Patents Examined by James Sims, III
  • Patent number: 9457418
    Abstract: A gas-cooled welding gun for an arc welding device, comprising an electrically conductive current contact tube disposed concentrically within an electrically conductive outer tube and separated therefrom by an intermediate space. The current contact tube includes a wire guiding channel for a welding wire. A plurality of spacers is disposed at intervals in the intermediate space between the current contact tube and outer tube, electrically insulating these components from each other. A shielding gas is provided in the intermediate space to cool the system and openings in the spacers allow the gas to flow therethrough. Structures are provided on the current contact tube which increase the overall surface area thereof. Regions of the surface of the current contact tube not covered by spacers are exposed toward the intermediate space and therefore to the shielding gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignees: DINSE G.M.B.H.
    Inventor: Peter Zander
  • Patent number: 9462641
    Abstract: Induction heating apparatus and methods are disclosed for selective workpiece heating such as strip heating, in which DC windings around one or more laminations proximate to a workpiece edge are selectively energized using DC electrical power for controlled partial or full saturation of the one laminations to control edge overheating in a transverse flux induction heating system, in which certain implementations further employ a copper shield between the induction heating coil and the strip workpiece proximate the edge of the workpiece to control the edge heating effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Ajax Tocco Magnethermic Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald R. Akers
  • Patent number: 9446470
    Abstract: A magnetically impelled arc butt (MIAB) welding device heats facing ends of a pair of wellbore tubulars and a force application device compressively engages the facing ends to form a welded joint. The device may be positioned on the rig floor. The MIAB welding device may include a device configured to hold facing ends of the two wellbore tubulars at a specified distance away from one another, a high frequency arc ignition device configured to generate an arc between the facing ends and to revolve the arc around the circumference of the facing ends, and a magnetic field generator configured to superimpose a magnetic field at the facing ends. The MIAB welding device may be configured to melt at least a surface of the facing ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Thomas Hassel, Aret Varahram, Detlev Benedict, Joerg Lehr, Friedrich Wilhelm Bach
  • Patent number: 9451658
    Abstract: An induction heater includes an electrically conductive coil that produces an alternating magnetic field when current is applied to the coil. The magnetic field is used to heat metal containers such as tubular containers. The coil extends about a heating path of travel that extends along the longitudinal axis of the coil. A transport device is provided to move the container through the magnetic field such that the longitudinal axis of the container is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the coil. This allows for heating the container at the twelve and six o'clock positions. The transport device functions to roll the container along the heating path. In a preferred embodiment, the coil is wrapped about a core with a generally rectangular shape. Ferromagnetic members may optionally be used to further shape the magnetic field. The methods and apparatus may be used for regular or irregularly shaped containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Nordon Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond Baxter, Howard Podolny, Robert Zuccarelli
  • Patent number: 9400136
    Abstract: An electric induction gas-sealed tunnel furnace and process are provided. The exterior of the furnace's enclosure that forms a closed tunnel region is surrounded at least along its longitudinal length by a gas-tight barrier chamber that can be filled with a barrier gas to a different pressure than the pressure of the process gas in the closed tunnel region of the furnace. The inductors used to induction heat strips or plates in the closed tunnel region can be positioned within or outside of the gas-tight barrier chamber around the longitudinal length of the closed tunnel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: INDUCTOTHERM CORP.
