Patents by Inventor David A. Yeager

David A. Yeager 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: 7955333
    Abstract: A method of preparing a patient's one leg, that is in need of treatment, for ambulation. The method includes the steps of: applying an external fixation assembly, having at least one external frame component, by pinning the at least one external frame component to at least one of the patient's bones in the patient's one leg so as to prepare the patient's one leg for healing; providing a foot assembly with a sole assembly defining a bearing surface and a connecting assembly; and operatively joining the foot assembly to the patient's one leg, whereby the patient can walk in a manner whereupon weight of the patient's body is applied by a patient's one foot, that is part of the user's one leg, to the sole assembly and therethrough to and against an underlying surface during ambulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Inventor: David A. Yeager
  • Publication number: 20090131935
    Abstract: A method of preparing a patient's one leg, that is in need of treatment, for ambulation. The method includes the steps of: applying an external fixation assembly, having at least one external frame component, by pinning the at least one external frame component to at least one of the patient's bones in the patient's one leg so as to prepare the patient's one leg for healing; providing a foot assembly with a sole assembly defining a bearing surface and a connecting assembly; and operatively joining the foot assembly to the patient's one leg, whereby the patient can walk in a manner whereupon weight of the patient's body is applied by a patient's one foot, that is part of the user's one leg, to the sole assembly and therethrough to and against an underlying surface during ambulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventor: David A. Yeager
  • Patent number: 5629091
    Abstract: A collection of agglomerated anti-friction grains for plasma deposition, the grains each consisting essentially of (a) H.sub.2 O atomized stainless steel particles, (b) solid lubricant particles consisting of at least one of boron nitride or a eutectic of calcium fluoride and lithium fluoride, and (c) a binder holding said steel and solid lubricant particles together for plasma spraying, said binder being present in an amount of 0.5-4.0% by weight and is vaporizable at the temperature of plasma spraying and does not interfere with the deposited process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: V. Durga N. Rao, Robert A. Rose, David A. Yeager, Carlo A. Fucinari
  • Patent number: 5598763
    Abstract: A piston and ring assembly operative within a cylindrical bore wall to retain fluid to one side. The piston has a side wall for movement along the cylindrical wall and has one or more spaced grooves in the side wall, each groove defining a pair of interior groove surfaces spaced apart a uniform distance; at least one sealing element presenting a pair of opposed surfaces operating between and along the pair of groove surfaces, the sealing element being capable of engaging the cylindrical wall, the spacing between the opposed surfaces of the sealing element and the pair of interior surfaces of the groove being no greater than ten microns; and a solid film lubricant mixture coating the groove surfaces and the opposed surfaces of the sealing element, whereby surface adhesion of the fluid, present in the spacing, inhibiting migration of such fluid through the spacing and flutter of the sealing element, in said spacing, being essentially eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: V. Durga N. Rao, David A. Yeager
  • Patent number: 5568891
    Abstract: Apparatus for fracturing a powder metal bearing support having stress risers to initiate cracking along a cracking plane. The apparatus has (a) a fixture assembly for holding one internal side of the bearing stationary, and (b) structure for fracturingly pulling a second internal side of the bearing away from the one internal side along a track in a direction substantially perpendicular to the cracking plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Inventors: Peter Y. Hoag, David A. Yeager
  • Patent number: 5566450
    Abstract: A method of flexibly manufacturing engine blocks by first bonding an extruded tube liner insert, of a given thickness (1-15 mm), to a fixed configuration block, the liner insert having been coated with an anti-friction wear-resistant coating having a controlled standard thickness, and secondly bonding an extruded tube liner insert of a different thickness (again selected from 1-15 mm) to another of the fixed configuration blocks, the second liner insert having been coated with the same type of anti-friction wear-resistant coating in essentially the same controlled standard thickness. The common sized engine block can have (i) identically shaped circular cylindrical bore walls or (ii) ovoid cylindrical bore walls with the liner insert having an interior surface shape selection varying between circular to ovoid. The block and liner insert may be both made of aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: V. Durga Nageswar Rao, Robert A. Rose, David A. Yeager, Daniel M. Kabat
