Patents Examined by Christopher Fulton
  • Patent number: 9810565
    Abstract: An oil level gauge device in which an oil level gauge is inserted in a guide pipe communicating with an oil pan, is provided. In the oil level gauge, a cap having a plug configured to fit on an inner peripheral surface at one end portion of the guide pipe, and a flange integrally formed with the plug and abutted with the one end of the guide pipe, is provided. A groove extending from a deeply inserted side of the plug to an abutment surface of the end abutting the flange is formed in the inner peripheral surface. When the plug is fitted on the inner peripheral surface, a ventilation passage for communicating the inside and outside of the oil pan through the guide pipe is formed between the plug and the guide pipe by the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Inokura, Kiyonori Ide, Yuki Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9803973
    Abstract: A portable coordinate measurement machine (CMM) includes an articulated arm including rotary joints. At least one of the rotary joints includes bearings; a shaft that engages an inner diameter of the bearings, the shaft configured to rotate about an axis of rotation of the bearings; a housing having at least one port that engages an outer diameter of at least one of the bearings; and at least one transducer configured to output an angle signal corresponding to an angle of rotation of the shaft relative to the housing about the axis of rotation. The shaft has no portion whose diameter is larger than the inner diameter of the first bearing or the second bearing, or the at least one port of the housing has no portion whose diameter is narrower than the outer diameter of the first bearing or the second bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: SA08700334
    Inventor: Allen Sajedi
  • Patent number: 9802333
    Abstract: A kit for making a sign utilizing a router includes a plurality of interlocking templates that can be utilized to form the letters for a sign. The kit includes two or more templates that are positioned in the same location on a board in a sequence to form a single letter, number or symbol with an island with an uninterrupted perimeter. The kit also includes a guide bushing that is secured to the router bit to prevent the router bit from gouging into the templates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Rockler Companies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve D. Krohmer, Daniel P. Banasik
  • Patent number: 9803972
    Abstract: A scanning probe is provided for use with a coordinate measuring machine. The scanning probe includes a rotary position detection configuration which outputs X and Y position signals indicative of a rotation of a stylus coupling portion about a rotation center, and an axial position detection configuration which outputs a Z position signal indicative of the position of the stylus coupling portion along the axial direction. The Z position signal is substantially insensitive to motion of the axial detection deflector in at least one direction that is transverse to the axial direction. The X, Y and Z position signals may be processed to determine a 3D position of a contact portion of the stylus, which may include utilizing the Z position signal in combination with known trigonometry of the scanning probe to remove axial motion cross coupling components from the X and Y position signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventor: David William Sesko
  • Patent number: 9803966
    Abstract: Method for building up an object (25) by means of a coordinate measuring machine (10), wherein the coordinate measuring machine (10) has at least one control unit and one drive unit for the controlled movement of an instrument carrier (19) in relation to a base (12) and the instrument carrier (19) is implemented for carrying at least one measuring sensor and production tool (21a-b), which are each modularly attachable in particular, both alone in each case or in combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Hexagon Technology Center GmbH
    Inventors: Bo Pettersson, Knut Siercks, Pascal Jordil
  • Patent number: 9803468
    Abstract: A wellbore caliper includes an actuator housing pivotally connected at one end to a well logging instrument housing and an actuator disposed in the housing and operable to extend and retract laterally extensible measuring arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Alan James Sallwasser
  • Patent number: 9797917
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting microplate well surface contact and setting standoff is provided. The apparatus may include a sample probe, coupled to a spring-loaded carriage, and a sensor configured to detect when the sample probe is in contact with a surface. The sample probe is moved toward a surface of a well in a well-plate until the sample end of the sample probe contacts the surface, whereby the carriage allows the probe to be displaced. Displacement of the probe is detected by the sensor and further downward movement of the carriage is stopped. A processor records the location of the sample probe and sets standoff based on the recorded location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Intellicyt
    Inventors: Stephen M. Barnes, Aaron B. Kennington
  • Patent number: 9797684
