Patents by Inventor Richard J. Duffy

Richard J. Duffy 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: 5169621
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating a fastener with head and shank portions is disclosed. The invention includes the steps of and apparatus for transferring the fasteners from a feed mechanism such that the fasteners are positioned for coating. The fasteners are then conveyed through a plurality of operating stations, beginning with a heating station where the shank portions of the fasteners are heated. Subsequently, at a material applying station, a coating material is applied to the heated shank portions. A preferred embodiment of the method and apparatus of the present invention includes using a magnetic holder to carry the fasteners horizontally by their head portions, heating the shank portion to a temperature above the melting point of the applied material and applying the material to the heated shank portion to form a coating thereon. The magnetic holders are part of an endless traveling belt that rotates continually. The fastener carriers have teeth that engage a rack to rotate the fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Nylok Fastener Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony DiMaio, Richard J. Duffy, Eugene Sessa
  • Patent number: 5141771
    Abstract: An apparatus for coating samples or small quantities of internally and externally threaded fasteners includes a powder feed, an induction heater, and dust collection system. A reciprocating, magnetized holder engages a friction drive to rotate a stud in front of a spray nozzle. In another embodiment, a nut sample machine includes a reciprocating powder spray nozzle mounted on an air cylinder and a water cooled support block for the nut. In a third embodiment a hydraulically controlled gate is sequenced with the reciprocating powder feed, providing a continuous coating operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Assignee: Nylok Fastener Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony DiMaio, Richard J. Duffy, Eugene D. Sessa
  • Patent number: 5090355
    Abstract: An apparatus for coating samples or small quantities of internally and externally threaded fasteners includes a powder feed, an induction heater, and dust collection system. A reciprocating, magnetized holder engages a friction drive to rotate a stud in front of a spray nozzle. In another embodiment, a nut sample machine includes a reciprocating powder spray nozzle mounted on an air cylinder and a water cooled support block for the nut. In a third embodiment a hydraulically controlled gate is sequenced with the reciprocating powder feed, providing a continuous coating operation. Methods for applying coating to the samples include steps that employ these embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Nylok Fastener Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony DiMaio, Richard J. Duffy, Eugene D. Sessa
  • Patent number: 5078083
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating a fastener with head and shank portions is disclosed. The invention includes the steps of and apparatus for transferring the fasteners from a feed mechanism such that the fasteners are positioned for coating. The fasteners are then conveyed through a plurality of operating stations, beginning with a heating station where the shank portions of the fasteners are heated. Subsequently, at a material applying station, a coating material is applied to the heated shank portions. A preferred embodiment of the method and apparatus of the present invention includes using a magnetic holder to carry the fasteners horizontally by their portions, heating the shank portion to a temperature above the melting point of the applied material and applying the material to the heated shank portion to form a coating thereon. The magnetic holders are part of an endless traveling belt that rotates continually. The fastener carriers have teeth that engage a rack to rotate the fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignee: Nylok Fastener Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony DiMaio, Richard J. Duffy, Eugene Sessa
  • Patent number: 4888214
    Abstract: Apparatus and method employed in applying a useful coating to fasteners is disclosed. Particularly, a resin material in powder form is preferably applied to a selected surface of the fastener to cover a desired length of the threads of the fastener. The apparatus includes a support for moving the fasteners deposited thereon to a position where the coating is applied, and a positioning device is provided to insure that the fastener is peripherally located for application of the coating. A cam mechanism associated with a plurality of tubes provides movement of the tubes for application of the resin material to the fasteners. The fasteners are subsequently removed from the support by fluid pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Assignee: Nylok Fastener Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Duffy, Anthony DiMaio, Eugene D. Sessa
  • Patent number: 4366190
    Abstract: An improved machine is provided for the continuous manufacture of self-locking internally threaded articles. A movable support member for receiving the fasteners is provided with a plurality of rotatable platforms, one for each fastener, each platform having a pinion disposed at the underside thereof. A stationary rack is aligned to mesh with the pinions at a predetermined location along the path of movement of the support member whereby the platforms and fasteners located thereon are continuously rotated during application of the locking patch to the internal threads over a desired circumferential portion of the threads, during movement of the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1982
