Patents Examined by Jun Yoo
  • Patent number: 8826538
    Abstract: A bracket attaches a heat exchanger to a supporting member. The bracket includes a vibration-proof member, and first and second bracket members. The first member is fixed to the supporting member. The second member is joined to a projection of the heat exchanger through the vibration-proof member. The second member is attached to the first member. The second member includes a joining part and an attaching part. The projection is inserted in the joining part from a projecting direction of the projection so that the joining part is joined to the projection with the vibration-proof member intervening therebetween. The attaching part is inserted in the first member from a direction that intersects with a joining direction in which the joining part is joined to the projection, so that the attaching part is attached to the first member at an arbitrary position of the first member in the joining direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Akihide Itoh
  • Patent number: 8819916
    Abstract: A plurality of tubes are connected in a bundle that is bent to follow a curved tortuous path. The method includes providing a plurality of individual tubes and then encapsulating the tubes within a molded or extruded encapsulating material so that the tubes are joined and supported together in a tube assembly. Connectors are provided on the ends of the tubes, either before or after the encapsulating of the tubes. The tube assembly is then bent to the desired bent tortuous shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Readwin, Richard E Bartos
  • Patent number: 8813338
    Abstract: An alignment device has a carriage, two rails on the carriage that are configured for a workpiece to pass therebetween, and a finger that protrudes a distance from the carriage. The finger is configured to be disposed on a carrier for the workpieces. The workpieces may be solar cells and may pass through the rails on a conveyor belt. The alignment device may move in order to align the workpieces as the workpieces are loaded into a carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Malcolm N. Daniel, Charles T. Carlson, William T. Weaver
  • Patent number: 8800133
    Abstract: Gas turbine engine systems involving rotor bayonet coverplates and tools for installing such coverplates are provided. In this regard, a representative turbine assembly for a gas turbine engine includes: a turbine disk operative to mount a set of turbine blades; and a coverplate having an annular main body portion and a spaced annular arrangement of tabs extending radially inwardly from the main body portion with open-ended gaps being located between the tabs, the tabs being operative to secure an inner diameter of the coverplate to the turbine disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph T. Caprario, Daniel J. Griffin
  • Patent number: 8776347
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a driver, a plurality of shafts, and a plurality of arms. The body is configured for insertion into a component and the driver is adapted for movement relative to the body. The plurality of shafts extend through the body and are connected to the plurality of arms. The tool is configured such that contact by the driver against the shaft rotates the plurality of shafts to pivot the plurality of arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Scott D. Virkler, Matthew P. Ricker, Gordon Kinkade
  • Patent number: 8776355
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for fixing a faucet to a mounting (1), such as a worktop or a sinktop. A fixing collar (2) is fastened to the top surface of a mounting by turning from above one or more set screws (3) extending from the fixing collar (2) over a distance below a bottom surface of the worktop. Turning of the screw is used for raising a clamping claw (4), which is in engagement with the threading of said set screw and which is steered by means of a guide (5) extending downward from the fixing collar and used for disallowing a rotation of the clamping claw (4) along with the set screw (3). The bottom end of a faucet body (10) or its extension is fastened around the fixing collar (2) by expanding the fixing collar (2) by an actuation means, such as a screw (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Oy Graana Finland AB
    Inventors: Hannu Reiman, Raimo Kaukinen, Esko Savolainen
  • Patent number: 8769797
    Abstract: Method for mounting a bush round a part (2) of a shaft with a force fit, which method comprises the following steps: providing a guide element (7, 23) with an outer surface (8) which is at least partly conical; providing the guide element (7, 23) in the extension of the aforesaid part (2) of the shaft (1); pushing the bush (5) over the guide element (7, 23) on the part (2) of the shaft (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Airpower, Naamloze Vennootschap
    Inventor: Aleksandr Pulnikov
  • Patent number: 8756798
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for fitting and equipping motor vehicle battery housings as a compact system, which comprises individual production stations and associated transport devices, wherein the battery plate packs to be processed are arranged in clamping cassettes and are provided to the device in the necessary pack width for the intended battery cells by a feeding station arranged upstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignees: Sasit Industrietechnik GmbH, VB Autobatterie GmbH & Co. KGAA
    Inventors: Jochen Meier, Thomas Dörffel, Roger Loer
  • Patent number: 8752803
    Abstract: A standoff adaptor for a push pin. A spacer has a hole formed in one end to complementarily receive a push pin with the pin of the push pin extending outwardly therefrom. A head is threadedly mounted to the opposite end of the spacer and may be adjusted to tightly grip an item between a spacer and head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Accurate Manufactured Products Group Inc.
