With Guide Means Patents (Class 269/35)
  • Patent number: 8684343
    Abstract: A composite fabrication vent assembly for connection to an inflatable bladder, the combination of a vent assembly and an inflatable bladder, and a method of mechanically connecting a vent assembly and a bladder. The vent assembly comprises a body member having a first clamping surface, a clamping member having a second clamping surface, and a carriage member interconnecting the body member and the clamping member, with the first and second clamping surfaces in opposing relationship. With the open end of an inflatable bladder inserted between the opposed clamping surfaces, the carriage member is adapted to translate the body member and clamping member toward one another to form an airtight seal with the inflatable bladder. A controlled source of pressurized gas, connected to a gas inlet of the vent assembly, can then inflate and deflate the bladder in a controlled manner through one or more passageways in the vent assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Rubbercraft Corporation of California Ltd
    Inventors: Alan D. Hiken, David H. Lee, Robert L. Harshberger, Leo H. Phan, Rufino Santos
  • Patent number: 8641025
    Abstract: In a method for the hydrodynamic support and centering of a rotating workpiece during grinding and a steady rest usable for this purpose the bearing to be supported is impinged upon by a contact pressure which changes in accordance with rotational speed from a minimum pressure when the shaft is started from a standstill, to a maximum value during the processing rotational speed. The steady rest has an opening of a transversebore in a central bore receiving a supply line by which a lubricant can be supplied as hydraulic fluid to the bearing. The method is particularly suitable for the processing of camshafts and crankshafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Erwin Junker Maschinenfabrik GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Himmelsbach, Hubert Mueller
  • Patent number: 8511659
    Abstract: A holding jig including, a tilt angle with respect to a plane of a holding surface of a holding target defined as a holding tilt angle: a first holding portion having a holding tilt face with the holding tilt angle; a second holding portion connected to the first holding portion so as to slide toward the holding tilt face along a plane substantially parallel to the holding surface; and an elastic holding portion provided at a position of the second holding portion facing the holding tilt face that is elastically deformed towards the holding surface by the holding tilt face while being abutted to the holding tilt face, when the second holding portion slides toward the holding tilt face, to press and hold the holding target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Hirakawa, Satoshi Sakashita, Shinji Ishida, Hiroyuki Nagaoka
  • Publication number: 20130161889
    Abstract: An anvil for ultrasonic machining includes an air-supported support part which is floatingly supported via an air bearing at a carrier part, wherein the support part and the carrier part are connected to one another via at least one linear guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: MS SPAICHINGEN GMBH
    Inventor: MS SPAICHINGEN GMBH
  • Patent number: 8444128
    Abstract: A work support comprises a plunger, a transmission member, a first chamber, a second chamber, a third chamber, a clamping mechanism, a plug, and a body. The plunger may be slidably retained within the clamping mechanism, which in turn is firmly held within the transmission member. The transmission member may extend and retract from the body corresponding to a pressure in the first chamber and the second chamber. Extension of the transmission member also extends the plunger such that the plunger may contact and receive a load from a work piece. The third chamber may be located between the outer surface of the clamping mechanism and the inner surface of the transmission member. Increasing pressure in the first chamber while decreasing pressure in the second chamber extends the transmission member and opens the plug which blocks the entry to the third chamber. Pressure in the third chamber closes the gap between the clamping mechanism and the plunger and applies a clamping force to the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Vektek, Inc.
