Patents Examined by Daniel C. Crane
  • Patent number: 6968726
    Abstract: The pair of press-connecting pliers for pins on electric communication terminals are provided on the front and rear sides of thereof with three kinds of press-connecting grooves. One of the two sides is formed thereon a first press-connecting groove and a second press-connecting groove, while the other side is formed thereon a third press-connecting groove in opposition to the second press-connecting groove; so that the left and right sides of the press-connecting pliers are formed thereon two terminal holding seats respectively from the first press-connecting groove, the second press-connecting groove and the third press-connecting groove, thereby the two terminal holding seats at least can simultaneously do press connecting for pins on electric communication wires and electric communication terminals of three different types, this simplifies the size of the entire press-connecting pliers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Hanlong Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chih-Lang Wang
  • Patent number: 6968722
    Abstract: A plate-processing device intended for bending and cutting of bending and bendable plate-like objects. A bending and cutting tool is arranged to be moved by actuators. At least two tube sectors, which are arranged within each other and move relative to each other, of which the tube sector that revolves around the axis of revolution has a bending or cutting tool. The mutual movement of the tube sectors is brought about by actuators acting between the tube sectors and expandable by means of pressure of a medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Rondeco Oy
    Inventor: Markku Karhumäki
  • Patent number: 6968721
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a turbine blade retainer using a material cutting device and a material bending device includes steps for suspending a bar stock material between a polyurethane shock absorber and a bore of a cutting jig support, moving the cutting punch downward to press the distal end of the bar stock material into the shock absorber and then cut the bar stock material to thereby generate a blank, clamping the blank between a bending punch and a receiving slide by pressing the bending punch against the receiving slide, bending the distal end of the blank against a chamfered section of a bending support in response to continued downward motion of the bending punch to thereby form a blade retainer precursor, and milling the blade retainer precursor to form the blade retainer. Corresponding devices for performing these steps are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenjiro Tabuchi, Go Nabatame
  • Patent number: 6966210
    Abstract: A tool for flanging coated brake pipes has a basic body with a receiving groove and a clamping jaw with a clamping groove. The receiving groove and the clamping groove form a clamping channel, in which the brake pipe can be received snugly. To achieve the snug hold of the brake pipe without unacceptable deformations as well as the coaxial alignment of this brake pipe in relation to a pressure piece of the basic body, by which the flanged head is formed, different surfaces of the receiving groove and of the clamping groove are provided. Thus, the surfaces may be provided with a surface roughness with an arithmetic average peak-to-valley height Ra of 5.0 to 10.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Klann Tools Ltd.
    Inventor: Horst Klann
  • Patent number: 6964185
    Abstract: A bending apparatus for bending and transporting an aluminum metal sheet. The bending apparatus includes a central retaining portion that has gripping elements mounted on the central retaining portion for retaining an aluminum metal sheet. There is also included a bending mechanism that is mounted to the central retaining portion. The bending mechanism is capable of axial movement in relation to a central axis of the central retaining portion for imparting a curvature to an aluminum metal sheet. There is also included a method of stretch forming an aluminum metal sheet including the steps of heating an aluminum metal sheet in an oven, transferring the heat of an aluminum sheet to a hot forming tool, bending the heated aluminum sheet during the transfer step to conform the sheet to a shape of the hot forming tool, and then placing the bent metal sheet in the hot forming tool and forming an A-shaped part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Gary A. Kruger, John E. Carsley, Nelson T. Brinas
  • Patent number: 6959582
    Abstract: An expandable forming tool has a body with a mounting stem on its upper surface and a transversely extending channel in its lower surface in which is slidably seated a wedge-shaped actuator for vertical sliding movement. The larger lower end normally depends from the body. A pair of slides are slidably seated in the channel on opposite sides of the actuator, and they have angular surfaces slidably bearing on the sloping surfaces of the actuator. Springs bias the slides against the side surfaces of the actuator, and a spring biases the actuator outwardly of the body. The actuator is driven vertically inwardly of the channel by movement of its larger end against a workpiece, and this inward movement pushes the slide members outwardly in the channel to project beyond the periphery of the body. The tool can produce contours in the workpiece, or cut the workpiece, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Trumpf Inc.
