Patents Examined by Eric Compton
  • Patent number: 7251892
    Abstract: A system for adjusting at least one spacer of a bearing assembly includes a force-transmitting member and a preload regulator. The force-transmitting member is configured to operatively receive a force and to transmit the force to an adjustable spacer. The preload regulator includes a first portion and a second portion movable relative to each other with the first portion being movable in response to the force and the second portion being received by and stationary relative to the bearing assembly. The preload regulator further includes a controller coupled to the first portion and the second portion with the controller being configured to detect an electrical contact between the first portion and the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Temper Corporation
    Inventor: Sean Strait
  • Patent number: 7251889
    Abstract: A method of making an evaporator includes orienting a vapor barrier wall, orienting a liquid barrier wall, and positioning a wick between the vapor barrier wall and the liquid barrier wall. The vapor barrier wall is oriented such that a heat-absorbing surface of the vapor barrier wall defines at least a portion of an exterior surface of the evaporator. The exterior surface is configured to receive heat. The liquid barrier wall is oriented adjacent the vapor barrier wall. The liquid barrier wall has a surface configured to confine liquid. A vapor removal channel is defined at an interface between the wick and the vapor barrier wall. A liquid flow channel is defined between the liquid barrier wall and the primary wick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Swales & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. Kroliczek, James Seokgeun Yun, Michael Nikitkin, David A. Wolf, Sr.
  • Patent number: 7188417
    Abstract: A fluid flow nozzle is formed by a plurality of adjacent L-shaped channels forming successive channel pairs. Each channel has a linking member joined to a radial member. Each linking member is welded to an adjacent linking member forming a contiguous surface of linking members. Each radial member is oriented approximately perpendicular to a first side of the contiguous surface. A circumferentially enclosed chamber is formed on a second side of the contiguous surface. Each radial member is laser welded to a jacket at a distal end of each radial member. The jacket is oriented approximately parallel with the contiguous surface and separably spaced from the contiguous surface by the radial members. Each radial member forms one of a plurality of flow chambers between its adjacent radial member, the jacket and the contiguous surface. The flow chambers advantageously contain fluid in the event of a radial member rupture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Jack L Weeks
  • Patent number: 7181823
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a crank arm and spider assembly includes the following steps: (1) providing a blank; (2) shaping the blank to form a crank billet comprising an elongate body having a first end on which a spider is integrally formed and an opposite end having an expanded outside diameter; (3) forming a channel substantially co-extensive with the elongate body with an opening at the second end of the body; (4) reducing the expanded second end and thereby reducing inside diameter of the channel in proximity of the second for forming an entry of the channel; (5) filling a liquid into the channel through the entry and then sealing the entry; (6) placing the crank billet with the liquid filled in the channel into a mold and performing a mold forging operation to obtain a semi-product; and (7) forming a hole in the body to release the filling liquid out of the channel of the crank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Inventor: Jie Dong Zeng
  • Patent number: 7181847
    Abstract: Process for manufacturing cylindrical hollow bodies with a circular cross-section using solid rough material of corrosion-resistant, martensitic chromium steels. A remelting block is produced and a tube blank is made therefrom, the tube blank being formed into a tube at hot forming temperature by extrusion at a deformation ratio of at least 6. Hollow bodies are cut from the resultant tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Boehler Edelstahl GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Reinhold Schneider, Gerhard Lichtenegger, Günter Schirninger
  • Patent number: 7165302
    Abstract: A spindle device of a machine tool such as a milling machine and a machining center and a method of replacing a spindle, the spindle device wherein the housing of a spindle head (5) is divided into a front housing (23) and a rear housing (25), a spindle (7) is installed in the front housing (23) through front bearings (9), and a built-in motor rotor (43), a bearing case (33) through rear bearings (11), and a draw bar (51) for clamping a tool are installed on and in the spindle (7) to form a front housing unit (93); the method comprising the step of replacing the spindle (7) and the bearings by replacing the front housing unit (93), whereby, when the spindle device comes out of order, the spindle and bearings can be easily replaced in a short time and the stop time of the machine tool can be minimized at a site where the machine tool is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Makino Milling Machine Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kikkawa, Akihiro Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 7163030
    Abstract: A duct structure (510), includes lengths of double wall square/rectangular duct (532) manufactured by pre-forming the duct in round cross-section (51) and then transforming the round cross-section into square and rectangular cross-sections utilizing expandable die structures (58). The duct (532) may be connected together end to end by flanged connectors (510, 520) formed from strip stock (71), that is notched at locations that correspond to the corners of the formed flange connector. The cross-sectional profile of the flanged connector is then formed by roll forming and/or bending and/or other techniques. Thereafter, the strip stock is bent at its notched locations to define the corners (80) of the flange connector outer and inner portions (511 and 512) and then the free ends of the strip stock are fixed together. Thereafter, the outer and inner flanged connector portions (511 and 512) are fastened together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Inventor: Jeffrey Allen Hermanson
