Shaping Fiber Or Fibered Material Patents (Class 29/419.1)
  • Publication number: 20110248039
    Abstract: An eating appliance includes a swatch of a preformed carbon fiber resin of a predetermined size shaped and which is thermally permanently formed into an eating appliance shape to have a concave portion having a bottom and upwardly extending wall portion therefrom which terminates into a peripheral edge and wherein the peripheral wall has a reinforcing or decorative member connected to the peripheral edge. A method of forming the eating appliance is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventor: Steven Fellenzer
  • Publication number: 20110203533
    Abstract: A flexible abrasion resistant omnidirectionally reflective, preferably retractable, flat belt pet leash/pet collar exhibits omnidirectional reflectivity. The omnidirectionally reflective flat belt pet leash reflects an incoming light beam back in the direction from which it emanated. The reflected light beam provides accurate illumination of the pet leash and the location of the pet during dusk or nighttime hours. This reflective pet collar and/or leash is created by forming a substantially flat reflective woven band composed of narrow width reflective strips that comprise woven or knitted reflective threads. A raised, braided, dimensional band is optionally placed atop the substantially flat reflective woven band to further increase reflectivity and visibility thereof. The flexible reflective threads are composed of microsphere retroreflectors coated with water resistant compound and, optionally, a poly-phosphorus material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventor: Marni Markell Hurwitz
  • Publication number: 20110197555
    Abstract: A filter element (100) according to the invention comprises a filter volume (150) having an inflow side and an outflow side defining an average flow direction. The filter volume (150) has an axis substantially parallel to the average flow direction and further comprising a casing (140) delimiting the outer boundary of the filter volume in the direction of the average flow path. The casing (140) is gas impermeable in radial direction. The filter volume (150) is filled with a filter material (111) comprising fibers, a majority of the fibers (102) at least partially encircle the axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Inge Schildermans, Frank Verschaeve, Johan Vandamme, Eddy Lambert
  • Patent number: 7996993
    Abstract: A method of making a filter is disclosed including providing a mandrel, positioning a filter form on the mandrel, the filter form including a dissolvable compound, disposing a filter basket over the filter form, dissolving the filter form, and removing the mandrel from the filter basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: C. R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: William Gray, Richard A. Gambale
  • Patent number: 7996970
    Abstract: To provide a seat having a three-dimensional complex undulated cushion body securing hardness in a stress direction and excelling in dispersibility of the stress and durability, and a method of manufacturing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignees: TS Tech Co., Ltd., Teijin Fibers Limited
    Inventors: Yasuchika Takei, Atsushi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7996975
    Abstract: A unified head for a staked fastener wherein the unified head is made from a first member in combination with a supplemental member, and the two members have at least one shared fiber. In a staking operation that forms the unified head, the operation is conducted in such a manner that a portion of a fiber, initially within the first member or the supplemental member, crosses the boundary therebetween creating the shared fiber, i.e., a segment of a single fiber is embedded in the first member and a segment is embedded in the supplemental member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Inventor: Clark A. Denslow
  • Patent number: 7987574
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a component with an insert made of a composite is disclosed. The composite includes a metal matrix, within which ceramic fibers extend. The insert is made of a composite which is obtained from a plurality of coated filaments, each filament includes a ceramic fiber coated with a metal sheath. The process includes winding a bundle or bonded sheet of coated filaments around a body of revolution perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said body. The insert is then subjected to a hot isostatic pressing step in a container. The process is applied to the manufacture of aeronautical turbomachine components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Franchet, Jean-François Fromentin, Christophe Grosbois, Gilles Klein
  • Publication number: 20110112257
    Abstract: A biocomposite is produced from natural fiber fabrics embedded in a matrix of biosynthetic polyhydroxy-alkanoate (PHA) polymers. The PHA is synthesized using aerobic microbial biosynthesis using mixed bacterial cultures and a feedstock containing anaerobic degradation products such as methane and volatile fatty acids derived from microbial biodegradation of organic waste materials, which may include waste biocomposites. Monomers may be added to the synthesized PHA polymer to control mechanical properties of the resulting biocomposite. The natural fibers and/or PHA may be pretreated using various techniques to improve the bond between the fibers and the PHA resin matrix and water absorption resistance of the fibers. The composite may be a laminate of treated and untreated fabric layers, or differently treated layers, to achieve good in-service performance as well as rapid and/or optimal biogas production when taken out of service and put in an anaerobic environment to degrade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventors: Sarah L. Billington, Craig S. Criddle, Curtis W. Frank, Margaret C. Morse, Sarah J. Christian, Allison J. Pieja
