Patents Examined by Christopher J Besler
  • Aircraft fuselage assembling jig and method of using the same
    Patent number: 11260993
    Abstract: An aircraft fuselage assembling jig includes: a base provided with a plurality of frame indexes for positioning both ends of a plurality of aircraft fuselage frames; a plurality of header plates, each of which protrudes from the base so as to extend along an aircraft fuselage panel, the header plates being arranged parallel to each other in an axial direction of the aircraft fuselage panel; and a plurality of electric cylinders radially provided on each of the plurality of header plates, the electric cylinders moving respective receiving members in a radial direction of the aircraft fuselage panel, the receiving members contacting a skin included in the aircraft fuselage panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Kasahara, Shuhei Segawa
  • Field machining of wind turbine gearboxes
    Patent number: 11261848
    Abstract: A gearbox repair assembly is disclosed herein. The gearbox repair assembly includes a sleeve having an inner diameter configured to receive a bearing assembly and an outer diameter configured to fit within a bore of a gearbox housing. The gearbox housing can be part of a gearbox of a wind turbine. The gearbox repair assembly further includes a retaining plate configured to be attached to the gearbox housing for preventing an outer race of the bearing assembly from rotating in the bore relative to the gearbox housing. Also provided are methods to repair such a gearbox. The gearbox repair assembly and related methods reduce the time and cost needed to repair the gearboxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Renew Energy Maintenance, LLC
    Inventors: Curt Eliason, Michael Sebert
  • Method for producing forged crankshaft
    Patent number: 11253910
    Abstract: Provided is a production method, including a first preforming process for obtaining a first preform from a billet, a second preforming process for obtaining a final preform from the first preform, and a finish forging process for forming the final preform into a finishing dimension of a forged crankshaft. In the first preforming process, a plurality of flat parts are formed by pressing pin-corresponding parts and journal-corresponding parts in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the billet. The second preforming process includes: a process of pressing regions to be a plurality of journals with a width direction of the flat part as a pressing direction by using a pair of first dies; and a process of, after starting pressing by the first dies, decentering regions to be a plurality of pins with the width direction of the flat part as a decentering direction by using second dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junichi Okubo, Kenji Tamura, Kunihiro Yoshida, Sam Soo Hwang, Ryusuke Nakano, Masao Hori, Yukihiro Ota
  • Reconfigurable maintenance apparatus
    Patent number: 11248465
    Abstract: A reconfigurable maintenance apparatus includes a body configured to operate within a cavity. The body has a first shape in a first configuration and a second shape in a second configuration. The first configuration facilitates the body entering the cavity. The reconfigurable apparatus also includes at least one maintenance device operably coupled to the body. The second configuration facilitates the at least one maintenance device of the reconfigurable apparatus performing a maintenance operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Todd William Danko, Mark John Zajkowski, Don Mark Lipkin
  • Systems and methods for preloading a bearing
    Patent number: 11247319
    Abstract: A system for providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft includes an attaching member releasably connectable to the shaft and a press mechanism in fluid communication with a source of fluid and configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing. The press mechanism includes a switch having a base and a piston in communication with the fluid such that an increase in a pressure of the fluid results in the piston extending upwardly from the base and a decrease in the pressure of the fluid results in the piston retracting toward the base. The switch includes a lower proximity sensor and a higher proximity sensor. The piston is configured to extend upwardly from the base past the lower proximity sensor and to trip the higher proximity sensor. The switch is configured to control the increase in the pressure in response to the piston tripping the higher proximity sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Temper Axle Products Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Rode, Sean E. Strait
  • Method for producing a hollow valve
    Patent number: 11247284
    Abstract: A method for producing at least one hollow valve for gas exchange may include introducing a bore into a valve shaft and into a valve head to form the at least one hollow valve, measuring a depth of the bore, washing the at least one hollow valve at least once, providing the at least one hollow valve in a retaining device, orienting the retaining device together with the at least one hollow valve with respect to an associated electrode, moving the associated electrode in relation to the at least one hollow valve, inserting the associated electrode into the bore of the at least one hollow valve, enlarging the bore in a region of the valve head by electromechanical machining processes, removing the associated electrode from the at least one hollow valve, rinsing and/or preserving the at least one hollow valve, and measuring a wall thickness of a valve bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Inventors: Peter Kroos, Christoph Luven
  • Process for forming metal wires
    Patent number: 11235366
    Abstract: A process to fabricate ultra-fine grain metal wire, comprising: inserting a plurality of metal strands into a flexible elastic polyurethane sheath having an accommodating slot for each of the strands of metal to form a sheathed strand assembly; equal channel angular pressing (ECAP pressing) the sheathed strand assembly through an ECAP die having a plurality of die channels corresponding to the plurality of metal strands. The process is designed to improve electric conductance and mechanical properties of elongated metal parts and is especially applicable to optimize the conductance and tensile strength of copper cables, wires, strings, and rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University
    Inventor: Faramarz Djavanroodi
