Inward Deformation Of Aperture Or Hollow Body Wall Patents (Class 29/515)
  • Patent number: 6860008
    Abstract: A method for producing fuel rails, which contain a hollow chamber that communicates with a fuel source via a connection. The fuel rail supplies fuel to a number of injection valves. At least one preassembled unit of an injection valve is integrated into the fuel rail by means of a materially adhesive connection during the production of the fuel rail and an electrical contacting of the individual injection valves is produced at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Eckhard Bodenhausen, Franco Zeleny, Horst Kirschner
  • Patent number: 6823575
    Abstract: The headrest support tubes are secured to the seat frame member not by the usual welding, but by gripping the web of the member between two rings or lock-beads swaged into the metal of the tube. The first ring is swaged-out by compressing the tube. The tube, with the one ring, is then assembled into a through-hole in the web of the frame member. Then, the second ring is swaged into the metal of the tube, on the other side of the web, and the web lies gripped between the rings. The seat frame member may be an I-section extrusion, or a round tube with localised squeezed-flat areas, flanked by flanges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Bend All Automotive Incorporated
    Inventor: Horst Udo Petersen
  • Patent number: 6823576
    Abstract: An apparatus for manipulating a medical device is formed of at least three coupled movable blades which are disposed about a reference circle to form an aperture whose size may be varied. The aperture capable of being sized to contain a medical device. Each blade is in communication with an actuation device which is capable of moving the blade to alter the size of the aperture. Each blade includes a single radial point which a) lies on the circumference of the reference circle prior to movement of the blade, and b) may be moved only along a radius of the reference circle on movement of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Austin
  • Patent number: 6802540
    Abstract: A method for coupling a conduit to a fitting. The method includes providing a fitting having at least one groove defined therein and a collar having a flange extending from an end of the collar, aligning the flange with the groove, and compressing the collar around a portion of the fitting to facilitate fixedly securing the flange within the groove, such that the collar is fixedly secured to the fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dennis Malone, David Bruce Rader, Jerry Gordon Glatt, James H. Jones
  • Publication number: 20040168296
    Abstract: A heavy-duty flat wiper blade assembly has a wiper element and an extruded metallic frame. The frame has a bottom channel with a slot traversing its length in which the wiper element is maintained. The wiper element extends through the slot and outwardly from the bottom channel to make contact with a surface to be wiped. The frame has a closed upper channel that may include a fluid inlet opening for receiving wiper fluid into the channel and a fluid outlet opening for discharging the wiper fluid from the upper channel onto a surface to be wiped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventor: Larry A. Wilson
  • Patent number: 6772499
    Abstract: A method of producing metal sections wherein first a groove is made in a section limb by microstructure-changing deformation, then another section limb is placed in the groove and that material of the first section limb which is situated to the side of the groove is moved onto the side walls of the inserted section limb by pressure to such an extent that an at least force-fitting joint between the two section limbs is made at the contact location. This method of microstructure-changing attachment of section limbs makes it possible to produce metal sections with virtually any desired geometry and using any desired starting materials the strength of which sections is comparable to metal sections produced in a previously known manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Attlington Investments Limited
    Inventor: Ralf Niemeier
  • Patent number: 6772498
    Abstract: An improved dewar design that accelerates the manufacturing process of a dewar. In a preferred embodiment, the dewar includes an evacuation port that may be larger in size by a factor of ten over the size of evacuation ports of conventional dewars. The oversized evacuation port, however, does not result in an increase in the overall size or profile of the dewar. The dewar is evacuated and hermetically sealed using an re-usable evacuation tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Superconductor Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wallace Yoshito Kunimoto, Angela May Ho, Elna Ruri Saito, Arturo Soto, Gregory Ronald Harrah
  • Patent number: 6767071
    Abstract: A spindle for use in an automobile chassis is provided. An aluminum knuckle with an axial through hole defined in its interior is provided along with a substantially cylindrical steel stem with an interlocking feature defined on one end. The interlocking feature has an extended flange with an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the through hole in the knuckle. The interlocking feature also has a frusto-conical section and at least a portion of the stem is welded to at least a portion of the through hole such that the interlocking feature is within the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Haimian Cai
  • Patent number: 6745445
    Abstract: A stent compression method for particular use in pre-surgical securing and conforming of a vascular stent upon an angioplasty balloon. One variation of the stent compression method comprises inflating an agioplasty balloon inside a vascular stent in order to secure the vascular stent upon the balloon; applying uniform compression pressure around the balloon/stent unit; and adjusting the internal balloon pressure and the compression pressure so that the balloon/stent unit is compressed. A pressure chamber with an elastic cylindrical membrane mounted inside the chamber may be used to provide the compression pressure. The inflated balloon provides the balancing pressure from inside the stent. The maintenance of internal balloon pressure during the stent compression process may provide uniform distribution of pressure along the stent and even radial compression rate around the circumferential surface of the stent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc.
