Peripheral Joining Of Opposed Mirror Image Parts To Form A Hollow Body Patents (Class 29/463)
  • Publication number: 20080196234
    Abstract: A production system for radiators, for heating plants, the system being obtained by simple assembly of two radiator half-shells (1a, 1b) and two connecting and fastening elements (3 and 4), in which a final complete radiator is obtained using only mechanical systems and without any welding, two flanges (5, 7) also being included. The final radiator of the system is composed of a plurality of single radiator elements (1) made of two radiator half-shells (1a, 1b) and a length of cylindrical pipe (2) applied to a single radiator element (1), while the two connecting and fastening elements (3, 4) are constituted by a threaded sleeve for connecting and fixing the two half-shells (1a, 1b) constituting a radiator element (1) to one another by a screwing action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: K DELTA T KALOR S.r.l.
    Inventor: Adriano Paschetto
  • Patent number: 7398585
    Abstract: An internal core is separated along a horizontal plane delineated at the transition point between the tapered wall portion and the parallel wall portion of the core to divide the core into a tapered wall component part manufactured by a WEDM process to obtain the desired shape and configuration and a parallel wall component part manufactured by a right angle milling or WEDM with a right angle manufacturing process to obtain the desired shape and configuration. The tapered and parallel wall component parts are joined together to form the desired internal core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Guido Drees
  • Patent number: 7395590
    Abstract: An office chair is provided having a contoured back assembly comprising a back frame and a suspension fabric. The fabric is attached to the back frame about its periphery wherein the back frame has a three-dimensional contoured shape formed by overlapped frame rings with the fabric being joined thereto. The fabric is secured to the frame by a machine wherein the fabric is first stretched from the outer edge of the fabric and then is clamped by a front frame section in the pre-tensioned or pre-streched condition. The fabric edges are allowed to hang loose and then fixed in the front frame section. Once secured, the fabric is unclamped from the front frame section, and then this sub-assembly is affixed to the rear frame ring to complete the assembly of the back frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Johnson, Steve Gager, Wesley D. Mersman, Larry A. Wilkerson
  • Patent number: 7386927
    Abstract: A system and method of fabricating tank car outer jackets are provided that include supporting a plurality of coils of sheet metal on a plurality of coil supports such that the central longitudinal axes of the plurality of coils are generally parallel to a central longitudinal axis of a mandrel adjacent the plurality of coils. A plurality of sheets of sheet metal are unwound from the plurality of coils by rotating each of the plurality of coils generally about the respective central longitudinal axes of each of the plurality of coils. As the plurality of sheets of sheet metal are wound onto the mandrel, adjacent sheets of the plurality of sheets of sheet metal are welded together using a plurality of automated welding torches proximate the mandrel. The plurality of automated welding torches may be coupled for communication with a programmable logic controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Trinity Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Perry M. Maxwell, James A. Minton, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20080107503
    Abstract: A container for transporting and storing hazardous materials such as Chlorine includes a cylindrical body having end caps. The end caps are welded to the body to form a pressure vessel. The end caps have a peripheral edge that is recessed with respect to the ends of the body to protect the weld against damage from impact. The configuration of the juxtaposed components forms a lap joint that can be affixed together by a fillet weld.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: COLUMBIANA BOILER COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Alan G. Eckert, Trevor M. Rummel
  • Patent number: 7337544
    Abstract: A method of forming a composite door is disclosed. The method comprises: mixing together a thermoplastic polymer with an organic fibrous material in a ratio such that the organic fibrous material constitutes 40 to 60 percent by weight of the mixture; extruding the mixture under heat and pressure to create a thin sheet form; cutting the sheet to a predetermined size; removing material from at least one surface of the sheet to create a homogeneous appearance devoid of obvious fibrous particles; thermoforming the sheet to impart to the at least one surface an exterior three dimensional door surface to create a thin door facing; and assembling two of the thermoformed thin door facings, a peripheral frame and a core material into a door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Masonite International Corporation
    Inventors: Gary Fagan, Richard H. Kon
  • Patent number: 7334333
    Abstract: Hollow fan blades for turbo fan gas turbine engines are formed of two separate detail halves. Each detail half has a plurality of cavities and ribs machined out to reduce weight. The floor and opposite interior walls of each cavity are machined simultaneously. The configuration minimizes the number of cutter plunge cuts for the internal cavities, and maximizes cutter size, in order to minimize the time required to machine them. These detail halves are subsequently bonded and given an airfoil shape in the forming operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Mark Palazzini, Michael A. Weisse, Douglas A. Senecal
