Patents Examined by Steven E. Nichols
  • Patent number: 4420868
    Abstract: The disclosure concerns a smooth continuous steel trough, free of longitudinal weld joints except for a flanged frame attached to its open top for supporting a cover grating. This trough is, for example, of the type embedded in the floor of a factory for the gravity and/or jet flow of contaminated coolants from machining operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1983
    Assignee: Henry Filters, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen N. McEwen, Robert L. Stevens, Barry R. Benschoter, Robert F. Benschoter
  • Patent number: 4418462
    Abstract: A technique is provided for engaging and disengaging burnable poison rods from the spider in a fuel assembly. The cap on the end of each of the burnable poison rods is provided with a shank that is received in the respective bore formed in the spider. In one illustrative embodiment, the shank is deformed to firmly secure the rod and attached shank in the spider bore. Pressing the shank in the direction of the bore axis overcomes the deformation to release the particular rod from the spider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1983
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventor: Lewis A. Walton
  • Patent number: 4413397
    Abstract: A metal door is provided with a rectangular opening the edges of which are bent to form a ledge. Two half-frame structures are formed from side members and corner pieces which snap into the side members and the half-frames are placed in the opening from opposite sides and held together by threaded fasteners so that the frame does not protrude beyond the door faces. A method of cutting the plates removed from the rectangular opening to obtain all material for side members, corner pieces and muntins is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1983
    Assignee: General Products Company, Inc.
    Inventor: H. Smith McKann
  • Patent number: 4413400
    Abstract: There is disclosed a novel apparatus and process for nesting a plurality of drum bodies or shells of deformable material wherein a cylindrically-shaped drum body is subjected to a force in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of the drum body to deform the drum body to the extent necessary to permit the positioning of a second drum body about the initially deformed drum body whereupon the deforming procedure is repeated for the nested first and second drum bodies, and is thereafter again repeated until a desired number of drum shells are contained in the resulting nested assemblage of drum bodies or shells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1983
    Inventor: Norman L. Fischell
  • Patent number: 4413398
    Abstract: Gaps in molded polymer fastening elements secured to inner edge portions of coplanar support tapes are formed by cutting legs of the coupling elements in planes coplanar with the inner edge portions of the support tapes leaving remanents of the molded polymer attached to the tapes along the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1983
    Assignee: Talon, Inc.
    Inventors: Harry M. Fisher, Stuart N. Fisher
  • Patent number: 4413399
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for precisely positioning an object such as a circuit module (12, 108) by moving it a fixed distance from an unknown initial position, for the purpose, for example, of moving connector pins a fixed distance into associated socket connector springs (136). A resilient spring (40, 42, 100) is compressed between a fixed stop (18, 20, 90) and a member (48, 106) which engages the object; so that the object is moved an unknown distance (A, B, C) to an initial position determined by its encountering resistance which exceeds the force applied by the spring, such as the resistance provided by connector springs when connector pins are inserted. The compression existing in the bias spring is maintained when the initial position is reached while concurrently the engaging member (48, 106) is moved a fixed distance from the initial position, such as the desired insertion distance of connector pins into connector springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1983
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Crawford, Robert G. Meeker
  • Patent number: 4411055
    Abstract: Guiding catheter assembly having a first tubular member formed of a material which has a low coefficient of friction and a second tubular member encasing said first tubular member so that the first tubular member fits tightly within said second tubular member. The second tubular member is formed of an irradiated modified polyolefin which is flexible but which has a greater rigidity than the said first tubular member so as to provide the guiding catheter assembly with the desired rigidity to permit manuevering of the same. The combined first and second tubular members have proximal and distal ends with the distal ends having a bend therein permitting engagement in a vascular structure. A fitting is mounted on the proximal ends through which a dilating catheter assembly can be inserted into the guiding catheter assembly.Dilating catheter assembly having first and second tubular members formed of a flexible irradiated modified polyolefin. The first tubular member is encased within said second tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1983
    Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John B. Simpson, Edward W. Robert
  • Patent number: 4409731
    Abstract: A fixture for supporting a sleeve and induction coil which encircles the sleeve to facilitate removal and replacement of shrunk-on sleeves on a shaft, the fixture having upper and lower portions electrically insulated from each other and standoff insulated studs and pads which support the sleeve and induction coil within the fixture to minimize circulating currents in the fixture and heating of the fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1983
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Ira J. Campbell
  • Patent number: 4409718
    Abstract: This invention relates to improvements in foundry procedures, particularly in-process and post process inspection with electro-optical sensor units. Principally addressed are: inspection of molds and cores to assure correctness and control procedures to abort pouring if the molds are not correct, inspection of cores on the core line, inspection of patterns for sticking sand, inspection of finished castings for extraneous material in passages, excessive or inadequate stock, correct locator relationships, etc., and control of robotic flash grinders.Both fixed and programmably moveable sensors are shown in the context of these embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1983
    Assignee: Diffracto, Ltd.
