Patents by Inventor Mickey Neal

Mickey Neal 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).

  • Exhaust system having segmented service flange
    Patent number: 9687784
    Abstract: An assembly may include first and second components and a service flange. The first component has a first opening. The second component has a second opening in communication with the first opening. The service flange may be mounted to the first component such that the first component is disposed between the service flange and the second component. The service flange extends around the periphery of the first opening and may include a plurality of separate and discrete segments that are individually secured to the first component. Adjacent segments define joints that movably connect the segments together while allowing for relative movement between the segments before the first component is secured to the second component. The segments include mounting apertures spaced apart from the joints and receiving fasteners configured to fixedly secure the first component to the second component. Each fastener only engages a single segment of the service flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Erwin Peters, Keith Pieniazek, Kevin Reeder, Dennis Mellon, Dan Eggleston, Mickey Neal, Andy Porter, Matthew Anderson
  • Exhaust System Having Segmented Service Flange
    Publication number: 20150285413
    Abstract: An assembly may include first and second components and a service flange. The first component has a first opening. The second component has a second opening in communication with the first opening. The service flange may be mounted to the first component such that the first component is disposed between the service flange and the second component. The service flange extends around the periphery of the first opening and may include a plurality of separate and discrete segments that are individually secured to the first component. Adjacent segments define joints that movably connect the segments together while allowing for relative movement between the segments before the first component is secured to the second component. The segments include mounting apertures spaced apart from the joints and receiving fasteners configured to fixedly secure the first component to the second component. Each fastener only engages a single segment of the service flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Erwin Peters, Keith Pieniazek, Kevin Reeder, Dennis Mellon, Dan Eggleston, Mickey Neal, Andy Porter, Matthew Anderson