Patents Issued in January 30, 2001
  • Patent number: 6178597
    Abstract: An operative hinge for use with an opening/closing body is provided which comprises a hinge case to be installed to a toilet bowl body for operating the opening/closing body; a shaft provided rotatably within the hinge case to support the opening/closing body; a stationary cam fixed within the hinge case and having formed therein a central through-hole through which the rotating shaft is axially penetrated; a cam provided within the hinge case and having formed therein a central through-hole through which the rotating shaft is axially penetrated to be slidable on, and rotatable with, the rotating shaft; and a resilient means for urging the rotatable sliding cam toward the stationary can, the hinge further comprising, to further positively control the rotation or the rotating means, a damping means consisting of a rubber ring fitted on the rotating shaft and interposed between the outer surface of the rotating shaft and the inner wall of the hinge case; and a viscous oil applied between the outer surface of th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Katoh Electrical Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naokazu Suzuki, Isao Nagashima, Akira Sorimachi, Oriya Fujita
  • Patent number: 6178598
    Abstract: An adjustable hinge assembly for swingably joining hinging panel members together, where improved mounting capability is provided, and adjustability of a pin and the hinge components in multiple directions relative to the hinging panels and to each other is provided, where a base member is mounted to a first hinging member and a pin-carrying member is connected to the base, and a base member mounted to a second hinging member and maintains an adjustable pin-receiving component thereon. Stops are provided to regulate the pivot of the members over a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Southco, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert L. Creely, III, Gert Berg, Andreas A. Bolinas, David Giles, Thomas D. Goham, Thomas E. Hall, Lynn A. Handley, Eli J. Holtman, Stefan M. Koveal, H. Allen Riblett, Wolfgang Strasky
  • Patent number: 6178599
    Abstract: A method for temporarily connecting a body half and a door half of a hinge, said body half of said hinge including connecting means for receiving said door half of said hinge including connecting means for receiving the body half, one of said connecting means including a portion having disposed proximate the end thereof at least one groove for receiving a resilient flexible retainer; said method including the steps of; (a) fastening the hinge when assembled to a vehicle and a door so as to fasten the door with the vehicle temporarily; (b) painting the vehicle and door together while temporarily connected; (c) subjecting the vehicle and door and the resilient flexible retainer to heat such as that found in a curing process for a painting process for vehicles; (d) separating said body and door halves of said hinge by removing the retainer and separating said halves; (e) separating said door from said vehicle by separating the body half and the door half of said hinges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignees: Chrysler Corporation, Multimatic Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Worden, Cheaw Wang Ng, Stephen Joseph Mitchell
  • Patent number: 6178600
    Abstract: A sling system for attachment to a firearm using conventional sling-mounting studs, or for attachment to luggage, and including a molded plastic connector portion attached to a strap portion. The strap portion may be of tubular cloth enclosing a padding element that is adhesively attached to the interior of the tubular cloth portion. The connector portion of the sling includes a pair of legs each defining one of a pair of collinear bores to receive a swivel pin extending between the legs to attach the connector to an article to be carried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Michaels of Oregon Co.