    Abstract: An archery scope includes a housing having a light receiving region arranged on an exterior surface of a cylindrical sight portion and at least one sight pin connected with the housing and arranged within the sight portion. At least one optical fiber extends through the sight pin and through the light receiving region to receive ambient light and deliver it to the end of the sight pin. The optical fiber is arranged on the exterior surface in a serpentine pattern to maximize the length of the fiber exposed to ambient light. A shield is rotatably connected with the housing sight portion for movement between open and closed positions to increase and decrease the amount of ambient light directed to the optical fiber, respectively, so that an archer can control the brightness of the sight pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Inventor: Gregory E. Summers
  • Patent number: 9791070
    Abstract: Device for fitting two connectors at the end of two conduits, particularly in an aircraft, with a view to subsequent mutual connection of the connectors by a connecting pipe, including a body; a first support including temporary connector retainers that define an associated connector axis; an opposite second support including temporary connector retainers that define an associated connector axis; structure for moving the first support in translation relative to the body parallel to the associated connector axis, between a retracted position and a deployed position. A method of establishing fluidic communication between two conduits in an aircraft, including fitting two connectors at the end of the two conduits by such a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Damien Fraysse, Thierry Gagnaire, Benoït Thomas
  • Patent number: 9791255
    Abstract: A gutter marking template set includes a right-handed gutter marking template and a left-handed gutter marking template, each including a template frame having a first template frame surface and a second template frame surface. The template frame may include a main frame member having a first main frame member end and a second main frame member end. A first frame member may be carried by the main frame member and may have a first frame member surface extending between and at a cut angle with respect to the first template frame surface and the second template frame surface. A second frame member may be carried by the main frame member in spaced-apart relationship to the first frame member. The second frame member may have a second frame member surface extending between and at the cut angle with respect to the first template frame surface and the second template frame surface and parallel to the first frame member surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Inventor: Danny J. Mills
  • Patent number: 9791262
    Abstract: A scanning probe responsive in three axes is provided for use with a coordinate measuring machine. The scanning probe utilizes multiplexing techniques for producing X, Y and Z position signals. The X and Y position signals are indicative of a rotation of a stylus coupling portion about a rotation center, and the Z position signal is indicative of the position of the stylus coupling portion along the axial direction. The Z position signal is substantially insensitive to motion of the axial detection deflector in at least one direction that is transverse to the axial direction. The X, Y and Z position signals may be processed to determine a 3D position of a contact portion of the stylus, which may include utilizing the Z position signal in combination with known trigonometry of the scanning probe to remove axial motion cross coupling components from the X and Y position signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Allen Harsila, David William Sesko
  • Patent number: 9791256
    Abstract: A “step shim” for positioning a fixture in a precise location relative to an adjoining support structure includes an elongated member having: (a) two, side surfaces, (b) a flat, bottom face, (c) a top face that includes a plurality of flat, adjoining segments, each of which is separated from an adjoining top face segment by a boundary line that extends across the top face (d) front and back ends, and (e) wherein this member has a configuration adapted to allow it to be broken apart along the member's boundary lines into a plurality of member segments that each correspond to one of the top face segments, and (f) wherein the distance between the bottom face and the segment of the above top face defines a member segment's height, each of which is progressively taller from the member's front to back end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Inventor: William Beer
  • Patent number: 9791254
    Abstract: A scale fixating device includes a fixing block unmovably fixating a first end of a scale to an object, and a pulling block fixating a second end of the scale to the object while pulling the second end of the scale to the second end side. The pulling block includes a fixated base fixated to an object, a slide holding the second end of the scale and installed slidably with respect to the fixated base, and a pulling mechanism having a first end engaged to the slide and a second end engaged to the fixated base, the pulling mechanism pulling the slide toward the second end relatively with respect to the fixated base. The scale fixating device either prevents a friction force from changing between the slide and the fixated base or generates an extremely large friction force between the slide and the fixated base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takanori Otsuka, Masaru Ogiwara
  • Patent number: 9791271
