Patents Examined by Howard N. Goldberg
  • Patent number: 4843900
    Abstract: A machine that takes screws out of a hopper and delivers them to a screw driving station where they are driven by motor operated screw driver members to secure a hinge to a door and a jamb. Inside the hopper, a screw lifting member engages, lifts, aligns and delivers individual screws to a hopper discharge station. Pressurized air blows the screws from their respective discharge stations onto tracks, there being one track associated with each discharge station. Elongate transfer tubes positioned at the discharge end of the tracks deliver the screws to a movable head member which upon receiving a charge of screw members moves downwardly and inwardly to a fixed position screw driving station where a door and jamb are positioned. Screw driver members are brought into driving relation to associated screws by horizontally inward movement of a motor that rotates the screw driver members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Ruvo Automation Corp.
    Inventor: Erling S. Jangaard
  • Patent number: 4843668
    Abstract: In order to facilitate the application of O-ring seals to, for example, a faucet valve stem having a serrated upper end portion and a lead screw having relatively sharp edges which would tend to cut or abrade an O-ring seal there is provided a hand tool having an elongated tube, one end of which presents an expansion member, and the other end of which presents a head member. A plurality of O-ring seals are mounted on the tube in stacked relationship, with each O-ring seal being operatively rolled over a divergent walled portion of the expansion member thereby smoothly and uniformly to expand the O-ring seal, and then being rolled along a plurality of equi-angularly spaced, resiliently deformable prongs for application to the valve stem while the serrated upper end portion and the lead screw of the valve stem are disposed within these prongs. The tool also serves to store the O-ring seals in an orderly and convenient manner prior to use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Inventor: Jerry Bondar
  • Patent number: 4843714
    Abstract: An automatic key programming and connector transfer system and method for electrical connectors (10) having keying means (40) thereon includes a supply station (56) for storing a plurality of connectors (10) having keys in an unprogrammed orientation; a programming station (57) for receiving connectors (10) from the supply station (56) and for programming the keys, the programming station (57) including a programming device (100) responsive to programming instructions applied thereto; and an output station (58) for receiving connectors (10) having keys programmed to a desired orientation, the output station (58) including a plurality of output station sections (80a-80f) each of which are adapted to receive connectors which have keys programmed to a predetermined one of the plurality of possible programmed states; and monitoring means (60) for monitoring each section (80a-80f) and for controlling the programming device (100) to program the keys of connectors (10) to maintain an adequate supply in each section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert N. Whiteman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4843706
    Abstract: A roller bearing installation, in which one or more roller bearing assemblies (30A, 30B, 30C) are prepackaged in a housing (18) having corresponding recesses (28A, 28B, 28C) receiving each bearing assembly (30A, 30B, 30C). An angled gib plate (52A, 52B, 52C) is bedded in each recess, each gib plate (52) including an inclined section (54) mating with an inclined surface (58) on a bearing assembly cover (72) to allow a bearing depth adjustment by lengthwise adjustment of the bearing assembly (30) in its recess, enabling position adjustment of the supported structure (10) and bearing preload adjustment. Accurate alignment of the bearing assembly (30) is achieved by a ball plunger (100) urging the same against a guide surface (57) of the gib plate (52). A fixture (110) is used to precisely locate each gib plate (52A, 52B, 52C) in a recess (28) whjile a moldable bonding material (109) in which each gib plate (52) is bedded sets up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: The Warner & Swasey Company
    Inventors: Thomas A. Luther, Robert E. Ward, Jr., Joel D. Galliher, William J. Ryan
  • Patent number: 4841612
    Abstract: A roll device is made with roll rings clamped axially between a shaft collar and an adjustable ring stop. The ring stop comprises a ring which is fixed to the shaft and which can be designed, for example, as a threaded nut, and an adjusting ring. The ring fixed to the shaft and the adjusting ring interact via sawtooth-shaped end faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Inventor: Uwe Kark
  • Patent number: 4841617
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing metallic heat exchanger tubes having a heat exchange surface that is increased by fins. A rotating tube has helically wound on its outer surface a strip that forms the fins, with this strip being fed to the tube surface under tension, and with the bottom edge of the strip being welded to the tube. The contact surface that exists between the tube and the bottom edge of the strip, and that extends helically on the surface of the tube, is fused exclusively at the surface of the tube with a laser beam that is directed in the region where the strip runs onto the surface of the tube, and that fuses a portion of the tube surface that in the axial direction of the tube corresponds at least to the width of the bottom edge of the strip and in the circumferential direction corresponds approximately to the same amount. At the same time, the laser beam fuses the bottom edge of the incoming strip in the region where the strip runs onto the surface of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: R. & G. Schmole Metallwerke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Schmidt, Karl-Heinz Mayr, Fritz Fobbe
