Patents Examined by Stephen Kenny
  • Patent number: 6804871
    Abstract: A method for aligning a clutch assembly having a clutch shaft and a housing with a plurality of threaded first fasteners. The method includes the steps of attaching the clutch assembly to a driveshaft of an engine mounted on a support frame having a plurality of second threaded fasteners. The method includes the steps of mounting a support plate to the housing and support frame and extending the first fasteners and second fasteners through mounting holes. The method also includes the steps of deflecting the clutch shaft relative to the driveshaft and disposing spacers over the first fasteners and second fasteners adjacent the support plate. The method includes the steps of engaging the first fasteners and second fasteners with third fasteners to seat the spacers against the support plate and fixedly securing the spacers to the support plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Inventor: Leward Nile Smith
  • Patent number: 6802112
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for making a pressure-tight attachment of an elastomeric tubular piece to an attachment part. For making the pressure-tight attachment, an open end of a tubular piece made of elastomeric material is pushed onto a connecting part and a metal clamping ring is positioned thereon. While radially pressing the jaws of the clamping device together, the diameter of the clamping ring is reduced and the tubular piece is thereby tightly clamped to the connecting part. The clamping operation is ended before damage occurs but only when an adequate strength is ensured. During clamping, the force/displacement curve is observed and a characteristic feature of the measured curve is used as a basis of computation for a switchoff criterion. Preferably, the clamping operation is only ended when the clamping force begins to drop for the first time after the maximum force is exceeded in a defined manner in a predetermined localized or bounded curve segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Continental Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Stefan Wode
  • Patent number: 6799362
    Abstract: A motor and a method for manufacturing thereof use a rotor having permanent magnets and stators. The highest revolving speed of a motor is adjusted by using end plates of different thickness. The end plates are made of a magnetic material and disposed at the end faces of the rotor. The end plates made of a magnetic material provide part of the magnetic flux generated from the permanent magnets with short circuits within the inside of the rotor. The magnetic flux that links with the coil can be adjusted by using end plates of different thickness. Therefore, the highest revolving speed of a motor can be finely adjusted with ease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Murakami, Hisakazu Kataoka, Osaaki Morino, Yoshinari Asano, Toshiyuki Tamamura, Haruhiko Kado, Akihiko Yamazaki, Yukio Honda
  • Patent number: 6799368
    Abstract: There is provided a feeder device for a pick-and-place machine used to surface mount connectors on printed circuit boards. The feeder is designed for use with matrixes of connectors, such as pin headers. The feeders, with the proper conversion kits, can be configured to feed any type and/or size of the connector. Individual connectors are separated from the matrix by the feeder using a rotating clamping device. Preferably, the feeders are microprocessor controlled, use an edge conveyor to transport the strips to the pick point, and pneumatic cylinders to break each pin header from the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Zierick Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald Fredriks, Eric Michael King
  • Patent number: 6796017
    Abstract: Slot core inductors and transformers and methods for manufacturing same including using large scale flex circuitry manufacturing methods and machinery for providing two mating halves of a transformer winding. One winding is inserted into the slot of a slot core and one winding is located proximate to the exterior wall of the slot core. These respective halves are joined together using solder pads or the like to form continues windings through the slot and around the slotted core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: M-Flex Multi-Fineline Electronix, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip A. Harding
  • Patent number: 6796016
    Abstract: An injection mould which comprises at least five modules aligned with each other. The five modules correspond to a first mould module and a second mould module to form a product cavity, a drive module for driving of sliders, an engaging module adapted, by application of a force, to prevent dividing between the first and the second mould module when introducing product material into the product cavity, and an ejector module for ejecting a completed product from one of the first and the second mould module. The method for making injection moulds comprises the steps of receiving a product pattern, defining function holes and function recesses, and defining, separate from and parallel to the construction of function holes and function recesses, a product cavity and the parting plane of the mould. Moreover the method comprises the step of mechanically machining a plurality of modules essentially simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Nolato AB