    Inventors: Nick J. Karras, Aaron Luthi
  • Patent number: 8272629
    Abstract: A swing clamp apparatus is provided in which the clamp arm is positioned and attached to a clamp rod at a desired position in a simple and reliable manner and the clamp arm replacement workload is certainly reduced. The swing clamp apparatus comprises an attachment block fixed to the leading end of a clamp rod and to which a clamp arm is detachably attached and a pair of clamping force transmission pins inserted in the attachment block and clamp arm in the direction parallel to the orthogonal direction to the axis for coupling the positioned clamp arm to the attachment block in an integrated manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Pascal Engineering Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Kuroda
  • Publication number: 20110065366
    Abstract: An air-actuated clamping assembly that is quickly actuated to secure a workpiece in place during machining operations, such as on a waterjet machine. The clamping operation is completed within seconds after a workpiece is placed (for example, when used in conjunction with a waterjet machine) onto the waterjet machine slats. The system greatly minimizes set-up time, allows for an adjustable clamping force, allows for one operator to set up workpieces, keeps the workpiece firmly in place and prevents movement during the machining process, is adaptable to various waterjet brands and models, and is air-actuated so that typical “house air” can be utilized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventors: EUGENE N. ROWE, Daryl L. Vettori
  • Publication number: 20100244345
    Abstract: A holding jig includes, in a case where a tilt angle with respect to a plane as a holding surface of a holding target is defined as a holding tilt angle: a first holding portion having a holding tilt face with the holding tilt angle; a second holding portion connected to the first holding portion so as to slide toward the holding tilt face along a plane substantially parallel to the holding surface; and an elastic holding portion provided at a position of the second holding portion facing the holding tilt face and elastically deformed toward the holding surface by the holding tilt face while abutting on the holding tilt face, when the second holding portion slides toward the holding tilt face, to press and hold the holding target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro HIRAKAWA, Satoshi Sakashita, Shinji Ishida, Hiroyuki Nagaoka
  • Publication number: 20100181712
    Abstract: In a method for the hydrodynamic support and centering of a rotating workpiece during grinding and a steady rest usable for this purpose the bearing to be supported is impinged upon by a contact pressure which changes in accordance with rotational speed from a minimum pressure when the shaft is started from a standstill, to a maximum value during the processing rotational speed. The steady rest has an opening of a transversebore in a central bore receiving a supply line by which a lubricant can be supplied as hydraulic fluid to the bearing. The method is particularly suitable for the processing of camshafts and crankshafts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: Erwin Junker Maschinenfabrik GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Himmelsbach, Hubert Mueller
  • Publication number: 20100051672
    Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for clamping adjacent ends of pipe sections to be welded, the apparatus comprising a plurality of clamping members movable between retracted and extended clamping positions, each of the clamping members comprising a clamping shoe and a connecting member connecting the shoe to the apparatus frame; each of the clamping shoes comprising a longitudinal groove on its clamping surface oriented parallel to the adjacent pipe ends, at least one gas passageway through the clamping shoe which extends from a surface of the shoe away from the clamping surface to a termination point within the longitudinal groove, and at least one alignment guide device in the longitudinal groove; a means for delivering an inert purge gas to the longitudinal groove through the gas passageway; and a means for moving the clamping members between the retracted and extended clamping positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: E.I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventor: DENNIS D. NUNNERY
  • Patent number: 7653974
    Abstract: A machine tool has pass-through pallet loading allowing pallets to be loaded or discharged from either side of the machine. The pallet receiver is mounted on the X-axis of the machine, and the pallet is loaded onto the pallet receiver with the pallet in a vertical orientation. Cross axis rollers on the pallet receiver support the pallet and spacing rollers maintain the pallet spaced from Z-axis locating pads as it moves to a centered position on the pallet receiver. The Z-axis pads present a relatively large surface area to the rear face of the pallet, and are configured to provide vacuum clamping to lock the pallet in all three axes once it is centered on the pallet receiver. A rotating key is provided to center and lock the pallet relative to the pallet receiver before the vacuum clamping is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Cincinnati Machine, LLC
    Inventors: Peter L. Mischler, Michael George Bayes
  • Publication number: 20090026678
    Abstract: Alignment precision enhancement of electronic component process on flexible substrate device and method thereof the same is proposed. The process step of a flexible substrate is put on a substrate holder, wherein the flexible substrate is fixed by a polymer tape. A plural of alignment marks is making for lithography process. An unstressed cut is separated the flexible substrate and substrate holder when the electronic component is made.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jia-Chong Ho, Tarng-Shiang Hu, Hsiang-Yuan Cheng
  • Patent number: 7290480
    Abstract: A swing cylinder having a body and an end cap on each end of the body. The cylinder also has a piston arranged within the body. The cylinder has a rod engaged with the piston and has an arm attached to one end thereof. A guide is arranged on the opposite end of the rod. The guide is also attached to one of the end caps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Rentz
  • Patent number: 5201501
    Abstract: A unit is provided for grasping and clamping generally circular shaped parts such as lenses, comprising a central body on which three grasping and clamping elements are mounted adapted to bear tangentially on said part at three points or regions of tangential contact forming, pairwise, angles greater than 90.degree., one of the grasping and clamping elements being arranged to lie on the axis of said central body at one end of a movable central push rod, the other two said elements being arranged symmetrically with respect to said axis at the distal end of two levers, the push rod being urged by at least one clamping spring in the axial clamping direction, and the other two elements being urged to rotate in the direction of clamping by at least one lever-action producing spring, release of clamping being obtained by application of fluid pressure to a piston adapted to operate in opposition to said clamping spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: Essilor International Compagnie Generale d'Optique
    Inventor: Georges Fassler
  • Patent number: 5199692
    Abstract: A clamp device drive apparatus for driving a clamp device engaged with a T-shaped groove slidably between a clamping position and an unclamping position, comprises a push-pull chain connected to a clamp device, a vertical housing for containing the chain, guide members for turning a running course of the chain, a sprocket engaged with the chain, and a cylinder drive type motor for driving the sprocket to rotate, and the motor is constituted to drive the sprocket with a double acting fluid cylinder or a pair of single acting fluid cylinder, through ball screw mechanism for converting driving force into driving torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: Aioi Seiki, Inc.