    Inventor: David G. Spilka
  • Patent number: 6732432
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for manufacturing an exhaust emission control device, and the exhaust emission control device formed thereby. The method of manufacturing an exhaust emission control device, comprises: disposing a viscous-elastic material around at least a portion of a substrate to form a wrapped element. The wrapped element is compressed at a first compression rate and at a second compression rate that is slower than the first compression rate, and the wrapped element is introduced into a housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Foster, Stephen J. Myers
  • Patent number: 6729009
    Abstract: The invention relates to press tools for the connection, by cold forming, of tubular workpieces (2, 3) whose connection regions are provided with circular external cross-sectional shapes and are pushed one into the other. The press jaws (10) of the press tool have, in the closed state, approximately the external cross-sectional shape of the workpieces and can be provided with recesses (13, 17). Such a press tool may also have only two press jaws (10) and one bearing bolt (4). As a result of drive forces (F) introduced into the tool, cold-forming forces are exerted on the workpieces (2, 3) via said tool. Depending on manufacturing tolerances of the workpieces (2, 3), the distance (A) between the press jaws (10) varies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventor: Hans-Joerg Goop
  • Patent number: 6705915
    Abstract: A process for assembling a cathode for electron gun comprising a body of emissive material, a cup into which the body of emissive material is inserted, a substantially cylindrical metal skirt, the said process comprising the following successive steps: insertion of the cup into one of the open ends of the metal skirt, welding of the cup to the skirt, crimping of the body/cup/skirt assembly by lateral squeezing at the level of the weld zone in such a way as to cause an indent-like deformation of the lateral face of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Ricaud, Jean-Claude Pruvost, Francois Nizery, Jean Remy Adamski
  • Patent number: 6701602
    Abstract: A shock absorbing type steering shaft comprising a tubular outer shaft having a female serration and a solid inner shaft having a male serration. After the outer diameter surface of the outer shaft is pressed inwardly in the radial direction to plastically deform an inner portion thereof, the inner shaft is inserted into the outer shaft so that the inner shaft is pressure-contacted and fixed to the plastically deformed portion of the outer shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Sadakata
  • Publication number: 20040025318
    Abstract: An apparatus for attaching a clamp to a hose assembly, preferably automatic or semi-automatic, incorporates precisely located mounting devices for receiving clamp tooling, cooperating hose guiding and positioning tooling which can support a unique hose assembly and locate a predetermined location on such hose assembly properly aligned with a clamp in the clamp tooling. An operator only needs to load a clamp and a hose assembly into tooling, then initiate an automatic cycle which scrubs a small area on the hose, places a predetermined quantity (e.g. drop) of adhesive on that area, then brings the clamp into position and presses the clamp, adhesive, and hose together holding that position for a period sufficient to allow the adhesive to set. The operator then removes the finished part (the hose with attached clamp) and loads another clamp and hose into the tooling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Ray Cooper, Joseph P. Zakrzewski, Chad A. Fackler
  • Patent number: 6647608
    Abstract: A stud for installation in a host panel and for fastening a component to the host panel includes at least one shaft having a longitudinal axis. An annular flange extends radially from the shaft at a substantially right angle with respect to the longitudinal axis. A shoulder for engagement with the host panel has a top adjacent to the shaft and a base adjacent to the flange. The shoulder extends radially from the shaft wherein the shoulder and the flange define an undercut therebetween at the base of the shoulder such that a diameter of the shoulder is smaller at the base than at the top. At least one anti-rotation tab is located intermediate between the shoulder top and the flange, and is aligned for engagement with the host panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: FabriSteel Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley E. Wojciechowski, Michael J. McShane
  • Patent number: 6645119
    Abstract: This invention provides a pinion carrier assembly for an automatic transmission, which comprises a pinion carrier body and a pinion shaft fixed to the pinion carrier body for rotatably supporting a pinion gear, wherein the pinion shaft is fixed to the pinion carrier body by calking. The pinion carrier assembly according to this invention can be effectively manufactured under automation and thereby the quality of the carrier assembly can be uniformly maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Tae-Seok Seo
