Patents Examined by Marc Jimenez
  • Patent number: 7062854
    Abstract: A clamping fixture for use in the assembly of a gate comprised of a number of plastic members includes a flat stationary clamping surface attached to a stationary frame and a flat moving clamping surface extending parallel to the flat clamping surface and driven toward the flat clamping surface by an actuator, so that the plastic members, assembled in the configuration of the gate, are clamped and held between the clamping surfaces. Preferably, the actuator, which includes one or more pneumatic cylinders, is adjustable along the frame to provide for the assembly of gates having different widths. Preferably, the clamping fixture additionally includes a stationary flat guiding strip extending perpendicularly from an end of the flat stationary clamping surface toward the flat moving clamping surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Woody's Lumber, Inc.
    Inventors: David Allen Greene, Anthony Mark Fabella, Herbert Rosenthal
  • Patent number: 7062842
    Abstract: A spring (18) is interposed between the sliding carriage (6) carrying a hammer (13) for driving-in and the actuator rod. The spring is mounted on the head (15) of a push rod, which carries a push contact (16) surrounded by an insulating washer (17). A O pad (20) is housed in the central opening of another insulating washer (19) supported by the spring. These detection means are activated when the spring is compressed in response to the stapling effort required at the moment when a staple comes up against the frame mouldings to be assembled. Application in frame-assembling machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Cassese Societe Anonyme
    Inventors: Pierre Cassese, Alain Cassese, Jean Cassese, Philippe Cassese
  • Patent number: 7062835
    Abstract: A joint structure for a power transmitting member includes a fiber reinforced plastic and a joint. The joint includes a joint portion for joining to an end portion of the tube, and a sealing portion formed on an end of the tube side of the joint portion. The joint portion and the sealing portion are disposed in an interior of the tube. A liquid packing compound is provided for sealing the tube and the joint. The liquid packing compound fills at least an area between the sealing portion and the tube. The sealing portion has a tapered surface, whose diameter increases toward the end of the tube. Thereby, when the joint portion is joined to the end of the tube, a clearance between the tube and the joint portion is entirely filled with the liquid packing compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Sugiyama, Katsuro Kawahara
  • Patent number: 7059051
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing fluted rolls, in particular for corrugating machines, comprises the steps of providing a fluted-roll blank which has a central longitudinal axis and a longitudinal direction that is parallel thereto and a surface; providing a grinding device for grinding, on the surface, flutings that run in the longitudinal direction, with the flutings comprising heads and roots that are parallel to each other and are regularly and alternately distributed along the circumference of the surface; and grinding fluting heads on the surface by means of the grinding device, with the fluting heads having the same cross-sectional curvature in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: BHS Corrugated Maschinen- und Anlagebau GmbH
    Inventors: Heribert Reich, Alfons Gnan, Thomas Kamm, Edmund Bradatsch, Norbert Stadele
  • Patent number: 7059031
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for replacing a grille on a vehicle. The method comprises removing the first grille that has a pattern of openings and attaching a second grille that is different from the first grille in the same location in which the first grille was located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Putco, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Elwell, Chad L. Mesenbrink
  • Patent number: 7059033
    Abstract: A method of forming a tubular member with thickened ends includes the steps of positioning a tubular member between open die halves and sealing ends of the tubular member. The method also includes the steps of applying at least nominal internal hydraulic pressure to the tubular member and progressively closing the die halves. The method includes the steps of raising the hydraulic pressure substantially within the tubular member to expand and conform the tubular member to the tubular cavity portion. The method further includes the steps of thickening a wall thickness of the axial ends of the tubular member, separating the die halves, and removing the tubular member having thickened axial ends from the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Charles J. Bruggemann
  • Patent number: 7055237
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of forming a drug eluting stent, the method comprising coupling a stent framework to a mandrel, inserting the mandrel with stent framework into an open die, the die including a forming surface including a plurality of raised indention forming portions; closing the die against the stent framework; pressing the raised indention portions into the stent framework to form indentions in the stent framework; and inserting at least one drug polymer into the indentions formed in the stent framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Thomas
  • Patent number: 7051435
    Abstract: A process for repairing a turbine component comprises overlaying a preform of a brazing material onto a surface of the turbine component, wherein the surface comprises a damaged portion; securing the preform of a brazing material to the surface; and heating the turbine component to a temperature effective to form a brazed joint between the brazing material and the turbine component. Also disclosed is a repaired turbine component repaired by the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Pazhayannur Ramanathan Subramanian, James Anthony Ruud, Laurent Cretegny
  • Patent number: 7052450
    Abstract: A rolling pin including a core, a silicone-containing jacket over the core defining a rolling surface. The jacket may be of such length and so positioned on the core as to define end regions of the jacket extending beyond the ends of the core; the jacket end regions being folded inward over the ends of the core; a cap securing to the core each folded inward end region of the jacket. A handle may be at each end of the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Fiesta Products LLC
    Inventors: Gregory C. Dua, Edward J. Bloom, Rick Sadofsky
  • Patent number: 7047619
    Abstract: A tool and method is provided for the installation of radial seals such as for example O-rings into radial grooves. The tool and method can be used to install an O-ring into a dovetailed groove of an items such as a valve stem. The tool includes a first part having a first face at an angle relative to a plane in which the plane lies and a second part having a second face opposed to the first face and that a second opposite angle relative to the plane in which the seal lies. Compressing the first and the second part towards the two faces together squeezes the seal and urges it into the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventors: Barry Wambold, Kirk VanAcker, Connie Mroch, Larry Norton
  • Patent number: 7047614
