Patents Examined by Christopher Besler
  • Patent number: 10213823
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for building a fuselage assembly for an aircraft. A number of fixtures may be drive across a floor to an assembly area to form an assembly fixture. The fuselage assembly may be built on the assembly fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Harinder S. Oberoi, Branko Sarh, Melissa Ann Findlay, Alan S. Draper, Jorge Alberto Arriaga, Richard Griffith Reese, IV, Alfredo Jose Gerosa, Kevin Marion Barrick, Michael J. Kozak, Quang T. Do, Jeffrey Lawrence Miller, Yuanxin Charles Hu
  • Patent number: 10183468
    Abstract: A tolerance ring with functional layers has an annular band and an elastomeric layer. The assembly also may have a low friction layer, which may be bonded, calendared or laminated thereto. The low friction material may completely encapsulate the annular band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS PAMPUS GMBH
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Jaeger, Dominique Burgeff
  • Patent number: 10167928
    Abstract: A protected synthetic tensile member assembly including one or more fixed terminations used to transmit a tensile load from the tensile member to an external component. The tensile member includes access for inspection of its constituent fibers in at least one selected inspection region. The region is selected on the basis of the area of interest to the tensile member's use—such as the area of greatest stress concentration or the area of greatest abrasion. A removable cover is provided for the inspection region. A user may selectively remove this cover in order to gain access to the inspection region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Bright Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Richard V. Campbell
  • Patent number: 10151343
    Abstract: A method of adjusting preload on a bearing assembly of a wheel mounted on an axle or spindle with a lock nut includes mounting a preload adjustment tool onto a threaded axle or spindle. The load on the bearing assembly is increased using the tool. The wheel on the axle or spindle is rotated to set the bearing assembly. The load on the bearing assembly is decreased to a desired maximum preload on the bearing. After decreasing the load on the bearing assembly to a desired maximum preload, the lock nut is tightened by hand until the lock nut cannot be further tightened. The lock nut is loosened by rotating the lock nut to a preferred location where a guide mark on the tool aligns with one mark on the lock nut located closest to the guide mark wherein a resultant preload on the bearing assembly is within a preset range from the desired maximum preload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: TEMPER AXLE PRODUCTS CORPORATION
    Inventor: John E. Rode
  • Patent number: 10144057
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a forged steel roll comprises: casting, by the ESR method, a steel ingot which contains, by mass %, C: 0.3% or more, Si: 0.2% or more, Cr: 2.0-13.0% and Mo: 0.2% or more, and further contains Bi at 10-100 ppm by mass; and forging the steel ingot to manufacture the roll. According to this method, since freckle defects can be sealed near the center of the steel ingot, the roll can be stably used over a long period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirofumi Onishi, Akihiro Yamanaka, Hideo Mizukami, Tomoaki Sera, Hideyoshi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10132296
    Abstract: A wind turbine tower that may be assembled fast, including a nacelle and a rotor, the tower comprising at least two stackable annular sections made of concrete connected through a main connecting arrangement adapted to withstand loads induced by the wind turbine rotor, and an auxiliary connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: ACCIONA WINDPOWER, S.A.
    Inventors: Iván García Maestre, Asier Gómez Andueza, Eduardo Azanza Ladrón, Ander Gastón Lujambio, José Miguel García Sayés, Miguel Nuñez Polo
  • Patent number: 10132367
    Abstract: A viscous clutch head may be replaced by selecting a viscous clutch head and a mount adapter. The viscous clutch head and the mount adapter may be selected from a group of universal modular fan drives and from a group of mount adapters. The mount adapter of a threaded type or a flange and bolt type may be selected. Depending on the viscous clutch head to be replaced, a fan adapter and/or a pilot adapter may also be selected from a group of fan adapters and from a group of pilot adapters. Accordingly, a range of models of viscous fan clutch systems may be replaced by using a limited number of parts. These parts may be stored on a tool cart. As different models of viscous fan clutch systems may be replaced using a limited number of parts, the in-stock inventory of replacement parts may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: KIT MASTERS, INC.
