Patents Examined by Teresa Bonk
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Patent number: 7464573Abstract: An apparatus for providing a curl on a top edge of a can comprises a forming head; and a forming turret with a push ram to load the can into the forming head. The forming head includes a plurality of independent rollers mounted on a common head. The plurality of rollers includes a first set of rollers configured to form an inner portion of a curl and a second set of rollers configured to form an outer portion of the curl.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2006Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: Belvac Production Machinery, Inc.Inventor: Jeffrey L. Shortridge
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Patent number: 7464576Abstract: A single action press for forming a shell used to make a can end includes a first tool and an opposed second tool. The first tool includes a die center insert that performs a forming operation on disc cut from a sheet of end material. The first tool is configured and arranged wherein force is supplied to the die center insert during the downstroke and force is removed from the die center insert at the bottom of the downstroke and at the start of the upstroke, to thereby enable the die center insert to disengage from the shell. One specific embodiment uses a die center piston and compressed air to apply force to the die center insert. Another embodiment uses a cam and cam follower arrangement to remove axial forces at the bottom of the downstroke and either springs or gas pressure to apply force to the die center insert during the downstroke.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2007Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: Rexam Beverage Can Co.Inventors: Timothy L. Turner, Michael R. Gogola
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Patent number: 7461532Abstract: A monitoring and alarm system is disclosed for a rolling mill in which oil is pumped from a reservoir via feed piping and branch feed lines to oil film bearings and oil is returned from the bearings via branch drain lines and return piping to the reservoir. The system comprises sensors positioned in at least one of the branch feed lines, the branch return lines and the bearings. The sensors are operative to sense diverse parameters indicative of bearing operating conditions and to generate status signals representative thereof. A controller evaluates the status signals and triggers warning signals when the status signals indicate that the bearings are in danger of being damaged by continued operation. Alarms respond to the warning signals and alert mill operating personnel to such danger.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2006Date of Patent: December 9, 2008Assignee: Morgan Construction CompanyInventors: Thomas Wojtkowski, Gabriel Royo, Peter Osgood, Earl Winslow
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Patent number: 7461534Abstract: A tool to manipulate wrought iron has a face and at least one side wall, the face being provided with a raised portion, the outer periphery of the raised portion providing a bending surface for wrought iron, the raised portion further containing a recess adapted to trap an end of the wrought iron, the side wall being provided with a recess adapted to accommodate a portion of the wrought iron.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2006Date of Patent: December 9, 2008Inventor: Kerry Gilbert Bridgland
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Patent number: 7458243Abstract: The spring winding machine (1) comprises a measuring device (25a) with a measuring sensor (27) which is arranged in front of the shaper (11) with respect to the conveyor direction of the wire (13) to be shaped. The activation of the shaper (11) is changed by the measured variables of the measuring sensor (27) with respect to a predefined activation function (K1) in a manner such that the shaped wire has the desired spring properties.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2004Date of Patent: December 2, 2008Assignee: Spuhl AGInventors: Martin Ruzovic, Josef Reissner
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Patent number: 7458398Abstract: A tool for installing a metal locking tie is disclosed. The tool includes a tension mechanism and a ball set and cut-off mechanism. The tension mechanism tensions the metal locking tie wrapped around a bundle. The ball set and cut-off mechanism includes a guide block and a shear block that engages the guide block. Once the tool tensions the metal locking tie, a ball set and cut-off handle is manually activated to push the guide block and the shear block forward in the tool thereby setting a ball in a metal locking tie head and shearing a portion of the tensioned metal locking tie.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2007Date of Patent: December 2, 2008Assignee: Panduit Corp.Inventors: Lawrence A Hillegonds, Samuel M Marrs
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Patent number: 7458242Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a cable bolt from a cable (1) includes first and second clamps (2, 3) adapted to releasably clamp the cable (1) with the cable (1) extending along the longitudinal axis (4) of the apparatus. A first cable displacement device (12) longitudinally displaces the first clamp (2) relative to the second clamp (3) along the longitudinal axis (4). A first clamp rotation device (14) rotates the first clamp (2) relative to the second clamp (3) about the longitudinal axis (4). The apparatus also has a second clamp displacement device (19) for simultaneously longitudinally displacing the first and second clamps (2, 3) along the longitudinal axis (4).Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2005Date of Patent: December 2, 2008Assignee: Dywidag-Systems International Pty LimitedInventors: Mieczyslaw S. Rataj, Alan Henderson, Albert Taylor
