Patents Examined by Michael W Hotchkiss
  • Patent number: 11234873
    Abstract: A height adjustable wheelchair docking system for releasably securing a wheelchair to the floor of a transport vehicle includes: a base frame with an open end, and for rigid attachment to the floor of a transport vehicle; a middle frame for sliding back and forth in a horizontal direction within the base frame and through the open end; means to slide the middle frame in relation to the base frame; and a top frame for covering at least a part of the base frame and middle frame, and to move up and down in a vertical direction in relation to the base frame when the middle frame is sliding back and forth in a horizontal direction within the base frame and through the open end. The top frame further includes a female or male docking fixture for locking engagement with a male or female docking fixture on a wheelchair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Inventor: Claus Dahl Pedersen
  • Patent number: 11235382
    Abstract: A method for printing a structure, the structure including a plurality of pillars. The method for printing can include ejecting only a first drop of a print material such as a liquid metal sequentially at each of a plurality of pillar locations, then ejecting only a second drop of the print material sequentially onto the first drop at each of the plurality of print locations. Additional drops can be ejected at two or more of the pillar locations to form the plurality of pillars. Ejecting only a first drop at each pillar location allows the first drop to cure (i.e., cool or dry) before ejecting the second drop. The printer continues printing while the drops cure, thus improving processing efficiency and increasing production throughput.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignees: XEROX CORPORATION, PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: David A. Mantell, Daniel R. Cormier, Christopher T. Chungbin, Zachary S. Vader, Viktor Sukhotskiy, Scott J. Vader, David Tilley
  • Patent number: 11219949
    Abstract: Provided is a method for promoting densification of a metal body by utilizing metal expansion induced by hydrogen absorption. The hydrogen absorption expansion refers to a volume expansion effect produced by absorbing hydrogen on some metal blocks or metal powder in a hydrogen atmosphere under certain temperature conditions. Hydrogen is introduced into a rigid closed mold filled with a hydrogen absorption expansion material or filled with the hydrogen absorption expansion material and a material to be densified, and the mold and/or the material to be densified are/is densified by using the volume expansion effect of the hydrogen absorption expansion material. The present method may be used for eliminating residual pores from a metal material so as to improve the properties of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: CENTRAL SOUTH UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: ChengShang Zhou, Yong Liu, Pei Sun, Bin Liu
  • Patent number: 11214979
    Abstract: A lock defining a rotating axis and being installed on a door includes a mounting plate, a fastening member and a first handle set. The mounting plate is disposed on a side of the door and includes a mounting plate body and a protruding lug connected to the mounting plate body. The mounting plate body includes a locking slot structure. The protruding lug includes a fastening hole. The fastening member is inserted through the fastening hole of the protruding lug to fix the mounting plate on the door. The first handle set is assembled on the mounting plate. The first handle set includes an engaging structure and a decoration cover. The engaging structure is engaged with the locking slot structure to fix the first handle set on the mounting plate. The decoration cover covers the mounting plate and includes an opening corresponding to the fastening hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN FU HSING INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lien-Hsi Huang, Yu-Cheng Lin
  • Patent number: 11208907
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making a seal comprising fabricating a seal body that includes a first friction surface including nickel and cobalt. The first friction surface on the seal body is contacted with a metal counter-body surface including nickel. Pressure and heat is applied between the seal body and the counter-body, and motion is applied between the seal body and the counter-body with respect to each other in a direction parallel to the first friction surface, followed by separating the seal from the counter-body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Pantcho Stoyanov
  • Patent number: 11207751
    Abstract: A method of repairing a superalloy component includes a series of sequential steps. The steps are, cleaning the component, applying brazing material to the component, heat treating the component, inspecting the component, preparing the surface of the component, welding the component, and performing a second inspection of the component. The superalloy component is comprised of a high gamma prime superalloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sabrina Michelle Puidokas, Fabrizio Mangano
  • Patent number: 11206948
