Patents Examined by Rick K. Chang
  • Patent number: 11118574
    Abstract: A method is provided for installing a jointed rotor blade of a wind turbine. A second section is positioned in a six o'clock position. At least one lifting line is routed through the second section radially inward of an inner surface of the section. A first end of the lifting line is coupled to a first section and a second end of the lifting line is coupled to a power source positioned within at least one of a or a nacelle of the wind turbine. The first section of the jointed rotor blade is lifted toward the second section by driving the lifting line via the power source. The first section and the second section are lined gather at a chordwise joint and coupled at the chordwise joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jonathon Paul Baker
  • Patent number: 11118780
    Abstract: A system and method for removing and replacing fire-tubes. The system can include a powered system, a fire-tube puller coupled to said powered system. The fire-tube puller has a puller back which is coupled to a plug rest. A plug rest is approximately perpendicular to the puller back, and the fire-tube will rest upon the plug rest when the fire-tube is being removed or installed. The system can also include a stack adjuster which is coupled to the plug rest. The stack adjuster can couple to a stack so as to reposition the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: CHARGER ENERGY SERVICES, LLC
    Inventor: Eddie Edge
  • Patent number: 11116226
    Abstract: A shutter piece has a first side surface which seals a peripheral portion of an outer skin material above an inner material, a second side surface which is located below the first side surface and contacts the outer skin material earlier than the first side surface so as to centrally gather the outer skin material toward a location above a center of the inner material, and a third side surface which is located below the first side surface and defines a portion of a pyramid-like space above the inner material when the peripheral portion of the outer skin material is sealed by the first side surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: RHEON AUTOMATIC MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Michio Morikawa, Shigeru Hashimoto, Yasunori Kondo
  • Patent number: 11098740
    Abstract: A joining device for parts of furniture and furnishing accessories includes a casing or container body suitable for being inserted in a seat formed in one of the components of the item of furniture to be joined. An expansion bushing externally projects with respect to a first end or front end of said casing or container body and is suitable for engaging with a further seat of a further component of the item of furniture to be joined to the component wherein the casing or container body is inserted. Said joining device includes a cam mechanism for a linear motion of actuation means co-operating in an expansion and retraction deformation movement of the expansion bushing and simultaneous expansion of at least one portion of said casing or container body, with said cam mechanism and actuation means housed in the casing or container body and actuated by a tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Häfele Berlin GmbH & Co KG
    Inventor: Antonio Giovannetti
  • Patent number: 11090770
    Abstract: A component and method of forming a component are disclosed. The component includes a cast alloy section and an additive manufacturing section secured to the cast alloy section. Both the cast alloy section and the additive manufacturing section form at least a portion of an outer surface of the component. The method of forming a component includes removing a portion of an existing component, the removing of the portion forming an open section in the existing component, forming an article through an additive manufacturing technique, the article having a shape and geometry arranged and disposed to fill the open section in the existing component, and securing the article within the open section of the existing component to form the component. Another method includes directly depositing a material, by an additive manufacturing technique, over a portion of the existing component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dheepa Srinivasan, Dayananda Narayana, Kaustubh Krishna Bawane, Joydeep Pal, Mariusz Strzyzewski, Tomasz Szewczyk, David Edward Schick
  • Patent number: 11092139
    Abstract: A rotor blade replacement system for mounting and/or unmounting of a rotor blade in a wind turbine, and a method for replacing, installing or detaching a rotor blade. The blade replacement system has first and second clamps for detachable attachment to a rotor blade at a first position near a rotor hub mounting end of the rotor blade and at a second position near the tip of the rotor blade. The clamps have substantially U-shaped frame elements with a fixed first leg and a second leg which is rotatably and lockably mounted to a base portion of the frame elements. The second leg is displaceable between open and closed positions by a first actuator. The U-shaped frame element at least partially encloses and clamps the rotor blade, wherein the first and second legs have at least one pulley for interacting with a wire from a winch placed on the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: LIFTRA IP APS
    Inventor: Per Eske Fenger
  • Patent number: 11084089
