Patents Examined by Jacob J Cigna
  • Patent number: 11674621
    Abstract: A hammer union includes a male sub, a threaded female sub, a threaded union nut disposed around abutting ends of the threaded female sub and the male sub, the abutting ends of the threaded female sub and the male sub include contact surfaces perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the hammer union, and an outermost diameter of the perpendicular contact surfaces and a minor thread diameter of the female sub are equidistant from a longitudinal axis of the hammer union. A method of assembling a hammer union includes inserting a plurality of load segments between a threaded union nut and a male sub, threadedly engaging internal threads of the threaded union nut with external threads of a female sub, and engaging flat contact surfaces of abutting ends of the male sub and the female sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tep Ungchusri, Paul A. Crawford, William H. Garner, Alan R. Killingsworth, King F. Choi
  • Patent number: 11668360
    Abstract: A hybrid torque bar for a brake assembly may comprise a base portion, a pin extending from a first end of the base portion, and a rail extending between the first end of the base portion and a second end of the base portion opposite the first end. The base portion may be formed using a first manufacturing process. At least one of the pin or the rail may be formed using a second manufacturing process. The second manufacturing process may comprise an additive manufacturing technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Leslie Steele, Thomas P. Filburn, Michael A. Klecka
  • Patent number: 11668533
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a heat exchanger includes stacking a plurality of parting sheets, a plurality of lengthwise closure bars, and a plurality of widthwise closure bars to form a rectangular first heat exchanger section. The first heat exchanger section includes at least one widthwise passage extending between a pair of the widthwise closure bars and at least one lengthwise passage extending between a pair of the lengthwise closure bars. The method also includes brazing the rectangular first heat exchanger section together and cutting a first side and a second side of the rectangular first heat exchanger section to give the first heat exchanger section a tapered-trapezoid profile. The method further includes brazing an end of a second heat exchanger section to the first or second side of the first heat exchanger section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: William T. Lockwood, Matthew William Miller, Luke J. Mayo
  • Patent number: 11654500
    Abstract: A method for joining an additively-manufactured component includes welding a plurality of additively-manufactured components via a weld joint to fabricate an integral structure. The additively-manufactured components are built by repeatedly depositing a weld bead layer of a next layer on a weld bead layer formed of a weld bead obtained by melting and solidifying a filler metal by use of an arc, and the weld joint is built along with the deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: KOBE STEEL, LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Yamada, Shinji Sato, Takemasa Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 11654479
    Abstract: A composite equal additive manufacturing method: S1, obtaining molten metal by using a metal smelting device; S2, first, storing inflow molten metal in an intermediate container, and then transferring the molten metal into a crystallizer; S3, cooling the molten metal to a solid-liquid mixed state by using the crystallizer, and enabling a high-temperature blank body with a required section to flow out from an outlet of the crystallizer; S4, arranging plastic forming tools at a bottom of the outlet of the crystallizer, and performing plastic forming on the outflow high-temperature blank body; S5, fixing a lower end of a part after the plastic forming and slowly descending the part by a chuck; S6, machining the part by using point forming machines, and synchronously controlling the machining temperature of the part; and S7, descending the chuck to an appropriate position, and taking the formed part out from the machine frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Huazhong University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Hai'ou Zhang, Jianwu Huang, Guilan Wang
  • Patent number: 11648600
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a casing includes a step of preparing a casing forming member that includes a casing body forming portion which is formed in a tubular shape and a protruding portion forming portion which protrudes from the casing body forming portion toward an outer side in a radial direction, a step of placing the casing forming member on a table which is rotatable about a table axis which extends in a vertical direction and disposing a tool which is rotatable about a tool axis on an inner side of the casing forming member in the radial direction, and a step of forming the casing by performing cutting an inner circumferential surface of the casing forming member with the tool while rotating the table about the table axis together with the casing forming member and rotating the tool about the tool axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES COMPRESSOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Taishi Yoshihara
  • Patent number: 11618073