    Inventor: John M. French
  • Patent number: 6178601
    Abstract: This invention relates to so-called open clamps with a mechanical connection of overlapping band portions including a guide hook which is so modified as to minimize reopening of the clamp before it is fully tightened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Inventor: Paul M. Craig, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6178602
    Abstract: A slider zipper reclosable fastener wherein the zipper includes fastener strips and closure elements on the fastener strips which are extruded integrally. The closure elements are arranged at particular angles by extrusion opening angles in order to increase burst strength. Ridges on the fastener strips and shoulders on the slider hold the slider on the zipper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Huntsman KCL Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Burke, Thomas P. O'Connor
  • Patent number: 6178603
    Abstract: A wire tensioning apparatus includes a pair of opposed pressure grips interconnected by a cable or cord, and a wire tensioning device such as a double-action winch secured to the cord intermediate the grips. The grips each include a baseplate having a rotatable jaw or eccentric cleat with a plurality of teeth formed in a lower edge thereof for attaching the grips to a fence wire. In operation, the winch is selectively rotated to pull the grips inward toward one another providing tension to the fence wire. The apparatus can be left attached to the fence wire to provide permanent support, and can be intermittently tightened to provide additional tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Inventor: James A. Lillig
  • Patent number: 6178604
    Abstract: A clothesline connector for connecting two ends of a clothesline to each other to form a loop. The connector has a frame and two spring loaded gripping members. The frame is a two piece assembly having a top piece ultrasonically welded to top ends of pivot posts on a bottom piece. The gripping members are pivotably mounted on the pivot posts and have finger contact sections. A user can move the finger contact sections towards each other with a single hand to open a path between the two gripping members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Inventor: Raymond P. Pennoyer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6178605
    Abstract: The system is designed to definitely couple and fix a mechanism and/or accessory (1) in the interior of a motor vehicle, the mechanism (1) including a pyramid-shaped protuberance (2) with a fixed (5) and a resilient (6) portion, and a skirt (4) in which a slot (3) is provided, wherein upon the passage of such pyramid-shaped protuberance (2) through a hole (8) purposely made in the self-supporting element (7) of the vehicle at issue, which self-supporting element may be the ceiling, a door panel, etc., it is held on a resilient plastic blade (9) in a window (10) identical with that purposely provided in the vehicle bodywork (13), wherein a supplementary wedge element (11) inserted through the bottom, on the pyramid-shaped protuberance (2), definitely fixes said mechanism or accessory (1), the slot (3) thereof leaving the thickness of the resilient blade (9) and the vehicle bodywork shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Irausa Ingenieria, S.A.
    Inventors: Antonio Romero Magari{tilde over (n)}o, Felipe Barrero Serrano
  • Patent number: 6178606
    Abstract: The present invention 10 discloses a device for securing the shoelaces 28 on shoes 18. The device 10 comprises an outer cylinder 12 being open on one end having apertures 14 positioned in the longitudinal walls thereof for receiving an inner member 16. The inner member 16 is also cylindrically shaped having apertures 14 passing therethrough with a head 36 on one end. The apparatus functions by positioning the inner member 16 on the inside of the outer cylinder 12 whereby the apertures 14 are aligned and thereafter threading the shoelace 28 through the aperture 14 of the outer cylinder 12 and the inner member 16. Thereafter a spring 38 placed longitudinally in the bottom 40 of the outer cylinder 12 communicating with the bottom of the outer cylinder and the tip 42 of the inner member 16 biases outwardly the inner member 16 so as to bind the shoestrings 28 between the apertures 14 of the outer cylinder 12 and the apertures 14 of the inner member 16 thereby securing the shoestrings 28.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Inventor: Sean T Glendon
  • Patent number: 6178607
    Abstract: A process for treatment of a web by means of impingement by high velocity gaseous fluid is provided. The process constitutes the provision of a web to a treatment zone at a tension of between about 1 and about 5 pounds force per linear inch of web width. In the treatment zone the web is subjected to the imposition of high velocity gaseous fluid substantially tangential to the web and in the direction of travel by the web through the treatment zone, such that a series of saw-tooth waves are formed in and move along the web in the direction of travel by the web. An apparatus for carrying out the process is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventor: Louis Dischler
  • Patent number: 6178608
    Abstract: A rotary transfer machine or rotary index table having an outer carriage ring subject to rotation about a central support frame. The rotary transfer machine includes a plurality of machining stations spaced at radial intervals about the carriage ring. The machining stations can provide outside machining stations on the outside of the carriage ring and inside machining stations mounted to the support frame inside of the carriage ring. The rotary transfer machine includes a plurality of pallets mounted around the carriage ring. Each pallet includes a clamp for holding workpieces to be machined therebetween. Each pallet includes a clearance opening which allows for cutting tools to extend through the pallets to machine the back side of the work piece and to allow for machining the work piece from all six sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Bourn & Koch Machine Tool Co.