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a wing element that is provided inside a gas turbine and through which a fluid passes and a method of manufacturing a blade are provided. The method of manufacturing the wing element includes preforming the wing element; disposing the wing element inside a mold; sequentially melting the wing element inside the mold along one direction using a heating device; and solidifying the melted wing element using a cooling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Inventor: Chae Hong Jeon
  • Patent number: 11077704
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a decoration provided with at least one attachment includes forming an envelope of material, the envelope including an external surface and an internal surface, and the external surface including a visible embossed part of the decoration, forming the at least one attachment, and fastening the at least one attachment directly and permanently against the internal surface of the envelope of the decoration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Pierry Vuille, Yves Winkler
  • Patent number: 11077534
    Abstract: A method for reconditioning a compactor wheel of a compaction machine is provided. The method includes mounting a compactor wheel on a positioning system configured to provide one or more of angular adjustment, vertical and horizontal translation, and rotation of the compactor wheel, so as to position the compactor wheel in a desired position. The method also includes providing a welding system configured to perform a submerged arc strip welding or weld cladding operation on the compactor wheel. The submerged arc strip welding or weld cladding operation is performed on at least one surface or edge of the compactor wheel to add weldable material thereto, so as to recondition the at least one surface or edge of the compactor wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Radial Iron Works LLC
    Inventor: Robert John Brockway
  • Patent number: 11060258
    Abstract: A method for installing a compressor includes a preparing step of preparing a base plate that supports a support leg onto a foundation, a level adjusting member disposing step of disposing a plurality of level adjusting members having a wedge shape onto the base plate along an outline of a lower end portion of the support leg, an adjusting step of adjusting a horizontal level of a rotary machine main body by adjusting pushing amounts of the level adjusting members to the lower end portion of the support leg, and a fixing step of fixing positions of the support leg and the level adjusting members with respect to the base plate by welding the support leg to the plurality of level adjusting members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES COMPRESSOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuya Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 11052478
    Abstract: A device and method of tapping an engine component to orient a spark plug includes measuring a tap pitch, measuring a first distance between a tap end surface and a full tap tooth center at a first rotational location, calculating a phantom first tap tooth based on the pitch and first distance, determining a tap rotational offset from the first location to a location where the end surface intersects the phantom first tooth, calculating a tap rotational starting orientation that is the first location minus the tap rotational offset minus a spark plug offset, rotating a tool head to the rotational starting orientation, positioning the tap so the end surface is a pitch incremental distance away from the engine component, synchronizing a rotating speed of the tool head and a feed rate to the tap thread pitch, and operating the tool to cut or form threads in the engine component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Ethan Timothy Hughey, Richard Earl Williford, Shibu Mathew Philipose
  • Patent number: 11027948
    Abstract: A load assembly for use with an aircraft includes a support sub-assembly and a lifting sub-assembly. The support sub-assembly is configured for removable coupling to a structural member of the aircraft. The structural member has a first interior position and a second interior position. The support sub-assembly extends between the first interior position and the second interior position. The lifting sub-assembly is movably coupled to the support sub-assembly. The lifting sub-assembly is movable along the support sub-assembly between the first interior position and the second interior position and configured to lift or lower a load, and to support the load as the lifting sub-assembly moves along the support sub-assembly between the first interior position and the second interior position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: James E. Perdue, Quent Mikeal, Bret Bell, Coleda Darney
  • Patent number: 11008801
    Abstract: A spacer frame assembly and method of assembly includes a substantially linear channel comprising two lateral walls and a base wall. The channel has first and second ends that when assembled, includes at least three sides and corresponding corners between each of said sides. The first end includes a connecting structure and the second end includes an opposite frame end. The opposite frame end has an opposite channel for receiving a nose portion of said connecting structure The opposite channel includes stiffening flanges extending inwardly from the lateral walls relative to the channel. The connecting structure further includes a first aperture in the base wall comprising a first projection into the channel and the opposite channel comprises a second aperture in the base wall comprising a second projection into the channel. Wherein the first projection. tactilely interweaves with the second projection when the spacer frame is assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: GED Integrated Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: William Briese, Clifford J. Weber, John Grismer
