Patents Examined by David Jones
  • Chains
    Patent number: 6895739
    Abstract: A chain comprises links formed from bar stock having a specific cross-section. In a preferred embodiment, which is a chain of 16 mm size, the cross-section comprises four convex arcuate sides (10a), (10b), (10c) and (10d), each of which has a radius of curvature at least 10% greater than the chain size (i.e. at least 10% greater than 8 mm) and preferably at least 15% greater than the chain size. In this way, a chain is produced which has the profile which is similar to the profile attained by the chain after a significant period of wear, involving a significant increase in the surface-to-surface contact between adjacent links, reducing the effective wear rate, and reducing the rate of effective lengthening of the chain due to wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Parsons Chain Company Limited
    Inventors: Roger Dudley, Lakbir Ghaman
  • Slalum chain
    Patent number: 6892521
    Abstract: A jewelry chain section and a method of forming the same having a spiral, twisted appearance, involves the winding of a wire on a support and the controlled manipulation of such wound wire during or after removal from the support. The wound wire comprises individual spirals that are twisted relative to each other, such that the individual spirals appear in a staggered formation, with the appearance of a chain section being varied by the number of spirals that are twisted at a particular time and the extent or angular dimension of the rotation imparted to such spirals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Inventors: David Rosenwasser, Avraham Moshe Rosenwasser
  • Mold clamping apparatus and mold clamping method
    Patent number: 6892560
    Abstract: A mold clamping apparatus includes a frame including a holding portion for holding a mold and an open portion allowing the mold to be inserted into/taken out from the holding portion in a direction of the longer side of the mold, a mold moving device for moving the mold to insert/take out the mold into/from the holding portion through the open portion in the frame, and a mold opening/closing device for opening/closing the mold located outside the frame. This mold clamping apparatus is capable of holding the mold securely in a closed state resisting a pressure acting to open the mold and allows reduction of energy consumption, equipment maintenance cost, production cost, and the size thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Hiramatsu, Yoshiaki Kadoma, Kyoichi Mano, Tsutomu Haeno, Hiroo Ishibashi, Kazuyuki Kawano, Osamu Honda, Itsuro Hiroshige, Kouichi Sato
  • Tool assembly
    Patent number: 6889535
    Abstract: A tool assembly (1) in which a tool closing force (CF) is applied to a forming tool (2) by means of closing force actuators (40). In a tool closing position each closing force actuator engages a lower tool section (4) and an upper tool section (3) through tool clamps (31A, 31B). The clamps take up the major portion of the tool separating force generated by the internal pressure of the forming tool. Only a small portion of the tool separating force has to be counteracted by the closing force actuators, the size of which can be substantially reduced. The elasticity of the clamp material results in a widening of the clamp under the influence of the tool separating force, and this clamp widening is compensated by the readjustment of the clamp through the application of the closing force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Hyfotec Sweden AB
    Inventor: Jan Ericson
  • Fixing structure between link and pin in crawler belt, and fixing method thereof
    Patent number: 6886323
    Abstract: In a crawler belt comprising pairs of opposite links connected endlessly via pins press-fitted into the links, fixing surfaces of pins or links are successively pressed and deformed from the fixing surfaces in an axial direction along the circumferences inside or outside of openings of pin-press-fitting holes by means of local pressing in the axial direction, whereby the end portions of the pins or part of the circumferences of the openings in the links are expanded or narrowed in diameter. The expanded or narrowed portions are fixedly engaged with the opposing engaging spaces. The surface hardness of the expanded or narrowed portions is set to be lower than that of the other portions. With such structure and method, the links and pins can be easily and firmly connected with sufficient holding force in the axial direction, securing accurate, quick and easy fixing of pins and assembling of pins and links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Komatsu Limited
    Inventor: Teiji Yamamoto
  • Fastener installation tool including fastener-parts collection means
    Patent number: 6883216
    Abstract: A fastener installation tool for installing fasteners of the type in which a part of the fastener is broken off during installation. The tool is provided with a collection means for collecting broken-off fastener parts during operation of the tool, the collection means being removably connectable to the tool. The tool includes retaining means for retaining the collection means against removal from the tool and the retaining means is air-pressure actuated into the retaining condition. The tool may include resiliently urged shutter means which are held open when the collection means is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Textron Fastening Systems Limited
    Inventors: Terence Gilbert, Aiden Robert Dear
  • Tube bender and method of using same
    Patent number: 6883360
    Abstract: A tube bender comprising a mandrel, a forming member connected to the mandrel for coaction with the mandrel to effectuate bending of a tube wherein the forming member has at least two bending positions defined thereon, a handle pivotally connected to said forming member, and a release member movable relative to said handle and configured to be secured in a locked position relative to said forming member when said handle is selectively moved to any of one said at least two bending positions thereby preventing relative movement between said handle and said forming member. The release member enables an operator to move the release member to an unlocked position to permit such operator to move the handle relative to the forming member between the at least two bending positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Stride Tool Inc.