    Inventor: Loyd L. Koch
  • Patent number: 6178609
    Abstract: A rotary device for changing parts to be machined by a machine-tool. The device includes a supporting table which has at least two pallet supports arranged at regular angular intervals for receiving each a part-carrying pallet, and is rotationally mounted between the machining station of the machine-tool and the post for supplying part-carrying pallets arranged opposite said machining station. The supporting table is pivotally mounted about its central axis and tiltingly between a horizontal position and an inclined position relative to the horizontal plane. The invention is useful for changing parts for a machine-tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Renault Automation
    Inventor: Raymond Laur
  • Patent number: 6178610
    Abstract: A method of and device for removing burrs from metal work-pieces processed by a metal processing machine is provided. The method and device both include the burrs being removed by a high pressure stream of liquid that exits a high pressure nozzle and is directed at the work-piece that is to have the burrs removed. An integration of the burr removal step into the manufacturing sequence of the parts on commercial metal processing machines is made possible by the fact that the high pressure stream of liquid that is used has a proportion of oil of greater than 50% and a high pressure of greater than 400 bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Piller Entgrattenchnik GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Piller, Rolf Wankm{umlaut over (u)}ller
  • Patent number: 6178611
    Abstract: An apparatus for installing and removing a retaining clip. The retaining clip has first and second spaced apart and opposing securing members and each securing member is connected to and movable relative to an intermediate member. The apparatus comprises a first engaging member having an engaging portion sized and shaped to releasably engage a tab portion of the first securing member and a second engaging member having an engaging portion sized and shaped to releasably engage a tab portion of the second securing member. The engaging portions of the first and second engaging members are movable toward and away from each other. A guide structure is coupled to the first and second engaging members to allow at least one of the engaging members to move along a motion path toward and away from the other of the first and second engaging members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Micron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig L. Boe
  • Patent number: 6178612
    Abstract: A method of converting a truck sleeper cab to a day cab comprising the steps of: providing a truck cab having a sleeper cab riveted to the rearward end thereof; removing the rivets which connect the sleeper cab to the truck cab; removing the sleeper cab from the truck cab to create an opening at the rearward end of the truck cab; providing a rear wall member which resembles the rear wall of a day cab and which is designed to close the opening created by the removal of the sleeper cab from the truck cab; and securing the rear wall member to the truck cab to close the opening whereby the truck cab has the appearance of a day cab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: TRP, Inc.
    Inventor: Dan H. Gernstein
  • Patent number: 6178613
    Abstract: A method for improving motorcycle braking includes selecting a motorcycle brake with an actuator arm and a brake pad arm disposed at an angle of 50-65 degrees from one another, and attaching the brake to a motorcycle. Preferably, the brake is attached to a motorcycle having foot boards and disposed at an angle of between about 20 and 35 degrees relative to the foot board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Inventor: Brant Monson
  • Patent number: 6178614
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for installing a threaded fastener having a sleeved or interference fit into a workpiece. The apparatus of the present invention includes a pulling device for pulling the threaded fastener into the workpiece, an adapter for connecting the threaded fastener and the pulling device, and a collar that fits over the adapter for allowing the adapter to more inside the collar when subject to a pulling force from the pulling device. In addition, the aforementioned apparatus may be used in a method for installing the threaded fastener having a sleeved or interference fit into the workpiece. The method includes inserting the threaded fastener into the workpiece until the threads of the fastener are exposed on the other side of the workpiece, attaching an adapter to the threaded fastener, placing the collar over the adapter and attaching the pulling device. The pulling device is then pressurized so as to pull the threaded fastener into the workpiece until the threaded fastener is fully seated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventor: Paul Edmund Theis
  • Patent number: 6178615
    Abstract: A long length product is conveyed along a conveyor by a propulsion mechanism into contact therewith. The product is gripped by a first conveyor line vise and cut at its tailing end side to a specified dimension. The product is advanced by the propulsion mechanism against the conveying force of the conveyor and then gripped by the first conveyor line vise and machined. A series of these operations are iterated. Finally, the product is advanced to a second conveyor line, where it is gripped by a second conveyor line vise and subjected to final machining with the propulsion mechanism retracted. Instead of using a process of cutting to cut the leading end side of the product to a specified dimension, the leading end side of the product may be put into contact with the stopper and fed by referencing the leading end of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Inventors: Shinobu Ohnishi, Yasuhiro Miya
  • Patent number: 6178616