    Abstract: A window for a laser line projector has a front window, a left window, and a right window positioned on the same plane. A projection of the front window, left window and right window has a shape of an isosceles trapezoid. The projection of the front window is an upper base of the isosceles trapezoid. The projections of the left window and right window are opposite legs of the isosceles trapezoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Changzhou Huada Kejie Opto-Electro Instruction Co. Ltd
    Inventors: Ou Zhang, Kai Fei
  • Patent number: 9784575
    Abstract: An optical device with at least one measurement scale for the determination of the distance to an object with an at least approximately known size observed by the measurement scale. In order to make possible a quick, object size-independent readability of measurement values and a simpler calculation of the distance to an object from the read-off measurement values, the measurement scale includes a reference marking and at least one additional measurement marking with a numerical value that is correlated with it and that is inversely proportional to the distance of the reference marking from the pertinent measurement marking. The distance to the object observed by the measurement scale is produced by a multiplication of the size of the object with a measurement value read off from the measurement scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: GSO GERMAN SPORTS OPTICS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: David Senne
  • Patent number: 9784551
    Abstract: The present invention is a tool for locating and marking center points on various objects configured with a geared carriage assembly having guide holes for insertion of posts and a counterpunch centered automatically when posts are inserted into an interior and/or exterior surface of an object such as a square, rectangular, polygon, circle or other circular shapes. The tool is particularly novel to quickly and accurately locate the center point from a hole, aperture, and/or a prick mark made in the surface of the object such as, for example, paper, sheet metal, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Inventor: John W. Brown
  • Patent number: 9772205
    Abstract: A method for electrically activating a measurement stand with a movement of at least one measuring probe (26) from a starting position (31) into a measuring position (32) and also a measurement stand for supporting a measuring probe, in particular for measuring the thickness of thin layers, in which a motor (34) is activated by a control arrangement (25), which moves a ram (23) up and down via a drive arrangement (35), wherein a retainer (24) is provided on the ram (23), to which retainer the measuring probe (26) can be fastened, in which a freewheel is activated between the drive arrangement (35) and the ram (33) as soon as the measuring probe (26) or retainer (23) is set down in the measuring position (32) on an item to be measured (14) and the movement of the drive arrangement (35) is decoupled from the vertical movement of the ram (23), wherein a movement speed of the at least one measuring probe (14) from the starting position (31) into the measuring position (32) is reduced by mechanical damping or elec
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Helmut Fischer GmbH Institut für Elektronik und Messtechnik
    Inventor: Helmut Fischer
  • Patent number: 9759541
    Abstract: There is described a device for measuring deformations (10) on surfaces endowed with a frame (11) associated to fastening means (20) of the device (10) on the surfaces, the device (10) further comprising, at least a pair of guides (31, 32) associated longitudinally to an inner portion (12) of the frame (11) and spaced apart parallel to each other, and a sliding support (40) perpendicularly associated to the guides (31, 32); the sliding support (40) comprising a transversal groove (41) on which there is disposed a mobile base (42) that receives a measuring element (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: EMBRAER S.A.
    Inventor: Flávio César Ferreira
  • Patent number: 9759540
    Abstract: An articulating probe for use with a coordinate measuring machine comprises an attachment portion, a measuring portion, and at least one articulating joint. The attachment portion can be configured for attachment to a coordinate measuring machine. The measuring portion can be configured to contact an object to be measured by the coordinate measuring machine. The at least one articulating joint can be configured to allow rotation between the attachment portion and the measuring portion. Further, the articulating joint can comprise an angular sensor configured to measure an angle of the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Hexagon Metrology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Ferrari, Hyun Kwon Jung, James F. McKnight
  • Patent number: 9752860
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for measuring a physical parameter of a gear. The system and method includes moving a contact probe into a start position on the pitch circle of the gear in a gap between adjacent teeth. The contact probe is moved in a path substantially along the pitch circle of the gear until the contact probe contacts the flank of one of the adjacent gear teeth at a contact point. Spatial coordinates of the contact point are determined. A measurement of a physical parameter of the gear is determined based on the spatial coordinates of the contact point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Richard G. Marsh