Patents Examined by Justin C Dodson
  • Patent number: 11117209
    Abstract: A soldering tip fastening device includes a soldering device fastener configured for fastening the soldering tip fastening device on a soldering device, and a soldering tip fastener configured to fasten a soldering tip on a soldering device when the soldering tip fastening device is fastened to the soldering device. The soldering tip fastener and the soldering device fastener are associated with opposite ends of the soldering tip fastening device. The soldering tip fastening device has a sleeve with an elastic element, the sleeve being configured such that the elastic element is tensioned during the fastening of the soldering tip on the soldering device by the soldering tip fastening device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: APEX BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: Bernd Niedermayer, Ralf Zerweck
  • Patent number: 11117216
    Abstract: The laser irradiation step includes: removing zinc plating layers respectively disposed on the surfaces of the galvanized steel sheets by the laser irradiation; and melting the surfaces of the galvanized steel sheets of which the zinc plating layers have been removed, and the roller pressurizing step includes pressurizing the galvanized steel sheets by the rollers while the surfaces of the galvanized steel sheets that have been melted are in contact with each other such that the galvanized steel sheets are joined together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichiro Nakao, Koji Nishimoto
  • Patent number: 11122654
    Abstract: It is proposed herein to employ thyristor firing angles as a fast prediction of flicker in power supply for an electric arc furnace. It is further proposed to actively modify operating variables for the electric arc furnace to maintain the flicker below a predefined threshold. Aspects of the present application use the thyristor firing angles in combination with control ranges of variable reactance devices to predict the flicker severity level generated by the electric arc furnace with thyristor-controlled variable reactance devices. Based on the predicted flicker level, at least one operating variable of the electric arc furnace may be changed, if required, to maintain flicker to acceptable limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Hatch Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Shen, Michael Morgan Campbell, Jason Cheung, James Wikston
  • Patent number: 11103098
    Abstract: A valve (100) comprises: a housing (110), an elastic cap (120) and a driving device (13); at least one group of ports (111) is provided in the housing, and each group of ports comprises an inlet (111a) and an outlet (111b); at least a portion of the elastic cap is provided in the housing; and the driving device is used to drive the elastic cap to undergo an elastic deformation so as to obstruct the inlet and the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignees: GUANGDONG MIDEA CONSUMER ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CO., LTD., MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jian Kuang
  • Patent number: 11094959
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a secondary battery is provided. According to the manufacturing method, laser light includes first peak light applied to a first irradiation position located on a cover body, second peak light applied to a second irradiation position located between the first irradiation position and a connecting surface, and third peak light applied to the connecting surface. The first peak light is higher in intensity than the second peak light and the third peak light. The third peak light is higher in intensity than the second peak light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroya Umeyama, Ichiro Murata
  • Patent number: 11083326
    Abstract: A ground coffee dispenser intended to cooperate with a coffee machine, includes a ground coffee storage reservoir provided with a contour and a bottom, and a ground coffee distributor pouring a predefined quantity of ground coffee from the reservoir into a brewing area of the machine. The distributor includes a disk driven in rotation, curved blades being attached onto a lower face of the disk. The quantity of ground coffee poured is defined by a peripheral space provided between the diameter of the periphery of the disk and an inner wall of the contour, close to the bottom of the storage reservoir. The bottom of the reservoir includes an opening for transferring the ground coffee arranged under the disk. The curved blade extends from the periphery towards the inside of the disk to transfer the ground coffee admitted by the peripheral space into the transfer opening when the disk rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventor: Gilles Morin
  • Patent number: 11059123
