Patents Examined by Stephen Kenny
  • Patent number: 7077876
    Abstract: A method for placing an edge piece on a battery plate includes bending a thin strip of bendable plastic material into an open top, U-shaped channel. The channel is then cut into an edge piece having a length which is substantially equal to the edge of the battery plate which is to be covered. The edge piece is supported with this open top oriented towards a battery plate that is transported toward it in a manner such that the battery plate edge will be inserted into it. Once the edge of the battery plate has been inserted into the edge piece the edge piece is released so that the battery plate can be carried out of the apparatus. An apparatus for accomplishing this includes a feed mechanism which transports the strip of bendable plastic material. A bending mechanism forms this strip into the open top, U-shaped channel. The channel is then fully inserted into an assembly station where a first sensor stops the feed mechanism and a cutter cuts the channel into the proper-sized edge piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: MiTek Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Johnson, Peter E. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7076852
    Abstract: A conductor torquing system is provided for large diameter threaded conductor casing which comprises a lower chain vise adapted to grip a first joint of conductor casing, a plurality of movable arms operable to apply a retaining force to a second joint of conductor casing to maintain the latter in rotational contact with a spinning means. The spinning means is operable to rotationally make-up the second joint of conductor casing to the first joint of conductor casing to an initial make-up torque value. The apparatus also includes an upper chain vise for gripping the second joint of conductor casing and applying a final make-up torque to the threaded connection. The apparatus will allow a conductor connection to be made-up in a safe and efficient manner and generally assist in reaching the final torque stage more rapidly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: BJ Services Company
    Inventors: Andrew Robert Penman, Peter John Lovegrove
  • Patent number: 7062845
    Abstract: A laser drilling system for drilling blind vias in printed circuit board panels, multichip modules and chipscale packages with top and bottom surfaces and which include multiple dielectric polymer and metal layers. The system includes a first laser module comprising a laser able to form at least one via per pulse through one or more polymer layers. The vias are circular or non-circular in shape. An articulated arm is adapted to move at a speed of about 200 inches per second and at an acceleration of about 5 g's or more. A beam delivery unit is attached to the articulated arm and a conveyor adapted to move panels at a constant speed. The first laser module positioned on a separate track from the conveyor moves at a faster rate than the conveyor to drill the top surface. A second laser module is positioned to move on another separate track from the conveyor movable at a faster rate so as to drill the bottom surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Laservia Corporation
    Inventor: Larry W. Burgess
  • Patent number: 7062836
    Abstract: Described are embodiments of a pipe fitting or connector. The fitting may be used as an atomic element in constructing a variety of different structures, such as shelving formed from pipes, rods, tubular structures and the like that may be connected using a pipe fitting. The pipe fitting may include a punched hole in a top portion and a matching punched hole in a corresponding bottom portion of a sleeve into which a pipe may be inserted. The holes may be used as a visual indicator that the pipe is fully inserted in the fitting. The holes in the top and bottom portions of the sleeve may also be used with a fastener to securely hold an inserted pipe in place by passing a fastener through the holes in the top and bottom portions of the sleeve and also passing the fastener through corresponding holes in the inserted pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: QuixxSmart Structures, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence Sorgi
  • Patent number: 7037249
    Abstract: Deflection controlled roll that includes a rotating roll jacket, a rotationally fixed yoke arranged to axially pass through the roll jacket, and a plurality of hydrostatic support elements arranged in series on the yoke in the direction of a roll axis which are chargeable with a pressure fluid to exert a supporting force on an inner side of the roll jacket. The plurality of hydrostatic support elements include hydrostatic pockets and at least one restrictor or capillary structured and arranged to supply pressure fluid to each of the hydrostatic pockets. A volume flow of at least some of the pressure fluid supplied to a respective hydrostatic pocket is variable depending upon a pressure on its respective hydrostatic support element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Voith Paper Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Rolf van Haag
  • Patent number: 7007363
