Patents Examined by Irene Cuda
  • Patent number: 6088895
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing a cold rolled, recrystallation annealed, stainless steel strip having lustrous surfaces without being hot band annealed and/or pickled prior to cold reduction. The process includes the sequential steps of tension leveling to crack the scale and flatten a hot processed metal strip, shot blasting the strip to ablatively remove the scale and to provide a surface roughness less than 3.6 micron Ra using at least two pairs of wire brushes positioned adjacent to both surfaces of the strip with these cleaning brushes being rotated in opposite directions relative to each other to mechanically remove any residual scale. The mechanically cleaned strip then is mechanically polished with another pair of brushes to reduce the roughness to less than 2.0 micron Ra, cold reduced to have a surface roughness less than 0.4 micron Ra and recrystallization annealed. The particulate shot has a size of 0.10-0.50 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Armco Inc.
    Inventors: Christian D. Nelson, Christopher M. Kovscek, Jerald W. Leeker
  • Patent number: 6088900
    Abstract: A method for cutting an outer cladding or tube of a light waveguide cable to form a gap includes removing material on the opposite lateral portions of the outer cladding to produce flattened areas, forming an annular cut on each end of the flattened area and then splitting the cladding in the flattened areas to enable removal of the portion. To accomplish the production of the flattened areas, a milling unit having guide rollers for the cladding and a pair of milling wheels engaging opposite sides of a cladding of a cable held in the guide rollers is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Lothar Finzel, Heinz Diermeier, Guenther Weber
  • Patent number: 6088906
    Abstract: A method of making a squirrel cage rotor of copper material for use in AC or DC motors, includes forming a core with longitudinal slots, inserting bars of conductive material in the slots, with ends extending out of opposite ends of the core, and joining the end rings to the bars, wherein the conductive material of either the end rings or the bars is copper. Various methods of joining the end rings to the bars are disclosed including friction welding, current pulse welding and brazing, transient liquid phase joining and casting. Pressure is also applied to the end rings to improve contact and reduce areas of small or uneven contact between the bar ends and the end rings. Rotors made with such methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: John S. Hsu, Edgard A. Franco-Ferreira
  • Patent number: 6088916
    Abstract: A pump includes a coaxially integrated pump bypass/relief valve element of high density polymer material seats against a hard metallic sleeve that is pressed into a first counterbore around the bypass flow channel with an interference fit. That axial end of the sleeve bearing the valve seat face projects, for a substantial proportion of the sleeve length, beyond the first counterbore shoulder into a second counterbore space to provide an annular space around the outside diameter surface of the sleeve to free the seat face end of the sleeve from direct structural restraint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Standex International Corp.
    Inventors: Ron C. Singleterry, John Zavisa
  • Patent number: 6088918
    Abstract: A framing structure for the rear portion of an automotive, including a pair of spaced and generally vertically oriented suspension strut towers each tower fixed at lower and upper end portions to a lower cross beam and an upper cross beam respectively and with each cross beam extending the full width of the vehicle and with each beam having a closed cross-sectional configuration to providing a high degree of structural rigidity as a mounting platform for the left and right rear wheel suspensions. A yoke-like structure on the upper ends of each suspension strut tower supports an end portion of the upper cross beam, each yoke including a pair of spaced side walls between which an end portion of the beam extends so that in vehicle assembly the beam's end portions are positioned or floated in a respective yoke in sliding engagement between the spaced side walls which permits independent lateral shifting of the upper end portion of each strut tower into desired alignment with the vehicle and with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Max A. Corporon, Norman B. Robbins, Nagesh A. Basavanahalli
  • Patent number: 6088893
    Abstract: A piezoelectric and/or electrostrictive film-type element comprises a zirconia substrate with a thin-walled diaphragm section provided integrally to cover and close a window to serve as a hollow space, and a film-shaped piezoelectric and/or electrostrictive operating section composed of a lower electrode, a piezoelectric and/or electrostrictive layer, and an upper electrode which are successively provided in a layered configuration on an outer surface of the diaphragm section in accordance with a film-forming method, wherein at least a part of a peripheral edge portion of the piezoelectric and/or electrostrictive layer extends laterally beyond a corresponding peripheral edge portion of the lower electrode to construct an overhang section located opposingly over the diaphragm section, and the overhang section is in a state of incomplete connection with respect to a partial region of the diaphragm section located just under by the aid of particles of an alumina-magnesia compound such as spinel particles allowed
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Koji Kimura, Nobuo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6085417
