Patents by Inventor Gianfranco Natali

Gianfranco Natali 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).

  • Publication number: 20150144319
    Abstract: A part (1) of a container for electronic equipment, having the function of a heat sink, comprises a base (2) having mainly two-dimensional extension parallel with a first plane of extension, and a plurality of dissipation fins (3) fixed to the base (2) and also having mainly two-dimensional extension parallel with one or more second planes of extension which are transversal to the first plane of extension. The part (1) comprises a supporting body (4) and one or more metal inserts (5) irremovably connected to the supporting body (4), each metal insert (5) being constituted of a single piece made by extrusion and comprising a group of fins (3) and a connecting portion (7) connecting the fins (3) of the group to one another and at least partly irremovably embedded in the supporting body (4) by overmolding of the supporting body on the insert (5); the base (2) of the part (1) is constituted of both the supporting body (4) and each connecting portion (7) of the one or more inserts (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Gianfranco NATALI
  • Patent number: 8997629
    Abstract: A pneumatic actuator comprises a containment jacket (2) and an activating bar (14) mounted through the containment jacket (2) and able to move between a first operating position and a second operating position. The actuator (1) also comprises a fixed part (23) integral with the jacket (2) having a main axis of extension (X), and a mobile part (26) slidably connected to the fixed part (23), and operatively connected to the activating bar (14) in such a way that it moves with the bar. The fixed part (23) also comprises at least a core (25) made of ferromagnetic material extending along the axis (X). Two magnets (29) are attached to the mobile part (26) on diametrically opposite sides relative to the main axis of extension (X). The mobile part (26) can also move relative to the fixed part (23) between a first position of maximum magnetic uncoupling between the magnets (29) and the ferromagnetic core (25), and a second position of maximum magnetic coupling between the magnets (29) and the ferromagnetic core (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Faist Ltd (Holdings)
    Inventor: Gianfranco Natali
  • Patent number: 8656987
    Abstract: A process for making heat exchanger tubes includes the operating steps of cutting a piece of sheet, subjecting the piece of sheet (3) to a forming step to obtain a plurality of first elements (8, 9) which mirror one another, and bending the piece of sheet (3) to create a tubular element (1) which has two flat walls (4) with the raised elements (8, 9) on them, the flat walls being opposite one another and joined by two connecting walls (5). The first raised elements (8) have an extended shape according to their main direction of extension. The forming step involves making one or more higher second raised elements (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Faist Componenti S.p.A.
    Inventor: Gianfranco Natali
  • Patent number: 8578712
    Abstract: A method for calibrating pneumatic actuators comprising a containment structure (2) in which a diaphragm (4) is mounted which delimits a variable-volume chamber (5) whose internal pressure may be varied, and a rigid rod (8) able to slide through the containment structure (2) and connected to the diaphragm (4). At least one connecting head (11) can be mounted on an external second end (10) of the rigid rod (8) for connecting to an element to be controlled, such as a crank of a turbo-compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Faist Ltd(Holdings)
    Inventor: Gianfranco Natali
  • Publication number: 20120312517
    Abstract: A process for making heat exchanger tubes includes the operating steps of cutting a piece of sheet, subjecting the piece of sheet (3) to a forming step to obtain a plurality of first elements (8, 9) which mirror one another, and bending the piece of sheet (3) to create a tubular element (1) which has two flat walls (4) with the raised elements (8, 9) on them, the flat walls being opposite one another and joined by two connecting walls (5). The first raised elements (8) have an extended shape according to their main direction of extension. The forming step involves making one or more higher second raised elements (9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: FAIST COMPONENTI S.P.A.
    Inventor: GIANFRANCO NATALI
  • Patent number: 8220152
    Abstract: A process for making heat exchanger tubes comprises the operating steps of cutting a piece of sheet, subjecting the piece of sheet (3) to a forming step to obtain a plurality of first elements (8, 9) which mirror one another, and bending the piece of sheet (3) to create a tubular element (1) which has two flat walls (4) with the raised elements (8, 9) on them, the flat walls being opposite one another and joined by two connecting walls (5), and; the bending step substantially joining the lateral edges (7) to one another; and welding the lateral edges (7) to close the tubular element (1). The first raised elements (8) having an extended shape according to their main direction of extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Faist Componenti S.p.A.
