Patents Examined by Lee Wilson
  • Patent number: 6363596
    Abstract: An installation/removal device is used to install and remove a fuel injector in/from a receiving bore hole of an internal-combustion-engine cylinder head. The installation/removal device includes a sheathing member having a tubular section and a contacting section, which acts on and/or contacts the fuel injector by a contact surface that extends radially inwardly. The contacting section, which can be formed by at least two elastic, contacting subsections separated from each other by cut-outs, is adjustable between an engaged position; in which a frictional connection to the fuel injector can be established, and a released position in which the installation/removal device can be removed from the fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ferdinand Reiter, Heinz-Martin Krause
  • Patent number: 6364301
    Abstract: A clamp apparatus comprising a holding member which is formed of a metal material and which is displaceable in an axial direction of a body in accordance with rotary action of an arm, and a pair of proximity switches for sensing the position of the holding member respectively. The holding member is selected from a plurality of available holding members having respective different lengths and selectively provided corresponding to a rotation amount of the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6364302
    Abstract: The a modular system for locating and clamping a workpiece in space is provided that includes positioning blade including a riser mount having a plurality of first mounting-bores and a plurality of first positioning-bores. A clamp mount is provided on the blade that includes a plurality of second mounting-bores and a plurality of second positioning-bores. The first positioning-bores have a predetermined positional relationship to the second positioning-bores. A locator arm is also provided on the blade, and has a plurality of third positioning-bores where the third positioning-bores comprise a predetermined position relative to the first positioning-bores and the second positioning-bores. A system for positioning and clamping a workpiece is also provided that includes in combination the foregoing positioning blade mounted on structure for elevating the workpiece, e.g., a riser, and structure for clamping the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Ultimate Standard Tooling International LLC
    Inventor: John S. Ausilio
  • Patent number: 6361034
    Abstract: A magnetic holder of a vise jaw that has a permanent magnet mounted in the jaw for holding metal or other magnetic material workpiece support parallels in position against the jaw clamping surface to properly hold the parallels during the clamping operation. The vise jaw can be used with a jaw plate that forms part of the jaw. The jaw plate has through holes or bores through which the mounting screws pass for bolting it to the main jaw and a bore for mounting the parallel retaining magnet. The jaw plates can be used either on fixed or movable jaws, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Kurt Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Ingo E. Wolfe
  • Patent number: 6361035
    Abstract: A plurality of blocks are chained together in alignment over at least one rod, each with a recess for receiving a work piece between adjacent blocks. A second chain of holders may be employed to receive a different portion of the work pieces so the work pieces extend between the chains of blocks, forming a set of chains that may be presented as a unit before a cutting tool to make a cutting process efficient and uniform among work pieces. Further chains or sets of chains may be employed to hold a larger number of work pieces together. Chains of blocks are advanteously mounted on vise plates in plate holes spaced apart from centers of vertical and horizontal neighboring plate holes a same distance, d. Thus, two rods of a set of work piece holders may be positioned at preferred positions on the plate with recesses aligned vertically or horizontally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Inventor: Truman Collins
  • Patent number: 6360415
    Abstract: To produce a flanged pipe unit, a separate flange is put on a pipe and then the pipe is subjected to a punching to achieve an interlocked connection between the flange and the pipe. The flanged pipe unit produced by the method of the invention comprises a metal pipe including a larger expanded portion, a smaller expanded portion and a raised portion which are axially aligned so that the smaller expanded portion is placed between the larger expanded portion and the raised portion; and a metal flange having a through bore through which the pipe passes, the through bore including a larger diameter portion, a smaller diameter portion and a tapered end portion which are axially aligned so that the smaller diameter portion is placed between the larger diameter portion and the tapered end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Wada, Susumu Sato
  • Patent number: 6357724
    Abstract: An automatic lifting device with a light module is disclosed. The front end of the automatic lifting device has a lateral side plate at each side, a front shaft, a top plate (saddle), a lifting arm and a carry handle. A selected component of the automatic lifting device is attached with a light module providing light at the front lifting end of the device. The light module is attached to the automatic lifting device by one method selected from a group containing magnetic attraction, adhesive, clamping, snapping on, pressing in, locating in, embedding, screwing etc. so that a sufficient illumination is provided at the correct position to the supporting point for an object to be lifted by the automatic lifting device. The light source of the light module is pivotally connected to the body of same light module. Further the light source of the light module is freely adjustable so the orientation of the light source is also adjustable thus providing correct illumination at correct position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Shinn Fu Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Hung
  • Patent number: 6357735
