Patents Examined by Daniel C. Crane
  • Patent number: 6932289
    Abstract: A jaw crusher having a dynamically adjustable tramp iron relief system is disclosed. A moveable jaw and a stationary jaw define a crushing chamber, with a lower portion of the moveable jaw cooperating with a lower portion of the stationary jaw to define a closed side setting gap. A hydraulic tramp iron relief system operatively connects at least one of the jaws to the frame and is arranged to permit uncrushable material to pass through the crushing chamber by permitting the lower portion of the jaw to shift to a shifted position in which the gap is increased. The tramp iron relief system includes an adjustable hydraulic cylinder, the hydraulic cylinder arranged to permit the gap to be adjusted during operation of the crusher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Cedarapids, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph E. Musil
  • Patent number: 6928849
    Abstract: The method of manufacturing a heat exchanging fin having an oval collared through-hole is capable of reducing manufacturing cost. The method comprises the steps of: forming a circular projected section, whose transverse sectional shape is a circular shape, in a thin metal plate; drawing the circular projected section a plurality of times so as to form into an oval projected section, whose transverse sectional shape is an oval shape and which has a prescribed height, a prescribed major axis and a prescribed minor axis; and boring a through-hole in the oval projected section so as to form the collared through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Hidaka Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mamoru Yamada
  • Patent number: 6928848
    Abstract: A method and tool for forming a hem flange. A larger radius bend is initially formed when a pre-hem flange is formed. A sharper radius bend is subsequently formed when the flange is formed. After the flange is formed, conventional hem forming methods and tools may be used to complete formation of a hem that may be used to join inner and outer panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Sergey Fedorovich Golovashchenko, Andrei Viktorovich Vlassov, Sergey Sergeyevich Kolesov, Vladimir Grigorievich Kondratenko
  • Patent number: 6928850
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling z-axis offset of narrow metal ties straps in lead frames used for packaging integrated circuits to prevent bowing or distortion. Simultaneous offsetting of the tie strap and stress relief mechanisms are provided on both the front and back sides of the lead frame. Those mechanisms include indentations along the long or primary axis of each tie strap, coupled with depressions across the top surface both at the center of the lead frame and between the base of the off set and the chip attach locations to prevent bowing in small pad and no pad lead frames, in particular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: William J. Pelletier, Wayne E. Mann
  • Patent number: 6928847
    Abstract: A V-shaped metal strip has a U-shaped bottom having U-shaped inside and outside surfaces. Only the U-shaped inside surface is formed with a plurality of fold lines extending in a longitudinal direction of the strip and reducing the influence of springback. The fold lines may be arranged in a manner of bilateral symmetry with respect to an imaginary median plane bisecting the V-shaped cross section of the metal strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoaki Akutsu, Natsuko Hirayanagi, Harumi Obata
  • Patent number: 6925845
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for tension levelling a cold-rolled strip, whereby the strip passes through a series of break rolls and a series of traction rolls and in the course of its extension is subjected to traction between the two series of rolls. The strip is bent under traction in a series of high-traction rolls, located between the brake roll and the traction roll series, in order to increase the degree of levelling. To achieve this, the series of high-traction rolls between the brake and the traction rolls has at least two traction rolls for generating the strip traction and bending operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: SMS Demag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Holger Behrens, Hans Georg Hartung, Ralf Ulrich, Bernd Kreft, Stefan Melster, Bodo Falkenhahn, Andreas Gramer
  • Patent number: 6925847
    Abstract: A hand actuatable apparatus and method for crimping a stent or processing other articles by segmental radial compression. The apparatus includes a stationary base housing; a rotatable drive hub which is moveable in relation to the base housing; a crimping head communicatively coupled to the base housing and to the drive hub; and an actuator handle connected to the base housing and to the drive hub. The crimping head includes a plurality of segments oriented about a center aperture which receives a stent or article to be compressed. The segments each have a proximal end and an angled distal end with at least one angled side face terminating in an edge of a predetermined length and defining the center aperture. Actuation of the handle rotates the drive hub, which causes the segments to move and pivot, resulting in closure of the center aperture and compression of the stent or other article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Inventor: Thomas Motsenbocker
  • Patent number: 6925846