    Inventors: Craig Swanson, Dale Scherman
  • Patent number: 10107562
    Abstract: A heat pipe and a sealing method thereof; the sealing method for a heat pipe includes the steps of: providing a metal pipe member, the metal pipe member including one end having a sealed end portion formed thereon and another end thereof having a narrowing neck section extended therefrom. The narrowing neck section includes a channel. A compression mold compresses the narrowing neck section and moves away from the metal pipe member in order to compress and elongate the narrowing neck section into a compression elongated column and to seal the channel. Finally, spot welding process is performed on the compression elongated column to form a sealed block thereon. The present invention is of the merits of improved work efficiency for heat pipe bending, compression and testing and increased length of the metal pipe member with enhanced thermal transfer performance of the heat pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: KUNSHAN JUE-CHUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hung-Ping Hsieh, Yu-Po Huang
  • Patent number: 10107331
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft which includes an attaching member releasably connectable to a shaft and a press mechanism coupled to the attaching member. The press mechanism is configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing. An aligning ring has an aligning projection configured to engage a shaft slot of the shaft to align the press mechanism relative to the shaft when the attaching member connects to the shaft. The projection extends radially inwardly from a circumferential portion of the aligning ring. The aligning ring extends circumferentially around the attaching member and is rotatable relative to the attaching member. The aligning ring includes a plurality of ring indicating markings to allow an alignment of a ring indicating marking of the plurality of ring indicating markings with a lock nut connected to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: TEMPER AXLE PRODUCTS CORPORATION
    Inventor: John E. Rode
  • Patent number: 10099306
    Abstract: Methods of bonding first structures to second structures are disclosed wherein the first and second structures are fabricated materials having different physical characteristics. For example, the first structure may be a composite fan blade and the second structure may be a composite or metallic rotor, both for use in gas turbine engines. The method includes providing the first and second structures and plating or otherwise coating a portion of the first structure with a metal to provide a metal-coated portion. The method includes applying at least one intermediate material onto the metal-coated portion of the first structure. The method further includes bonding the metal-coated portion of the first structure and the intermediate material to the second structure. The bonding is carried out using a relatively low-temperature process, such as liquid phase bonding, including TLP and PTLP bonding. Brazing is also a suitable technique, depending on the materials chosen for the first and second structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Grant O. Cook, III, James T. Roach
  • Patent number: 10094223
    Abstract: A strut and IGV configuration in a gas turbine engine positioned at an upstream of a rotor includes a plurality of radial struts, for example for bearing engine loads, and a plurality of inlet guide vanes positioned axially spaced apart from the struts. The number of inlet guide vanes is greater than the number of struts. The struts are circumferentially aligned with the inlet guide vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Hong Yu, Ronald Dutton
  • Patent number: 10092987
    Abstract: An automated pallet inspection and repair apparatus comprises an inspection station and a repair station. The inspection station comprises a laser that illuminates a pallet, a camera that collects the reflected light and a computer system. The computer system analyzes the output of the camera and acquires the pallet's geometry and topography. The design of the pallet is determined by the computer software. A decision to repair the pallet is made by comparing acquired pallet data against the design criteria. If the pallet needs repair, a recipe of repair steps is constructed by inspecting each of the pallet's elements. The recipe is transmitted to the automated repair station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: CHEP Technology Pty Limited
    Inventors: Steve Townsend, Michael David Lucas
  • Patent number: 10081081
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a tubular member for an automotive application that includes providing a flat workpiece of a material; forming at least one lance in the flat workpiece; roll-forming the flat workpiece into a tubular configuration; induction welding a seam of the tubular workpiece after the roll-forming; and trimming the tubular workpiece through the lance after welding the seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: FLEX-N-GATE ADVANCED PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Brestovansky, Dennis Stevenson, Rob Fontichiaro, Mark Niemiec
  • Patent number: 10081418