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for forming a three-dimensional article through successively depositing individual layers of powder material that are fused together so as to form the article, the apparatus comprising an electron beam source emanating an electron beam for fusing the powder material in a build tank, a hollow construction having an upper opening and a lower opening, means for moving the hollow construction between a first position and a second position, a synchronising unit for synchronising the movement of a powder distributor for applying the individual layers of powder material on the work table with the movement of the hollow construction so that the hollow metal construction is at the first position when fusing and/or heating the powder layer and at the second position when the powder distributor is distributing the powder material for forming the individual powder layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Arcam AB
    Inventors: Ulf Ackelid, Isak Elfstroem
  • Patent number: 11052490
    Abstract: A forming system includes a femtosecond laser and a control unit that includes one or more processors operatively connected to the femtosecond laser. The femtosecond laser is configured to emit laser pulses onto an inner surface of a face sheet of an acoustic inner barrel. The acoustic inner barrel includes an acoustic core comprising an array of hexagonal cells attached to an outer surface of the face sheet that is opposite the inner surface. The control unit is configured to control the femtosecond laser to laser drill a plurality of perforations in the face sheet via emitting laser pulses at pulse durations between about 100 femtoseconds and about 10,000 femtoseconds and at frequencies over 100,000 Hz such that the perforations are formed without burning portions of the face sheet or the acoustic core surrounding the perforations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Jake Adam Reeves, Mark Alan Negley, Eric Herrera, John Scott Bauman, Brandon L. Bertolucci, Perry T. Horst
  • Patent number: 11047019
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for heat treatment of an object, such as for hardening of objects with complex shapes such as crankshafts, includes the steps of projecting an energy beam such as a laser beam onto a surface of the object, operating a scanner so as to repetitively scan the beam to displace a primary spot in accordance with a first scanning pattern so as to establish an effective spot on the object, and displacing the effective spot in relation to the surface of the object. The beam follows an optical path between the scanner and the surface of the object. A beam deflector device is placed in the optical path to redirect the beam. The beam deflector device can be placed close to the surface of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: IKERGUNE, A.I.E
    Inventors: Paula Sancho Díaz, Irati Iglesias Valle, Jesús Domínguez Cobreros
  • Patent number: 11045873
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a metal, ceramic, or composite part (PF) by flash sintering, which comprises simultaneously applying, inside a die (M), a uniaxial pressure and an electric current to a device containing a powder constituent material, said uniaxial pressure being applied by means of at least two pistons (P1, P2) which slide toward one another inside said die and each of which has a bearing surface (F1, F2) contacting said material, said bearing surfaces engaging so as to define the shape of the part to be manufactured, characterised in that: said part has a complex shape, including at least one first slender portion (V), such as a rod, plate, bevel, or shell, and a second portion (B), such as a base, plinth, or solid part, which is not slender in the slender direction of said first portion, and in that said uniaxial pressure is applied in a direction (z) substantially parallel to the smallest dimension of said first portion of the part, or to one of the two smallest dimensio
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE
    Inventors: Alain Couret, Jean-Philippe Monchoux, Lise Durand, Houria Jabbar, Thomas Voisin
  • Patent number: 11045899
    Abstract: A laser beam positioning system of a laser-based specimen processing system produces at beam positioner stage, from a fully fiber-coupled optics phased array laser beam steering system, a steered laser input beam. System directs beam through one or more other beam positioner stages to form a processing laser beam that processes target features of a workpiece mounted on a support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Electro Scientific Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Jan Kleinert
  • Patent number: 11013360
    Abstract: An apparatus for preparing a brewed beverage includes a device for heating and conveying water. A brewing chamber is coupled to the device to introduce heated water into the brewing chamber. The brewing chamber has a lateral opening and a bottom side having an outlet. A positioning device positions at the lateral opening of the brewing chamber a capsule containing an ingredient for brewing the beverage. A drive device is arranged to move the brewing chamber relative to the capsule. A method of using the apparatus includes the step of ejecting the capsule from the lateral opening of the brewing chamber after each brewing process and carrying out an automatic rinsing of the brewing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: MELITTA SINGLE PORTIONS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Katrin Hesselbrock, Sven Neuhaus, Jan Pahnke, Gerold Schandl, Robert Köhler, Markus Ungerer, Thomas Weber