  • Patent number: 7162798
    Abstract: Selective laser and induction hardening are applied to areas of a water jacketed engine cylinder liner to provide improved resistance to scuffing resulting from the rubbing contact of the walls and piston rings of an associated piston. An upper bore portion and port relief areas of the liner are fully induction hardened to improve wear resistance. The port area is then fully laser hardened to improve wear resistance. If desired, the laser hardening process may continue beyond the intake port area to the port relief areas to ensure full hardening of the port relief areas and continuous hardening between the intake ports and the port relief areas to improve wear resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventor: Mitchell K. Westra
  • Patent number: 7159293
    Abstract: An attachment structure for a load bearing fabric. The attachment structure includes interfitted inner and outer rings. The outer ring includes a fabric leg 74 carrying a load bearing fabric. The inner ring defines a channel receiving the fabric leg 74. The inner ring and outer ring are configured to stretch the fabric upon insertion of the fabric leg 74 into the channel. The present invention also provides a method for securing a load bearing fabric to a support structure, generally including the steps of (a) providing an outer ring having fabric leg 74, (b) attaching a section of load bearing fabric to the fabric leg 74, (c) providing an inner ring having a channel adapted to receive the leg of the outer ring and (d) installing the outer ring to the inner ring by inserting the leg into the channel, the insertion forcing the fabric down into the channel and stretching the fabric to the desired tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Dahti, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy P. Coffield, Ronnie K. Watson, Soren S. Ingomar Petersen, Matthew E. Chrostowski, Randall Clark Lewis
  • Patent number: 7152296
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and a device for forming a planiform piece intended, in particular, for the interior fittings of motor vehicles, in which a layer of support material (1) is covered, at least on one of its faces (2) and in the area of a portion (3), at least, of its contour, or so-called portion to be bordered, with a cladding sheet (4) and said support (1) is cut along said portion to be bordered (3) in such a way that said cladding (4) projects from said support (1) in the area of said portion. According to the invention, a cutting tool (5) is pre-positioned between said cladding (4) and said support (1) along said portion to bordered (3) said cutting is effected with said cutting tool (5), when the support (1) is covered by the cladding (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Saelen, Jean-Yves Delattre, Bernard Freycon
  • Patent number: 7150089
    Abstract: An apparatus that has housing for containing objects. The housing has two heat-conducting partial-boundaries having an interface between them. The apparatus also has a medium for enhancing heat transfer across the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher J. Scafidi
  • Patent number: 7146734
    Abstract: A method of producing rolling elements for a rolling bearing comprises mixing to process rounded elements made of steel balls and spherical rolling elements having outer diameter portion portion becoming a rolling contact face. The rolling contact face has curvatures in an axial direction and a radial direction normal to the axial direction, and has at least one plane. The thus mixed elements are placed and processed in a space between two processing boards opposing each other via the determined space. Thereby, the surfaces of the rounded balls and the rolling elements are processed to be rounded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Murai, Katsuhiro Yamazaki, Haruki Tsutsui
  • Patent number: 7146735
    Abstract: A bearing ring for a large roller bearing is formed with at least one annular race which is hardened by heating by juxtaposing that race with an inductor across a spacing which is maintained during the heating and then quenching. The spacing is controlled selectively so that it is: 1 to 2 times a depth T of hardening of the surface layer for a radial-bearing race, 0.6 to 1 times the depth T of hardening of the surface layer for an axial-bearing race whose inner diameter corresponds to an inner diameter of the bearing ring, at an outer edge of the axial-bearing race, 1.5 to 2 times the depth T of hardening of the surface layer for the axial-bearing race whose inner diameter corresponds to an inner diameter of the bearing ring at an inner edge thereof, and varying continuously between the outer edge and the inner edge, and uniformly 0.6 to 1 times the depth T of hardening of the surface layer for an axial-bearing race whose inner diameter is greater than that of the bearing ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Rothe Erde GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Bracht, Jörg Rollmann, Bernd Stakemeier, Johannes Wozniak
  • Patent number: 7143499
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing metal strips and sheets involving the following method steps: pouring a strand, which is provided in the form (1) of thin slabs and which is comprised of carbon steel or special steel, into a casting machine (4) and rolling the cast product away from the casting heat. The aim of the invention is to utilize free capacities of existing installations, that is, installations not operating at full capacity, with which primary carbon steels are produced, in order to supplement other types of steel or to supplement cast products produced in another manner. To this end, the invention provides that, together with these first cast products (1), at least second cast products (2), which are produced in a second process route (II) from special steel if the first thin slabs are cast from carbon steel or are produced from carbon steel if the first thin slabs are cast from special steel, are rolled within a joint rolling program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: SMS Demag AG