    Abstract: A circulating type milling apparatus for milling a lock core keyway includes a frame with a rotating disc that is intermittently rotated through a pre-determined angle. Lock core seats are equidistantly provided on the rotating disc. A milling disc is mounted to a top plate of the frame and includes cutters, ejecting plate, and detectors mounted thereon. The cutters are lowered to mill a keyway in each lock core. When the cutters are further moved downward and thus disengaged from the lock cores, the rotating disc is rotated by a distance that is equal to a half distance between two adjacent lock core seats such that each lock core seat is in a positioning in alignment with an associated detector yet not in alignment with an associated cutter. When the milling disc is moved upward, the detector checks whether the milled keyway of the lock core meets the required standard. The ejecting plate ejects the finished milled lock core, and a new lock core is fed by a lock core supplying device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Inventor: Weng-Teh Lin
  • Patent number: 6178617
    Abstract: A method for assembling a modular current transformer (17) includes providing a first bobbin (40A) having a first aperture (32A) disposed therein and a second bobbin (40B) having a second aperture (32B) disposed therein. The first axial aperture (32A) is aligned with the second axial aperture (32B), and a xontinuous wire (21) is wrapped sround the first bobbin (40A) in a first direction. With the first and second axial apertures (32A, 32B) still aligned, the continuous wire (21) is then wrapped around the second bobbin (40B) in a second direction opposite the first direction. The first bobbin (40A) is then inverted by pivoting the first bobbin (40A) about a flexible tab (33) that connects the first and second bobbins (40A, 40B). A transformer core (22) is then disposed through the first and second axial apertures (32A, 32B). The windings on the first and second bobbins (32A, 32B) form the secondary windings (20A, 20B) for the current transformer (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Javier I. Larranaga, Joseph Criniti, Alberto A. Figueroa
  • Patent number: 6178618
    Abstract: The specification discloses a preferred system, apparatus, and method for constructing a pivot cartridge assembly. The preferred embodiment of the present invention involves the following steps. A pivot bearing and an actuator assembly are provided. The actuator assembly has an aperture for receiving the pivot bearing. The actuator assembly is heated until the aperture of the actuator assembly expands to accommodate the pivot bearing. The pivot bearing is inserted into the aperture of the heated actuator assembly. When the actuator assembly cools, the aperture of the actuator assembly thermodynamically contracts and constricts around the pivot bearing, locking the bearing in place. As a result, the actuator assembly and pivot bearing behave as a single rigid unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Robert Heim, Richard Gene Krum
  • Patent number: 6178619
    Abstract: The present invention provides a keyboard assembling method wherein all components of the keyboard are flexible materials. First, a flexible circuit membrane with circuit and a plurality of contacts are arranged on a flexible substrate. Secondly, a flexible plate is arranged on the flexible circuit membrane, a plurality of resilient bodies integrally formed with the flexible plate are arranged and corresponding to the contacts on the flexible circuit membrane. Thirdly, a flexible cover having a plurality of integrally-formed and concave keytops is arranged on the flexible plate such that each resilient body can be placed within corresponding keytop. Finally, the peripheral of all components are tightly joined, thus completes the keyboard assembling task. The keytops are integrally formed with the flexible cover and those components are joined by radio heating, thus saves assembling time and labor. Moreover, the design of the inventive is more ergonomic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Inventor: Fu-Chen Tai
  • Patent number: 6178620
    Abstract: A transmission mechanism includes a pressing stroke controller for changing the effective pressing stroke of each feed lever of a component feeder unit corresponding to a predetermined pitch of carrying electronic components in respective component feeder unit, whereby the vibration generated when the transmission mechanism is in operation is reduced. Adverse effects on a component feeder unit having small components thereon at a fine pitch which is susceptible to the vibration will be prevented, and the feeding speed can be increased to be more productive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Yoshida, Kanji Hata, Naoyuki Kitamura
  • Patent number: 6178621
    Abstract: By lightening the impact load to an electronic component and greatly promoting the load range, the adaptability to the electronic components is enhanced and the manned manual operation is eliminated, thereby improving the productivity and realizing unmanned operation. The vacuum-clamping nozzle unit comprises an automatically detachable vacuum-clamping nozzle (2) for vacuum-clamping the electronic component, a positioning section (3) for positioning the vacuum-clamping nozzle (2) in a rotating direction and a vertical direction, a pushing section (4) for urging said vacuum-clamping nozzle (2) downward by using fluid, a fluid pressure switching section for switching the urging force, a timing switching section for switching the timing of the urging force of said vacuum-clamping nozzle, and a pressure control section for controlling the load to a desired load. Switching the timing of the urging force can be made before or at the time of mounting the electronic component on an electronic circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shida, Wataru Hirai, Muneyoshi Fujiwara, Hiroshi Ohta, Hirokazu Honkawa
  • Patent number: 6178622
    Abstract: The invention provides a device for assembling a urgical needle (700) and a suture thread (110, 115), the device comprising an extractor device (300, 400, 500) for extracting one segment of suture thread (110, 115) from a bundle (100) of segments (110, 115) the extractor device (300, 400, 500) comprising means (322, 324, 400) suitable for displacing segments (110, 115) by air flowing transversely to the longitudinal direction of the bundle, a suction inlet (322, 324) suitable for being placed laterally relative to the bundle (100), and two sliding surfaces (310) suitable for guiding one segment (110, 115) to the suction orifice (322, 324) when the segments (110, 115) are displaced by the flow of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Ethicon S.A.S.
