Patents Examined by Teresa Ekiert
  • Patent number: 8117879
    Abstract: A building panel formed from sheet material extends in a longitudinal direction along its length and includes a curved center portion in cross section, a pair of side portions extending from the curved center portion, and a pair of connecting portions extending from the side portions. The curved center portion includes a plurality segments extending in the longitudinal direction. The panel is curved in the longitudinal direction without having transverse corrugations. A particular segment may have a depth greater than that of another segment to accommodate the longitudinal curve. A system for longitudinally curving the panel includes first and second curving assemblies, each of which includes multiple rollers arranged to contact the panel as it passes along, a positioning mechanism for changing a relative rotational orientation between the first and second curving assemblies, a drive system for moving the panel longitudinally, and a control system for controlling the positioning mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: M.I.C. Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd E. Anderson, Frederick Morello
  • Patent number: 8117884
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for cold-form profiling cylindrical, thin-walled hollow parts (1), comprising profiles (4) which extend in an essentially parallel manner in relation to the longitudinal axis (A) of the hollow part (1). At least one profiling tool (5) engages in a strike-like hammering manner with the outside of the hollow part (1) in a radial manner in relation to the longitudinal axis (A) o the hollow part (1). The profiling tool (5) engages, respectively, in an essentially vertical and oscillating manner on the surface of the hollow part (1). Then, the profiling tool (5) is displaced in an axial manner in relation to the hollow part (1) at a constant radial adjusting depth until the desired profile length is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ernst Grob AG
    Inventor: Daniel Deriaz
  • Patent number: 8113030
    Abstract: Methods are taught for manufacturing a work having a peripheral flange by pressing a sheet material may include half die cutting the material so as to simultaneously form inner and outer circumferential surface of the peripheral flange while the peripheral flange is simultaneously subjected to isostatic pressures that are directed from the flange inner surface to the flange outer surface or from the flange outer surface to the flange inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shirou Fujimura, Kouhei Ushida
  • Patent number: 8113243
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for filament crimping. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a body and a filament crimp element. The filament crimp element comprises a first set of cavities disposed at a spacing which creates a first set of features and a second set of cavities disposed at a spacing which creates a second set of features. The first and second set cavities are substantially opposite one another. The first set of features are adapted to be placed at least partially within the second set of cavities and the second set of features are adapted to be placed at least partially within the first set of cavities. Methods and apparatus for the manufacture of the device are also disclosed. In addition, methods for automated placement and manufacture of assemblies using the crimp elements are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Autosplice, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Bogursky, Leonid Foshansky, Craig Kennedy, Darrel Wood, Mark Saunders
  • Patent number: 8104317
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a manifold for a vehicle transmission. The manifold defines a plurality of laterally extending channels suitable for simultaneously transferring oil at separate flow rates and pressure signals and may be subdivided to provide a plurality of like defined manifolds. The manifold, formed through an extrusion process, is fittable within or around a transmission shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Joel M. Maguire, Craig S. Ross
  • Patent number: 8104318
    Abstract: In some preferred embodiments, an extrusion die for metallic material capable of obtaining a high quality extruded article can be provide while securing sufficient strength and durability. The extrusion die is provided with a die holding case 20 having a dome portion 21 with an external surface functioning as a metallic material pressure receiving surface 22, the metallic material pressure receiving surface 22 being disposed so as to face rearward, a male die 30 held in the die holding case 21, and a female die 40 held in a front portion of the die holding case 20. The metallic material pressure receiving surface 22 is formed into a convex configuration, and a porthole 24 is formed in the dome portion 21. The central axis A2 of the porthole 24 is inclined to the central axis A1 of the die holding case 20. The metallic material pressed against the metallic material pressure receiving surface 22 is introduced into the die holding case 20 through the porthole 24 and passes through the extrusion hole 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Kimihisa Hiramoto, Hidekazu Sakihama
  • Patent number: 8096156
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for forming (e.g. die necking) open ends of open-ended metal container bodies. An exemplary embodiment provides a number of movable holders for container bodies that move the container bodies along a path extending through the apparatus. A motor advances the holders and container bodies along the path in steps with pauses between each step. Each step advances one or more container bodies (and preferably two or more). One or more groups of work stations positioned adjacent to the path provides tool sets for carrying out a forming operation on one (and preferably two or more) container bodies simultaneously. Individual container bodies, or more preferably groups of two or more, are subjected to one or more forming operations during passage along the path (preferably the periphery of one or more star wheels).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Crown Packaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Olson, Harold Cook, Jr., Michael Atkinson, Randy Worwag, Peter Kubisa, Chris Reynolds, Larry Patchen