  • Publication number: 20110107579
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for manufacturing a metal part reinforced with ceramic fibres, in which: at least one housing (10A) for an insert is machined in a metal body (10) having an upper face (10B); at least one insert (11) formed from ceramic fibres in a metal matrix is placed in the housing; the insert is covered with a cover; a vacuum is created in the interstitial space around the insert and said space is hermetically sealed under vacuum; the assembly, namely the metal body with the cover, is treated by hot isostatic pressure; and said treated assembly is machined in order to obtain said part. The process is characterized in that the cover comprises an element (12) covering the insert (11) in the slot and projecting from the upper face, and a sheet (14) covering the upper face with said element (12). In particular, the insert (11) is straight and the housing for the insert in the metal body forms a straight slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: MESSIER-DOWTY SA
    Inventors: Patrick Dunleavy, Richard Masson
  • Publication number: 20110107578
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for tolerance compensation between two fibre composite component parts (1, 3) for aircraft. In order to compensate in simplified fashion tolerances between two fibre composite component parts being joined, the method according to the invention has the steps: a) manufacturing the first fibre composite component part (1) wherein an assembly surface (2) can have tolerance deviations, b) manufacturing a tooling insert (7) from a surface geometry of the assembly surface (2) c) manufacturing the second fibre composite component part (3) by means of the tooling insert (7) wherein a surface geometry of a contact surface (9) of the second fibre composite component part (3) corresponds substantially with the surface geometry of the assembly surface (2), and d) joining the first fibre composite component part (1) to the second fibre composite component part (3) in the area of the assembly surface (2) and contact surface (9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventor: Paul Jörn
  • Publication number: 20110097554
    Abstract: A curved composite aircraft frame comprises a multi-ply composite laminate having a generally Z-shaped cross section. At least certain of the laminate plies include unidirectional reinforcing fibers that are substantially tangent at substantially all points along the curvature of the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: David J. Kehrl, Kent E. Johnson, Douglas A. McCarville
  • Publication number: 20110097581
    Abstract: In a fiber there is provided a fiber matrix material having a fiber length; and an array of isolated in-fiber filaments that extend the fiber length. The in-fiber filaments are disposed at a radius in a cross section of the fiber that is a location of a continuous filament material layer in a drawing preform of the fiber. As a result, there is provided a fiber matrix material having a fiber length; and a plurality of isolated fiber elements that are disposed in the fiber matrix, extending the fiber length, where the plurality is of a number greater than a number of isolated domains in a drawing preform of the fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Daosheng Deng, Nicholas D. Orf, Ayman F. Abouraddy, Yoel Fink
  • Publication number: 20110086199
    Abstract: A method and a device for realizing a curved composite material profile made of composite material, and to the resulting profile (63), in which the profile is made from at least one composite strip (11) extending along a longitudinal axis. The strip is formed by stacking at least two tapes of unidirectional reinforcing fibers (4, 5, 6) arranged in orientations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: AIRBUS
    Inventors: Gilles Duqueine, Jerome Aubry
  • Patent number: 7918004
    Abstract: A tampon applicator barrel including a cardboard tube having a first end and a second end and at least one gripping structure defined from the cardboard tube proximate the second end is provided. The cardboard tube has a wall thickness of between about 0.015 and about 0.020 inches, while the gripping structure has a height of up to about 0.035 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Playtex Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne D. Melvin, Michael L. Miller, Jamshid Rejai, Van T. Pham, Joseph S. Konrad, Wojtek S. Drewnowski
  • Publication number: 20100278648
    Abstract: A tension-torque-transmission element (3; 3?; 4) for a rotor blade of a rotary wing aircraft (helicopter), in particular for a fenestron blade of a tail rotor, with a connecting section on the blade side and a connecting section (30; 30?; 40) on the axis side, with a connecting eye (32) on each connecting section, and with a torque-transmission section (34; 34?; 44) that connects the connecting sections (30; 30?; 40), is improved in that the tension-torque-transmission element (3; 3?; 4) is designed in a fibre-reinforced composite design including several layers (A to G) of a textile fabric. A method for producing such a tension-torque-transmission element (3; 3?; 4) is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Gerald KUNTZE-FECHNER, Martin SCHULZ
  • Patent number: 7810366