    Inventor: François Richard
  • Patent number: 6178623
    Abstract: A copper plated aluminum wire with improvement in adhesive properties is fabricated by a method which includes a displacement step of forming a thin layer of a metal by displacement on a surface of an aluminum or aluminum alloy conductor, an electroplating step of coating a surface of the thin layer continuously with copper layers by electroplating to have a copper coated aluminum conductor, and a thermal diffusion step of heat treating the copper coated aluminum conductor at a temperature of 120° C. to 600° C. under an inert gas atmosphere for thermal diffusion. A plated aluminum wire is provided having an anchor metal layer formed by displacement plating, a low thermally conductive metal layer formed by electroplating, and a high electrically conductive metal layer formed by electroplating in which all of the layers are sequentially deposited on an outer surface of an aluminum or aluminum alloy conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Totoku Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: hiroshi Kitazawa, tatsuo Yamaguchi, etsuro Tsukada
  • Patent number: 6178624
    Abstract: A method for attaching processors and other components to printed circuit assemblies. One particularly useful application for several embodiments of the invention is attaching a single-edge-contact processor to a PCB. In one embodiment, a mounting-module for attaching a component to a PCB is attached to the PCB prior to being shipped to a final device manufacturer. The component has a component height greater than a desired shipping height for the printed circuit board. The mounting-module, more particularly, may have a base attached to the printed circuit board and a component holder attachable to the base. The base and component holder together may have a first height less than the desired shipping height when the component holder is in a detached or lowered position. As such, the base may be attached to the printed circuit board prior to shipping without adversely impacting the shipping costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Micron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Magette
  • Patent number: 6178625
    Abstract: A longitudinal warewasher section, of a warewasher assembly having a plurality of warewasher sections mounted end-to-end, includes a frame and a control box pivotally mounted thereto, where the control box is pivotable from a compact, shipping orientation to an installation or operating orientation. The control box preferably includes electrical controls that have been pre-wired to the electrical and/or mechanical components of the warewasher section. When in the shipping position, the rear face of the control box lies substantially flush against a lateral end of the frame and the side face of the control box is substantially flush with the longitudinal front wall of the frame such that the control box faces outwardly from the lateral end of the frame. In this orientation, the control box does not add to the total lateral width of the warewasher section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Premark FEG L.L.C.