  • Patent number: 6615476
    Abstract: A method is required in which a plate-like flange member may be firmly secured at the front end of a hollow shaft member through a plastic working treatment by virtue of caulking combination, so as to manufacture a hollow shaft having a flange at one end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignees: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Kubota Iron Works Co., LTD
    Inventors: Shigeaki Yamanaka, Masami Oguri
  • Patent number: 6598281
    Abstract: A method for mounting a metal body on an essentially straight measuring tube, made of titanium or zirconium, of a Coriolis mass flowmeter. The method ensures secure retention of the metal body on the measuring tube even through very extended operation of the Coriolis mass flowmeter, in that the metal body is shrink-mounted on the measuring tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Krohne A.G.
    Inventors: Vincent Cook, Lawrence Davies, Neil Harrison, Yousif Hussain, Chris N. Rolph
  • Patent number: 6591498
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of producing a catalytic converter which comprises the steps of providing a shock absorbent member around an outer periphery of a catalyst substrate, inserting the catalyst substrate and the shock absorbent member into a cylindrical workpiece, fixing the cylindrical workpiece to prevent the cylindrical workpiece from being rotated about a longitudinal axis thereof, reducing a diameter of a body portion of the cylindrical workpiece covering at least a portion of the shock absorbent member to hold the catalyst substrate in the cylindrical workpiece, spinning at least an end portion of the cylindrical workpiece, by means of a plurality of spinning rollers, which are evenly positioned around the outer periphery of the end portion, and which are revolved about the axis of the end portion along a common circular locus, and moved in a radial direction of the end portion, and moving the plurality of spinning rollers in an axial direction of the end portion to reduce a dia
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Sango Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tohru Irie, Masashi Ota
  • Patent number: 6568078
    Abstract: A method of assembling a catalytic converter comprising a ceramic catalyst substrate supported by a compressed resilient mat within a metal shell comprising the steps of: (1) providing a slave enclosure exhibiting a predetermined shape that substantially matches the shape of the ceramic substrate; (2) providing a layer of resilient supporting mat material on the inner surface of the enclosure; (3) mechanically pre-compressing the encircling mat layer against the inner surface of the slave enclosure; (4) inserting the substrate into the slave enclosure while retaining the encircling mat layer against the inner surface and without further compressing the mat layer; and (5) transferring the substrate and mat layer into the metal shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Gregory Eisenstock
  • Patent number: 6534194
    Abstract: In accordance with the invention a reactive multilayer foil is fabricated by providing an assembly (stack or multilayer) of reactive layers, inserting the assembly into a jacket, deforming the jacketed assembly to reduce its cross sectional area, flattening the jacketed assembly into a sheet, and then removing the jacket. Advantageously, the assembly is wound into a cylinder before insertion into the jacket, and the jacketed assembly is cooled to a temperature below 100° C. during deforming. The resulting multilayer foil is advantageous as a freestanding reactive foil for use in bonding, ignition or propulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Timothy P. Weihs, Michael Reiss
  • Publication number: 20030046803
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for cylinder, comprises a step of inserting a cored bar 2 into piping material 1 having a reduced inner radius at one end and supporting the end of the cored bar with the reduced radius section of the piping material 1, and a step of rotating the piping material 1 and the cored bar 2, displacing the piping material 1 in an axial direction while passively rotating one or a plurality of rollers compressing the outer periphery of the piping material 1 and applying a spinning operation to the piping material while pressuring and retaining the piping material between the cored bar 2 and the roller 3. Thus the thickness of the middle section of the piping material is made less than the thickness of the end sections by moving the roller into a position closer to the cored bar in the middle section than in the end sections of the piping material. In this manner, processing of the cylinder can be effectively performed without wastage of materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventor: Ryuichi Kaneko
  • Patent number: 6484397
