Patents Examined by Michael A Laflame, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11491569
    Abstract: Devices and methods to assist wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) are provided. A non-contact, multidirectional synchronized ultrasonic device can include multiple ultrasonic probes mounted on a nozzle of a WAAM robotic arm. The probes can include one normal probe and a plurality of lateral probes configured to rotate on a parabolic frame. The ultrasonic probe in the normal direction can act by its continual high-frequency oscillation in the arc plasma to enhance the arc push force, while the lateral probes can act on the shape of both sides of the deposit. The combined effect of the probes can generate ultrasonic waves and cavitation in the molten pool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: THE FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
    Inventors: Abderrachid Hamrani, Arvind Agarwal, Tanaji Paul
  • Patent number: 11484964
    Abstract: A resistance welding device is configured for use in combination with a resistance welder having a translating welding electrode. A first arm of the welding device is in a translating rotational engagement with a second arm thereof. The first arm of the device is engageable to a translating electrode from the resistance welder. Translation of the welding electrode of the resistance welder moves first and second electrodes to contact metal therebetween and spot weld the metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Inventor: Joran Olsson
  • Patent number: 11478016
    Abstract: There is provided a device for generating an inhalable aerosol or gas, the device including an aerosol generating material having an integrated electrical resistance heating element, so that the aerosol generating material may be heated in direct contact with the electrical resistance heating element, wherein the aerosol generating material is provided as a unitary structure or coating which may be heated to generate multiple deliveries of an inhalable aerosol or gas. There is also provided a method for fabricating the device. There is also provided the use of the device and the use of the aerosol generating material, to generate an inhalable aerosol or gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Nicoventures Trading Limited
    Inventors: Edward John, Jason Symonds, Walid Abi Aoun
  • Patent number: 11482131
    Abstract: A method includes receiving welding data corresponding to a welding session completed with a welding system, receiving a selected location from an operator, and displaying on a display one or more quality characteristics of the welding session corresponding to the selected location. The welding data includes welding parameters and quality characteristics corresponding to a plurality of points along a path of the welding session. The welding parameters include a work angle of a welding torch, a travel angle of the welding torch, a contact tip to work distance, a travel speed of the welding torch along the path of the welding session, an aim of the welding torch, or any combination thereof. The quality characteristics include porosity, undercut, spatter, underfill, overfill, or any combination thereof. The selected location corresponds to a point of the plurality of points along the path of the welding session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: William Joshua Becker
  • Patent number: 11480696
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a surface has a laser-beam machined area including an array of micro-sized conical pillars that are arranged in orthogonal rows and columns across the surface and that extend upward, the conical pillars defining deep troughs between them that are configured to absorb electrons, electromagnetic radiation, or both, the conical pillars tapering from relatively wide bases to pointed tips, the conical pillars comprising outer surfaces that are covered with a plurality of nanoparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
    Inventor: Jay A. Bieber
  • Patent number: 11470999
    Abstract: A method for operating a cooking system includes receiving information from a powered cooking accessory positioned within an interior cavity of an oven. The powered cooking accessory includes a body receivable within an interior of the oven, a first electronic device coupled with the body, and a device coupling extending from the body. The method further includes determining at least one characteristic of the powered cooking accessory and providing electrical power to the electronic device by an electrical coupling between the device coupling and a connection port within the interior cavity of the oven at a predetermined output level based on the at least one characteristic thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher A. Gregory, Nathan C. Wier
  • Patent number: 11465231
    Abstract: A laser processing apparatus of the present disclosure controls outputs of a blue laser oscillator and an infrared laser oscillator such that before a surface melting is detected on a workpiece, the workpiece is irradiated with at least blue laser light, and after the surface melting is detected on the workpiece, a power of infrared laser light with which the workpiece is irradiated is increased as compared to before the surface melting is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masahiro Mori
  • Patent number: 11465212
