Patents Examined by Marc W. Butler
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Patent number: 5802705Abstract: A tool is provided for assembling cross groove constant velocity universal joints. The assembly tool comprises a cup having an open end and a base opposite the open end. The open end has an inwardly tapered rim. The dimension between the base and the rim is established to align tracks of the inner race of the universal joint with the rim. A ball cage is held in position surrounding the inner race, and balls are inserted on the rim, in the cage, and against the inner race so that they are adequately engaged in the inner race for assembly. When all of the balls are positioned in tracks of the inner race, and within the cage, an outer race is brought into position over the rim. The rim is tapered such that a sufficient periphery of the balls is exposed above the rim for engagement with tracks of the outer race. The assemblage is then inverted, allowing the inner race to drop into the outer race, carrying the balls along the tracks and the cage with the balls.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 1997Date of Patent: September 8, 1998Assignee: Aircraft Gear CorporationInventor: Sean M. Carlini
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Patent number: 5799380Abstract: The invention proposes a rapid, safe, and economic device for assembling a servo valve with an input shaft, an output shaft and a valve sleeve in a hydraulically centered position by:a) Forming a preassembled unit consisting of the output shaft and the input shaft;b) Clamping the valve sleeve into a rotatable position, however a position in which it is fixed in the axial direction;c) Inserting the preassembled unit into the valve sleeve, with said preassembled unit being axially movable, but positioned in a nonrotatable fashion such that the valve sleeve and the output shaft adjoin one another and can be turned relative to one another;d) Charging the preassembled servo valve with hydraulic pressure;e) Centering the servo valve by turning the valve sleeve; andf) Pressing the preassembled unit into the valve sleeve such that the output shaft and the valve sleeve are pressed together within the overlapping region.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 1995Date of Patent: September 1, 1998Assignee: TRW Fahrwerksysteme GmbH & Co.KGInventor: Arnd Pfeifer
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Patent number: 5799399Abstract: A wall forming apparatus for constructing monolithic concrete footings and walls of a building foundation which includes a plurality of relatively light-weight prefabricated wall forming panels connected together and positioned to form a plurality of opposing monolithic footing and wall forming units, each panel having an outer rigid framework from which an adjustable footing form depends, the opposing footing forms of the opposing footing and wall forming units being devoid of any structure extending directly therebetween, and the framework of each panel being constructed of sufficient rigidity and with sufficient cross-sectional dimensions so as to prevent canting and sagging of the footing and wall forming units formed by the panels when interconnected.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 1996Date of Patent: September 1, 1998Inventor: Allan A. Schultz
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Patent number: 5795279Abstract: A paint roller including a roller, a handle, and a bridge and socket assembly connected to the handle to hold the roller, wherein the roller includes a paint storage barrel for storing paint, the paint storage barrel having a fixed end cap at one end, an opening at an opposite end, and a plurality of longitudinal slots equally spaced around the periphery; a first cylindrical sponge fixedly mounted around the paint storage barrel to absorb paint from the paint storage barrel through the longitudinal slots of the paint storage barrel; a hollow cylindrical connector connected to the opening of the paint storage barrel, having a coupling portion at one end fastened to the paint storage barrel, an inner thread at an opposite end, and a plurality of longitudinal slots equally spaced around the periphery; a second cylindrical sponge fixedly mounted around the connector; and a detachable end cap having an outer thread at an inner side threaded into the inner thread of the connector and a handle at an outer side for tType: GrantFiled: March 19, 1996Date of Patent: August 18, 1998Inventor: Jin-Fu Shieh
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Patent number: 5794341Abstract: A tool is provided for assembling cross groove constant velocity universal joints. The assembly tool comprises a cup having an open end and a base opposite the open end. The open end has an inwardly tapered rim. The dimension between the base and the rim is established to align tracks of the inner race of the universal joint with the rim. A ball cage is held in position surrounding the inner race, and balls are inserted on the rim, in the cage, and against the inner race so that they are adequately engaged in the inner race for assembly. When all of the balls are positioned in tracks of the inner race, and within the cage, an outer race is brought into position over the rim. The rim is tapered such that a sufficient periphery of the balls is exposed above the rim for engagement with tracks of the outer race. The assemblage is then inverted, allowing the inner race to drop into the outer race, carrying the balls along the tracks and the cage with the balls.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 1995Date of Patent: August 18, 1998Assignee: Aircraft Gear CorporationInventor: Sean M. Carlini
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Patent number: 5794339Abstract: A method to automatically align the internal splines (20) of a torque converter (16) to mating external splines (18) of a transmission subassembly (14) during the assembly of the torque converter (16) to the transmission subassembly (14). The apparatus includes a robotic end effector assembly (26) coupled to an arm (22) of a robot (24). The end effector assembly (26) includes a compliance mechanism (51) and a distance sensor (48) that provide for compliance to allow the splines to align and detect if the splines are not properly mating. The end effector assembly (26) also includes an oscillator assembly (69) that is activated to cause non-aligned splines to become aligned during the automated assembly process.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 1994Date of Patent: August 18, 1998Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Thomas E. Pearson, Thomas James
