Patents Examined by Don J Bleasdell
  • Patent number: 6581499
    Abstract: The present invention provides a pipe cutter apparatus that includes a housing having a base and lid. The lid is moveable between a storage position and an operative position. A motor is retained within the housing and has a shaft operatively connected thereto and rotated thereby. A cutting wheel extends radially from the shaft and is rotated with the shaft. A pipe conveyor is also retained within the housing, adjacent the cutting wheel. The pipe conveyor may be operated to urge a pipe placed therein into engagement with the cutting wheel. The pipe conveyor is preferably adjustable to receive pipes of various diameters. Notably, when the lid is in the operative position, a work area is provided for cutting a pipe or similar work piece. When the lid is in the storage position, a carrying case is provided such that the pipe cutter apparatus is readily portable. A cleaning brush also extends from the shaft that is rotated by the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Inventor: Kent J. Myers
  • Patent number: 6568694
    Abstract: A combination of two or more jaw assemblies for mounting onto a self-centering power chuck to move an irregular workpiece to the axial centerline of the power chuck after it has been clamped. Each jaw assembly has a independent hydraulic system which, when activated, reduces the length of the jaw assembly, thereby moving the workpiece clamped in the power chuck. The imperfect pipe's average centerline can be moved to any location within the combined adjustable range of all the jaw assemblies. Each jaw assembly consists of a base jaw that is affixed to the power chuck, a connecting block that moves when the hydraulic system is actuated, a piston, a cylinder, and an interchangeable swivel insert with a serrated gripping surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Inventor: Phillip A. White
  • Patent number: 6539828
    Abstract: A device for catching cut off workpieces from a C. N. C. lathe, the lathe having a toolholding turret and a turret back wall. The device attaches to the turret. A basket for catching cut off workpieces is attached to a bracket. The bracket is shaped to be attachable to the turret, to permit the basket to fit underneath the workpiece and to permit the basket to clear the turret back wall when the turret is rotated about its axis into any position. Preferably, an L-shaped bracket is used for octagon type turrets and an oblique angled bracket is used for VDI turrets. One version of the invention comprises a lathe to which a C. N. C. parts catcher is attached. Another version of the invention is a method for catching workpieces cut off from the spindle of a C. N. C. lathe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Inventor: Bosko Todoroski
  • Patent number: 6502834
    Abstract: A holding chuck has a clamping device for firmly holding the tire-wheel in the position aligned with a center axis of a holding chuck. Chatter-suppressing dampers are disposed on an intermediate plate fitted around the chuck. The dampers are disposed on circles concentric with the center axis of the holding chuck. Each of the dampers has a damping rod extending in the direction parallel to the center axis and abutting a rim of the wheel. A damper cover is disposed between the rim of the wheel and the dampers and fastened to the holding chuck. The damper cover has slot holes disposed on a circle concentric with the center axis of the chuck which allow the damping rods of the dampers disposed on only one of the concentric circles to extend therethrough and abut the rim of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignees: Howa Machinery, Ltd., Toyota Motor Hokkaido Inc., Kanzaki Kokyukoki Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Fukui, Akihiko Imai, Hiromasa Tuzuki, Hirokazu Ueda