    Abstract: A fence rail bracket system. The bracket system may include a bracket with an open end for receiving a fence rail, a retention clip for attaching the rail to the bracket, and a cap for covering the open end of the bracket. The bracket may attach to a wall or post and the fence rail may be slid into the open end of the bracket. The retention clip may attach the bracket to the fence rail and prevent the rail from sliding out of the bracket. The cap may be removably attached to the bracket to conceal the hardware used in the system for a more aesthetically pleasing look.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Kroy Building Products, Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Forbis
  • Patent number: 6988306
    Abstract: Provided is a method of forming ferromagnetic sputter targets and sputter target assemblies having a uniform distribution of magnetic leakage flux. The method includes providing a ferromagnetic sputter workpiece and hot rolling the workpiece to a substantially circular configuration sputter target; machining a taper in a surface of the sputter target to have a thickness gradient of the sputter target, where the center of the sputter target is about 0.020 to about 0.005 inches thinner than the edge of the sputter target, and where the magnetic leakage flux across the sputter target is uniformly distributed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Holger J. Koenigsmann, Paul S. Gilman, Ivan Ward
  • Patent number: 6981305
    Abstract: Substantially rectangular-shaped tanks are provided for storing liquefied gas, which tanks are especially adapted for use on land or in combination with bottom-supported offshore structure such as gravity-based structures (GBS). A tank according to this invention is capable of storing fluids at substantially atmospheric pressure and has a plate cover adapted to contain fluids and to transfer local loads caused by contact of said plate cover with said contained fluids to a grillage of stiffeners and stringers, which in turn is adapted to transfer the local loads to an internal truss frame structure. Methods of constructing these tanks are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Kailash C. Gulati
  • Patent number: 6976299
    Abstract: A tree harvesting guide bar adapted for treating stumps with a treatment material as the tree is being harvested is provided, and more particularly a valve arrangement for enabling connection of the guide bar inlet to treatment material sources on a variety of different harvesting machines is disclosed, such that the inlet not connected to the treatment material source does not need to be independently and manually plugged to prevent undesirable outflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Blount, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Seigneur
  • Patent number: 6973724
    Abstract: A method for making a tubular element, in particular a motor vehicle front cross member (1), for forming at least an air conduit (2,3,4) including at least two half-shells (5,6) assembled on two outer longitudinal edges (5a, 6a–5b, 6b), facing each other, with punctiform mechanical bond elements (7). The method further comprises the production of sealing elements (8) for the tubular element (1) consisting of at least a continuous convex or concave deformation simultaneously produced on each of the outer longitudinal edges (5a, 6a–5b, 6b) facing the two half-shells (5 and 6), in the proximity of the mechanical bond elements (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignees: Valeo, Visteon Systemes Interieurs
    Inventor: Ghislain Passebecq
  • Patent number: 6971151
    Abstract: The invention encompasses a method of treating a physical vapor deposition target. The target has a sputtering surface and a sidewall edge at a periphery of the sputtering surface. The method comprises pressing a tool against the sidewall edge to form a distribution of imprints in the sidewall edge of the target. The tool is then removed from the sidewall edge, leaving the imprints extending into the sidewall edge. The invention also encompasses a physical vapor deposition target. The target includes a sputtering surface having an outer periphery, and a sidewall edge along the outer periphery of the sputtering surface. The sidewall edge has a repeating pattern of imprints extending therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Jane Buehler
  • Patent number: 6971174
    Abstract: The caster roll (10) is used in the manufacture of metal plate, strip, sheet, or foil. The caster roll (10) includes a cylindrical roll core (12) and at least one metal overlay (14) formed on the roll core (12). The at least one metal overlay (14) defines a plurality of cooling passages (34) for conducting a cooling medium through the at least one metal overlay (14) to cool the roll (10) during use. Additional metal overlays (16) may be formed on top of the at least one metal overlay. (14). The cooling passages (34) may also be formed in the roll core (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua C. Liu, Teddy R. Creech
  • Patent number: 6971176
    Abstract: In a method for mounting an inner cover section to a support structure of a motor vehicle, an engagement member is introduced onto the cover section or onto the support structure and engages into a receptacle formed in the corresponding other component. The engagement member thereby seats loosely with play in the receptacle to engage behind it and an elastic foam is disposed in the gap defined between the cover section and the support structure to push against and thereby tension these components. The elastic foam material partially fills the intermediate space between the cover section and the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Seeber AG & Co.