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Patent number: 5791047Abstract: A method of making a reinforced structural member comprising a solid structural member of recycled plastic having a reinforcing bar inserted therein, extending inwardly from one surface. The solid structural member is formed by extrusion into a desired shape. A notch is formed in the solid structural member extending inwardly with respect to the surface against which force is to be exerted. An untensioned reinforcing bar formed of a material having characteristics of resilience and compressibility different from that of the structural member is inserted and locked into the notch. The reinforcing bar is complementary in shape to the notch, and is held in place by the density of the solid structural member and fasteners. In this way, two dissimilar materials, neither of which alone has sufficient strength, rigidity, or "memory" can be combined to create a durable, inexpensive set of components which substantially exceed the mechanical qualities of either material by itself.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 1995Date of Patent: August 11, 1998Assignee: Victor-Stanely, Inc.Inventor: Gerald P. Skalka
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Patent number: 5788619Abstract: A hydrostatic self-loading controlled deflection roll has a central, hydraulically operated shoe which extends substantially the entire cross-machine width of the rotating roll shell, and two outboard shoes disposed, in the cross-machine direction, outside of the nip loading zone. The use of the outboard shoes permits the use of a single, full-length nip shoe within the nip loading zone, which simplifies control and provides for more uniform temperature distribution. The outboard shoes also provide better crown control. The outboard shoes are preferably disposed within a head flange area of the roll, at the location where spherical bearings would normally be present in a conventional roll. A bearing ring is disposed axially outside of the head flange and around a portion of a bearing box at either end of the roll for rotatably supporting the roll shell about bearings in the bearing box.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 1997Date of Patent: August 4, 1998Assignee: Beloit Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Dale A. Brown, Arnold J. Roerig
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Patent number: 5787579Abstract: A dynamic pressure bearing has a large load-carrying capacity, and a ridge portion defined between adjacent grooves is prevented from damaging an opposite surface. The bearing includes an axial bearing surface having dynamic pressure generating grooves formed thereon by plastic working. The bearing has ridge portions defined between the adjacent dynamic pressure generating grooves. A top end of the ridge portion has rounded edge portions and a flat bearing surface defined between the edge portions. Since the edge portions of the top end are rounded, an opposite surface is prevented from being damaged. Further, the presence of the flat bearing surface defined between the edge portions results in increased load-carrying capacity.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 1997Date of Patent: August 4, 1998Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Takahashi, Yasuo Takamura
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Patent number: 5781994Abstract: A process for the micromechanical fabrication of nozzles for ink jets includes forming a groove on a surface of a first substrate, securing the first substrate to a second substrate to form an assembly in which the second substrate covers the groove to form a channel having walls, and then forming an internal protective coating within the channel by thermal oxidation of the walls of the channel. The first and second substrates are then cut along a plane extending perpendicular to the channel thereby to form a nozzle for dispensing a liquid jet. Scales, formed as a result of the cutting operations, are formed on the internal protective coating rather than directly on the walls of the channel. These scales then are removed from the nozzle by eliminating the internal protective coating.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 1995Date of Patent: July 21, 1998Assignee: Commissariate a l'Energie AtomiqueInventors: Yves Fouillet, Gilles Delapierre, Marie-Therese Delaye
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Patent number: 5774982Abstract: A method of attaching and sealing a fluid conduit to a refrigerant receiver drier of the type formed of an aluminum canister with a welded header in which is formed the inlet and outlet ports. An annular rib is formed in the header about the inlet port. An annular convolution is formed about the conduit to be attached adjacent the end and a resilient seal ring assembled over the tube conduit end and registers against the face or side of the convolution. The end of the tube conduit is then inserted in the port and the annular rib deformed over the convolution to retain the tube conduit in the port and sealed against the seal ring.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 1994Date of Patent: July 7, 1998Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Wayne K. Hutchison, William N. Eybergen
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Patent number: 5774964Abstract: A process for forming a profiled element from a generally longitudinally extending extruded sheet-form member having a plurality of transversely spaced longitudinally extended ribs upstanding therefrom is provided. The process includes the step of removing longitudinally spaced apart portions from some of said ribs by means of a transversely acting punching means.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 1995Date of Patent: July 7, 1998Assignee: Redpoint Thermalloy, LimitedInventors: Francis Edward Fisher, Robin Douglas Johnson, David George Gove, Michael Dennis Wade
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Patent number: 5774988Abstract: A process for assembling a linear motion bearing using a retainerless saddle assembly. Such retainerless saddle assembly is composed of a bearing body having escape-ball through holes, steel balls, and a pair of end caps.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 1996Date of Patent: July 7, 1998Inventor: Kenichi Hattori
