Patents Examined by I. Cuda Rosenbaum
  • Patent number: 6502303
    Abstract: A blade tip cap of a turbine blade is repaired by restoring the tip rail and attaching a strengthening rib across the blade tip cap connecting the concave wall to the convex wall of the tip rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Chromalloy Gas Turbine Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Updegrove, Peter Bader, Michael Foster
  • Patent number: 6502304
    Abstract: Optimized tip performance for turbine airfoils is obtained through a sequenced manufacturing process. The turbine airfoils are assembled into the dovetail slots of a turbine disk. The tips of the turbine airfoils assembled in the turbine disk are then measured to determine the turbine airfoils that do not have adequate tip clearance. The tips of those turbine airfoils that do not have adequate tip clearance are then machined to obtain adequate tip clearance. Once all the turbine airfoils have adequate tip clearance, environmental coatings and/or thermal barrier coatings are applied to the blade tips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph David Rigney, William Scott Walston, Richard John Grylls
  • Patent number: 6497038
    Abstract: There is provided a method for suspending roller tappets in an internal combustion engine without removal of the cylinder head and gasket. The rocker arm assembly is removed. Each push rod is then removed and replaced with tappet suspension tool to engage a corresponding roller tappet. A suspension tool guide bar is then installed to connect to the tappet suspension tools. The roller tappets are then simultaneously moved to a raised position away from the camshaft forming a clearance between the roller tappets and camshaft bearings. The roller tappets are then secured in the raised position by a securing block. The camshaft can then be removed from the engine block. Alternatively, the rear half of the front cover can be removed by first removing the idler gears, followed by removal of the camshaft, and last removing the rear half of the front cover from the engine case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Frank A. Bayer, Gary L. Davidson
  • Patent number: 6493936
    Abstract: A steam turbine blade made of Ti-base alloy comprising an &agr;+&bgr; type phase in which a difference of a tensile strength is small between a blade portion and a dovetail portion, a tensile strength at a room temperature of the dovetail portion is equal to or more than 100 kg/mm2 and a suitable toughness is commonly provided together with a strength, as a steam turbine blade having a length of 43 inch or more, a method of manufacturing the same, a steam turbine power generating plant and a low pressure steam turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Doi, Mitsuo Kuriyama, Shigeyoshi Nakamura, Shinya Imano, Takeshi Onoda
  • Patent number: 6494823
    Abstract: A take-out roll, spreader roll or equivalent roll for a web-like material having three parts linked with one another, namely, a middle part and two end parts, one on each side of the middle part. The middle part and end parts are pivotal with respect to one another for the purpose of bending the roll into a desired curved shape. The middle part is constructed to operate as a revolving axle of the roll which is mounted revolvingly on support members by end bearings. The end parts are mounted in the area of their axial inner ends on the middle part by articulation devices. The end parts are further mounted in the area of their axial outer ends, revolvingly and movably in a radial direction on support parts which are separated from the revolving parts of the roll by bearings arranged inward of the end bearings in the axial direction of the roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Timo Vuorimies, Pekka Koivukunnas
  • Patent number: 6490791
    Abstract: A method for repairing a turbine blade having a crack in a trailing edge portion of the blade includes the steps of cutting back a first surface of the turbine blade adjacent the blade trailing edge portion where the crack is located, and cutting back a second surface of the turbine blade adjacent the blade trailing edge portion where the crack is located. Each cut back step comprises cutting back the respective surface by a depth greater than the length of the crack and less than the trailing edge radius to remove the crack and form a cut back trailing edge portion. A compound radius is used to prevent a blunt transition into the trailing edge that would result in aerodynamic losses and to reduce the airfoil root stresses. The method also includes applying a thermal barrier coating to the turbine blade to increase service life. Prior to applying the coating, the tip portion of the turbine blade is modified to account for the change in the thermal characteristics of the turbine blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond C. Surace, Brian D. Merry, Gregory M. Dolansky, Gregory E. Reinhardt
  • Patent number: 6491613