  • Patent number: 11000047
    Abstract: A coffee degassing device is disclosed and method. The coffee degassing device comprises a coffee bin and a hollow tree within the bin. The hollow tree has an opening in communication with the interior of the coffee bin. The tree provides an exit path for carbon dioxide off-gassing from the coffee. The device may have a diffusion gas supply conduit. The diffusion gas supply conduit is in communication with the hollow tree and is configured to supply nitrogen, or another diffusion gas, to the degassing tree for accelerating the degassing of coffee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Modern Process Equipment, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Ephraim, Sam Lepper, Brian Willebrand
  • Patent number: 10981242
    Abstract: An arc welding apparatus includes a conductor tube assembly that has a collar assembly with a collar body that is biased by a spring. A consumable assembly is mechanically secured to the conductor tube and displaces the collar body and the collar body imparts a biasing force against the consumable assembly pretensioning the consumable assembly on the conductor tube assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Victor Equipment Company
    Inventors: Glenn K. Redding, Khalid Hassan
  • Patent number: 10980087
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a microwave coupler that utilizes a microwave shield within an interior of the microwave coupler to mitigate Radio Frequency (RF) leakage from an end of the microwave coupler. The microwave coupler includes a ramp section that is configured to mate to a microwave source, with the ramp section extending from an opening in a top wall of an enclosure. One end of the enclosure is configured to mate to a microwave waveguide, while an opposing end may be open or partially open. The microwave shield is located between the opposing end of the enclosure and the opening in the top wall, and extends from the top wall of the enclosure towards a bottom wall of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Andrew David Norte
  • Patent number: 10968572
    Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for making a pedestrian, vehicular, or other surface resistant to frost, snow and ice by use of heat are disclosed. A composite base or deck element includes a recess to accommodate heating element. A thermal insulator has an upward facing layer of heat-conductive aluminum foil, above which sits the heating element. On top is a pedestrian, vehicular, or other exposed surface, for example a tactile warning surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Szekely
  • Patent number: 10973088
    Abstract: A substrate support includes a plate comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface is to support a substrate. The plate further comprises an electrode, one or more resistive heating elements, a first plurality of channels, and a plurality of optical fibers in the first plurality of channels, wherein the plurality of optical fibers are removable from the substrate support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventor: Vijay D. Parkhe
  • Patent number: 10967450
    Abstract: A method of yielding a thinner product wafer from a thicker base SiC wafer cut from a SiC ingot includes: supporting the base SiC wafer with a support substrate: and while the base SiC wafer is supported by the support substrate, cutting through the base SiC wafer in a direction parallel to a first main surface of the base SiC wafer using a wire as part of a wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) process, to separate the product wafer from the base SiC wafer, the product wafer being attached to the support substrate when cut from the base SiC wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Nirdesh Ojha, Francisco Javier Santos Rodriguez, Roland Rupp, Markus Heinrici, Karin Delalut, Claudia Friza
  • Patent number: 10953493
    Abstract: A system for making a welded assembly. The system may include a welding system that projects a laser beam that welds a first part to a second part. The system may further include a gas delivery device defining an interior cavity. The gas delivery device may include an inlet that provides pressurized gas to the interior cavity, and a discharge slot that receives the pressurized gas from the interior cavity and outputs the pressurized gas with substantially laminar flow toward the laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Phillip Leicht, Yang Zhai, David Earl Rogers
  • Patent number: 10941962
    Abstract: A heating system component for a heating system for heating a fluid medium is provided. The heating system component includes: a carrier unit comprising a wet side, wherein said wet side corresponds to a surface of said carrier unit configured to be in contact with said fluid medium; and a heating unit. The heating unit may be coupled to the carrier unit via soldering, laser welding, gluing, ultrasonic welding, and/or friction welding. The carrier unit may comprise aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Bleckmann GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Gernot Teufl