    Inventors: Matt Goldberg, Lawrence S. Agnello
  • Patent number: 8752264
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an end effector assembly is provided. The method includes grasping a gap-setting gauge between first and second jaw members moveable relative to one another about a pivot between a first, spaced-apart position and a second position proximate tissue and setting the first and second jaw members such that in the approximated position the jaw members cooperate to define a gap distance between the jaw members equivalent to the thickness of the gap-setting gauge such that when positioning tissue between the jaw members full approximation of the jaws is limited to the gap distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Joanna Ackley, James D. Allen, IV, Ryan C. Artale, Kim V. Brandt, Dennis W. Butcher, Edward M. Chojin, Gary M. Couture, James S. Cunningham, David M. Garrison, Keir Hart, Russell D. Hempstead, Glenn A. Horner, Daniel A. Joseph, Duane E. Kerr, Dylan R. Kingsley, Peter M. Mueller, Jessica E. C. Olson, Sean T. O'Neill, Jason T. Sanders, Robert M. Sharp, John R. Twomey, Jeffrey R. Unger
  • Patent number: 8745835
    Abstract: A door lock striker alignment check fixture includes a check fixture body having a tapered region engageable with a striker receiving slot of a door latch mechanism. The check fixture body defines an elongated slot for receiving a door striker. The door lock striker alignment check fixture further includes a flange fixedly attached to the check fixture body, and which is engageable with an exterior surface of a vehicle door coupled to the door latch mechanism. The flange includes a contact surface that contacts the exterior surface of the vehicle door and which faces an insertion direction of the tapered region with respect to the striker receiving slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Cutting, Mark Brian
  • Patent number: 8745844
    Abstract: A method of attaching a head assembly having an annular hollow boss to an arm having a through hole of a carriage is provided. The head assembly includes a load beam of a head suspension and a base plate fixed to a base part of the load beam. The boss is formed on the base plate. The method includes steps of, inserting the boss into the through hole, thereby setting the head assembly to the arm of the carriage, supplying lubricant along the cylindrical jig to the caulking ball and pushing the caulking ball with the cylindrical jig to pass the caulking ball through an inside of the boss and diametrally expand and plastically deform the boss, thereby fixedly fitting the boss of the head assembly to the through hole of the arm of the carriage. The method causes no deformation of a flange formed on the base plate during caulking and is achievable at low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masao Hanya
  • Patent number: 8739382
    Abstract: A woven, self-expanding stent device has one or more strands and is configured for insertion into an anatomical structure. The device includes a coupling structure secured to two different strand end portions that are substantially aligned with each other. The two different strand end portions include nickel and titanium. The coupling structure is not a strand of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: IDev Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery Sheldon, Richard Booth, Ken Bueche
  • Patent number: 8739387
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tie and a method for tying at least one object. More particularly, the tie has a strip, which includes a tip, a connecting end opposite the tip and a plurality of teeth arranged on the strip between the tip and the connecting end, and a plurality of locking members, which are connected to the connecting end of the strip. Each of the locking members includes an opening for passage of the strip therethrough and a locking tab for engaging at least one of the teeth so as to allow the strip to move through the opening of a corresponding one of the locking members only in one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Inventor: Dov Frishberg
  • Patent number: 8739381
    Abstract: Methods of cutting and installing carpet tiles in, among other applications, mass transit vehicles, particularly including aircraft. In some embodiments, the tile lengths in an installation are the same and the tile widths are customized to a particular section of the aircraft or other vehicle in which they are installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Interface, Inc.
    Inventors: William N. Jones, Stuart Jones, John P. Bradford, James Hobbs, Joel Sheppard, James Woods, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8732952
    Abstract: A serpentine fin for assembly between tubes in a heat exchanger core, and a method of making same from a metal strip. The strip edges have a hem comprising a double thickness of the strip material extending inward from the edge. The metal strip has folds extending across the strip width such that the strip forms a serpentine shape, with the folds being adapted to contact the tubes in the heat exchanger core. Multiple rows of split louvers are disposed between adjacent folds. Each row of split louvers comprises louvers having openings extending in the direction of the strip length and formed in a pair of adjacent, spaced louver banks. Ribs are disposed parallel to the louver openings adjacent the strip edges and in at least one center portion of the strip between the strip edges, and extend across the pair of louver bank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Vista-Pro Automotive, LLC
    Inventor: John A. Kolb
  • Patent number: 8732928
    Abstract: A system and method for supporting and rotating an axle of an overhead rolling door assembly while replacing a counterbalance spring. A support stand is provided. The support stand is positioned under the overhead door assembly. The overhead door assembly is disassembled enough to expose its main axle. The support stand is adjusted in height to engage the main axle so that the support stand holds the main axle at an elevated position. The broken counterbalance spring is replaced. The main axle is the reinstalled into the overhead door assembly. A pulley wheel is then attached to the main axle. The pulley wheel is turned by winding a cable around the pulley wheel and then unwinding the cable with a winch. This rotates the main axle with the torque needed to properly pre-tension the replacement spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Inventor: Francis J. Hinger, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8726502
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for servicing a turbine are disclosed. Various embodiments of the invention include an apparatus adapted to service a turbine, where that apparatus includes: a base member fixedly mountable on an inlet of the turbine; an adjustment system mounted on the base member; a machining device operably connected to a first end of the adjustment system; and a control member operably connected to a second end of the adjustment system, the control member adapted to modify a position of the machining device to service a portion of the turbine inside the inlet of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jason Matthew Clark, Randall Stephen Corn
  • Patent number: 8726504
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing turbine blade, which comprises, (a) forging a plurality of turbine blades in a state where the plurality of turbine blades are integrally connected in a longitudinal direction, (b) heat treating the plurality of turbine blades in the integrally connected state, (c) machining the plurality of turbine blades in the integrally connected state, and (d) separating the plurality of turbine blades into individual turbine blades. According to the method, the number of processes for the forging work can be decreased, and forging efficiency can be enhanced. Moreover, an amount of burr which occurs during the forging work can be reduced, and hence, a yield of material can be improved, as compared with a case where the turbine blade is forged as a single body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Daido Steel Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Kimura, Hiroshi Asano, Ikuno Kumazawa
  • Patent number: 8726483
    Abstract: A medical device-includes a scaffold crimped to a catheter having an expansion balloon. The scaffold is crimped to the balloon by a process that includes one or more balloon pressurization steps. The balloon pressurization steps are selected to enhance scaffold retention to the balloon while retaining, at least partially, the original balloon folds as the balloon is pressurized and de-pressurized within a crimper head. By at least partially retaining the original balloon folds, a uniformity of scaffold expansion by the balloon is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
    Inventors: John Stankus, Benjamyn Serna