    Abstract: A method of producing an aircraft assembly tool for supporting an aircraft component comprising the steps of: determining the predetermined positions and orientations in space at which the component should be supported; designing a fixture frame to provide support at predetermined locations of the frame associated with said predetermined positions; constructing the fixture frame by selecting elongate members having predetermined lengths and connecting the elongate members together with releasable fasteners; constructing a plurality of pick-up devices, each having a receiving element for carrying the component; mounting the pick-up devices to the fixture frame at the predetermined locations; and moving each receiving element about/around the orthogonal axes to align the receiving element with a respective predetermined position and orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: BAE Systems plc
    Inventors: William S Scott, Simon Cheetham, Russell P McKeown, Kevin J Fowler
  • Patent number: 7047615
    Abstract: A method of making combustion turbine transition duct bodies without longitudinal welds by hydroforming two duct bodies back to back with bellows thrusters secured to the duct body open ends. This enables the manufacturing of duct bodies with detailed features and high pressure without using compression cylinders. Multi-layer transition duct bodies can also be assembled with layers of different materials, for example, having a heat-resistant layer inside and high strength layer outside. They can be assembled using cold shrinking and heat expanding. In addition, anti-fretting and anti-vibration coatings can be applied between the layers for improved performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Inventor: Richard S. Norek
  • Patent number: 7043817
    Abstract: A method of aligning a crankcase to a non-orbiting scroll includes the steps of forming initial alignment surfaces on both the non-orbiting scroll and the crankcase. Further, when the non-orbiting scroll and the crankcase are machined, precision drilled holes are drilled into each of the two. These holes are drilled relative to datum surfaces on both the non-orbiting scroll and the crankcase. Thus, once the two have been pre-positioned, the precision drilled holes are aligned and a threaded bolt is inserted into the precision drilled holes. The threaded bolt ensures that the two will be radially positioned properly relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Scroll Technologies
    Inventors: Michael P. Powell, Edward A. Tomayko, Carlos A. Zamudio
  • Patent number: 7043836
    Abstract: When forces given in the processes of machining in the cross direction and machining for forming a groove are adjusted and the machining is repeatedly conducted by a plurality of times, the valve engaging portion (10) is machined, and the metal flow (30) formed between the valve guide walls (28, 29) and the connecting wall (8) is prevented from being cut off. Therefore, the rigidity of the valve engaging portion (10) can be ensured, and the quality of the rocker arm (1) can be stabilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobutsuna Motohashi
  • Patent number: 7043814
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided with position sensors. When the apparatus has moved one tubular into alignment with another tubular a button on a remote control console is pressed to memorize the position. After the next tubular has been gripped by the apparatus a “recall” button is pressed and the apparatus automatically moves the next tubular to the memorized position. This saves vital seconds in joining tubulars and also reduces the likelihood of threads being damaged due to misalignment of the tubulars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimmy Lawrence Hollingsworth, Bernd Reinholdt
  • Patent number: 7043813
    Abstract: In a bond step, one end of ground electrode is bonded to a metallic housing. In a provisional bending step performed after the bonding step, an intermediate portion of the ground electrode is bent with a pressing die so that the other end of the ground electrode is opposed to a distal end surface of a center electrode. In a regular bending step performed after the provisional bending step, the position of the other end of the ground electrode is adjusted so as to adjust the dimension of a spark gap. Receiving dies are prepared for regulating a shift range of a distal end surface of the other end of the ground electrode in a direction perpendicular to an axial line of the center electrode in the process of bending the intermediate portion of the ground electrode in the provisional bending step. In the provisional bending step, the intermediate portion of the ground electrode is bent until the distal end surface of the other end of the ground electrode is brought into contact with the receiving dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Hanai
  • Patent number: 7039996
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for replacing the gripping member of the handle of a bucket. The replacement gripping member includes a plurality of interfitting pieces which can be installed on the handle of a bucket without requiring that the handle be removed from the bucket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Inventor: Timothy M. Crawley
  • Patent number: 7040017
    Abstract: A fluid delivery module for use in preparing a substrate is provided. The fluid delivery module includes a process bowl designed to contain a substrate to be prepared. The process bowl has a bottom wall and a sidewall. The fluid delivery module further includes a fluid delivery ring configured to be attached to the sidewall of the process bowl. The fluid delivery ring includes a plurality of inlet and outlet pairs. Each of the plurality of inlet and outlet pairs is defined in the fluid ring and is designed to receive a respective supply tube. Each respective supply tube has an end that terminates at each of the outlets of the fluid delivery ring and is configured to direct fluid onto a surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen M. Smith, Randolph E. Treur
  • Patent number: 7040018
    Abstract: A method is provided of radially expanding a connector for interconnecting a first tube to a second tube, the connector including a pin member extending into a box member. The pin and box members have cooperating support means arranged to support the pin member so as to prevent radially inward movement of the end portion of the pin member relative to the box member. The method involves radially expanding the connector, and supporting the pin member so as to prevent radially inward movement of the end portion of the pin member relative to the box member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Wilhelmus Christianus Maria Lohbeck, Franz Marketz, Erik Marco Nijveld, Antonius Leonardus Maria Wubben
  • Patent number: 7040000
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a golf club head with a disparate metallic material provided on a hosel side of the head, which can improve degree of freedom in the design of a head. A head body is made up of a columnar material body 13 made from a forgeable metallic material such as copper and a disparate metallic member 12 as an axial member. The disparate metallic member 12 has its proximal end 12A inserted into a bore 14 formed along a center of axis of the material body 13, while its distal end 12B protruded in the axial direction X. The material body 13 is placed on a lower die 22 which is formed with a mold 21 defining a contour of the head body 11, and then an upper die is pressed thereto. Thus, hot forging process is carried out to form a golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: K.K. Endo Seisakusho
    Inventor: Hitoshi Takeda