    Inventors: Michael T. Watson, Flavil M. Pollock
  • Patent number: 6178626
    Abstract: In an electronic component installation device for manufacturing an electronic circuit substrate, wherein components are picked up from a parts supply device and placed on a circuit substrate, the height of the installing surface s of an electronic component 10 from a reference surface is detected with the use of a three-dimensional imaging device 2, and the distance the suction nozzle 9 of the mounting head 1 is lowered is accurately determined with respect to each of electronic components that vary in thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Hada, Kimiaki Sano, Atsushi Tanabe
  • Patent number: 6178627
    Abstract: The method consists in aligning a printed-circuit board 2 with respect to an insertion die 4 containing grooves 8, and an anvil 3 containing grooves 6 of a manually operated press, in order for at least one electronic component 1, which is provided with projecting contact pins 7 with elastic attachment zones, to be inserted into a selected insertion zone in the PCB 2, the insertion die 4 and the anvil 3 always being aligned with respect to one another along an insertion center line c, and the printed-circuit board being attached to a manually displaceable X-Y table, the position of the center point p of the selected insertion zone being respectively defined by means of a Y-coordinate and an X-coordinate with respect to the insertion center line c, the table being moveable within a first tracking zone, the area of which extends over a great distance with respect to the insertion center line c, and within a second tracking zone, the area of which extends over a limited distance with respect to the insertion cen
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Framatome Connectors International
    Inventor: Robert A. Wuyts
  • Patent number: 6178628
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for thermally coupling a heat sink directly to a surface mount heat generating device package in a manner which provides a more efficient thermal path between the heat sink and the device package, and which allows for a simplified assembly process. The heat sink is mounted in direct thermal communication with the heat generating device package which is surface mounted to a printed circuit board or other substrate. The inventive heat sink has a reservoir of thermal preform which allows the heat sink to be secured to a device package at the same time as the device package is being secured to the surface mount substrate, as opposed to doing so in a separate step in the assembly process after the electronic device packages have already been secured to the surface mount substrate. The inventive heat sink thereby simplifies the assembly process by eliminating steps in the manufacturing process and by allowing for the further automation of the assembly process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Aavid Thermalloy, LLC
    Inventors: Donald L. Clemens, Mark Mellinger, Gary Kuzmin
  • Patent number: 6178629
    Abstract: A replaceable chip module for electrically connecting one or more first circuit members to a second circuit member. The replaceable chip module includes a module housing has a plurality of device sites each capable of receiving at least one first circuit member. A first connector is located in each of the device sites. The first connector includes one or more first contact members having a first compliant member defining a first circuit interface engageable with the first circuit member, a resilient, dielectric encapsulating material defining a second compliant member surrounding a portion of the first contact member, the first and second compliant members providing a first mode of compliance, and at least one end stop positioned to engage with the first contact member in a second mode of compliance. A second connector is positioned to electrically connect the first connector to the second circuit member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Gryphics, Inc.
    Inventor: James J. Rathburn
  • Patent number: 6178630
    Abstract: The present invention provides a new device and technique for enhancing the electrical properties of the thick metal backer/adhesive bond/ground plane interface. The enhanced electrical properties are obtained by micro-roughening a connection surface of the thick metal backer prior to forming the thick metal backer/adhesive bond/ground plane interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lisa Jeanine Jimarez, David Noel Light, Andrew Michael Seman, David Brian Stone
  • Patent number: 6178631
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a metal member includes the steps of forming a metal body having a hollow core, wherein a side of the metal body defines a core opening exposing the hollow core; placing a filament through the core opening into the hollow core; closing the core opening around the filament; and heating the metal body so that the filament disintegrates to form a filament hole sufficient to allow gas within the hollow core to escape through the filament hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventors: Shin Tanabe, Daisuke Sugimura
  • Patent number: 6178632
    Abstract: A method of making air assist passageways and injector pockets in a manifold or air assist rail includes providing a mold that can open and close with several bosses extending from an inside surface. These bosses are arranged in a row and define the inside of the injector pockets when the mold is filled. The air assist passageway that couples the fuel injector pockets is provided by inserting a long pin that passes through the row of injector pocket bosses inside the mold cavity. When the cavity is filled with molten material and solidifies, the pin is withdrawn, leaving a long air assist passageway extending between the injector pockets. The mold is then opened, pulling the injector pocket bosses out of the now-formed injector pockets. The resulting structure is a row of injector pockets in a manifold or air assist rail into which injectors can be inserted, that are connected by a long air assist passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Canada Limited
