Patents by Inventor Russell J. Steel

Russell J. Steel 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).

  • Publication number: 20240131614
    Abstract: A device for friction stirring a workpiece material includes a body, a spindle, a driver, and a biasing element. The spindle is configured to rotate around a rotational axis. The driver is rotationally coupled to the spindle. The biasing element supports the driver and is configured to apply a biasing force in an axial direction, wherein the biasing element axially overlaps the spindle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2022
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Rodney Dale Fleck, Russell J. Steel
  • Patent number: 11697173
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignees: Brigham Young University, Mazak Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Miles, Rodney Dale Fleck, Russell J. Steel, Kevin Alexander Shirley, Shane Forrest Wood
  • Publication number: 20230107348
    Abstract: A method of friction stir processing (FSP) includes contacting a first workpiece with a FSP tool, where the first workpiece is a low-melting temperature metal or alloy and the FSP tool is a single-body FSP tool having a diamond working surface. The method also includes rotating the FSP tool in contact with the first workpiece at an interface and generating thermal energy at the interface to heat the first workpiece. The method further includes conducting thermal energy away from the interface with the FSP tool, and friction stirring the first workpiece at a temperature of the FSP tool below 800° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Rodney Dale Fleck, Russell J. Steel
  • Patent number: 11534855
    Abstract: In one aspect of the present disclosure, a friction stir processing tip is provided for a friction stir processing device. The friction stir processing tip includes a body having a central longitudinal axis, a friction stir processing portion of the body, and a connecting portion of the body configured to connect to a tip holder of the friction stir processing device. The connecting portion includes splines configured to receive a torque from the tip holder for rotating the body about the central longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Mazak Corporation
    Inventors: David Rosal, Scott Packer, Rodney Dale Fleck, Russell J. Steel
  • Patent number: 11458564
    Abstract: A method of friction stir processing (FSP) includes contacting a first workpiece with a FSP tool, where the first workpiece is a low-melting temperature metal or alloy and the FSP tool is a single-body FSP tool having a diamond working surface. The method also includes rotating the FSP tool in contact with the first workpiece at an interface and generating thermal energy at the interface to heat the first workpiece. The method further includes conducting thermal energy away from the interface with the FSP tool, and friction stirring the first workpiece at a temperature of the FSP tool below 800° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Mazak Corporation
    Inventors: Rodney Dale Fleck, Russell J. Steel
  • Patent number: 11440133
    Abstract: A friction stir processing (FSP) tool includes a working material. The working material has a matrix phase and a particulate phase. The matrix phase includes tungsten and an alloy material. The particulate phase is located within the matrix phase, and the particulate phase has an indentation hardness less than 45 GPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Mazak Corporation
    Inventors: Qingyuan Liu, Russell J. Steel, Rodney Dale Fleck
  • Publication number: 20210402509
    Abstract: A friction stir welding (FSW) tool includes a head, a tool holder and a body between the head and the tool holder and attached to the head and the tool holder. The body may include a plurality of cooling fins. An interior of the body may include a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a torque sensor, and a communication node in electronic communication with the pressure sensor, the temperature sensor, and the torque sensor. The communication node may be in Bluetooth communication with a computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Rodney Dale Fleck, Russell J. Steel
  • Patent number: 11130192
    Abstract: A friction stir welding (FSW) tool includes a head, a tool holder and a body between the head and the tool holder and attached to the head and the tool holder. The body may include a plurality of cooling fins. An interior of the body may include a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a torque sensor, and a communication node in electronic communication with the pressure sensor, the temperature sensor, and the torque sensor. The communication node may be in Bluetooth communication with a computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Mazak Corporation
    Inventors: Rodney Dale Fleck, Russell J. Steel
  • Patent number: 11059125
    Abstract: A friction stir processing (FSP) tool includes a pin having a pin body and a rotational axis. The pin is configured to rotate about the rotational axis in a rotational direction. The pin has a radial protrusion protruding radially from the pin body, and the radial protrusion has a working surface oriented in the rotational direction with a depth in a radial direction relative to the rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Mazak Corporation
    Inventors: David Rosal, Scott M. Packer, Rodney Dale Fleck, Russell J. Steel
  • Publication number: 20210121977
