Patents Examined by Matthew P Travers
  • Patent number: 12043058
    Abstract: Wheels for use on vehicles and methods of manufacturing vehicle wheels are described in the present disclosure. According to one embodiment, a method includes a step of manufacturing a wheel that includes a rim, a center disk, and a plurality of spokes. The rim may include a substantially-cylindrical barrel adapted to seal a tubeless tire. The center disk may include a central bore adapted for engagement with an axle of a vehicle. Also, the plurality of spokes may be adapted to connect the center disk to the rim. The method further includes the step of deforming outwardly-facing surfaces of the spokes using one or more hammering or punching instruments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventor: Petter Allström
  • Patent number: 12036642
    Abstract: A system for removing a panel insert from a panel includes a main housing. A loading cap is coupled to the main housing. A tension knob is coupled to the main housing. The tension knob is configured to couple to a puller rod. A tension spring is within the main housing. The loading cap is configured to set the tension spring at an initial tension. The tension knob is configured to set the tension spring at a subsequent tension. A heater is configured to apply heat to the panel insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Andrew William Mueller, Terrence C. Seet, John C. Osborne
  • Patent number: 12036749
    Abstract: A method for joining composite rods with tubular shape includes internal and external collars applied to the ends of the composite rod and deformed via unidirectional compressive load applied by a clamp in the radial direction of the composite rod cross-section. The resulting plastic deformation of the metal collars and composite rod interlock those components to support both compressive and tensile loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark R. Gurvich
  • Patent number: 12023725
    Abstract: An apparatus for threading a tool unit onto an elongate structural element. The apparatus has a holding arrangement for holding it on a feed device, a tool unit to be threaded onto the elongate structural element. The tool unit has a tool axis and a vibration unit connected to the tool unit and configured to generate a periodic force in at least one first spatial direction that runs transversely with respect to the tool axis. First and second coupling components, held elastically on one another, are provided. The first coupling component is connected to the holding arrangement, the second coupling component is connected to the tool unit. The vibration unit is operated, during a feed movement of the holding arrangement for threading the tool unit onto the elongate structural element, to add an additional, periodically varying transverse component to a feed force acting on the tool unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Christof Borrmann
  • Patent number: 12023957
    Abstract: A method for producing an automobile rim made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy for a wheel of an automobile, the automobile rim having a rim bed bounded on opposite sides by an outer flange and an inner flange, a hub with a center recess and a bolt circle, as well as a rim center connecting the rim bed and the hub to one another, the rim center being designed with a plurality of spokes spaced apart in the circumferential direction with respect to the longitudinal center axis of the automobile rim. The automobile rim is produced in one piece and continuously in a casting mold by die casting of a casting material, wherein the automobile rim has, at least in some areas, a low wall thickness not exceeding 15 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Jaan Mattes Reiling, Jan Gaugler, Marc Hummel
  • Patent number: 12017717
    Abstract: An assembly system is provided for automotive lamps and an operation method thereof. In the invention, three kinds of function robots are responsible for the transmission work of the workpieces among various functional stations, which realizes automatic coating, fastening, and whole lamp performance testing, etc. Meanwhile, the invention provides an assembly system with a bilateral assembly line operating simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Miguel Lebrato-Rastrojo, Thomas Albert Röbbecke, Ingo Engler, Petr Chladek, Frantisek Jane, Jun Yue, Tao Hu, Wei Hu
  • Patent number: 12011792
    Abstract: A loading workstation comprises a docking station including a first transmission device adapted to transmit a carrier for loading components, and a mobile vehicle. The mobile vehicle includes a second transmission device, a feeding device and a loading device. The second transmission device is adapted to dock with the first transmission device to allow the carrier to be continuously transmitted on the first transmission device and the second transmission device. The feeding device is adapted to supply components to be loaded. The loading device is adapted to load the supplied components onto the carrier that has been transferred to the second transmission device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignees: Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH
    Inventors: Jian Cao, An (Joshua) Yang, Lvhai (Samuel) Hu, Dandan (Emily) Zhang, Fengchun (Fred) Xie, Yun (Shanghai) Liu, Roberto Francisco-Yi Lu, Xianghao (Jorge) Bao
  • Patent number: 12012240
    Abstract: Machine (10) and method for the automatic treatment of components of inhalers, in particular cartomizers for electronic cigarettes, wherein each component has a central body, preferably of tubular shape, having a lower end part normally protected by a removable lower cap and an upper end part normally protected by a removable upper cap. Upstream and downstream from one or more work stations (S3) and/or one or more inspection stations (S4) there are, respectively, a removal station (S2), configured to selectively and automatically remove the caps from the respective central bodies, and a repositioning station (S5), configured to selectively and automatically return the caps to the corresponding central bodies of the components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: I.M.A. INDUSTRIA MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE S.P.A.