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Patent number: 7454942Abstract: The invention relates to a hollow molded part with a closed cross-section and a reinforcement, wherein the hollow molded part is formed as a single piece and exhibits a blank mold, with the first region (1) with a first starting outer diameter (D1) and the starting wall thickness (b1), and at least a second region (2) with an outer diameter reducing in comparison to the starting outer diameter (D1) and having an increased wall thickness in comparison to the starting wall thickness (b1), wherein the increased wall thickness forms a reinforcement.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2004Date of Patent: November 25, 2008Assignee: fischer Hydroforming GmbHInventor: Bernd Schulze
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Patent number: 7454936Abstract: The invention relates to a vacuum-assisted method and a device for forming an essentially flat blank (12) of metal into a thin-walled, shell-type body (14), especially for performing the method in accordance with one of the preceding claims, that has a supporting structure (16) forming a mold chamber (18) that holds the blank (12) during increasing deformation into the thin-walled, shell-body (14), a device (20) allocated to the supporting structure (16) for clamping the blank (12) about its circumference (22) to the supporting structure (16), that seals the reverse face (24) of the blank (12) facing towards the mold chamber (18) against the front face (26) of the blank (12) facing away from the mold chamber (18), and a device (28) allocated to the mold chamber (18) that also communicates with the mold chamber (18) for applying a vacuum and evacuating the mold chamber (18), and at least one forming tool (50) applied to the front face (26) of the blank (12) is/are allocated to the supporting structure (16), anType: GrantFiled: May 22, 2006Date of Patent: November 25, 2008Assignee: MT Aerospace AGInventors: Helmut Michel, Wulf Radtke, Johannes Hegels
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Patent number: 7454943Abstract: A bottom tool/bending die for use in sheet metal forming. The bottom tool includes a pair of movable dies that provide substantially continuous support of a work piece as it is being deformed. Each die includes an upper surface configured to contact the work piece and having an inner and an outer edge. As the die moves in the tool, the inner edge of the upper surface is closer to a center of rotation of the die than the outer edge. In some embodiments, the upper surfaces of the dies are shaped so that a fixed separation is maintained between the inner edges of the dies as they rotate. In at least one embodiment, sector gears are used to control the motion of the dies.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2003Date of Patent: November 25, 2008Assignee: Tooling Innovations, Inc.Inventor: Hans Jacobsen
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Patent number: 7451631Abstract: A spiral pipe machine includes a feeding assembly for continuously feeding a web of material, and a forming assembly for accepting the web. The forming assembly bends the web to form a first section of a spiral pipe having a first predetermined diameter. A controller is employed for selectively instructing the forming means to change its configuration so as to give a second section of the spiral pipe a second predetermined diameter. The controller is capable of controlling the forming station to transition from the first predetermined diameter to the second predetermined diameter during the continuous feeding of the web.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2007Date of Patent: November 18, 2008Assignee: Formtek, Inc.Inventor: Gary L. Dickinson
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Patent number: 7451629Abstract: A spiral pipe machine includes a feeding assembly for continuously feeding a web of material, and a forming assembly for accepting the web. The forming assembly bends the web to form a first section of a spiral pipe having a first predetermined diameter. A controller is employed for selectively instructing the forming means to change its configuration so as to give a second section of the spiral pipe a second predetermined diameter. The controller is capable of controlling the forming station to transition from the first predetermined diameter to the second predetermined diameter during the continuous feeding of the web.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2006Date of Patent: November 18, 2008Assignee: Formtek, Inc.Inventor: Gary L. Dickinson
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Patent number: 7451630Abstract: A method of forming a vehicle component, particularly an elongated impact beam, having an open section structure, in a manner to provide predetermined strategically strengthened portions, comprising the steps of cold forming unhardened steel into a workpiece having mounting surfaces, selectively fixturing the mounting surfaces, static induction heating the workpiece with lengthwise surface eddy currents on selected portions, followed by quenching of the fixtured heated workpiece to form strengthened portions, and unfixturing the resulting component. Also disclosed is apparatus to accomplish this, and the resulting novel vehicle component.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2004Date of Patent: November 18, 2008Assignee: Benteler Automotive CorporationInventors: Todd W. J. Tjoelker, John D. Bowman, Alessandro Libriani, Joseph C. Kollaritsch
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Patent number: 7448241Abstract: A safety system for use with a machine having a moving tool arranged to move through a known path of movement. The safety system is arranged to detect the presence of an obstruction in a region (20) around a portion of said path deemed to be hazardous. The safety system is characterised by comprising a light emitting means (16), a light receiving means (18) and a processing and control means. The light emitting means (16) is arranged to emit light generally parallel to the path of movement of the tool such that the region (20) is illuminated. The light receiving means (18) is arranged to receive light from the light emitting means (16) which has passed through the region (20).Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2003Date of Patent: November 11, 2008Inventor: Kevin S. Davies
