Patents Examined by Michael J. McKeon
  • Patent number: 5353616
    Abstract: For closing Pittsburgh-type rectilinear seams, as in conventional sheet metal heating and air conditioning ducts. The present machine, with only a single seaming roll, closes seams through 45.degree. to 90.degree. on an advancing stroke, and burnishes them on the return stroke. The machine functions without adjustment throughout substantially the entire range of sheet metal thicknesses normally utilized. Of particular advantage in manufacturing duct sections having integral end flanges, only an initial short length of seam need be peened manually before the duct elements to be seemed are clamped in place for completion. Workplace noise is greatly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Engel Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Herbert J. Fischer, Dale R. Foster, John A. Fahland
  • Patent number: 5335526
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing rigid disk substrates wherein the conventional process is modified to include a hot press function performed at the end of the fabrication process. The hot press function is performed so as to produce a flat substrate by causing the blank to yield, avoiding flow of either the blank or its overlay coating. The hot press temperature is coordinated with subsequent user process thermal cycle to avoid annealing by that cycle. The platens of the hot press are renewable with exact replacement replicas of master surfaces exhibiting a precise texture pattern ranging from an exact character down to a visibly featureless surface. That precise texture is embossed into the surface of the overlay without modifying that surface's epitaxy character. The process is extended beyond what is normal, by providing compliant platens having replica faces for removing asparity defects from post memory film deposition surfaces, restoring the substrate surface character to the finished disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Inventors: Marvin C. Garrison, deceased, by Eleanor Garrison, legal representative
  • Patent number: 5316520
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for forming threads of varying pitch on a work piece, by first producing a partial thread and groove whose pitch does not vary in accordance with a pattern of pitch variation desired for the final product, and then reshaping the partial thread and groove to a final form whose pitch does vary in accordance with the desired pattern. The two steps may be performed by a single tool having a series of thread cutting projections which form the partial thread, and having one or two additional projections which then reshape the partial thread to its final form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Inventor: William P. Green
  • Patent number: 5301529
    Abstract: A close wound coil is formed by a sequence of steps including supplying a wire to be formed into a coil onto a rotating mandrel by means of a guide wheel and urging the wire against the mandrel by means of a pressure wheel so as to form a coil. The formed coil is allowed to free itself from engagement with the mandrel from a point immediately following that at which the wire is urged against the mandrel by the pressure wheel to the end of the mandrel so that the formed coil, although carried by the mandrel, is unrestrained relative to the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: Zortech International Limited
    Inventors: Ali Paybarah, Joseph A. McWilliams
  • Patent number: 5301528
    Abstract: A device for non-cutting manufacturing of an annular part having external teeth includes a core tool that supports the blank from which the annular part is manufactured and is axially displaceable between two profiling rollers arranged diametrically opposite each other, and a separate rotating drive for each of the core tool and the two profiled rollers. The device further includes a computer element which controls the three rotating drives for synchronizing rotational speeds of the core tool and the two profiling rollers. The computer element also controls radial adjustment of the two rollers with their respective full-height regions with respect to the core tool by a calibration amount at the conclusion of the shaping operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignees: Langstein & Schemann GmbH, Herzing & Schroth GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Gunter Hofmann, Willi Schroth, Erwin Klein
  • Patent number: 5299441
    Abstract: A method of making an elongated mandrel having an end integral with a drill section, with the method including the steps of subjecting a single columnar piece of material to the heading process so as to make a blank N composed of the mandrel, a short stem having one end integral with the end of the mandrel and having a diameter D greater than a diameter of the mandrel, and a flange formed integral with the other end of the stem. The short stem is then cold forged to produce the drill section having end edges (7a) and (7b) facing the flange, and, subsequently, the drill section is trimmed so as to remove the flange together with a scrap resulting from the cold forging of the stem, in such a manner that the mandrel having the integral drill section can be mass produced from the single piece of raw material, efficiently at a reduced cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: Yugenkaisha Shinjo Seisakusho
    Inventor: Katsumi Shinjo
  • Patent number: 5299351