  • Patent number: 5490445
    Abstract: A piston and ring assembly operative within a cylindrical bore wall to retain pressurized fluid to one side of the assembly, the piston having a crown and an annular side wall for movement along the bore wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: V. Durga N. Rao, David A. Yeager
  • Patent number: 5353500
    Abstract: A method of making a connecting rod for attachment to a bearing journal by separation of parts of the connecting rod, including: (a) forging a powder metal sintered preform to provide a one-piece connecting rod having an annular wall defining a crank opening with a center axis and with stress risers for establishing a cracking plane that extends across said crank opening; (b) providing access for a compression coupling across the cracking plane; (c) while at ambient conditions, applying tension substantially uniformly across the cracking plane to propogate fracture from the stress risers along said cracking plane and thereby separate the connecting rod into a cap and body with cracked surfaces; and (d) remating the cap and body by applying a compression coupling through the access to draw said cap and body together under guidance and with metal yielding pressure to effect substantially an exact rematch of said cracked surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Inventors: Peter Y. Hoag, David A. Yeager
  • Patent number: 5313919
    Abstract: A low-friction piston construction for use in an oil-fed cylinder bore with the piston skirt relieved to define lands that are coated with SFL (graphite, MoS.sub.2, BN, and a special expoxy resin). A method of making such piston construction including provision of asperities on the skirt wall onto which the SFL coating is thermally sprayed and formation of small pockets at the mouth of the asperities to additionally act as oil replenishing reservoirs. A method of using such piston construction in an engine which comprises provisions of a slightly increased gap between the piston and cylinder wall and formation of a transferred SFL coating from the piston to the cylinder wall resulting in two polished microsmooth mating coatings, each attractive to oil films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Vemulapalli D. N. Rao, Daniel M. Kabat, David A. Yeager
  • Patent number: 5239955
    Abstract: A low-friction piston construction for use in an oil-fed cylinder bore with the piston skirt relieved to define lands that are coated with SFL (graphite, MoS.sub.2, BN, and a special expoxy resin). A method of making such piston construction including provision of asperities on the skirt wall onto which the SFL coating is thermally sprayed and formation of small pockets at the mouth of the asperities to additionally act as oil replenishing reservoirs. A method of using such piston construction in an engine which comprises provisions of a slightly increased gap between the piston and cylinder wall and formation of a transferred SFL coating from the piston to the cylinder wall resulting in two polished microsmooth mating coatings, each attractive to oil films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Vemulapalli D. N. Rao, Daniel M. Kabat, David A. Yeager
  • Patent number: 5140869
    Abstract: A precision cast connecting rod which has an elongate tubular shank member defining a hollow section for producing desired stiffness to weight characteristics. Piston and crankpin connecting members are attached to opposite ends of the shank member. The connecting members are provided with passages which extend axially therewithin from the hollow section. Defined within the elongate tubular shank member is a radially extending central aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Robert Mrdjenovich, David A. Yeager
  • Patent number: 5131577
    Abstract: A method of making a connecting rod for attachment to a bearing journal by separation of parts of the connecting rod, comprising: (a) forging a powder metal sintered preform to provide a one-piece connecting rod having an annular wall defining a crank opening with a center axis and with stress risers for establishing a cracking plane that extends across said crank opening; (b) providing access for a compression coupling across the cracking plane; (c) while at ambient conditions, applying tension substantially uniformly across the cracking plane to propogate fracture from the stress risers along said cracking plane and thereby separate the connecting rod into a cap and body with cracked surfaces; and (d) remating the cap and body by applying a compression coupling through the access to draw said cap and body together under guidance and with metal yielding pressure to effect substantially an exact rematch of said cracked surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Peter Y. Hoag, David A. Yeager
  • Patent number: 5109605
