Patents Assigned to PHD, Inc.
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Patent number: 6176533Abstract: A modular gripper assembly having body with a yoke structure (44) defined at one end thereof and an actuator at an opposite end for reciprocally driving a piston assembly (58) within the yoke structure (44). A pair of opposable jaw members (49) having through-slots (48) formed therein are provided within the yoke structure (44) and coupled to the piston assembly (58) by a cam pin (47) so that at least one of the opposable jaw members (49) pivots when the piston assembly (58) moves withing the yoke structure (44). The jaw members (49) are removable and interchangeable.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2000Date of Patent: January 23, 2001Assignee: PHD, Inc.Inventors: Steven M. Moilanen, Bruce D. McIntosh
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Patent number: 6125684Abstract: A parts stamper which includes a pair of jaw members, including at least one movable jaw member. The movable jaw member(s) includes a cam bearing. The parts stamper includes an actuator which is coupled to a cam element. The cam element cooperates with the cam bearings of the jaw member(s) to cause the jaw members to open and close. The jaw members include tool seats in which various tools can be secured, including an anvil and a number backing plate.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 1998Date of Patent: October 3, 2000Assignee: PHD, Inc.Inventors: Steven M. Moilanen, Bruce D. McIntosh
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Patent number: 6123375Abstract: A parts gripper apparatus having an actuator, a driver cooperatively engaged with the actuator such that the driver is caused to rotate by rotary movement created by the actuator, and a pair of opposed jaw members either disposed through the driver and movable to open and closed positions in a reciprocating linear motion along the driver or coupled to the driver and movable to open and closed positions as the driver moves in a reciprocating motion.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 1999Date of Patent: September 26, 2000Assignee: PHD, Inc.Inventors: David A. Fussey, Patrick A. Abbott, Nelson A. Broman, Matthew R. Pranger
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Patent number: 6056281Abstract: Adjustable stoppers for limiting the angle at which pivotal gripper jaws are opened. The stoppers include a stop block and at least one stopper pad which is made from a shock absorbing material such as urethane. The stoppers are secured to a pivotal one of a pair of gripper jaw members of a parts gripper and positioned to abut the other of the pair of gripper jaw members. Stoppers which are provided with two or more stopper pads of different lengths are reversible and can be used to adjust the angle at which the jaw members open. A mounting assembly which includes a mounting plate, and clamping plate and a spherical collar therebetween can be used to mount a workpiece holder from the rear or at a side. Providing the mounting plate with a central circular bore allows a cylindrical support member to be inserted therein and thus axially aligned with the mounting plate.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 1998Date of Patent: May 2, 2000Assignee: PHD, Inc.Inventors: Steven M. Moilanen, Bruce D. McIntosh, Kenneth Steele
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Patent number: 6048013Abstract: A modular gripper assembly having body with a yoke structure defined at one end thereof and an actuator at an opposite end for reciprocally driving a piston assembly within the yoke structure. A pair of opposable jaw members having through-slots formed therein are provided within the yoke structure and coupled to the piston assembly by a cam pin so that at least one of the opposable jaw members pivots when the piston assembly moves washing the yoke structure. The jaw members are removable and interchangeable.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 1998Date of Patent: April 11, 2000Assignee: PHD, Inc.Inventors: Steven M. Moilanen, Bruce D. McIntosh
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Patent number: 6019409Abstract: An adjustable positioning target assembly for use in a positioning device includes a target member that is secured in a desired position in an internally threaded bore between a pair of set screws. The internally threaded bore is provided in body of a positioning device. Proximity sensors which respond to the target member are coupled to an element of the positioning device. The body and element of the positioning device are movable with respect to one another. The target member and set screws can include through-holes which allow the target member and set screws to be adjustably positioned in the internally threaded bore by a driver tool. The adjustable positioning target assembly can be used in cooperation with gripper jaws or other positioning devices.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 1998Date of Patent: February 1, 2000Assignee: PHD, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth Steele, Frank Hagadorn, William D. Givins
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Patent number: 5988042Abstract: Internal bearings for a rodless piston assembly. The internal bearings are seated on inclined rail structures of a transmission bracket. Force applied to the internal bearings causes them to slide up the inclined rail structures and press against the inner surface of the rodless piston bore. As a result, a radially inward force is applied to the transmission bracket. This radially inward force is transmitted to a saddle and external bearing assembly. The internal bearings thus hold the saddle against the outer surface of the rodless piston cylinder. Piston elements for rodless piston assemblies are movably coupled to the transmission brackets so that the piston elements float with respect to the transmission bracket. The floating piston elements can self-align with the rodless piston bore.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 1997Date of Patent: November 23, 1999Assignee: PHD, Inc.Inventor: Michael E. Lamle
