Patents Examined by Jacob Cigna
  • Panel and method for manufacturing the same
    Patent number: 9521790
    Abstract: A panel includes a display window and a supporting body integrated with the display window. The display window is made of sapphire and the supporting body is made of ceramic materials. The supporting body is integrally formed with the supporting body by sintering process. A method for manufacturing the panel is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shao-Han Chang
  • Integration of molten carbonate fuel cells with fermentation processes
    Patent number: 9520607
    Abstract: In various aspects, systems and methods are provided for operating a molten carbonate fuel cell assembly at increased power density. This can be accomplished in part by performing an effective amount of an endothermic reaction within the fuel cell stack in an integrated manner. This can allow for increased power density while still maintaining a desired temperature differential within the fuel cell assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Paul J. Berlowitz, Timothy Andrew Barckholtz, Anita S. Lee
  • Tolerance ring and assembly with deformable projections
    Patent number: 9505091
    Abstract: A method of assembling a tolerance ring between opposing surfaces of an inner and outer component arranged to mate with one another to provide an interference fit therebetween includes mounting the tolerance ring on one of the inner and outer components whereby the projections are received in a recessed portion on that component, partially mating the inner and outer components, and completing mating by causing relative movement between the tolerance ring and the recessed portion to move the projections from the recessed portion and to be compressed between the mated inner and outer components. The tolerance ring includes an annular band of resilient material for engaging an opposing surface of one of the inner and outer components. The annular band has a plurality of deformable projections extending radially therefrom to engage the opposing surface of the other one of the inner and outer components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS RENCOL LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Robert Slayne
  • Methods for fan assemblies and fan wheel assemblies
    Patent number: 9505092
    Abstract: Fan assemblies, and in particular fan wheels and stator assemblies for fan assemblies, are disclosed. In one embodiment, the fan wheel includes a wheel back having an outer surface forming one of a curved dome-shape and a truncated cone-shape. The fan wheel may also include a plurality of fan blades radially spaced about and mounted to the outer surface of the wheel back. In one embodiment, each of the fan blades is formed from a segment of an airfoil-shaped aluminum extrusion defining at least one internal cavity. The fan blade first ends can be provided with a compound cut profile with at least one curved cut such that the first end of the blade is mounted flush to the wheel back outer surface. The stator assembly can also be provided with a plurality of stator blades formed from airfoil-shaped aluminum extrusion segments and provided with compound cut profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Greenheck Fan Corporation
    Inventors: Kyle Andrew Brownell, Shamus William Doran, Jared Clyde Wesenick, Neil Jacob Printz
  • Amorphous metals and composites as mirrors and mirror assemblies
    Patent number: 9507061
    Abstract: A mirror or mirror assembly fabricated by molding, pressing, assembling, or depositing one or more bulk metal glass (BMG), bulk metal glass composite (BMGMC), or amorphous metal (AM) parts and where the optical surface and backing of the mirror can be fabricated without machining or polishing by utilizing the unique molding capabilities of this class of materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Douglas C. Hofmann, Gregory L. Davis, Gregory S. Agnes, Andrew A. Shapiro
  • Manufacturing method for advanced high-strength steel wheel and jig device thereof
    Patent number: 9486872
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a manufacturing method for advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) wheel, comprising the following steps. Take an AHSS with at least 590 MPa of tensile strength for rolling to circular ring of a rim. Apply low heat input welding, such as the cold metal transfer (CMT) welding or the gas tungsten arc welding/tungsten inert gas arc welding (GTAW/TIG), at the junction of the rim to form a hollow cylindrical rim. Then perform hole expanding and spinning/roll forming operations to the rim. Take another AHSS with at least 980 MPa of tensile strength for pressing and forming a disk. Apply low heat input welding, such as cold metal transfer (CMT) welding, to the rim and the disk to produce a wheel. According to the present invention, the welding quality of products can be improved significantly; the fatigue lifetime of wheels can be enhanced; and wheels are lightweight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Metal Industries Research & Development Centre
    Inventors: Chi-Wah Keong, Chih-Lun Lin, Chia-Min Wei, Chun-Chieh Wang, Lung-Tien Wu
  • Three-dimensional printing process, swirling device and thermal management process
    Patent number: 9482249
