Patents Examined by Irene Cuda
  • Patent number: 6789315
    Abstract: A final throat area of a gas turbine nozzle circumferential structure is established by providing at least two gas turbine nozzle vanes, and determining a pairwise initial throat area between each pair of gas turbine nozzle vanes. For each pair of gas turbine nozzle vanes whose pairwise initial throat area is not within the final pairwise throat area target range, a trailing edge of at least one of the gas turbine nozzle vanes is extended responsive to the step of determining the initial pairwise throat area, so that a final pairwise throat area is within a final pairwise throat area target range. A nozzle plurality of pairs of gas turbine nozzle vanes that together comprise the gas turbine nozzle circumferential structure may be selected so that a sum of their final pairwise throat areas is within a final total throat area target range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Marcio Lins Tinoco Marques, Tathiana Carneiro de Rezende, Andreas Martin von Montfort, David Edwin Budinger, William G. Messelling
  • Patent number: 6789317
    Abstract: A system for and method of manufacturing a finned tube for a heat exchanger is disclosed herein. A continuous fin strip is provided with at least one pair of vortex generators. A tube is rotated and linearly displaced while the continuous fin strip with vortex generators is spirally wrapped around the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Bechtel BWXT Idaho, LLC
    Inventors: Monohar S. Sohal, James E. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 6782605
    Abstract: An installation for manufacturing accumulators employs a plurality of pallets for supporting the accumulators, a loading station (3), an unloading station (4), a power supply (5), and an electrolyte feeder (6). A casing (7) with projecting supports (8) is positioned side by side and aligned in vertical direction for supporting the pallets to create the same number of accumulator (A) manufacturing stations, and a handler (10) moves the pallets (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventor: Franco Stocchiero
  • Patent number: 6783485
    Abstract: A roll for a paper or board machine is produced by forming a tubular roll blank by bending out of a planar sheet or by means of centrifugal casting. The roll blank is first coated with a material having a modulus of elasticity and a density lower than those of steel and the coated roll blank is turned on a lathe to a desired shape and to a desired surface quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventors: Eero Savolainen, Jorma Snellman
  • Patent number: 6772503
    Abstract: A rotor assembly includes a stack of laminations that are bonded together by a dielectric bonding agent. The laminations and the dielectric bonding agent have matching coefficients of thermal expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Ayub Fathimulla, M. N. Menon, Walter Lee Meacham
  • Patent number: 6772519
    Abstract: The invention is a system and associated connection fitting for connecting a refrigerated line or air conditioning hose to the compressor unit or component on one end and the evaporator unit or component on the other end of a residential or commercial air conditioning or refrigeration system. The hose will be of a construction, which as well as having a relatively high bursting strength, will also not allow the refrigerant to permeate through the hose and escape into the outside environment. The associated connecting fitting allows the hose to be connected to the compressor/evaporator unit. The mounting surface of the fitting will allow it to either slide over or fit into the corresponding fitting on the compressor and/or evaporator unit. The opposite end, which shall connect to the hose assembly, will have flanges and “O” rings which when clamped will provide a secure connection as well as prevent loss of refrigeration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: ICO
    Inventors: Michael H. St. James, Mark R. Holtman
  • Patent number: 6757957
    Abstract: A dispenser package for fluent products such as cosmetics and lotions that includes an integrally molded plastic container having a flexible body with a sidewall, a closed bottom, and a top wall having a dispensing opening offset from the axis of the container body. A closure has a base wall and a peripheral skirt. In some embodiments of the invention, the closure is rotatably mounted on the container body, and has a dispensing opening in the closure base wall for selective registry with the dispensing opening in the top wall of the container body. Detent elements are provided on the closure and container body for selectively locking the closure in open and closed positions. In alternative embodiments, the closure includes a flip-top hinged to the base wall, with a plug extending therefrom for selectively opening and closing the dispensing opening in the container body top wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Plastic Products Inc.
