Patents Examined by David P. Bryant
  • Method and apparatus for manufacturing tonewheel for vehicles
    Patent number: 8015708
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a tonewheel for vehicles. The method includes machining a material into a tonewheel shape, manufacturing a semi-finished tonewheel product having a sensing part in which a plurality of sensing holes is formed at regular intervals in a circumferential direction of the sensing part, by machining the tonewheel shape manufactured at the forming step, and manufacturing a finished tonewheel product having a sensing part of which deformation is recovered, by processing the sensing part of the semi-finished tonewheel product, which is deformed to be curved at the sensing-hole machining step, through a restrike mold. The apparatus is capable of performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: YUSUNG FT Corporation
    Inventors: Jae-Hwan Song, Jin Hur
  • Temperature tolerant hooks for hook and loop attachment
    Patent number: 8017213
    Abstract: A temperature tolerant hook and loop attachment, a method of forming a sheet of the hooks and, a method of insulating the skin of a flight vehicle. Temporary loops are formed in a fabric containing temperature tolerant fiber tows, e.g., the tows may be carbon, a metal, a carbide such as carbon silicide, a nitride, or an oxide. The temporary loops are stiffened (e.g., with resin, metal or ceramic), and severed to form temperature tolerant fiber composite hooks. The sheet may be cut and permanently applied, for example, to the skin of a spacecraft or aircraft. A fibrous material, e.g., fibrous insulation or batting, may be pressed in place or formed into the hooks, or the fibrous material may be attached to another structure and pressed in place for a temperature tolerant hook and loop attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Olivier H. Sudre, Janet B. Davis, Stanley A. Lawton
  • Method of replacing damaged aerofoil
    Patent number: 8006380
    Abstract: A method of replacing a damaged blade (12A) of an integrally bladed rotor assembly (10) including a disc (14) and a plurality of blades (12) extending outwardly from the disc (14) includes the steps of; removing the damaged blade (12A) to leave a blade stub (16) projecting from the disc (14); depositing a collar (22) of metal around the blade stub (16) at a position physically separated from the disc (14); attaching a replacement blade (12B) to the stub (16) by linear friction welding; and removing the collar (22). A body (20) of a material may be deposited between the disc (14) and the collar (22) to protect the disc (14) from damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Martin Rawson, Andrew T Webster
  • Method of making a one-piece sidewall liner with logistic slot
    Patent number: 8006386
    Abstract: A method of forming an inner wall of a sidewall configuration of a trailer is provided which comprises the steps of: (a) providing a plurality of posts, each post having slots provided therethrough; (b) providing at least one pre-configured punching die; (c) providing a one-piece continuous liner; (d) securing the one-piece continuous liner to the plurality of posts; and (e) punching slots through the one-piece continuous liner with the at least one pre-configured punching die. In a first embodiment of the method, step (d) is performed before step (e). In a second embodiment of the method, step (e) is performed before step (d).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Wabash National. L.P.
    Inventor: Rodney P. Ehrlich
  • Method of manufacturing flow selector disk for fluid pressure regulator
    Patent number: 8006382
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing flow selector disk for a fluid pressure regulator, including the steps of providing a plate having a first face and a second face, and forming at least one baseline orifice in the plate including a first diameter portion adjacent the first face and a second diameter portion adjacent the second face. The first and second diameter portions are spaced a distance from each other to form an annular ring therebetween. A central flow portion is formed through the baseline orifice that is in fluid communication with both of the first and second diameter portions. The central flow portion has a relatively smaller diameter than either of the first and second diameter portions. The method also includes the step of plastically deforming a portion of the annular ring adjacent the central flow portion to thereby reduce the diameter of the central flow portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: SP Medical LLC
    Inventor: Gary R. Austin
  • Fixed scroll positioning apparatus and fixed scroll positioning method
    Patent number: 8006379
    Abstract: In a positioning apparatus, a fixed scroll engaged with a movable scroll is pressed against a housing member, and then, is stirred to an appropriate position by applying impact force to the fixed scroll in this state. Thus, the stirring of the fixed scroll terminates in the state that the fixed scroll is pressed against the housing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Susa, Takayuki Takahashi, Takashi Hirouchi, Hiroyuki Yamaji
  • Method for producing attached parts for a vehicle and the thus produced attached parts
    Patent number: 8001688
    Abstract: A method for producing attached parts for a motor vehicle, for example doors, dampers, mudguards formed by internal (1) and external (2) sheets. The external sheet (2) is inward bent in the visible areas of the door or attached part, the sheet edges being practically parallel to the plane of attached parts in the invisible (not apparently visible) areas of the door or attached part. The internal sheet (1) is pushed against the external sheet (2) in a flanged area in such a way that a small accurately defined gap for laser welding is produced. The internal (1) and external (2) sheets are welded to each other in the form of an overlap joint in the opposite invisible areas, thereby compensating tolerances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Drauz Nothelfer GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Husner, Peter Cornelius, Axel Luft