    Abstract: A method of assembling a catalytic converter comprising the steps of: (1) providing a metal shell exhibiting a predetermined shape that substantially matches the shape of the ceramic substrate; (2) inserting into the metal shell a sufficient amount of a resilient supporting mat material to form a encircling mat layer; (3) compressing the encircling mat layer to an initial gap bulk density, the initial gap bulk density being higher than the final gap bulk density; (4) releasing the compression on the mat layer and prior to the mat layer reaching its final gap bulk density, inserting at least a portion of the substrate into the encircling mat layered metal shell and then allowing the mat layer to further release until the mat layer is compressed against the ceramic substrate at the final predetermined gap bulk density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas A. Collins, Gregory Eisenstock, Robert J. Locker, Robert A. Morse
  • Patent number: 6463646
    Abstract: A cylindrical member is placed in a dead-end hole formed in a housing made of a material such as aluminum. A peripheral portion of the hole is pressed down to plastically deform the housing material and to supply the deformed material into a groove formed on an outer periphery of the cylindrical member. The cylindrical member is calked to the housing in this manner. To supply a proper amount of deformed material into the groove for obtaining a quality calking, an inflection point of a calking curve indicating a relation of a calking force and a calking stroke is detected during the calking process. After the inflection point is detected, the calking is performed by giving a predetermined calking stroke or by adding a predetermined calking force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Yamazaki, Akinori Nakayama, Minoru Watanabe, Shinya Mitani, Toshiharu Mizuno, Hidenobu Kajita
  • Patent number: 6449843
    Abstract: To manufacture a honeycomb body, it is proposed that at least one stack is layered up from a plurality of at least partly structured sheet metal layers. Each stack is folded over about a bending line such that a sheet metal pack is formed having a curved first end area and a second end area. The second end area has a first end section and a second end section. A first end face of the first end section forms a first angle with a central plane, and a second end face of the second end section forms a second angle with the central plane, wherein the first angle is smaller than the second angle. The sheet metal packs are held by looping devices disposed in a mold, and the sheet metal pack is looped into a honeycomb body by rotation of the looping devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Emitec Gesellschaft für Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventors: Robert Diewald, Manfred Vierkötter
  • Publication number: 20020116809
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing novel metal sections. In the novel method, firstly a groove is made in a section limb by microstructure-changing deformation, then another section limb is placed in the groove and that material of the first section limb which is situated to the side of the groove is moved onto the side walls of the inserted section limb by means of pressure to such an extent that an at least force-fitting join between the two section limbs is made at the contact location. This method of microstructure-changing attachment of section limbs makes it possible to produce metal sections with virtually any desired geometry and using any desired starting materials in a cost-effective manner, the strengths of which section is comparable to metal sections produced in a previously known manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 1998
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventor: RALF NIEMEIER
  • Patent number: 6421913
    Abstract: A method is provided for assembling a pole piece into an internal fuel passage of a fuel injector. The assembly method includes the steps of: (a) providing an endoskeletal injector tube, where the injector tube provides the fuel passage for the fuel injector; (b) forming at least one depression into an outer surface of the injector tube; (c) inserting an injector valve into the injector tube; (d) inserting the pole piece into the injector tube, wherein the pole piece is adjustable thereafter; and (e) affixing the pole piece within the injector tube, where an outer surface of the pole piece is in contact with an inner surface of the injector tube corresponding to the depressions, thereby creating a spring fit between the pole piece and the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Harrie William Bonnah, II, Otto Muller-Girard, Jr., Michael Schneider, Robert B. Perry, Karl Jacob Haltiner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6389693
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a catalytic converter for purifying exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine wherein the converter exhibits a monolithic ceramic substrate surrounded by a supporting mat. The method generally includes the steps of: Forming a catalytic converter utilizing a compressive closing method generally involves wrapping the substrate in a sufficient amount of supporting mat material and inserting the wrapped substrate into generally cylindrical metal container, compressively closing the container around the wrapped substrate sufficiently to provide a gas tight seal and to hold the imparted compressive stress. The present invention further discloses an improvement involving compressively closing the container around the wrapped substrate by resizing the container over substantially the entire portion of its length which is occupied by the wrapped substrate to a predetermined metal shell/container outside diameter OD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Douglas A. Aranda, Thomas A. Collins, Paul S. Schmitt