    Inventors: Darryle Bates, Patrick Mulvaney
  • Assembly including a chain for suspending an article such as a light and for concealing an electrical conductor
    Patent number: 6883300
    Abstract: A chain for suspending an article, while concealing electrical conductors leading to the article, comprises a series of interlocking links, each link having a tubular portion through which a conductor can pass. Each link has an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture for the conductors, these apertures being located at opposite ends of the link, and both apertures being on the inside of the link. An outlet aperture at the lower end of an upper link underlies and registers with an inlet aperture at the upper end of the next lower link, so that a conductor can pass upwardly out of the outlet aperture of each upper link and into the inlet aperture of the next lower link without being exposed to view, the conductor then passing through the tubular portion of said next lower link to its outlet aperture and thence into a further lower link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Inventor: Allan Sanders
  • Width adjustable chain tool
    Patent number: 6880323
    Abstract: A chain tool used to disassemble or assemble a chain includes a set of spacers allowing micro adjustability to facilitate first and second anvil surface contact with chain plates when chain connection pins are being displaced or replaced to disassemble or reassemble a chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Inventor: Bradley B. Coleman
  • Die button extractor
    Patent number: 6877353
    Abstract: The present invention provides a die button assembly for locating a die button relative to a body die, and for facilitating removal of the die button from the body die. The assembly includes a substantially cylindrical button having a volumetrically reduced region and a complementary, internally threaded die button extractor having a foot portion extending into the volumetrically reduced region and facilitating removal of the button from the body die via an upward force applied to the internally threaded portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: KeGar Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gary C. Rassette, Kevin M. Lutz
  • Press brake and method of controlling bidirectional fluid pump of hydraulic cylinder of press brake
    Patent number: 6874343
    Abstract: A controller for a press brake controls a servomotor to reverse the rotation of a bidirectional piston pump so as to reverse the vertical movement of a hydraulic cylinder and a ram. A command generator maintains a constant speed for a predetermined warmup time or distance after the ram movement is reversed, and afterwards changes the ram speed to a predetermined speed. A ram position, set according to a moving speed pattern, is compared to the actual position of the ram to conform the ram to the moving speed pattern. The moving speed may be limited based on at least one of a pressure and a detected by a pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: AMADA Company, Limited
    Inventor: Nobuaki Ariji
  • Multi-form die base with rotatable anvils having alternative forming surfaces
    Patent number: 6874346
    Abstract: An improved apparatus used in press brakes having a lower press member and an upper press member which are movable relative toward and away from each other for bending and forming sheet materials is provided. The apparatus includes a die base, first and second mobile carrier shoes, a plurality of spacer bars, and a pair of anvils. Each one of the pair of anvils is formed with four corners each having a separate and distinct radius of curvature so as to define four alternative forming surfaces. Each one of the anvils are selectively rotatable so that one of the four corners having the same radius of curvatures are on top and facing inwardly toward the other corresponding to first through fourth ones of the four alternative forming surfaces and forming first through fourth die-size openings therebetween used for bending and forming a material of different predetermined gauges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Inventor: Phillip C. Faymonville
  • Chain link with angularly disposed end portions
    Patent number: 6871486
    Abstract: A chain link has a substantially centrally located juncture section with a first eye portion integrally connected to one end of the juncture section and a second eye portion integrally connected to the opposite end of the juncture section. The eye portions extend longitudinally outwardly from opposite ends of the juncture section and are disposed at a substantial angle relative to each other at opposite ends of the link. Such link may be connected to contiguous links to form a segment of a chain, with all of the links in a segment of chain thus produced having substantially the same orientation when the chain is held straight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Columbia Steel Casting Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Moehnke, Stephen P. Doan, Richard John Stewart, David Garnet John Conroy, Martin Charles Simpson, James Anthony Russell, Peter Alan Lude
  • Method for operating a bending press and bending press, especially a folding bending press
    Patent number: 6871521
