Patents by Inventor Edward H. Bittner

Edward H. Bittner 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: 10821532
    Abstract: A herringbone gear includes a cylindrical body having a circumferential face having a width. A first helical gear tooth on the circumferential face has a first configuration, a second helical gear tooth on the circumferential face has a second configuration, and a transition on the circumferential face extends between the first helical gear tooth and the second helical gear tooth. An involute form taken within a transverse plane of the circumferential face remains constant over the width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventors: Edward H. Bittner, Bruce D. Hansen, Christopher John Mussel
  • Patent number: 10646938
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a gear, the method includes applying a first charge to a workpiece and applying a second, opposite charge to an electrochemical machining (ECM) attachment, the ECM attachment having a pattern. The method further includes simultaneously forming a plurality of surfaces of a gear tooth in the workpiece using the pattern of the ECM attachment while applying the first charge to the workpiece and applying the second charge to the ECM attachment and turning the workpiece and the ECM attachment in opposite rotational directions. The plurality of surfaces includes at least one end face and a top land of the gear tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edward H. Bittner, William Patrick Murphy, Bruce D. Hansen, Christopher J. Mussel, Yuriy Gmirya
  • Publication number: 20190210130
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a gear, the method includes applying a first charge to a workpiece and applying a second, opposite charge to an electrochemical machining (ECM) attachment, the ECM attachment having a pattern. The method further includes simultaneously forming a plurality of surfaces of a gear tooth in the workpiece using the pattern of the ECM attachment while applying the first charge to the workpiece and applying the second charge to the ECM attachment and turning the workpiece and the ECM attachment in opposite rotational directions. The plurality of surfaces includes at least one end face and a top land of the gear tooth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: EDWARD H. BITTNER, WILLIAM PATRICK MURPHY, BRUCE D. HANSEN, CHRISTOPHER J. MUSSEL, YURIY GMIRYA
  • Patent number: 10295039
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a gear is provided. The method includes forming a plurality of gear teeth in a surface of a gear, the gear teeth having tooth faces defining tooth edges including tooth edge flanks and tooth edge top land and generating a convex contour at an edge break of at least one of the tooth edge flanks and tooth edge top land.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edward H. Bittner, Bruce D. Hansen, Christopher John Mussel
  • Publication number: 20190022778
    Abstract: A herringbone gear includes a cylindrical body having a circumferential face having a width. A first helical gear tooth on the circumferential face has a first configuration, a second helical gear tooth on the circumferential face has a second configuration, and a transition on the circumferential face extends between the first helical gear tooth and the second helical gear tooth. An involute form taken within a transverse plane of the circumferential face remains constant over the width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Edward H. BITTNER, Bruce D. HANSEN, Christopher John MUSSEL
  • Patent number: 9956631
    Abstract: A machine for machining a workpiece having a first central longitudinal axis passing through a workpiece plane that is disposed orthogonally relative to the first central longitudinal axis is provided. The machine includes a chuck or fixture on which the workpiece is disposable, a grinding spindle having a body, a wheel supporting an abrasive and an insulator electrically isolating the wheel from the body, the wheel being operable to remove material from the workpiece, the grinding spindle having a second central longitudinal axis about which the grinding spindle rotates, the second central longitudinal axis of the grinding spindle passing through the workpiece in the workpiece plane so as to create a continuous gear tooth on the workpiece and an electrochemical grinding (ECG) element configured to execute ECG processing on the grinding spindle and the workpiece to soften the workpiece as the gear tooth is being created by the grinding spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Edward H. Bittner
  • Publication number: 20170227107
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a gear is provided. The method includes forming a plurality of gear teeth in a surface of a gear, the gear teeth having tooth faces defining tooth edges including tooth edge flanks and tooth edge top land and generating a convex contour at an edge break of at least one of the tooth edge flanks and tooth edge top land.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Edward H. Bittner, Bruce D. Hansen, Christopher John Mussel
  • Publication number: 20170157690
    Abstract: A machine for machining a workpiece having a first central longitudinal axis passing through a workpiece plane that is disposed orthogonally relative to the first central longitudinal axis is provided. The machine includes a chuck or fixture on which the workpiece is disposable, a grinding spindle having a body, a wheel supporting an abrasive and an insulator electrically isolating the wheel from the body, the wheel being operable to remove material from the workpiece, the grinding spindle having a second central longitudinal axis about which the grinding spindle rotates, the second central longitudinal axis of the grinding spindle passing through the workpiece in the workpiece plane so as to create a continuous gear tooth on the workpiece and an electrochemical grinding (ECG) element configured to execute ECG processing on the grinding spindle and the workpiece to soften the workpiece as the gear tooth is being created by the grinding spindle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventor: Edward H. Bittner
  • Patent number: 9597743
    Abstract: A machine for machining a workpiece having a central longitudinal axis is provided. The machine includes a chuck or fixture on which the workpiece is disposable, a grinding spindle to remove material from the workpiece, the grinding spindle having a central longitudinal axis about which the grinding spindle rotates and being disposed with the central longitudinal axes intersecting one another so as to create a continuous gear tooth on the workpiece and an electrochemical grinding (ECG) element configured to execute ECG processing on the grinding spindle and the workpiece to soften the workpiece as the gear tooth is being created by the grinding spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Edward H. Bittner
  • Publication number: 20150202705
