Patents Examined by Jacob Cigna
  • Patent number: 9624778
    Abstract: A method is provided of processing one or more blades of a row of blades which forms part of a rotor for a gas turbine engine. The method includes: providing a rotor disc having a slot for mounting one or more blades; loading the blades in the slot and loading the wax blocks in or adjacent the slot, the wax blocks being configured and positioned such that, on loading, the blades shear material from the wax blocks, the sheared wax blocks reducing a range of tilt angles which can be adopted by the blades; and performing a processing operation on the loaded blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Gemma Alexandra Raven, Christopher Jonathan Taylor, Alexander David May, Andrew Alan Robert Baird
  • Patent number: 9616406
    Abstract: A method is proposed for installing monoliths (2) each formed of a ceramic block having a multiplicity of mutually parallel channels wherethrough the reaction gas mixture of a heterogeneously catalyzed gas phase reaction can flow in a reactor (1) for conducting heterogeneously catalyzed gas phase reactions, wherein said monoliths (2) are stacked side by side and on top of each other in the reactor interior, wherein the monoliths are sealed off from each other and from the inner wall of said reactor (1) by mats (3) each comprising an intumescent mat which before installation in said reactor (1) were completely enveloped in a polymeric film, wherein the interior enclosed by the polymeric film and containing said mat (3) is evacuated and wherein the interior enclosed by the polymeric film and containing said mat (3) is devacuated after installation in said reactor (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Gerhard Olbert, Jochen Gauer, Arnold Kühling, Carlos Tellaeche Herranz
  • Patent number: 9617869
    Abstract: A synchronizing assembly for a gas turbine engine has a synchronizing ring. A bumper assembly has a cradle and a bumper held within the cradle. The cradle is secured to the synchronizing ring by at least one fastener without the fastener extending through the bumper. An engine is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Edward LeBlanc, Eugene C. Gasmen
  • Patent number: 9611526
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, an assembly is provided comprising a first member including a 6xxx series aluminum alloy heat treated to have a yield strength of at least 200 MPa and an r/t (bendability) ratio of up to 0.4. One or more members may be secured to the first member with a rivet (e.g., a self-piercing rivet). The heat treated alloy may have a yield strength of at least 260 MPa and may have a bendability ratio of up to 0.3. A method of forming an assembly is also provided, including heat treating a 6xxx series aluminum alloy to produce an alloy having a yield strength of at least 200 MPa and an r/t (bendability) ratio of up to 0.4 and riveting a member including the heat treated alloy to one or more additional members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nia R. Harrison, S. George Luckey, Jr., James Maurice Boileau, Aindrea McKelvey Campbell, Amanda Kay Freis
  • Patent number: 9611804
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a piston (1) for an internal combustion engine, characterized by the following method steps: producing an upper piston part (2) and a lower piston part (3) having one or more recesses (4, 4?) for forming a closed cavity (5); introducing a heat transfer medium (6), in particular one or more alkali metals, that is solid or paste-like at ambient temperature and liquid at the intended operating temperature of the piston, into the recesses (4, 4?) of the lower piston part (3) and/or of the upper piston part (2), wherein the heat transfer medium (6) is provided in order, during the operative state of the piston (1), to effect heat transport within the piston (1) by convection; closing the recesses to form the closed cavity (5) which encloses the heat transfer medium (6); and connecting the upper piston part (2) to the lower piston part (3). This enables the piston (1) to be produced in a simplified manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Sascha-Oliver Boczek, Ulrich Bischofberger, Rainer Scharp
  • Patent number: 9610738
    Abstract: In the method of making an aircraft a mandrel is caused to pass through frames carried by a magazine; and as it passes through, the frames are transferred onto the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Guillaume Gallant, Romain Delahaye
  • Patent number: 9604676
    Abstract: A method for providing a corrosion-resistant barrier between bolted dissimilar metals comprising the steps of disposing epoxy adhesive tape on at least one of a first and second metal member, curing the epoxy adhesive tape, applying a corrosion-resistant layer to the first and second metal members, and bolting the first and second metal members together such that the cured epoxy adhesive tape is positioned between the first and second metal members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Elaine C. Kelley, Robert G. Starbowski, Robert William Woodall, Michael William Danyo, Duane Drobnich, Anthony J Grima, Kimberly Ann Lazarz
