Patents by Inventor Michael P. Miles
Michael P. Miles 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).
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Patent number: 11697173Abstract: A tool for friction bit joining a workpiece material includes a bit with a tapered pin and a non-cutting tip. The bit has a top surface opposite the pin with at least one feature recessed in, or extending from, the top surface and configured to transmit torque to the bit to rotate the bit around a rotational axis.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2019Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignees: Brigham Young University, Mazak CorporationInventors: Michael P. Miles, Rodney Dale Fleck, Russell J. Steel, Kevin Alexander Shirley, Shane Forrest Wood
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Publication number: 20190344380Abstract: A tool for friction bit joining a workpiece material includes a bit with a tapered pin and a non-cutting tip. The bit has a top surface opposite the pin with at least one feature recessed in, or extending from, the top surface and configured to transmit torque to the bit to rotate the bit around a rotational axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2019Publication date: November 14, 2019Inventors: Michael P. Miles, Rodney Dale Fleck, Russell J. Steel, Kevin Alexander Shirley, Shane Forrest Wood
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Publication number: 20170304933Abstract: In a general aspect, a method includes filling at least a portion of a cavity of a component with an additive material, and mixing, using a friction stir tool, a material of the component with the additive material. The additive material may be a liquid metal or a solid metal.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2017Publication date: October 26, 2017Inventors: Michael P. MILES, Tracy W. NELSON
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Patent number: 9764375Abstract: A system and method of joining at least two workpieces together using a friction rivet and a friction rivet cap that are friction stirred together after a cutting tip or cutting feature on the friction rivet cuts through workpieces and is then bonded to the friction rivet cap, and wherein the friction rivet cap may be excluded if the friction rivet includes a hollow in the cutting tip, the hollow being flared after the friction rivets cuts through the workpieces to thereby create an integral rivet cap in the end of the friction rivet.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2014Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignees: Brigham Young University, Megastir Technologies LLCInventors: Michael P. Miles, Rodney Dale Fleck, Russell J. Steel
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Publication number: 20140123470Abstract: A system and method of joining at least two workpieces together using a friction rivet and a friction rivet cap that are friction stirred together after a cutting tip or cutting feature on the friction rivet cuts through workpieces and is then bonded to the friction rivet cap, and wherein the friction rivet cap may be excluded if the friction rivet includes a hollow in the cutting tip, the hollow being flared after the friction rivets cuts through the workpieces to thereby create an integral rivet cap in the end of the friction rivet.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2014Publication date: May 8, 2014Applicant: MEGASTIR TECHNOLOGIES LLCInventor: Michael P. Miles
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Publication number: 20140008418Abstract: A system and method for using Friction Stir Spot Joining (FSSJ) to join workpieces made of Advanced High Strength Steels (AHSS), wherein a first embodiment is a FSSJ tool that has no surface features, and wherein the rate of rotation of the FSSJ tool is much higher than is used in other FSW techniques to thereby reduce torque by causing plasticization of the AHSS on a small scale, and in a second embodiment, conventional FSSJ tools can be used at conventional FSSJ speeds if the FSSJ tool is manufactured from conductive tool materials having a high hardness, and heating of the FSSJ tool and/or the workpieces enhances the ability of the FSSJ tool to functionally weld the AHSS.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2013Publication date: January 9, 2014Applicant: MEGASTIR TECHNOLOGIES LLCInventors: Russell J. Steel, Scott M. Packer, David Rosal, Michael P. Miles
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Publication number: 20130228612Abstract: A system and method of using a friction stir tool having a bit that is at least partially consumable may be improved by providing enhanced cutting geometries on the bit, modifying stop times to improve bit joining, including automated tracking in an automatic friction bit joining method, providing automated feeding and automated friction bit joining, making the friction bit joining system portable, enabling the friction stir tool to be usable by a robotic device or as a handheld device, friction bit joining a plurality of different layers even if only a base material is solid-state joinable with the consumable bit, performing metal stitching on traditionally unweldable materials, performing solid-state plug welding, and operating the friction bit tool at variable RPMs in order to improve bit joining characteristics.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2013Publication date: September 5, 2013Applicant: MEGASTIR TECHNOLOGIES LLCInventors: Paul T. Higgins, Michael P. Miles, Russell J. Steel, Scott M. Packer