    Inventors: Philip J. Rodden, Richard J. Duffy
  • Patent number: 4100882
    Abstract: Improved apparatus and process for applying locking patches of resilient resin to internally threaded articles such as nuts having openings at both ends of the threaded portions in which apparatus and process, a support and treating member, preferably a rotatable, circular table with edge notches complementary to a portion of the exterior of a threaded article to be treated, receives a succession of threaded articles heated to a temperature above the melting point of the resin to be applied and moves the articles along a path for treatment with the axes of the threaded articles in an up and down position and with the openings at the upper and lower ends of the threaded portions substantially uncovered, conduits on the support and treating member are associated with each threaded article to direct particles of heat fusible resin upwardly through the opening at the lower end of the article against a portion of the threaded surface of the article to form a first deposit of resin on an area of the threaded surfac
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1978
    Assignee: USM Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Duffy, Philip J. Rodden
  • Patent number: 4054688
    Abstract: Improved process for applying locking patches of resilient resin to internally threaded articles such as nuts having openings at both ends of the threaded portions in which process there is used apparatus including, a support and treating member, preferably a rotatable, circular table with edge notches complementary to a portion of the exterior of a threaded article to be treated, which receives a succession of threaded articles heated to a temperature above the melting point of the resin to be applied and moves the articles along a path for treatment with the axes of the threaded articles in an up and down position and with the openings at the upper and lower ends of the threaded portions substantially uncovered, conduits on the support and treating member are associated with each threaded article to direct particles of heat fusible resin upwardly through the opening at the lower end of the article against a portion of the threaded surface of the article to form a first deposit of resin on an area of the thr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1977
    Assignee: USM Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Duffy, Philip J. Rodden
  • Patent number: 3995074
    Abstract: A method is provided for the continuous manufacture of self-locking internally threaded fasteners having a locking body or patch comprised of resilient thermoplastic material, applied to the fastener in powder form. A support member having a plurality of cavities for receiving said fasteners, and a nozzle associated with each of said cavities, is moved along a path through a plurality of locations wherein the fastener is deposited at a cavity aligned with a respective nozzle at a first location, material is forced through the nozzle onto the fastener at a second location, the fasteners are removed from the respective support at a third location, and the nozzles are purged of material at a fourth location prior to the initiation of a subsequent sequence of operations by the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1976
    Assignee: USM Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Duffy, Richard M. Elliott, Philip J. Rodden
  • Patent number: RE28812
    Abstract: Method of making a self-locking threaded element, e.g. a screw including a strongly adhered convexly curved plastic body on its threaded surface allowing smooth assembly and giving strong frictional engagement between the element and a mating threaded surface. In the method, a stream of fine particles of heat-softenable plastic is directed against a threaded surface portion of a heated metallic element. Contacting particles are caught on the heated surface and fused by heat from the element to form a continuous plastic body which is then hardened by cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1972
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1976
    Assignee: USM Corporation
    Inventor: Richard J. Duffy
  • Patent number: RE33766
    Abstract: A fastener, and a process and apparatus for coating fasteners, in which a resin type material is applied to the fastener is disclosed. A stream of resin type material is directed to each fastener and the threads of each of the fasteners, the threads may be covered over an arcuate variable length including complete 360.degree. coverage. The resin type material applied may be a masking material, a lubricating material and/or an insulating material enabling an accurate and consistent torque-tension characteristic to be maintained during coupling of the fastener in a variety of post-processing environments. Furthermore, the resin type material applied to the fastener is substantially resistant to the deposition of corrosion resistant or preventative materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Assignee: Nylok Fastener Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Duffy, Joseph R. Dudley, Gregory A. Fruehe