Patents Examined by George B Bennett
  • Patent number: 11725931
    Abstract: An In-Process Diameter Gage comprises a Position Detection Subsystem, preferably an optical switch and trigger, a Dimension Measurement Subsystem, preferably comprising a wheel of known diameter and a rotation encoder, and a Data Processing Subsystem, all configured and arranged to determine a dimensional property of a rotating part, such as diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Gagemaker, LP
    Inventors: Jimmy I. Frank, John Wolfe, III, Craig Cloud, Mark Bewley, Kris L. Dawson
  • Patent number: 11725936
    Abstract: An automatic process and structural features for accurately producing levels is provided. The process enables more rapid production of levels, less operator work or error, and the ability to quantify errors and tolerances in the manufacture of the level. Coupling a level datum plane formed on the endcaps of a vial with a level datum plane of a frame ensures accurate construction of a level that can be automated and toleranced. Ensuring that the level datum plane created at the endcaps remains parallel (or at some other predesigned angle) to the measuring surfaces of the level reduces labor to manufacture the level and ensures measurement accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher R. Millane, Jacob D. Hadfield, Richard J. LaSota
  • Patent number: 11728631
    Abstract: The template-marking tool for installing conduit may comprise a template for locating the center of a new conduit aperture on a junction box. The template may be pressed against a wall of the junction box and may slide along the junction box until a first mark shows at one of a plurality of alignment slots. A second mark may be made on the junction box at one of a plurality of centering apertures. The new conduit aperture may be drilled at the second mark to create an aperture for accepting a conduit connector that an individual conduit will couple to. A plurality of indicia may be adapted to guide a user in selecting one of the plurality of centering apertures on the template based upon the size of a conduit support strut and the diameter of the individual conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Inventor: Michael Olive
  • Patent number: 11719536
    Abstract: There is provided an apparatus, a system, and a method for locating and marking a position on a surface during surveying. The apparatus is for use with a rotorcraft or flying machine and a positioning device, and comprises a gimbal securable to the rotorcraft or flying machine, a prism fixed to the gimbal for reflecting signals from the positioning device, the prism having a center of mass, a laser secured to the gimbal and directed away from the center of mass of the prism towards the surface, and a controller for communication with the positioning device, the controller operatively coupled to the laser to operate the laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Inventor: Gerald Stewart Clarke
  • Patent number: 11719535
    Abstract: A masonry level, with an extruded metallic box main body, is disclosed for measuring orientation of a work surface. The front of the main body includes an external longitudinal lower floating fin protrusion and a mid-section longitudinal tab and an upper longitudinal hook tab. The main body further includes an internal longitudinal tab in the back and multiple apertures for installation of eyelets for hanging the level, side bubble vials at the ends of the main body and a central horizontal bubble vial. The main body has a wider bottom relative to its top, and has a longitudinal upper back convex shape. A number of plastic claddings are attached to the front of the masonry level. Endcaps are attached to the ends of the main body structure. The masonry level can also be used as a construction tool to smooth uncured concrete and mud plaster surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Inventors: Michael H Panosian, Joshua M Keeler
  • Patent number: 11713966
    Abstract: A conduit level for determination of conduit bend angles includes a frame supporting a plurality of bubble levels at various angular orientations. The frame has first and second opposite sides, a bottom edge extending along an axis, a top edge, and a front end edge connecting the bottom edge and the top edge. Each of the bubble level sensors has a unique angular orientation relative to the axis of the bottom edge of the frame. The frame includes at least one bubble viewing slot allowing a user to view the plurality of bubble levels in edgewise viewing directions facing the top edge and the front edge of the frame, and a plurality of bubble viewing windows allowing the user to view the plurality of bubble levels in a sidewise viewing direction facing at least one of the sides of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Inventor: Patrick James Brown