  • Publication number: 20020053798
    Abstract: A pipe joint assembly includes a cylindrical pipe and a pipe element having a generally cylindrical terminal portion for receiving the end of the pipe. The terminal portion is formed with a roughly straight open ended channel extending in a direction tangential to, but intersecting, the cylindrical pipe. A lock pin is insertable along the open ended channel so as to cause local inward deformation of the end, thereby locking the end and the pipe element together. The lock pin has a parallel-sided shaft portion of minimum transverse dimension d and a tapered portion of length l tapering to a point, where l is no less than twice d and is no greater than four times d. This geometry facilitates insertion of the lock pin through a combined linear and rotational displacement which is highly effective for ensuring effecting and reliable interconnection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Inventor: Ralph R. Mehr
  • Patent number: 6381843
    Abstract: A method of producing a catalytic converter comprises the steps of (1) providing a shock absorbent member around an outer periphery of a catalyst substrate, (2) inserting the catalyst substrate and the shock absorbent member into a cylindrical workpiece, fixing the cylindrical workpiece to prevent the cylindrical workpiece from being rotated about a longitudinal axis thereof, and (3) spinning at least a portion of the cylindrical workpiece covering at least a portion of the shock absorbent member, by means of a plurality of spinning rollers, which are evenly positioned around the outer periphery of the cylindrical workpiece, and which are revolved about the axis of the cylindrical workpiece along a common circular locus, and moved in a radial direction of the cylindrical workpiece, whereby the cylindrical workpiece and the shock absorbent member are reduced in diameter, so that the catalyst substrate is securely held in the cylindrical workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Sango Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tohru Irie, Masashi Ota
  • Publication number: 20020023336
    Abstract: A covering for a flower pot with a floral grouping disposed therein and extending a distance above an upper end of the flower pot wherein the flower pot has a lower end and an outer peripheral surface. The covering includes a sheet of material having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer peripheral surface with a sheet extension connected to the outer peripheral surface of the sheet of material and extending a distance from the outer peripheral surface of the sheet of material. The sheet of material is formed about the flower pot to a position wherein the sheet of material extends about substantially the entire outer peripheral surface of the flower pot to provide a decorative covering and the sheet extension is formed about the floral grouping to a position wherein the sheet extension extends about a substantial portion of the floral grouping to provide a protective covering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 6338191
    Abstract: The headrest support tubes are secured to the seat frame member not by the usual welding, but by gripping the web of the member between two rings or lock-beads swaged into the metal of the tube. The first ring is swaged-out by compressing the tube. The tube, with the one ring, is then assembled into a through-hole in the web of the frame member. Then, the second ring is swaged into the metal of the tube, on the other side of the web, and the web lies gripped between the rings. The seat frame member may be an I-section extrusion, or a round tube with localized squeezed-flat areas, flanked by flanges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Bend All Automotive Incorporated
    Inventor: Horst Udo Petersen
  • Patent number: 6338590
    Abstract: A fitting is provided with surface corrosion protection which is obtained by firstly hot galvanizing the fitting and subsequently dipping it into a molten, eutectic alloy of zinc and approximately 5% aluminum before swaging it to a wire rope. In order to prevent the wire rope from sliding in the channel, the surface corrosion protection is deposited substantially only on the outer surfaces of the fitting, the channel receiving the wire rope being kept at least substantially free from the corrosion protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Pfeifer Holding GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Dieter Stauske, Peter Hoyer
  • Patent number: 6324758
    Abstract: A method for making a relatively low profile catalytic converter canister 72, 80, 153 which is selectively and operatively deployed upon a vehicle 14 and which may be selectively used to form a catalytic converter assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Visteon Global Tech., Inc.