  • Apparatus for manufacturing heat exchanger
    Patent number: 8001675
    Abstract: In a heat exchanger, a liquid resin is applied to an outer surface of the heat exchanger, and then surplus liquid resin is removed from the outer surface. In removing the surplus liquid resin, before air having a first velocity is directed to the heat exchanger for blowing the surplus liquid resin off the heat exchanger, air having a second velocity lower than the first velocity is directed to the heat exchanger to remove the surplus liquid resin from the heat exchanger by moving the surplus liquid resin along the outer surface of the heat exchanger. The air at the second velocity is directed toward the heat exchanger by a second blower before the air at the first velocity is directed toward the heat exchanger by a first blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Sugino, Hiroyuki Nakamura, Motohiro Shirai
  • Rib for aircraft wing and methods for the manufacture thereof
    Patent number: 8001690
    Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing a rib for an aircraft wing, the method comprising providing a billet of material for forming the rib, machining away material from all sides of the billet to form a rib for use in an aircraft, the rib including a web that extends between first and second flanged portions, each flanged portion having a flange that facilitates fixing of the rib to another component of the aircraft, wherein the material that forms the web extends diagonally across the billet, the web having a first face on a first side and a second face on a second side opposite to the first side of the web, and the first flanged portion extends more to the first side of the web than to the second side and the second flanged portion extends more to the second side of the web than to the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Airbus UK Limited
    Inventor: David James Shortman
  • Temporary vascular filter guide wire
    Patent number: 7996993
    Abstract: A method of making a filter is disclosed including providing a mandrel, positioning a filter form on the mandrel, the filter form including a dissolvable compound, disposing a filter basket over the filter form, dissolving the filter form, and removing the mandrel from the filter basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: C. R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: William Gray, Richard A. Gambale
  • Sign stand with rolling base
    Patent number: 7996980
    Abstract: A portable sign stand with wheels or rollers, an adjustable weighted base member, and a sign display member. The base member has one or more compartments so that liquid or solid ballast can be added to stabilize the sign stand in windy conditions. The upper and lower wall members of the otherwise hollow base member are joined together at one or more locations where the sign display member is connected to the base member. The base member can be made by blow molding techniques. Wheels are provided on one edge of the base member in order to allow the sign stand to be rolled and easily moved to different positions. Axle members secure the wheels to the base member. One or more resilient members can be used to connect the sign display member to the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Marketing Displays, Inc.
    Inventors: David U. Hillstrom, Brian J. Hillstrom
  • Heat exchanger and method for manufacturing the same
    Patent number: 7996990
    Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing a heat exchanger, including a first step of mounting an end part of flat tube to a header, assembling the flat tube and fins, and sealing a part where the header and the end part is attached, and a second step of increasing an internal pressure of the flat tube to expand other part of flat tubes aside from the end parts with respect to the end part of the tube in order to make the fins and the other part of the flat tube in contact each other. According to this method of manufacturing, in the second step, the other part of the flat tube that passes through the fins is expanded, so that it is possible to mechanically join the flat tube and the fins, and a plate fin-type heat exchanger with high strength and heat exchange efficiency can be easily provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: GAC Corporation
    Inventors: Masanori Tsuji, Takahide Maezawa
  • Retaining stent
    Patent number: 7996976
    Abstract: A medical device for use within a body of a patient includes at least two retention members located at a first end of an elongated section of the medical device. The retention members are adapted to limit longitudinal movement of the elongated section when the medical device is placed within the body of a patient. The elongated section can define a passage and at least one opening in communication with the passage to facilitate passing fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph P. Desmond, III
  • Fixture exchange rail system and method of use
    Patent number: 7992276