    Inventors: Jürgen Seidel, Günter Kneppe, Joachim Hafer
  • Patent number: 7134205
    Abstract: A button, knob or control key with an etchable support plate which is engraved on the backside with a fine symbol by laser, erosion or mechanical engraving, which only cuts into the material of the support plate, but not through the support plate. The backside of the support plate is optionally coated. A foil is applied on the laminated layer and affixed thereto. The front side of the support plate is treated with a material-removing substance. The material removal with the material-removing substance is performed until the engraving extending into the support plate is at least partially or completely exposed on the front side. Application of a protective layer to the front side of the support plate from which the material was removed. A function symbol is provided on the button such that it can be backlit. It is engraved in a fine line width providing a sharp optical definition erosion, mechanical engraving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Angell Demmel Europe GmbH
    Inventor: Elmar Bruennel
  • Patent number: 7134203
    Abstract: A method and system dampens vibrations associated with a device installed in a system by supporting the device with one or more support members having a rigid support portion and a dampening support portion made from an elastic material. In one embodiment, an information handling system fan assembly is made with two shot injection molding to form a support member with an integrated dampener that holds a fan mount disposed in a cooling air channel defined by a fan housing. The fan housing, mount and rigid portion of the support member are formed with one shot from a substantially rigid material and the dampening portion is formed with another shot from a substantially elastic material. A fan couples to the fan mount for installation in the information handling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: David Frederick Hutchinson, Ahmed Mohiuddin
  • Patent number: 7131178
    Abstract: Structure of driving unit in a drum type washing machine including a tub mounted inside of a cabinet, a drum mounted inside of the tub, a shaft connected to the drum mounted inside of the tub for transmission of a driving force from a motor to the drum, a front bearing and a rear bearing mounted on an outer circumference of the shaft at opposite end portions thereof respectively, a bearing housing built in a central portion of a rear wall of the tub for supporting the front bearing, a rotor composing the motor together with the rotor, and coupled to the rear end portion of the shaft, a stator fixed to the tub rear wall inward of the rotor to compose the motor together with the rotor, a connector serration coupled to the outer circumference of the shaft in front of the rear bearing and fixed to the rotor, for transmission of a rotating power from the rotor to the shaft, and a bearing bracket fixed to the rear wall of the tub to cover an outside of the rotor and support the rear bearing, thereby reducing noise,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Kyum Kim, Ho Cheol Kwon, Jong A. Park, Kang Mo Choi
  • Patent number: 7124492
    Abstract: A fastener element including a barrel portion, a first radial flange portion integral and coaxially aligned with the barrel portion and a second radial flange portion having a diameter greater than the first radial flange portion coaxially aligned with the first radial flange portion including an annular face having circumferentially spaced radial ribs and a method of installing the fastener element which includes forming an opening in a panel which receives the barrel and first radial flange portions, wherein the panel is deformed radially inwardly against the first radial flange portion and the first radial flange portion is preferably deformed radially outwardly forming a secure fastener and panel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Whitesell International Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley E. Wojciechowski, Michael J. McShane, John M. Parker, David H. Shuart
  • Patent number: 7121003
    Abstract: In a manufacturing method and a manufacturing apparatus for a wheel-support rolling bearing unit, when forming a crimped portion 14 on an end (inside end) of a hub main body 8a, by rocking die forging using a die 26, while preventing enlargement of equipment, in order to prevent forming indentations in a second outer raceway 6a and a second inner raceway 12a, in the present invention, the outer ring 1a is turned by a motor 48, and the balls 32 are rotated. A difference is provided between the rotation speed of the balls 32 and an oscillation speed of the die 26. This difference is preferably at least 10 min?1. By rotating the balls 32 the formation of indentations in the second outer raceway 6a and the second inner raceway 12a is prevented. Moreover, by providing the difference between the rotation speed and the oscillation speed of the die 26, an increase in the torque required for rotation the outer ring 1a is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Yasumura, Nobuyuki Hagiwara, Shoji Horike
  • Patent number: 7117598
    Abstract: A differential assembly for a motor vehicle includes a plurality of pinion gears in meshing engagement with a plurality of side gears. At least one of the pinion gears and side gears is formed from a tubular insert and a tubular preform forged together in a forging die. A method for manufacturing a differential assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen L. Prucher