  • Patent number: 8091398
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for use in the manufacture of a spring unit for incorporation into an upholstered article, for example, a mattress, cushion or the like. Coil formation apparatus includes a drive shaft used to control movement of a coil pitch guide member and a link member comprising a connecting rod connected to a radius arm of the drive shaft by means of an adjustable connection. A coil interlinking process comprises compressing a first coil to define a clearance extending a second coil passed the first coil via the clearance, allowing the first coil to extend across the clearance, and contracting the second coil such that the second coil engages the first coil thereby interlinking the first and second coils. Spring unit manufacturing apparatus comprises a plurality of jaw pairs each comprising a first fixed jaw and a pivotal second jaw, the pivotal second jaw being pivoted by a cam and linkage assembly that is operated by a rotary drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Inventors: Howard Martin Dixon, Paul Rodgers
  • Patent number: 8091399
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a seamless tube which can effectively suppress thickness deviations which are apt to occur in thin-walled seamless tubes is provided. A billet which has been soaked in a heating furnace at a given temperature for a given length of time is subjected to piercing and elongation rolling to form a mother tube, which is then soaked in a reheating furnace at a given temperature for a given length of time and then subjected to sizing to produce a seamless tube with a wall thickness of at most 4 mm. The wall thickness of the tube after sizing is at most 4 mm, the soaking time at the given temperature in the heating furnace is in the range of [billet diameter (mm)×(from 0.14-0.35 )] minutes, and the soaking time at the given temperature in the reheating furnace is in the range of [mother tube wall thickness (mm)×(from 3.0-10.0)] minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Beppu
  • Patent number: 8087433
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a cabling media using a wire pair including first and second conductor members, each of the first and second conductor members including a respective conductor and a respective insulation cover surrounding the conductor thereof, includes a wire pair twisting device and a wire pair twist modulator. The wire pair twisting device is adapted to twist the first and second conductor members about one another to form a twisted wire pair. The wire pair twist modulator is upstream of the wire pair twisting device. The wire pair twist modulator includes an engagement member to hold the first and second conductor members at a hold location to restrict rotation of the first and second conductor members about one another. The apparatus defines a twist zone extending from the hold location to a twist initiation location of the wire pair twisting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: CommScope, Inc. of North Carolina
    Inventors: Brian Johnson, Andy T. Setzer, Wayne C. Hopkinson, David Williams, Trent M. Hayes
  • Patent number: 8074483
    Abstract: We manufacture a two-piece can by the method using a laminated steel sheet as the base material, having the steps of: drawing a cylindrical blank for several times to form a can body in a shape of cylinder integrated with bottom; forming a tapered part extending outward from the can body in the radial direction thereof at the tip of the opening of the can body; applying diametral reduction to the tapered part to the diameter of the can body; and applying diametral reduction to the opening side of the can body to a diameter smaller than the diameter of the can body, while satisfying the formulae (1) and (2), 1.5?h/(R?R)??(1) d/R?0.25??(2) where h is the height from the can bottom to the tip of the opening, R is the circular blank positional radius, r is the radius of the can bottom, and d is the radius of the tip of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: JFE Steel Corrporation
    Inventors: Katsumi Kojima, Yuka Nishihara, Hiroshi Kubo, Yoshihiko Yasue, Yasuhide Oshima, Hiroki Iwasa
  • Patent number: 8069698
    Abstract: A press assembly including a die assembly having a trim die defining an annular cavity wherein the trim die is fixed to the press assembly, a punch assembly including a trim punch having an annular boss that is correspondingly shaped to the annular cavity, wherein the trim punch is movable relative to the die assembly, and an ejector assembly including an ejector arm, wherein the ejector arm is mounted to the punch assembly. The object is pressed into the annular cavity of the trim die by the annular boss of the trim punch when the annular boss is slidably received in the annular cavity, and the ejector arm pushes the object upwardly within the annular cavity of the trim die when the annular boss of the trim punch is removed from the annular cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Musashi Seimitsu Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichi Murata
  • Patent number: 8069696
