Patents Examined by Nicholas D'Aniello
  • Patent number: 8434660
    Abstract: A spindle head for performing friction stir welding includes concentric spindle shafts driven by stacked, coaxial motors contained within a spindle housing. The coaxial arrangement of the motors results in a more compact package. Each of the motors is concentrically arranged around one of the spindles by directly connecting a rotor of the motor to a spindle shaft. The stators of the motors are mounted on the housing and are concentrically arranged around the concentric spindle shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kurt A. Burton, Mike P. Matlack, John Baumann, Herb Bommer
  • Patent number: 8376211
    Abstract: A blade processing fixture has first and second jaws. The second jaw is movable relative to the first jaw from a disengaged position for accepting a root of the blade. The blade is accepted in a receiving area between the first and second jaws. The second jaw is movable to an engaged position clamping the blade between the first and second jaws. A gas flow path extends from an inlet port to an outlet port. The outlet port is positioned to introduce gas to a blade inlet port when the blade is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: William M. Rose
  • Patent number: 8360300
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for ultrasonic welding of a first workpiece to a second workpiece is disclosed. The two workpieces are clamped between a sonotrode and an anvil so that the two workpieces are in mechanical contact with each other, the first workpiece is in mechanical contact with the sonotrode and the second workpiece rests on the anvil. Fluid is introduced between the second workpiece and the anvil so that the second workpiece at least partly rests on the fluid. Ultrasonic vibrations are applied to the first workpiece by the sonotrode for a period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Guido Strotmann, Peter Koechling, Christian Steininger
  • Patent number: 8342386
    Abstract: Braze materials and processes for using braze materials, such as for use in the manufacturing, coating, repair, and build-up of superalloy components. The braze material contains a plurality of first particles of a metallic material having a melting point, and a plurality of second particles comprising at least one nonmetallic material chosen from the group consisting of oxides, carbides, and nitrides of at least one metal. The nonmetallic material is more susceptible to heating by microwave radiation than the metallic material of the first particles, and the nonmetallic material is present in the braze material in an amount sufficient to enable the first particles to completely melt when the first and second particles are subjected to heating by microwave radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Laurent Cretegny, Sundar Amancherla, Jeffrey Jon Schoonover, Balasubramaniam Vaidhyanathan
  • Patent number: 8342384
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel process for producing a metal ceramic substrate, especially a copper-ceramic substrate, in which at least one metal foil at a time is applied to the surface sides of a ceramic layer or a ceramic substrate using a high temperature bonding process and the metal foil is structured on at least one surface side for forming conductive tracks, contact surfaces, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Curamik Electronics GmbH
    Inventor: Jürgen Schulz-Harder
  • Patent number: 8328066
    Abstract: A bonding tool, including: a component mounting unit including a horn that has a heater insertion hole, in which a heater is inserted with a predetermined clearance, and transmits ultrasonic vibration, an ultrasonic transducer that is fixed on the horn and produces the ultrasonic vibration, and an electronic component holder that is fixed on the horn, holds an electronic component and is heated by the heater; a leg that supports the horn on both sides of the horn at nodal points of the ultrasonic vibration on the horn; a supporter that holds the leg; and a heater holder that holds the heater on both sides of the horn, wherein the leg and the heater holder are formed integrally with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Ryo Fujita, Hiroshi Ebihara, Katsuhiko Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8327911
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique method for forming a cast porous article. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for forming cast porous articles. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application shall become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew T. Kush, Max Eric Schlienger, Paul Anthony Withey
  • Patent number: 8328070
    Abstract: A wire handling facilitator in the form of a backpack. An apparatus that is useful for handling small rolls of wire that is to be welded into channels of metal surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: AltoTec Wire Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas W. Burns
  • Patent number: 8328071
    Abstract: An attachment that is configured for attachment to an arm of a piece of construction equipment. The attachment includes a pair of grapple mechanisms mounted on a main beam. Each grapple mechanism includes opposing grab arms mounted to a grab arm housing. The grab arm housings of the grapple mechanisms are each individually adjustable separate from one another relative to the main beam in one or more directions generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main beam. The attachment can fine adjust the positions of the pipe ends relative to one another until the ends align with each other, at which point the pipe ends can be welded or otherwise secured to each other while being held in position by the grapple mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: LaValley Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Jason LaValley, Daniel Larson, Jesse Kilde, Michael Burgess, Lawrence D. Kilpo
  • Patent number: 8322594
    Abstract: In some examples, an electrode plate K is conveyed to a gap 230 of a pair of stacking drums 210 and 220 with a conveying section 100. In synchronization with conveyance of the electrode plate K, the drums 210 and 220 feed a pair of separators S each formed into a predetermined shape with the separators S adhering to corresponding peripheral surfaces of the pair of drums 210 and 220. While feeding the electrode plate K forward in a generally horizontal manner, the separators S are sequentially stacked on both surfaces of the electrode plate K in synchronized with rotations of the drums 210 and 220, and both edge portions of the separators S are welded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignees: Kyoto Seisakusho Co., Ltd., Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Yano, Manabu Yamashita, Hiroshi Yuhara, Takahiro Yanagi, Yasufumi Okazaki
  • Patent number: 8317081
    Abstract: A reflow bonding method easily bonds first and second wiring members together by reflowing solder arranged on at least one of first and second bonding parts that are defined on the first and second wiring members, respectively. The method includes positioning the first and second wiring members so that the first and second bonding parts face each other with the solder interposed between them and heating and pressing one of the first and second bonding parts from behind with a pressing face of a heater chip so that the first and second bonding parts lie one on another and so that the solder is heated and reflows to bond the first and second wiring members together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shogo Ogaki, Takashi Ando, Masaru Inoue