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Patent number: 5941513Abstract: A mounting bracket for a workpiece holder which includes a pair of plates which can be coupled together so as to define two openings at their coupled surfaces. The plates are coupled together by threaded members which are located on either side of each of the two openings. One of the openings is cylindrical and designed to receive a workpiece holder. The other opening has a partial spherical bore and is provided with a spherical collar that can receive a support structure. The threaded members can be selectively loosened to allow either or both of the openings to expand.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 1997Date of Patent: August 24, 1999Assignee: Phd, Inc.Inventors: Steven M. Moilanen, Bruce D. McIntosh
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Patent number: 5791619Abstract: A tool suspension arm provides isolation to a user from torque produced by a hand tool while allowing substantial freedom in positioning the hand tool relative to a workpiece. The arm has a housing defining an axially extensive cavity open at one end. An axially extensive rod is received by the axially extensive cavity through the open end for longitudinal movement relative to the housing. The axially extensive rod is splined and is closed in the axially extensive cavity of the housing by a splined hub insert inserted over the axially extensive rod into the open end of the axially extensive cavity. Cooperation between the splined surfaces largely eliminates play between the rod and housing and rotationally locks rod and housing preventing reactive twisting movement of the tool in use.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 1996Date of Patent: August 11, 1998Assignee: phd, Inc.Inventor: Kenneth C. Myers
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Patent number: 5241896Abstract: A cylinder apparatus includes a piston and a cylinder tube including a first end and a second end. The cylinder tube is formed to include a central bore extending from the first end to the second end for receiving the piston therein and a second bore extending from the first end to the second end spaced apart from the central bore. The cylinder apparatus also includes a first end cap coupled to the first end of the tube and a second end cap coupled to the second end of the tube. The second end cap is formed to include a first port in communication with the central bore of the tube and a second port in communication with the second bore. First end cap and second end cap have similar configurations and use substantially identical seals. Therefore, the semi-finished parts of the present invention have substantially identical configurations, regardless of the specific embodiment selected for a particular use.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 1992Date of Patent: September 7, 1993Assignee: PHD, Inc.Inventors: Phillip M. Braun, Steven T. Miller, H. Gunnar Grotness, Robert R. Kaiser
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Patent number: 4607873Abstract: Gripping apparatus includes a supporting body having a pair of spaced generally parallel jaws independently mounted thereon for movement toward and away from each other. An actuating device is reciprocably mounted in the supporting body and between the jaws and is operably connected to the end portions of the jaws to move them toward and away from each other upon reciprocal movement of the actuating device. The body is in the form of a cylinder and a fluid operated, doubleacting piston is reciprocably received therein and connected to the actuating device for the reciprocation thereof. The jaws extend longitudinally of the cylinder on diametrically opposite sides thereof and the actuating device extends axially of the piston.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 1985Date of Patent: August 26, 1986Assignee: PHD, Inc.Inventors: Kay T. Nusbaumer, Bruce D. McIntosh
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Patent number: 4577898Abstract: A gripping apparatus is provided which includes a pair of jaw pads that are independently and pivotally mounted to a pair of bell cranks which are spaced apart from each other and which are pivotally mounted to a supporting structure; the supporting strucuture is mounted to a power cylinder; the power cylinder provides oscillating actuation of the bell cranks through a dog retainer and a spherical portion of the bell cranks; and parallel mechanisms, which include one lever arm of each of the bell cranks, and which include a pair of parallel links, keep pad surfaces of the jaw pads parallel to each other as the lever arms of the bell cranks move arcuately.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 1984Date of Patent: March 25, 1986Assignee: PHD, Inc.Inventors: Kay T. Nusbaumer, Bruce D. McIntosh
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Patent number: 4421137Abstract: A plug assembly comprising a generally cylindrical expansion sleeve having a socket portion which receives a wedging nut. One of the nut and socket portion is tapered such that the sleeve may be radially expanded as the nut enters more deeply into the socket portion. A screw element is threadedly received by the nut and by a clearance opening through the sleeve. The screw element is provided with a head which engages the sleeve on the side axially opposite the socket portion whereby threading of the screw element into the nut draws the latter more deeply into the socket portion. The outer periphery of the sleeve is preshaped to be out-of-round to provide for an interference fit with a cylindrical bore which is to be plugged.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 1981Date of Patent: December 20, 1983Assignee: PHD, Inc.Inventors: Kay T. Nusbaumer, Terrell R. Whitaker