    Abstract: A method of electrohydraulically trimming a blank involving positioning a blank on a trimming member having a cutting edge such that a portion to be trimmed extends over the cutting edge and is in fluid communication with a chamber. Immobilize the blank with respect to the trimming member. Position a pair of electrodes in the chamber proximate the portion of the blank to be trimmed such that the electrodes and the trimming member are on opposite sides of the blank. Electrically connect the electrodes to a capacitor. Charge the capacitor. Fill the chamber with fluid to submerge the electrodes and to contact the portion of the blank to be trimmed. Discharge the capacitor across the electrodes to generate a pressure pulse that pushes the portion of the blank to be trimmed against the cutting edge thus trimming it off the blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Sergey Fedorovich Golovashchenko
  • Patent number: 7774912
    Abstract: Metal matrix composites having open or closed channels extending longitudinal through the length of the composite as well as methods and apparatus for forming the same are described. The shaped metal matrix composites are made of continuous fiber reinforced metal matrix composite materials. They have an integrally formed, non-cast, metal matrix composite body portion where the walls have a substantially uniform distribution of continuous fibers in a matrix metal throughout the volume of the walls and have at least one channel extending through the body of the shaped metal matrix composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Touchstone Research Laboratory, Ltd.
    Inventors: Brian L. Gordon, Gregg W. Wolfe
  • Patent number: 7748119
    Abstract: Methods and systems for manufacturing composite components, including asymmetric composite components, are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of forming a composite component includes providing a forming tool having a base portion and at least one retaining portion; forming an uncured composite component on the forming tool; curing the composite component; performing a manufacturing operation on the cured composite component engaged with the forming tool; and after performing the manufacturing operation on the cured composite component, removing the cured composite component from the forming tool. In further embodiments, the forming tool may have a plurality of reference apertures disposed therethrough for performing drilling operations on the cured composite component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Max U. Kismarton
  • Publication number: 20100122606
    Abstract: A force transmitting assembly comprises a composite fiber tie rod having a force transmitting element on the end thereof. The force transmitting element has at least a portion having a cross-section that tapers in a direction pointing away from the tie rod end. The load bearing fiber layer of the tie rod extends over and is wound about the tapered portion of the force transmitting element, thereby establishing a positive connection between the tie rod and the force transmitting element. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing a force transmitting assembly comprising a composite fiber tie rod and a force transmitting element on an end thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Inventor: Volker Stephan
  • Patent number: 7716801
    Abstract: A distal protection device captures debris during vascular procedures. In order to reduce the profile of the device, the thickness of the distal protection element is reduced in one or both of the end regions, either by reducing the thickness of filaments which form the distal protection element, or by removing portions of those filaments altogether. Various methods of reducing the thickness of the end regions and different profiles that can be created by the reduction are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
    Inventors: Nareak Douk, Nasser Rafiee, Albert H Dunfee
  • Publication number: 20100101891
    Abstract: Herein provided is a sound-insulating laminated structure which is excellent in the ability of insulating low frequency sounds whose frequency falls within the range of from 200 to 1000 Hz. The sound-insulating laminated structure comprises a first glass wool layer, a metal foil layer free of any opening and a second glass wool layer. The first and second glass wool layers are ones each prepared by collecting and combining short glass fibers through the application of an uncured thermosetting phenol resin to the short glass fibers to thus give a web of glass wool prepreg and then molding, with heating, the web into a sound-insulating laminated structure having a desired shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: CENTRAL GLASS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Kamikawa
  • Publication number: 20100090518
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise a composite rim for used in spoked wheels, such as bicycle wheels, having molded-in spoke holes along with a method of fabricating the composite rim. Advantageously, the bearing and loading strength of the rim is improved over prior art composite rims wherein the spoke holes are drilled therein after fabrication of the rim hoop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventor: Jason Schiers
  • Publication number: 20100050409