    Abstract: A sheet metal bending tool for bending materials, such as flat metal sheets is disclosed. The tool has a restraining base for receiving and cooperatively holding a sheet metal workpiece and the tool has a bending component that is rotatably mounted to the restraining base, the workpiece is held, cooperating with the restraining base component, and the clamp bar for stabilizing the workpiece while the workpiece is held and bent by the rotating action of the bending component. In the preferred embodiment, the workpiece is restrained by a template comprising a pattern of holes drilled, a hole receiving a peg or means of stop, the stops (pegs) constraining the workpiece from movement while being bent act like a jig for measuring and predetermined incumbents. Holes are also drilled in restraining base and in the bending component at spaced intervals along lines that are run parallel to the line defined by the intersection of the bending component and the restraining base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Inventor: Daniel Perruccio
  • Patent number: 6923037
    Abstract: Assemblies are disclosed for articulating a crimp ring for crimping a fitting relative to an actuator for actuating the crimp ring. The crimp ring includes segments for engaging the fitting, and the actuator includes arms for actuating the segments. Embodiments disclosed include articulating assemblies coupling between the actuator arms and crimp ring segments having multiple axes of articulation. Additional embodiments disclosed include articulating assemblies that are insertable between the arms and segments, articulating assemblies having fixed angled arms of the actuator, articulating assemblies using ball and sockets between the arms and segments, and articulating assemblies used in an intermediate position between the arms and segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Richard R. Bowles, James E. Hamm, Paul W. Gress
  • Patent number: 6923030
    Abstract: A mechanical mechanism is disclosed for supplementing the action of a pressurized working gas in hot blow forming of a sheet material. Opposing complementary heated forming tools grip the sheet material and form a shaping surface on one side of the sheet and a gas pressure chamber on the other side. An internal complementary mechanical forming device is located inside the pressure chamber. The device is operated by an internal rotatable shaft supported through the chamber defining tool wall. The internal shaft is coupled outside the tool wall to an external shaft for external activation of the mechanical forming device. The external shaft and coupling are enclosed in a housing structure that provide a pressure seal, thrust support and thermal insulation for the external activation mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Gary A. Kruger, Chongmin Kim, Mark G. Konopnicki
  • Patent number: 6923033
    Abstract: A roller system for flattening irregularly shaped pieces of scrap sheet metal comprises a pair of parallel, horizontally arranged large rollers forming a downwardly converging nip between them. Each roller is formed of curved steel sheets bent to form a cylindrical shape for the rollers. A series of curved, steel liner plates overlay and cover the surfaces of the cylinders. The plates are made of a harder material than the steel sheets. The liner plates on each cylinder are arranged end-to-end and are mechanically fastened to their respective rollers so that the opposite ends of the plates provide a leading edge and a trailing edge. The trailing edge of each plate is chamfered and is arranged against a generally radially directed, blunt edge surface of the leading end of the next plate to form a roughly triangularly shaped in cross-section groove extending longitudinally of the exterior surface of the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Soave Enterprises, LLC
    Inventor: Alfred George Hering
  • Patent number: 6920774
    Abstract: A drive system for a multi-roll leveler. The drive system is coupled to a set of upper work rolls of the leveler. Preferably, the lower, and not the upper set of work rolls provide the bending necessary to flatten the strip of material. The drive system employs a gearbox housing one or more gear trains adapted to rotationally drive the upper set of work rolls. A drive means is coupled to the gear train(s). When more than one gear train is used, the gear trains may drive an equal or unequal number of upper work rolls. The upper work rolls may be splined to better engage the gear train. Output shafts may be provided on the gear box to connect the gear train(s) to the work rolls. The drive system does not require the use of universal joints to drive the work rolls. When the upper and lower sets of work rolls are contacted with the strip of material, the driven rotation of the upper work rolls causes the strip of material to move through the leveler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Machine Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: Guil C. Bergman, Anthony D. Enneking
  • Patent number: 6915676
    Abstract: In a method of forming a protruded shaft on a metal base for an electronic memory device, the metal base is pressed down with a pressing tool from upper face side of the metal base placed on a die. The die is provided with a hole having a predetermined inner diameter and the wall material of the metal base is moved into the hole of the die to form a protruded shaft having a hollow part inside and the tip end closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Nakamura Seisakusho Kabushikigaisha
    Inventor: Hideyuki Miyahara
  • Patent number: 6915674
    Abstract: A hinged saw table having a sliding carrier for mounting and sliding a portable table saw. The hinged saw table is mounted adjacent to a forming machine that forms stock that is cut with the portable table saw. Elongate stock exits from an exit aperture in the forming machine, and is directed over the table of the portable table saw mounted upon the movable carrier. The portable table saw may be positioned at the correct point for cutting the stock at a desired length. Square or mitered cuts may be made. For storage purposes, the sliding carrier and table saw may be rotated upward approximately 180 degrees over the top of the forming machine where the carrier and saw rest upside down on a stand. The forming machine may be, for example, a seamless gutter rollformer machine that forms sections of rain gutters for houses or other buildings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Inventor: Melvin L. McKee