    Inventors: Hsin-Hong Huang, Gary Meyers, Kenneth Mark Pickett
  • Patent number: 6321435
    Abstract: A method of covering a flower pot with a floral grouping disposed therein. In the method, a sheet of material with a sheet extension connected to the outer peripheral edge of the sheet of material and extending a distance therefrom is formed about the flower pot to a position wherein the sheet of material extends about substantially the entire outer peripheral surface of the flower pot to provide a decorative covering and the sheet extension is formed about the floral grouping to a position wherein the sheet extension extends about a portion of the floral grouping to provide a protective covering. A portion of the sheet of material is then crimped to form a crimped portion in the sheet of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Southpac Trust International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Weder
  • Patent number: 6317976
    Abstract: The invention is directed at a method of manufacturing these catalytic converters having non-round honeycomb substrates and comprises the following steps: (1) wrapping a non-round monolithic ceramic substrate, having a major and minor orthogonal axis, in a sufficient amount of the supporting mat material whereby the substrate's peripheral surface is substantially covered; (2) inserting the wrapped substrate into a metal shell, having a plurality of nodal points, which substantially surrounds the wrapped substrate; (3) placing the metal shell in a resizing die having a plurality of fingers, and associated gaps therebetween, extending axially along substantially the entire surface of the metal shell whereby the nodal points of the metal shell are positioned along a portion of a die finger and the placement of the metal shell and wrapped substrate, within the resizing die is such that the axes of the resizing die are angularly offset from the major and minor axes of the substrate; (4) compressively closing
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Douglas A. Aranda, Paul S. Schmitt
  • Patent number: 6293010
    Abstract: An exhaust treatment device for an internal combustion engine includes a generally cylindrical substrate and sealing system which are swaged in place within a one-piece housing. The one-piece housing includes segmented inlet and outlet gas shields and diffusers which are spun from a single piece of tubing which also contains the substrate. The spun inlet and outlet gas shields and diffusers have segmented configurations including multiple concave and convex sections produced by spin-forming of the housing. The exhaust treatment device is assembled without the need for welding or any other high temperature operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald Umin, Erich James Nowka, Edward A. Umin, Michael Blake Albrecht, Timothy D. Morrow, Vincent Harold
  • Publication number: 20010004794
    Abstract: An incremental swaging process securely affixes a sleeve, such as a metal ring, to the external surface of a cylindrically workpiece, such as a hollow configured metallic casing. Successive portions of the sleeve are incrementally swaged by a tooling element whose tooling surface dimension is less than the axial dimension of the sleeve. During relative rotation between the tooling element and the casing upon which the sleeve has been place, the tooling element is incrementally brought into and out of mechanical engagement with axially adjacent and overlapping surface regions of the sleeve. This incremental swaging technique results in very tightly swaging axially successive annular portions of the sleeve against axially successive, annular surface portions of the rotating casing, leaving the sleeve very securely affixed to the casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2001
    Publication date: June 28, 2001
    Inventor: Viraraghavan S. Kumar
  • Patent number: 6212773
    Abstract: A method for forming shaped members by drilling, milling or pushing. The positions of tools are preset with respect to at least one reference surface of the machine. A reference surface of each of the members to be machined is placed on the machine reference surface. The tools are moved in union relative to the member on the machine so that at least one tool in the set can carry out a machining step on at least one side wall of the member. The tools are preset and the member is shaped in such a way that members of various cross sections may be suitably machined from the same set of tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Inventor: Daniel Colombo
  • Patent number: 6131743
    Abstract: A rotationally symmetrical screen for fiber suspensions with an inlet and outlet side, having a series of profiled bars which extend transversely to the circumferential direction of the screen, the cross-section of the profiled bars having a first end region facing away from the screen outlet side and a second end region facing away from the screen inlet side, and with metallic supporting rings lying in planes extending perpendicularly to the screen axis, each of the supporting rings having a series of cutouts open at their edge towards the screen inlet side, the shape of the cutouts corresponding to the configuration of the second cross-sectional end regions of the profiled bars lying in the cutouts, and forming an undercut in which a projection of the profiled bar cross section engages so that the profiled bars are held positively in a radial direction in relation to the screen axis and in the circumferential direction of the screen with their second cross-sectional end regions in the supporting ring cutout
