Patents by Inventor James A. Bray

James A. Bray 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: 4848623
    Abstract: A full-open, disc-removal, end wall structure (25) with improved easy-open lever action and edge-protection features is disclosed along with methods of fabricating and opening. A back-scoreline (38, 52) is ruptured, by Class 2 lever action, upon lifting of a rigid (non-lanced) tap opener (28, 51, 63) as the working end (32) of the tab opener ruptures a portion of peripheral scoreline (33); continued movement of the tab opener in the direction (46) into contact with chime seam (47) provides for continued lever-action rupture of the peripheral scoreline by Class 1 lever action about the chime seam as a fulcrum. Multi-folds of sheet metal provide rounded edge metal (73, 78) shilding for residual scoreline metal; pre-folding of the metal is carried out while leaving access for scoring tooling (86, 88) to enable scoring on a single thickness of sheet metal; and so as to avoid premature damage to the residual scoreline metal upon final orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: Weirton Steel Corporation
    Inventors: William T. Saunders, James A. Bray
  • Patent number: 4831960
    Abstract: Cup lubricating process and apparatus in which cup-shaped can bodies are controllably conveyed in spaced relationship to each other through a lubrication application chamber. Lubricant is atomized to particle sizes permitting them to be gas borne and introduced into such chamber from a plurality of locations about the travel path for can bodies. Provision is made for augmented external surface deposition by electrically charging at least a portion of the gas-borne lubricant particles and electrically grounding can bodies individually during passage through such lubricant application chamber. Endless loop conveyor means are provided with adjustable features enabling a travel path to be adapted to differing dimension can bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: Weirton Steel Corporation
    Inventor: James A. Bray
  • Patent number: 4823732
    Abstract: Cup lubricating process and apparatus in which cup-shaped can bodies are controllably conveyed in spaced relationship to each other through a lubrication application chamber. Lubricant is atomized to particle sizes permitting them to be gas borne and introduced into such chamber from a plurality of locations about the travel path for can bodies. Apertures in the bottom wall of such chamber direct lubricant particles directly into the open ends of such can bodies for flow impingement deposition on internal surfaces thereof. Provision is made for augmenting surface deposition by electrically charging at least a portion of the gas-borne lubricant particles in such chamber and electrically grounding can bodies individually during passage through such chamber. Endless loop conveyor means are provided with adjustable features enabling a travel path to be adapted to differing dimension can bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: Weirton Steel Corporation
    Inventors: James A. Bray, Robert L. Applegate
  • Patent number: 4791003
    Abstract: Cup lubricating process and apparatus in which cup-shaped can bodies are controllably conveyed in spaced relationship to each other through a lubrication application chamber. Lubricant is atomized to particle sizes permitting them to be gas borne and introduced into such chamber from a plurality of locations about the travel path for can bodies. Apertures in the bottom wall of such chamber direct lubricant particles directly into the open ends of such can bodies for flow impingement deposition on internal surfaces thereof. Provision is made for augmenting surface deposition by electrically charging at least a portion of the gas-borne lubricant particles in such chamber and electrically grounding can bodies individually during passage through such chamber. Endless loop conveyor means are provided with adjustable features enabling a travel path to be adapted to differing dimension can bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: Weirton Steel Corporation
    Inventors: James A. Bray, Robert L. Applegate
  • Patent number: 4724155
    Abstract: Cup lubricating process and apparatus in which cup-shaped can bodies are controllably conveyed in spaced relationship to each other through a lubrication application chamber. Lubricant is atomized to particle sizes permitting them to be gas borne and introduced into such chamber from a plurality of locations about the travel path for can bodies. Provision is made for augmented external surface deposition by electrically charging at least a portion of the gas-borne lubricant particles and electrically grounding can bodies individually during passage through such lubricant application chamber. Endless loop conveyor means are provided with adjustable features enabling a travel path to be adapted to differing dimension can bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1988
    Assignee: Weirton Steel Corporation
    Inventor: James A. Bray
  • Patent number: RE31349
    Abstract: Metallic container stocks are lubricated with citric acid esters. The improved lubricated container stocks of the invention are characterized by excellent wettability and adhesion of organic coatings in general and especially epoxy resin coating compositions. The citric acid ester lubricants are pharmacologically safe and are easily applied at low cost by electrostatic deposition and other methods presently used for applying prior art lubricating agents. The method of the invention is especially useful in lubricating tinplate strip, blackplate strip, blackplate strip having a chromium-containing coating thereon, and aluminum strip of container stock gauge with citric acid ester lubricants having the following structural formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are individually selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alcoholic residual containing 1-18 carbon atoms, R.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1983
    Assignee: National Steel Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Smith, James A. Bray
  • Patent number: D307720
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1990
    Assignee: Weirton Steel Corporation
    Inventors: William T. Saunders, James A. Bray
  • Patent number: D312404
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: Weirton Steel Corporation
    Inventors: James A. Bray, William H. Dalrymple, Robert Meerdo