  • Patent number: 6910363
    Abstract: A pliers head (1) for pressing work pieces includes a stationary die (20) and a movable die (19). A first element (15) is designed as a comparatively stiff housing (5). A second element (16) is designed as a lever (7). The lever (7) is subjected to a pretensional force (36). The pretensional force (36) has at least the value of a predetermined maximum pressing force of the pliers head (1). The first and second element (15, 16) are designed as separate parts, and they form a C-shaped mouth (14). The dies (19, 20) are located in the C-shaped mouth (14). A joint (10) is located at the first element (15), and it allows for pivotal movement of the second element (16) with respect to the first element (15). A stop (32) secures a parallel position of the stationary die and the movable die with respect to one another. As a result, the resulting pretensional torque counteracts the pressing torque, and the parallel arrangement of the dies (19, 20) is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: WEZAG GmbH Werkzeugfabrik
    Inventors: Horst Beetz, Kurt Battenfeld
  • Patent number: 6910358
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for two-stage stretch forming of a sheet metal blank workpiece between a preform tool with a concave cavity and an opposing finish-form punch tool. Both tools are independently heated to different forming temperatures with the preform tool being hotter. Gas pressure is first applied to one side of the workpiece in the first forming stage to balloon it into the cavity of the preform tool. Gas pressure is then applied to the other side of the preformed workpiece to stretch it against the finish-form surface. The hotter preform tool enables faster forming and gas venting in the first stage. The cooler finish-form tool enables the final shaping of the part and its undistorted removal from the punch surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: James Gregory Schroth
  • Patent number: 6910361
    Abstract: A coupling device for releaseably securing together two objects. The coupling device comprises a first housing securable to a first object, a second housing securable to a second object, and an actuator secured to the first housing. The second housing has a hollow bore therein. At least part of the actuator is releaseably receivable within the hollow bore of the second housing. The actuator has an activated and a deactivated configuration. When in its activated configuration at least a portion of the periphery of the actuator is in an expanded state such that when situated within the hollow bore of the second housing the expanded periphery of the actuator releaseably secures the first housing to the second housing. When the actuator is in its deactivated configuration the periphery of the actuator in a retracted state permitting separation and relative movement between the first and second housings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Linear Transfer Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Montgomery W. Childs, Malcolm Broadley, Ryan Brown
  • Patent number: 6910359
    Abstract: A die apparatus for forming a high strength metal article under elevated temperature and pressure has at least two opposing die segments together forming a hollow mold chamber for receiving a mold blank between the die segments, the mold chamber having a radial central plane transverse to the longitudinal axis. Each die segment has a plurality of ribs or indents, each rib or indent having a first side facing the central plane and a second side facing away from the central plane. At least the majority of the ribs or indents are of non-uniform shape and have a first and second side at a different angle relative to the central plane, the angle of the second side being greater than the angle of the first side such that the second side is directed generally towards the center of the mold cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Hi-Tech Welding Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Owen Nelepovitz, Leo Lawrence Magee, Stephen Michael Dowell, John Charles Monsees
  • Patent number: 6910362
    Abstract: A tilt mechanism for a transfer rail that is used to support a plurality of grippers for engaging and moving workpieces between a series of spaced apart work stations in a linear transfer press. The transfer rail forms part of a press transfer system of the type having a drive mechanism to impart three dimensional movement to the transfer rail. The tilt mechanism comprises at least one connector and at least one actuator. The connector secures the transfer rail to the drive mechanism and permits three dimensional movement of the transfer rail. The connector also permits the transfer rail to be rotated, relative to the drive mechanism, about its longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Linear Transfer Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Montgomery W. Childs, Ronald A. Laing
  • Patent number: 6907763
    Abstract: A method for sharp, crisp hemming inner and outer aluminum sheet metal panels in which a flange is formed along an outer edge so that the flange extends from a bend line and lies in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of the outer panel. This bend line, furthermore, has an outer radius in the range of (1.0 mm+t)>R>(0.2 mm+t) where t=the thickness of the outer panel. The inner panel is then positioned on the outer panel so that an outer edge of the inner panel is adjacent the bend line. The flange is then bent so that the flange overlies the outer edge of the inner panel while simultaneously compressing the flange in the direction towards the bend line. Thereafter, the flange is compressed against the outer peripheral portion of the inner panel thus completing the hem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Valiant Corporation
    Inventor: Dominique Baulier