  • Patent number: 7325290
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for manufacturing a multi-part component that dampens vibration and noise caused by forces acting on the component. A pre-formed first part is treated for application of a resilient material. The material is dissolved in a solvent and is selectively applied to areas of the first part that are subject to strong forces. A second part is mechanically attached to the first part, and the entire component is cured so that the resilient material is cured, the solvent is evaporated and the parts are bonded together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Ray C. Hetherington, James D. Jones, Jr., Mark K. Conlee, Todd L. Tesky, Vishal M. Shah
  • Patent number: 7275296
    Abstract: A frame assembly for a motor vehicle includes a tubular frame and a support tube. The tubular frame includes a first portion connected to a second portion. The first and second portions define a hollow cavity therebetween. A support tube is positioned within the hollow cavity between the first and second portions. The support tube has an exterior surface. The first and second portions include first and second indents respectively formed therein. The first and second indents engage the exterior surface of the support tube to secure the support tube between the first and second portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Magna Structural Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John DiCesare
  • Patent number: 7168151
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a yoke includes a step of cutting a steel plate into a rectangular sheet having a plurality of first dovetail convexities at one end thereof and a plurality of second dovetail convexities at the other end, a step of rolling the rectangular sheet into a cylinder to fit the first dove tails and the second dove tails to each other and a step of punching border portions of the first dove tails and the second dove tails. The second dovetail convexities are formed to be the same in shape as the first dovetail convexities so that they can fit to the first dovetail convexities. A smooth-faced yoke can be manufacture without using an expensive welder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masami Niimi, Hideki Ichikawa, Akifumi Hosoya, Masahiro Katoh
  • Patent number: 7150089
    Abstract: An apparatus that has housing for containing objects. The housing has two heat-conducting partial-boundaries having an interface between them. The apparatus also has a medium for enhancing heat transfer across the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher J. Scafidi
  • Patent number: 7137183
    Abstract: A drive axle assembly for motor vehicles, includes a support beam member having a substantially flat, enlarged central plate section and two opposite arm sections, a differential assembly module secured to the central plate section and enclosed into a housing formed by a rear cover and a front cover secured to opposite surfaces of the central plate section. A method for assembling the drive axle assembly comprises the steps of securing the front cover to a front mounting surface of the support beam member, fastening the differential assembly module to the central plate section of the support beam member, and fastening the rear cover to the rear mounting surface of the support beam member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Torque-Traction Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Eugene Stuart, Timothy Bernard Allmandinger, Sean Karl Hoefer, Earl James Irwin, Parvinder Singh Nanua, Gregory James Maser
  • Patent number: 7103956
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a spherical cavitation chamber. Depending upon the chamber's composition and wall thickness, chambers fabricated with the disclosed techniques can be used with either low or high pressure systems. During chamber fabrication, initially two spherical half portions are fabricated and then the two half portions are joined together to form the desired cavitation chamber. During the fabrication of each chamber half, the interior spherical surface is completed first and then the outer spherical surface. Prior to joining the two spherical cavitation chamber halves, the surfaces to be mated are finished, preferably to a surface flatness of at least ±0.01 inches. Brazing is used to join the chamber halves together. The brazing material is preferably in the form of a ring-shaped sheet with outside and inside diameters of approximately the same size as the cavitation sphere's outside and inside diameters. Preferably the brazing operation is performed under vacuum conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Impulse Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Ross Alan Tessien
  • Patent number: 7100261
    Abstract: Substantially rectangular-shaped tanks are provided for storing liquefied gas, which tanks are especially adapted for use on land or in combination with bottom-supported offshore structure such as gravity-based structures (GBS). A tank according to this invention is capable of storing fluids at substantially atmospheric pressure and has a plate cover adapted to contain fluids and to transfer local loads caused by contact of said plate cover with said contained fluids to a grillage of stiffeners and stringers, which in turn is adapted to transfer the local loads to an internal truss frame structure. Methods of constructing these tanks are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Exxon Mobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventor: Kailash C. Gulati
