Patents Examined by Homer Boyer
  • Patent number: 8616033
    Abstract: A method for vibration damping and shape control of a suspended metal strip is provided. The method includes the steps of: measuring distance to the metal strip by a plurality of non-contact sensors, providing distance measurements; generating a deflection profile based on the distance measurements; decomposing the deflection profile to a number of base shapes; and controlling the deflection profile by a plurality of non-contact actuators. The step of controlling includes providing for each of the base shapes a corresponding combination of force profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Mats Molander, Robert Stal, Peter Rybing
  • Patent number: 8616582
    Abstract: An ultra removable booklet with label for application to media is described. The booklet with label includes a release liner, an ultra removable adhesive layer, a paper stock layer, a booklet, an adhesive layer, and a clear plastic cover layer. The clear plastic cover layer has the adhesive layer applied to a bottom surface thereof and the bottom surface is positioned over the booklet. The booklet is positioned over the paper stock. The ultra removable adhesive layer is attached to the lower surface of the paper stock. The release liner is applied to the ultra removable adhesive layer. A process for forming an ultra removable booklet with label for application to media is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: The Kennedy Group Inc.
    Inventor: Michael R. Kennedy
  • Patent number: 8613211
    Abstract: A shot peening apparatus 1 includes: a storage container 2 that stores therein shots B impacting on a shot-peening treated region U; a vibrator 5 that accelerates the shots B; a shot outlet 4 that is formed on the storage container 2, and connected to a shot collecting passage 10 through which the shots B in a container inside 2I are collected, and through which the shots B are taken out from the container inside 2I into the shot collecting passage 10; and a shot inlet 3 that is formed on the storage container 2, and connected to a shot supplying passage 9 through which the shots B are supplied into the container inside 2I, and through which the shots B are supplied into the container inside 2I from the shot supplying passage 9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Fujita, Takeshi Yamamoto, Atsushi Kamiyoshi, Mitsuru Handa, Yoshihiro Watanabe, Kanehisa Hattori, Shogo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8607605
    Abstract: A spring wire is subjected to a first shot peening process and a second shot peening process. In the first shot peening process, a first shot is projected on the spring wire at a first projectile speed. High kinetic energy of the first shot produces compressive residual stress in a region ranging from the surface of the spring wire to a deep position. In the second spring wire process, a second shot is projected at a second projectile speed lower than the speed of the first shot. The kinetic energy of the second shot is lower than that of the first shot. The low kinetic energy of the second shot increases the compressive residual stress in a region near the surface of the spring wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Tange, Hideki Okada, Motoi Uesugi, Yosuke Hisano
  • Patent number: 8578747
    Abstract: Metal sheets and plates having friction-reducing textured surfaces and methods of manufacturing these metal sheets and plates are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, there is provided a transportation vessel that includes at least one metal product having at least one surface that is substantially grooved, wherein the substantially grooved surface forms a riblet topography, the riblet topography including a multiplicity of adjacent permanently rolled longitudinal riblets running along at least a part of the surface, and wherein the riblet topography is coated with at least one coating sufficiently designed and applied to preserve the riblet topography. In an embodiment, the multiplicity of adjacent permanently rolled longitudinal riblets results in a friction-reducing textured surface. In an embodiment, metal product is used in fabricating at least a portion of an aircraft. In an embodiment, metal product is used in fabricating at least a portion of a rotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Li, James M. Marinelli, Jiantao Liu, Paul E. Magnusen, Simon Sheu, Markus B. Heinimann, John Liu, Luis Fanor Vega
  • Patent number: 8573021
    Abstract: A metal blank that includes a binder trim component having at least one cut edge with a non-linear section. The creation of the non-linear section simultaneously forms a corresponding section in a binder trim component of an adjacent metal blank so that binder material can be shared therebetween. This reduces the amount of scrap metal, as the binder trim component is subsequently cut off and discarded. Furthermore, the non-linear section can include one or more strategically placed formations, such as projections, recesses, flat sections, etc., that cause it to be non-uniform along its length and to be specifically tailored to the manufacturing requirements of the part being formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Shiloh Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Ewolski, James W. Walther, Stephen A. Fetsko
  • Patent number: 8567228
    Abstract: A tool system is provided that has a stamp or punch adapter including eccentrically positioned stamp receptacles. This system permits a simple exchange of tool inserts in the stamp adapter. These tool inserts are also usable in another tool system. The system also permits combining the stamp adapter with a stamp shaft, which can also be used in another tool system. These features permit stamping (and punching) with minimal tooling and retooling efforts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Buettner, Wolfgang Laib
