Patents Examined by Renee L Miller
  • Patent number: 9383119
    Abstract: The heater includes a heater main body, a housing storing the heater main body therein, and a coating material arranged in at least a part between the heater main body and the housing and covering at least a part of the heater main body. The coating material is a material containing at least one of ceramic and glass, the heater main body has a cylindrical honeycomb structural portion having partition walls separating and forming a plurality of cells and a pair of electrode portions disposed on a side face of the honeycomb structural portion, the housing contains the heater main body so as to cover the side face side of the heater main body, and the partition walls of the honeycomb structural portion is of a material containing ceramic as the main component and produces heat by energization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kida, Kenkichi Nagai, Kenshin Kitoh
  • Patent number: 9370837
    Abstract: A wire electric discharge machine corrects a machining route according to an angle between two moving blocks that form a corner portion. A correction distance and a return distance are computed based on a detected corner angle. The correction is implemented so that an end point of a block to be machined first is extended according to the correction distance, and a portion extending from a start point of a block to be machined subsequently to an intermediate point of this block is removed according to the return distance. A machining route is created so that the end point of the new block created by the extension is connected to the start point of the other block created by the removal, and the wire electrode is moved along the machining route relative to a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yan Niu, Kaoru Hiraga
  • Patent number: 9366454
    Abstract: A heatable connection apparatus includes electrically heatable hoses and a junction piece having two nipples for corresponding ones of the hoses. Each hose has two electric heating elements embedded therein. The ends of the heating elements are routed out of the hose for connection. The heating elements from one hose end are connected to corresponding ones of the heating elements from the other hose end to form two heating-element pairs lying diametrically opposite one another. Each heating-element pair is bent downward and guided through with the crimp first from above under a bracket of the housing downward toward the housing bottom, from where it is deflected by 90° along the bottom of the junction piece in tight contact therewith. On the opposite side, the heating-element pair is guided upward and pushed with the crimp first from below and through the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: ContiTech Schlauch GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Dude, Thomas Fuchs
  • Patent number: 9352424
    Abstract: A welding joint comprises a pair of steel materials, and a welding metal that is formed with a high-energy density beam at a butt welding portion between the pair of steel materials, wherein a transformation starting temperature Ms that is calculated by a following formula: Ms(° C.)=371?353C?22Si?24.3Mn?7.7Cu?17.3Ni?17.7Cr?25.8Mo, using a composition of mass % of the welding metal is 250° C. or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadashi Ishikawa, Ryuichi Honma, Kazutoshi Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 9352246
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for the vaporization of a liquid, said device comprising: a reservoir capable of containing a liquid to be vaporized, a heating element capable of heating the liquid in order to vaporize the liquid, a capillary pump capable of pumping the liquid contained in said reservoir to said heating element by capillary pumping, and a capillary barrier arranged along a capillary pumping direction of the liquid to be vaporized downstream from the capillary pump, said capillary barrier being capable of preventing the non-vaporized liquid from escaping from the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventor: Jean-Maxime Roux
  • Patent number: 9333575
    Abstract: To provide a wire electrode removal device of a wire electric discharge machine, the wire electrode removal device including a wire-electrode guide unit that guides an end on a cut point side of a wire electrode cut by wire-electrode cut devices to outside of a running path, a rewind shaft that pressure-fixes the wire electrode on the cut point side guided by the wire-electrode guide unit with an end face thereof and rewinds the wire electrode on a columnar member having angular portions with subsequent rotational driving thereof, a rewind-shaft drive unit that drives the rewind shaft to perform pressure fixing or pressure releasing of the wire electrode with the rewind shaft, a scraper member that removes a wound wire electrode from the columnar member at a time of pressure releasing of the rewind shaft by the rewind-shaft drive unit, and a collection member that collects the removed wire electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yoji Nakajima, Syuichiro Ishihara
  • Patent number: 9334936
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises an actuator having a motor, a housing and a thrust rod, where the actuator is configured to convert rotational motion of the motor into axial motion of the thrust rod. A movable holder is coupled to the thrust rod, and configured for axial motion of a tool coupling therewith. A bearing assembly is coupled to the actuator, extending along an axis thereof. The bearing assembly is configured to engage with the bearing to provide positional stability for the movable holder and tool coupling, when positioned along the actuator axis by motion of the thrust rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: TOLOMATIC, INC.
