Patents by Inventor Robert John Nicholl

Robert John Nicholl 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: 7568409
    Abstract: A machine tool assembly includes a high speed rotating spindle for forming extremely precise surface contours on a work piece. The spindle is supported on a spherical air bearing about its center of gravity. The spindle can be rotated through an air turbine drive system incorporated into the spherical air bearing to eliminate any undesirable moments about an axis perpendicular to the long spindle axis. The spindle is adjustable in pitch and yaw directions through the influence of X-Y actuators. The X-Y actuation system is preferably electromagnetic and provides a non-contact method of displacing the spindle shaft in a controlled manner at any speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc
    Inventors: Robert John Nicholl, Myron Jeffery Schmenk