Patents Examined by Chris Q Liu
  • Patent number: 11478877
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing structural steel components with local reinforcement is provided. The method comprises selecting at least a zone of the component to be reinforced, providing a steel blank and deforming the blank in a press tool to form a product, wherein the blank and/or the product comprises a groove in the zone to be reinforced, the groove comprising an inner surface and an outer surface. The method further comprises depositing a reinforcement material on the inner surface of groove and locally heating the reinforcement material and the groove of the steel blank or product, to mix the melted reinforcement material with the melted portion of the steel blank or product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: AUTOTECH ENGINEERING, S.L.
    Inventors: Ricardo Molina Mesa, Oscar Bertolin Pradas
  • Patent number: 11471976
    Abstract: A laser machining device includes a laser light source, a spatial light modulator which includes a display unit, an objective lens, an image-transfer optical system, a camera and a controller. The controller executes first display processing and second display processing. According to first display processing, when the camera captures the image, the display unit displays a first phase pattern for adjusting a condensing position of laser light condensed by the objective lens to a first condensing position. According to second display processing, when the camera captures the image, the display unit displays a second phase pattern for adjusting the condensing position of the laser light condensed by the objective lens to a second condensing position different from the first condensing position in an irradiation direction of the laser light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Yasunori Igasaki, Aiko Nakagawa, Takeshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 11471971
    Abstract: A component loading-welding system for welding a component panel to a vehicle body panel includes a rotation portion body having first and second opposing sides. The first opposing side is coupled to a robot arm. A picking device is installed in the rotation portion body and is configured to hold and release the component panel. A vehicle body pressurizing tip is installed in the rotation portion body. A pressurizing portion body is rotatably installed at the second opposing side of the rotation portion body. A pin clamp is installed in the pressurizing portion body and is configured to clamp the component panel. A component pressurizing tip is installed in the pressurizing portion body and is configured to apply pressure to the component panel. A multi point projection welding method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hyun Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 11465226
    Abstract: The example methods and apparatus reduce and/or eliminate adverse effects of welding work pieces having dissimilar compositions. An example method includes depositing a first weld layer on a first end of a first work piece. The first work piece has a first content of a metallic element and the first weld layer has a second content of the metallic element higher than the first content. The example method includes depositing a second weld layer between the first weld layer and a second end of a second work piece to couple the first work piece to the second work piece. The second weld layer has a third content of the metallic element higher than the second content, and the second work piece has a fourth content of the metallic element higher than the first content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC
    Inventors: Donald R. Bush, Nicholas B. Rohrdanz
  • Patent number: 11458572
    Abstract: A method of additive manufacturing includes providing a substrate material at a location proximate a surface of a part and forming the substrate material into an additive layer on top of the surface by exposing the substrate material to a first laser beam having a first power level. After forming the additive layer on the part, the method includes cooling at least a portion of the additive layer from a first temperature reached at the completion of the forming step to a second temperature. After cooling, the method includes exposing the additive layer to a second laser beam having a second power level, wherein the second power level is lower than the first power level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Paul S. Mullins, Jeffery M. Stark
  • Patent number: 11460195
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes sidewalls and a rear wall defining a heating cavity. At least one heat source is in thermal communication with the heating cavity. An oven cavity connector is disposed within an interior surface of the heating cavity. The oven cavity connector is in communication with the heating cavity. A first tray sliding structure is disposed proximate opposing vertical sidewalls of the heating cavity. A second tray sliding structure is disposed proximate the opposing vertical sidewalls and is vertically offset relative to the first tray sliding structure. A powered accessory tray has a connecting plug, the powered accessory tray being alternatively and selectively engaged with one of the first and second sliding tray structures, and the connecting plug is in selective communication with oven cavity connector when the powered accessory tray is engaged with any one of the first and second tray sliding structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Zachary J. Bruin-Slot, Christopher A. Gregory, Darrin H. McGee, Rafael G. Reyes, Nathan C. Wier
  • Patent number: 11453084
    Abstract: A laser beam is directed onto a pyramid-shaped element, wherein the beam is directed onto at least three reflecting surfaces and the respective reflected partial beams are incident on reflecting surfaces arranged on an optics carrier element. The partial beams are aligned such that they intersect in a common plane. An internal wire feed is arranged in a housing, having an outlet nozzle for a fusible wire-shaped material, which material is using the energy of the partial beams. The outlet nozzle is arranged in front of the plane in which the reflected partial beams intersect. The pyramid-shaped element and the reflecting surfaces are formed on a carrier element, which is arranged in such a way that it is displaceable following the outlet nozzle in two perpendicular directions to the optical axis of the laser beam or perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the wire-shaped material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.