  • Patent number: 8317078
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for ultrasonic welding of a first workpiece to a second workpiece is disclosed. The two workpieces are clamped between a sonotrode and an anvil so that the two workpieces are in mechanical contact with each other, the first workpiece is in mechanical contact with the sonotrode and the second workpiece rests on the anvil. Fluid is introduced between the second workpiece and the anvil so that the second workpiece at least partly rests on the fluid. The fluid is frozen so that the fluid forms a solid body. Ultrasonic vibrations are applied to the first workpiece by the sonotrode for a period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Guido Strotmann, Achim Cordes
  • Patent number: 8308049
    Abstract: A bonding method of applying vibrations to a metal unit including copper while pressing the metal unit onto a bonding object to bond the metal unit to the bonding object is provided. The method includes: applying vibrations to the metal unit and bringing the metal unit into contact with the bonding object while applying the vibrations; gradually increasing a pressing load of the metal unit on the bonding object to a first pressing load; and reducing the pressing load to a second pressing load smaller than the first pressing load and gradually increasing an output power of the vibrations from a first output power to a second output power after the pressing load reaches the first pressing load, the first output power being applied during the first pressing load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Nakao
  • Patent number: 8308048
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing the delivery of component parts and tooling to a robotic welding assembly positioned on a motor vehicle body assembly line. Automatic guided vehicles deliver component parts from a source of parts to a parts staging area on the robotic welding assembly including a substage awaiting area, a substage in-use area and a substage empty area, and further automatic guided vehicles deliver tooling from a tooling management area to the robotic welding assembly whereafter the tooling, upon model changeover, is moved to a tooling use area proximate the assembly line whereafter, upon further model changeover, the tooling is removed from the tooling use area and loaded onto an automatic guided vehicle for return to the tooling management area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Comau, Inc.
    Inventor: Velibor Kilibarda
  • Patent number: 8303729
    Abstract: A creep forming tool modifies the shape of an aircraft component in the form of a wing skin portion. The tool includes a shaped surface defined by removable rib boards. The component is forced against the shaped surface, via a reusable intermediate plate. The shape of the shaped surface may be adjusted, if necessary, by replacing the rib boards with boards of a different shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventor: Andrew Levers
  • Patent number: 8302665
    Abstract: The present invention provides a casting roll of a twin-roll strip caster, including: a nickel plating layer formed on an outer circumferential surface and an end surface of the casting roll; a nickel-boron alloy plating layer formed on the nickel plating layer located on the end surface of the casting roll; and a hard plating layer formed on the nickel plating layer located on the outer circumferential surface of the casting roll and an outer circumferential surface of the nickel-boron alloy plating layer located on the end surface of the casting roll. The present invention improves durability of the casting roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: POSCO
    Inventors: Seong-In Jeong, Sung-Jin Park, Dae-Sung Lee
  • Patent number: 8302838
    Abstract: A micro-bump forming apparatus includes: a film attachment mechanism that attaches a film on a surface of a substrate; exposure and developing mechanisms that provide openings in the film on electrodes formed on the substrate; a solder ball loading mechanism that loads solder balls into the openings, a flux printing mechanism that prints flux through the openings loaded with the solder balls; a reflow part that heats the solder balls to form solder bumps; and a film detachment mechanism that detaches the film from the surface of the substrate. After a loading head loads the solder balls into the openings of the film, a controller of the solder ball loading mechanism allows a line sensor to operate to check a loading state of the solder balls, and determines, based on the check result, whether to reload the solder balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Plant Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriaki Mukai, Isao Abe
  • Patent number: 8302843
    Abstract: A process for producing a semiconductor device, includes: first melting by heating only a superior portion of a bump formed on an electrode on one principle surface of a semiconductor substrate; and second melting the entire bump by also heating an inferior portion of the bump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Matsui, Yutaka Makino, Yoshito Akutagawa
  • Patent number: 8302837
    Abstract: A solder feeder having a housing member with a proximal end and a distal end. A guide member fixed to an interior wall of the housing member and extending through and projecting from the housing member for receiving solder. A trigger, having in combination, a short portion having a plurality of teeth thereon and a long portion. The trigger pivotably attached to the housing member so that the short portion of the trigger extending through an opening in a wall of the housing member in alignment with and cooperating with a slot in a wall of the guide member and the long portion extending externally along a length of the housing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Inventor: Fred De Berardinis
  • Patent number: RE43846
    Abstract: A bonding structure for a container member is disclosed. The container member has an opening and a covering member for covering the opening. The container member and covering member are abutted with each other and bonded by a friction stir welding operation. The bonding structure for the container and covering members comprises a bonding portion and a backing member. The bonding portion of the container member and the covering member is formed by inserting a friction stir welding tool into an abutting portion of the container member and the covering member. The backing member is provided for obstructing a plastic flow of materials for the container member and the covering member when the friction stir welding operation is performed. The backing member is disposed adjacent to the bonding portion, at a side of the abutting portion that is opposite to an inserting side of the friction stir welding tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Sano, Yoshitaka Miura