    Inventors: Gary W. Rosengren, Ryan H. Bourgoine, Jeremy R. Forbord
  • Patent number: 9320293
    Abstract: A popcorn kettle is provided with a heater plate mounting one or more heater elements in an annular configuration about a thermostat. Two semicircular disposed slots in said heater plate isolate the thermostat from heat directly conducted through the plate to the thermostat except in defined areas between ends of the slots. This prevents a high rate of heat rise which could be witnessed by the thermostat causing premature cessation of a popping cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Gold Medal Products Company
    Inventor: Ronald R. Weiss
  • Patent number: 9314866
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for calculating a power output and coordinating the reduction of voltage and wire speed. Specifically, provided is a power circuit for generating welding output power, and a control circuit in communication with the power circuit to modify voltage and wire feed speed based on the calculated welding output power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Victor Equipment Company
    Inventors: Roger H. Lambert, Geoffrey H. Putnam
  • Patent number: 9314869
    Abstract: A method of recovering a bonding apparatus from a bonding failure to resume a normal operating state for semiconductor chip fabrication is disclosed. The bonding apparatus comprises: i) a bonding tool for bonding a wire between a semiconductor chip and a substrate; and ii) a position sensor. Specifically, the method comprises the steps of: a) the position sensor determining a position of the bonding tool when the bonding tool contacts a surface to bond the wire to the substrate; b) the bonding apparatus detecting a bonding failure caused by detachment of the semiconductor from the substrate based on the position of the bonding tool; and c) the bonding apparatus detaching the semiconductor chip from the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: ASM Technology Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Wai Wah Lee, Jun Feng Li, Wei Boon Wong, Soo Kin Kenny Tan
  • Patent number: 9302346
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for laser scoring a sheet material. An elongated laser beam having S-mode intensity profile in the width direction and a flat-top-mode profile in the length direction is used to achieve high precision scoring. The invention can be used for scoring large-size glass substrates for LCD displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: CORNING, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Anatoli Anatolyevich Abramov, Qi Wu, Naiyue Zhou
  • Patent number: 9295273
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to the field of stovetop popcorn poppers. In one form, the popcorn popper comprises an interoperating apparatus to facilitate the mixing or stirring of the popped popcorn during a coating or flavoring operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Pop And Roast, Inc.
    Inventors: Andre Dean Clouteir, Debra Lynne Sasken-Duff, Adriana Collins
  • Patent number: 9289845
    Abstract: Layered metal deposition by fusion thereof onto a surface of an engineered structural member, without degrading structural performance. The net shape of an exterior member is defined, including a fusion contact area. The structural member is preheated below its maximum operating temperature. An energy beam and feedstock are directed to a feed point in the fusion area, thereby forming a molten puddle fusing the materials together. The feed point is moved relative to the structural member, thereby advancing the molten puddle of presently fed feedstock and rapidly solidifying previously fed feedstock. The energy beam power is modulated to control the size of the molten puddle so as not to exceed a predetermined depth of penetration of the fusion region into the structural member. Advancing the feed point sequentially fuses feedstock into the defined net shape on the structural member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Inventor: David S. Henn
  • Patent number: 9272358
    Abstract: A filler wire (consumable) for depositing self-lubricating materials in a system for any of brazing, cladding, building up, filling, hard-facing overlaying, welding, and joining applications. The filler wire is composed of a base filler material consistent with commonly known compositions. For example, the base filler material can comprise standard materials used in many standard mild steel wires. In addition to the base filler materials, the consumable includes self-lubricating materials. The self-lubricating materials include at least one of graphite particles and graphite powder, and can include other self-lubricating materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: LINCOLN GLOBAL, INC.