    Inventors: Frank Kubisch, Sebastian Thieme, Holger Hillig, Sebastian Schueler
  • Patent number: 11453086
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for laser cladding and forming of a metal or alloy under partial atmosphere protection. Including: transporting a metal or alloy powder beam by an inert carrier gas to move on a machined surface with a focused laser beam; and forming at least one layer of inert protective gas at the outer periphery of the metal or alloy powder beam. The inert protective gas includes first inert protective gas, and the first inert protective gas is at the outer periphery of the focused laser beam. The problems of limited size, high cost and difficulty in moving a cladding and forming system and the like during part forming are solved by forming the inert protective gas at the outer periphery of the focused laser beam. Compared with the prior art, the convenient, fast and economical method is provided for on-site part forming and repair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: SOOCHOW UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Tuo Shi, Geyan Fu, Shihong Shi, Jizhuo Wu
  • Patent number: 11446761
    Abstract: A laser engraving machine with a three-point suspension system and an inverted X-Y axis support system wherein the X-axis beam is to and mounted below the Y-axis beams and the Y-axis beams are mounted inwardly of the outer ends of the X-axis beam and are structurally integrated with the machine housing. In addition, a counterweight is added to the drive belt for the laser tool to eliminate vibration during rapid reciprocal movement of the tool during an engraving process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Inventor: Tong Li
  • Patent number: 11440137
    Abstract: A laser peening device includes: a laser oscillator; an irradiation nozzle for irradiating a laser beam onto an irradiation target; an optical transmission unit; a shutter attached to the optical transmission unit; a liquid feeder for supplying the irradiation nozzle with liquid to cause the liquid to flow along an optical path of the laser beam running from the irradiation nozzle to the irradiation target; an ongoing irradiation sensor for obtaining information on ongoing laser beam irradiation indicating whether the laser beam is being appropriately irradiated for execution of ongoing laser peening operation on the irradiation target; and a control unit controlling the shutter according to the information on the ongoing laser beam irradiation obtained by the ongoing irradiation sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ENERGY SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Souichi Ueno, Akihiro Tsuji, Hiroya Ichikawa, Kazuki Kora
  • Patent number: 11383323
    Abstract: A beam-forming and deflecting optical system for a laser machining device includes at least two optical elements, which are arranged one behind the other in the direction of the laser beam and which are formed by wedges with respective wedge angles, wherein at least one optical element is connected to a drive for the rotation of the optical element about the optical axis, whereby an optical wedge can be rotated relative to the at least one other optical wedge. Also a method for machining a workpiece uses a collimated laser beam. In order to achieve different shapes of the laser beam on the workpiece, each of the optical wedges, which are arranged one behind the other, in each case cover only a part of the laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Fronius International GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Roither, Manuel Binder, Stefan Pichler
  • Patent number: 11376690
    Abstract: A machine for machining workpieces and/or for producing molded bodies by location-selective solidification of material powder to form connected regions by means of a focused laser beam, including: a process chamber which can be closed by a process chamber door and which encloses a process space, a material powder container cabinet, which can be closed by a door, for storing material powder, and a suction system. The suction system has a fan for generating an air flow, a first suction apparatus fluidically connected to the fan by a first waste air duct to suction particles out of the process space, and a second suction apparatus fluidically connected to the fan by a second waste air duct to suction particles out of the material powder container cabinet. The first suction apparatus has means for controlling its suction power and/or the second suction apparatus has means for controlling its suction power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: SAUER GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Reisacher, Andreas Abt
  • Patent number: 11370061
    Abstract: An optical arrangement for direct laser interference structuring. A laser beam is directed to a reflecting mirror with inclined surface and strikes a first beam splitter, it is divided into two partial beams and one partial beam is deflected to a focusing element. The second partial laser beam is directed to a first pentamirror and after multiple reflection and/or refraction, the focusing element, or it is directed to a second beam splitter and is divided into a first partial beam and a third partial beam. The partial beams are directed to the focusing element by the first pentamirror and are directed by the focusing element to the surface to be structured interfering with each other. The reflecting mirror is moved in a translational manner, maintaining a 45° angle parallel to the optical axes of the emitted laser beam influencing the interference period ?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSHUNG E.V.