    Abstract: A method for making a golf club head includes steps for processing upper and lower shells of the head. A metal- or non-metal-based composite material is provided which has a necessary thickness and whose area and total width are enough for making at least two unit shells, as determined by widths and surface curvatures of the upper and lower shells. A strip of excess material is reserved at a border between the unit shells. The two alternately or non-alternately arranged unit shells are integrally formed through a forming process, wherein an extension force generated while the unit shells are formed is constrained by the excess material to reduce deformation of the unit shells, so that the formed unit shells have flat cutting surfaces when the excess material is cut off, allowing the upper and lower shells thus made to have precise dimensions, improved ends of parts and close contact surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Ming-Ching Liang, Tien-Ken Liang
  • Publication number: 20100037980
    Abstract: An apparatus (1, 2, 20) and method are provided for separating a length of twisted pair cable (10) into its constituent individual insulated wire conductors (11, 12) for subsequent use in telecommunications networks or other electrical equipment. The apparatus (1, 2, 20) includes a separator (15, 66) adapted for insertion between the individual insulated wire conductors (11, 12) constituting the twisted pair cable (10). Cable drive means are provided to cause displacement of the length of twisted pair cable (10) relative to the inserted separator (15, 66) in a direction (a, b) co-incident with the axis of the twisted pair cable (10). In addition to separating the insulated wire conductors (11, 12), the driving (a, b) of the twisted wire cable (10) past the separator (15, 66) also causes plastic deformation of the individual insulated wire conductors (11, 12) thus preventing them from springing back into their initial wound state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGISTS EUROPE LIMITED
    Inventors: Frank Gerwin Kaufhold, Ian Albert Edward Swann, John Richard Willoughby, George William Francis
  • Publication number: 20090239688
    Abstract: A lacrosse stick mesh is disclosed in which each aperture of the mesh has the form of an extended diamond shape. The extended diamond shape of each aperture has a greater length in a vertical direction than in a horizontal direction. The vertical direction is the direction in which the lacrosse ball is thrown from the pocket of the lacrosse stick mesh. The lacrosse stick mesh has more surface area that is in contact with a lacrosse ball in the vertical direction when the lacrosse ball is in the mesh pocket. When a player swings the lacrosse stick to impart force to the lacrosse ball and throws the lacrosse ball from the mesh pocket, more of the force is imparted to the ball in the vertical direction by the lacrosse stick mesh than would be imparted if the lacrosse stick mesh were formed having prior art aperture shapes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventor: James C. Van Loon, III
  • Publication number: 20090235624
    Abstract: A filter well suited for paint arrestor usage having a monolithic high loft manmade fiber body with a convoluted flow contact surface. The filter is preferably formed by a convoluter as in one with a roller set and blade cutter to form mirror image fiber filter sheets from a received fiber batt. Provided is a well mixed proper fiber blend, such as one having a set of fibers made of a majority of course fibers joined by way of thermal bonding fibers which facilitate, during convoluting, formation of a crisp cut and high integrity three dimensional surface, as in one of rows of peaks separated by valleys. The projection/recess arrangement over the flow contact surface as well as the thickness and relative projection-to-base dimensions are arranged to provide a high paint holding capacity without too fast a load up of, for example, paint particles and while avoiding too great of a pressure drop within that load up time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: Dennis L. Mater, Steve Hawkins
  • Patent number: 7591058
    Abstract: Nonwoven fibrous webs including amorphous polymeric fibers with improved and/or more convenient bondability are disclosed. The nonwoven fibrous webs may include only amorphous polymeric fibers or they may include additional components in addition to amorphous polymeric fibers. The amorphous polymeric fibers within the web may be autogeneously bonded or autogeneously bondable. The amorphous polymeric fibers may be characterized as varying in morphology over the length of continuous fibers so as to provide longitudinal segments that differ from one another in softening characteristics during a selected bonding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Berrigan, Anne N. De Rovere, William T. Fay, Jerald W. Hall, Jr., Pamela A. Percha
  • Publication number: 20090215590
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and a method for a portable attachment device. The portable attachment device includes a narrow attachment end, a wide wrap end, a fastening means on the narrow attachment end, a fastening means on the wide wrap end, and padding located within the wide wrap end. The portable attachment device is attachable to a first item by wrapping the narrow attachment end around a portion of the first item and attaching the narrow attachment end to a portion of the wide wrap end, securing the portable attachment device to the item. The first item is then attachable to a second item by wrapping the wide wrap end of the attachment device around the second item. In one embodiment the portable attachment device is used to secure the leg and calf of a wearer to a construction stilt, securely and comfortably holding the leg in place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventor: PHIL HANSARD
  • Patent number: 7562433