    Inventors: Jean Lovens, Michel Fontaine
  • Patent number: 9375801
    Abstract: A rotary robotic welding torch that enables the welding process in a robotic unit. The rotary welding torch allows for clockwise and counterclockwise rotation during the welding process, while being supplied with an uninterrupted supply of inert gas and electrical current. The rotary robotic welding torch may also be supplied with an uninterrupted supply of coolant and/or electrode/filler wire during the welding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Inventor: Arben Cenko
  • Patent number: 9377244
    Abstract: The heat medium heating device includes: a casing in which the flat heat exchange tubes 12 and the PTC heater 13 are stacked in multiple layers and incorporated; and a control substrate of the PTC heater 13 incorporated in the casing. In the heat medium heating device in which a terminal 25A extending from each electrode plate 25 of the PTC heater 13 is directly connected to a connection portion of the control substrate, the width dimension of the flat heat exchange tubes 12 is greater than a contact surface width in a direction in which the terminal 25A extends from each electrode plate 25 in the PTC element 24 of the PTC heater 13, and the electrode plates 25 and the flat heat exchange tubes 12 excluding the PTC element 24 are superimposed in the wide portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES AUTOMOTIVE THERMAL SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kominami, Naoto Kunieda
  • Patent number: 9364115
    Abstract: A brewing unit includes a seat capable of a rotation movement, in which a piston is slidably received. A counter-piston co-operates with the seat and the piston to define a brewing chamber. Moreover, cam members are provided to control movements of the seat, the piston, and the counter-piston. The seat, the piston and the counter-piston can assume with respect to one another at least one position of charging of a product for preparation of the beverage, at least two distinct brewing positions which correspond two different volumes of the brewing chamber, and a position for discharging the spent product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Gianni Remo, Giuseppe Fin, Roland Kalin
  • Patent number: 9370053
    Abstract: A method for controlling a melt process in an arc furnace, including a signal processing component, program code, and data medium for performing the method. Sound signals or vibrations from the interior of the furnace container are captured by solid-borne sound sensors, from which characteristic values can be derived representing the distribution of melting material, melt, and slag in the furnace fill. A characteristic values are generated in priority sequence for: thermal radiation impinging on the furnace wall of the container, the lumpiness of the melting material in the volume of furnace fill, and the change to the portion of solid melting material contacting the furnace wall. The energy distribution at the electrodes is chanced by a control system based on the characteristic values in priority sequence, such that thermal load peaks are dampened or even completely prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Björn Dittmer, Arno Döbbeler, Klaus Krüger, Sascha Leadbetter, Thomas Matschullat, Detlef Rieger
  • Patent number: 9315890
    Abstract: An electronic device for volatilizing organic matter is described. The electronic device includes a housing, a removable transparent tube, a heating element, a setting profile, a memory and a processor. The removable transparent tube has a chamber distal end within the housing. The heating element is proximate to the chamber distal end of the transparent tube. The chamber distal end holds vaporizable organic matter. The settings profile includes a first wattage setting and a first timer setting for the heating element and the heating element vaporizes the vaporizable material. The memory stores the settings profile. The processor is operatively coupled to the memory module and controls the heating element according to the settings profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Inventors: Markus Frick, Richard Hicksted
  • Patent number: 9296058
    Abstract: A dual power pin connector assembly for connecting both a MIG welding gun and a spoolgun to a welding machine. The dual power pin connector is comprised of a busbar portion that electrically and mechanically couples the positive output terminal of the welding machine power supply to a wire drive for the MIG welding gun. The connector is further comprised of an integral quick release assembly/clamping portion that electrically and mechanically connects the positive power supply terminal to a power supply cable for the spoolgun. The clamping portion receives and retains a power pin coupled to one end of the spoolgun power cable in a receptacle that is manually tightened and loosened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Willenkamp, Scott Rozmarynowski
  • Patent number: 9290890
    Abstract: A direct current powered electrical heating unit capable of distributing heat across the heating unit in a substantially uniform fashion. The heating unit includes a first pliable outer layer and a second pliable outer layer. The heating unit further includes a pliable electrical heating element disposed between the first and the second cover layers and configured to convert electrical energy to heat energy and to distribute the heat energy. The pliable electrical heating element includes a heat generating element for converting electrical current to heat energy and a heat spreading element comprising graphite thermally coupled to the heat generating element. The heating unit further includes a thermal insulation layer positioned above the pliable electrical heating element and between the first and the second cover layers. A receiving power connector is electrically connected to the heat generating element. The receiving power connector configured to connect to a direct current power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: 417 and 7/8, LLC
    Inventor: David Naylor
  • Patent number: 9282852
    Abstract: A fryer can include a base having a reservoir for receiving oil for frying a food product and a hood coupled to the base. The fryer can have an inlet at an upstream section and an outlet at a downstream section. At least one conveyor can move food product from the inlet to the outlet. A first baffle member and second baffle member can be positioned over the conveyor to define a frying chamber therebetween. The first and second baffle members can restrict air from flowing into the frying chamber from outside of the frying chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Hockett, Frederick D. Webb, Brian J. Pikl, Christopher M. Imdieke