    Abstract: A roller for office automation equipment which does not suffer from impairment of a cross-linking reaction or occurrence of a delay therein, is excellent in permanent set resistance and low-temperature bleedability, and permits achievement of a low hardness. A preferred roller for office automation equipment comprises a base rubber layer, an intermediate layer and a surface layer formed in this sequence on an outer peripheral surface of a shaft, wherein the base rubber layer is formed of a liquid rubber composition containing the following constituents (A) to (D): (A) a liquid rubber, derived from at least one of butadiene and isoprene, and having a structural unit (&agr;) having an alkenyl group on the side chain thereof; (B) a hydrosilyl cross-linking agent; (C) a hydrosilylation catalyst; and (D) a mineral oil containing not more than 0.31 wt. % sulfur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Takeda, Sumio Oinuma, Naoki Yamaguchi, Hiroshige Hiramatsu, Hitoshi Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 6487773
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method of producing a one-part piston which, in the region of the piston ring zone, has a closed cooling duct and a recess between the piston ring zone and the box-shaped piston body. The method comprises the following steps: A piston blank is produced by a forging process and the annular recess is produced by machining so that an upper part of the piston skirt remains connected to a radially inner region below the piston crown. The axial height of the recess corresponds at least to the axial height of the cooling duct. The cooling duct, which is open at the bottom, is produced by machining and hub bores are formed and the outer contour of the piston is finished. The cooling duct, which is open at the bottom, is closed by a two-part cover ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Mahle GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Scharp, Jochen Ernst Danner
  • Patent number: 6484396
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a camshaft used in an internal combustion engine. The method of manufacturing the camshaft produces a camshaft which has reduced weight and added wear resistance at a lobe of the camshaft. The camshaft is manufactured to provide increased efficiency of the internal combustion engine. The method of making the camshaft includes mixing wear resistant material with a base material and metering the mixture into a rotating die. The rotating die rotates at a predetermined speed and forces the wear resistant material to the outer surface of the lobes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Thomas Majewski, Michael J. Pollard
  • Patent number: 6484402
    Abstract: Rollers and cylinders that are useable in rotary printing presses are made using hollow tubular casing having metallic foam cores. The casings and cores are made separately. The cores are then placed inside the casing and the two are secured together in a force-transmitting manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Erhard Herbert Glöckner, Willi Albert Peter Kutzner, Wolfgang Günter Ruckmann
  • Patent number: 6484381
    Abstract: A system and method for aligning aircraft coordinate systems includes determining a first coordinate in the first coordinate system from a first reflector using a first coordinate positioning device, and determining second and third coordinates in the second coordinate system from second and third reflectors, respectively, using a second coordinate positioning device. The second and third reflectors are disposed at predetermined distances from the first reflector. The system aligns the first and second coordinate systems based on the first, second, and third coordinates and the predetermined distances using a processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifton D. Cunningham, James P. Koesters, Michael A. Leenhouts, Eric D. Moore
  • Patent number: 6484397
    Abstract: A method of assembling a catalytic converter comprising the steps of: (1) providing a metal shell exhibiting a predetermined shape that substantially matches the shape of the ceramic substrate; (2) inserting into the metal shell a sufficient amount of a resilient supporting mat material to form a encircling mat layer; (3) compressing the encircling mat layer to an initial gap bulk density, the initial gap bulk density being higher than the final gap bulk density; (4) releasing the compression on the mat layer and prior to the mat layer reaching its final gap bulk density, inserting at least a portion of the substrate into the encircling mat layered metal shell and then allowing the mat layer to further release until the mat layer is compressed against the ceramic substrate at the final predetermined gap bulk density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas A. Collins, Gregory Eisenstock, Robert J. Locker, Robert A. Morse
  • Patent number: 6484398
    Abstract: A heat exchanger tube manufacturing method to manufacture heat exchanger tubes in a production line. The method includes the steps of molding a plurality of dimples in a plate material, which is payed out continuously, folding back the molded plate material along an axis extending in the direction in which the plate material is payed out to form the molded plate material into an intermediate tube body and cutting the intermediate tube body into parts of a predetermined length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Mori Machinery Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Mori, Hirofumi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6484391
