Patents Examined by Daniel W. Howell
  • Chuck
    Patent number: 7452168
    Abstract: A chuck for use with a manual or powered driver including a generally cylindrical body having a nose section and a tail section. The tail section defines an axial bore formed therein to mate with the drive shaft of the driver and the nose section defines an axial bore formed therein and a plurality of angularly disposed passageways formed therethrough and intersecting the axial bore. A plurality of jaws is slidably positioned in each passageway and each jaw defines a jaw face formed on one side and threads formed on the opposite side. A nut is disposed about the body for rotational movement with respect to the body and is in driving engagement with the jaw threads. A generally cylindrical front sleeve overlays the nose section of the body. A generally cylindrical nut retainer is disposed about the body and includes a frusto-conical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Jacobs Chuck Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Christopher B. Barton, Stephen W. Steadings
  • Making connections to pipes under pressure
    Patent number: 7441993
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for making connections to pipes and pressure vessels while they are under pressure employs a first drive mechanism for delivering a cutting tool to the pipe or vessel wall and a second separate drive mechanism for powering the movement of the cutting tool through the wall. The long linear travel associated with the transit of the cutter to the wall is divorced from the short cutter travel required to perform the actual cuffing operation. This allows the two long and short travel systems to be designed independently of one another, and engineering compromises between them can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Clear Well Subsea Limited
    Inventor: Keith Roderick Evans
  • Slug retrieval apparatus
    Patent number: 7438509
    Abstract: The slug retrieval apparatus is used with a hole saw with chuck mechanism, after a pilot hole is drilled. The apparatus is fitted within the chuck mechanism and the hole saw then used to cut a hole in the workpiece. The shaft of the apparatus guides the hole saw cut, as would the shaft of a pilot bit. The springs within the slot of the shaft compress within the slot to allow the shaft to pass through the pilot hole drilled in the workpiece. The springs then expand to capture the shaft within the hole. When the slug is cut from the workpiece by the saw, the springs capture the slug until the user compresses the springs to remove the slug. The springs provide for expansion no matter the speed of the apparatus used to drive the hole saw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Inventors: Wing Chai Wong, Pik Ngar Wong
  • Flexible and extendable drill bit assembly
    Patent number: 7435042
    Abstract: A flexible, extendable extension assembly used to create extended length holes and holes through inaccessible areas in walls and framing. The extension assembly including a flexible rod having first and second ends; and a holding means secured to the first end of the rod for releasably holding a tool bit for rotation with the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Inventors: Christopher L. White, Richard M. Davidian
  • Hole cutting assembly for pipes and well casings
    Patent number: 7435041
    Abstract: A hole cutting assembly for cutting cylindrical conduits includes a base member having first and second V-shaped contact sections at opposite ends thereof. A linear base anchoring member is secured to the base member for encircling a cylindrical conduit and drawing both V-shaped contact sections of the base member against an outer surface of the cylindrical conduit. A support plate member extends perpendicularly from the base member in opposition to one V-shaped contact section. A bearing housing member, secured to the support plate member, includes a cylindrical passage having a cylindrical axis paralleling the support plate member. The cylindrical axis is positioned beyond one end of the base member, and the housing member includes at least two bearings within the cylindrical passage. A cylindrical arbor shaft member is rotatably and slidably mounted within the housing member's cylindrical passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Inventor: Ronald L. McGill
  • Apparatus and method for the reaming of a hole in a work surface
    Patent number: 7435040
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for the highly accurate reaming of a hole in a work surface. A reaming device is positioned within a base unit and positioning bracket of the present apparatus in alignment with the hole to be reamed in the work surface. The reaming device is advanced through the work surface by means of a reamer driver assembly while being rotated by means of a drive motor or similar rotational means to produce a cutting action, resulting in a precise, highly accurate reaming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: American Airlines, Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Arnold, Shane Enman
  • Machine reamer
    Patent number: 7431543
    Abstract: A machine reamer has a base and a reamer head configured as a one-piece indexable insert that axially projects beyond the front of the base. The indexable insert can be introduced in a front insert seat of the base with an axially projecting, preferably conical shoulder and can be clamped therein by a tension rod that extends through the center-axis of the base. In order to improve the rotational catch effect between the base and the indexable insert, the indexable insert has a central polygonal opening through which the tension rod engages with a complementary polygonal section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Dihart AG