  • Patent number: 4841627
    Abstract: Camshaft assemblies, methods and apparatus are provided for making camshafts by the expansion of tubular shafts into prelocated cams, journals and other elements, if desired. Features of the camshafts include trilobe or polylobe element openings, preferably splined or serrated for low energy filling and high torque capacity and high strength low alloy mild steel tubular shaft material. The method emphasizes trapping, or loading, the shaft to prevent axial lengthening during expansion such as by mechanical ballizing. The apparatus includes adjustable thrust blocks and locating plungers with incorporated flush pin gages together with hydraulic or other loading means all for use in carrying out the assembly method with various benefits from the incorporated features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Philip D. Arnold, Roy G. Kaywood
  • Patent number: 4841615
    Abstract: A method for modifying the stator of an automotive torque converter by using an adaptor is discussed. The adapter includes a casting or machined part having a cylindrical portion on a flange for bearing against a surface of the stator. The stator has its lip removed, after which the adapter is coaxially aligned with the stator support shaft and the inner race splined thereto and then fastened to the stator fasteners extending through the flange and into the stator. The modified stator can now accommodate a heavier duty thrust bearing which improves reliability of the torque converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Inventor: Michael Ratner
  • Patent number: 4839957
    Abstract: A machine that takes screws out of a hopper and delivers them to a screw driving station where they are driven by motor operated screw driver members to secure a hinge to a door and a jamb. Inside the hopper, a screw lifting member engages, lifts, aligns and delivers individual screws to a hopper discharge station. Pressurized air blows the screws from their respective discharge stations onto tracks, there being one track associated with each discharge station. Elongate transfer tubes positioned at the discharge end of the tracks deliver the screws to a movable head member which upon receiving a charge of screw members moves downwardly and inwardly to a fixed position screw driving station where a door and jamb are positioned. Screw driver members are brought into driving relation to associated screws by horizontally inward movement of a motor that rotates the screw driver members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1989
    Assignee: Ruvo Automation Corporation
    Inventor: Erling S. Jangaard
  • Patent number: 4837915
    Abstract: A system and method for use in quickly and easily removing bearings or collars from shafts, without damaging the shafts, is disclosed. The system comprises a frame to which are attached a slider and breaking point members, which slider and breaking point members can be adjusted to accept bearings or collars of varying sizes, and contain them in a stable manner so that a force can be imparted to the breaking point members, thereby causing the bearing or collar to break and be removed from the shaft to which it was mounted. The system is constructed to allow replacement of the slider, breaking point members and other elements, for instance when they become worn through use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: James D. Welch
    Inventor: Richard G. Willms
  • Patent number: 4837928
    Abstract: In the manufacture of semiconductor device packages, a jumper chip, comprising a substrate and a gold alloy attached thereto, with improved bonding characteristics is provided. By applying a coating of gold on both sides of the gold alloy prior to attaching the gold alloy to the substrate, the bonding of the gold alloy to the substrate and to the gold coating of the cavity in a device package is improved. Scrubbing of the jumper chip on the gold coating of the cavity is obviated. The additional gold layers applied to the gold alloy are distinct and visible on a photograph of a cross-section of the jumper chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: Cominco Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert L. Trevison, William E. McKee, Larry B. Hunnel
  • Patent number: 4837910
    Abstract: Mehtod and apparatus is disclosed for use in a machine which collects and assembles needle bearings in an annular array and uses a mandrel to insert the array into a cylindrical opening in a receiving member. The mandrel is centered within the bore of a recover block to define an annular space into which a discrete number of needle bearings are singularly fed from an especially configured track which holds a vertical, serpentine column of needle bearings. A push rod engages the column to positively force a discrete number of bearings into the space while a grease packing is inserted about the bearings as they fill the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Inventor: Jean H. Nantel
  • Patent number: 4837906
    Abstract: Longitudinal axial positions in a roll longitudinal axis of ring pistons fitted into a profile-variable rolling roll are detected with a higher degree of accuracy. In response to outputs representative of the detected longitudinal axial positions of the ring pistons, the positions of the ring pistons can be controlled with a high degree of accuracy, whereby controllability of shape of the rolling roll is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takaaki Mori, Kinichi Higuchi, Tsukasa Oyauchi, Masao Nitanda, Kohei Hosoi, Isao Imai, Heiji Kato, Mitsuhiko Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 4837907