    Inventors: Craig E. McClean, Robert E. Harman
  • Patent number: 6748654
    Abstract: A cutting process S1 cuts a wire 1 into cut pieces each having a volume approximately equivalent to that of a desired shoe 11. A forging process S2 sequentially forges cut pieces 2 with forging dies 13, 23, and 33 having three cavities 13c, 23d, and 33e respectively, and obtains a steel sphere 8. A finishing process S3 obtains a shoe-shaped material 10 from the steel sphere 8 without a heat treatment, and carries out a heat treatment to the obtained material 10, thereby to obtain a shoe 11 for a compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Masanobu Tomita, Takamitsu Mukai, Yasuhiro Miura
  • Patent number: 6745449
    Abstract: A metal plate (126) has a plurality of openings (127) extending through it, and is cleaned using a wet hydrogen process (157). Glass windows (106) are then placed in the openings, and are each fused to the metal plate by heat (231) in a manner so that each window projects outwardly on each side of the plate. Both sides of each window are then simultaneously ground and polished (232). Exposed surfaces of the metal plate are electroplated with nickel and gold (236). One or more coatings (41, 46, 47) are applied to one or both sides of each window. Several sections are then cut from the assembly, each of which can serve as a lid (17) for an optical apparatus (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Mark B. Hanna, Kyle W. Nix
  • Patent number: 6742234
    Abstract: A method includes providing an apparatus that includes a scoring device for making transverse score lines on a roll of sheet material, a dimpler device or dimpler roller for making dimples adjacent the score lines at predetermined width locations, and a rollformer adapted to continuously form the sheet material into a tubular shape with channels. A welder is positioned in line with the rollformer and is adapted to weld the tubular shape into a permanent tube. A break off device positioned in line with the rollformer is adapted to break off sections of the tube at the score lines as the permanent tube exits the rollformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Shape Corporation
    Inventors: James J. Rosasco, Douglas L. Witte, Peter Sturrus
  • Patent number: 6735864
    Abstract: A heatsink of the present invention has a column having a heat conducting plate with a heat receiving face contacting a heat producing element. On the side faces of the column are a plurality of first slits and a plurality of second slits disposed transversely to the plurality of first slits. These slits form a plurality of pillar-type protrusions functioning as fins for cooling. The depths of the first and second slits in the column are different, and this difference in levels are used to cause the fluid for cooling to form a turbulent flow. A cross section of the column tapers off gradually or in stages as the vertical distance increases from the heat receiving face. A cooling apparatus for the present invention includes a cooling means mounted on the heatsink of the present invention. The cooling apparatus for the present invention enjoys a high cooling ability and reduced size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaoru Sato, Yasuhiro Fujiwara, Seiji Manabe, Shinobu Kamizuru
  • Patent number: 6725524
    Abstract: A bonding lug apparatus for devices such as electric motors installed within a distance of a fluid-holding apparatus such as pools, hot tubs, spas, and the like, is provided that includes a fastener having a head and a bonding lug having an aperture that receives the fastener such that a bonding conductor of a bonding grid of the fluid-holding apparatus area is captured between the head of the fastener and the bonding lug. The bonding lug apparatus bonds the electric motor to the bonding grid of the fluid-holding apparatus area when the bonding lug apparatus is electrically coupled to the electric motor and the bonding conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventors: Chih M. Lin, William J. Watkins
  • Patent number: 6687979
    Abstract: A system is disclosed to manufacture a recuperator core. The core is made up of a plurality of cells and an inner sealing member. A manufacturing system has an input end, an assembly station having a lower or inner chucking portion and an upper portion, and a welding station. The lower or inner chucking portion is movable between a lower position and an upper position and has a retracted position and an expanded position. The upper portion is movable between a loading position and a clamping position and is rotatable between a first position and a second position. The welding station performs a tack welding operation and a lineal welding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc
    Inventors: Charles W. Bucey, Robert M. Jones, Steven W. Clayton, Chad L. Miars, Douglas R. Ervin
  • Patent number: 6687999
    Abstract: A construction of ink dispensing roller is described in which a porous ink metering layer extends around a peripheral surface of a porous ink reservoir. To prevent relative movement between the ink metering layer and the ink reservoir, the ink metering layer is securely located relative to the ink reservoir by means of elements of the ink metering layer extending beyond each axial end of the ink reservoir and being clamped between end cheeks and the axial end walls of the ink reservoir. The ink metering layer is manufactured from sheet material joined by welding along opposite edges into a tubular form. After welding the tubular form is manipulated so that an inner surface becomes a radially exterior ink dispensing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Neopost Limited