  • Patent number: 10994352
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for the gear manufacturing machining of a workpiece in which a hobbing machining of the workpiece takes place to generate a gearing geometry of the workpiece, wherein the workpiece is gear manufacturing machined by gear skiving in addition to the hobbing machining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: LIEBHERR-VERZAHNTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Johannes Weixler, Thomas Breith
  • Patent number: 10994350
    Abstract: A cutting system is used for cutting a hollow cylindrical support beam which forms part of a support structure of a sea platform. The cutting system comprises a fixating device to fixate the cutting system in an operation position around an outer wall of the support beam, and a drilling device to drill a series of through holes in the outer wall and around the support beam. The drilling device is movable along a drill track and around the support beam by a drill driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Heerema Marine Contractors Nederland SE
    Inventors: Gerardus Cornelius Van Grieken, Johannes Christianus Jozef Heemskerk
  • Patent number: 10988916
    Abstract: A handling system for handling ground-engaging wear parts used on earth working equipment includes handling tools to remove and handle wear parts from equipment and/or to install new wear parts. The tools can include a torque or other tool to engage and/or disengage a lock retained by the wear member. The handling system allows an operator maintain a distance from heavy parts being removed or installed, reducing the risk of injury.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: ESCO GROUP LLC
    Inventors: David M. Paul, Rodney K. Clarke, Christopher M. Carpenter, Noah D. Cowgill, Taylor M. Finley, Ryan J. Carpenter
  • Patent number: 10973254
    Abstract: A controls stage, a hopper stage, and a pneumatic stage are arranged to govern the movement of particulate additives from a hopper through a receptacle that communicates with a delivery tube with the particles exiting the delivery tube via an outlet and contacting products or commodities such as food products. Embodiments include those wherein the use of air flow through the delivery tube is responsible for ushering particulate additives out of the delivery tube, with or without a secondary air flow to facilitate movement of particulate additives into the delivery tube, and a notched disc controlling the opening and closing of a valve to allow or restrict particulates from passing, wherein the size and quantity of notches affects the frequency at which particulate additives move from the hopper into the delivery tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: HOLLISON, LLC
    Inventors: David E. Humphrey, Joseph T. Payne, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10966494
    Abstract: Kits and methods of play for creating decorative objects are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a kit comprises a plurality of rubber sticks, each stick with a continuous internal pattern that extends down the entire length of a longitudinal axis of the stick; a coring device, wherein the coring device includes a core cutter that is designed to cut holes through the plurality of rubber sticks; a cutting device designed to cut segments from the plurality of rubber sticks; and, a plurality of retainers designed to couple a plurality of segments together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: SPIN MASTER, INC.
    Inventors: Jim McCafferty, Steven Delacy, Gregory Leong
  • Patent number: 10968933
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes lug clusters for composite tubes and methods for making such lug clusters. Lug clusters of the present disclosure may include a first side, a second side, and a saddle. The saddle may be placed in adjacent contact with a tube and a filament may be wound around the lug cluster and tube. The wound lug cluster and tube may be resin transfer molded. Machining may follow to remove material and finalize the shape of the lug cluster and/or tube. Thus, a lug cluster may be attached to a composite tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: William E. Luce
  • Patent number: 10968631
    Abstract: A method and an article of manufacture are disclosed for reinforcing various structures with only partially accessible circumference, such as columns closely adjacent to or protruding out of a wall or beams holding a ceiling. Some of these structures may be partly or completely submerged in water, such as retaining walls on the sides of rivers and water-ways. In some embodiments a prefabricated shell will fully or partly cover the exposed and reachable part of the structure and will be secured in place by various means. The shell may hug the structure tightly or loosely and the space between the shell and the structure may be filled with such curable materials as glue, epoxy, grout, concrete and the like. In various embodiments additional reinforcement such as rebar may be placed in the space between the shell and the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Inventor: Mohammad R. Ehsani