    Abstract: A method of operating a bending press, in particular an edging press, and a bending press for carrying out this method. For each drive of a drive arrangement, the actual pressing force is detected for the displaceable press beam during a bending process for the workpiece and a relative position of the pressing tool or tools by reference to the longitudinal extension of the press beams is determined on the basis of a force ratio. Different displacement paths of the drives and the displaceable press beam at the respective force-application point of the drive are then determined in an evaluation and/or computer unit, which is provided with a data memory for production and machine data, and corresponding control signals for the drive system are generated in the control unit and actuator elements of the drives are displaced by the displacement paths determined for each drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Trumpf Maschinen Austria GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Gerhard Sperrer
  • Flanging and hemming process with radial compression of the blank stretched surface
    Patent number: 6865917
    Abstract: A method and tool for forming a hem flange pre-hem and a final hem on a sheet metal panel wherein elastomeric tooling elements are used to apply radial compression during a forming operation. The elastomeric tooling elements are compressed and apply pressure to a side of the sheet metal panel, for example an aluminum panel, that is stretched during a forming process step. A foil layer may be placed between the sheet metal blank and the elastomeric tooling element to reduce friction and further improve forming performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Sergey Fedorovich Golovashchenko, Sergey Sergeyevich Kolesov, Andrei Viktorovich Vlassov, Laurent Bernard Chappuis
  • Material bender
    Patent number: 6865921
    Abstract: A material bender for bending a stock material into a desired shape. The material bender has a base plate on which is mounted a die holder that holds a die shaped to provide the desired bend shape, a ram guide configured to provide a ram path for guiding a bending ram that pushes against the stock material, and various upwardly projecting pins configured to support the material as it is bent by the bending ram. In one configuration, the bending ram pushes against the stock material to cause it to bend against the die. In another configuration, the bending ram pushes against the stock material to cause it to bend against one or more of the upwardly projecting pins. The base plate is configured to be mounted on a mounting plate of a mounting apparatus that includes a support frame configured to attach to the hitch of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Inventor: Simon Charles Simonian
  • Device and method for mechanically joining sheet metal
    Patent number: 6862913
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and a device for clinching metal sheets disposed one over the other in planar fashion. A joining tool, composed of a punch and a die having an anvil, is used to jointly displace metal sheets, profiles, or multi-sheet connections, out of the sheet-metal plane, under the action of forming energy introduced by ultrasound, compressing and integrally connecting the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Klaus Lempenauer, Detlef Nowotni, Volkmar Schuler
  • Lightweight omega chain and improved method of manufacture
    Patent number: 6860097
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing jewelry and a chain article formed therefrom that results in a product substantially lighter than its solid counterpart. A length of wire mesh or woven wire type of “fabric” having a hollow seamed wire with a non-precious core of a width and length corresponding generally to the proportions of the jewelry chain to be created is provided. The non-precious core is then removed by one of many methods. Then, a series of hollow link sections are received on the length of wire mesh such that the interior surfaces of the links surround the mesh. The links are arranged in an end-to-end abutting relationship upon the mesh until the length of chain desired is reached. Alternatively, a spiral resembling a spring may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Inventor: Giuseppe A. Dal Monte
  • Method and apparatus for controlling page cost in an image-rendering device
    Patent number: 6862110
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling page cost in an image rendering device. More particularly, the invention relates to a system and technique that facilitates the limitations of page costs of color documents by establishing a threshold cost limitation and controlling the colorant amounts to be used on the page to ensure that the cost limitation is met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Steven J. Harrington
  • Hinged chimney flashing fabrication tool
    Patent number: 6845648
    Abstract: A fabrication tool (10) for fabricating flashing (200) that surrounds a chimney (100) wherein, the fabrication tool (10) comprises an elongated rectangular base plate member (20) and an elongated rectangular top plate member (40) having a longitudinal stamped recess (42) that is laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the top plate member (40) wherein, the bottom surface of the recess is permanently affixed to the base plate member (20) to define different depth bending slots (71) (72) to bend strips of sheet metal flashing (200) into a desired configuration; and, wherein, the base plate member (20) includes a pair of base plate member segments (20?) (20?) and the top plate member (40) includes a pair of top plate member segments (40?) (40?) wherein, segments (20?) (40?) and (20?) (40?) are co-joined together and hingedly connected to one another by a hinge unit (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Inventor: Jody English