Patents Examined by Michael W Hotchkiss
  • Patent number: 11078070
    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: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Inventor: Martin Wolfson
  • Patent number: 11073134
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to hoisting accessories for wind turbines. The hoisting accessory is configured to be rotatably attached to the rotor hub and is further configured to assume a hoisting configuration and a passive configuration, wherein in the hoisting configuration, a wind turbine blade can be hoisted and mounted substantially vertically to the rotor hub, and wherein in the passive configuration, the rotor hub carrying one or more wind turbine blades can be rotated. The present disclosure also relates to kits including such hoisting accessories and methods of hoisting wind turbine blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Daniel Gomez
  • Patent number: 11072360
    Abstract: A method can be employed to produce a rack for a steering gear. The rack may include a toothed portion with a toothing, and a shaft portion with a functional portion. Separate segments comprising at least one in each case bar-shaped toothed segment and one shaft segment may be provided, which are aligned on a common longitudinal axis and are connected to one another at a joint. The method may involve providing a shaft raw material piece having a length that is a multiple of a shaft segment length, continuously grinding a part of a circumferential face of the shaft raw material piece across a multiple of the shaft segment length to produce a semi-finished shaft segment product, cutting to length a shaft segment from the semi-finished shaft segment product, providing a toothed segment, and joining the shaft segment to the toothed segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventors: Reinhard Bader, Ralf Eckstein, Roland Musweiler
  • Patent number: 11060641
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a flange blank (1), comprising the following step: producing a base body (3), wherein the base body (3) comprises a fluid passage (5), a support section (7) having a first material thickness (M1) and a force-absorbing section (9) having a second material thickness (M2), the second material thickness (M2) is greater than the first material thickness (M1), and the force-absorbing section (9) is configured for the selective production of through-holes (15a-15h, 17a-17l) according to a first drilling pattern and/or a second drilling pattern. The invention further relates to a method for producing a flange (100). In addition, the invention relates to a flange blank (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: MINIMAX GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Ralf Ende, Frank Stachowitz, Peter Kempf, Matthias Pohl
  • Patent number: 11059091
    Abstract: A can end including a central panel with an expandable bubble disposed thereon is provided. The use of an expandable bubble allows for an expandable rivet button and thereafter an expandable rivet that has an enhanced overlap of a tab body. Such an expandable rivet allows for the use of a metal sheet with a thinner base thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Stolle Machinery Company, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Cornelius Stammen, Mark Mitchell, Christopher Macke
  • Patent number: 11040512
    Abstract: Methods of forming a composite structure include conforming at least one ply of material to a forming surface of a tool having differing features. Apparatuses for forming a composite structure include a forming tool and a material feed assembly configured to hold a supply of material, where the material feed assembly may be configured to pivot the supply of material relative to the forming tool. Composite structures having an at least partially annular shape are formed by an at least partially automated process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Madsen, John B. Healey, Travis S. Olsen, Ethan J. Hoffman, Jason H. Stulp, Michael T. Tueller, Wayne M. Roeber, Vernon M. Benson
  • Patent number: 11034278
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cylindrical cargo container includes: providing a plurality of rigid panels together formable into a cylindrical shell; forming a first semi-cylindrical shell from a first set of the panels; forming a second semi-cylindrical shell from a second set of the panels; forming the cylindrical shell from the first semi-cylindrical shell and the second semi-cylindrical shell; forming a collar conformably encircling the cylindrical shell; constricting the collar to compress joints formed at abutting edges of pairs of adjacent panels; rolling the cylindrical shell and collar to bring respective joints of pairs of panels to a lower position, and welding an inside seam of the joint when at the lower position; removing the collar from the cylindrical shell; and rolling the cylindrical shell to bring respective joints of pairs of panels to an upper position, and welding an outside of the joint when at the upper position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Titan Trailers Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Kloepfer, Trever Lorne Howden, Christopher Howard Kloepfer
  • Patent number: 11034096
    Abstract: A method of assembling a first part made from a metal and a second part includes providing a first part comprising an assembly surface, and a second part comprising at least one through orifice. At least part of the second part is arranged on the assembly surface such that the orifice extends across from the assembly surface. A metal connecting part is positioned on the orifice to cover the orifice across from the assembly surface. The connecting part and/or the assembly surface are projected on one another to obtain high-speed plating and welding between the connecting part and the surface part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Inventors: Guillaume Racineux, Chady Khalil, Yannick Amosse
  • Patent number: 11028838
    Abstract: A pump assembly and methods of use and conversion including a sealed housing, at least one in-tank, not sealed pump contained in the sealed housing, an outlet check valve inside each pump, and an over pressure relief passage formed around the pumps in the sealed housing. The pump assembly may also include a common fuel inlet, a common fuel outlet; at least two of the pumps, a compact design, a mounting bracket, a sealed electrical inlet, a pre filter, a post filter, a pressure regulator, a returnless fuel supply, a pressure regulator, a return line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Holley Performance Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Shane R. Weckerly, Larry J. Tipton
  • Patent number: 11028855
    Abstract: An object is to provide a method of manufacturing a supercharger that can promptly and easily form an abradable layer in a supercharger. A method of manufacturing a supercharger is a method of manufacturing a supercharger including a turbine configured to rotationally drive, and a compressor having an impeller configured to rotate according to rotational force of the turbine and a housing (10) configured to store the impeller, and the method includes a process of applying coating of an abradable material which is to form an abradable layer (20) when being solidified, only to a predetermined range on a surface of the housing (10) via which the impeller and the housing (10) face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES ENGINE & TURBOCHARGER, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaya Hatanaka, Makoto Takeuchi, Kazuhiko Inoguchi, Takashi Arai, Hitomi Otsubo