    Inventors: Carl R. Peterhansel, Jonathan W. Chomicz
  • Patent number: 6959580
    Abstract: A sheet metal bending brake having a frame with a planar work supporting surface and a plurality of spaced frame members extending over the work support surface. Each frame member has a throughbore and these throughbores are aligned with each other. A plurality of elongated pivot arms are pivotally secured at one end to the frame for movement toward and away from the work supporting surface. Each pivot arm also includes a generally rectangular opening aligned with the frame member throughbores. A block is longitudinally slidably mounted in each pivot arm opening and this slide block is constrained against movement in a direction perpendicular to the work support surface. Each block furthermore includes a trapezoidal opening with spaced apart and parallel top and bottom surfaces and outwardly flared side surfaces. An elongated shaft extends through and is rotatably mounted to the frame member throughbores and this shaft also extends through the trapezoidal openings in the pivot arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Inventor: Douglas G. Break
  • Patent number: 6957558
    Abstract: An encaustic metal tile fabrication equipment includes a roller unit operated to roll an encaustic metal sheet into a corrugated encaustic metal sheet, a shape forming mechanism having a first shape forming mold unit and a second shape forming mold unit and operated to process the corrugated encaustic metal sheet into an encaustic metal tile having a bend with a recessed portion, and a cutting unit operated to cut the finished encaustic metal tile to the desired size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Inventor: Sen-Jung Chuang
  • Patent number: 6955071
    Abstract: A mechanical bending device (8) for bending flat workpieces (6) has at least one bending tool assembly (9) which includes at least one tool part that can move by means of a bending tool drive (27). When acted on by the tool part that moves, the workpiece can be bent along a bending line (11). The movable tool part is comprised of a multiplicity of adjacent segments disposed in the direction of the bending line (11), which segments can be selectively connected to the bending tool drive (27) to provide the desired operational length for the bending tool assembly. The machine tool incorporating the mechanical bending device can also include a mechanical cutting device so that workpiece parts can be both bent and machine cut in the same machine tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Trumpf Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Marc Klinkhammer, Wolfgang Laib, Peter Bytow
  • Patent number: 6955312
    Abstract: An apparatus for comminuting rocks, comprising a frame having a restrictive passageway with an inlet and an outlet end for relative displacement of rocks from the inlet to the outlet end. A rotary impacting device is secured to the frame in the passageway so as to be journaled with respect to the frame. The rotary impacting device has hammer elements on an outer periphery of the device. The hammer elements are adapted to scoop and impact rocks in the passageway to project the rocks toward the outlet of the apparatus. An actuator is mounted to the frame and operationally connected to the rotary impacting device for imparting a rotation of the rotary impacting device. A screen is adapted to comminute upon impact the rocks propelled thereon by the rotary impacting device. The screen is positioned at the outlet end such that comminuted rocks exiting from the apparatus are below a predetermined size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Equipments Lan-Ro Inc.
    Inventors: Langis Beaulieu, Rolande Plourde
  • Patent number: 6952943
    Abstract: A rotor assembly for an electric motor comprising rotor elements each having a body portion and pole portions formed integrally as a pressing from strip steel, Each successively formed rotor element is formed with its pole portions offset relative to its body portion by an amount different from the offset on the previously formed rotor element. The rotor elements are produces by the use of a progressive die assembly to punch the rotor elements from strip material. At least part of the pole portion of the rotor element is produced by a first die member, and at least a part of the body portion is produced by a second die member. Relative movement is effected between the first and second die members between successive punching operations to change the pole portion offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: European Electrical Laminations Limited
    Inventor: Peter Maybury
  • Patent number: 6948351
    Abstract: Tongs comprising a four link mechanism (12, 20, 22, 30) wherein the links are pivotally connected together by means of parallel pivot joints (23?, 24?, 31?, 32?), wherein the link mechanism includes two mutually connected links (20, 30) which define therebetween an angle that approaches 180° at the closing end position of the tongs, and wherein the length of one (30) of said two links is adjustable and includes two parts that are moveable in the longitudinal direction of the link, wherein the first (36) of said parts includes a slot (51) for guiding a a shaft (31) carried by said second part (70) and belonging to the pivot joint of the adjustable link (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Pressmaster AB
    Inventor: Mats Norin
  • Patent number: 6948349
    Abstract: A roll forming machine for a debris shedding rain gutter having a lower trough and an upper hood, wherein independent adjustments are made to the front wall of the trough to insure that its upper edge is behind the forward end of the trough. An independently adjustable kick forming station is provided to create an inward bend near the upper end of the front wall. A block is adjustably mounted to a cross-member of the machine to press the front wall inwardly to insure that the angle where the front wall joins the bottom wall of the trough is approximately ninety degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Englert, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Gorski, Bruce E. Meyer
  • Patent number: 6948350