    Abstract: A self-loading controlled deflection roll is rotatably mounted with non-self-aligning bearings at either end to bearing housings which, in turn, are pivotally-mounted to support stands. The stationary support beam extending through the roll is pivotally-mounted in the same support stands. At one end of the roll, a drive shaft having a drive gear engaging a ring gear which is mounted on the end of the roll shell concentric with its surface is provided to rotatably drive the roll shell while simultaneously permitting lateral movement of the roll shell relative to the support beam during the self-loading phase of roll operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: Beloit Corporation
    Inventors: Arnold J. Roerig, Richard R. Hergert
  • Patent number: 4835849
    Abstract: A pressure relief valve for a hermetically sealed reciprocating piston compressor is made in which a bore in a compressor cylinder head defines the valve body. Valve components are introduced into the bore through a valve opening on the bottom surface of the cylinder head. A discharge pressure chamber in the cylinder head also has a discharge pressure opening on the bottom surface. A path is provided between the valve opening and the discharge pressure opening, when the compressor is assembled, by means of a duct in a valve plate interposed between the cylinder head and a compressor crankcase. Also disclosed is a method for assembling the pressure relief valve in a cylinder head, whereby the valve components are temporarily retained within the bore by a washer-shaped soft metal valve seat that is compressed and expanded into an annular undercut or recess in the bore located adjacent to the bottom surface of the cylinder head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventor: Robert L. Morse
  • Patent number: 4835847
    Abstract: A fixture for mounting a flexible film electronic device carrier on or for separating the carrier from a substrate which includes a body portion that has a cavity deep enough to contain an electronic device attached to the carrier, a perimeter for contact with a lead bonding area of the film, a surface having openings through which a vacuum can be drawn for holding the flexible film carrier and electronic device attached thereto in the cavity, and a heating element in the perimeter of the body portion; and use thereof to mount a carrier on to separate a carrier from a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.
    Inventor: James S. Kamperman
  • Patent number: 4831703
    Abstract: Both an apparatus and method for plugging a conduit, such as a tube in the tubesheet of a nuclear steam generator, is disclosed herein. The plugging apparatus generally comprises an inelastically expandable plug that contains a fluid-receiving cavity, and an expansion means including both a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid and a pull-rod member having a piston for advantageously applying both a radially expansive force and a compressive force to the plug at the same time in order to inelastically expand it into sealing engagement with the inner wall of a tube. In the apparatus of the invention, the compressive force exerted on the plug by the pull-rod member not only serves to inelastically deform the plug into a radially expanded shape, but is also used to seal the open end of the plug so that the pressurized hydraulic fluid admitted within the cavity of the plug will not escape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: John J. Wilhelm, Kenneth D. Kolberg, William G. Cole, Gregory L. Calhoun
  • Patent number: 4831702
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating removal of spent tubes from boilers or heat exchangers in environments where access to one side of the wall through which the tube extends is limited. The apparatus includes a jaw assembly that is movable between a retracted position, at which it can be introduced within a tube to be removed, and an expanded position, at which it radially expands the tube so as to prevent longitudinal movement of the tube. The jaw assembly can be manipulated between the retracted and expanded positions solely through the tube interior so that a worker stationed at a proximal end of the tube to be removed can move the jaw assembly to the expanded position at which the distal end of the tube is fixed against longitudinal movement. After application of pulling forces to fracture the tube, the jaw assembly can be disengaged solely by access through the tube from the proximal end, whereby efficiency of tube removal in environments of limited access is materially enchanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: Torque & Tension Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig R. J. Vossbrinck, David A. Vossbrinck
  • Patent number: 4831701
    Abstract: A method of treating a heat exchanger made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy comprising applying onto the surface of the aluminum heat exchanger a noncorrosive flux having a flux core with an outer coating of zinc or a zinc alloy formed by vacuum vapor deposition or ion plating, and then heating the resulting heat exchanger to effect brazing. A diffused zinc layer forms on the surface of the heat exchanger and protects it from corrosion, in particular, from electrolytic corrosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventor: Ishii Yutaka
  • Patent number: 4831720
    Abstract: A system is provided for easily replacing a single tube in shell and tube heat exchangers without removing the bundle. The system comprises: (1) a rod which is inserted into the tube to be replaced and left in place when the tube is removed and (2) a special tool which is adapted to fit into the end of a replacement tube and over the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Inventors: C. Richard Sherer, T. Lester Jones