    Inventors: Mikhael El-Khoury, Andres Fabian Lasagni, Sabri Alamri, Tim Kunze, Bogdan Voisiat
  • Patent number: 11358239
    Abstract: A method for additively manufacturing a three-dimensional article includes depositing feed materials through a material feeder to a growth surface. The feed materials include at least one of a first feed material, a second feed material and a third feed material. At least one of the first feed material, the second feed material and the third feed material is different. The method also includes exposing the feed materials to electromagnetic energy to form a melt pool. The melt pool includes at least one of a molten first feed material, a molten second feed material and a molten third feed material. The method further includes solidifying the melt pool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jonaaron F. Jones, David M. Dietrich
  • Patent number: 11351611
    Abstract: A structural joint between two components of metal material is obtained by carrying out an electrical resistance welding spot between said components and subsequently performing a step of applying a cladding of metal material by an additive manufacturing technology. In one example, after a first step of applying a coarse base cladding, a second step of applying a fine cladding is carried out, again by additive manufacturing technology. The fine cladding can include a distribution of stiffening micro-ribs above the base cladding. The same method can also be applied to a single sheet metal component, rather than to a welded joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Daniele Pullini, Massimo Cucco, Gabriele Ciaccio, Fabio D'Aiuto, Michele Maria Tedesco
  • Patent number: 11344975
    Abstract: A filler feed wire (20) including both a laser conductive element (26) and a filler material (22) extending along a length of the wire. Laser energy (30) can be directed into a proximal end (32) of the laser conductive element for melting a distal end (34) of the feed wire to form a melt pool (24) for additive fabrication or repair. The laser conductive element may serve as a flux material. In this manner, laser energy is delivered precisely to the distal end of the feed wire, eliminating the need to separately coordinate laser beam motion with feed wire motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Gerald J. Bruck, Ahmed Kamel
  • Patent number: 11330936
    Abstract: A covering member intended to be connected to a mini-oven, includes one or more connectors. The covering member is constructed and arranged to form at least a portion of the mini-oven door or to be placed between the cooking cavity and the mini-oven door when the door is closed, so as to limit access to the cooking cavity through the opening of the mini-oven. The covering member may reduce the quantity of heat energy lost from the cooking cavity when the mini-oven door is open, such that it improves the performance of the mini-oven and reduces cooking times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: SEB Asia Limited
    Inventor: Chi Wah Chan
  • Patent number: 11331755
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus includes a laser oscillator that is a beam source that outputs a beam, and a rotary motor that is a driving unit that changes the relative positions of a material fed from a wire spool that is a supply source of a wire that is the material and an object to be machined. The driving unit is capable of performing first driving for feeding the material from the supply source toward the object to be machined and second driving for pulling back the fed material to the supply source, and switches from the first driving to the second driving on the basis of a machining program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Hattori, Takashi Hashimoto, Nobuyuki Sumi
  • Patent number: 11331751
    Abstract: A processing head of a laser cladding apparatus, configured to form a cladding layer on a substrate, includes: a laser irradiation part that introduces incident laser light and irradiates the substrate with the laser light; a jet nozzle, into which an assist gas is introduced and which forms a jet of the assist gas around the laser light; and a powder storage part that stores a cladding material powder to be fed to the substrate. The powder storage part has a powder feeding port that is opened facing a jet formation region of the assist gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: NAKAMURA-TOME PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Kamigawara, Naoto Masuko
  • Patent number: 11330675
    Abstract: The invention concerns an electric heating cable intended for pipelines. Sections (11a, 12a and 13a) of three phase conductors (11, 12 are 13) are stripped respectively. These sections are intended to be installed and both secured in place and electrically connected to each other inside a box (14) having, for example, a central cavity (15) having a rectangular cross-section, the depth of which is at least equal to the length of the stripped sections (11a, 12a and 13a) and the length of which is preferably greater than the transverse cross-section of these stripped sections of the phase conductors. They are secured in the central cavity (15) with a conductive binder (16), for example a tin solder, in order to ensure they are secured in place and electrically connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: BACAB S.A.
    Inventors: Mario Colpa, Jean-Luc Therisod, Herve de Franceschi