    Inventor: Carlo Zaniboni
  • Patent number: 12006917
    Abstract: A nacelle-mounted multiple-appliance lift system has a first lifting appliance and a second lifting appliance mounted in a nacelle of a wind turbine. The first and second lifting appliances are each mounted on main bearing housing securements, gearbox pillow blocks, or both the main bearing housing securements and the gearbox pillow blocks. The first and second lifting appliances share one or both of the main bearing housing securements and the gearbox pillow blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: LiftWerx Holdings Inc.
    Inventor: Glen D. Aitken
  • Patent number: 12004982
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for crimping a medical device are disclosed. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to devices, systems, and methods for reducing the diameter of a collapsible heart valve prosthesis to be loaded onto a delivery device. The devices, systems, and methods using at least one funnel to crimp the heart valve prosthesis and load it onto the delivery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC VASCULAR GALWAY
    Inventors: Niall Duffy, Marian Lally, Philip Haarstad, Frank Harewood, Igor Kovalsky, Jason Quill, Daniel Gelfman, Ana Menk, Darren Janzig, Shyam Gokaldas, Kenneth Dale Warnock, Jr.
  • Patent number: 12000750
    Abstract: A method for coupling a first tubular component including a threaded portion with a second tubular component including a threaded portion, which includes: engaging the first tubular component on the second tubular component; rotating the first tubular component relative to the second tubular component in order to screw the threaded portions together; obtaining a set of points constituting a curve that represents the torque applied during the screwing of the first tubular component until an end position as a function of the number of turns performed by the first tubular component relative to the second tubular component; comparing parameters of the curve obtained with one or more reference curve(s) of a database in which each reference curve is associated with an assessment of the quality of the coupling; and assessing the quality of the coupling according to the step of comparing the curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: VALLOUREC OIL AND GAS FRANCE
    Inventors: Celine Sches, Denis Bourlart
  • Patent number: 11992893
    Abstract: When a drive unit 5 drives to rotate a first rotator 6 and a second rotator 7 relative to one another in a first relative positional relationship R1 toward one side, graspers 8 turn toward the one side to cause respective pawl portions 8c to advance into a detachment operation space S1 such that the pawl portions 8c can contact an electrode 10 set in the detachment operation space S1, and when the drive unit drives to rotate the first rotator 6 and the second rotator 7 relative to one another in a second relative positional relationship R2 toward another side, the graspers 8 turn toward the other side to cause the respective pawl portions 8c to advance into the detachment operation space S1 such that the pawl portions 8c can contact an electrode 10 set in the detachment operation space S1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: KYOKUTOH CHINA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junliang Liu, Xiande Yang
  • Patent number: 11986891
    Abstract: The machining method uses a tool to machine a workpiece set in a jig, the workpiece has a plate-like web part arc-shaped in plan view and a flange part bent and arranged vertically from an edge along the arc shape, the tool has an end cutting edge and a peripheral cutting edge, and the jig has a surface where the web part is placed and a contacting surface where the flange part comes into surface contact. The machining method includes: pressing the flange part against the contacting surface; cutting the flange part by the peripheral cutting edge by feeding the tool in an arc direction of the arc shape; and cutting the web part by the end cutting edge by feeding the tool in the arc direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignees: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD., AT ROBOTICS INC.