    Abstract: A method is described for producing a gear wheel from a powdered metal blank (1) compressed and sintered having a machining allowance in the gearing area, the powdered metal blank (1) being compacted by the machining allowance with a plastic deformation by rolling of a compression tool (7) forming a counter gearing engaging in the gearing of the powdered metal blank (1). To provide advantageous compaction conditions, it is suggested that the powdered metal blank (1) be compacted simultaneously around the entire circumference by rolling of profile rolls (8) forming the compression tool (7) axially to the powdered metal blank (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: MIBA Sinter Austria GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Sandner
  • Patent number: 8062141
    Abstract: A metal clinch fastener has portions thereof selectively hardened to enable use of the fastener with metal members of differing hardness values. The selective hardening of the fastener enables mounting with application of required forces for piercing and/or plastic deformation of the metal member without undesirable deformation or distortion of the fastener. The screw thread region or zone of the fastener has a relatively lesser hardness suitable and may be pre-threaded or later threaded by engagement with a thread forming screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: R B & W Manufacturing LLC
    Inventor: W. Richard Pamer
  • Patent number: 8061175
    Abstract: The invention deals with a sheet-metal bending machine containing a lower machine part and an upper machine part mounted on it in a movable way where on either of the upper and lower machine part there is a pair of working tools designed as a bending arm and a holding arm where the principle is that the upper machine part (3), or at least the pair of the working tools connected to it, is, in relation to the lower machine part (2), or at least in relation to the pair of the working tools connected to it in the feeding direction (L) of the processed metal sheet (14), mounted in a mutually horizontally sliding bond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Inventor: Reinhard Franze
  • Patent number: 8056386
    Abstract: An exemplary pin bending device (200) includes a base (210), a sliding member (230), a fixing member (240), and a latch member (250). The sliding member (230) is slidably positioned on the base and defines a plurality of holes (2303) for receiving first portions of pins. The fixing member is fixed on the base. The latch member is movably positioned on the base. The latch member is able to move towards the fixing member in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of the sliding member and engage with the fixing member to fix second portions of the pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Nan Ou, Bin Wang, Cheng-Bin Su, Jian-Long Xing, Ga-Lei Hu
  • Patent number: 8056384
    Abstract: A method and a device for shaping sheet metal to form a main structure is described, minor structures being created in the planar sheet metal before shaping to form the main structure, which is rotationally symmetrical, for example. This method and device are particularly advantageous because they make it possible to inexpensively and precisely design shell-shaped parts for torque converters, such as a pump shell, a turbine shell or the inner ring of a pump or the inner ring of a turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: LuK Vermoegensverwaltungsgesellschaft mbH
    Inventor: Wilfried Schwenk
  • Patent number: 8051694
    Abstract: A shaft manufacturing apparatus includes a first drawing die having a cylindrical first cavity defined therein which is open at both ends thereof and a second drawing die having a cylindrical second cavity defined therein which is open at one end thereof. The angle formed between a first tapered part of the first drawing die and the axis of the first cavity is greater than the angle formed between a second tapered part of the second drawing die and the axis of the second cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Doi, Yoshimi Usui, Koichi Kawata, Masahiko Seki
  • Patent number: 8051692
    Abstract: A shape detection device capable of detecting meandering of a strip with high accuracy and a method thereof. The device includes a plurality of split rolls provided in a width direction of a rolling material; a table which guides the rolling material and which is rotatably supported; a fixing member supported by the table; torque detectors for separately detecting loads acting on both ends of the split rolls when the rolling material comes in contact with the split roll as moments; supporting arms of which one end rotatably supports the split roll and the other end is supported by the fixing member through the torque detectors; a meandering amount computing unit for computing a meandering amount of the rolling material using the moments detected by the torque detectors, and a plate shape computing unit for computing a plate shape of the rolling material using the moments and the meandering amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi-Hitachi Metals Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: Kanji Hayashi, Shigeki Sueda, Hideaki Furumoto, Junichi Nishizaki, Yoichiro Tsumura, Nobuyoshi Goshima
  • Patent number: 8051695
    Abstract: The method for cooling a hot strip which is obtained after a hot rolling process to the temperature range of 500° or less. Cooling water is brought into contact with the hot strip. The method includes a first cooling step and a subsequent second cooling step. Cooling is stopped at a strip temperature that is higher than a transition boiling initiation temperature in the first cooling step, and the cooling is conducted using the cooling water having a water flow rate that causes nucleate boiling in the subsequent second cooling step. Entering the temperature range of transition boiling can be completely prevented to avoid thermal instability in cooling resulting from the transition boiling, and the temperature variation of the strip after cooling is controlled to be small while the cooling end temperature can be precisely controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: JFE Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Ueoka, Takashi Kuroki, Nobuo Nishiura