    Abstract: A fixture exchange rail system is provided having first and second fixture assemblies movably mounted with respect to respective first and second stationary rails. A movable rail is disposed substantially adjacent to, and movable between, the first and second stationary rails. The movable rail is sufficiently configured to selectively receive the first and second fixture assemblies thereon. A method of operating a workstation having a fixture exchange rail system operable to enable work on a workpiece is also provided including the steps of: A) determining the style of workpiece present at the workstation; B) aligning a movable rail with one of a first and second stationary rail having a respective first and second fixture assembly mounted thereto corresponding to the style of workpiece; and C) moving the fixture assembly corresponding to the style of workpiece from the stationary rail to the movable rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Andrew S. Kussmaul
  • Method of surface densification of a powder metal component
    Patent number: 7987569
    Abstract: A high performance main bearing cap has particular surfaces densified for improved fatigue crack resistance. The surfaces densified are the bolted face inside of a perimetral margin and outside of bolt head interface areas around the main bolt holes, the surfaces of the main bolt holes and the side bolt hole threads. Preferred methods of densification are single needle programmable pattern peening of the bolted face peened area, over-burnishing of the bolt holes, and forming the threads rather than cutting them for the side bolt threads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: GKN Sinter Metals, LLC
    Inventors: Terry M. Cadle, Susan M. Cadle, legal representative, Joel H. Mandel, Donald J. Phillips
  • Method of molding and assembling a container with hinged lids
    Patent number: 7987578
    Abstract: An attached lid container has lids that are hinged to the top edges of the side walls of the container. When the lids are closed, the free edges of the lids engage one another to form a joint that interlocks the lids together. The lids are attached to the container at the hinge joints after the molding of the container and lids, while the molded parts are still in the mold press. Specifically, the lids are molded next to the container and then moved laterally to be aligned with the hinge line of the container after the mold cavity is withdrawn. Then, the ejectors push the lids out toward the container. The force of the outward movement causes the hinge parts of the lids and container to snap together. Subsequently a robot arm removes the container from the mold press with the hinged lids assembled on the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignees: Buckhorn, Inc., Triangle Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel R. Miller, Roy B. Luther
  • Method for installing a collapsible mobile platform interior structure
    Patent number: 7987596
    Abstract: A method for installing an interior structure for a mobile platform is provided. The method includes carrying a lightweight collapsible frame through a man-door of a mobile platform while the collapsible frame is in a collapsed state. The collapsed frame is then expanded to provide at least a portion of a load bearing frame for a mobile platform interior structure. A plurality of interchangeable panels are removable attached to the collapsible frame to form interior surfaces of the mobile platform interior structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Michael A. Ritts, Gregory W Davidson, Christopher J. Mills
  • Method for modifying a compressor stator vane
    Patent number: 7984548
    Abstract: A vane unit system having a plurality of vane units having at least one airfoil projecting from a base is modified by placing a hole in the base and receiving a pin which extends between adjacent bases of vane units. A series of modified bases form a rigid ring of vanes that are less susceptible to vane motion caused by pressure fluctuations within the compressor of a gas turbine. A blade assembly tool having a shape to fit within the slit in a casing that receives the vane units allows for the installation of vane units with interlocking pins without the necessity of having to remove the rotor from the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: DRS Power Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Rodger O. Anderson, Fred T. Willett
  • Fabricated vehicle wheel and method for producing same
    Patent number: 7984551
    Abstract: This invention relates to a fabricated vehicle wheel and method for producing the same. The wheel includes a rim and a disc secured to the rim. The disc includes a plurality of outwardly extending spokes, an outer rim connecting flange defining a side edge surface and a window formed therein between adjacent pairs of spokes and having a predetermined shape defined by the adjacent pairs of spokes and the side edge surface of the rim connecting flange such that each of the windows extends to an outermost periphery of the wheel disc, at least one of the windows includes at least a first window portion and a second window portion, the first window portion being formed by a first piercing operation and the second window portion being formed by a second piercing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick McCorry, Tom Czarniecki, Monty Csapo, Todd Duffield, Matthias Grutgen, Frank Kramer, Alan Coleman
  • Fuel injector remanufacturing method and remanufactured fuel injector
    Patent number: 7984550
    Abstract: A remanufacturing and salvaging strategy for fuel injector tips such as high flow fuel injector tips includes blocking a first set of spray orifices in the fuel injector tip, including at least partially filling the first set of spray orifices with a material, for example by laser welding. New spray orifices are formed in virgin material of the fuel injector tip, offset from the former spray orifices, also for example via a laser. A remanufactured fuel injector tip includes blocked former spray orifices as well as new spray orifices configured to permit spraying of fuel from the fuel injector tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Howard D. Jenkel, James S. Millar