    Inventors: Jun Eto, Joji Asano, Manabu Hayashi, Tsukasa Takenaka
  • Patent number: 11982977
    Abstract: The method of manufacturing a timepiece shaft (1) includes grinding a ceramic piece, especially to form a balance shaft (1), having a functional portion (2a; 2b) including at least one part (221a; 221b) of a pivot-shank (22a; 22b) and/or at least one part (211a; 211b) of a pivot (21a; 21b), the first functional portion being made of ceramic and a first outer diameter (D1) of the first functional portion being less than 0.5 mm, or less than 0.4 mm, or less than 0.2 mm, or less than 0.1 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: ROLEX SA
    Inventor: Vannina Linck
  • Patent number: 11974917
    Abstract: A crimping device for reducing the size of prosthetic heart valve devices and other medical devices. A hydraulically operated piston advances a pusher toward an opening of a funnel. An interior surface of the funnel is configured to provide substantially uniform compression forces to a prosthetic heart valve device between the pusher and the funnel as the pusher advances the prosthetic heart valve device into the funnel. A system may comprise the crimping device and a prosthetic heart valve device positioned between the pusher and the funnel. A technique for using the crimping device includes delivering a pressurized fluid and crimping a prosthetic heart valve device using the interior surface of the funnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
    Inventors: Paraic Frisby, Eveanne Slattery, John Gallagher
  • Patent number: 11963871
    Abstract: Devices and methods for crimping a prosthetic heart valve onto a delivery device are described. In some embodiments, valves are crimped over an inflatable balloon and between proximal and distal shoulders mounted on a shaft inside the balloon. Crimping methods can include multiple compression steps with the valve located in different axial positions relative to the crimping jaws at each different step. In some methods, the valve may extend partially outside of the crimping jaws during certain crimping steps, such that the crimping force is only applied to the part of the valve that is inside the jaws. Exemplary crimping devices can include two or more adjacent sets of jaws that close down to different inner diameters, such that different parts of a valve get compressed to different outer diameters at the same time during a single crimping step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nicholas Brandon Aders, Kristen Hicks, Gil Senesh, Michael R. Bialas, Tung T. Le, Sean Chow, Thanh Huy Le
  • Patent number: 11958148
    Abstract: The description relates to a joining head for fastening a fastening element by a die to the surface of a component with a gripper that can be linearly displaced in a first displacement direction RG and a magazine that can be linearly displaced in a second displacement direction RM. The magazine contains a plurality of fastening elements, with the first displacement direction RG running transversely to the second displacement direction RM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Eckold GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Markus Klinge, Martin Schneider, Jens Borchers, Sebastian Hoppe
  • Patent number: 11951577
    Abstract: A mounting/dismounting device for mounting/dismounting a connecting pin used for an end-to-end assembly of two frame elements includes a mounting/dismounting rod having a longitudinal axis, a head adapted to cooperate with a screwdriver, and a rod body having a proximal portion and a threaded distal portion. The device also includes a base supporting a nut and having an abutment portion shaped to bear on one of the two frame elements, the threaded distal portion being provided to be screwed into the nut, a proximal stop mounted freely in rotation on the proximal portion of the rod body, and a bushing mounted around the rod body between the nut and the proximal stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: MANITOWOC CRANE GROUP FRANCE
    Inventor: Hugues Durand
  • Patent number: 11944758
    Abstract: A method is used to manufacture a surgical guidewire that includes an outer coil assembly, a position sensor, a communication wire, an adhesive, a core wire, a hollow tube, and an atraumatic tip. The outer coil assembly has an outer coil that extends distally from a proximal coil retainer to a distal coil retainer. The position sensor is located distally within the outer coil assembly and is configured to be in communication with a processor via the communication wire. The core wire is between an outer coil proximal portion and the hollow tube. A distal end of the hollow tube is bonded to the atraumatic tip. The method includes affixing the atraumatic tip to the distal end of the hollow tube with the adhesive. The adhesive is constructed of instant glue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Acclarent, Inc.
    Inventors: Jetmir Palushi, Fatemeh Akbarian, Henry F. Salazar, Madison K Vanosdoll
  • Patent number: 11938576
    Abstract: A system and method for threading a torque tube through an opening within a U-bolt and module rail device is described. The system and method provide aligned horizontal movement of the torque tube across an assembly frame resulting in the torque tube being threaded through a plurality of U-bolt and module rail devices. After the threading process is complete, the threaded U-bolt and module rail devices are secured in place on the torque tube to allow coupling of solar panels to the module rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Terabase Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer June Bullockus, Dylan Harper, Johann Fritz Karkheck, Adam Hansel