    Abstract: A method for fabrication of nanometer scale metal fibers, followed by optional further processing into cables, yarns and textiles composed of the primary nanofibers. A multicomponent composite is first formed by drilling a billet of matrix metal, and inserting rods of the metal desired as nanofibers. Hexed or round rods can also be inserted into a matrix metal can. The diameter of this composite is then reduced by mechanical deformation methods. This composite is then cut to shorter lengths and reinserted into another billet of matrix metal, and again the diameter is reduced by mechanical deformation. This process of large scale metal stacking followed by mechanical deformation is repeated until the desired fiber size scale is reached, the fibers being contained in the matrix metal. After size reduction, the composite metal wires may be further processed into built up configurations, depending on intended application, by stranding, cabling, braiding, weaving, knitting, felting, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Oxford Superconducting Technology
    Inventors: Seung Hong, William G. Marancik, Jeff Parrell, Michael Field, Kenneth Marken, Youzhu Zhang
  • Publication number: 20090107312
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a bend in composite panel. In one advantageous embodiment, a method is used to form a bend in a composite panel. An angle and a radius bend are identified for the bend. A location of the bend in the composite panel is identified. A slot is cut having a curved flange in the composite panel at the identified location in a single pass through the composite panel with a tool, wherein the curved flange has a shape with a bend allowance width and a bend slot width. The bend allowance width is BA=2?*A/360, wherein BA is the bend allowance width, R is a corner radius, and A is a bend angle. The bend slot width is BS=BA?2K(R?T), wherein K is Tan(A/2) and T is a thickness of the composite panel. The composite panel with the slot is bent to form the bend.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Michael Steven Lewis, Guy Wade Roets
  • Patent number: 7511248
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a bonded sheet with a plurality of coated filaments, which include a ceramic fiber coated with a metal sheath, includes placing the filaments beside one another in one and the same plane, and welding the filaments together by laser spot welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Franchet, Gilles Klein
  • Patent number: 7507935
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a tubular component with an insert made of a metal matrix composite, within which ceramic fibers extend, includes a draping step, in which a bonded sheet of coated filaments is draped around a metal mandrel. Each filament includes a ceramic fiber coated with a metal sheath, and the filaments are bonded by spot welds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Franchet, Gilles Klein, Agathe Venard
  • Publication number: 20080264259
    Abstract: A filtration medium includes a fine filter layer having a plurality of nanofibers and a coarse filter layer having a plurality of microfibers attached to the fine filter layer. The coarse filter layer is positioned proximal to a direction of fluid flow, and the fine filter layer is positioned distal to the direction of fluid flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventor: Wallace W. Leung
  • Publication number: 20080250631
    Abstract: A method and device for handling an elongate strength member. In the method, an elongate strength member with a plurality of elongate composite rods, or metal wires or plastic fibers are bundled together with the composite rods, or metal wires, or plastic fibers in a generally parallel and untwisted and un-spiraled arrangement when the elongate strength member is extended along a generally straight path, wherein the composite rods are longitudinally and rotatably moveable relative to each other. It is then twisted relative to a longitudinal dimension of the elongate strength member and the path of the elongate strength member is curved, such as by coiling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventor: David L. Buckley
  • Patent number: 7410342
    Abstract: A blade or a vane preferably used in a gas turbine engine, the blade or vane being formed of a metallic core or insert with a ceramic airfoil surface bonded to the metallic insert. The insert includes a series of concave and convex portions arranged along the outer surface, in which a plurality of hoop fibers are secured within a resin matrix to firmly secure the metallic insert to the ceramic airfoil body. Axial loads between the insert and the ceramic body are transferred to the hoop fibers. The hoop fibers are strong enough to resist extending in length that would permit the hoop fibers from sliding over the widest portion of the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Alfred P. Matheny
  • Publication number: 20080188922
    Abstract: An endoprosthesis that includes a composite having a metal matrix and a plurality of stiffening particles in the matrix. The metal of the metal matrix can include titanium, niobium, tantalum, or alloys thereof The stiffening particles can include a metal core and a thin surface layer. The thin surface layer can include oxides, carbides, nitrides, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventor: Jonathan S. Stinson
  • Publication number: 20080141517
    Abstract: A method of making a hole in a composite material comprising the steps of providing an elongate cutting tool having a cutting portion in the form of a tubular cylinder; and advancing the cutting tool in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cutting tool whilst rotating the cutting tool about said axis and vibrating the cutting tool along said axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: AIRBUS UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Wei Ming Sim, Martin Stalley