  • Patent number: 11709045
    Abstract: A surface texture probe and a surface texture measurement apparatus with a vibrational membrane are provided. The probe includes a housing and a vibrational membrane, a stylus holder, a vertical guide assembly, a guide adjustment assembly and a stylus. An inner end of the vibrational membrane is attached to an upper end of the stylus holder. An outer end of the vibrational membrane is fixed to a vibrational membrane connection assembly fixedly connected to the housing. The vertical guide assembly is fixed inside the housing and slidably connected to the stylus holder and configured to guide the stylus holder to move in a vertical direction. The stylus is fixed to a lower end of the stylus holder. The guide adjustment assembly is mounted on the vertical guide assembly and configured to adjust a sliding friction force between the vertical guide assembly and the stylus holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: National Institute of Metrology, China
    Inventors: Yushu Shi, Shu Zhang, Zhoumiao Shi
  • Patent number: 11701746
    Abstract: An end mill inspection device, which inspects an end mill having a blade part formed in a curved convex shape or an arc shape, includes: an imaging data acquisition unit that acquires imaging data obtained by capturing an image of a blade part of the end mill by an imaging unit; a contour extraction unit that extracts the contour of the blade part on the basis of the imaging data acquired by the imaging data acquisition unit; and a curvature radius calculation unit that calculates a curvature radius of the contour on the basis of the contour of the blade part extracted by the contour extraction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Eto, Hirokazu Unno
  • Patent number: 11702045
    Abstract: A target alignment system for calibrating a safety sensor mounted on a vehicle with front and rear wheels by locating an optimum target position upon a horizontal surface for accurate calibration of the sensor. The target alignment system comprises a plurality of visual guide projectors and a pair of target assemblies which project a visible guide line perimeter around the vehicle, the perimeter including parallel longitudinal lines on either side of the vehicle, a lateral alignment guide line crossing the longitudinal lines in front of the vehicle, and a center guide line colinear with the vehicle center line. The front and rear wheels of the vehicle are longitudinally aligned causing the vehicle thrust line to match the vehicle center line. One of the visual guide projectors projects a transverse line across the center guide line, creating an intersection point which marks the optimum target position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Inventor: Richard L. Jackson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11703311
    Abstract: A system for assembling a fixture to hold a workpiece for measurement by a CMM includes a plurality of fixture components. The fixture components are used to assemble the fixture. The system also includes a fixture plate having a plurality of fixture component securing portions that are configured to couple with the fixture components to define the fixture. The fixture is configured to couple with the workpiece to hold the workpiece in a predefined orientation. A fixture identifier is configured to identify the fixture components, and a securing portion identifier is configured to identify the securing portions that couple with the fixture components. A visual emphasizing unit is configured to visually emphasize one or more of the fixture components and/or one or more of the securing portions to provide an indication of a fixture component that is to be coupled with a corresponding securing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Hexagon Metrology, Inc.
    Inventor: Milan Kocic
  • Patent number: 11703357
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a laser level. includes arranging the laser level and a detector on a same horizontal plane to cause the laser level to be at a detected position, setting the laser level to be in a dot-sweep mode or a fan-sweep mode, when the detector detects the first laser beam for calibration emitted by the laser level, generating first position information by the detector, when the laser level rotates to a first rotation angle, rotating a laser projection direction of the laser level relative to the laser level along the opposite direction by a first rotation angle to cause the detector to detect the second laser beam for calibration emitted by the laser level to generate second position information, and determining whether the laser level needs to be calibrated based on the first position information and the second position information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: NORTHWEST INSTRUMENT INC.
