Patents Represented by Law Firm Antonelli, Terry, Stout & Stout
  • Patent number: 6640515
    Abstract: Disclosed is a friction stir welding technique which avoids occurrence of a dent, in a joining region, extending to a level beneath the joined surfaces. At end portions of the frame members to be joined, at the joining region, thickened parts which project toward the rotary body joining tool are provided. Two adjoining thickened parts, of adjacent members to be joined, can form a trapezoid shape. The rotary body joining tool has a small-diameter tip portion and a larger diameter portion. The rotary body joining tool is inserted in the thickened parts. In a state where the rotary body joining tool has been inserted small-diameter tip end first, to a level where the larger diameter portion of the rotary body joining tool overlaps the thickened part but does not extend below the upper surface of the non-thickened surfaces of the members joined, the rotary body is rotated and moved along the joining region. Even when a gap exists between two thickened parts, a desirable joining can be carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kinya Aota, Masakuni Ezumi, Yasuo Ishimaru, Hisanori Okamura, Isao Funyuu, Akihiro Satou
  • Patent number: 6142743
    Abstract: A wet gas compression device combining the following stages: a separation stage providing a gas phase and a liquid phase; a conversion stage for converting a gas phase and a liquid phase; a conversion stage for converting the liquid phase provided by the separation stage to a vapor phase by heat exchange; a compression stage for compressing the gases from the separation stage and the conversion stage and for providing a portion of gas for use in the heat exchange of the compression stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventor: Yves Charron