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Patent number: 5768784Abstract: A coating system and method for facilitating the cleaning of hydrodynamic bearings and their associated structure is effectuated by applying a surface energy lowering coating to selected portions of the bearing other than the surface tension seal producing gaps thereof prior to a lubricant fluid fill. The coating system and method of the present invention may also advantageously be utilized to produce a secondary barrier seal extending a relatively short distance within and adjoining the opening of the surface tension seal producing gaps.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 1996Date of Patent: June 23, 1998Assignee: Quantum CorporationInventors: Carl D. Williams, Shuo-Hao Chen, Jackie Cordova
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Patent number: 5768778Abstract: An acoustic liner jet engine inlet barrel is formed from a perforated permeable skin, a honeycomb core, and a solid facesheet, each of which is formed in a one-piece configuration such that at most only a narrow single fore-to-aft splice, or no spice at all, is present in the finished product. The acoustic modal content remains unaffected, thus preserving a high degree of liner effectiveness, increasing the total active acoustic area of the barrel while decreasing its weight, and increasing its durability.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 1996Date of Patent: June 23, 1998Assignee: Northrop Grumman CorporationInventors: Robert Elon Anderson, Charles A. Parente
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Patent number: 5768780Abstract: This invention relates to a method of sealing a cylinder head shaped to fit against an end of a cylinder liner, to the cylinder liner by creating an annular ring on the cylinder side of the cylinder head, creating a matching a annular rebate in the cylinder head end of the cylinder liner, screw threading the ring and rebate and screwing the cylinder head and cylinder liner together. An interference fit on a separate portion of the ring and rebate seals the cylinder head and cylinder liner as they are screwed together.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 1995Date of Patent: June 23, 1998Inventors: Dale Graham Hobson, Johan Christoffel Adendorff
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Patent number: 5769769Abstract: A powered paint roller assembly for delivering paint to the roller through a handle, a tubular connection from the handle to a roller housing which will deliver paint to one end interior of a cylindrical paint roller which roller has a plurality of passages therethrough to allow paint to pass onto the nap of the roller for application to the desired surface. The tubular connection from handle to roller is provided with either a mechanical fluid flow knuckle or a resilient connection, either of which allow the roller to be shifted from a position perpendicular to the handle or parallel thereto or to positions intermediate thereof. The other end of the roller is provided with a removable edger device which prevents paint from being applied outwardly of such other end.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 1996Date of Patent: June 23, 1998Assignee: Wagner Spray Tech CorporationInventor: Anthony J. Torntore
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Patent number: 5758421Abstract: A method for manufacturing a fluid bearing of dynamic pressure type by processing an inner peripheral surface of a sleeve bore to form a dynamic pressure-generating groove. An apparatus includes a guide shaft for being coaxially inserted into the sleeve bore while being rotated and fed axially. The shaft has first and second guide holes, and a plurality of balls held in the first and second guide holes. The balls are harder than the sleeve. Also, a diameter of a circumscribed circle about the balls is set to be larger than an inner diameter of the bore of the sleeve.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 1995Date of Patent: June 2, 1998Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventor: Takafumi Asada
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Patent number: 5752318Abstract: A hydrodynamic radial bearing including a cylindrical body having an inner wall and an outer wall, at least one gutter along the inner wall and at least one wedge-shaped recess in fluid receiving communication with the at last one gutter. The at least one wedge has a wide portion immediately adjacent the gutter and a narrow portion located away from the wide portion along the circumference of the inner wall.The bearing is manufactured by inserting the bearing into a fixture having at least one deforming protuberance located along an interior wall of the fixture so that the at least one protuberance contacts the outer wall of the bearing and elastically deforms the inner wall of the bearing. Then a machining operation is performed along the inner wall to remove the deformed portion of the inner wall. The bearing is then removed from the fixture and the machined portion of the wall retracts, forming at least one recess.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 1995Date of Patent: May 19, 1998Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand CompanyInventor: Heimir Fannar
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Patent number: 5752312Abstract: A tube transfer device which includes a tube conveyor for transporting processed tubes from an entry location to an exit location thereon. The tube conveyor includes a plurality of first tube holders thereon which are adapted to hold the processed tubes so that axes thereof will extend parallel to one another and be laterally spaced apart a first distance from one another at the aforesaid entry location. A movable tube shuttle is provided for shifting processed tubes between a first position and a second position located adjacent the aforesaid entry location to the tube conveyor. The tube shuttle includes movable second tube holders adapted to receive the processed tubes when at the aforesaid first position and while maintaining a second distance between the processed tubes.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1996Date of Patent: May 19, 1998Assignee: Burr Oak Tool & Gauge Company, Inc.Inventors: Galen B. Harman, Derrick S. Small