    Abstract: Provided are an electric motor, a laminated iron core, and a manufacturing method. In. an embodiment, the method includes S1: introducing inert gas into an additive manufacturing printing apparatus, pouring silicon steel metal particles into a fanning cylinder of the apparatus, and performing laser scanning on the silicon steel metal particles to gradually melt the silicon steel metal particles into at least one silicon steel metal layer; and S2: continuing to pour silicon steel metal particles into the forming cylinder, and stopping performing laser scanning on the silicon steel metal particles or reducing the laser power executing the laser scanning, such that the silicon steel metal particles do not entirely melt and form an insulating layer. Execution of steps S1 and S2 is alternated until a laminated iron core having a plurality of alternating silicon steel metal layers and insulating layers is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: SIEMENS LTD., CHINA
    Inventors: Chang Peng Li, Xu Hua, Kateryna Svynarenko, Guo Feng Chen
  • Patent number: 11464352
    Abstract: A device and method for steaming and presenting of food deploys a spacer that rests on top of a cookware vessel. The spacer has a lower inner flange to support a steaming rack. A leg supported serving or presentation rack is adapted for lifting, supporting and presenting the steamed food when the spacer and steaming rack are lowered over it. The spacer has a larger inner diameter than an outer diameter of the presentation rack so that the spacer may be lowered around the presentation rack to engage the steaming rack along the presentation rack. The presentation rack has a sufficient height relative to the spacer height to dispose the food proximal to or above the rim of the spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Inventors: Jacquelyn Maitram Truong, Xi Zheng
  • Patent number: 11464234
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to the field of cooking ovens for the preparation of foodstuffs in an enclosed environment including a visual flame along with a rotating cooking plate upon which foodstuffs are placed and are transported through various cooking regions before being removed from the cooking oven for consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Wood Stone Corporation
    Inventors: Harry E. Hegarty, Lawrence Byron Johnson, Kurt Eickmeyer, Bryan Martens, Greg Bird, Mark Stephenson, Brett Van Leeuwen
  • Patent number: 11465234
    Abstract: A laser soldering device includes a laser source, a lens group, a temperature sensor, and a feedback controller. The laser source emits a laser beam, which is power-adjustable, according to a control signal. The temperature sensor receives infrared rays radiated when the laser beam is irradiated to the soldering point to detect the temperature of the soldering point, and correspondingly outputs a sensing signal according to the detected temperature. When the detected temperature falls into a first temperature range based on a target temperature, the feedback controller executes a PID algorithm to calculate a predicted error value according to an error value between the detected temperature and the target temperature. The feedback controller controls the laser source according to the predicted error value, and adjusts the power of the laser beam accordingly, so that the detected temperature can be substantially equal to the target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Ren-Feng Ding, Hung-Wen Chen, Shu-Han Wu
  • Patent number: 11457636
    Abstract: A cupcake baking assembly for cooking without aluminum foil includes a pot that is fillable with water thereby facilitating the water to be boiled in the pot. In this way the water is converted to steam for cooking. A cup insert is removably positionable on the pot to be heated by the steam for cooking. A lid is positionable on the cup insert when the cup insert is positioned on the pot. A plurality of cups is provided and each of the cups is fillable with a fluid food material. Each of the cups is insertable into the cup insert. Additionally, each of the cups is comprised of a thermally conductive material such that each of the cups is in thermal communication the cup insert. In this way each of the cups cooks the fluid food material contained therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Inventor: Agatha Anakwenze
  • Patent number: 11456480
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is provided. The aerosol delivery device includes terminals configured to connect a power source to the aerosol delivery device and a heating element configured to convert electricity to heat and thereby vaporize components of an aerosol precursor composition. The aerosol delivery device also includes a boost converter configured to step up voltage from the power source to a higher voltage and an inverter configured to convert the higher voltage to a complementary negative voltage. The aerosol delivery device further includes at least one non-inverting amplifier circuit that includes an operational amplifier configured to receive the voltage from the power source as an input voltage, and receive the higher voltage and the complementary negative voltage as supply voltages. The at least one non-inverting amplifier circuit is configured to amplify the input voltage to an output voltage, and provide a continuous output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Rajesh Sur
  • Patent number: 11446764
