is movable along the axis of the shot feed tube to engage the top of the workpiece and position the open end of the shot tube within the central area of the cavity in the workpiece. Slides project upwardly from the stabilizer into the support structure. In one embodiment the shot tube has a lifting element at its lower end to engage under the stabilizer so that the stabilizer may be lifted with the superstructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1988
    Assignees: Penn Lehigh Crane Systems, Inc., Arthur J. McNabb
    Inventor: Arthur J. McNabb
  • Patent number: 4734970
    Abstract: An inexpensive and reliable tool accurately orients pick-up core assembly and checks the bushing runout in an electronic ignition unit for automobile. The tool includes a T-shaped member having a precisely formed centering and locating shaft of a precise length in combination with an integral core locating plate radially projecting from the locating shaft. The length of the pin or shaft is selected to precisely locate the core locating plate. The electronic ignition unit includes a magnetic trigger unit having a trigger coil mounted within a distributor. An annular magnetic core has pyramidal trigger elements and the rotor has closely spaced opposed pyramidal trigger elements. Accurate, precise location of the pyramidal elements and the sharp opposed edges are critical to proper ignition. The tool has the shaft located within the rotor bushing and precisely locates the locating plate, which precisely locates the core in precise concentric aligned orientation to the rotor axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1988
    Assignee: Electro-Chem Corp.
    Inventor: Jeffrey S. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4730374
    Abstract: In a heatable glazing or calendering roll having a cylindrical hollow body with flange necks for each end of the cylindrical hollow body, a displacement body disposed in the cylindrical hollow body and supply and discharge lines for a fluid heat carrier flowing through the annular gap between the displacement body and the cylindrical hollow body, by selecting a suitable material for the flange necks and/or by corresponding thermal insulation between cylindrical hollow body and flange necks it is achieved that the flange necks on heating up of the cylindrical hollow body expand less than the cylindrical hollow body and thereby bending moments are generated in the cylindrical hollow body which counteract the oxbow deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: Schwabische Huttenwerke
    Inventors: Hans-Friedrich Neuhoffer, Erich Vomhoff
  • Patent number: 4729153
    Abstract: A calender roll wherein the flexible shell is supported by a row of primary hydrostatic bearing elements serving to transmit first forces toward the nip of such roll with a second roll and wherein the shell is further acted upon by a row of secondary hydrostatic bearing elements which generate second forces opposing the first forces. The rate of fluid flow through the secondary bearing elements is regulated with a view to conform the temperature of the shell along the nip of the two rolls to a preselected pattern. To this end, the compensator of a computer in the fluid pressure regulating unit insures that pressure changes are distributed among the primary and secondary bearing elements with a view to match each change of the first forces by an equal change of the second forces. The temperature of the fluid is regulated only ahead of the regulating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Assignee: Kleinewefers GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Pav, Richard Rauf, Hans-Dieter Patermann
  • Patent number: 4729156
    Abstract: A method of converting a sedan hardtop automobile body to a convertible includes severing the hardtop roof panel of the automobile body by forming cuts along the front of the continuous roof panel at the windshield and along the bottom of the rear roof pillars. A pair of structural reinforcement beams are positioned on the bottom of the vehicle connecting the vehicle's engine cradle and the rear transverse support which normally carries the two independent wheels suspension systems. A truss develop loads from the longitudinal beams to the surface of the wheel well lining and to the front shock towers. Transverse structural reinforcement is provided to the vehicle unibody at a position between the engine cradle and the rear transverse member and on the upper surface of the automobile floor pan. The transverse structural member fastens through the floor pan of the vehicle to the longitudinal reinforcements under the vehicle. The continuous roof panel is replaced with a fabric-like folding top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Assignee: Car Craft Co.