    Inventors: Paul Edward Denney, Michael Whitehead
  • Patent number: 9266185
    Abstract: A shock sensor unit includes first and second sensor shafts having bulging portions, first and second positioning pins in contact with the bulging portions, first and second spring members that press the first and second sensor shafts, first and second sensor bodies that contain the first and second positioning pins movably, and first and second detectors that detect movements of first and second spring guides. Each of the first and second positioning pins is located at two positions that are point-symmetrical with respect to a center point between first and second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Kondo, Tatsuji Minato
  • Patent number: 9266181
    Abstract: The invention described herein generally pertains to a welding device that deposits a material onto a workpiece, the welding device having with an electrode head and a contact assembly coupled thereto. The contact assembly can include a rectangular-shaped first contact bar and a rectangular-shaped second contact bar that can be affixed to one another with an assembly connective means in order to encase a plurality of electrodes therebetween. The second contact bar can include a set of grooves in which each groove can correspond to an electrode to provide guidance during a welding procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Lincoln Global, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Flagg, Clyde Stuble, Steven R. Peters
  • Patent number: 9266208
    Abstract: Provided is a metal ring manufacture method and a metal ring metal device capable of manufacturing a plurality of metal rings at good efficiency without damaging the metal rings. The metal rings (R) are detached from a drum retaining unit (16) by a metal ring holding unit (28) with the arrangement state thereof being maintained; thereafter, each metal ring (R) clamped in the arrangement state by a pair of fingers (45, 46) of a metal ring clamping unit (29) is delivered sequentially in the arrangement direction by a ring delivering unit disposed in the second finger (46).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazushige Nakatsuka, Akihiro Nemoto, Akinori Higuchi, Katsuyuki Nakajima, Seiichi Sasaki, Nobuyuki Kouda, Kanomi Hayashi, Satoru Saito
  • Patent number: 9247590
    Abstract: A control unit of an induction heating unit controls AC power output to a heating coil of a transverse type induction heating unit that allows an alternating magnetic field to intersect a sheet surface of a conductive sheet that is being conveyed to inductively heat the conductive sheet. The control unit includes: a magnetic energy recovery switch that outputs AC power to the heating coil; a frequency setting unit that sets an output frequency in response to at least one of the relative permeability, resistivity, and sheet thickness of the conductive sheet; and a gate control unit that controls a switching operation of the magnetic energy recovery switch on the basis of the output frequency set by the frequency setting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Fukutani, Yasuhiro Mayumi, Toshiya Takechi, Kenji Umetsu
  • Patent number: 9247585
    Abstract: A ceramic heater element 10 includes an insulating substrate 101, and a heating resistor 102 embedded in the insulating substrate 101. The insulating substrate 101 contains a main phase formed of ?-SiAlON or a multiphase SiAlON of ?-SiAlON and ?-SiAlON; a grain boundary phase containing a rare earth element; and a silicide of at least one species selected from among Cr, W, Mo, V, and Fe. The heating resistor 102 contains a main phase formed of an electrically conductive compound containing at least one species selected from among silicide, nitride, and carbide of Mo, and silicide, nitride, and carbide of W; ?-SiAlON or a multiphase SiAlON of ?-SiAlON and ?-SiAlON; and a grain boundary phase containing a rare earth element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Sekiguchi, Yoshihito Ikai, Takeshi Mitsuoka
  • Patent number: 9227265
    Abstract: An electrode-supporting assembly for a contact-start plasma arc torch has an insulator that partially houses an electrode, and employs a spring-loaded plunger to bias the electrode to a forward position. The spring is engaged between the plunger and a contact element attached to the insulator, and may conduct electrical current to the electrode. The plunger, spring, and contact element are retained in the insulator when the torch is opened to replace the electrode, which is a consumable part. The electrode and the plunger have axially-engagable mating surfaces to assure good thermal and electrical conductivity therebetween. Conductivity can be further enhanced by forming the plunger of silver or a silver-bearing alloy. In some embodiments, a passage through the insulator is partitioned into forward and rear chambers, with the plunger, spring, and contact element trapped in the rear chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Thermacut, S.R.O.
    Inventor: George A. Crowe