  • Publication number: 20080141516
    Abstract: A recreational surface such as an artificial turf playing field includes a pile fabric having a backing and a multiplicity of generally upstanding pile elements, and an infill overlying the backing and being interspersed between the upstanding pile elements. The infill advantageously includes resilient particles as well as particles of a rubber coated hard granular material such as rubber coated sand. The particles of rubber and the particles of rubber coated sand may be mixed together or they may be applied separately in different courses or layers in which the relative proportions of the two types of particles differ. Also disclosed is a method of designing and constructing such a recreational surface in which the properties of the recreational surface are specified according to the intended use of the recreational surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Henry A. Julicher, Joseph W. DiGeronimo, Bruce Cheskin
  • Patent number: 7197804
    Abstract: A thermal conductor is made of copper and carbon nanotubes powders that are compressed together and then cold rolled into sheets for aligning the carbon nanotubes for providing a composite matrix having a low coefficient of thermal expansion, high thermal conductivity, and high electrical conductivity, for preferred use as a conducting heat sink, such as a laser submount, for heat sinking dissipation and electrical grounding of high-power electrical components and circuits, such as a laser diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: The Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: Heinrich G. Muller
  • Patent number: 7181846
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a combined driveshaft tube and yoke assembly includes the initial step of orienting a first component having a first wall thickness and a second component having a second wall thickness to define an overlap region. The first and second components may have the same or different wall thicknesses, may be formed from the same or different materials, and may have the same or different lengths. Portions of the first and second components are deformed to provide the overlap region with a third wall thickness that is the sum of the first wall thickness and the second wall thickness. Lastly, a pair of yoke arms having respective openings therethrough is formed in the overlap region to provide a combined driveshaft tube and yoke assembly. A pair of combined driveshaft tube and yoke assembly can also be manufactured in accordance with this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Torque-Traction Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nelson Wagner, Matthew P. Blecke
  • Patent number: 7166174
    Abstract: The invention relates to stainless steel fibers obtained by bundled drawing of stainless steel wires embedded in a matrix material. The composition of the stainless steel fibers comprises iron and the following components expressed in percent by weight: C £ 0.05%, Mn £ 5%, Si £ 2%, 8 £ Ni £ 12%, 15% £ Cr £ 20%, Mo £ 3%, Cu £ 4%, N £ 0.05%, S £ 0.03% and P £ 0.05%. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing stainless steel fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: NV Bekaert SA
    Inventors: Stefaan De Bondt, Jaak Decrop
  • Patent number: 7100262
    Abstract: A method of forming a fitting assembly in a filament-reinforced pressure vessel, and a pressure vessel having a fitting assembly secured therein. In the method, a first fitting portion is bonded to an inner surface of a thermoplastic liner in a fluid tight manner. A layer of commingled reinforcing filaments and plastic material is applied to an outer surface of the thermoplastic liner to form a vessel wall. A portion of the vessel wall adjacent to the opening bounded by the fluid-tight seal between the first fitting portion and the inner surface of the thermoplastic liner is removed. Then, a second fitting portion is bonded to the first fitting portion so as to define a port for access into the interior of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Polymer & Steel Technologies Holding Company LLC
    Inventor: Thomas G. Carter
  • Patent number: 7077937
    Abstract: A large surface area electrode well-suited to electrochemical applications is produced by winding many turns of a metallic fiber tow on to a sheet metal rectangle. In the preferred embodiment, an anode that can be used to purify water by electrochemical production of hydroxyl free radical is made by winding titanium fiber tow on to a rectangular substrate made of titanium sheet, and applying a suitable multilayered electrocatalytic coating. Made of other metals, an electrode of this description can also serve as the cathode of an electrochemical cell, or as a battery plaque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Inventors: Oleh Weres, Henry Edward O'Donnell
  • Patent number: 7051421
    Abstract: An electric traction motor for a vehicle including a housing, a wound stator field located in the housing, a rotor magnetically interacting with the wound stator field, high energy magnets configured in the rotor, and low energy magnets configured in the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Francois J. Biais, Khwaja M. Rahman
  • Patent number: 6974634