    Abstract: A method for repairing the rim of a steam turbine rotor, and a weld material for repairing such rotors. The method generally includes the steps of removing a damaged rim and its associated dovetail region, so as to form a surface at the perimeter of the rim portion. A weld repair region is then formed on the surface, which is machined to reconstruct the rim portion and the dovetail region exclusively with the weld repair region. Thereafter, an appropriately configured blade is secured to the rim portion with the dovetail region. The method is particularly intended for the repair of a steel alloy rotor, such as a NiCrMoV, NiMoV and CrMoV alloy, while the weld repair is formed with a nickel-base superalloy whose mechanical and thermal properties are compatible with the repair method and the steel alloy over a broad temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Karl Rudolph Anderson, III, Gerald Richard Crawmer, Edward Kenneth Ellis, John Francis Nolan, Louis Patrick Earvolino, Robert Ellis Seeley, Joseph John Pepe, Robert Joseph Christoffel, Joseph Louis Van Ullen
  • Patent number: 6082002
    Abstract: A drive roller for an ink-jet printer. The drive roller has a media engaging surface that is roughened by grit blasting along an entire media engaging longitudinal peripheral extent. The surface is hardened by anodizing. The roller is relatively inexpensive to fabricate yet has a small error on diameter and run out, and high traction due to the surface roughness, to provide highly accurate media positioning performance. The drive roller rotates about shaft mounted bearings. The shaft journal is formed with a small raised bump, which has very loose diametrical tolerance requirements, but is short in comparison to the bearing length dimension. When the bearing is press fit onto the shaft journal, the material forming the raised bump is sheared by the bearing. The sheared material drops into a recess on the journal, and does not interfere with the axial positioning of the bearing. The axial position of the bearing is controlled by placing the bearing next to a shoulder formed on the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Juan B. Belon, Ravi T. Singh
  • Patent number: 6079101
    Abstract: A rocket engine is prepared by fabricating a combustion chamber having an annular wall as a single piece of material. The wall has a first axial region with a first inner diameter, a second axial region with a second inner diameter greater than the first inner diameter, and an inner wall step transition between the first axial region and the second axial region. The wall is formed by furnishing an oversize blank of the wall material and electrical discharge machining or grinding it to the final size. The combustion chamber is attached to an injector by bonding an annular metallic deposit to the first axial region of the combustion chamber, providing an annular adaptor ring, first welding the adaptor ring to the metallic deposit, and second welding the adaptor ring to the injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt Kreiner, David Bronson
  • Patent number: 6076259
    Abstract: A method of removing or replacing a trunnion bearing of a rotary valve having a downstream side with a downstream connection and having an upstream side with an upstream connection to a high pressure penstock, the rotary valve including a valve rotor inside a valve body, the valve rotor having a trunnion within a trunnion bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignees: Kvaerner Boving Limited, First Hydro Company
    Inventors: William Owen Moss, Roy Stockton
  • Patent number: 6076247
    Abstract: A method for connecting a ball and socket joint to a control arm in a vehicle suspension system includes providing the ball and socket joint with a socket portion having a circumferential flange. The ball and socket joint is initially aligned with an opening formed through an outer portion of the control arm. Then, the ball and socket joint is moved upwardly such that the socket portion is received within the opening. The socket portion defines an outer diameter that is preferably slightly smaller than an inner diameter defined by the opening formed through the outer portion of the lower control arm. However, the flange defines an outer diameter that is preferably larger than an inner diameter defined by that opening. Thus, the engagement of the flange with the lower surface of the outer portion positively positions the ball and socket joint relative to the lower control arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventor: Robert D. Durand
  • Patent number: 6076254
    Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for automatically pressure fitting parts. In the apparatus, a work with part fitting holes is set on a work bench, and parts are fed to a predetermined position while being heated. The work bench is moved in an X- and a Y-direction to bring a part fitting hole of the work to a position underneath the predetermined position. A holder is then lowered, then is caused to take hold of the part at the predetermined position and pressure fit the part in the part fitting hole of the work held below, and then is pulled upward out of the part having been pressure fitted and secured in the position in the part fitting hole. Parts may be fed while being vibrated with an ultrasonic wave instead of being heated, and then may each be pressure fitted while being vibrated in a part fitting hole of the work, followed by pulling the holder upward out of the part having been pressure fitted and secured in the position in the part fitting hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Yuugenkaisha Tenshou
    Inventors: Takeshi Onodera, Yuetsu Obara
  • Patent number: 6073345
    Abstract: A tappet is used in an internal combustion engine. A cam-slidably-contacting member is placed on a top wall of a tappet body via diffusing material that includes a mixture of one or more elements of Zn, Mg, Sn, Cu and Pb. The cam-slidably-contacting member and the tappet body are pressed with the diffusing material held therebetween, so that the diffusing material is diffused into the tappet body and the cam-slidably-contacting member until the layer of the diffusing material does not substantially remain, and a tappet of high strength is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Oozx, Inc.