  • Patent number: 8561279
    Abstract: The invention provides a spring product manufacturing line comprising: a manufacturing area 2 at which a formation device 50 attached to a base mount 52 plastically processes a spring material into a spring product; a formation device switching area 3 at which one formation device 50 is removed from the mount 52 and switched with another forming device 50; and a formation device transport line 4 that conveys a formation device 50 attached to a base mount 52 at the device switching area 3 to a manufacturing area 2; wherein the formation device 50 is provided with a plurality of formation units 54 that perform a bending process on the spring material by fluid pressure; the base mount 52 is provided with a pressure fluid line 62 that supplies pressure fluid to the formation units 54 provided at the formation device 50, and that is removably connected to each of the formation units 54; and the attachment or removal of the pressure fluid line 62 with respect to the formation device 50 is performed at the device sw
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Steel Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Kohno, Yasuhiro Adachi, Hiroki Watanabe, Norio Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8561927
    Abstract: A pneumatic continuous impact pulverizer includes an outer tube, an inner tube located in the outer tube, an air intake material feeding port located at a front end of the outer tube, an air pump located at the air intake material feeding port, and a plurality of impact tubes. The impact tubes respectively run through the tubular wall of the inner tube, and each has an airflow passage which includes a bell-shaped opening communicating with the outer tube, a middle branch opening located at one side of the airflow passage close to the air intake material feeding port and communicating with the inner tube, and an outlet communicating with the inner tube. High pressure gas and powders enter through the air intake material feeding port. The high pressure gas carries the powders to pass through the impact tubes where the powders collide with each other to become nano powders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Diamond Polymer Science Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chih-Lien Ko
  • Patent number: 8561448
    Abstract: A flanged duct blank has a male part defined by lead notches formed at each side of a leading end and has a female part defined by trail notches formed at each side of a trailing end. The male part includes a lock tab. The female part includes a leg part and a Z-bend. The Z-bend includes a leg part and a gap. The duct blank is repeatedly clamped and bent by a pivoting wiper to form a duct portion. The pivoting wiper includes a clench tool that has a retractable rib and a retractable roller. With the lock tab inserted into the Z-bend and the retractable rib engaged with the Z-bend, the retractable roller clenches the leg part over the lock tab to lock the male and female parts together in a duct seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Mestek Machinery, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael C. Borwig
  • Patent number: 8561449
    Abstract: In a bending apparatus for rod-shaped workpieces, comprising a machine frame to which a bending head with bending tools is attached, which bending head is movable relative to the frame, further a feed device upstream of the bending head for feeding the workpieces to the same, and a cutting device which can be displaced in the direction of feed of the workpieces and can be applied between bending head and feed device to the respective workpiece for cutting the same, the feed device can also be displaced in the direction of feed of the workpiece in addition to the cutting device, which occurs independent of the displacement of the cutting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: WAFIOS Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gustav Veit, Frank Wieblen
  • Patent number: 8555687
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hot rolling apparatus for manufacturing a metal plate by hot-rolling-treating a metal material including copper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignees: IHI Corporation, IHI Metaltech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kengo Ishige, Yasuo Matsunaga, Hiroyuki Otsuka, Kenichi Ide, Masahiro Kuchi, Hisashi Honjou
  • Patent number: 8549888
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining the shape of a surgical linking device that is to be attached to a bony body structure such as the spinal column based on digitized locations of a plurality of attachment elements engaged to the bony structure. The method is implemented by a computer system through a GUI to generate an initial bend curve to mate with the plurality of attachment elements. The initial bend curve may be simplified based on user input to the GUI to reduce the number of bends necessary to produce a well-fitting linking device and may be altered to help obtain the goals of the surgery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Isaacs
  • Patent number: 8544311
    Abstract: [Problem] There is provided a pipe end shape correcting apparatus capable of improving the roundness without loss of work efficiency and the mechanical damage to a weld bead even in the case where the pipe ends of UOE metal pipes having various outside diameters are worked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Abe, Tomoaki Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8539807