  • System and method for the service and exchange of a yaw bearing for a machine head of a wind turbine
    Patent number: 11231017
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and methods for the service and exchange of a yaw bearing for a machine head of a wind turbine. The yaw bearing servicing and exchange system has a support stand. The support stand includes a base assembly and at least one support post extending perpendicularly from the base assembly. The support stand also includes at least one first post cap removably coupled to the support post and at least one leveler operably coupled to the at least one first post cap for establishing a level orientation of a support surface with respect to a horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Darrick Adam Vanderwalker, Joshua Adam Klinghagen, Gregory Clarence Thomas
  • Apparatus for chamfer-machining a workpiece
    Patent number: 11229964
    Abstract: The present application relates an apparatus for chamfer-machining at least two edges of a toothed workpiece, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one workpiece spindle with a rotatably mounted workpiece holder for receiving the workpiece and a machining head movable relative to the workpiece holder via at least one axis of movement, wherein on the machining head at least one first tool spindle with a first rotatably mounted tool holder is provided for receiving at least one first chamfer milling cutter for chamfer-machining a first edge of a toothing of a workpiece received in the workpiece holder, wherein on the machining head a second tool spindle with a second rotatably mounted tool holder is provided for receiving an end milling cutter for chamfer-machining a second edge of a toothing of a workpiece received in the workpiece holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Liebherr-Verzahntechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Johannes Weixler
  • Method of manufacturing a side pocket mandrel body
    Patent number: 11230893
    Abstract: A method of producing a side pocket mandrel body (1) for use in a hydrocarbon well side pocket mandrel assembly, which mandrel body comprises: a first end (2) displaying a first connection arrangement (3) for connecting the mandrel body to an up-hole section of a production tubing of the hydrocarbon well, and a second end (4) displaying a second connection arrangement (5) for connecting the mandrel body to a down-hole section of the production tubing; a longitudinal, through-going main conduit (6) for communicating with a central passageway of the production tubing; and a side pocket section (7) comprising at least one side pocket (8) for retrievably housing an injection fluid flow control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Petroleum Technology Company AS
    Inventors: Ståle Pettersen, Kristian Harestad
  • Manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus for wheel bearing device
    Patent number: 11221046
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a wheel bearing device, the wheel bearing device including an outer ring member, an inner shaft member that includes a shaft portion that has an inside raceway and a flange portion, a plurality of rolling elements, a seal provided at an end portion of the outer ring member on the first axial side and including an axial lip, and a lip contact surface provided on the side of the inner shaft member and contacted by the axial lip, includes: processing the outside raceway with a distance in an axial direction from a first reference position being managed, a first reference position being set on the outer ring member; and providing the seal at a predetermined position, in the axial direction, of the outer ring member with respect to the first reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koki Shiramizu, Nobuyuki Seo
  • Inspectable synthetic tensile member assembly
    Patent number: 11221055
    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: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Bright Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Richard V. Campbell
  • Production method, piston blank, piston and axial piston machine having said piston
    Patent number: 11213880
    Abstract: A method of producing a piston blank, comprising producing an intermediate blank of a piston for an axial piston machine by extrusion wherein the intermediate blank includes a shaft portion, a ball head portion, and a sealing portion, wherein the shaft portion connects the ball head portion to the sealing portion. The method also includes producing a piston blank of the piston from the intermediate blank and machining a through-opening in the intermediate blank, wherein the through-opening extends within the piston blank in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Reinhard Kick-Rodenbücher, Lukas Kuhn, Horst Hartmann
  • Method and device for the impact treatment of transition radii of a crankshaft
    Patent number: 11203056
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the impact treatment of transition radii (8) of a crankshaft (4), in particular transition radii (8) between connecting rod bearing journals (5) and crank webs (7) and/or transition radii (8) between main bearing journals (6) and the crank webs (7) of the crankshaft (4). The device comprises an impact device (1) in order to introduce an impact force (FS) into at least one transition radius (8), wherein the impact device (1) has multiple impact heads (21) which are paired with the same transition radius (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Inventors: Alfons Reeb, Jochen Schmidt, Konrad Grimm
  • Integrated multi-purpose perception housing
    Patent number: 11203305
    Abstract: An integrated housing assembly can be mounted on a roof of a vehicle, such as a semi-trailer truck. The integrated housing assembly includes a main enclosure that includes four sides, a top panel, and a bottom panel. One of the four sides is a front panel that is inclined towards the ground. The main enclosure includes one or more cavities. A front panel of the integrated housing assembly includes one or more openings to allow cameras or sensors to be placed within the one or more cavities and behind the one or more opening. The cameras or sensors cameras can be clamped at a downward angle within multiple lock apparatus. The angled front panel and the inclined cameras or sensors within the lock apparatus allow the cameras or sensors to obtain images or sensor data from one or more regions of interest at some distance from the front of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: TUSIMPLE, INC.