    Abstract: A bushing installation and removal assembly includes mounting table fitted with a vice fixture, a press/ram assembly having a controlled hydraulic press whereby a separate hydraulic repositioning system disposes the work piece into the press/ram assembly in a controlled manner. The worktable, fixtures and press/ram assembly are designed to receive and securely position the housing assembly (work piece) onto a controlled substrate. The substrate is then designed to reposition the housing assembly (work piece) proximate to the press ram, which suitably presses the bushing member onto the housing assembly (work piece). The substrate is then retracted to its original position where the housing assembly (work piece) is removed for further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Spicer Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Roderick Brent Dillon, Jeff D. Buchanan, Karl J. Goede, Samuel J. Wirts, Ronald Lee Zimmerman, Michael L. Gamble
  • Patent number: 6477877
    Abstract: A manufacturing tool is inserted in a hole formed in a work piece for forming a fluid bearing groove on an inner peripheral surface of the hole. A tool shaft is rotated in the hole while being moved in an axial direction thereof. A plurality of balls are rotatably supported on an outer peripheral face of the tool shaft. The balls are to be abutted against the inner peripheral surface of the hole to form the fluid bearing groove thereon in accordance with the movement of the tool shaft. A retainer is detachably fitted on the outer peripheral face of the tool shaft so as to retain the balls on the tool shaft. A fixing member is detachably fitted with the tool shaft so as to fix the retainer on the tool shaft. The balls can be replaced when the fixing member and the retainer is detached from the tool shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sankyo Seiki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Motonori Usui
  • Patent number: 6477772
    Abstract: A method for mounting a load sensing proportion valve assembly of an automobile includes the steps of securing the crank member of the assembly to a side of a rotating shaft, which rotatably attaches the crank member to the proportioning valve of the assembly, using a first connecting member having a first rotating direction. Thereafter, a rod, which is connected to the rear axle housing of the automobile, is connected to the crank member through a slit formed in the crank member using a second connecting member having a second rotating direction. Finally, the first connecting member is removed so as to allow the crank member to be rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Co.
    Inventor: Sang-Hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 6477773
    Abstract: The steam cooling circuit for a gas turbine includes a bore tube assembly supplying steam to circumferentially spaced radial tubes coupled to supply elbows for transitioning the radial steam flow in an axial direction along steam supply tubes adjacent the rim of the rotor. The supply tubes supply steam to circumferentially spaced manifold segments located on the aft side of the 1-2 spacer for supplying steam to the buckets of the first and second stages. Spent return steam from these buckets flows to a plurality of circumferentially spaced return manifold segments disposed on the forward face of the 1-2 spacer. Crossover tubes couple the steam supply from the steam supply manifold segments through the 1-2 spacer to the buckets of the first stage. Crossover tubes through the 1-2 spacer also return steam from the buckets of the second stage to the return manifold segments. Axially extending return tubes convey spent cooling steam from the return manifold segments to radial tubes via return elbows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ian D. Wilson, Ronald R. Wesorick
  • Patent number: 6473964
    Abstract: A method of attaching and adjusting first and second members includes providing a first member having an outer surface and a second member. The second member is affixed to the outer surface of the first member at a desired axial position along the length of the first member and in a desired angular orientation. Subsequent to affixing the second member to the first member, the shape and/or dimensions of the second member is adjusted by increasing the density of at least a region of the second member. The densification may be accomplished by, for example, a mechanical working technique such roller burnishing, coining, sizing, shot peening, or laser impacting. In one embodiment of the invention, the method may is adapted to the production of combustion engine camshafts from separately provided camshaft tubes and cam lobes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Keystone Investment Corporation
    Inventors: Gary L. Anderson, John C. Kosco
  • Patent number: 6470568
    Abstract: In a soldering process for treating tears, recesses, or other material defects in the surface of thermally and mechanically highly stressed components of gas turbines, a nickel foam is applied together with the soldering powder, which can also be mixed with another filler. After this, a heat treatment of the soldering process is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: ALSTOM (Switzerland) Ltd
    Inventors: Reinhard Fried, Andreas Bögli
  • Patent number: 6471627
    Abstract: The present relates to the heat shrinkable thermoplastic materials which are used as roll covers. The heat shrinkable materials used for the roll covers include only ultra high melt viscosity polymers, having a melt viscosity too high for conventional melt processing, such as TFM and UHMWPE, rather than the conventional FEP or PFA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Fluoron, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank M. Chapman, Randall F. Chapman