    Abstract: The invention relates to a grill system that achieves direct and indirect heat functionality through one or more mechanisms including a heat deflector within the cooking chamber that is adjustable through a repositioning means that allows a user to reposition the heat deflector in relation to the burner from a location external to the cooking chamber when the grilling system is in cooking operation. The system may also provide a drip tray with louvers or other apertures placed over the burner area for further optimizing transfer of direct heat to the cooking area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Logan Outdoor Products, LLC
    Inventors: Ty Measom, Brett Bennett
  • Patent number: 11191680
    Abstract: A material engagement element sheet formed from a sheet material (10) incorporates a pattern of material engagement element slots (14), each slot containing an array of material engagement elements (20) which have a tapered distal section (30), a flange section (34) and a proximal section (32) which is attached to an edge of the slots in the sheet material. The material engagement element sheet material may be a single layer of shape memory material, or the sheet material may be a composite of different layers some of which may include pre-strained shape memory materials with distinguishable activation parameters. The material engagement element slot configuration allows for the simultaneous processing of the material engagement elements. The material engagement elements may be processed such that they are in a state that is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the material engagement element sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Microkoll, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Craig Anderson
  • Patent number: 11174845
    Abstract: An assembly system and method for assembling at least one first wind turbine component assembly section of a first wind turbine component of a wind turbine and at least one second wind turbine assembly section of a second wind turbine component of the wind turbine is provided. The assembly system includes at least one assembly assisting element for joining the two wind turbine components. The assembly assisting element is arranged at the first wind turbine component and the second wind turbine component. The assembly assisting element is arranged at the first wind turbine component and at the second wind turbine component. The assembly assisting element includes at least one guiding element for guiding of the first wind turbine component assembly section and/or for guiding of the second wind turbine assembly section. The wind turbine components are a blade, a hub, a nacelle, a generator or a tower (segments).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Inventors: Jens Hald Jensen, Thorkil Munk-Hansen, Jesper Bjerre Pedersen
  • Patent number: 11173559
    Abstract: A method directed to gear cutting tools and gear cutter job consolidation resulting in a single cutter capable of cutting a plurality of different members of a part family. The method comprises a multi-step approach comprising a first step of defining a temporary master. A second step creates a virtual master which is especially well-suited for accommodating the requirements of the jobs in the consolidation variety. A third step determines cutting depths and optimized machine settings for all consolidation jobs using the virtual master.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: THE GLEASON WORKS
    Inventors: Hermann J. Stadtfeld, Anthony J. Norselli, Markus J. Bolze
  • Patent number: 11168515
    Abstract: A system for producing multiple-pane insulating glazing units can include a conveyor and a plurality of laterally spaced-apart processing stations that are movable transversely relative to the longitudinally extending conveyor line. Each processing station may assemble glazing panes and a glazing spacer into a partially fabricated glazing unit, deliver insulative gas to a between-pane space between the glazing panes, and press the partially fabricated glazing unit together to seal the insulative gas in the between-pane space and form the multiple-pane insulating glazing unit. In some examples, each processing station moves to an alignment position with the conveyor to load glazing panes and a glazing spacer and then performs individual fabrication steps while offset from the conveyor. During this time, a different processing station can be aligned with the conveyor to unload a fabricated multiple-pane insulating glazing units and/or load unassembled glazing panes and a glazing spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: CARDINAL IG COMPANY
    Inventors: Curtis Lee Queck, Michael John Milewski, Robert Casper Buchanan
  • Patent number: 11148934
    Abstract: Methods and systems for no-glue pocketed spring unit construction. Rows of pocketed springs modules, comprising more than two pocketed springs surrounding a central hole, can be automatically loaded onto an assembler; pocketed spring-surrounded openings can be automatically aligned with welding phalanges; and probe/anvil welding pairs can be inserted into modules in different rows of modules, closed around polymer pocket fabric, and activated to weld rows of modules together without glue; without a user manually loading rows of modules onto the assembler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Inventor: Martin Wolfson
  • Patent number: 11137094