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Hermann Finckh Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Erich Czerwoniak, Wilhelm Hagen Hutzler, Jochen Gustav Pfeffer
  • Patent number: 6125524
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rivetable element or fastener which comprises a shaft or barrel portion and an integral head portion which can be permanently affixed in a sheet metal part or panel by riveting, an assembly comprising a sheet metal part or panel and the riveting element, a method for the manufacture of the assembly, and a die specifically designed for forming the fastener and panel assembly. The underside of the head portion adjacent the shaft or barrel portion includes an out annular contact surface and an inner riveting portion which includes a plurality of spaced shallow pocket or closed fields which entrap the panel metal during installation. The shaft or barrel portion includes at least one depression based from the plane of the contact surface which, in the preferred embodiment, comprises a spiral thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Multifastener Corporation
    Inventor: Rudolf R. M. Mueller
  • Patent number: 6108895
    Abstract: The invention relates to an axially-swaged male end fitting assembly compatible with a standard 24.degree. cone flareless female fitting. The fitting may be fabricated from a sleeve and a tube that are axially swaged within a tool assembly. The sleeve includes a rounded shoulder, a partially conical nose, and a cylindrical inner surface. The inner surface includes a groove at the tip of the nose, and another groove positioned axially close enough to the shoulder to be radially deformed during axial swaging. The tool assembly includes a swaging tool, a female die and a ring die. The female die includes a tapered surface positioned and sized to preset the nose into the tube. The female die also has a surface confronting the sleeve shoulder, for controlling the amount of preset that occurs. The ring die includes a tapered surface positioned and sized to swage the shoulder into the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: The Deutsch Company
    Inventor: Charles Warren Helsley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6092273
    Abstract: A stent crimping tool for firmly and uniformly crimping a stent onto a balloon catheter is constructed from a stationary plate and a sliding platform connected to the stationary plate and slidable linearly relative thereto. A closing plate is hinged to the sliding platform so that it at least partially overlies the stationary plate in a down position, and swings away from the stationary plate to an up position, whereby the stent already having been hand crimped onto the balloon catheter is placed on the stationary plate from a lateral position, and the closing plate is moved to the down position to hold the stent between the closing plate and the stationary plate so that an external force on the closing plate as well as translational motion of the closing plate together crimp the stent onto the balloon catheter. The surfaces engaging the stent may be covered by elastomeric pads having ridges corresponding in location to respective rings or cylindrical elements of the stent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Plaridel K. Villareal
  • Patent number: 6076247
    Abstract: A method for connecting a ball and socket joint to a control arm in a vehicle suspension system includes providing the ball and socket joint with a socket portion having a circumferential flange. The ball and socket joint is initially aligned with an opening formed through an outer portion of the control arm. Then, the ball and socket joint is moved upwardly such that the socket portion is received within the opening. The socket portion defines an outer diameter that is preferably slightly smaller than an inner diameter defined by the opening formed through the outer portion of the lower control arm. However, the flange defines an outer diameter that is preferably larger than an inner diameter defined by that opening. Thus, the engagement of the flange with the lower surface of the outer portion positively positions the ball and socket joint relative to the lower control arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventor: Robert D. Durand
  • Patent number: 6058590