    Abstract: Various embodiments for a traction element used with athletic shoes having a stud body with a metal insert that extends axially from the stud body and methods for manufacturing such traction elements are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Pride Manufacturing Company, LLC
    Inventors: John Robert Burt, Lee Shuttleworth
  • Patent number: 11607778
    Abstract: A grease fitting installation tool is disclosed. The grease fitting installation tool may include a hand tool useful for installing and uninstalling a grease fitting with a hexagonal collar, a threaded shank, and a nipple, i.e., a Zerk fitting. The hand tool may have a first tool head and a second tool head, each able to receive and manipulate a grease fitting. The first and second tool heads may be attached end to end, joining the heads in the center of a hand tool by a couple. The couple may have a wrench interface allowing the hand tool to be engaged by a wrench or other tool. Each tool head may include a hollow socket with a socket aperture and six internal contact surfaces that are hexagonally arranged. The tool head may also include a deformable, cylindrical gripping member disposed within the hollow socket for retaining the grease fitting when the grease fitting is inserted into the gripping member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Inventor: Roy Joseph Blanchette
  • Patent number: 11583372
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a dental restoration part using a machine tool (10), especially a dental processing machine intended for a dentist's office, wherein, in a first step, a rotating processing tool (16) rotationally mills or processes or grinds a workpiece (18) while, except from at least one entry and/or exit path, it is in continuous contact with the workpiece (18), i.e. with 0% air battle, by machining the outer profile (19) of the workpiece (18) substantially completely in helical-shape. The invention also relates to a dental processing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Ivoclar Vivadent AG
    Inventors: Martin Huber, Alfons Wörmer
  • Patent number: 11572806
    Abstract: Various embodiments include methods for performing maintenance on a gas turbine bearing area. In some cases, a method includes: separating sections of an inlet bellmouth of the gas turbine without removing the sections of the inlet bellmouth from the gas turbine; removing a housing from over a bearing of the gas turbine; mounting a bearing maintenance apparatus adjacent the inlet bellmouth and the bearing; and performing maintenance on the bearing area while the sections of the inlet bellmouth remain separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew James Fisher, Joseph Daniel Becker, Lukasz Sajdak, Piotr Hubert Wojciechowski
  • Patent number: 11560190
    Abstract: A steel track chain component, such as a track bushing, may be formed with a carburized portion, a hardface portion, and a core portion. The core portion may be softer than the carburized portion, which in turn, may be softer than the hardface portion. This configuration of the various portions of the component may allow for relatively high wear resistance of the component, as well as toughness. The core portion may be mostly ferrite crystal structure, while the carburized portion and the hardface portions may include martensitic and/or austenitic crystal structure. The carburized portion may be formed by carburizing the track chain component in a heated and carbon rich environment. The hardface portion may be formed by welding a hardface alloy over at least a portion of the carburized portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Chandrasen Rameshlal Rathod, Roger Lee Recker, Robert Jason Pickerill, Scott E. Keele, Douglas Trent Weaver, Daniel Joseph Sordelet
  • Patent number: 11553995
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article comprising: (a) performing an additive manufacturing process to firm an article in an initial state, the article comprising mounting features and being supported during the additive manufacturing process by support structures; and (b) performing a second manufacturing process to transform the article into a second state, which second manufacturing process is a subtractive process comprising: (i) mounting, via the mounting features formed during the additive manufacturing process, the article in a holding device of a machine for operating on the article, with the support structures or at least remnants thereof remaining on the article, and (ii) with the article so mounted in the holding device, processing at least one feature on a surface of the article on which the support structures were provided to remove material on the at least one feature provided by the support structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventor: David Beeby
  • Patent number: 11553941
    Abstract: A self-closing device for implantation within a patient's body includes base material including an inner surface area for securing the base material to a tissue structure, and a plurality of support elements surrounding or embedded in the base material. The support elements are separable to accommodate creating an opening through the base material for receiving one or more instruments through the base material, and biased to return towards a relaxed state for self-closing the opening after removing the one or more instruments. The device may be provided as a patch, cuff, or integrally attached to a tubular graft or in various shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Solina Medical Inc.
