Patents Examined by Alexander P Taousakis
  • Patent number: 9346057
    Abstract: An adjustment and suspension system for supporting the mainshaft of a gyratory crusher within a stationary spider hub. The system includes a piston movable within the spider hub to adjust the vertical position of the mainshaft. A stop member positioned within the spider hub controls the maximum vertical movement of the piston within the spider hub. A drive assembly is used to adjust the vertical position of the stop member to limit the vertical position of the mainshaft. The mainshaft is supported by a vertical support bearing and a radial support bearing that are located separate from each other. The vertical position of the drive shaft is controlled by a supply of pressurized hydraulic fluid introduced into the spider hub to control the vertical position of the movable piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Metso Minerals Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor G. Urbinatti, Donald J. Polinski
  • Patent number: 9347662
    Abstract: An apparatus in a steam generator that employs tube support plates within a shroud that is in turn disposed within a shell. The tube support plates are made of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion lower than that of the shroud. The tube support plates are aligned during fabrication with minimal clearances between components. Using a tube support displacement system, a controlled misalignment is imposed on one or more tube support plates as the steam generator heats up. The tube support plate displacement system has only two parts, a spring bar and a push rod, that are internal to the steam generator shell and threadably engaged, thereby minimizing the potential of loose parts. The tube support plate displacement system can be used to provide controlled misalignments on one or more tube support plates, with one or more apparatus being provided for any individual tube support plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: BWXT Canada Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard G Klarner, Robert S Horvath, Ghasem V Asadi, Thomas Waring
  • Patent number: 9346317
    Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. More particularly, a non-pneumatic tire having a reinforcement structure with one or more spacers is provided along with a method of placement of a spacer between reinforcing bands of a non-pneumatic tire. A jig can be used to facilitate placement of the spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignees: MICHELIN RECHERCHE et TECHNIQUE S.A., COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN
    Inventors: Michael Edward Dotson, Rush Marler, Patrick A. Petri, Kirkland W. Vogt
  • Patent number: 9345596
    Abstract: A method of a forming a hollow, drug-eluting nitinol stent includes shaping a composite wire into a stent pattern, wherein the composite wire comprises an inner member, a nitinol intermediate member, and an outer member. After the composite wire is shaped into the stent pattern, the composite wire is heat treated to set the nitinol intermediate member in the stent pattern. After heat treatment, the composite wire is processed to remove the outer member and the inner member without adversely affecting the intermediate member. Openings may be provided through the intermediate member and the lumen of the intermediate member may be filled with a substance to be eluted through the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
    Inventor: Dustin M. Thompson
  • Patent number: 9339982
    Abstract: A method of forming a higher density bale of waste paper from two or more lower density bales of waste paper includes positioning the lower density bales intact and in side-by-side relationship with respect to each other, moving them to a compression zone, and compressing the bales together in the compression zone to form a higher density bale. The higher density bale can then be strapped to maintain its higher density configuration and shape. Thus, a larger tonnage of waste paper in bales can be loaded into a shipping container for transport. A rebaler for carrying out the method includes side feed and side retrieval of bales, significantly improving over traditional top feed machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Sonoco Development Inc.
