Patents by Inventor Bruce S. Phipps

Bruce S. Phipps has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7147032
    Abstract: In a process for the assembly of wax trees, a wax runner is placed in a flat position, and a wax pattern is located adjacent to the wax runner. Both the wax pattern and the wax runner are heated and then placed in contact with one another where heated. Then the wax pattern and the wax runner are separated slightly to form a fillet weld between the wax pattern and the wax runner. An apparatus is also provided which, by robotics, brings a multiplicity of wax patterns to a wax runner and which automatically heats both the wax patterns and the wax runner before simultaneously pressing both the wax patterns and the wax runner together. Once a wax tree assembly is completed, a new wax runner replaces the wax runner that has been formed into a wax tree, and additional wax patterns are affixed in the same manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: MPI Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard Ludwig, Stephen Derby, Raymond H. Puffer, Jr., Bruce S. Phipps
  • Patent number: 6957686
    Abstract: A knife for heating the wax on the surface of a wax runner. The knife as a surface which is recessed in the center of the surface to permit melted wax to flow up into the recessed area and not flow away from the knife. Alternately, conformal heating surface which melts only that portion of the wax runner to which the pattern gate is affixed. Additionally an electrical circuit is provided which includes a heater and a temperature controller to limit the temperature at which wax is melted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: MPI Incorporated
    Inventors: Raymond H. Puffer, Jr., Bruce S. Phipps, Daniel Walczyk, Rory Mackean, Jason Chalfant, Keith F. Hendrck
  • Patent number: 6929050
    Abstract: A wax runner is provided having risers along the edge of the surface which is melted to attach the wax gates of wax patterns to the wax runner. The risers prevent the flow of molten wax over the edge of the wax runner. In addition to the risers or separately, at least one locator extends from both ends of the wax runners, the locators are aligned with one another and assure a constant distance between the ends of the wax runner and the wax pattern being affixed to it. The locators further provide a fixed reference point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: MPI Incorporated
    Inventors: Raymond H. Puffer, Jr., Bruce S. Phipps, Daniel Walczyk, Rory MacKean, Jason Chalfant
  • Patent number: 6910519
    Abstract: A process for the assembly of wax trees in which a wax runner is placed in a flat position and a wax pattern is located adjacent the wax runner. Both the wax runner pattern and the wax runner are heated and then are placed in contact with one another where heated. Then the wax pattern and the wax runner are separated slightly to form a fillet weld between the wax pattern and the wax runner. An apparatus is also provided which, by robotics, brings a multiplicity of wax patterns to a wax runner and which automatically heats both the wax patterns and the wax runner before simultaneously pressing both the wax pattern and the wax runner together. Once a wax tree assembly is completed a new wax runner replaces the wax runner that has been formed into a wax tree and additional wax runners are affixed in the same manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: MPI Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard Ludwig, Stephen Derby, Raymond H. Puffer, Jr., Bruce S. Phipps
  • Publication number: 20040256076
    Abstract: A knife for heating the wax on the surface of a wax runner. The knife as a surface which is recessed in the center of the surface to permit melted wax to flow up into the recessed area and not flow away from the knife. Alternately, conformal heating surface which melts only that portion of the wax runner to which the pattern gate is affixed. Additionally an electrical circuit is provided which includes a heater and a temperature controller to limit the temperature at which wax is melted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Raymond H. Puffer,, Bruce S. Phipps, Daniel Walczyk, Rory Mackean, Jason Chalfant, Keith F. Hedrick
  • Publication number: 20040256072
    Abstract: A wax runner is provided having risers along the edge of the surface which is melted to attach the wax gates of wax patterns to the wax runner. The risers prevent the flow of molten wax over the edge of the wax runner. In addition to the risers or separately, at least one locator extends from both ends of the wax runners, the locators are aligned with one another and assure a constant distance between the ends of the wax runner and the wax pattern being affixed to it. The locators further provide a fixed reference point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Raymond H. Puffer, Bruce S. Phipps, Daniel Walczyk, Rory MacKean, Jason Chalfant
  • Publication number: 20030098136
    Abstract: A process for the assembly of wax trees in which a wax runner is placed in a flat position and a wax pattern is located adjacent the wax runner. Both the wax runner pattern and the wax runner are heated and then are placed in contact with one another where heated. Then the wax pattern and the wax runner are separated slightly to form a fillet weld between the wax pattern and the wax runner. An apparatus is also provided which, by robotics, brings a multiplicity of wax patterns to a wax runner and which automatically heats both the wax patterns and the wax runner before simultaneously pressing both the wax pattern and the wax runner together. Once a wax tree assembly is completed a new wax runner replaces the wax runner that has been formed into a wax tree and additional wax runners are affixed in the same manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventors: Richard Ludwig, Stephen Derby, Raymond H. Puffer, Bruce S. Phipps