    Abstract: A fitting includes at least one port permitting flow of fluid and a connector body to which the port is attached. The connector body has a first mating portion. The fitting additionally includes a retainer structured to engage with the connector body and having a first tapered terminal portion and a second tapered terminal portion opposed to the first tapered terminal portion. The fitting further includes a tubular member configured to be fitted into the connector body and having a second mating portion structured to receive terminal portions of the retainer and configured to align with the first mating portion, and a seal positioned within the tubular member and disposed to be flush against an inner surface of the connector body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: RELIANCE WORLD WIDE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Thimuthu Weragoda Vidanelage
  • Patent number: 11123848
    Abstract: A fastener removal tool is provided. The fastener removal tool includes a body having a cylinder and a puller coupled to the body. The puller includes an arm for engaging an installed fastener and a piston inserted into the cylinder of the body such that, when the cylinder is pressurized, the piston is displaced within the cylinder to displace the arm relative to the body to cause removal of the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Piotr Hubert Wojciechowski, Szymon Perkowski
  • Patent number: 11097323
    Abstract: A combined continuous casting and endless rolling plant for a metal strip, comprising—a continuous casting line (1) for casting a slab; —a first rolling mill (6) for roughing the slab and for obtaining a transfer bar; —a second rolling mill (11) for finishing the transfer bar and for obtaining a strip; —a third rolling mill (18), comprising at least two rolling stands (17), for further reducing the N thickness of the strip; —accumulation means (20) of the strip comprising at least one first reel (37, 37?) dimensioned to wind and unwind a coil weighing from 80 to 250 metric tons and/or up to 6 meters in diameter, named mega coil; —first cutting means (13), arranged between said third rolling mill (18) and said accumulation means (20), configured to cut the strip after the mega coil has been wound on the at least one first reel (37, 37?); —at least one second reel (48) for winding portions of strip, unwound from said accumulation means (20), up to a predetermined weight limit or coil diameter limit; —second cut
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: DANIELI & C. OFFICINE MECCANICHE S.p.A.
    Inventors: Luciano Vignolo, Mauro Guagnelli
  • Patent number: 11090175
    Abstract: A method of connecting an expansion ring to at least one end of a braided implant, the method including positioning the braided implant about a tube; everting an end portion of the braided implant over a first end of the tube; assembling an expansion ring to the braided implant, the expansion ring being a multi-leaved expansion ring comprising clips terminating with an open-ended coupling opening, wherein the openings are pushed over a set of intersecting wires of the braided implant at respective circumferential locations on or adjacent the first end of the tube; closing the openings over the set of intersecting wire; trimming ends of the braided implant; and reversing eversion of the braided implant thereby positioning the expansion ring internal to the braided implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Pedro Pedroso, Christopher Krier
  • Patent number: 11091254
    Abstract: A rotor blade disassembly method includes applying spanwise support to a rotor blade body and heating a bond disposed on an end of the rotor blade body. The method also includes removing the spanwise support from the rotor blade body and exerting shear stress on the bond using weight of the rotor blade body. A blade disassembly system is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryan Lehto, Eric C. Boyle, Sven R. Lofstrom, David Littlejohn
  • Patent number: 11085640
    Abstract: A method for producing an annular combustion chamber of a turbojet using CMC. For this, a shaping tool with movable slides is used and said chamber is produced around the tool, thereby producing a fibrous preform of which the shape is consolidated by drape moulding on the tool and pyrolysis, which is then densified by CVI. Several slides have back drafts, at least one other of such slides having a draft or neither a draft nor a back draft. Then, the slides are removed in a predetermined order imposed by the back drafts and the relative positions of the slides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Sanfran Aircraft Engines
    Inventors: Jacques Marcel Arthur Bunel, William Louis Rodolphe Dousse, Dan Ranjiv Joory, Benjamin Frantz Karl Villenave
  • Patent number: 11084134
    Abstract: Cement or other liquid-like material fills the hollow tubes of a machine tool under construction. The machine tool structures are held rigidly against a fixture while the substance dries. The machine tool so constructed is relatively lightweight and rigid, and obviates the need for precision machining of large portions of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Inventor: Robert Swartz
  • Patent number: 11084085
    Abstract: A vehicle component joining method includes, among other things, positioning a contact side of a first component adjacent a contact side of a second component, inserting a mechanical fastener into a cavity of the first component, and rotating the mechanical fastener to drive the mechanical fastener through an interface between the contact sides of the first and second components. The interface is disposed along an interface plane and the mechanical fastener is driven through the interface in a direction that is nonperpendicular to the interface plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vladimir Vladimirovich Bogachuk, Shawn Michael Morgans, Amanda Kay Freis