    Inventor: John L. Newsome, III
  • Patent number: 9334589
    Abstract: This invention in one embodiment comprises a cylindrical rod with a rotating, removable loop head inserted into the center of the top end of the rod. The loop head is inserted into a vertical hole drilled into the top end of the rod, wherein the loop head is able to rotate in the hole. The loop head has a plurality of outwardly radially extending circumferential loops that receive wire for bending and weaving into the Viking Knit. Preferably, the rod also has an anchor hole, drilled diagonally through the rod near its top end, for receiving and securing a wire. Preferably, the rod also has a conical wire wrap attachment at the bottom of the rod for making wired end caps to cover or enclose the finished Viking Knit Weave. In another embodiment, this invention comprises a hollow cone with a rotating, removable loop head inserted in either or both ends of the cone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Inventor: Stephanie J. Eddy
  • Patent number: 9333549
    Abstract: A prediction equation “R0/t?(2R/t+(2R/t+1)?f)/2(1?(1+2R/t)?f)” is derived which predicts that bendability-dominated fracture will not occur when the critical surface strain ?critical is not exceeded by a strain on the metal sheet surface causing the occurrence of ductility-dominated fracture that is obtained from the minimum curvature radius R0 of a press-forming mold and the critical strain ?f in a plane strain region in a forming limit diagram. The minimum curvature radius R0 of a mold required to prevent the occurrence of bendability-dominated fracture is estimated, and the mold is designed with a curvature radius that is not less than the curvature radius R0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Fujii, Toyohisa Shinmiya, Yuji Yamasaki, Kazuhiko Higai
  • Patent number: 9328614
    Abstract: A metal reinforcing piece for mounting on a leading edge or trailing edge of a composite blade for a turbine engine is made by shaping two metal sheets, positioning them on either side of a core, assembling the two sheets together around the core under a vacuum, shaping them on the core by hot isostatic compression, and cutting them to separate the reinforcing piece and release the core. A predetermined roughness is given to at least a portion of the surface of the core and is transferred to a corresponding portion of an inside surface of the reinforcing piece by the hot isostatic compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Gilles Charles Casimir Klein, Jean-Michel Patrick Maurice Franchet, Gilbert Michel Marin Leconte, Dominique Magnaudeix
  • Patent number: 9327342
    Abstract: Forge lubrication processes are disclosed. A solid lubricant sheet is placed between a workpiece and a die in a forging apparatus. Force is applied to the workpiece with the die to plastically deform the workpiece. The solid lubricant sheet decreases the shear friction factor for the forging system and reduces the incidence of die-locking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: ATI PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventors: Scott Oppenheimer, Robin M. Forbes Jones, John V. Mantione, Ramesh S. Minisandram, Jean-Philippe Thomas
  • Patent number: 9328621
    Abstract: A rotor blade assembly tool for coupling a plurality of circumferentially spaced rotor blades to a rotor disc of a turbine rotor assembly, includes a base ring with an array of circumferentially spaced resilient fingers axially extending from the base ring. The resilient fingers are configured each to radially abut a blade seal, damper or other engine component against radially inner facing surfaces of platforms of the respective blades when the blades are being seated onto the disc during an assembly procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Joseph Daniel Lecuyer, Bruno Chatelois
  • Patent number: 9327538
    Abstract: A method of marking an article with a watermark that diffracts radiation according to Bragg's law is disclosed. The watermark includes a periodic array of particles fixed in a matrix. The watermark may change colors with viewing angle, disappear and reappear with viewing angle or may diffract non-visible radiation that is detectable at certain angles of detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventors: Calum H. Munro, Mark D. Merritt, Sean Purdy
  • Patent number: 9321231
    Abstract: A press with at least one collector wagon for compressible material to be pressed that can be coupled and uncoupled and that comprises a collector chamber having floors and walls, as well as a press chamber. When the collector wagon is coupled to the press, the collected compressible material is mechanically transferred from the collector wagon into the press chamber, after movement of the floor and use of a feeder device. When uncoupled from the press, the collector wagon is filled with compressible material at a location at a distance from the press. The feeder device is designed such that the compressible material to be pressed present in the collector wagon, after the upward movement of at least the floor, is gradually gripped and continuously removed from the collector wagon from above, and fed to the press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: SIB Ingenieurbuero GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Strautmann
  • Patent number: 9322447
    Abstract: The present application provides a method for adjusting spring characteristics of a spring to desired spring characteristics. In the adjusting method of the present application, first, the spring is compressed until a “load-displacement” measurement line obtained by measuring the load applied to the spring and the displacement of the spring meets a “load-displacement” target line determined based on “load-displacement” characteristics of the spring and the desired spring characteristics (S10-S14). Next, the spring is expanded such that the load applied to the spring decreases along the “load-displacement” target line (S18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: CHUO HATSUJO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinsuke Okura, Shuji Kamiya, Yukimasa Kabeya, Junya Narukawa, Takashi Goto
  • Patent number: 9321090