    Inventor: Timothy R. Pryor
  • Patent number: 4408390
    Abstract: There is disclosed a novel apparatus and process for nesting a plurality of drum bodies or shells of deformable material wherein a cylindrically-shaped drum body is subjected to a force in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of the drum body to deform the drum body to the extent necessary to permit the positioning of a second drum body about the initially deformed drum body whereupon the deforming procedure is repeated for the nested first and second drum bodies, and is thereafter again repeated until a desired number of drum shells are contained in the resulting nested assemblage of drum bodies or shells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1983
    Inventor: Norman L. Fischell
  • Patent number: 4408382
    Abstract: A method for removing and replacing shrunk-on sleeves on a shaft utilizing a fixture having upper and lower portions electrically insulated from each other and stand off insulated studs and pads which support the sleeve and induction coil within the fixture, the fixture having insulated parts which minimize circulating currents in the fixture that would result in heating of the fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1983
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Ira J. Campbell
  • Patent number: 4406047
    Abstract: A method and tool (40) for replacing jet pump holddown beams (17) in a nuclear reactor is disclosed. The tool (40) has an inner frame (41) and an outer frame (28). Each frame defines two spaced plates (33 and 30, respectively). Each inner and outer plate has a jaw (34, and 31, respectively), defined therein. The frames (41, 23) are movably nested such that the jaws (34, 31) of adjacent inner (33) and outer (30) plates form two pairs of opposed jaws (31, 34) each sized and positioned to receive and hold one of two protruding members (20) of the holddown beam (17) such that the beam (17) is suspended between the pairs of opposed jaws (31, 34). In removing a beam (17), the beam (17) is first unlocked, then its protruding members (20) are captured by the tool's (40) pairs of opposed jaws (31, 34), and finally the beam (17 ) is disengaged from its keeper (26). In installing a beam (17), this procedure is substantially reversed, care being taken to position the beam (17) properly for engagement of the keeper (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1983
    Assignee: Commonwealth Edison Co.
    Inventors: Donald M. Jeffers, Vincent Kokal
  • Patent number: 4404742
    Abstract: A method of making a carrier for rivets or similar articles which includes the steps of guiding a strip of pliable resiliently deformable material to pass an apertured die sequentially driving a number of rivets to the strip with a striker to cause part of the strip to be deformed and stretched into the die and to punch a hole through the strip into which the rivet is driven and held frictionally, with drawing the striker and the die from the rivet and advancing the strip to receive the next rivet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1983
    Assignee: Furma Manufacturing Co. Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Ralph Fuhrmeister
  • Patent number: 4403409
    Abstract: Apparatus operable to fasten together overlying metal sheets has a cooperating piercing-and-forming punch and die set, which partially sever and displace a localized region of the sheets out of the planes thereof, and a flattening punch which then operates to spread the displaced region sideways and fasten the sheets together with a clenching action. A die mounting for said piercing-and-forming die and a punch mounting for said flattening punch are sequentially and separately operable, respectively, by two hydraulical piston and cylinder arrangements which effect movement thereof relatively to said piercing-and-forming punch. An associated control system comprises pressure sensing devices which sense the operating pressures in hydraulic feeds respectively supplying the piston hydraulic cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1983
    Assignee: L & H Designs Limited
    Inventor: Edwin H. Richards
  • Patent number: 4403494
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming scroll members comprising an end plate having an involute wrap rigidly affixed thereto. The end plate and involute wrap are precision formed, e.g., by casting, either as an integral element or as two separate elements and then the scroll member is coined to the desired dimensional accuracy and finish. If a separate end plate and an involute wrap are provided for coining, then they are rigidly joined during coining, an embodiment which permits the use of two different materials and/or the attainment of two different surface characteristics for the involute wrap and the end plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1983
    Assignee: Arthur D. Little, Inc.
    Inventor: John E. McCullough
  • Patent number: 4402123
    Abstract: A machine and process for removing adhesively fastened base cups from plastic bottles, comprising conveyor means for transporting said bottles and a pair of inwardly opposed extensible fingers, projecting at an angle of about 25.degree. to about 30.degree. upward from the vertical, to engage each base cup and separate it from the bottle. Optionally, the machine may include means to cut the bottle into sections for more remunerative scrap recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1983
    Inventor: Harry J. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 4398333
    Abstract: A storage and manipulating tool for replacement plunger heads includes a set of storage cavities in which replacement plunger heads (syringe tips) are stored. Each plunger head has an annular flange, and a socket for receiving the end of a cooperating plunger shaft and is stored in its cavity with its socket facing the open end of the storage cavity. The tool also includes elongated passage defining structure for receiving a related plunger shaft. The cross-sectional dimension of the elongated passage is uniform along its length and is less than the annular flange portion of a replacement plunger head stored in a cavity such that axial movement of a plunger shaft in the elongated passage is effective to remove the attached plunger head. The exposed attachment end of the plunger shaft is then inserted into a storage cavity to attach a replacement plunger head for removal from the storage cavity without handling the sealing surfaces of the plunger head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1983
    Assignee: Instrumentation Laboratory Inc.
    Inventor: Philip D. Iantosca
  • Patent number: 4397470
    Abstract: An oil slinger is held in place on a shaft by an O-ring which serves as a detent when the shaft is at rest and as a static seal when the shaft is rotating. Because the slinger is held only by a detent action in the rest position, the slinger can be moved aside during assembly and disassembly of the companion bearing and seal structure and thereby provide greater access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1983
    Assignee: Elliott Turbomachinery Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander A. Carroll, William F. Hannan, III
  • Patent number: 4395808
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling large articles, such as heavy rolls of paper and the like, is disclosed. At least three composite spacer units, each constructed from a plate and a cylindrical spacer member secured thereto, are attached to a shield fastened on the bottom of each article so as to provide a space beneath each article for receiving lifting members inserted under the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1983
    Assignee: Signode Corporation
    Inventors: Robert P. Ryan, Leonard F. Tworek, James H. Britain
  • Patent number: 4393567
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the assembly of long objects (1) such as rollers, cylinders, elongated tools, for example surface cutters, on a rotating shaft (2) with the aid of two expander bushings (3, 4), each an integral part made up of an inner wall (7) and an outer wall (8), which between them form a pressure cavity (9), which is filled with a liquid or plastic pressure medium, and where the expander bushings (3, 4) each have a flange (10) arranged to contact each end surface (11) of the long object (1) which shall be assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1983
    Assignee: FFV Industriprodukter AB
    Inventor: Lennart Disborg