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Patent number: 7444849Abstract: The present invention of pipe-bending apparatus includes: a frame, a bending shoe having gear teeth and concave groove on its outer circumference, a drive-gear, a gear rack having gear teeth and concave groove on one surface and gear teeth only on opposite surface. The frame pivotally supports bending shoe and drive-gear, positions gear rack engaging bending shoe and drive-gear. When using the pipe-bending apparatus, a straight pipe is laid inside the groove on gear rack with one pipe portion secured to bending shoe. Force is applied to turn drive gear, with all gear components engaged, gear rack and pipe transverse downwards and turns bending shoe. With one pipe portion secured to and turning with bending shoe, the pipe begins bending inside the concave groove on bending shoe.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2007Date of Patent: November 4, 2008Inventors: Paul Hsueh, Kie Hong Lao
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Patent number: 7438094Abstract: A tool for installing a metal locking tie is disclosed. The tool includes a tension mechanism and a ball set and cut-off mechanism. The tension mechanism tensions the metal locking tie wrapped around a bundle. The ball set and cut-off mechanism includes a guide block and a shear block that engages the guide block. Once the tool tensions the metal locking tie, the guide block and the shear block travel forward in the tool thereby setting a ball in a metal locking tie head and shearing a portion of the tensioned metal locking tie.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2006Date of Patent: October 21, 2008Assignee: Panduit Corp.Inventors: Lawrence A. Hillegonds, Mark Shurhay, Roger D. Segroves
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Patent number: 7437904Abstract: A coldwork tool assembly including an outer housing and an inner housing in telescopic arrangement with each other and a retaining collar configured to accommodate a plurality of mandrel configurations. One of a plurality of various mandrels is removably coupled to the inner housing using the retaining collar to secure the mandrel to the inner housing as the inner housing moves between a contracted and an expanded position relative to the outer housing.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2006Date of Patent: October 21, 2008Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Michael D Katzenberger, James A. Hammond, Jr., George E. Anderson, Brian J. Martinek
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Patent number: 7434443Abstract: An upper die 7 that is fixed to a ram 4d of a press machine 1 includes a forming punch 9 for conducting drawing, forming and listing, upper die-side cutting edges 13a for conducting trimming, and flat-face piercing punches 11 for conducting flat-face piercing, to respectively a work W in cooperation with a lower die 8. The lower die 8 is provided with a forming die 12 corresponding to the upper die 7, and a large piercing die 14, lower die-side cutting edges 8e and a flat-face piercing die 8a which are disposed at the forming die 12. A side-face working apparatus 17, including a rotating base 18 and a reciprocating base 19, is disposed at the side of the lower die 8 to conduct side-face press working to a side-face portion 3g of the work W jointly with the lower die 8.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2003Date of Patent: October 14, 2008Assignee: Hirotec CorporationInventor: Hiroshi Tokuda
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Patent number: 7434442Abstract: The drive housing (26) of a bodymaker (20) carries a major ring (32) in stationary position and a planetary ring carrier (36, 46) for rotation on the central axis of the major ring. The planetary ring carrier (36, 46) carries a minor planetary ring (34) in internal engagement with the major ring (32) for rotation on its own axis in rolling orbit against the inside circumference of the major ring (32). A crank (54) is connected to rotate with the planetary ring and provides a journal (56) positioned at the circumference of the planetary ring (34) for drivingly engaging a ram (60). The diameter of the planetary ring (34) is one-half the diameter of the major ring (32), establishing a straight-line path of movement for the journal (56) along an axis (X-X) parallel to a selected diameter of the major ring (32). A frame (22, 72) supports ram (60) in suitable position with respect to drive housing (26) for straight-line reciprocation on the axis (X-X) parallel to the selected diameter.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2006Date of Patent: October 14, 2008Assignee: Werth Advanced Packaging Innovations, Ltd.Inventor: Laszlo A. Gombas
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Patent number: 7426823Abstract: For the purpose of improving the discharge of electrical charges via the energy guiding chain, an energy guiding chain (1) with a plurality of links (2), which are connected to each other in articulated fashion and each display opposite side pieces (3) and at least one cross-member (4a) connecting them, where the links (2) consist at least partly of an electrically conductive material that permits the discharge of electrical charges over at least part of the chain length, is characterized in that the links (2) are designed such that they are in contact with each other over the full pivoting angle on contact areas that move relative to each other and are in permanent contact and/or in that at least one connecting element (8) connecting two or more links to each other in each case is provided, which provides contact areas remaining in unchanging position in relation to the links, and in that the contact areas, and the areas of the links or the connecting element connecting them, form a continuous conductivity pType: GrantFiled: April 7, 2005Date of Patent: September 23, 2008Assignee: Igus GmbHInventors: Günter Blase, Frank Blase