    Abstract: A ring-shaped core metal is pressed and compressed by a main punch and a counter punch so as to have a wave shape. Moreover, each group of three micro-protrusions provided on each of top points of the wave shape are cut in the core metal. Then, three notches are cut on the core metal corresponding to the micro-protrusions. Furthermore, plastic flow is generated at a surface layer of the core metal due to partial compression by the notches at the time of pressing and compressing. Then, the waves are formed on the core metal with the notches as the top points. The notches are cut at seven sections respectively on a front surface and a rear surface of the core metal. Thus, seven waves are formed on the core metal in total. Since the notches are formed on the front and the rear surfaces of the waves, a “return” phenomenon is not generated as seen in a conventional cool working method. Thus, the waves are formed at high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignees: Aisin Kako Kabushiki Kaisha, Yamamoto Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Ono, Hideto Nakagawa, Katsuhiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6941788
    Abstract: The invention concerns a brake (1) comprising at least a platen (2) co-operating with a press (3) for immobilizing a blank section to be bent, the platen (2) being extended by a table (4) hinged to the platen (2) via a hinge. The brake (1) is characterized in that part of the hinge consists of a cage having in transverse section a profile with a cylindrical segment (6B) prolonged by a retaining lip (6C) defining with the segment an opening (6D) of the cage (6A), the cage (6A) being designed to receive by simple sliding the other hinge part, the hinge part having a generally winding conchoidal shape exhibiting in transverse section a profile with a cylindrical segment prolonged by a retaining lip. The invention is useful for bending blanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: DIMOS
    Inventor: Michel Goubaud
  • Patent number: 6938453
    Abstract: A closure tool (10, 40) for closing heavy-duty clips (11) as used for example in the building trade and in agriculture has a body (13), a pair of handles (14) mounted on the body (13) on pivots (15) and a pair of anvils (18, 20) movable relative to each other from a spaced position to closure position in response to relative movement of the handles (14) and the body (13). A moving member (17) is engaged by the handles (14) and is movable therewith, and one of the anvils (18) is connected to and movable with the moving member (17). The handles (14) may have spigots (44) engaged in a slot (43) in a cylindrical moving member (17) in a barrel part (41) of the body (13), or each handle (14) may have a quadrant shaped first gear engaging a rack second gear moving member slidably mounted in the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: J. & H. Rosenheim Limited
    Inventors: Raymond Allan Pickup, Andrew King
  • Patent number: 6938447
    Abstract: An apparatus for correcting deformation of a gas turbine blade includes a stationary die fixed to a backside of a tip shroud of a gas turbine blade to hold a back surface thereof and a pressing die pressing a front surface of the tip shroud so as to press the tip shroud of the blade between the pressing die and the stationary. A hydraulic drive mechanism including pressure generator is arranged for pressing the pressing die against the tip shroud held by the stationary die and a control device is operatively connected to the hydraulic drive mechanism so as to set and indicate a driving condition on a basis of deformation correction data preliminarily stored in the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Toshiaki Fuse, Daizo Saito, Yomei Yoshioka, Masahiro Hiragishi, Junji Ishii
  • Patent number: 6935153
    Abstract: A tool for forming flares in, for example, corrugated elliptical tubing. The tool may have a retaining portion having a longitudinal axis located between an impact surface and a die head. The die head is coupled to the retaining portion on a first side, and on a second side the die head has a guide plug extending from an inner area of a flare surface normal to the longitudinal axis; and a bottoming surface extending from a periphery of the flare surface. The bottoming surface is oriented at an angle to the flare surface. A saw guide may be used to obtain an appropriate extension of the tube from a stop which the flare is formed against.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Andrew Corporation
    Inventors: Gary Frigo, Bounthavy Thavisouk, John McCarthy
  • Patent number: 6931903
    Abstract: Apparatus for roll forming shaped members from sheet material has a primary powered section that roll forms along a primary pass line and a secondary powered section. The secondary powered section is coupled to and powered by the primary powered section, and roll forms along a secondary pass line that is separate from the primary pass line. The secondary powered section is coupled to the primary powered section by a transmission that allows adjustment of the secondary pass line in translation in two directions and in rotation in two directions. The method of roll forming includes forming shaped members in sections with the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Inventors: Gary A. Knudson, Patrick D. Flood
  • Patent number: 6931899
    Abstract: A swager for swaging marker bands to a medical catheter, comprises an article input mechanism, the article input mechanism having a first input roller assembly for receiving and conveying an article, a first sensor for detecting a predetermined aspect of the article, a second input roller assembly for receiving and conveying the article, a positioning roller assembly for precisely aligning the article with respect to the swaging head, and a second sensor all constructed and arranged in a streamwise orientation. The swager also has a radial compression swaging head with a central swaging aperture, the swaging head being aligned and communicatively coupled with the input mechanism to receive an input article from the article input mechanism and to swage the article, the swaging head being rotatable and including (i.) a unitary die plate including a plurality of die segments movably coupled to each other to provide a radial compressive force to the article disposed in the central swaging aperture; and (ii.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Machine Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Goff, Tom Motsenbocker