Patents Examined by David Jones
  • Patent number: 7162910
    Abstract: A hybrid metal forming system includes a die cavity defined by a first die and a second die and a press adapted to apply a static pressure over the first die to deform a workpiece against the second die. The hybrid forming system also includes a dynamic loading system coupled to and positioned between, the press and the die cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wenwu Zhang, David Peter Mika
  • Patent number: 7162908
    Abstract: The invention deals with the field of bending presses, and, more precisely, deals with a device for handling the upper table moving along guiding pillars and carrying the punch. For every table guiding pillar, the device provides for a main lever (10) hinged in a point that is substantially axial with its related guiding pillar and whose driving arm (10a) is hinged to means sliding along a rod hinged to the upper table. The lever resisting arm (10b), whose length is approximately 8–10 cm shorter that the driving arm length, rotates a crank (12) connected through an eccentric (13) or a connection rod to a connecting rod (14) that transmits the translating motion to the upper table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Schiavi Macchine Industriali S.p.A.
    Inventor: Antonio Manini
  • Patent number: 7159439
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bending press comprising a bottom panel, a moving top panel, N bending-tool clamps, each clamp being mounted to pivot about a common axis, and means for causing the clamps to pivot. The means for causing the clamps to pivot comprise: a plurality of actuators each suitable for taking up two states; a plurality of transmission means for transmitting the state of each actuator assembly to a plurality of adjacent clamps, in such a manner each clamp is associated with a single actuator; and means for separately controlling the state of each actuator between a first state which brings the clamps associated with the actuator into a position for clamping the bending tool, and a second state which brings the clamps associated with the actuator into a position for removing said bending tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Amada Europe
    Inventors: Eric Gascoin, Jean-Louis Fourmy
  • Patent number: 7159426
    Abstract: A punch assembly used with a hydroforming die includes a punch cylinder for mounting to the hydroforming die and having a movable rod. The punch assembly also includes a punch for piercing an opening in a tubular member disposed in the hydroforming die. The punch assembly further includes a quick change assembly interconnecting the rod of the punch cylinder and the punch for allowing the punch to be removably attached to the punch cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Mike M. Ghiran
  • Patent number: 7159291
    Abstract: Disclosed is a continuous riveter capable of firing blind rivets in succession to caulk sheet metal or the like. A seal member 71 located on the oil chamber 6 side and a seal member 72 located on the air chamber 4 side are provided in an oil cylinder 1 where an oil piston 2 separates the oil chamber 6 of the oil cylinder 1 from the air chamber 4 of an air cylinder 3, and a portion of the oil cylinder 1 which is between seal members 71 and 72 is provided with an air vent 19; and a seal member 74, 76 located on the oil chamber 16 side and a seal member 73, 77 located on the air chamber 14, 15 side are provided in a jaw case piston 20 and in a nose piston 28, the seal members 74, 76 and 73, 77 sealing an area between the oil chamber 16 and the air chamber 14, 15, and the pistons 20 and 28 between the seal members 74, 76 and 73, 77 are each provided with an air vent 75, 78.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Opt Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masatoshi Ohuchi
  • Patent number: 7155955
    Abstract: A crimping assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes cam profiles on the ends of the arms. The cam profiles are engaged by the crimping tool and control the input force versus displacement of the tool. The cam profile includes a first portion defined by a radius, a second portion adjacent the first portion and defined by a non-linear equation, and a third portion adjacent the second portion and defined by a linear equation. The assembly further includes a passive mode of failure in the side plates. The arms of the assembly have a hardness greater than the side plates and have a maximum section height at their point of rotation for increasing their strength. The assembly further includes a leaf spring disposed between the arms and held therebetween by pins disposed in holes defined in the sides of the arms. A crimp ring having an increased diameter is disclosed for reducing the crimping force required to crimp 3-inch fittings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Richard R Bowles, James E Hamm
  • Patent number: 7155953
    Abstract: An anvil driving assembly, anvil driving tool, and method for installing rivetless floating nut plates in workpieces. The tool and method are capable of pulling a rivetless nut plate sleeve into a countersunk hole in the workpiece simultaneously with flaring the open end of the nut plate sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Inventor: Robert E. Nikkel
  • Patent number: 7150141
    Abstract: Presented in one embodiment is a waist chain comprising a plurality of links; a plurality of coupling members which connect the plurality of links, thereby forming a chain with two ends; and at least one end connection member which is connectable to both ends of the chain such that the chain becomes continuous. The waist chain is positioned tightly around the waist of a person such that as the person's weight increases, the waist chain becomes increasingly tight. Presented in another embodiment is a waist chain comprising a plurality of links; a plurality of coupling members which connect the plurality of links, thereby forming a chain with two ends; at least one end connection member which is connectable to both ends of the chain such that the chain becomes continuous and at least one end link which is connectable to one or both ends of the chain and to the end connection member. The end connection member is a hollow cylinder comprising a side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University Agricultural & Mechanical College
    Inventors: Frank L. Greenway, Andrew T. Roberts
  • Patent number: 7150142
    Abstract: An improved chain, compatible with food grade lubricants, is capable of use in poultry and other meat processing facilities. The chain comprises pairs of side links alternating with center links, and held together with pins. A pair of lubricating wells is located on each side link, proximate the insertion point of the pins. The lubricating well provides lubricating access to the pins, and is capable of retaining lubricant such that lubricant is continuously provided to the pins and their pivot points throughout the operation of the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Wilkie Brothers