    Inventors: Weichen Wang, Xin Shi, David Xing
  • Patent number: 11698243
    Abstract: An elevation assembly for an archery sight includes a rail adapted for connection with a bow and having a plurality of spaced teeth extending from a surface thereof. An elevation block is mounted on the rail for reciprocal sliding movement between the ends of the rail. A pinion wheel is connected with the elevation block. The wheel includes a plurality of teeth which are configured to mesh with the pinion teeth of the rail. A knob is connected with the pinion wheel. Rotation of the knob rotates the pinion wheel to displace the wheel and the elevation block along the longitudinal axis of the rail for precise elevation adjustment of the archery sight. Pressing the knob along an axis normal to the rail longitudinal axis moves the pinion wheel along the normal axis away from the rail axis to disengage the pinion wheel teeth from the rail teeth and allow the elevation block to slide freely along the rail for quick course elevation adjustment of the sight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Inventor: Gregory E. Summers
  • Patent number: 11698253
    Abstract: A level attachment having a cylindrical tubing with a first half and a second half is capable of being removably secured about a weight lifting bar. A first embodiment employs a magnetic attachment means and second embodiment employs a clasping means. Within the first half is disposed a spirit level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Inventors: Kyle A. Axe, Daniel J. Geary
  • Patent number: 11692805
    Abstract: A method is disclosed that includes measuring an inner diameter (ID) of a tubular at least at a plurality of points along an inner circumference of the tubular, at a predetermined axial distance from an end of the tubular, to yield a first set of measurements. A computer processor is used to: create a tubular profile from the first set of measurements, wherein the tubular profile represents a unique identification code of the tubular; save the profile; and thereafter identify the tubular. The tubular is identified via: receiving a second set of measurements of the ID of the tubular from at least at a plurality of points along an inner circumference of the tubular, at the predetermined axial distance from the end of the tubular; and comparing the second set of measurements with the saved tubular profile to identify the tubular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Jasem Mohammed Al Moyaibed, Zakaria Ibrahim Albu
  • Patent number: 11692801
    Abstract: A modular gage system includes a base plate having an array of holes and a coordinate system to identify each hole. The modular gage system further includes a plurality of risers and at least one form block. Each riser is assigned to a particular hole and the at least one form block is configured to be positioned atop one or more of the risers. Moreover, each form block is assigned to be located over a particular hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Inventor: Jacob Ethan Verduin
  • Patent number: 11686191
    Abstract: In some aspects, the disclosed technology provides solutions for computing a residual noise signal from received gravitational field signal data. In one aspect, a process of the disclosed technology includes steps for receiving a magnetic field signal, wherein the magnetic field signal is generated by measurements produced by a magnetometer disposed in a drilling tool chassis, receiving a gravitational field signal, and processing the magnetic field signal to generate a clean magnetic field signal. In some aspects, the process can further include steps for calculating a residual signal based on the clean magnetic field signal and the gravitational field signal. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Paul F. Rodney, Reena Agarwal Chanpura
  • Patent number: 11685064
    Abstract: A tactile and/or optical distance sensor includes a housing, which has at least one elongate portion, a measurement arm, which is arranged in the housing, at least partially extends through the elongate portion and has a tactile and/or an optical probe element at one end, a transducer, which is configured to capture a position of the tactile probe element or a signal of the optical probe element and to generate associated probe element measurement signals, and an advance unit, with which the housing is linearly dis-placeable along an advance direction. A strain sensor is located in the region of the measurement arm extending through the elongate portion or at an adjacent region directly adjoining said region. In addition, a system for measuring the roughness of a surface of a workpiece and a method for calibrating a distance sensor or a system are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Philipp Mayinger
  • Patent number: 11686578
    Abstract: An expandable level that is configured to extend from a first length to a second length in order to identify a vertical or horizontal plane across a greater distance. The level of the present invention includes a body wherein the body has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion and second portion are axially aligned and secured together in the first position of the level with a fastener. The first portion and second portion of the body have telescoping support members operably coupled therebetween. The telescoping support members include a plurality of segments that facilitate the expansion of the length of the level wherein the first portion and second portion are moved away from each other. Sight windows and level bubbles are in both the first portion and second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Inventor: Uwe Schiel
  • Patent number: 11684312
    Abstract: A system for control of a device includes at least one sensor module detecting orientation of a user's body part. The at least one sensor module is in communication with a device module configured to command an associated device. The at least one sensor module detects orientation of the body part. The at least one sensor module sends output signals related to orientation of the user's body part to the device module and the device module controls the associated device based on the signals from the at least one sensor module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: DEKA PRODUCTS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Dirk Albertus van der Merwe, Thomas A. Doyon
  • Patent number: 11680783
    Abstract: An apparatus is configured to employ with a retractable tape measure including a flexible measuring tape. The apparatus includes an electronic system including a laser receiver and a body configured to house the electronic system therein. The laser receiver is configured to detect a laser projected in at least one of a red wavelength and a green wavelength. The body includes an arcuate-shaped cavity configured to receive the flexible measuring tape in a sliding engagement, and a top surface oriented to face in a direction from which the flexible measuring tape is read with the flexible measuring tape received in the cavity. The top surface includes a port configured to align with the laser receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Thumbline, LLC
    Inventor: Robert Gage Pabst