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a flange fixture intended to hold a flange to a tube for welding the flange to the tube, whereby it comprises: a) a cylindrical central body comprising at least three evenly distributed expansion holders as well as one cylindrical part provided with threads, whereby the expansion holders are each arranged to receive at least a radially movable expansion mechanism, and whereby the cylindrical part being provided with threads is arranged to receive one controlling device influencing the radially movable expansion mechanism for obtaining an outwardly directed movement; b) a first cylindrical shaft axially and rotatably mounted arranged in the central body and comprising a second controlling device arranged in the end thereof facing away from the central body; c) an axially and rotatably arranged second shaft in the shaft, which second shaft in its end receives at least three evenly distributed second expansion holders, which are each arranged to receive at least one radially move
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Inventor: Jouko Haverinen
  • Patent number: 6354569
    Abstract: Cribbing apparatus for stabilizing a post-accident vehicle against unwanted shifting of the vehicle during a rescue operation in which a victim trapped in the vehicle is to be extricated from the vehicle includes cribbing blocks hinged together for pivotal movement to fill a space between the vehicle and the ground at the site of an accident. A wedge is inserted between the pivotally connected cribbing blocks for operating the cribbing apparatus without jolts and dislocations which otherwise could cause shifting and concomitant increased danger of injury to the victim, as well as to a rescuer. A hinge includes leaves and wings in U-shaped configurations which deter skewing of the cribbing blocks during pivotal movements. The cribbing blocks include grooves for reception of the wedge such that skewing or collapse of the wedge is deterred by virtue of the confined movement of the wedge within the grooves during operation of the cribbing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Inventor: Michael C. Gioia
  • Patent number: 6352467
    Abstract: A fabrication tool integrates one or more electrodeposition stations with a CMP apparatus. The tool may transport substrates from the electroplating stations to the CMP apparatus without an intervening cleaning step. In addition, the thickness of an electrodeposited layer may be measured at a metrology station prior to polishing utilizing an instrument which physically contacts the surface of the substrate, and the measured thickness may be used to adjust the polishing parameters. Furthermore, the fabrication tool may have a single interface in which a dry and clean wafer is returned to the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Sasson Somekh, Debabrata Ghosh, Bret W. Adams
  • Patent number: 6352242
    Abstract: A post removal device for removing fence posts having lugs thereon. The post removal device includes an elongated member having a first end and a second end. The elongated member has middle portion, a first wall and a second wall such that the elongated member generally has U-shaped cross-section taken traverse to a longitudinal axis of the elongated member. A plate is attached to the first end of the elongated member. The plate lies in a plane orientated generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the plate. A catch is attached to the elongated member and is positioned nearer the second end than the first end. The post is positioned between the first and second walls such that the catch may engage one of the lugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Inventor: Robert C. Medearis
  • Patent number: 6350191
    Abstract: A method of functionalizing a diamond crystal comprises hydrogenating a diamond crystal, chlorinating the hydrogenated diamond crystal; and exposing the chlorinated diamond crystal to a metal precursor. The exposing step deposits a layer of metal on surfaces of the diamond crystals. The diamond crystal formed by the method possesses surface sites that form a strong bond with the layer of metal to prevent separation thereat, and the layer of metal form strong bonds to a matrix material, for example one of a vitreous and metallic matrix. The functionalized diamond crystal can be used in abrasive products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Mark Phillip D'Evelyn
  • Patent number: 6347786
    Abstract: A hydraulic jack lifting mechanism includes a valve seat coupled to a cylinder and an inner tube in the cylinder, a piston pump, the piston having a big piston and a small piston respectively aimed at a high-pressure fluid hole and a low-pressure fluid hole in the valve seat, a return fluid control pin, a pressure regulating valve, an one-way ball valve unit, which controls one-way flowing direction of the hydraulic fluid to extend a lifting ramp out of the inner tube to lift the load, and a return fluid valve. When lifting a heavy load, high pressure in the inner tube forces the return fluid control pin to open the steel ball of the pressure regulating valve, for enabling the internal hydraulic fluid of the big piston to flow back to the cylinder and the internal hydraulic fluid of the small piston to be pumped into the inner tube, so as to lift the load with less effort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Shinn Fu Corporation
    Inventor: Yen-Chun Lai
  • Patent number: 6346038
    Abstract: A wafer loading/unloading device and a method for producing wafers in which positioning and mounting can be effected in a stable manner when attaching the wafer to the polishing head and which make it possible to receive or transfer the polished wafer in a stable manner. The wafer loading/unloading device includes a main body portion for supporting a wafer W, a swinging shaft supporting a swinging arm connected to the main body portion, and an arm ascending/descending mechanism supporting the swinging arm such that it can ascend and descend. The main body portion is equipped with a wafer support portion and an action force absorbing mechanism for absorbing vertical force acting on the wafer support portion, so that the impact when attaching or detaching the wafer to or from the polishing head is mitigated. Thus, damage to the wafer and the polishing head is prevented and the wafer is transferred in a stable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