  • Patent number: 9273882
    Abstract: An electrical heating includes a plurality of electrical heating elements which are held by a housing and which abut heat conducting surfaces over which a medium to be heated flows. The electrical heating elements comprise contact lugs, arranged essentially at the same height, that are connected through a plate element. The plate element includes conductive paths and contact lug receptacles for the contact lugs. The plate element may include a carrier plate of non-conducting material and a stamped out metal plate that are joined together to form one unit. A method of manufacturing a plate element includes manufacturing the carrier plate by injection moulding and subjecting a metal plate to stamping operations to form area elements which are joined together by connecting ridges and in which the contact lug receptacles are located. The carrier plate and the metal plate are then joined, and the connecting ridges are then parted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Eberspacher catem GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Franz Bohlender, Kurt Walz, Robert Götzelmann, Michael Niederer, Dieter Emanuel
  • Patent number: 9233431
    Abstract: An arc welding device according to an embodiment carries out welding while repeatedly generating a short circuit state and an arc state between a consumable electrode and a welding member. The arc welding device includes a detection unit and an adjustment unit. The detection unit detects at least one of a length of a short circuit generation period of this time and a length of an arc generation period of this time. The adjustment unit adjusts an increase rate of a short circuit current in a short circuit generation period of next time according to at least one of the length of the short circuit generation period and the length of the arc generation period detected by the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Masafumi Murakami, Takahide Hirayama
  • Patent number: 9211604
    Abstract: In resistance welding, an end portion and a flange portion are welded together at contact surfaces thereof by applying a voltage between a first electrode and a second electrode while an inner casing and a main metal piece are pressed in directions toward each other. When a shearing stress due to the pressure is applied to a ceramic guide pin, the guide pin is more resistant to wear compared to a phenolic resin guide pin. In addition, a clearance is between a large-diameter portion of the guide pin and an inner surface of a guide-pin insertion hole. Accordingly, the guide pin is capable of tilting in the radial direction, so that the guide pin can tilt so as to partially absorb the shearing stress. Therefore, the guide pin is more resistant to breakage compared to a guide pin made of ceramic that is not capable of tilting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventor: Nobukazu Ikoma
  • Patent number: 9204757
    Abstract: An adjustable pitch cooking grate includes generally parallel rods and means for changing the pitch of the rods by moving the rods between a closed configuration and a range of open configurations, with different width gaps therebetween. Scissors linkage at the rod ends can move the rods in unison between the open and close configurations. When the rods have flat upper surfaces the rods create a generally flat, smooth, continuous cooking surface when in the closed configuration and a plurality of generally flat coplanar cooking surfaces when in the different open configurations. The pitch changing means can include manual or motorized means for moving the rods between the open and close configurations. The spacing between the rods in a fully open configuration can be equal to about 1-3 times the lateral dimension of the rods. One or more cooking grates can be supported by the cooking grill frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Inventor: Yohannes Atlaw
  • Patent number: 9199325
    Abstract: When contact between a wire electrode and a workpiece is detected while, after wire electric discharge machining is ended, the wire electrode is moved (retraced) in the direction opposite to the machining direction along the machining path, the movement of the wire electrode is stopped. The wire electrode is moved in the offset direction from the contact position. When the wire electrode and the workpiece are brought into a non-contact state, the non-contact state is detected, and the movement of the wire electrode is stopped. The wire electrode is returned from the non-contact position to the machining path, and the wire electrode is retraced along the machining path in the state where the detection of contact between the wire electrode and the workpiece is neglected. Then, an amount of distortion of the workpiece is calculated from the contact position and the non-contact position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shouji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9198233
    Abstract: A method for operating an induction cooktop having multiple induction heating coils includes monitoring a characteristic of the heating coils indicative of audible noise generated by simultaneous operation of multiple induction heating coils. Upon indication of audible noise from the monitored characteristic, an operating characteristic of at least one of the induction heating coils is varied so as to change the audible noise into a pre-defined, stored audible noise pattern that is desirous to a consumer or user of the cooktop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Vincent Brosnan, Gregory Francis Gawron, Sr., Mingwei Shan, John Michael Kulp, Jr., Mariano Pablo Filippa
  • Patent number: 9179797
    Abstract: A disposable pod adaptor assembly for use in a single serve beverage brewer. The assembly is designed for use in brewers configured for cup-shaped beverage extract cartridges. The assembly includes a receptacle and a cover configured to engage with the receptacle. The receptacle includes a raised portion in it's interior, which raised portion is adapted to push a beverage pod residing inside the receptacle upward against the cover to create a tamping effect. In some implementations, the receptacle and raised portion are molded as a single piece to provide a low cost disposable pod adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Inventor: Adrian Rivera