    Abstract: A machine for machining a workpiece having a central longitudinal axis is provided. The machine includes a chuck or fixture on which the workpiece is disposable, a grinding spindle to remove material from the workpiece, the grinding spindle having a central longitudinal axis about which the grinding spindle rotates and being disposed with the central longitudinal axes intersecting one another so as to create a continuous gear tooth on the workpiece and an electrochemical grinding (ECG) element configured to execute ECG processing on the grinding spindle and the workpiece to soften the workpiece as the gear tooth is being created by the grinding spindle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventor: Edward H. Bittner
  • Patent number: 7695573
    Abstract: A surface processing method and power transmission component includes transforming a surface region of a metal alloy into a hardened surface region at a temperature that is less than a heat treating temperature of the metal alloy. The metal alloy includes about 11.1 wt % Ni, about 13.4 wt % Co, about 3.0 wt % Cr, about 0.2 wt % C, and about 1.2 wt % Mo which reacts with the C to form a metal carbide precipitate of the form M2C. The surface processing temperature, vacuum pressure, precursor gas flow and ratio, and time of processing are controlled to provide a desirable hardened surface region having a gradual transition in nitrogen concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventors: Clark VanTine Cooper, Krassimir G. Marchev, Bill C. Giessen, Raymond C. Benn, Edward H. Bittner, Harsh Vinayak
  • Publication number: 20090151144
    Abstract: A method of removing a locking ring from a component includes welding at least one sacrificial tab to the locking ring while the locking ring is within a bore of a component and axially forcing the locking ring from the bore along the axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventor: Edward H. Bittner
  • Patent number: 7527548
    Abstract: A gear shaper machine system drives and maneuvers a hone tool to generate teeth geometry in a manner the teeth were machined prior to a hardening process. After heat treatment, the hone tool is indexed to the teeth geometry spacing of the workpiece so as to divide the stock removal evenly between the drive and coast sides. The hone tool may be driven with rotational and reciprocating synchronous teeth generating motion in which the hone tool reciprocates along the length of the teeth parallel to the centerline of the workpiece while the workpiece and hone tool rotate with synchronous motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventors: Edward H. Bittner, George D. Mitchell, Jr., Ronald S. Taylor
  • Patent number: 6976482
    Abstract: An electronic ignition system for a vintage automobile includes an ignition coil and an electronic switching circuit disposed in a coil box of the vintage automobile. The coil and electronic switching circuit are mounted within a coil box module that replaces four original induction coils within the coil box. Once the coil box module is installed in the coil box, it is not detectible unless the cover on the coil box is removed. Wires from the original ignition system are utilized. A buzzer is also incorporated to simulate the sound of the vibrating switches on the original induction coils. A rotor and electronic sensor are installed within the original commutator cap, making them impossible to detect unless the commutator cap is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Inventor: Edward H. Bittner
  • Patent number: 6080349
    Abstract: A masking tool (60) for use in combination with a shaped-workpiece (30.sub.S) in the manufacture of a precision gear (10), which shaped workpiece (30.sub.S) defines a plurality of gear teeth (12) and tooth space surfaces (68) defined by and between adjacent gear teeth (12). The masking tool (60) is, furthermore, operative to mask the tooth space surfaces (68) during surface deposition of a masking material (28) while facilitating deposition of the masking material (28) upon the top lands (14) of the gear teeth (12). The masking tool includes a flexible back-plate (64) and a plurality of compliant masking segments (62) bonded to and integrated by the flexible back-plate (64). Each of the compliant masking segments (62) define a surface geometry (66) which is substantially complementary to the respective tooth space surface (68). Furthermore, adjacent compliant masking segments (62) define an open-ended channel (70) therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventors: Edward H. Bittner, Walter S. Koscomb, III, George D. Mitchell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6074481
    Abstract: A masking tool (60) for use in combination with a shaped-workpiece (30.sub.S) in the manufacture of a precision gear (10), which shaped workpiece (30.sub.S) defines a plurality of gear teeth (12) and tooth space surfaces (68) defined by and between adjacent gear teeth (12). The masking tool (60) is, furthermore, operative to mask the tooth space surfaces (68) during surface deposition of a masking material (28) while facilitating deposition of the masking material (28) upon the top lands (14) of the gear teeth (12). The masking tool includes a flexible back-plate (64) and a plurality of compliant masking segments (62) bonded to and integrated by the flexible back-plate (64). Each of the compliant masking segments (62) define a surface geometry (66) which is substantially complementary to the respective tooth space surface (68). Furthermore, adjacent compliant masking segments (62) define an open-ended channel (70) therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventors: Edward H. Bittner, Walter S. Koscomb, III, George D. Mitchell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5813300
    Abstract: A precision center for mounting a workpiece for precision machining thereof includes a modified head center, an actuating assembly, a drive assembly, and a double-arcuate floating collet. The actuating assembly is mounted within the modified head center and operative to generate an actuating force. The drive assembly is mounted within the modified head center, is mechanically coupled in combination with the actuating assembly, and is operative in response to the actuating force to generate a drive force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventor: Edward H. Bittner
  • Patent number: 5785771
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing precision gears (10) including an initial step of providing a shaped workpiece (30.sub.S) defining a plurality of gear teeth (12) and, furthermore, defining a tooth space surface (68) defined by and between adjacent gear teeth (12). Next, a masking tool (60) is assembled in combination with the shaped workpiece (30.sub.S), which masking tool (60) includes a flexible back-plate (64) and plurality of compliant masking segments (62) bonded to and integrated by the flexible back-plate. Each of the compliant masking segments (62) defines a surface geometry (66) which is substantially complementary to the tooth space surface (68), and adjacent compliant masking segments (62) define an open-ended channel (70) therebetween. As assembled, the compliant masking segments (62) are forcibly urged into superposed engagement with the tooth space surfaces (68). In a subsequent step, a layer of masking material (28) is deposited on exposed surfaces of the shaped workpiece (30.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventors: George D. Mitchell, Jr., Edward H. Bittner, Walter S. Koscomb, III