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Patent number: 8157154Abstract: A friction stir tool is provided to perform friction stir riveting using a partially consumable pin, wherein the pin includes a cutting edge on a bottom surface thereof, wherein the tool is rotated at a first speed to enable cutting by the pin into a first material that is overlapping a second material, wherein after the pin has cut to a sufficient depth, the rotational speed of the tool is increased to thereby enable plasticization of the consumable pin, the first material, and the second material, wherein the tool is then rapidly decelerated until stopped, enabling diffusion bonding between the pin, the first material and the second material.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2010Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignees: Brigham Young University, Megastir Technologies, LLCInventors: Scott M. Packer, Russell J Steel, Jonathan A. Babb, Michael P. Miles, Kent Kohkonen
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Publication number: 20120055977Abstract: A system and method for using Friction Stir Spot Joining (FSSJ) to join workpieces made of Advanced High Strength Steels (AHSS), wherein a first embodiment is a FSSJ tool that has no surface features, and wherein the rate of rotation of the FSSJ tool is much higher than is used in other FSW techniques to thereby reduce torque by causing plasticization of the AHSS on a small scale, and in a second embodiment, conventional FSSJ tools can be used at conventional FSSJ speeds if the FSSJ tool is manufactured from conductive tool materials having a high hardness, and heating of the FSSJ tool and/or the workpieces enhances the ability of the FSSJ tool to functionally weld the AHSS.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2011Publication date: March 8, 2012Inventors: Russell J. Steel, Scott M. Packer, David Rosal, Michael P. Miles
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Publication number: 20110073634Abstract: A friction stir tool is provided to perform friction stir riveting using a partially consumable pin, wherein the pin includes a cutting edge on a bottom surface thereof, wherein the tool is rotated at a first speed to enable cutting by the pin into a first material that is overlapping a second material, wherein after the pin has cut to a sufficient depth, the rotational speed of the tool is increased to thereby enable plasticization of the consumable pin, the first material, and the second material, wherein the tool is then rapidly decelerated until stopped, enabling diffusion bonding between the pin, the first material and the second material.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2010Publication date: March 31, 2011Applicants: Brigham Young University, MegaStir Technologies, LLCInventors: Scott M. Packer, Russell J. Steel, Jonathan A. Babb, Michael P. Miles, Kent Kohkonen
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Patent number: 7845545Abstract: A friction stir tool is provided to perform friction stir riveting using a partially consumable pin, wherein the pin includes a cutting edge on a bottom surface thereof, wherein the tool is rotated at a first speed to enable cutting by the pin into a first material that is overlapping a second material, wherein after the pin has cut to a sufficient depth, the rotational speed of the tool is increased to thereby enable plasticization of the consumable pin, the first material, and the second material, wherein the tool is then rapidly decelerated until stopped, enabling diffusion bonding between the pin, the first material and the second material.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2007Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignees: Brigham Young University, Megastir Technologies, LLCInventors: Scott M. Packer, Russell Steel, Jonathan A. Babb, Michael P. Miles, Kent Kohkonen
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Patent number: 6024239Abstract: The present invention provides a stay-on-tab end closure having a displaceable tear panel defined by a frangible score with a sloping segment and a non-frangible hinge segment. A curvilinear bead is formed entirely in an exposed area of the central panel formed by a void region of the tab webbing. The nose of the tab has a generally asymmetric shaped outer edge with a second portion extending further over the tear panel toward the curvilinear transition zone of the score. The invention further provides a tab with an asymmetrical thickness, with a thickened portion adjacent the second scoreline segment, and further provides a bead segment positioned under a side portion of the tab nose adjacent the second segment of the score. The present invention also provides an end with a hinge region of the tab adapted to bend at a hinge line, the hinge line intersecting the central longitudinal axis of the tab at an oblique angle.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 1997Date of Patent: February 15, 2000Assignee: American National Can CompanyInventors: Timothy L. Turner, Randall G. Forrest, Michael P. Miles