    Abstract: A manufacturing method forms components having a desired shape. A contoured surface is defined for a forming tool for forming a metal blank into the desired shape, wherein respective portions of the metal blank flow over the contoured surface during forming. An intrinsic material flow pattern resulting from the contoured surface is compared to a desired flow in order to identify regions of the contoured surface having an insufficient flow that creates areas in the formed metal blank receiving less than a desired amount of metal. A surface microtexture is applied onto the contoured surface in a pattern selected to increase metal flow along the identified regions by providing a friction in the identified regions that is reduced relative to adjacent regions of the contoured surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignees: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, THE BOEING COMPANY, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Zhiyong Cedric Xia, Jian Cao, Qian Wang, Rajesh Talwar, Donald J. Grzina, Tiffany Davis Ling, Pinzhi Liu
  • Patent number: 9308574
    Abstract: A system and forging press for flow forging a metal workpiece into a shaped part under pressure including a heating station, a die assembly, and a trailing assembly with the forging press including a support frame having an upper frame section, a lower frame section and side sections, an upper platen adapted to be suspended vertically, a lower platen spaced apart from the upper platen, a wedge assembly mounted in sliding engagement upon the upper platen relative to the upper frame section and having inclined surfaces adapted to engage the upper frame section, a first roller assembly surrounding the upper platen in a continuous loop; a second roller assembly surrounding the lower platen and a motorized worm gear assembly for controllably moving the wedge assembly as the die assembly, including the workpiece to be forged, is moved in a transport direction between the upper and lower platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Inventor: Joseph Mele
  • Patent number: 9302313
    Abstract: The structure of a tube expander has a ring and a bearing in the body thereof. An axle goes through the body. A driving head is connected to the axle on the body. The bottom of the axle has a guiding pin and a tapered head. The driving head has an external thread so that it can be rotated into the internal thread of the ring or rotated in the opposite direction out of the internal thread. A compressible elastic element is disposed inside the body and mounted on the axle. The top end of the compressible elastic element urges against the bottom of the ring. The bottom of the compressible elastic element pushes the guiding pin downward so that the external thread becomes idle after being completely rotated out of the internal thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Inventor: Chen-Tzu Lin
  • Patent number: 9305746
    Abstract: A method of assembling a nozzle/skimmer module includes coupling a nozzle assembly and skimmer cartridge assembly in a rigid tandem configuration to more accurately control the formation of the Gas Cluster Ion Beam (GCIB). The nozzle/skimmer module is pre-aligned before installation in a production GCIB processing system to more accurately position the GCIB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: TEL Epion Inc.
    Inventors: Robert K. Becker, Avrum Freytsis
  • Patent number: 9295991
    Abstract: A jaw crusher includes a crushing chamber between a fixed jaw and a swing jaw. The jaw crusher also includes an eccentric drive which supports the first end of the swing jaw. The second end of the swing jaw is supported on a rocker plate. The counter-bearing of the rocker plate is arranged as a cross-member and is supported on a hydraulic overload protection mechanism. The cross-member is retained in lateral rocker arms held coaxially to the eccentric shaft of the eccentric drive. The lever axis of the rocker plate projects in a direction of the eccentric shaft and with this projection encloses an acute angle with a radial line of the eccentric shaft. The radial line passes through the counter-bearing of the rocker plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: The Standard—standardized crushing and screening plants GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Hartl, Paul Voithofer
  • Patent number: 9296501
    Abstract: A strap feed assembly for a strapping machine reduces wear on the pinch and drive wheels of feed head components by creating a gap between the pinch and drive wheels while using a cam and an engagement surface to grip the strap during a cut-and-seal phase of a strapping cycle. In the strap feed assembly, a rocker arm has an engagement surface and a pivot axis parallel to both the axis of rotation of the pinch wheel and the axis of rotation of the drive wheel. An eccentric cam, driven by a cam motor, is engageable with the engagement surface of the rocker to move the pinch wheel into and out of engagement with the drive wheel. Thus, the pinch and drive wheels are configured to grip the strap during a strap feed phase, while the cam and the engagement surface grip the strap during the cut-and-seal phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Signode Industrial Group LLC
    Inventors: James A. Haberstroh, Allan J. Bobren, Roy J. Jensen
  • Patent number: 9291366
    Abstract: Methods and systems for solar water heating are provided herein. A modular pipe system for a solar water heater is provided in one embodiment. The system includes a plurality of first manifolds which are interchangeably connectable to any other first manifold. The system also includes a plurality of second manifolds which are interchangeably connectable to any other second manifold. The system further includes a plurality of pipe panels which are interchangeably connectable to any other panel, any first manifold, and any second manifold. Connecting the first manifolds and the second manifolds end to end expands the system along a first axis, and connecting a plurality of panels expands the system along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Formula Plastics, Inc.
    Inventor: Elias Mora