    Inventor: Gianfranco Natali
  • Publication number: 20110099999
    Abstract: A method for calibrating pneumatic actuators comprising a containment structure (2) in which a diaphragm (4) is mounted which delimits a variable-volume chamber (5) whose internal pressure may be varied, and a rigid rod (8) able to slide through the containment structure (2) and connected to the diaphragm (4). At least one connecting head (11) can be mounted on an external second end (10) of the rigid rod (8) for connecting to an element to be controlled, such as a crank of a turbo-compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventor: Gianfranco Natali
  • Publication number: 20110030369
    Abstract: A pneumatic actuator comprises a containment jacket (2) and an activating bar (14) mounted through the containment jacket (2) and able to move between a first operating position and a second operating position. The actuator (1) also comprises a fixed part (23) integral with the jacket (2) having a main axis of extension (X), and a mobile part (26) slidably connected to the fixed part (23), and operatively connected to the activating bar (14) in such a way that it moves with the bar. The fixed part (23) also comprises at least a core (25) made of ferromagnetic material extending along the axis (X). Two magnets (29) are attached to the mobile part (26) on diametrically opposite sides relative to the main axis of extension (X). The mobile part (26) can also move relative to the fixed part (23) between a first position of maximum magnetic uncoupling between the magnets (29) and the ferromagnetic core (25), and a second position of maximum magnetic coupling between the magnets (29) and the ferromagnetic core (25).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventor: Gianfranco Natali
  • Publication number: 20090133865
    Abstract: A process for making heat exchanger tubes comprises the operating steps of cutting a piece of sheet, subjecting the piece of sheet (3) to a forming step to obtain a plurality of first elements (8, 9) which mirror one another, and bending the piece of sheet (3) to create a tubular element (1) which has two flat walls (4) with the raised elements (8, 9) on them, the flat walls being opposite one another and joined by two connecting walls (5), and; the bending step substantially joining the lateral edges (7) to one another; and welding the lateral edges (7) to close the tubular element (1). The first raised elements (8) having an extended shape according to their main direction of extension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventor: Gianfranco Natali
  • Patent number: 6925803
    Abstract: An actuator includes a solenoid with a ferromagnetic nucleus which slides inside the solenoid. The nucleus is combined with a rod appropriate for interacting with a turbocharger's pivot point. The actuator is provided with a sensing system of the position of the ferromagnetic nucleus in the solenoid. The actuator also includes an electronic circuit which:—on the way in receives at least the signal from the engine's electronic control unit and the feedback signal, connected to the position of the ferromagnetic nucleus of the solenoid;—on the way out it distributes the electric current, connected to the entry signals, with which it feeds the solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Inventor: Gianfranco Natali
  • Publication number: 20040016233
    Abstract: An actuator composed of: a) a solenoid (1) with a ferromagnetic nucleus (2) which slides inside it and is combined with a rod (3) appropriate for interacting with the turbocharger's (5) pilot point (4) and provided with a sensing system (7) of the position of the ferromagnetic nucleus (2) in the solenoid (1); b) and an electronic circuit which:—on the way in receives at least the signal from the engine's electronic control unit and the feedback signal, connected to the position of the ferromagnetic nucleus (2) of the solenoid (1);—on the way out it distributes the electric current, connected to the said entry signals, with which it feeds the same solenoid (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Inventor: Gianfranco Natali
  • Publication number: 20010019926
    Abstract: The invention consists of a tab (1), projecting from a plate (2) equipped with an elongated stiffener (11) placed just next to the point in which the tab projects from the body of the plate and a drawn hole (14) or a deformity obtained by stretching and compressing/flattening (20,21) since there is a protective insulating coat on the plate (25); this hole or deformity is placed at the free end of the tab (1 producing the uncoated surface for the electrical contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Inventor: Gianfranco Natali
  • Patent number: 6065668
    Abstract: The object of the invention consists of a process through which containing metal structures are built and shaped, in one case using steel sheets pre-protected by paints, and made to be electrically conductive by adding aluminium powder, or other equivalent conductive metals having a fusion temperature which is equivalent to the one fusing the sheets to be welded, and whose boiling temperature is higher than their fusion one; in a second case using sheets pre-protected by a thin layer of zinc plating followed by an external film of acrylic resin; it also consists in resorting to the aid of anthropomorphic welding robots, at the end of whose mobile arm is placed the laser beam out put unit connected to the laser source by an optical fibre cable, and also in the fact that the welding is carried out on the internal not visible sides of the containing structures that are being built.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Inventor: Gianfranco Natali
  • Patent number: 5960526
    Abstract: The invention consists of a process to form low stretch-deep draws on metal sheet; it foresees an initial stage through which a sequence of thread-like cuts (2) are carried out on the metal sheet (1) corresponding to the surface that will be drawn, whose cuts (2) on the adjacent lines are offset compared with each other, a stage in which the metal sheet (1) is stretched, through which stage the opening of the cuts (2) is obtained, therefore an ample widening of the cut surface and a minimum stretching of the non cut surface and of the oblique stripped metal network, separating the empty spaces (3) obtained through the widening of the thread like cuts (2), and where necessary, a stage in which the metal sheet is bent along a line which allows, on the overlapped surfaces, the open spaces of one surface to correspond to the strips on the other surface in order to reduce or close the width of the spaces in order to reduce electromagnetic interferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Inventor: Gianfranco Natali
  • Patent number: 5813117
    Abstract: A tab (2) obtained from plate (1) from which it emerges through a process which includes a first shearing phase, with which the elongated vent hole (6) is carried out, a second coining phase with which the impression (4) and the protruding contact button (5) are obtained around the elongated vent hole (6), a second shearing phase with which the work hardened--reduced thickness metal is cut along the line which defines the tab (2) which is inflected and made to protrude from the surface (9) of the plate (1) on the side of the impression (4). On the three sheared off sides, the tab (2) is smaller than the impression (4) to allow it to deflect freely in the said impression (4) when it is undergoing stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Inventor: Gianfranco Natali
  • Patent number: 5505507
    Abstract: This invention is a spring-loaded door-closing device consisting of a section (1) having a longitudinal cavity (2) in the lower part which houses and allows a moving tube (15) attached to a pressure hook (16) and a reaction spring (18) to slide within. In the upper part of the section there are one or more longitudinal channels (5, 6), and one or more brackets (13) equipped with a structure for moving along, and fixing to, the channels (5, 6). The brackets have components for fixing them to the under part of a vehicle floor in such a position where they can hold open, when activated, the vehicle door, or doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: Faist Componenti S.r.l.
    Inventor: Gianfranco Natali