    Abstract: A method for laser keyhole welding a stack of metal foils to a metal tab is disclosed. The method independently adjusts power in a focused center beam and power in a focused annular beam to form a weld through all the foils and the tab. The annular beam provides sufficient power to heat the metal to about melting temperature, widen a mouth of a keyhole, and stabilize a melt pool. The center beam provides sufficient additional power to form the keyhole. The power of the annular beam is sustained for a longer time than the power of the center beam. A plurality of such welds is formed to provide mechanical strength and electrical conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Corelase Oy
    Inventors: Matti Närhi, Henri Pajukoski
  • Patent number: 11446766
    Abstract: A method of making a component includes: depositing a metallic powder on a workplane; directing a beam from a directed energy source to fuse the powder in a pattern corresponding to a cross-sectional layer of the component; repeating in a cycle the steps of depositing and fusing to build up the component in a layer-by layer fashion; and during the cycle of depositing and melting, using an external heat control apparatus separate from the directed energy source to maintain a predetermined temperature profile of the component, such that the resulting component has a directionally-solidified or single-crystal microstructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Inventors: Todd Jay Rockstroh, Michael Francis Xavier Gigliotti, William Thomas Carter, David Henry Abbott, Rajendra Madhukar Kelkar
  • Patent number: 11440124
    Abstract: A joining apparatus for panel sheets and a joining method for panel sheets using the same are provided. The joining apparatus includes an element punching device which stores and supplies elements according to a specification of a panel sheet and inserts the element into a first panel sheet among different types of panel sheets. Additionally, a welding device resistively welds a part of the first panel sheet into which the element is inserted by the element punching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jae Hun Song
  • Patent number: 11445579
    Abstract: A wireless induction heating cooker is configured to be operated on an induction heating apparatus. The wireless induction heating cooker includes a main body, a lid that is configured to be coupled to an upper surface of the main body and that includes an output module, an internal pot configured to be disposed within the main body, a plurality of temperature sensors that are disposed at an outer surface of the internal pot and that are arranged along a circumferential direction of the internal pot, and a control module. The control module is configured to determine an alignment state of the main body relative to the induction heating apparatus based on measured values of the plurality of temperature sensors, and control the output module to output a guide signal corresponding to the alignment state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Byungkyu Park, Hyeunsik Nam, Wan Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 11440100
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for additive manufacturing by ultra-high-speed laser cladding. The apparatus includes a laser generator, a beam expander, and a reflector. A light exit path of the reflector is arranged facing a cladding nozzle. The cladding nozzle is connected to a powder pool through a hose and a pump in succession. A matrix is arranged below the cladding nozzle. The matrix is located on a rotary platform. A main stepping motor is fixedly mounted below the rotary platform. The main stepping motor is fixed on a lifting platform. A laser rangefinder is arranged above the matrix. During the laser cladding-based additive manufacturing process, the ultrasonic vibration device, the infrared camera, the high-speed camera, the laser rangefinder, and the radiological inspection system are turned on to monitor the laser cladding process in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Jiangsu University
    Inventors: Lan Chen, Xudong Ren, Yuzhou Sun, Xinzhou Zhang, Zhaopeng Tong, Wangfan Zhou
  • Patent number: 11440840
    Abstract: A light irradiation device includes a first reflective portion that is arranged at a concave inner surface formed so as to have a substantially arcuate shape and that permits wire-like member to be inserted into an interior thereof, at least one light-emitting portion that emits light in such fashion as to be directed toward the wire-like member from a direction which is circumferential with respect to the wire-like member, and a second reflective portion that is formed in planar fashion, at least a portion of the second reflective portion is arranged between an end of the first reflective portion and an end of the light-emitting portion in a direction circumferential with respect to the first reflective portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiro Nakajima, Kazuhiko Shinoda
  • Patent number: 11432558
    Abstract: A food processing system is provided with: a heating unit equipped with a heating mechanism for indirectly heating food; a cooling unit equipped with an air blowing cooler for cooling the food heated by the heating unit; and a conveyor for transferring the food through the heating unit and the cooling unit. The integrated food processing system allows a large amount of sterilized food having a good texture, good taste and long shelf life to be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: HAKUBAI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ikuo Ota, Yoshiyuki Ota