    Inventors: Seiji Kimura, Kouji Wada
  • Patent number: 5181703
    Abstract: An apparatus for installing wooden deck planks on a supporting frame of joists has an actuator mounted on a base plate with an output shaft movable between an open position and a closed position. A control device is mounted on the frame for selectively controlling the actuator to move the output shaft. A fixed angle clamp is mounted on the base plate and has a leg for engaging an edge of a first deck plank, a sliding angle clamp is attached to the output shaft and has a leg for engaging an edge of a second deck plank, and a spacer plate is slidably mounted on the base plate between the clamps and has a predetermined thickness corresponding to a desired spacing between adjacent deck planks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Inventors: Donald C. Gilstad, Dennis J. Gilstad
  • Patent number: 4958899
    Abstract: A moving optical fiber (10) is guided in its motion by an annular guide apparatus (40) which receives the optical fiber (10) within an inner bore (66) and stabilizes its transverse position as it moves longitudinally. The guide (40) has a plurality of gas jets extending into the inner bore (66) that create a cushion of gas to maintain the position of the optical fiber (10) in the center of the bore (66), without the need for any physical contact between the bore (66) and the optical fiber (10). The annular guide (40) is preferably formed from a housing (42) that defines a gas plenum (74) and a flow control plate (52) that fits to the housing (42) and has circumferentially spaced, radially extending gas flow passages (54) etched therein. A gas flow introduced into the plenum (74) from an external source is distributed to the gas flow passages (54) and thence to the inner bore (66) to prevent the optical fiber (10) from physically contacting the guide (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1990
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: James R. Rochester
  • Patent number: 4952104
    Abstract: A method of finishing the surface of a structure, which comprises fixing a rigid or elastic pattern member on a surface, with the pattern member including a releasable covering material applied thereto, applying a coating material to the surface and the member, removing the covering material, which is peelably attached on the surface of the pattern member, together with an uncured portion of the coating material placed on top of the pattern member, before the coating material is completely dried, and curing the coating material. In this way, the pattern member remains in the coating material as a joint, providing an attractive surface finish disposed within the coating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Inventor: Hideharu Osada
  • Patent number: 4881411
    Abstract: A specimen holder and rotary mount in which a semiconductor chip can be arately mounted and presented to a test device for checking the circuitry of the semiconductor chip as well as subjecting the chip to various thermal conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Daron C. Holderfield, Bernard E. Martin, Samuel S. Russell
  • Patent number: 4842785
    Abstract: A method for installing a gasket having a first exposed pipe-engaging portion and a second portion which is anchored within a peripheral wall of an opening in a poured-in-place concrete wall. The method includes the first step of erecting a form including an inner wall and an outer wall to define the poured-in-place concrete wall, the outer wall of the form having an opening in the region where the opening in the poured-in-place concrete wall is to be. The second step includes providing an assembly of an inner mold disc having a central particularly defined shape, the gasket, having a particularly defined shape and disposed in a particularly defined orientation, and an outer mold disc having a particularly defined shape. The third step includes suspending the assembly at a desired predetermined location between the inner and outer walls by a depending fixing bar, having a particularly defined shape; the suspending being by a particularly defined bolt structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: Les Industries Fortier Ltee
    Inventors: Clement Daigle, Emile Gonthier
  • Patent number: 4620696
    Abstract: A power operated clamp includes a cylinder having a reciprocal piston rod. A hollow clamp body having side plates is aligned with and connected to the cylinder. A clamp arm is pivotally mounted upon the body and in one position is adapted to retainingly engage a workpiece relative to a workpiece support. A linkage is pivotally connected to the clamp arm; the improvement which comprises a series of vertically spaced pairs of longitudinally spaced transverse mount holes extending through the side plates. The mounting of the body includes an upright riser extending between the side plates and has a series of longitudinal similarly spaced apertures corresponding to some of the side plate apertures. Pivot bolts extend through some of the mount holes and riser, whereby the body may be mounted selectively in one of a plurality of longitudinal locations above or below the riser. A rod end is guidably mounted within the body and axially connected to the piston rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1986
    Inventor: Leland F. Blatt
  • Patent number: 4586701