    Inventor: Lars Persson
  • Patent number: 6792660
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a driveshaft assembly takes advantage of the asymmetrical nature of the driveshaft tube and end fittings to reduce the initial imbalance of the driveshaft assembly. The method includes the initial steps of providing a driveshaft tube having a heavy side and providing an end fitting having a heavy side. The heavy side of the end fitting is aligned so as to be opposite the heavy side of the driveshaft tube. Finally, the driveshaft tube and the end fitting are secured together. The dimensional characteristics of the driveshaft tube and end fitting improve the balancing capability of the driveshaft assembly by permitting levels of imbalance of the driveshaft assembly to be lowered and better-managed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Torque-Traction Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas E. Breese
  • Patent number: 6789304
    Abstract: A golf clubhead containing a main body and a face member, the main body including a main shell portion having a hollow and a tubular inner extension of a hosel protruding in the hollow, and at least a part of the tubular inner extension separating from the inner surface of the main shell portion. A method of making the golf clubhead which includes making a first lost form corresponding to the main shell portion, making a second lost form corresponding to the tubular inner extension, fixing the second lost form to the first lost form to make a third lost form corresponding to the main body, making a casting mold using the third lost form, and casting a metallic material into the main body using the casting mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaru Kouno
  • Patent number: 6785948
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for assembling in an automated manner a sealing profile on an inner door for refrigerators. The method comprises the stages of: a) providing said profile (1) in the form of a frame welded at the corners, b) stably resting said frame on a support (10), c) gripping said section (4) along all the sides of said frame using engaging means (12) so as to perform said elastic splaying, d) retaining said sections (4) in the splayed position, e) positioning said inner door (31) on said sections (2) of said profile base, f) releasing said sections (4) so as to allow the elastic return of the profile base onto the edge of the inner door, g) extracting inner door and profile thus assembled from said support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Industrie Ilpea S.p.A.
    Inventors: Paolo Cittadini, Pierpaolo Ferrante
  • Patent number: 6782599
    Abstract: A process for the manufacture of cooking vessels, in particular pots and/or pans and the like suitable for magnetic induction heating, is remarkably simple and comprises the steps of: providing a metallic semimanufactured vessel (A) of the cooking vessel, comprising a hollow (21) and a bottom portion (20); providing a plate member (1), in a metallic material of relatively high hardness, provided with a plurality of points (6a, 6b) projecting from a surface thereof (4) and forming an angle (&agr;) equal to or larger than 90° therewith; inducing, by compression or the plate member (1) at the bottom portion (20), the penetration of said points (6a, 6b) and the adhering of said surface (4) of said plate member (1) on said bottom portion (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Societá Italiana Pentole
    Inventor: Giovanni Sollo
  • Patent number: 6782616
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to connection arrangements for electrical devices. In the connection arrangements, an electrical device having at least one ledge that includes a plurality of contact terminals provided thereon is electrically connected to an electrical component having a plurality of contacts formed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Eldredge
  • Patent number: 6782593
    Abstract: A method of making a flush mountable ceramic sink characterized by having a mouth opening into a planar flange surrounded by an outer rim, the method comprising the steps of: (a) producing a green sink having a base with a mouth surrounded by a lip opposite the base, the lip being surrounded by an outer rim; (b) drying the green sink; (d) firing the green sink; (e) allowing to cool; (g) grinding the lip of the sink flat to form a ground planar flange; (h) grinding away the outer rim at an angle to the planar flange, so that the outer rim tapers from the flange inwards towards the bottom of the sink; (i) applying a post grinding glaze at least to the flange, and (j) firing the post-grinding glaze.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Merhav-Designer Building Products Ltd.
