Patents by Inventor Lowell R. Tully

Lowell R. Tully 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).

  • Angular orientation control system for friction welding
    Patent number: 5858142
    Abstract: A method of friction welding first and second parts together at an angular orientation relative to each other includes the steps of mounting the first part in a spindle for axial rotation and the second part in a non-rotatable holder. The spindle is then rotated and the angular orientation of the first part relative to the second part is determined at any specific time. The holder is moved toward the spindle to bring the second part into frictional contact with the first part at a selected one of the specific times that the angular orientation is determined. Accordingly, due to frictional contact, the respective contacting surface of the parts are melted. The speed of the rotation of the spindle is then decreased and the holder is moved toward the spindle to forcibly urge the first and second parts together at the contacting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Inertia Friction Welding, Inc.
    Inventors: Lowell R. Tully, Stephen A. Johnson, Dave Konieczny, Stephen R. Estes
  • Angular orientation control system for friction welding
    Patent number: RE39019
    Abstract: A method of friction welding first and second parts together at an angular orientation relative to each other includes the steps of mounting the first part in a spindle for axial rotation and the second part in a non-rotatable holder. The spindle is then rotated and the angular orientation of the first part relative to the second part is determined at any specific time. The holder is moved toward the spindle to bring the second part into frictional contact with the first part at a selected one of the specific times that the angular orientation is determined. Accordingly, due to frictional contact, the respective contacting surface of the parts are melted. The speed of the rotation of the spindle is then decreased and the holder is moved toward the spindle to forcibly urge the first and second parts together at the contacting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: S.S.D. Control Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Lowell R. Tully, Stephen A. Johnson, Dave Konieczny, Stephen R. Estes
  • Angular orientation control system for friction welding
    Patent number: RE40287
    Abstract: A method of friction welding first and second parts together at an angular orientation relative to each other includes the steps of mounting the first part in a spindle for axial rotation and the second part in a non-rotatable holder. The spindle is then rotated and the angular orientation of the first part relative to the second part is determined at any specific time. The holder is moved toward the spindle to bring the second part into frictional contact with the first part at a selected one of the specific times that the angular orientation is determined. Accordingly, due to frictional contact, the respective contacting surface of the parts are melted. The speed of the rotation of the spindle is then decreased and the holder is moved toward the spindle to forcibly urge the first and second parts together at the contacting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: SSD Control Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Lowell R. Tully, Stephen A. Johnson, Dave Konieczny, Stephen R. Estes