    Abstract: This invention is intended to provide a continuous parts feeder capable of continuously feeding parts to a metal mold installed in a pressure machine such as a press.An actual example of this invention consists of a parts transport pipe (40) that uses compressed air to feed parts, magazines (42, 44) that feed parts sequentially to this parts transfer pipe (40) with compressed air, and a coupling device (46) that can selectively switch the entrance of the parts transport pipe (40) between the outlets of at least two magazines (42, 44). It will also be equipped with an auxiliary compressed air supply device (57) that supplies auxiliary compressed air to the inside of the parts transport pipe according to information from the parts detector (56) which determines whether there are or are not parts inside the parts transport pipe (40), so that the transport of parts inside the parts transport pipe is performed smoothly. The coupling device (46) is automatically controlled by the automatic control device (48).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: Multifastener Corporation
    Inventors: Takao Takahashi, Hiroshi Takehara
  • Patent number: 5297410
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a tube, comprising the application respectively to one side of a metal strip 1 a first layer 2 of a first metal which is brazeable and to the other side of the metal strip 1 a second layer 3 of a second metal which is different from the first metal, and, after application of said layers 2,3, rolling of the strip 1 in order to form a tube having at least two walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Bundy International Limited
    Inventor: Robert W. J. Goff
  • Patent number: 5297997
    Abstract: A hand-held tool is provided for applying threads to an earring post, to enable the earring post to thereafter receive a clutch member in a non-slip relationship. This novel tool comprises an elongate member of generally cylindrical configuration, around one end of which a cap member may be removably secured, such as by the use of interfitting threads. The one end of the elongate member defines a flat recess of circular configuration designed to receive therein, a flat circular die equipped with centrally disposed female threads. The recess is slightly shallower than the thickness of the die, and the die is preferably held in a non-rotative position in the recess by the internally threaded cap being tightened into firm contact with the threaded end of the elongate member. The cap member has a centrally disposed hole therein, into which an earring post may be inserted, and thus be brought into contact with the female threads of the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Inventor: Timothy J. Covi
  • Patent number: 5297412
    Abstract: A wire working machine and system are described with a working platform on which a rotatable mount with individually controllable wire working tool actuators is provided. The rotatable mount surrounds a workzone in which wire is worked with the tool mount being rotatable about the workzone to provide center line working of the wire. The rotatable mount is formed with removable segments each of which can support a tool actuator but can be removed to enlarge the workzone. The workzone extends through the working platform to enable a second rotatable mount located on the opposite side to form workpieces passed through the workzone. The working platform is movable in x and y directions to align with a wire preforming machine to form a wire working system with great versatility, accuracy and improved productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: North America OMCG, Inc.
    Inventor: Luigi Maggi
  • Patent number: 5297409
    Abstract: A hole is formed in a high-strength steel part and a lubricant consisting essentially of one or more metal powders, preferably of nickel or molybdenum; a metal powder which is more reactive than the steel of the workpiece such as zinc; and an organic medium is applied. A forming mandrel having a generally cylindrical shape with a frustoconical portion on either end is centered over the hole. The mandrel is pushed through the hole at a rate such that the steel adjacent the hole is coldworked and its microstructure is transformed from an austenitic to a normal tempered martensitic structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Inventors: Danny L. Beaman, Kenneth R. Christie, Dennis M. Cordy, Craig W. Graham, Steven W. Lightle, Michael L. Watts
  • Patent number: 5295390
    Abstract: A method of burring includes a first step of forming, in a metal plate, a bottomed expanded portion expanded into a die hole with a punch and a die having the die hole into which the punch is inserted, the die hole being formed such that a predetermined gap is formed between an inner peripheral face of the die hole and an outer peripheral face of the punch so as to have a width larger than a thickness of the metal plate, a second step of swaging the bottom of the expanded portion of the metal plate between the punch and the bottom face of the die hole to render the bottom of the expanded portion thinner such that a material of the expanded portion bottom is caused to flow to a peripheral wall portion of the expanded portion positioned in the gap between the inner peripheral face of the die hole and the outer peripheral face of the punch, thereby thickening the peripheral wall portion of the expanded portion, and a third step of opening the bottom of the expanded portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Yukihito Hosono
  • Patent number: 5291635
    Abstract: The device serves to delimit a set-up angle between two planar components which are connected with one another by means of a hinge (1, 2), for example between the picture cover (3) of a picture frame and a supporting base (4). The device is characterized by a connecting web (8) which at one end is provided with one half of a hinge base joint (54) and at the other end is configured as a T-shaped member (89). The other half of the hinge base joint can be fastened to one of the two planar components--the picture cover (3). The T-shaped member (89) grips behind a cutout (23) in a plate that can be fastened to the other planar component--the supporting base (4). The width of the cutout (23) in the region facing the hinge (1, 2) is greater than the width of the transverse portion (80) of the T-shaped member (89). A step (30) is provided at the transition from the narrower to the broader region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: Schmale GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Karl E. Schmale
