Patents by Inventor Walter Woelfel

Walter Woelfel 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).

  • Rivet orientation device and method
    Patent number: 4960360
    Abstract: A rivet orientation device includes a horizontally extending track into which fed rivets drop. If the rivet is properly oriented, it will seat properly within the track and be pushed, by a plunger, to a robotic member pick-up point. However, if the rivet has been incorrectly oriented within the track, it will be subjected to compressed air thereby causing tumbling of the rivet and encouraging its proper orientation within the track. Once re-oriented a plunger guides the correctly seated rivet along the track to the pick-up point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1990
    Assignee: Grumman Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Ottavio Giannuzzi, Walter Woelfel