    Inventors: Christine C. Worrel, Karl Robert Schwarzpech, Debora Nally
  • Patent number: 6178633
    Abstract: The vane 1 is substantially in a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape having (a) two wide side surfaces 1c, 1c′ opposing in the thickness direction and being slidable in each guide groove 12 of a rotor 11 of an actuator, (b) two narrow side surfaces 1d, 1d′ opposing in the width direction, (c) an as-cold-worked top surface 1a having an arcuately projecting cross section in a plane perpendicular to the width direction and being in slidable contact with a cam surface 14 of the actuator 13 for sealing, and (d) a bottom end surface 1e opposing the top surface 1a, both ends of said top surface 1a in the width direction being bulging toward the cam surface 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
    Inventor: Fujio Yamane
  • Patent number: 6178634
    Abstract: A miniature recycle-type heat exchanger to produce recycle-type heat exchangers from high extensibility, high plasticity aluminum or copper billets (ingots) utilizing a pressure forming press to extrude lightweight, thin, and small form factor recycle-type heat exchangers. The production method includes annealing copper and aluminum billet (ingot) material, conveying the material to a vibrator for placement in an ordered arrangement, and then conveying and fixing the material onto molds in a pressure forming press for the extrusion tasks required to fabricate the heat exchanger bodies. In the final stage after shaping and determination of the fluid input direction, the bodies are placed in a vacuum sputtering machine to undergo a rough textured heat conductive microparticulate deposition process to complete the production of miniature recycle-type heat exchangers that are of very compact dimensions and lightweight, but have a large heat exchange capacity and, furthermore, a high heat transfer rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Inventors: Cheng-shen Hsu, Tien-tsai Lin
  • Patent number: 6178635
    Abstract: A method of repairing a crack in a boiling water reactor shroud with a clamp having pins eccentrically mounted on disks connected by a structural member includes inserting the pins into openings formed in the shroud on opposite sides of the weld and turning the disks to rotate the pins toward the weld such that edges of the holes are engaged by the pins to transmit loads from the shroud to the structural member rather than the weld. A seal member is mounted in compression between a flange at an inboard end of at least one of the pins and an inner surface of the shroud to control leakage through the opening in the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: MPR Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold William McCurdy, Jr., Sterling J. Weems, William E. Sylvester
  • Patent number: 6178636
    Abstract: A method for making a heat exchanger assembly (10) includes inserting tubes (20) through fin holes (32) in heat exchanger fins (30) and headers (40, 42) to form a bundle (50), and expanding the tubes (20) forming an interference fit with the heat exchanger fins (30). The bundle (50) is inserted into a housing (60) open at both end; (67, 68) and having a wall (62) surrounding the headers (40, 42) with inlet and outlet lines (64, 66) in the wall (62), and sealing the wall (62) of the housing (60) to the first and second headers (40, 42) with the inlet and outlet lines (64, 66) disposed between the headers (40, 42). A plurality of mandrel heads (70) are inserted through the open ends (67, 68) of the housing (60) into the tubes (20) expanding the tubes (20) into the headers (40, 42) to form a sealed joint between the tubes (20) and the headers (40, 42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Behr Heat Transfer Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale Lewis Kroger, Kevin Kent Stahlecker, Les Dean VanDenTop, Adeel Zaidi
  • Patent number: 6178637
    Abstract: In known methods for producing rotationally symmetrical valve seat faces, the valve closing body is brought into contact with the valve seat face of the valve seat body, set into a rotary motion, and set parallel to the rotary axis into an oscillating motion of high frequency. When the valve is assembled, care must then be taken that this pairing of the valve closing body and the valve seat body is preserved. In the novel method, the valve seat body is inserted into a receiving body and fixed by means of a tappet. A spherical tool body engages the valve seat face of the valve seat body with a contact pressure force and rotates in a rotary direction that is opposite a rotary direction of the valve seat body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Herold, Oliver Kirsten
  • Patent number: 6178638
    Abstract: A fabrication method for an improved structure practical forged one-piece flange-type ball valve that consists of the forging the initial two blanks of the water inlet seat and the ball valve seat for a one-piece flange-type ball valve, based on the blueprints of conventional one-piece flange-type ball valves, with the water inlet seat having a left pipeline connection section already formed inside and the ball valve seat having a ball valve chamber, its contiguous water outlet port, and a right pipeline connection section already formed inside. To facilitate easier finishing, a shallower mating section is formed at the front end of the water inlet seat for contact with the ball valve chamber of the ball valve seat. A left water-tight gasket containment recess is then lathed in the mating section end surface of the water inlet seat and external threads are died along the outer sides of the mating section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Inventor: Lei-Jui Wu
  • Patent number: 6178639