    Inventors: Otto Buettiker, Roman Eigenmann, Jacek Kruszynski
  • Deburring blade, device for mounting of deburring blades and bevel gear cutting machine for chamfering and/or deburring a bevel gear
    Patent number: 7431544
    Abstract: Bevel gear cutting machine for chamfering and/or deburring edges on the teeth of a bevel gear. The gear-cutting machine comprises a workpiece spindle, which receives the bevel gear coaxially of a spindle axis. Furthermore, a deburring spindle is provided for the receiving of a deburring tool and several numerically controllable axes are given. A deburring blade head with several blade cutter-like blade inserts serves as deburring tool, whereby the blade inserts are insertable in recesses of the deburring blade head essentially radially oriented to a deburring spindle axis (E) and comprise edges for chamfering and/or deburring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Klingelnberg GmbH
    Inventor: Karl-Martin Ribbeck
  • Tool-holding chuck for equipping a rotating machine, provided with sequenced radial and axial locking means
    Patent number: 7431308
    Abstract: Sliding in the body of the chuck are jaws whose external thread is engaged with the internal thread of a nut mounted to rotate on the body. The nut is rotated by a sleeve, allowing the jaws to move. The chuck includes radial locking device which can be actuated by a rotation of the sleeve so as to inhibit rotation of the nut with respect to the body, and axial locking device which can be actuated by an axial movement of the sleeve and make it possible to prevent the radial locking device from being actuated. Sequencing device is designed to prevent the axial locking device from passing into the locked position while the radial locking device is not in the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Etablissements Amyot S.A.
    Inventor: Yves Marie Marcel Cachod
  • Method for producing dentures
    Patent number: 7431545
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing dentures by milling a workpiece. The inventive method is characterized in that in the event of a change in the load on the workpiece or on the milling tool, or on the workpiece and on the milling tool, determined before the milling begins and occurring during the milling, the relative speed between the milling tool and the workplace is varied without using a regulation technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: 3M ESPE AG
    Inventors: Daniel Suttor, Thomas Sprengart, Michael Schaaf, Guenter Hertlein
  • Insertion end for a rotary and a percussive tool
    Patent number: 7429154
    Abstract: An insertion end of a tool is driven along an axis at least partially rotary or percussively, which extends along the axis within a maximum guide diameter. At least one longitudinally closed locking groove and rotary driving groove is longitudinally closed at a longitudinal locking end towards the free leading end. The rotary driving groove has a groove width with at least one tangential force contact surface. At least two rotary driving grooves have a length of at least three times that of the guide diameter are arranged on the tool-side ahead of the longitudinal locking end, and have a contact length at least 1.5 times the guide diameter configured to be one fifth of the guide diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Werner Kleine, Werner Britten
  • Drill having construction suitable for enlarging previously formed hole
    Patent number: 7422396
    Abstract: A drill which includes a cylindrical main body and a shank contiguous to each other, and which is to be rotated about an axis of the cylindrical main body in a predetermined rotating direction, for enlarging a hole previously formed in a workpiece through a die-casting process. The cylindrical main body has flutes which are formed in the cylindrical mainbody and extend from an axially distal end portion of the cylindrical main body toward the shank, so as to provide cutting edges in the axially distal end portion of the cylindrical main body. The cutting edges cooperate with each other to define a point angle which is larger than 170° and is smaller than 180°. Each of the cutting edges is substantially straight or is curved to be convexed as seen in the direction perpendicular to the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: OSG Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Takikawa
  • Bevel gear cutting machine for chamfering and/or deburring edges on the teeth of a bevel gear
    Patent number: 7422397
    Abstract: A bevel gear cutting machine, which is designed for, among other things, chamfering and/or deburring edges on the teeth of a bevel gear. The gear cutting machine has a workpiece spindle which receives the bevel gear coaxially. A carriage is provided, which receives a plate-shaped cutter head having multiple bar blades. The gear cutting machine has multiple numerically controllable axes, which are activatable via a programmable controller, one of the axes forming a workpiece spindle axis of the workpiece spindle. Another axis is used as the tool spindle axis of the plate-shaped cutter head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Klingelnberg GmbH