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Mori, Tatsuo Kanzaki
  • Patent number: 6070324
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a burner cap for a gas range includes the steps of providing an amount of non-porous aluminum and forming the aluminum into the shape of a burner cap such that the non-porous nature of the aluminum is maintained. In one embodiment, the non-porous aluminum is a slug at ambient temperature which is placed in a die and slowly forced into a die by an advancing a ram to form the burner cap. In another embodiment, the non-porous aluminum slug is machined to form the burner cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Ranco Incorporated of Delaware
    Inventors: David J. Kwiatek, Norman K. Peck, William R. McCarty
  • Patent number: 6070323
    Abstract: A method of forming a piston for a reciprocating machine such as an engine. The piston is formed from a powdered material that is comprised of aluminum alloyed with a material selected from the group of silicon (Si) and iron (Fe) having a particle diameter not greater than 10 .mu.m. The resulting alloy is then forged into a piston having a piston head and a piston skirt. The powder which is solidified and forged is formed by a process comprising the steps of forming an ingot from an alloy comprised of aluminum and an alloying material. This ingot is then melted and dispersed as a liquid in a chilling stream to form powdered metal particles. These powdered metal particles are then compressed into a blank having a cylindrical configuration for subsequent forging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshikatsu Koike, Hirotaka Kurita, Hiroshi Yamagata
  • Patent number: 6068582
    Abstract: A roll for use in a paper machine including a bendable roll shell disposed around a continuous roll carrier. The roll shell is supported at least in the radial direction on the roll carrier only in an axial central region. Axially outside the central region, the roll shell and/or carrier are respectively shaped and positioned that there is radial spacing between them for allowing the roll shell to bend in relation to the roll carrier under the weight of the roll shell and the force exerted by the belt, web, or the like, partially wrapped around the roll shell. To improve the behavior of the roll, the roll shell is of such material and/or shaped so that beginning from the central region, the rigidity of the roll shell decreases toward the axial ends of the roll shell in such a way that loading resulting from the dead weight of the roll shell and the operational loading on the roll shell causes desired curvature of the bending line of the roll shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Papiermaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Grabscheid
  • Patent number: 6065208
    Abstract: To achieve the above-mentioned objects, and other related ones a method and apparatus for cooling of an electronic assembly is suggested. The electronic assembly is placed in thermal contact with a monolithic, non-jointed flexible coolant conduit housing a coolant. A plurality of cold plates are then slipped over the conduit, through their indentation like opening along a peripheral edge of each plate. The conduit with plates is then bend so as to complement the contour of the assembly to be cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Robert Lamb, Kang-Wah Li, Elias Papanicolaou, Charles Chaolee Tai
  • Patent number: 6066079
    Abstract: A hand tool for squeezing or pressing down over an area with a roller. The tool includes a roller support structure with an elongate member having a first end, a mid-portion, and a second end, a roller support extending from the first end of the elongate member, a handle extending from the mid-portion of the elongate member, and a forearm engagement member. The handle will preferably be detachable from the roller support structure. A roller support frame with a substantially horizontal member and a roller support axis, and an adjustable connection that allows the user to selectively retaining the horizontal member against the roller support member at a desired angle to the roller support member, so that the angle of the roller support axis relative to the roller support member may be varied. Additionally, the removable handle is adapted for direct attachment to the roller support frame to allow use of the roller support frame together with the handle and without the roller support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Inventor: Michael McDaniel
  • Patent number: 6065209
    Abstract: Multi-lateral wells include one or more connections between a larger diameter well casing and liner-equipped branch-wells of smaller diameter initiated with a small angle deviation from the casing axis, so as to facilitate the sequential insertion of the directional drilling string and of the liner string, used respectively for drilling and for completing each lateral branch. Each such insertion requires, in the casing string, an elliptical window cutout presenting a vertical axis of more than ten feet and a horizontal axis of only a few inches, corresponding to the diameter of the branch-well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: S-Cal Research Corp.
    Inventor: Michael Gondouin
  • Patent number: 6065211
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a part in the shape of a hollow profile is disclosed, with a hollow profile made of light metal being expanded by high internal pressure deformation. In order to be able to manufacture parts in the shape of hollow profiles based on light metals, even with high degrees of deformation, in simple fashion in a safe process, a sleeve made of a material with a greater ductility than the light metal, especially a steel material, is slid onto the hollow profile. The sleeve is located on the hollow profile in such fashion that a predetermined area of the hollow profile is covered that is to be deformed during subsequent expansion with a high degree of deformation that exceeds the expandability of the light metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventor: Arndt Birkert