    Inventors: Frank W. Norris, Jr., Ronald J. Benedict, James G. Burgess, Gary L. Stewart
  • Patent number: 4729155
    Abstract: Improved heat transfer tube and method of making same has mechanical enhancements which can individually improve either the inner or outer surfaces or which can cooperate to increase the overall efficiency of the tube. The internal enhancement, which is useful on either boiling or condensing tubes, comprises a plurality of closely spaced helical ridges which provide increased surface area and are positioned at an angle which gives them a tendency to swirl the liquid. The external enhancement, which is applicable to boiling tubes, is provided by successive cross-grooving and rolling operations performed after finning. The finning operation, in a preferred embodiment for nucleate boiling, produces fins while the cross-grooving and rolling operation deforms the tips of the fins and causes the surface of the tube to have the general appearance of a grid of generally rectangular flattened blocks which are wider than the fins and separated by narrow openings between the fins and narrow grooves normal thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Assignee: Wolverine Tube, Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Cunningham, Bonnie J. Campbell
  • Patent number: 4726109
    Abstract: A device for remotely unheading delayed coking drums and method for remotely operating the device. The device includes a head unit for attachment to a lower flange of a coking drum and fastening means by which a plurality of swing bolts are disconnected by remotely operated detensioning equipment, and a platform device which lowers the header unit, moves it laterally to one side, and tips it for cleaning. A chute attached to the platform is brought into engagement with the coke drum lower flange for removal of coke from the drum. Following the coke removal, the chute is removed and the head unit is remotely reconnected to the coker drum lower flange. The invention also discloses a method for remotely operating the unheading device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Assignee: Foster Wheeler USA Corporation
    Inventors: Allen J. Malsbury, Steve D. Mehas, Myron Krawchuk
  • Patent number: 4724591
    Abstract: A method of determining the average size of a plurality of pores on the external surface of an enhanced tube having subsurface channels connecting adjacent pores. A pressure measurement apparatus is positioned on a portion of the enhanced tube surface and regulated air supply pressure is blown into the pressure measurement apparatus whereby a portion of the air pressure escapes through the pores and subsurface channels. Accordingly, the difference between the supply pressure and the pressure lost across the pores and subsurface channels is a measurement of the pore size which correlates to the boiling heat transfer coefficient of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Steven R. Zohler
  • Patent number: 4722122
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing a mechanical tube plug 74 to assure the integrity of the seal between the tube plug 74 and tube 66. The actual torque applied in accomplishing each step in the tube plug installation process is monitored and recorded to assure that the integrity of each step of the tube plug installation process is maintained and, therefore, the integrity of the seal is assured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Overbay
  • Patent number: 4720902
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for expanding in compression a portion of a plate fin heat exchanger up to a tube sheet and then gripping the expanded portion of the tube end to expand the remainder of the tube in tension and then unclamping and belling the end of the tube at a single station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1988
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth P. Gray
  • Patent number: 4720913
    Abstract: The present system for joining tape leaders is comprised of an elongated member which has a finger like protrusion and a cam protrusion both of which are disposed close to one end thereof. The elongated member has an elongated slot at one end which fits over a stud and is further rotationally coupled to a crank so that the elongated member can pivot around said stud in a number of different positions in response to the crank being moved. The crank is rotationally coupled to a cam follower and the crank is further arranged to rotate about a stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1988
    Assignee: Digital Equipment Corporation
    Inventor: Friedrich R. Hertrich
  • Patent number: 4719686
    Abstract: A method of repairing an end-of-car cushioning device for railroad cars is disclosed. The cushioning device is of the type having a piston and a shaft connected to the piston. In such devices, the shaft may become damaged with wear. In the disclosed method of repair, the old piston and shaft are removed from the cushioning device. The old shaft is substantially removed from the piston. The piston's true center is found, and a bore is cut through it. The bore is threaded, and an angled chamfer is cut in one end of the bore. A new shaft is provided with a threaded portion, the threads being adapted to mate with the threads of the bore. The shaft also has an angled chamfer adapted to mate with the bore's chamfer. The new shaft is connected to the old piston so that the threads engage and the chamfers abut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Assignee: Co-Ordinated Railway Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald R. Fagin, Howard E. Tonn, Clebern W. Sigley