    Abstract: A method of making a connecting rod for attachment to a bearing journal by separation of parts of the connecting rod, comprising: (a) forging a powder metal sintered preform to provide a one-piece connecting rod having an annular wall defining a crank opening with a center axis and with stress risers for establishing a cracking plane that extends across said crank opening; (b) providing access for a compression coupling across the cracking plane; (c) while at ambient conditions, applying tension substantially uniformly across the cracking plane to propagate fracture from the stress risers along said cracking plane and thereby separate the connecting rod into a cap and body with cracked surfaces; and (d) remating the cap and body by applying a compression coupling through the access to draw said cap and body together under guidance and with metal yielding pressure to effect substantially an exact rematch of said cracked surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Peter Y. Hoag, David A. Yeager
  • Patent number: 5063992
    Abstract: A precision cast connecting rod which has an elongate tubular shank member defining a hollow section for producing desired stiffness to weight characteristics. Piston and crankpin connecting members are attached to opposite ends of the shank member. The connecting members are provided with passages which extend axially therewithin from the hollow section. Defined within the elongate tubular shank member is a radially extending central aperture. A precision casting method for preparing the hollow connecting rod includes forming an elongate core with a locating member positioned at each end thereof and a disk-shaped protuberance extending radially therefrom. The core is secured in a die and defines a cavity therebetween for preparing a pattern of the connecting rod using a molding material which substantially encapsulates the core within the cavity. After removing the pattern from the die, coatings of refractory material are applied to form a shell mold which encrusts the pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Robert Mrdjenovich, David A. Yeager
  • Patent number: 5048368
    Abstract: A precision cast connecting rod which has an elongate tubular shank member defining a hollow section for producing desired stiffness to weight characteristics. Piston and crankpin connecting members are attached to opposite ends of the shank member. The connecting members are provided with passages which extend axially therewithin from the hollow section. Defined within the elongate tubular shank member is a radially extending central aperture. A precision casting method for preparing the hollow connecting rod includes forming an elongate core with a locating member positioned at each end thereof and a disk-shaped protuberance extending radially therefrom. The core is secured in a die and defines a cavity therebetween for preparing a pattern of the connecting rod using a molding material which substantially encapsulates the core within the cavity. After removing the pattern from the die, coatings of refractory material are applied to form a shell mold which encrusts the pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Robert Mrdjenovich, David A. Yeager
  • Patent number: 4993134
    Abstract: A method of making a connecting rod for attachment to a bearing journal by separation of parts of the connecting rod, comprising: (a) forging a powder metal sintered preform to provide a one-piece connecting rod having an annular wall defining a crank opening with a center axis and with stress risers for establishing a cracking plane that extends across said crank opening; (b) providing access for a compression coupling across the cracking plane; (c) while at ambient conditions, applying tension substantially uniformly across the cracking plane to propogate fracture from the stress risers along said cracking plane and thereby separate the connecting rod into a cap and body with cracked surfaces; and (d) remating the cap and body by applying a compression coupling through the access to draw said cap and body together under guidance and with metal yielding pressure to effect substantially an exact rematch of said cracked surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Peter Y. Hoag, David A. Yeager
  • Patent number: 4936163
    Abstract: A method of making a connecting rod for attachment to a bearing journal by separation of parts of the connecting rod, comprising: (a) forging a powder metal sintered preform to provide a one-piece connecting rod having an annular wall defining a crank opening with a center axis and with stress risers for establishing a cracking plane that extends across said crank opening; (b) providing access for a compression coupling across the cracking plane; (c) while at ambient conditions, applying tension substantially uniformly across the cracking plane to propogate fracture from the stress risers along said cracking plane and thereby separate the connecting rod into a cap and body with cracked surrfaces; and (d) remating the cap and body by applying a compression coupling through the access to draw said cap and body together under guidance and with metal yielding pressure to effect substantially an exact rematch of said cracked surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Peter Y. Hoag, David A. Yeager