    Inventor: Wolfgang Herr
  • Patent number: 6968612
    Abstract: A production line (1) is constituted of a sliding path (10) as a moving path provided along nine working step positions from a first step position (P1) to a ninth step position (P9), nine skids (20) as support-receipt plates slidably mounted on the sliding path (10) every predetermined interval so as to correspond to the step positions (P1) to (P9), and driving mechanisms (30), that is, (31A), (30B) and (30C) as moving and driving mechanisms for moving and driving the skids (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chikara Yagaki, Akira Inoue
  • Patent number: 6966105
    Abstract: For a workpiece having a metal part bonded to a rubber part, a method is devised to separate the metal and rubber parts. A flame is used to heat a portion of an exposed surface of the metal part, while moving the flame relative to the metal part until substantially all the exposed metal surface is heated. The process is repeated until the metal and rubber parts separate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Inventor: Jay C. Tankersley
  • Patent number: 6964092
    Abstract: A cutting edge cart is disclosed that provides an improved means for replacing the replaceable cutting edges on bladed equipment such as road graders and snow plow. The cart allows a single user to retrieve, transport, and position a replacement cutting edge relative to a mold board of the bladed equipment. Generally, the cart contains a frame, two or more transport assemblies attached to the frame, such as wheels, a movable carrier assembly that contains a cutting edge support assembly, and an adjuster. The adjuster is operable to move the carrier assembly between first and second positions relative to the frame allowing the vertical position of a supported cutting edge to be adjusted. The frame and transport assemblies are disposed such that the cart may be rotated or pivoted from a first generally vertical position to a second generally horizontal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Blade Lift, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Lorenz, Donald W. Quam
  • Patent number: 6964096
    Abstract: Method for manufacturing a structural member having a body portion (4) and at least one flanged terminal portion (22) comprising the steps of extruding a profile and making one or more lengthwise splits (8) in one end of said profile to obtain at least one foldable portion (7). The portion (7) is folded into a position whereby the flanged terminal portion (22) is obtained. A structural member having a body portion (4) and at least one flanged terminal portion (22), comprising an extruded profile with one or more lengthwise splits (8) in one end of said profile and thereby at least one foldable portion (7) which is folded in a position whereby a flanged terminal portion (22) is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Norsk Hydro ASA
    Inventor: Tore Tryland
  • Patent number: 6961985
    Abstract: A striking tool comprising a head assembled to a handle having a long axis is characterized in that the head comprises a closed cavity extending into the head in the direction of the long axis, an opening through a wall of the head into the cavity, the opening extending at substantially a right angle to the long axis, and a spreading element inserted through the opening and spreading a portion of the handle within the cavity to urge against walls of the cavity to secure the head to the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Inventor: Mark A. Boys
  • Patent number: 6959479
    Abstract: A method is required in which a plate-like flange member may be firmly secured at the front end of a hollow shaft member through a plastic working treatment by virtue of caulking combination, so as to manufacture a hollow shaft having a flange at one end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignees: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Kubota Iron Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeaki Yamanaka, Masami Oguri
  • Patent number: 6954974
    Abstract: In a method of constructing a rail track on a concrete slab, the concrete slab is poured around anchor members for fixing tie plates supporting the rails of the rail track. The method includes the following steps: suspending the rails premounted on their tie plates above the location at which the concrete slab is to be poured, each tie plate including a base under which is disposed a temporary tie plate for accurately guiding the anchor members, adjusting the position of the rails, pouring the concrete slab up to the height of the temporary tie plates, raising the rails and removing the temporary tie plates, and accurately positioning the rails premounted on their tie plates on the concrete slab in their final position and fixing the tie plates to the anchor members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Alstom
    Inventor: Nicolas Rada