  • Patent number: 11013357
    Abstract: An oven includes a cooking chamber configured to receive a load and an RF heating system configured to provide RF energy into the cooking chamber using solid state electronic components. The solid state electronic components include power amplifier electronics configured to provide a signal into the cooking chamber via an antenna assembly. The power amplifier electronics include at least a first power amplifier and a second power amplifier operably coupled to the cooking chamber by respective ones of a first antenna and second antenna of the antenna assembly. The first and second antennas are operably coupled to respective ones of the first and second power amplifiers via a first coupling structure and a second coupling structure, respectively. A directional coupler provided at a port section defined for at least one of the first and second coupling structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Marco Carcano, Michele Sclocchi, Daniele Chirico
  • Patent number: 11008520
    Abstract: Processes for converting existing refinery units and equipment to enable processing of renewable triglyceride feedstock to provide hydrocarbon fuels. Originally, the existing refinery units may have bene configured as hydrotreating, hydrocracking, fixed bed reforming, or isomerization units for a petroleum based feedstock. Hydrogen from a second reaction zone may be provide to the first reaction zone, without or without the use of a compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: James Wexler, Jose R. Rojas, Donald A. Eizenga
  • Patent number: 10975898
    Abstract: A panel may be configured with panel mounts by forming a panel connector accepting slot in the panel and then locating connector mounts in the slot. In another embodiment, a panel may be configured with panel connector mounts by milling a panel to leave areas of panel material which form the mounts and milling the panel behind to connector mounts to define areas for accepting portions of the panel connector. Panels having the defined connector mounts may be connected by one or more panel connectors which engage the connector mounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Inventor: Joseph C. Fleming, III
  • Patent number: 10953526
    Abstract: A method is provided having the following steps: a) providing a drive-out device which has a drive-out punch that is actuated via a hydraulic cylinder; b) positioning the drive-out device between two adjacent wheel discs of the rotor such that a longitudinal axis of the drive-out punch is flush with the receiving groove of the blade to be driven out; c) adjusting a maximum pressure which can be applied to the hydraulic cylinder; d) extending the drive-out punch such that the drive-out punch presses against the blade root of the blade to be driven out with increasing pressure; e) reducing the pressure as soon as the pressure has reached the maximum pressure; and f) cyclically repeating the steps d) and e) until the blade has been removed from the receiving groove. A drive-out device is further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Kai Mielich
  • Patent number: 10946696
    Abstract: An axle housing assembly includes an axle housing that includes a center portion and a first arm portion that extends from the center portion. The axle housing assembly further includes a wheel end housing that includes a wheel end body that extends from the first arm portion and a spindle that extends from the wheel end body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventors: James Levinson, Dale Kwasniewski, Randy Holland, James Gant, Timothy Mann
  • Patent number: 10940904
    Abstract: An assembly apparatus is constituted to include positioning mechanisms for aligning the positions of side panels and a roof panel. For example, a front positioning mechanism includes a first base portion disposed on a first distal end arm of a front side robot, roof positioning members and side panel positioning members supported displaceably by the first base portion, a right front beam member and a left front beam member extending along a vehicle widthwise direction from the first base portion, a first left marking member and a first right marking member disposed at respective distal ends of the beam members, and a left visual sensor and a right visual sensor for detecting positions of each of the first left marking member and the first right marking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masao Shimoyama, Kazuki Akami, Kazuhisa Hada
  • Patent number: 10940524
    Abstract: A method for connecting a first component to at least one second component by at least one joining element which is introduced into the components at a joining point. The joining element is pushed into the components by an industrial robot at a speed of less than five meters per second.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Daniel Kohl, Holger Schubert, Matthias Wagner
  • Patent number: 10933592
    Abstract: A method and device for inserting a tongue in an insertion groove in a panel by a device, wherein the method includes: displacing a tongue guiding device in a first direction by displacing a puncher in the first direction, and displacing a tongue between a first part and a second part of the tongue guiding device and into an insertion groove in panel by further displacing the puncher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: VALINGE INNOVATION AB
    Inventors: Andreas Blomgren, Jonas Fransson
  • Patent number: 10934893
    Abstract: A combustor assembly lift system (200) comprises an exterior lift frame (220) comprising a base portion (222) and an arm portion (224), wherein the arm portion extends away from a base portion to form an interior, and, an interior combustor assembly engagement frame (240) at least partially disposed in the interior of the exterior lift frame and configured to temporarily secure to at least a portion of a combustor assembly. The interior combustor assembly engagement frame is connected to the base portion of the exterior lift frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sandra Beverly Kolvick, Jeffrey Scott LeBegue, Ansley Michelle Heard, Jesse Ellis Barton, Paul Robert Fernandez, Adrian Adam Klejc
  • Patent number: 10927859
    Abstract: A system is described for positioning and locking in place a nozzle within a cylindrical bore of a body, and a method for positioning and locking in place a nozzle within a cylindrical bore of a body is also described. The system has a nozzle having a tubular shape extending between a first end and a second end with an outer cylindrical surface and an inner surface, said inner surface comprising a thread. The system also has a locking member provided within said nozzle and comprising an outer circumferential surface having a thread that corresponds to the thread of the inner surface of the nozzle. The system also has means for providing torque to said locking member to screw said locking member into and within said nozzle via said threaded surfaces to thereby create a press-fit between said outer cylindrical surface and an inner surface of said cylindrical bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Piotr Sawicki, Marcin Cis