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for partially embedding a biocompatible material, such as a titanium coil, in the surface of a polymer bone implant to provide a porous coating for bone cells to grow through thereby promoting long term stabilization of the implant. In one embodiment, the coil is wrapped around the implant and placed in a manifold where rollers biased by springs press against the coil. The coil-implant is rotated and heated by a hot gas stream, the rollers-springs pushing the coil into the surface of the implant. In a second embodiment, the coil is compressed and placed onto a needle wire which is placed against the surface of the implant. The point of contact is heated and the implant is rotated with the needle wire creating a channel in the softened polymer and feeding the coil, which is simultaneously stretched, therein. The needle wire then pulls the polymer over a portion of the coil as it passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Jack C. Roberts, Paul J. Biermann, Amy A. Corvelli
  • Patent number: 6055717
    Abstract: A securing method of a polymer insulator including the steps of inserting an FRP core into a depression portion of a metal member having an open end portion, and connecting the metal member to the FRP core by compressing the FRP core and the metal member is disclosed. The improvement includes the steps of: determining a first region defining a part of a compression portion of the metal member, to which a compression pressure is applied, from a side of the open end portion; determining a second region defining the other part of the compression portion in succession with the first region; and controlling a deformation of the first region in such a manner that a deformation amount of the first region is increased gradually toward the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Itsushi Nakamura, Yasushi Ohkawa, Tomio Suzuki, Eiji Kitagami
  • Patent number: 6052900
    Abstract: A power steering control valve (22) has an inner valve member (40) which is connected with a follow-up member (54) by a torsion bar (102). An outer valve member (42) is fixedly connected with the follow-up member (54) by indentations (56). Before the outer valve member (42) is fixedly connected with the follow-up member (54) by the indentations (56), the inner and outer valve members (40 and 42) are moved relative to each other to determine a hydraulically centered condition. When the power steering control valve (22) is in the hydraulically centered condition, equal fluid pressures are conducted to a power steering motor (31) in response to equal clockwise or counterclockwise actuation of the valve members (40 and 42) relative to each other. The outer valve member (42) is then fixedly connected with the follow-up member (54) with the power steering control valve (22) in the hydraulically centered condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher T. Campbell
  • Patent number: 6049962
    Abstract: In a process, a pipe (1) is connected to a press fitting (2) which has a cylindrical section (3) and a radially outward-projecting annular bead (5) at each end which, at the free end of the press fitting (2) has an inwardly directed bead shoulder (8) and internally forms an annular groove (10) in which is fitted a sealing ring (11). In order to make the connection, the press fitting (2) and the pipe (1) are inserted one into the other and the annular bead (5) and the cylindrical section (3) are pressed radially inwards with the plastic deformation of the pipe (1) as well. This is done by pressing the bead shoulder (8) into the pipe (1) to form a first narrowing (44), and a second narrowing (43) is formed in the pipe by pressing the cylindrical section (3) at a distance from the first narrowing (44) such that the shaping of the second narrowing (43) is separated from the first (44) In such a way that the first narrowing (44) has a radially outwardly projecting section (47) towards the second.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Novopress GmbH Pressen und Presswerkzeuge & Co., KG
    Inventor: Heinrich Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 6049961
    Abstract: An apparatus and a process produce a honeycomb body from at least one stack having a multiplicity of at least partially structured sheets which form a multiplicity of passages through which a fluid can flow. The apparatus includes a fork-shaped winding device which is rotatable about an axis and which engages each stack, as well as former segments which close to constitute a former. The former is formed from at least two former segments. Each former segment is pivotable in opposite relationship to the direction of rotation of the winding device about a respective pivot axis which respectively extends parallel to the axis of the winding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Emitec Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventor: Ludwig Wieres
  • Patent number: 6047834
    Abstract: Process for manufacturing a sifting device (or strainer baskets) for use in, e.g., in the paper industry for sorting and/or filtering fiber pulp suspensions. Sorter slits may be created between a plurality of substantially parallel rods inserted into respective insets formed in a support element. The rods may be securely held in place by first inserting the rods into the insets and then by permanently bonding the placement of the rods in the support elements with a bonding agent, e.g., as hard-soldering or brazing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Stoffaufbereitung GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Dolle, Rudolf Kleinert, Joachim Nittke, Reimund Rienecker, Peter Schweiss, Gerhard Veh