    Abstract: A three-dimensional printing process, a swirling device, and a thermal management process are disclosed. The three-dimensional printing process includes distributing a material to a selected region, selectively laser melting the material, and forming a swirling device from the material. The swirling device is printed by selective laser melting. The thermal management process includes providing an article having a swirling device printed by selective laser melting, and cooling a portion of the article by transporting air through the swirling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Srikanth Chandrudu Kottilingam, Victor John Morgan, Benjamin Paul Lacy, John Wesley Harris, Jr., David Edward Schick
  • Seat back frame for vehicle and method for manufacturing same
    Patent number: 9481279
    Abstract: A seat hack frame (100) for a vehicle made of a fiber-reinforced composite material containing a thermoplastic resin matrix and a reinforcing fiber, the seat back frame (100) including a seat back frame body (1), a metal plate (3) welded to the seat back frame body (1) at a reclining device (2) attaching position, and a metal reclining device (2) weld joined to the metal plate (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignees: Johnson Controls Technology Company, Teijin Limited
    Inventors: Atsushi Sano, Yutaka Yagi
  • Jig for forming sealant layer for lightning protection fastener, method for forming sealant layer for lightning protection fastener, and wing of aircraft
    Patent number: 9475587
    Abstract: To provide a jig for forming a sealant layer which enables to quickly and accurately form a sealant layer having a required film thickness. The jig includes: a sealant cup 13 that overlays a sealant 28 around a collar 26; a cup holder 12 that determines a position of the sealant cup 13 with respect to a fastener member 24; and a dummy cup 11 that determines a position of the cup holder 12 with respect to the fastener member 24. The cup holder 12 is determined in position with respect to the fastener member 24 by being guided along the dummy cup 11 determined in position with respect to the fastener member 24. The sealant cup 13 is guided along a guide of the cup holder 12 so as to overlay the sealant 28 around the collar 26 after removing the dummy cup 11 from the cup holder 12 determined in position with respect to the fastener member 24.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wataru Nishimura, Hideo Yamakoshi, Yuji Asahara, Atsuhiro Iyomasa, Takeyasu Tarumi, Noritomo Takata, Jun Kawaguchi, Hiroshi Rikukawa, Tomonori Okumura, Kengo Nomiya, Tooru Hashigami
  • System and method for reducing core of a metallic honeycomb panel structure
    Patent number: 9475252
    Abstract: A method and system for forming a honeycomb panel structure. The method includes the steps of compressing the honeycomb panel structure in a first panel region and reinforcing the first panel region. Reinforcing the first panel region may include the steps of drilling a plurality of holes in the first panel region; inserting pins into the first panel region; and welding pins into a face sheet of the honeycomb panel structure. Alternatively, the step of reinforcing the first panel region may include the step of adding an additional face sheet to the honeycomb panel structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David S. Nansen, Trevor J. Violett
  • Selectively compliant clamp
    Patent number: 9463541
    Abstract: A clamp has a base and a first selectively compliant component carried by the base, the first selectively compliant component being selectively operable between a substantially compliant state and a substantially rigid state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Sherrill, Ned Hanisko
  • Method of manufacturing differential device
    Patent number: 9458919
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a differential device, a hub of a ring gear is press-fitted to a flange from a first bearing boss side, then a press-fit portion between the flange and the ring gear is equally divided into a plurality of divided regions arranged along a peripheral direction, and simultaneously the divided regions are welded. Accordingly, the press-fit portion between the flange and the ring gear can be efficiently welded while welding distortion of the ring gear is eliminated or reduced even in a case where work windows of a differential case cut into a side surface of the flange on the first bearing boss side to form recessed portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Musashi Seimitsu Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoichi Yanase
  • Fastener removal
    Patent number: 9457458
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for removing a fastener from a component, the fastener comprising an end portion exposed from the component, the end portion having a threaded section, the method comprising the following steps; providing a cap with a threaded opening, screwing the threaded opening of the cap onto the threaded section of the exposed end portion of the fastener, and securing a percussive tool to the cap, such that repeated impacts from the percussive tool are directed onto the exposed end portion of the fastener. The present invention also provides a cap for use in removing a fastener from a component, the cap comprising a threaded opening for screwing onto a threaded section of an exposed end portion of the fastener, and an attachment portion for securing a percussive tool to the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Lee Wagstaff, Philip Lee Bradbury, Gareth Towlson
  • Transfer member
    Patent number: 9454110
    Abstract: The transfer member according to the present invention is a transfer member employed for transferring toner in an image forming apparatus utilizing electrophotography, made of a rubber composition at least containing styrene-butadiene rubber, ethylene-propylene-diene rubber and epichlorohydrin rubber as rubber components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Mizumoto, Naoyuki Satoyoshi, Kiyotaka Okuda, Masafumi Yamamoto