    Inventors: Qiwei Li, Todd Skinner, Yishi Liu
  • Bulk textured material sheeting
    Patent number: 11198170
    Abstract: A material including a metal sheet, a first plurality of raised and pointed structures, and a second plurality of raised and pointed structures is provided. The metal sheet includes first and second opposed sides, and a thickness between the first and second opposed sides. The first plurality of raised and pointed structures are gouged out of the first side of the metal sheet. The sheet is not perforated, and the raised and pointed structures of the first plurality have a height of between 150% and 300% of the thickness. The second plurality of raised and pointed structures are gouged out of the second side of the metal sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Gripmetal Limited
    Inventors: Ray Arbesman, Nghi Pham, Winston MacKelvie
  • Method for manufacturing a piston rod unit and a hollow shaft
    Patent number: 11193511
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a piston rod unit, or a shaft, in lightweight construction, with a rod which is hollowly-drilled by means of a deep bore into the rod shank, and the resulting rod opening is closed subsequently by means of a forging process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: LIEBHERR-COMPONENTS KIRCHDORF GMBH
    Inventors: Christoph Guhl, Bernhard Müller
  • Late customization on valve body end connections using additive manufacturing
    Patent number: 11192212
    Abstract: A method is provided of custom manufacturing a valve body having an initial valve body configuration having a first end connection and a second end connection. The method includes adding material to the first end connection using a first additive manufacturing process to create at least a portion of a custom first end connection configuration, and the custom first end connection configuration is different than an initial first end connection configuration. The method further includes adding material to the second end connection using a second additive manufacturing process to create at least a portion of a custom second end connection configuration, and the custom second end connection configuration is different than an initial second end connection configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: Tan K. Lai, Chong S. Siang
  • Method for forming an assembly having mating superfinished components
    Patent number: 11185914
    Abstract: A method for forming an assembly having a housing and first and second components. The first and second components are movable relative to one another in the housing. The method includes: providing first and second workpieces; moving the first and second workpieces relative to one another in a predetermined manner that produces relative sliding contact between the first and second workpieces while performing a superfinishing operation on the first and second workpieces to form the first and second components, respectively, wherein the superfinishing operation does not comprise a lapping operation; and mounting the first and second components in the housing such that the first and second components are engaged to one another and are movable relative to one another in the predetermined manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Moshe Rothstein, Cory J. Padfield, Toby V. Padfield
  • Method of manufacturing brake boosters
    Patent number: 11167739
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing vehicle brake boosters includes load testing a plurality of reaction discs and sorting the load-tested reaction discs into multiple, separate batches based on the load test results. A first batch of plunger plates is formed to an axial length to correspond with a first of the separate batches of reaction discs. A first batch of the vehicle brake boosters is assembled with a first one of the multiple, separate batches of reaction discs and the first batch of plunger plates to achieve a target jump-in force. A second batch of plunger plates is formed to an axial length to correspond with a second one of the separate batches of reaction discs. A second batch of the vehicle brake boosters is assembled with a second one of the multiple separate batches of reaction discs and the second batch of plunger plates to achieve the target jump-in force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: David Sadanowicz, Charles Byron Horner, Jr.