    Abstract: A multilayer engine bearing (26) includes a steel backing (36) having a liner (38) of bearing metal of either copper-lead or aluminum alloys formed on the backing (36) and a thin layer (44) of either copper or nickel plated on the liner (38) to define a base lining member (40) of the bearing (26). A multilayer overplate (46) is formed on the base lining member (40) and includes an underlayer (48) of a lead-tin-copper alloy having a thickness of about 10 &mgr;m and an overlayer (50) of tin having a thickness of about 5 &mgr;m. The multilayer overplate (46) exhibits exceptional fatigue resistance under high dynamic loading conditions and retains good conformability and embedibility characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Lytwynec, James R. Toth, Daniel E. Dugan
  • Patent number: 6178640
    Abstract: In a slitter, the combination comprises a blade having a cutting edge; a holder for the blade, including a handle, and a terminal on the handle retaining the blade with the blade edge protruding; a shield carried by the holder proximate the terminal, for movement between extended position in which the blade is protected, and retracted position in which the blade edge is exposed for cutting, there being a torsion spring carried by the holder and having an arm biasing the shield toward extended position, the spring arm projecting in a hollow defined by the shield; and the shield extending parallel to the blade, at opposite sides thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Spellbound Development Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Earl Votolato
  • Patent number: 6178641
    Abstract: A hair-cutting apparatus is provided which has an external cutting member (1) and an internal cutting member (7) which is drivable relative to the external cutting member. The external cutting member has lamellae (3) between which hair-entry apertures (4) are formed, and the ends of the lamellae form teeth (9) for raising hairs before the hairs are cut. To increase the efficiency of hair catching the teeth are given different lengths. Preferably, there are long teeth (9a, 9b) and short teeth (91, 92) which alternate with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Albert J. Meijer
  • Patent number: 6178642
    Abstract: The motor-driven hedge clipper has a machine housing; a main handle provided with one switch button; a hollow U-shaped auxiliary handle and a single deadman switch operating mechanism for turning off the hedge clipper when not activated by an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Scintilla AG
    Inventor: Alfred Schaer
  • Patent number: 6178643
    Abstract: A hand-held, ratchet action tool closes together a pair of jaws. A first jaw is fixed in position. A second jaw includes a plurality of ratchet teeth and is mounted to pivot with respect to the first jaw. The ratchet tool further includes a linkage of four links operatively coupled together and with a motorized drive mechanism. A first pawl is supported on one of the links so as to be engageable with the teeth of the second jaw. The linkage is configured to convert drive motion from the drive mechanism into oscillatory motion of the pawl along the teeth. The first pawl is arranged to drive the working face of the second jaw towards that of the first jaw during the oscillatory motion. A second pawl engages with the teeth to permit the first pawl to be ratcheted back and forth, closing the second jaw on the first jaw. A selector lever is provided to manually disengage the pawls and to permit reopening of the jaws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Electroline Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Erbrick, Joseph E. Erbrick, Jr., Joseph Homacki
  • Patent number: 6178644
    Abstract: A pruner assembly having hollow shaft with a longitudinal axis, a lower end, and open upper end, and a handgrip portion slidable along the longitudinal axis between a first and a second position. A shearing mechanism attaches to said open upper end of the hollow shaft, which mechanism includes a body having a hook adapted to receive and hold a limb, a cutting blade pivots on the body and against the hook to cut the limb. An arm member pivots to the body and couples to the blade so that pivotal movement of the arm member pivotally moves the cutting blade. A pulley is mounted to the arm member distal end and a cable guide pulley is coupled to the hollow shaft adjacent the open upper end for guiding a cable into and out of the open upper end without the cable contacting the walls thereof. A cable is provided for moving the cutting blade with respect to the hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Inventors: Thong Huu Le, Timothy Van Le
  • Patent number: 6178645
    Abstract: A device for severing a bonding strip located between and securing together two rigid panels, one of which may be of glass. The device has a flat elongated blade intended, in use, to be inserted between the panels to sever the bonding strip. The device is provided with a rest mechanism adapted to sit on one of the panels being separated to guide reciprocation of the elongated blade, whereby the blade reciprocates in a direction parallel to the panel being separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Inventor: Stanley Trevor Lock
  • Patent number: 6178646
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a jig saw blade clamp including a first clamp member defining a main slot. A second clamp member is positioned within the main slot. The first clamp member is moveable relative to the first clamp member between a first position in which the first and second clamp members are adapted to clamp a blade, and a second position in which the blade can be inserted between the first and second clamp members. A collar is pivotally moveable in first and second opposite directions relative to the first and second clamp members. The collar includes a cam portion that moves the second clamp member toward the first position when the collar is pivoted in the first direction, and also moves the second clamp member toward the second position when the collar is pivoted in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Porter-Cable Corporation
    Inventors: John W. Schnell, Donald R. Bosten, Daniel P. Wall, James T. Stolzer