    Abstract: There is provided a panel member capable of restraining an increase in weight of a wing panel while restraining wasteful work in the manufacturing process, an aircraft main wing, and a method for forming the panel member. A wing panel 10 is formed with ridges 20 each having a dimension larger than the machining tolerance in the boundary portions between areas A1, A2, . . . . Therefore, the worker who handles the wing panel 10 can visually confirm the step portions of the areas A1, A2, . . . easily. Thereby, if a flaw or the like is found in the areas A1, A2, . . . , corrective actions can be properly taken on the actually existing flaw without mistaking the flaw for the step portion of the areas A1, A2, . . . .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideto Motohashi, Yoshifumi Hosokawa, Toshinari Fuji
  • Patent number: 10077738
    Abstract: A method for producing a piston for an internal combustion engine may include the steps of: producing a piston main body from a first blank via a deformation process; producing a piston ring part from a second blank via at least one of a deformation process and a casting process; pre-machining the first blank and the second blank, and finish machining a welding surface of the first blank and a welding surface of the second blank; connecting the pre-machined first blank and the pre-machined second blank via a welding process to form a piston body; and performing at least one of a secondary machining and a finish machining of the piston body to produce the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Berr, Sascha-Oliver Boczek, Reiner Mueller, Rainer Scharp
  • Patent number: 10077685
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the material-removing processing of an adjustable camshaft which has a shaft body, wherein at least a first component of the camshaft can move axially and/or in the circumferential direction with respect to the shaft body, wherein a gap which permits the movement is provided between the shaft body and the first component, and wherein in order to protect the first moveable component during the material-removing processing a protection apparatus which has at least one fluid duct is placed on the shaft body and fluid is applied to it. According to the invention, the protection apparatus is arranged laterally with respect to the first moveable component in such a way that at least some of the fluid is directed laterally onto the first component and into an intermediate space between the protection apparatus and the first component, and wherein the first component is exposed in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA TECCENTER AG
    Inventor: Thomas Binder
  • Patent number: 10072847
    Abstract: A method for repairing a bundled tube fuel injector includes removing a portion of a pre-mix tube, aligning a tube tip with the remaining portion pre-mix tube and fixedly connecting the tube tip to the pre-mix tube. The method may further include removing an aft plate and an outer shroud from the bundled tube fuel injector so as to expose the pre-mix tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Scott Means, Steven Charles Woods, Mark Carmine Bellino, James Christopher Monaghan, Jonathan Dwight Berry, Patrick S. Riley
  • Patent number: 10072696
    Abstract: A detaching method of a filling member and the filling member to be used therein are provided, in which the filling member loaded in a space of a counterbore hole or a hole of a bolt head may be detached easily if required to remove a bolt, a prepared hole is made in the filling member by means of a drill, and female threads are formed in the filling member by a tapping process, and an extracting force is applied to the filling member by way of the female threads engaged with a rotating tap, so that the filling member can be pulled out of the space of the counterbore hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KINKI
    Inventors: Naoya Wada, Akira Sugimoto, Kazufumi Sakata
  • Patent number: 10072995
    Abstract: A coke extrusion force estimation method includes: measuring irregularities on an inner wall surface of a carbonization chamber to acquire an oven wall profile; estimating an outer shape of a coke produced in the carbonization chamber based on the oven wall profile; defining an active state for a side surface position of the coke at which a coke width is smaller than an oven width and defining a passive state for a side surface position of the coke at which a coke width is larger than an oven width based on the oven wall profile and the estimated outer shape; and calculating oven wall friction force for each side surface position of the coke using a previously set apparent Young's modulus of the coke in accordance with definition of the active state or the passive state to estimate the extrusion force based on the oven wall friction force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: JFE Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Ryo Hamada, Shunichi Kamezaki, Takuya Akasaki
  • Patent number: 10066537
    Abstract: An exhaust connection coupler and a method for manufacturing a braid cover incorporated therein are provided. The method of manufacturing comprises the steps of providing a tubular sleeve formed of braided wire filaments and forming at least one end of the sleeve into shape using a forming die such that the at least one end of the cover includes a circumferential neck portion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of a body portion of the cover. In the method, the sleeve may be pressed between male and female forming dies in order to create the cover's desired shape, which can include a shoulder extending radially outwardly from the cover's neck portion and meeting the cover's body portion at a corner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: TRU-FLEX, LLC
    Inventors: Robert F. Stalcup, II, Scott R. Swank