  • Patent number: 5289713
    Abstract: In a device for connecting a wire to a contact element or the like by deformation of clamping members by means of pressure elements of a crimping tool arranged interchangeably in a press, for the purposes of refining the adjustability in respect of height, coaxially rotatably associated with an adjustment disk (13) which is provided at the pressure member side and which is rotatable about the axis (A) of an arresting pin (16) or the like holding member which faces in the pressing direction (x) is a further adjustment disk (14) at the clamping member side, wherein the two adjustment disks are each provided with at least one annular surface (108) which rises spiral-like in the pressing direction (x). Each of the annular surfaces (108) has a radial step edge (110) as the boundary between the beginning and the end of the rise. The heights of the step edges are also to be the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Bernhard Schafer Werkzeug-U. Sondermaschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Bernhard Schafer
  • Patent number: 5289867
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically adjusting coolant flow rates in casting machines forming a continuous casting and rolling apparatus is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Southwire Company
    Inventors: George W. Barker, Michael G. Crumpler, James M. Rickett, Jr., James W. Peters, Delmas R. Hughey
  • Patent number: 5285669
    Abstract: A spring manufacturing apparatus for reducing the time from the beginning to the completion of the manufacturing of a spring having a flat end surface and for manufacturing a large amount of springs at a high-speed. Feed rollers 3a and 3b supply wire material 1 to point tools 4a and 4b. When a single spring is formed, laser output portion 7 is moved in an X direction by the spring pitch length and laser irradiation to the wire material 1 is started. At the same time, feed rollers 3a and 3b feed the wire material for one coil of spring to be manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Itaya Seisaku Sho
    Inventor: Ichiro Itaya
  • Patent number: 5284040
    Abstract: Tube bending apparatus comprising a lower support carrying a mandrel having a bending groove providing a bend axis, and an upper support mounted on the lower support for rotation about the bend axis and carrying a forming member for urging a tube between the mandrel and forming member into the bending groove on rotation of the upper support relative to the lower support. The upper support is adapted to be rotated relative to the lower support through a drive shaft arrangement extending downwardly from the lower support and coupled with a drive unit having an output coupling coaxial with the drive shaft and transverse to the axis of the drive motor of the drive unit. A stand supports the bending apparatus and drive unit relative to an underlying support surface during operation of the bending apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Valere H. J. Beelen, David L. Machovina
  • Patent number: 5284041
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for bending metal tubes such as for furnace heat exchangers. After the bend die is rotated 180.degree. to make a bend, an upper section of the bend die is split from a lower section, and the upper section is then rotated approximately 90.degree.. In such manner, a portion of the upper section is displaced laterally to vacate a region directly above the lower section. Therefore, in moving the tube forwardly to a new location for a subsequent bend operation, a portion of a previous bend passes through the vacated region thereby enabling sequential bend angles that are less restricted than without rotating the upper section of the split die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Amana Refrigeration, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Christensen, Eugene H. Schuchert, Richard N. Walker
  • Patent number: 5282376
    Abstract: When rolling metal strip, an emulsion of rolling oil and water is applied to opposite surfaces of the strip. A measured flow of rolling oil is introduced into a measured flow of water to cause at least partial mixing and then it is subjected to turbulence to produce emulsion immediately prior to it being applied to the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: Davy McKee (Sheffield) Limited
    Inventors: Anthony A. Steele, Andrew M. Pye
  • Patent number: 5282377
    Abstract: When drawing wire, and particularly wire of highly tenacious material which s difficult to deform, such as tungsten or molybdenum, through a die (4), lubricant is applied to the surface of the wire (1) by generating a curtain or sheet of lubricant (6, 16) emitted from a slit-like nozzle (14), and passing the wire essentially transversely through said curtain or sheet of liquid lubricant. Preferably, the wire is preheated before being passed through said sheet of lubricant so that the lubricant will dry on the preheated wire from the inside out prior to the wire being heated to optimum drawing temperature in advance of being pulled through the die. Suitable preheating temperatures are from 100.degree. C. to 500.degree. C., and the thickness of the curtain of lubricant can be between 0.05 to about 0.3 mm, with a wire thickness in the order of about 0.1 mm, permitting drawing speeds which can vary widely and can be about double of previously obtainable drawing speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft Fuer Elektrische Gluehlampen mbH
    Inventors: Dietmar Illig, Oliver Eierle