  • Patent number: 9604324
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a refrigerator comprises preparing an inner case including an ice making chamber and an opening; preparing an outer case to be coupled to an outside of the inner case; preparing a refrigerant pipe assembly including a refrigerant pipe having at least a portion to be disposed in the ice making chamber to supply cooling energy, and a refrigerant pipe insulator to insulate the refrigerant pipe; inserting the refrigerant pipe assembly into the opening of the inner case in an inward direction from the outside of the inner case such that a portion of the refrigerant pipe insulator is disposed in the ice making chamber, and a remaining portion of the refrigerant pipe insulator is disposed between the inner case and the outer case; and foaming a body insulator between the inner case and the outer case, thereby supporting the refrigerant pipe insulator by the body insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Koog An, Jeong Hun Shin, Byung Su Kim
  • Patent number: 9604865
    Abstract: A process for producing a base material for disks including forming a raw slurry material into a platy shape and drying the plate, the raw slurry material containing inorganic fibers which have a wet volume of about 300 mL/5 g or larger and which are amorphous or have a degree of crystallinity of about 50% or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: NICHIAS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu Horiuchi, Kazuhisa Watanabe, Masaaki Nakayama
  • Patent number: 9598183
    Abstract: A wing skin, which was secured to a wing structure by a plurality of fasteners extending through the wing skin, is removed from the wing and aligned with a template. Template holes are drilled through the template corresponding to each of the fastener holes of the wing skin. The template is then aligned with a new wing skin, and pilot holes are drilled through the new wing skin corresponding to each of the template holes. The new wing skin is then aligned with the wing structure such that the pilot holes permit access to corresponding fastener holes of the wing structure. A mill bit is then positioned through each pilot hole and aligned with the center of the corresponding consumable bushing in the fastener hole of the wing sub-structure, and the skin pilot holes are milled to form fastener holes in the new wing skin aligned with existing sub-structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Kellstrom Defense Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: John Burton Kalisz, Joshua Ryan Werner
  • Patent number: 9599164
    Abstract: A tool for use in preloading a bearing includes a plurality of arms pivotable relative to each other and a pin extending from each arm of a plurality of arms. The pin is configured to engage an opening of a plurality of openings in a retaining ring. A resilient member biases the plurality of arms away from each other. A first arm of the plurality of arms includes a cavity. A second arm of the plurality of arms is received in the cavity such that an extending portion of the second arm extends outside the cavity and the second arm is moveable in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: TEMPER AXLE PRODUCTS, CORPORATION
    Inventors: John E. Rode, Sean E. Strait
  • Patent number: 9599115
    Abstract: A series fan includes a first fan and a second fan. The first fan has a first frame, a second frame and a first flow passage. The second fan has a third frame, a fourth frame and a second flow passage. A first static blade is disposed at the first frame, while a second static blade is disposed at the fourth frame. A first dynamic blade assembly is disposed in the first flow passage, while a second dynamic blade assembly is disposed in the second flow passage. The second frame is assembled with the third frame. The first and second static blades serve to enhance the support strength and protection effect for the series fan. In addition, the first and second dynamic blade assemblies can be designed with an increased aerodynamic volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: ASIA VITAL COMPONENTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chu-Hsien Chou, Shih-Chieh Lin
  • Patent number: 9592693
    Abstract: The process for decorating the surface of a substrate comprises the stages of printing a three-dimensional decorative pattern on one surface of a polymer film using resin, placing the decorated surface of the film and at least one surface of the substrate in contact and providing thermal energy thereto, and detaching the film from the substrate onto the surface of which the three-dimensional decorative pattern has been transferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: MIROGLIO TEXTILE S.r.l.