    Inventors: Jiro Kajiwara, Yoshie Kaido, Masahito Komasaki
  • Patent number: 6346032
    Abstract: The present invention is a fluid dispensing fixed abrasive polishing pad CMP system and method that utilizes fixed abrasive components to remove a portion or entire layer of a wafer while dispensing a fluid without suspended abrasive particles onto the wafer surface. A fluid dispensing fixed abrasive polishing pad is pressed against a wafer surface while rotating and fixed abrasive component apply a frictional force that planarizes a wafer surface. The fluid dispensed by the fluid dispensing fixed abrasive polishing pad assist the fixed components achieve wafer planarization in numerous ways, including minimizing scratching of the wafer surface, chemically reacting with the wafer surface to soften it, and aiding in the removal of particulate contaminants. The fluid flow in the present invention is strong enough to remove the waste (e.g., reaction products, wafer shavings, particulate contaminants, etc.) from the surface of the wafer and the fixed abrasive polishing pad during the polishing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: VLSI Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Liming Zhang, Andrew Black, Landon Vines
  • Patent number: 6345426
    Abstract: A cylinder liner removal tool (11) is shown having a gripping portion (12) capable of expanding against the inner surface of the cylinder liner (14). The gripping portion (12) has a rod (26). Concentrically disposed about the rod (26) in trailing order is a stop (32), a plate (36), a cylindrical mandrel (38), a shoulder (42), a bearing (44), and a nut (40). The mandrel (38) is hollow having a recess (52). The shoulder (42) has a plug member (66) disposed within the recess (52). Torquing down upon the nut (40) compresses the mandrel (38) between a radially extending shelf member (62) of the shoulder (42) and the plate (36). The mandrel (38) thereby expands radially outward to frictionally grip the cylinder liner (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Detroit Diesel Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis Reef Collier
  • Patent number: 6343784
    Abstract: A device that allows the treatment of a substrate in a machine provided for the treatment of bigger substrates and a mounting system for a substrate in this device. The device comprises a ring (24) having an external diameter equal to the diameter of these substrates, this ring being capable of setting the substrate (22) of smaller diameter. The system includes means (34) of manipulating this substrate and means (36) of heating the ring or of cooling this substrate. Application in micro-electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Dominique Jourde, GĂ©rard Turc
  • Patent number: 6341996
    Abstract: A simulation system (20) for a CNC machine tool includes a swept surface calculation engine (21) for processing workpiece data and grinding wheel data representing information about the grinding wheel (12) and its programmed path to generate a set of geometric envelopes representing the solid volume occupied by the grinding wheel (12) as it moves along its programmed path. The envelopes, workpiece data and grinding wheel data are processed by a 3-D rendering engine (22) to produce a three-dimensional perspective image of the workpiece (11) as it would appear after being ground by the grinding wheel (12). The simulation system (20) also includes a manipulation and control interface 923) which may be used for a wide variety of purposes to enhance the three-dimensional image, such as position, orientation and zoom control, control of simulated illuminated light sources, control of texture maps and color maps and overlay grids which may be superimposed on the surface of the simulated workpiece image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Anca Pty LTD
    Inventors: Glenn C. Brien, Nigel T. Stewart, Mikhail Simakov
  • Patent number: 6341770
    Abstract: A cutting board combination for use with a double basin sink having a sink divider separating the two basins. The cutting board combination includes a first cutting board that has a flat upper cutting surface and a pair of spaced apart legs fixed to the bottom surface. The legs are spaced apart to straddle the sink divider with the cutting board base supported on it with lateral edges overlapping the sink basins on either side. The cutting board combination includes a second cutting board that can be connected at an inner lateral edge to a lateral edge of the first cutting board. The second cutting board is connected to the first in such a fashion that the work surfaces of the two are coplanar. The inner lateral edge of the second cutting board is supported by the first cutting board. The second cutting board has a length sufficient so that it spans the sink basin with the outer lateral edge supported on the sink rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Inventor: Joseph P. Landherr
  • Patent number: 6339976
    Abstract: A tool for removing damaged fasteners and a method for making such tool wherein the tool (10) includes a first end (12) and a second end (14) with an outside surface (32) and an inside surface (40) defined between ends (12) and (14). A portion (46) of inside surface (40) is in the shape of an hexagonal frustum (54) that has a major end (58) and that includes spiral splines (25). Splines (25) have constant depth between the major end (58) and the minor end (56) of frustum (54) and the relief angle (£) of splines (25) decreases in the direction from minor end (56) toward major end (58). In the method for making the tool (10), a tubular section (118) is made from a tapered blank (91) by piercing one end of the tapered blank with a pierce punch (132). One end of the tubular section is then driven onto a splined punch (162) to provide splines in one end of the tubular section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Inventor: Chalmer C. Jordan