  • Patent number: 4718153
    Abstract: A process for molding upholstered chair cushions comprising placing a sheet of upholstery fabric between two dies, one having sculptured effects thereon, the dies being movable toward each other to form a cavity between them. A cushion assembly having a thickness (with the upholstery) greater than the distances between the dies in the cavity is placed in the cavity after having been coated on at least one side adjacent the upholstery with an air permeable adhesive. The dies are urged together to compress the cushion in the cavity to force the fabric and the cushion to conform to the shape of the first die. Hot vapors are injected into the cavity to shape the cushion and the fabric generally to the sculpted configuration of the sculpted die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1988
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Donald H. Armitage, Robert C. Angell
  • Patent number: 4718154
    Abstract: A transport roller made of plastics by extrusion and used for photomechanical apparatus for transporting film or X-ray cassettes or the like is formed as a sleeve having an internal recess, the surface of which is provided with a plurality of inwardly radially protruding ribs which ensure a stable and rigid structure of the roller without requiring a metallic core in the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1988
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert AG
    Inventors: Walter Bauer, Heinrich Farber
  • Patent number: 4713881
    Abstract: For assembling the locking collar of a conventional eccentric locking collar bearing assembly, an elongated driver tool holds the locking collar for threading over a shaft and into engagement with the bearing inner race and initial hand-tightening. Final tightening is by an impact wrench engaging a drive socket in the free end of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1987
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Ronald W. Lange, David F. Reynolds, David R. Lolley, Gary L. Freeman
  • Patent number: 4713882
    Abstract: For the purpose of compressing by hammering a steam generator tube (1), there is directed a stream of gas at high velocity charged with particles having a particle size of between 50 and 500.multidot.10.sup.-6 m, onto the inner surface of the tube (1). The jet of gas is directed onto the inner surface of the tube (1) in radial directions and onto the whole of the periphery of the tube. The flow of the mass of the particles is higher than 0.008 kg/sec for tubes having an inside diameter of around 0.020 m. The device comprises a flexible sheath (20) movable inside a case (16, 18) fixed in a sealed manner under the tube plate (2) around the tube (1). An injection nozzle (21) is disposed at the end of the sheath (20) receiving the gas charged with particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1987
    Assignee: Framatome
    Inventors: Claude Bianchi, Yves Fournier, Paul Jacquien
  • Patent number: 4713867
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a piston ring includes the step of forming a gap seal from an elongated member on one side and an "L-shape" on the other side; compressing the ring to close the gap seal and move the two ends into a nesting position; welding a wire across the outside surface of the ring to hold it in that compressed condition; placing a plurality of such compressed rings onto a mandrel; and tightly clamping them in axially aligned positions. The surfaces of the clamped rings are then ground into a cylindrical surface which simultaneously removes the wire and the weld. The nested ends including the elongated member and the "L-shaped" member nest together when compressed into a cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1987
    Inventor: Duke Fox
  • Patent number: 4712288
    Abstract: A spark erosion machine having the machine table fixed to the machine upright and including a working container for the dielectric fluid that is formed of a fixed component and a movable component. The fixed component includes the machine table plate, which is fastened to the machine table and forms a portion of the bottom of the working container, plus a wall element that forms a portion of a wall of the working container. The movable component forms the remainder of the work container. The movable component can be lowered to permit access to the table plate and, when raised, joins with the fixed component to form a sealed container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1987
    Assignee: AG fur industrielle Elektronik AGIE Losone b. Locarno
    Inventors: Attilio Lodetti, Hansueli Blaser
  • Patent number: 4712287
    Abstract: A method of assembling a vehicle includes the steps of forming a plurality of different modular window assemblies each having at least one sheet of transparent material upon which a gasket has been formed. A windshield module can include a peripheral gasket, integral leaf screen and a hinged sun roof. A door module can include a peripheral gasket and bracket attached to a window installed in a door. A rear window module can include hinged side windows and a roof panel. After the modules have been formed, they are then assembled to a vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1987
    Assignee: Libbey-Owens-Ford Co.
    Inventor: Norman W. Johnston