    Abstract: In one aspect of the present disclosure, a friction stir processing tip is provided for a friction stir processing device. The friction stir processing tip includes a body having a central longitudinal axis, a friction stir processing portion of the body, and a connecting portion of the body configured to connect to a tip holder of the friction stir processing device. The connecting portion includes splines configured to receive a torque from the tip holder for rotating the body about the central longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: David Rosal, Scott Packer, Rodney Dale Fleck, Russell J. Steel
  • Patent number: 10799980
    Abstract: A tool includes a friction stir welding (FSW) tool, a first body, a second body, and a plurality of biasing elements. The FSW tool has a rotational axis. The first body is rotationally fixed relative to the FSW tool and the second body is rotational fixed relative to the FSW tool. The plurality of biasing elements is positioned longitudinally between at least a portion of the first body and at least a portion of the second body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Mazak Corporation
    Inventors: Scott M. Packer, Rodney Dale Fleck, Russell J. Steel
  • Patent number: 10695861
    Abstract: A non-weldable workpiece may be affixed to a weldable workpiece by friction stirring the weldable workpiece to plasticize and extrude at least a portion thereof into a recess in the non-weldable workpiece. The weldable workpiece may then be welded to a body of a downhole tool to enable the welding of a non-weldable workpiece onto a body to increase the wear-resistance of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Mazak Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Utter, Rodney Dale Fleck, Russell J. Steel
  • Publication number: 20190344380
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Michael P. Miles, Rodney Dale Fleck, Russell J. Steel, Kevin Alexander Shirley, Shane Forrest Wood
  • Publication number: 20190337087
    Abstract: A friction stir processing (FSP) tool includes a working material. The working material has a matrix phase and a particulate phase. The matrix phase includes tungsten and an alloy material. The particulate phase is located within the matrix phase, and the particulate phase has an indentation hardness less than 45 GPa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Qingyuan Liu, Russell J. Steel, Rodney Dale Fleck
  • Publication number: 20190151982
    Abstract: A friction stir processing (FSP) tool includes a pin having a pin body and a rotational axis. The pin is configured to rotate about the rotational axis in a rotational direction. The pin has a radial protrusion protruding radially from the pin body, and the radial protrusion has a working surface oriented in the rotational direction with a depth in a radial direction relative to the rotational axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: David Rosal, Scott M. Packer, Rodney Dale Fleck, Russell J. Steel
  • Publication number: 20190061048
    Abstract: A friction stir welding (FSW) tool includes a head, a tool holder and a body between the head and the tool holder and attached to the head and the tool holder. The body may include a plurality of cooling fins. An interior of the body may include a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a torque sensor, and a communication node in electronic communication with the pressure sensor, the temperature sensor, and the torque sensor. The communication node may be in Bluetooth communication with a computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Rodney Dale Fleck, Russell J. Steel
  • Publication number: 20190061046
    Abstract: A method of friction stir processing (FSP) includes contacting a first workpiece with a FSP tool, where the first workpiece is a low-melting temperature metal or alloy and the FSP tool is a single-body FSP tool having a diamond working surface. The method also includes rotating the FSP tool in contact with the first workpiece at an interface and generating thermal energy at the interface to heat the first workpiece. The method further includes conducting thermal energy away from the interface with the FSP tool, and friction stirring the first workpiece at a temperature of the FSP tool below 800° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Rodney Dale Fleck, Russell J. Steel
  • Publication number: 20180099349
    Abstract: A tool includes a friction stir welding (FSW) tool, a first body, a second body, and a plurality of biasing elements. The FSW tool has a rotational axis. The first body is rotationally fixed relative to the FSW tool and the second body is rotational fixed relative to the FSW tool. The plurality of biasing elements is positioned longitudinally between at least a portion of the first body and at least a portion of the second body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Scott M. Packer, Rodney Dale Fleck, Russell J. Steel
  • Patent number: 9764375
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignees: Brigham Young University, Megastir Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Michael P. Miles, Rodney Dale Fleck, Russell J. Steel
  • Publication number: 20170216961
    Abstract: A non-weldable workpiece may be affixed to a weldable workpiece by friction stirring the weldable workpiece to plasticize and extrude at least a portion thereof into a recess in the non-weldable workpiece. The weldable workpiece may then be welded to a body of a downhole tool to enable the welding of a non-weldable workpiece onto a body to increase the wear-resistance of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Robert J. Utter, Rodney Dale Fleck, Russell J. Steel