    Inventors: Anthony David Harman, Hugh Williams
  • Patent number: 6669613
    Abstract: A printing roller system includes a hollow, cylindrical mandrel which is closed at opposite ends thereof, with an air inlet in one end and a radial bore extending through the mandrel; journal members rotatably holding the mandrel; a resilient and compressible covering layer fixedly mounted on the mandrel and including a cut-away groove in fluid communication with the radial bore; an inelastic printing sleeve removably mounted on the covering layer; and a pressurized air supply connected with the air inlet for supplying the pressurized air to an interior of the mandrel and out through the radial bore and the cut-away groove to a position between at least a portion of the sleeve and the covering layer in order to compress the covering layer and permit mounting of the sleeve on the covering layer and dismounting of the sleeve from the covering layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Inventor: Mark E. Van Denend
  • Patent number: 6658736
    Abstract: A heat exchanger, for regulating the temperature of multiple integrated circuit modules, is fabricated by constructing a face on a hollow jacket such that the face consists essentially of a malleable metal with a coating of a release agent. In one embodiment, the malleable metal is fabricated as a foil which is attached to the jacket by an adhesive, and the coating is fabricated as a powder of the release agent which is rubbed into the surface of the foil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventors: James Wittman Babcock, Jerry Ihor Tustaniwskyj, Blanquita Ortega Morange
  • Patent number: 6655027
    Abstract: A method for assembling a gas turbine engine combustor facilitates reducing costs and time required for assembly. The combustor includes a spectacle plate, a plurality of swirlers, and a plurality of deflector plates. The method includes coupling an assembly fixture to at least one swirler, coupling the assembly fixture to the spectacle plate such that the swirler is maintained in alignment with respect to the spectacle plate during assembly of the combustor, and attaching the swirler to the spectacle plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Allen Kastrup, Stephen Charles Furbish
  • Patent number: 6643927
    Abstract: In a pump equipment having plural rotary pumps, the respective discharge ports of the rotary pumps are located at the points which are nearly symmetrical with respect to the center axis of the drive shaft to counterbalance each other the respective reaction forces against the drive shaft to be produced by the high pressure at the respective discharge ports. The respective discharge fluid conduits, in case of the first and second pumps, are located at the points which are opposite each other, more preferably, different at an angle of 180 degrees each other, with respect to the center axis of the drive shaft to limit the bending of the drive shaft. As a method for assembling the pump equipment, the peripheral border between respective cylindrical members piled up for constituting the casing is tentatively welded by laser beam at first and, then, all around the peripheral borders are finally welded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Murayama, Takeshi Fuchida, Daizo Oba
  • Patent number: 6643931
    Abstract: A method of rollforming one-piece tubular doorbeams. The method includes the steps of drawing a continuous metal strip, creating cut-outs in the edges of the strip at spaced locations, rollforming the strip into a tube so that the unindented edges engage one another, welding the engaged edges together, cutting the tube in the areas of the cut-outs to create pre-forms, and opening the ends of the pre-forms to create end brackets. Additional optional steps provide customization of the end brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Shape Corporation
    Inventor: Rainer B. Nees
  • Patent number: 6606892
    Abstract: An automatic machine for peening the tenons on bucket cover plates to secure the cover plates and adjacent buckets of a turbine wheel to one another is provided. The machine includes a fixture having stepped surfaces for locating the freely suspended fixture and peening tool relative to the bucket tips and cover plates and clamping the tips and cover plates to the fixture surfaces. After peening a first tenon, the fixture and tool head are displaced relative to the fixed cover plate and bucket tip to register the tool with a second tenon. An actuator displaces the suspended system to compensate for the movement of the fixture and tool relative to the turbine wheel. A counterbalance is provided to accommodate fixtures of different weights when peening the tenons of covers in different turbine wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Todd Joseph Fischer, Jeffrey Philip Fregoe, David Ward Marcellus, Jr., Dennis W. Roberts, John Francis VanNest