    Inventor: Donald Wilkie
  • Patent number: 7150177
    Abstract: A press of pressure cell type includes a press body part. The press body part comprises a number of plates with the planes of the plates oriented parallel to the planes of the adjacent plates. Each plate has a through hole which has the same center axis as the hole of the adjacent plates. Prestressing bands which induce a compressing prestress acting in the planes of the plates are arranged on an external edge surface of each of the plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Avure Technologies AB
    Inventor: Keijo Hellgren
  • Patent number: 7150170
    Abstract: An apparatus for hydraulic high-pressure forming of a sheet, the apparatus having a top tool and a bottom tool as well as at least one pressure generating unit arranged between the press ram of a mechanical press and the top tool and uses a pressurized medium from the pressure generating unit as a working fluid for hydraulic preforming of the sheet. Contact faces of the tools directly engage with the sheet surface along the clamping area thereof and act to seal off the forming area that are subjected to the working fluid solely by contact sealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Streubel, Norbert Austerhoff, Rafael Garcia Gomez
  • Patent number: 7146698
    Abstract: A hand-held riveting tool includes a body, a tube passing through the body, a drive shaft passing through the inside of the tube, a clamping connection between an interchangeable mandrel and the drive shaft, and a hand operated pressure mechanism. The pressure mechanism comprises a pressure mandrel slidingly positioned on the tube. The pressure mandrel has an outer shoulder into which the shaped ends of two controlling levers are fitted, which levers are fastened on pins positioned in the body and have handles. A front nozzle having an interchangeable extension is supported on an extension of the pressure mandrel, the outwardly protruding interchangeable mandrel freely passing through the interchangeable extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Masterfix Products B.V.
    Inventor: Martin Kovar
  • Patent number: 7146793
    Abstract: A watch chain is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Ecco Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Min Kyung Hyun
  • Patent number: 7143629
    Abstract: The manual pipe bender has a stationary handle, a head, a bending die, a bending lever, and a bending handle. The stationary handle has a distal end, and the head is attached to the stationary handle. The bending die has a bending surface and multiple ratchet teeth. The bending lever attaches the bending die rotatably to the head. The bending handle is attached to and rotates the bending die around the head and has a drive bracket that engages a selected ratchet tooth on the bending die to keep the handles from crossing. Consequently, bending acute angles in pipes is convenient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Inventor: Ching-Su Chiu
  • Patent number: 7143571
    Abstract: Several methods of forming links for use with the creation of rope chains is disclosed, whereby the outer peripheries of such links are contoured prior to assembly into rope chains. In one embodiment, the wire used in the formation of intertwinable links is contoured and then cut into individual, pre-contoured links. In another embodiment, the outer periphery of non-contoured links are individually contoured prior to the intertwining of such links to form actual rope chains. In another embodiment, individual links are collectively contoured, preferably after arrangement on a support such as a mandril. Such contouring can be accomplished by hand, machine or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Inventors: David Rosenwasser, Avraham Moshe Rosenwasser
  • Patent number: 7140173
    Abstract: A method as well as a device for assembling a transmission chain made up of sets of two elongated elements which lie with their long sides against each other and are coupled in pairs to each other by link plates with openings of which chain one supports the sets in accommodating holes formed in a support, whereafter two adjacent sets of elements are coupled together by placing a link plate on them. The device has a supporting assembling body with holes for two adjacent longitudinal elements, each hole having a depth less than the element's length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Gear Chain Industrial B.V.
    Inventor: Jacques Van Rooij
  • Patent number: 7140217
    Abstract: A hydroform die tube holding assembly and method of using same includes at least one seal unit for sealing an end of a tube. The hydroformed die tube holding assembly also includes a seal unit elevator for attachment to a lower die half to operatively support the at least one seal unit. The hydroformed die tube holding assembly further includes at least one upper gas spring for attachment to an upper die half to engage, the seal unit elevator to drive the seal unit elevator downward prior to the upper die half engaging the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Marks, Michael L. Raby
  • Patent number: 7137239
    Abstract: A cast prickle chain link element, and a prickle chain made by interconnecting a plurality of these links. Each link element includes a body, the body having at least one hole, and at least one hook formed into it, and at least one ground engaging finger projecting outwardly from the body. The hook formed into the body of one element, is adapted to engage the hole formed into the body of another identical element, thereby facilitating the linking of elements in order to form a prickle chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Inventor: Kentyn Scott Paterson
  • Patent number: 7134314
    Abstract: A hydraulic tool working head including a frame; a ram movably connected to the frame in a first longitudinal direction, wherein the ram is adapted to be moved relative to the frame by hydraulic fluid; and a movable member connected to a first end of the ram by an automatic adjusting connection. The movable member is adapted to move relative to the ram in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer M. Peterson, Thomas R. Faucher, John D. Lefavour, Shane M. Hopps
  • Patent number: 7134268
    Abstract: The present inventions relate generally to a shackle assembly and a method for installing and/or releasing the shackle assembly subsea. The shackle assembly of the present invention comprises first and second plates mounted on either side of a shackle body eyelet and a shackle pin mounting assembly for use in mounting a shackle pin using a shackle pin pulling tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Oceaneering International, Inc.
    Inventor: George Siappas