  • Flat heat pipe
    Patent number: 9453689
    Abstract: An exemplary flat heat pipe includes a hollow, flattened casing and a first wick structure and a second wick structure received in the casing. The casing includes a top plate and a bottom plate opposite to the top plate. The first wick structure is formed by weaving wires, and the second wick structure is made of sintered metal powder. The first and second wick structures are disposed at inner sides of the bottom and top plates of the casing, respectively. The first and second wick structures contact each other. The casing defines two vapor channels at opposite lateral sides of the combined first and second wick structures, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignees: FURUI PRECISE COMPONENT (KUNSHAN) CO., LTD., Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sheng-Liang Dai, Jin-Peng Liu, Yue Liu, Sheng-Guo Zhou, Sheng-Lin Wu, Nien-Tien Cheng
  • Method of repairing a turbine nozzle segment in a turbine engine
    Patent number: 9447689
    Abstract: A method for repairing a turbine nozzle having at least one vane disposed between an inner and an outer band. Embodiments of the method can comprise separating the inner band from the outer band and securing a replacement part to the inner band. In one embodiment, the methods accommodate replacement parts that include vanes with a base feature that comprises a non-airfoil shape and that integrates cooling features useful for operation of the turbine nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nathaniel Patrick Brown, Glenn Knight, Wayne Grady, Michael Steckler
  • Heat sink structure with a vapor-permeable membrane for two-phase cooling
    Patent number: 9446487
    Abstract: A heat sink, and cooled electronic structure and cooled electronics apparatus utilizing the heat sink are provided. The heat sink is fabricated of a thermally conductive structure which includes one or more coolant-carrying channels coupled to facilitate the flow of coolant through the coolant-carrying channel(s). The heat sink further includes a membrane associated with the coolant-carrying channel(s). The membrane includes at least one vapor-permeable region, which overlies a portion of the coolant-carrying channel(s) and facilitates removal of vapor from the coolant-carrying channel(s), and at least one orifice coupled to inject coolant onto at least one surface of the coolant-carrying channel(s) intermediate opposite ends of the channel(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Levi A. Campbell, Richard C. Chu, Milnes P. David, Michael J. Ellsworth, Jr., Madhusudan K. Iyengar, Robert E. Simons
  • Process for manufacturing a wound hose, particularly a spiral wound metallic hose, as well as wound hose and flexible conduction element with a wound hose
    Patent number: 9446439
    Abstract: A heat-insulated wound hose is formed by a process, in which a metal wound hose is at first upset, such that turns, which are spaced apart by adjacent axial wall areas of individual turns, form at least one uninterrupted jacket wall surface. A ceramic-based coating is subsequently applied to the at least one uninterrupted jacket wall surface. The coating is then cured, and the wound hose thus formed is subsequently pulled apart, whereby adjacent axial wall areas of adjacent turns are detached from one another and thereby the coating is broken up at partitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: BOA Balg-und Kompensatoren-Technologie GmbH
    Inventors: Henrik Hof, Marc Pontzen, Jürgen Büchele
  • Jewelry process
    Patent number: 9433267
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention combine an open-face molding process and an injection molding process to embed decorative articles within a shaped unitary body. Two half-molds are formed, each serving both as an open-face mold alone and as components of a two-part mold in combination. An open-face molding process is performed in iterations using each half-mold, wherein during each iteration a layer of a fluid thermoset is poured into each half-mold and allowed to harden into a solid body; pits are bored into each solid body and decorative objects deposited therein; and each pit is plugged with additional quantities of fluid thermoset. Subsequent iterations may be performed over already-formed layers within each half mold. Finally, the half-molds are closed together and joined by an injection molding process, forming a unitary body having a plurality of decorative objects embedded therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Levitation Jewelry LLC
    Inventors: Neil Browne, Dalal Browne, William F. Longfellow
  • Heat exchanger tube sheet, a heat exchanger and a method of manufacturing a heat exchanger tube sheet
    Patent number: 9429365
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a heat exchanger tube sheet sealing elements are arranged on respective ends of heat exchanger tubes. Said ends of the heat exchanger tubes having the sealing elements are arranged at predetermined positions in a mold. Said ends of the heat exchanger tubes are sealed such that a tube sheet material to be casted in the mold does not enter the heat exchanger tubes during casting of the tube sheet material. A tube sheet material is casted in the mold for covering the sealing elements. The tube sheet material is hardened in the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: HEATMATRIX GROUP B.V.
    Inventors: Ron Postma, Bart Jan Van Den Berg, Robert Sakko, Hans Constant Dikhoff