    Inventor: Eli Shimony
  • Patent number: 6782623
    Abstract: A motor home recreational vehicle having a unitary body structure and method of mounting the vehicle in which the body structure is provided with mounting members that are bonded to the interior of the body with an adhesive to eliminate fasteners exposed at the exterior of the vehicle. The mounting members are attached to vehicle frame portions at the interior of the body structure to securely fasten the body structure and vehicle portion together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Coach House, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Gerzeny, Steven B. Gerzeny, Matt L. Gerzeny, Ronald R. Frank
  • Patent number: 6775890
    Abstract: An apparatus for urging two members apart or together that includes a first clamp adapted to be received by a first piece, a second clamp adapted to be received by a second piece and a plurality of power screws coacting with the first clamp and the second clamp, whereby moving the power screws in a first direction causes the first clamp to move relative to the second clamp and the first piece to move relative to the second piece. The present invention is suited for separating muffler pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Inventor: Frank Kolarik
  • Patent number: 6772517
    Abstract: In order to provide a light heat insulating member having both an extremely low thermal conductivity and a high heat resistance in an atmosphere, in which pressure is reduced, a core member consisting of accumulated heat resisting inorganic fiber is put between a high temperature side skin member and a low temperature side skin member made of heat resisting fiber textile and these three members are tied all together in one body by sewing, using heat resisting inorganic fiber thread. It is possible to reduce the thermal conductivity to an extremely small value by adding a material having a high emissivity (SiC powder, SiC whisker) to the core member and to prevent scattering of material constructing the core member by covering side wall parts of the core member by the high temperature skin member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., Nichias Corporation
    Inventors: Fumihito Takeda, Masayuki Yamashita, Junichi Ogawa, Toshiyuki Anji, Yoshihiro Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 6772497
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for automatically processing multiple used oil filters (3, 34) used for internal combustion engines for disposal, in particular for disposal in which essentially all of the residual oil is removed making the crushed canister (18, 18A) and internal element a non-hazardous material and making the connector base plate (38A) available for recycling as scrap steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Inventors: Edwin E. Rice, Charles H. Franklin
  • Patent number: 6772503
    Abstract: A rotor assembly includes a stack of laminations that are bonded together by a dielectric bonding agent. The laminations and the dielectric bonding agent have matching coefficients of thermal expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Ayub Fathimulla, M. N. Menon, Walter Lee Meacham
  • Patent number: 6766573
    Abstract: An electric motor having an integrally formed bonding apparatus that allows an installer to quickly and efficiently bond the electric motor to a bonding grid of a bonding area. A fastener having a head is inserted into an aperture of the housing of the electric motor such that a bonding conductor is captured between the housing and the head. The bonding conductor is electrically coupled to the housing via direct contact between the bonding conductor and the housing and/or via indirect contact through the fastener. An integrally formed surface of the housing prevents the bonding conductor from moving out from under the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: Norman R. Long, Chih M. Lin, William J. Watkins
  • Patent number: 6763567
    Abstract: A pallet assembly device is disclosed that is configured to automatically position pallet components together and to automatically secure such components to each other. Furthermore, the pallet assembly device of the invention is preferably fed stacks of pallet components, and thereby eliminates the need for an assembly operator to manually position various pallet components in a jig or carriage. Yet further, the device preferably comprises a plurality of wheels that are positioned to simultaneously engage opposite sides of a pallet component and comprises a drive motor. The drive motor is preferably operatively connected to at least one of the plurality of wheels in a manner allowing the drive motor to rotationally drive and rotationally stop at least one of the plurality of wheels so as to move the component along an assembly path. A method of assembling pallet components using a pallet assembly device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Fastening Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dustin W. Smith, Dale De'Crescenzo
  • Patent number: 6763565
    Abstract: A roll changing apparatus for a four-high rolling mill comprises rails, provided in a rolling mill stand and on a work side of the rolling mill, for incoming and outgoing of a work roll assembly and a backup roll assembly, and a pusher, provided on a drive side or the work side of the rolling mill, for roll admission and withdrawal for both of work rolls and backup rolls. The roll changing apparatus can be modified into a side shift type roll changing apparatus with ease, at a low cost, and in a short time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Mukaigawa, Mikio Yamamoto, Osamu Yoshihara