    Abstract: Pipe to be upset is conveyed via walking beam though a series of induction heating coils and one end is heated to a maximum temperature of 2350 degrees F. Thereafter, a robot transports the pipe into a forging machine where the pipe end is upset in one or more die pockets. For those types of pipes where the pipe end temperature falls below an acceptable temperature during upsetting, the robot delivers the pipe end to an auxiliary induction heating coil and is re-heated to an acceptable forging temperature. The robot then transports the pipe back into the forging machine where the pipe end is forged to its final upset dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventors: Kenneth Auburn Dial, Joe Douglas Toler
  • Patent number: 8534105
    Abstract: A bending machine having: a punch and a die for bending a sheet-shaped work; pressurizing means which pressurizes the work in a space between the punch and the die by vertically moving a ram; inputting means (23) which inputs die information on the punch and the die, material information on the work and bending information; a database (25) which stores data on a pressure per unit length required for bending the work; calculating means (29) which calculates a pressure necessary for the pressurizing means based on various information inputted from the inputting means (23) and on the data on the pressure stored in the database (25); and controlling means (31) which controls the pressurizing means based on a result of calculation by the calculating means (29).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Amada Company, Limited
    Inventor: Takahiro Shibata
  • Patent number: 8528380
    Abstract: A bending apparatus which manufactures a bent metal member with high productivity and excellent dimensional has a first support mechanism, which supports a steel tube while feeding it, a heating mechanism, which heats all or a portion of the steel tube, a cooling mechanism, which forms a high temperature portion in part of the steel tube by cooling a portion of the heater steel tube, a second support mechanism, which imparts a bending moment to the high temperature portion and bends the steel tube to a desired shape by moving two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally while supporting at least a portion of the steel tube, and a deformation preventing mechanism, which prevents deformation of the steel tube. At least one of the second support mechanism and the deformation preventing mechanism has a chuck which has a tubular member with a circular, polygonal, or special transverse cross section for gripping the steel tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignees: Sumitomo Pipe & Tube Co., Ltd., Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation
    Inventors: Shinjiro Kuwayama, Atsushi Tomizawa, Saburo Inoue
  • Patent number: 8528376
    Abstract: A mold set for manufacturing a case is provided. The mold set comprises an upper mold having a fluid channel; a lower mold facing the upper mold; and a drawing mold disposed between the upper mold and the lower mold, wherein the mold set has a case forming space formed among the upper mold, the lower mold and the drawing mold, and the mold set has a sharp-edge forming space communicating with the case forming space, and formed between the drawing mold and the lower mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Metal Industries Research & Development Centre
    Inventors: Ming-Fu Li, Sheng-Chi Tsai, Ping-Kuo Cheng, Tai-Chang Chen
  • Patent number: 8528378
    Abstract: A method for producing an ultrathin-wall seamless metal tube, which employs a cold pilger mill of mechatronics drive type including a mechanism to give a feed and a turn angle to a tube material, utilizes a roll having a tapered groove whose diameter gradually increases or gradually decreases from an engaging entry side to a finishing exit side of a pair of rolls, and a tapered mandrel whose diameter similarly gradually increases from the engaging entry side to the finishing exit side to elongate the tube material by reducing a wall thickness while expanding a mid-wall diameter of the tube material. By giving amounts of a turn angle and/or a feed equivalent or nearly equivalent to the forward stroke to the tube material immediately before the start of a backward stroke, it is possible to achieve a further increase in the reduction-rate of rolling, a further reduction of wall thickness, and improvement of dimensional accuracy of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation
    Inventor: Chihiro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8522830
    Abstract: A crimping device for securing a seal member onto overlapped end portions of a strap material includes at least a tool head, operating and stationary handles, two rows of crimping elements having at least a pair of shears and oppositely situated pair of jaws extended between the pair of shears. The crimping elements may be disposed in the tool head and connected with the handles so that at least one row of crimping elements crimps a seal while at least one row is idle when the handles move away from each other. In an embodiment, the handles can make an inward stroke only when a full jaw-closing outward crimping stroke is completed. At least one row of crimping elements crimps the seal with an inward movement of the handles while at least one previously actuated row of crimping elements is not involved in closing the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Teknika USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Pavlo Barlasov, Sergey Ivanovich Girchenko