    Abstract: A vise assembly, for use on a drill press having a vertical cylindrical column and a table with a flat upper surface substantially perpendicular to the column, has a mounting block slidably and rotatably mounted on the column and a frame slidably mounted on the mounting block for movement parallel to the flat top surface of the table. The frame includes a back plate, at least two pairs of rods connected to the back plate, fixed and movable jaws, one of the pair of rods being connected to the fixed jaw and the other of the pairs of rods being connected to the movable jaw. The jaws normally rest on the table. In the preferred embodiment, hydraulic cylinders, carried by the back plate, are connected to move the pair of rods connected to the movable jaw. In another embodiment, a manually operated screw arrangement is used to move one pair of rods relative to the other, to move the movable jaw toward the fixed jaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1986
    Inventor: Harold W. Oncken
  • Patent number: 4523972
    Abstract: A semiconductor crystal ingot (14) is supportively engaged by an ingot handling apparatus (22) which contacts a base (38) of the ingot (14) with a base support (36) and opposite sides of a lateral surface of the ingot (14) with at least one pair of jaws (37). The jaws (37) are retained adjacent to but out of firm contact with the lateral surface of the ingot until after the support (36) firmly supports the weight of the ingot. The support and the at least one pair of jaws are retracted from a furnace (10) simultaneously in a lateral direction with no relative movement to withdraw the ingot from the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1985
    Assignee: AT&T Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert H. Cushman, Charles E. Stout, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4489924
    Abstract: A quick-set hydraulic work holding clamping table assembly including an elongated stationary rigid base member having a front control portion, a pair of stationary transversely spaced flat lateral platen sections flanking an elongated dovetail slide channel, an elongated slide plate member shaped to slidably interfit in the slide channel having its top surface lying in the same common plane as the top surface of the lateral platen sections and forming a movable center platen section. The slide plate member is moved forwardly and rearwardly by a manually operable drive screw coupled to the slide plate member and hydraulic power means are connected to the drive screw for rapidly moving the slide plate member relative to the lateral platen sections to move workpiece engaging jaw pieces to the gripping position responsive to application of fluid pressure to the power means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1984
    Inventor: Thomas F. McDougal
  • Patent number: 4350560
    Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of handling grown crystal ingots from a crystal-growing furnace, which apparatus and method include: lifting and moving an upper crystal chamber with the crystal supported therein to one side of the furnace; and gently lowering the crystal into a lower crystal chamber positioned beneath the upper crystal chamber and on a wheeled vehicle, which permits ease in removal and transport of hot heavy crystals with minimum damage or fracture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1982
    Assignee: Ferrofluidics Corporation
    Inventors: Walter Helgeland, Alex Teverovsky, Kenneth H. Kerwin, II, Carl P. Chartier
  • Patent number: 4251065
    Abstract: A quick set hydraulic workholding vise including a fore-and-aft longitudinal elongated base having a front stationary jaw and a rear jaw movable toward and away from the stationary jaw. The movable jaw is interfitted on a slide plate for sliding movement of the movable jaw to coarse adjustment spacing slightly larger than the corresponding dimension of the work portion to be received between the jaws and the slide plate extends centrally along substantially the length of the base and is movable through a limited predetermined range relative to the base between a forward gripping position and a rearward release position for the movable jaw. Compound wedge means are provided for releasibly gripping opposite side portions of the slide plate and clamping the movable jaw at the coarse adjustment position, and hydraulic power means rapidly move the slide plate and the movable jaw to the forward gripping position. The slide plate and movable jaw are spring returned to said rearward release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1981
    Inventor: Thomas F. McDougal
  • Patent number: 4247092
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided for handling signature bundles. The apparatus is specifically designed to handle at least two signature bundles at once, including ones of different lengths. The apparatus includes a generally C-shaped frame with legs and a connecting frame member. One of the legs has a fluid-operated cylinder mounted thereon with a piston rod extending toward the other leg. A pivotable bar has an intermediate portion connected to an outer end of the piston rod and two clamping pads are pivotally connected to outer end portions of said pivotable bar. This arrangement enables the clamping pads to simultaneously clamp two signature bundles of different lengths between themselves and the other leg when the piston rod is moved toward the other leg. The apparatus is carried by a hoist bar having a hoist loop connected to a hoist by means of which the bundles can be raised and lowered as well as being moved about.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1981
    Assignee: D. W. Zimmerman Mfg., Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Dwyer