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Patent number: 4244618Abstract: Gripping apparatus includes a supporting body having a pair of spaced generally parallel levers independently mounted thereon for pivotal movement toward and away from each other, the respective pivot axes being spaced and parallel. Two elongated cam bars are slidably mounted on the body in parallel juxtaposition with the levers, respectively. The bars are disposed between the pivot axes, respectively, and the body with the axes being opposite the midportions of the bars. Opposed cam devices are provided between the opposite ends of the bars and the respective levers for pivoting the latter oppositely toward and away from each other in response to reciprocal movement of the bars. Means are provided for reciprocating the bars in unison. The body is in the form of a cylinder and the reciprocating means a piston reciprocably received therein. The levers and bars extend longitudinally of the cylinder on diametrically opposite sides thereof.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 1979Date of Patent: January 13, 1981Assignee: PHD, Inc.Inventors: Peter W. Boyer, Jonathan D. Dent
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Patent number: 4134306Abstract: A rotary actuator for converting reciprocating motion to rotary motion including a housing having spaced-apart end plates connected by guide rods. A bellows is provided having opposite sides one of which is connected to one of the end plates, the bellows being adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure so that the bellows expands from a collapsed to an expanded position. A guide plate is provided movably mounted on the guide rods with the other bellows side being connected thereto. A rack and pinion assembly is provided mounted on the other end plate, the rack being connected to the guide plate so that expansion and contraction of the bellows causes linear movement of the rack thereby imparting rotary movement to the pinion. A spring acts between the guide plate and the other end plate thus resisting expansion of the bellows and returning it to the collapsed position upon the release of fluid pressure.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 1976Date of Patent: January 16, 1979Assignees: Phd, Inc., Hughes Industrial Products, Inc.Inventors: Gunnar Grotness, Charles S. Smith, Robert H. Morris, Peter W. Boyer
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Patent number: 4132153Abstract: A fluid power system including a fluid power cylinder having a piston and fluid ports at its opposite ends, a directional valve for selecting the direction of piston actuation, and a metering control valve coupled between the directional valve and the cylinder. The control valve includes a cylinder section having a control piston therein and a valve body connected to the cylinder section and having a valve spool-receiving cavity therein. The valve body has first and second fluid ports therein communicating with the cavity, one of the valve body ports being coupled to one of the power cylinder ports and the other being coupled to the directional valve. A valve spool is disposed in the valve body cavity operatively connected to the control piston and movable therewith, the spool having a passage therein.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 1976Date of Patent: January 2, 1979Assignee: PHD, Inc.Inventors: Gunnar Grotness, Peter W. Boyer
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Patent number: 4119017Abstract: A fluid power cylinder comprising a cylinder barrel, a guide rod received within the cylinder barrel and a piston slidably received within the cylinder barrel over the guide rod for rectilinear movement, means for slidably keying the piston to the guide rod whereby the piston is locked against rotation with respect to the guide rod about the longitudinal axis thereof, a guide rod holder rotatably received in the end cap for rotation coaxially with the piston and the guide rod, a pin connecting the guide rod and guide rod holder so that the guide rod is locked against rotation with respect to the holder about its longitudinal axis yet is permitted a limited degree of tilting about the end received in the guide rod holder, and a cam lock associated with the end cap for releasably clamping the guide rod holder against rotation.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 1977Date of Patent: October 10, 1978Assignee: PHD, Inc.Inventors: Kay T. Nusbaumer, Peter W. Boyer
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Patent number: 4111100Abstract: This invention relates to a non-rotatable fluid powered nozzle and valve combination which includes a cylinder having a piston reciprocally received therein for movement between two reciprocated positions and which defines two separated fluid chambers therewith. A piston rod secured to the piston is slidably received through one end of the cylinder, the cylinder being provided with two ports communicating with said two chambers, respectively. The piston and piston rod conjointly having a longitudinally extending passage therethrough. A hexagonal pin is disposed in one of said chambers and is slidably received in sealing relation by a hexagonal portion of the aforesaid passage. The pin is secured in the other end of the cylinder for limited radial but against longitudinal movement with respect to the cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 1977Date of Patent: September 5, 1978Assignee: PHD, Inc.Inventor: Peter W. Boyer