    Inventors: James Hong, Amy Lee, Erik van der Burg
  • Patent number: 11549629
    Abstract: A 3D-printed aluminum fuel fitting solution demonstrates higher performance at a potentially lower cost and shorter lead time. The resulting geometry also produced 30% weight savings leaving all interfaces intact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David A. Eckols, Mitchell L. R. Mellor
  • Patent number: 11536518
    Abstract: A evaporator of a loop heat pipe includes a liquid inlet side portion that extends in a widthwise direction crossing with a lengthwise direction from a liquid inlet side to a vapor outlet side, a plurality of portions that continue to the liquid inlet side portion and extend in the lengthwise direction, a plurality of vapor flow paths that are provided between the plurality of portions and extend in the lengthwise direction, and a vapor outlet side vapor flow path that extends in the widthwise direction and continues to the vapor flow paths. Each of the plurality of portions includes a first groove communicating two adjacent ones of the vapor flow paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Takeshi Shioga, Tomoyuki Abe
  • Patent number: 11536003
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating a manhole insert gasket on a manhole insert flange of a manhole insert may include inverting a manhole insert having a manhole insert flange; forming a manhole insert gasket by dispensing a liquid gasket material onto the manhole insert flange along at least one circular dispensing path, the liquid gasket material including a synthetic silicone elastomer; and curing the gasket material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Forlong, David L. Neathery
  • Patent number: 11523888
    Abstract: An additively manufactured dental crown with a wall having a bottom edge and an occlusal portion joined with the wall opposite the bottom edge. The wall and occlusal portion form an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface. By using additive manufacturing and materials for such, the dental crown can have thin walls with a thickness of less than 300 microns at the thinnest portion of it and can include fine printed features such as identifiers, internal ribs, slots, porous meshes, and retention elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: James D. Hansen, Joseph C. Dingeldein, Gareth A. Hughes, Gopal B. Haregoppa, Bastian P. Kirchner, Till Meurer, Holger Hauptmann
  • Patent number: 11524332
    Abstract: An array-spraying additive manufacturing apparatus and method for manufacturing a large-sized equiaxed crystal aluminum alloy ingot, comprising: a liquid aluminum spraying mechanism having array nozzles disposed in an atmospheric pressure chamber, a movable condensing mechanism disposed in the atmospheric pressure chamber below the liquid aluminum spraying mechanism, and a control mechanism. The control mechanism sends an upward guiding command to a release mechanism and issues a three-dimensional movement command to the movable condensing mechanism, such that liquid aluminum in the liquid aluminum spraying mechanism is sprayed at the surface of the movable condensing mechanism in a continuous array of liquid flows according to a preset path and is rapidly condensed to form an ingot. Also disclosed is an additive manufacturing method employing the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: SHANGHAI JIAOTONG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jiao Zhang, Baode Sun, Qing Dong
  • Patent number: 11518531
    Abstract: An aircraft engine attachment connecting an attachment body and a primary structure of an aircraft pylon, the engine attachment comprising a shear pin immobilized in translation by a first immobilization system that comprises a shoulder and a removable stop that are integral with the primary structure, between which a flange of the shear pin is immobilized, and a second immobilization system that comprises a stop plate, connected by at least one removable link to the primary structure, which closes the first hole, at least in part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS
    Inventors: Jacky Puech, Thomas Deforet, Julien Cayssials
  • Patent number: 11502486
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for joining extended lengths of conduit. The apparatus and method provide a means for decreasing the time required to assemble extended lengths of conduit. The apparatus for use with the corresponding method comprises an apparatus head, an extender joining body and a conduit interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: FEDOTECH LLC
    Inventor: John Fedowitz