    Inventors: Harmuth Müller, Karl-Martin Ribbeck
  • Machining mechanical parts with a hollow cylindrical tool
    Patent number: 7419341
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for machining mechanical parts by means of a hollow cylindrical tool presenting a distal end with a free edge that is shaped to perform machining when said tool is rotated about its axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Romer
    Inventor: Romain Granger
  • Wood boring bit with increased speed, efficiency and ease of use
    Patent number: 7416371
    Abstract: A wood boring bit for boring holes in wood and other similar work surfaces having a central longitudinal axis, a main body, a pilot screw tip and a partial flute with a cutting edge and a cutting spur. The flute portion may be defined by a partial helical section having a distal end joined to the main body and a lead edge disposed toward said screw tip. The distal end and the lead edge preferably do not overlap along the central axis and are equal to or less than 360° from one another around the axis. The partial flute provides improved waste removal and allows the user to access the cutting edge of the flute for maintenance purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Irwin Industrial Tool Company
    Inventors: Gary F. Scott, David Jackson Trettin
  • Adjustable calibrated pivot-arm stop
    Patent number: 7413389
    Abstract: Systems for positioning a work piece relative to a tool. These systems may include, among others, apparatus and methods, such as a worktable for a drill press or similar machine, for positioning a work piece, such as wood, plastic, metal, and/or other material, relative to a tool, such as a cutting, shaping, and/or finishing tool. The worktable may be configured, among others, to position a work piece in two planes relative to the axis of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Inventor: Randall J. Huebner
  • Rotatable tool comprising a shank, a drawbar and a cutting head
    Patent number: 7407351
    Abstract: A rotatable tool includes a shank rotatable about a longitudinal axis, a drawbar mounted to an axial front end of the shank, and a cutting head mounted to an axial front end of the drawbar. The shank and the drawbar include mutually engageable screw threads which impart an axial displacement of the drawbar relative to the shank. The cutting head and the drawbar include mutually engageable serrations for transferring axial force therebetween. The serrations are axially spaced from one another and extend transversely relative to the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Sandvik Intellectual Property AB
    Inventors: Göran Pantzar, Isak Kakai
  • Apparatus and methods for manufacturing operations
    Patent number: 7406758
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for manufacturing operations are disclosed. In one embodiment, a vacuum cup assembly includes a housing having a vacuum generator formed therein, and a compliant sealing member coupled to the housing. The vacuum generator is coupleable to a source of pressurized fluid and is adapted to generate a reduced pressure region. The sealing member forms an enclosable region in fluid communication with the reduced pressure region. In another embodiment, a method of performing a manufacturing operation includes installing a coordinating pin into an indexing hole, the coordinating pin including a quantum of indexing information. The quantum of indexing information is sensed, and a manufacturing operation is performed based at least partially on the quantum of indexing information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Darrell D. Jones, James N. Buttrick, Jr., Theodore Boyl-Davis, Roger Gage, Laurance N. Hazlehurst
  • Manufacturing method of gear device
    Patent number: 7402006
    Abstract: This method includes: a supporting process of supporting a worm wheel in a first supporting section of a supporting body; an engaging process of engaging a jig gear which corresponds to a worm with the worm wheel; a measuring process of measuring a distance between the centers of the worm wheel and the jig gear; a gear processing process of processing the worm based on the measured distance between the centers; and a supporting process of supporting the worm in a second supporting section of the supporting body after releasing the engagement between the worm wheel and the jig gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yoshikawa
  • Disk-shaped or strip-shaped tool
    Patent number: 7402010
    Abstract: A machine tool for cutting a profile in a rotating workpiece has a body centered having an elongated edge formed with an angularly extending row of seats each having a radially directed seat face and an axially directed seat face. Respective Z-shaped holders in the seats each have an outer part, an inner part parallel thereto, and a flexible middle part transversely connecting the inner and outer parts. Respective fasteners releasably fixing the inner parts to the body against relative movement. Respective cutting are fixed on the outer parts of the holders. An adjustment wedge between one of the seat faces and the respective holder face is displaceable to shift the outer part of the respective holder relative to the body and transversely of the respective one seat face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Kennametal Widia GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Manfred Bauer, Reinhold Gesell, Günther Gnibl