    Abstract: A finished laminate is provided. The laminate includes an imperforate metal layer having a metallic surface, and a metallic felt layer having a first surface attached to the metallic surface and an exposed second surface facing away from the metallic surface. Also provided is multi-layer tubing including a thermally conductive metal layer having a metallic surface, and a substantially thermally non-conductive, metallic felt layer having an outer felt layer surface attached to the metallic surface and an exposed inner felt layer surface. The metal layer and the metallic felt layer collectively form a laminate configured as a substantially cylindrical structure with the metallic felt layer positioned radially inward of the metal layer. In certain embodiments, the metal the laminate has opposite side edge portions overlapping and coupled to one another at a coupling portion, without a thermally conductive path through the coupling portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Material Sciences Corporation
    Inventors: Craig Cless, Gregory Corda
  • Patent number: 6854171
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a bending-resistant, elongated body, preferably a shaft or beam. The invention is characterized in that an elongated blank is produced having at least one cavity extending essentially along the entire length of the blank, the inner surface of which cavity is at a distance from the mass center of the blank seen in a section at right angles to its longitudinal axis and that affixed in the cavity is a fiber composite body with an outer surface essentially congruent with the inner surface of the cavity and that majority of the fibers in the fiber composite body both extend essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated blank and are elongated along the whole of its length. The invention also relates to an arrangement produced according to the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Megtec Systems Amal AB
    Inventors: Jervant Ulf, Max Krogager
  • Publication number: 20040231124
    Abstract: The present invention provides a metallic fiber nonwoven fabric manufacturing apparatus mainly including a metallic fiber manufacturing apparatus (7), an ejection nozzle heater (5), a metallic fiber flying apparatus (6), a nonwoven fabric surface density control mechanism, a method for manufacturing an aluminum fiber fabric by using the metallic fiber nonwoven fabric manufacturing apparatus, and a method for manufacturing a laminated aluminum material. By using the metallic fiber nonwoven fabric manufacturing apparatus, manufacture of a high-quality metallic fiber nonwoven fabric and manufacture of an aluminum fiber nonwoven fabric are possible. Further, manufacture of a laminated aluminum material is also possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Toru Morimoto, Kouichi Onodera, Yoshinori Nakao, Kaitaro Nakayama, Masamichi Sekiya
  • Publication number: 20040225175
    Abstract: A dual lumen catheter system for the positioning of a radioactive material for therapeutic radiation treatment of the body is disclosed. The dual lumen catheter includes a guidewire lumen and a blind lumen provided for introduction of a radiation source wire. The dual lumen catheter provides the advantage that the radiation source wire does not contact body tissue thereby eliminating the need for sterilization of the wire for reuse. Also disclosed are a radiation source wire having a tapered distal end of the wire core such that radioactive material and other components of the source wire can be applied to the outer surface thereof without exceeding a predetermined maximum outside diameter. Also disclosed is a source train cask for use with the catheter system and radiation source wire of the invention. The source train cask permits convenient handling and feeding of the radiation source wire without exposure of the medical personnel to radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventors: Michael R. Moody, Anthony D. Coon, Richard A. Brauckman, Jack C. White
  • Publication number: 20040128776
    Abstract: A tensioning element (1), especially for the suspension of building components, is provided with a number of wires (3) arranged approximately in parallel forming a wire cable (2). These wires (3) are anchored at each end in an end piece (6) absorbing the tensile forces exerted on the wire cable. The end piece (6) is at least partly provided with a plastic deformable sheath (6b) which serves to house one end of a wire cable, where this sheath (6b) is compressible with the end of the wire cable. This enables rapid anchoring of the wire cable in the end piece and this guarantees a high breaking load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventor: Bernhard Eicher
  • Patent number: 6735866
    Abstract: Method for manufacturing elements made from composite material using the co-bonding technique, in which uncured elements (preformed beams (2)) are bonded onto another cured element (the skin (3)) with multiple thickness changes, using a rigid tooling made of invar used for support and positioning during the curing process. Each element is made with preimpregnated material using automated tape laying. The preform of the beams (J-section) is obtained by hot forming of flat laminates. The final curing and bonding to the precured skin (co-bonding) is performed using a direct vacuum bag in an autoclave. A flat development of the vacuum bag is performed, it is traced with a numerical control machine and it is made prior to being placed on the tool. For large surfaces with difficult access the final adjustment is performed with the tool and the part in a vertical position, due to the ergonomic difficulties involved in working on certain areas of same. The invention is applicable to the field of aeronautics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Airbus Espana, S.L.
    Inventors: Pedro Nogueroles Vi{overscore (n)}es, Aquilino Garcia Garcia, Carlos Cerezo Pancorbo