    Inventor: Simone Priante
  • Patent number: 9586774
    Abstract: A sheet feeding member is provided, which is made of a thermoplastic elastomer composition comprising: a base polymer including a polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer and a polyester thermoplastic elastomer; and at least one ion conductive agent selected from the group consisting of a quaternary ammonium salt and a lithium salt/polyol, wherein the ion conductive agent is present in a proportion of 0.2 to 4 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the base polymer in the thermoplastic elastomer composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro Mine, Toshihiro Tamura, Takehiko Hyodo
  • Patent number: 9556605
    Abstract: A structural system and method of assembly comprising structural members with slots, and interior structural members. Specific structural members are sequentially interconnected in rigid alignment. A first structural member is positioned with two upward facing slots. Additional structural members are added by engaging downward facing slots of the additional structure members with upward facing slots of the prior structural member. The structural members further include engagement features in cooperating slots. A protruding features engages a recess to retain the engaged structural members. The features may be a partial sphere and a matching recess which may be disassembly, or a tapered protrusion having a squared-off rear edge which resists disassembly, or one of a variety of shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Inventor: Joseph Elliott
  • Patent number: 9555510
    Abstract: A body panel assembly and a method for manufacturing a body panel assembly are disclosed herein. In a non-limiting embodiment, the body panel assembly includes, but is not limited to, an inner panel having a lower portion. The body panel assembly further includes an outer panel that is connected to the inner panel. The outer panel has a main portion, a transitional portion, and a bent portion. The main portion and the bent portion are positioned on opposite sides of the lower portion. The main portion, the transitional portion, and the bent portion are arranged to form a cavity having an elongated configuration below the inner panel. The bent portion defines an opening extending therethrough. The opening is positioned at least partially below the lower portion of the inner panel. The opening provides ventilation to the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Guangling Song
  • Patent number: 9551279
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for a compressed air energy storage (CAES) system. The system and method may include compressing a process gas with a compressor train to produce a compressed process gas. The compressed process gas may be directed to a compressed gas storage unit and stored therein. The compressed process gas from the compressed gas storage unit may be released to a heat recovery unit via a feed line. The heat recovery unit may heat the compressed process gas and direct the heated compressed process gas to an expansion assembly to generate a power output. Feed water from a feed water source may be heated in the heat recovery unit to produce steam for injection into a combustion turbine assembly. The combustion turbine assembly may heat the heat recovery unit via an exhaust line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Dresser-Rand Company
    Inventor: Ian M. Page
  • Patent number: 9550592
    Abstract: A method for moving a packed column section about a remote manufacturing yard is provided. In one embodiment, the packed column section can include a first course, a second course, packing disposed within the first course and second course, and a plurality of distributors. The method can include the steps of placing the packed column section on top of a movable platform, the movable platform configured to support and distribute the weight of the packed column section; and moving the packed column section from a first point to a second point, the second point being in an open area adapted for stacking a plurality of packed column sections on top of each other to form a column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Société Anonyme Pour L'Étude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Claude Granger, Jean Roy, Sylvain Made
  • Patent number: 9551299
    Abstract: A combustion chamber includes an inner wall, an outer wall surrounding the inner wall, and a flow passage between the inner wall and outer wall that permits forward flow and restricts reverse flow. The inner wall has a plurality of effusion holes in fluid communication with the inside of the combustion chamber. The outer wall has a plurality of cooling side holes in fluid communication with a cooling source. The inner wall and the outer wall define a flow passage therebetween that fluidly connects one or more of the cooling side holes with one or more of the effusion holes. The flow passage has a geometric configuration to permit forward flow of gases through the flow passage from the cooling source to the inside of the combustion chamber and to restrict reverse flow of gases through the flow passage from the inside of the combustion chamber to the cooling source. The permitted flow rate is greater than the restricted flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James C. Loebig, Christopher D. DeBruhl, John D. Holdcraft
  • Patent number: 9540093
    Abstract: A bladed rotor wheel for a turbine engine, the rotor wheel including a disk including, formed in its outer periphery, at least one slot for mounting the roots of blades, and a spacer mounted between each blade root and a bottom of the slot. The spacer includes at least one member of type that is bistable in position and that can occupy a first stable position for assembly or disassembly in which the member does not exert force on the blade root, and a second stable position in which the bistable member exerts a radial force on the blade root. The spacer also includes at least one resilient damper member mounted between the bottom of the slot and the blade root.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Luc Henri Chatenet, John Le Quellec