  • Patent number: 7022165
    Abstract: A tubular hydrogen permeable metal membrane and fabrication process comprises obtaining a metal alloy foil having two surfaces, coating the surfaces with a metal or metal alloy catalytic layer to produce a hydrogen permeable metal membrane, sizing the membrane into a sheet with two long edges, wrapping the membrane around an elongated expandable rod with the two long edges aligned and overlapping to facilitate welding of the two together, placing the foil wrapped rod into a surrounding fixture housing with the two aligned and overlapping foil edges accessible through an elongated aperture in the surrounding fixture housing, expanding the elongated expandable rod within the surrounding fixture housing to tighten the foil about the expanded rod, welding the two long overlapping foil edges to one another generating a tubular membrane, and removing the tubular membrane from within the surrounding fixture housing and the expandable rod from with the tubular membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Stephen N. Paglieri, Stephen A. Birdsell, Robert S. Barbero, Ronny C. Snow, Frank M. Smith
  • Patent number: 6920691
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a multi-cell tube having two or more cells, which are repeatedly formed in longitudinal and circumferential directions of the tube in such a manner that fluid can be separately or simultaneously let into and/or out of the respective cells. The multi-cell tube comprises a cell unit including a plurality of cells arranged in one direction of the tube and have corresponding inlets in a direction intersecting with the direction in which the cells are arranged; a supply tube unit which has an opening/closing valve at any one side end thereof and communicates with the inlets of all the cells in a state where the supply tube unit is close to the cells; and an operating tube unit, made of inflatable material (e.g. rubber, plastics or the like), which is installed within the supply tube unit, and has an opening/closing valve at any one side end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Inventor: Ui-Shin Ham
  • Patent number: 6865984
    Abstract: A single-level or multilevel or continuous board press is composed of a succession of press frames which are subdivided horizontally at their vertical limbs for transport and when then welded together at the erection site. Leveling strips are provided along mounted surfaces of the frame to support the plates, piston-and-cylinder units and the like serving to press the mats of wood material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Siempelkamp Maschinen- und Anlagenbau GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Klaus Schürmann, Lothar Sebastian, Horst Weiss, Werner Gawlitta
  • Publication number: 20040244176
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a mailbox is disclosed comprising the steps of obtaining an extruded metal bar having a generally L-shaped cross section defining an elevation flange and a base flange, wherein the length of the elevation flange is selected to correspond to the desired height of the side walls of the mailbox and the length of the base flange is selected to correspond to one-half of the desired width of the mailbox floor. The outside face of the elevation flange has one or more areas shaped as a decorative molding detail to create the appearance of a case mailbox. The base flange has an inside face in a pattern of raised longitudinal ribs that define a grooved surface. The open channel of the mailbox is created by cutting two equal-length billets from the extruded bar, welding them together facing each other, attaching a back pate, a hinged door plate and an ornamental cast metal roof. The appearance of the finished box creates the illusion of a cast metal mailbox.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Applicant: SPRING CITY ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Charles Lanyon, James K. Madara, Richard J. Shreiner
  • Patent number: 6826819
    Abstract: A tire molding apparatus and technique is provided for the ventless molding of tires. According to the invention, a series of pitches is formed in an appropriate REN board, plaster, or like material with the implementation of a CNC machine. An aluminum pour casting is made from the model in which the various pitches are separated by voids which allow for the entry of a cutting tool such that each individual pitch or tire tread segment can be cut from the aluminum casting. Sipe locations are then cut into the model. Master rubbers or foundry tooling is then created and the castings poured. The individual pitches are then matingly interengaged in a puzzle-like fashion along the interior of a tire mold to define the tread portion of the mold. Venting of the mold is achieved at the pitch line formed at the intersection of each of the pitches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Quality Mold, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl J. Sinfield
  • Patent number: 6817080
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a mailbox is disclosed comprising the steps of obtaining an extruded metal bar having a generally L-shaped cross section defining an elevation flange and a base flange, wherein the length of the elevation flange is selected to correspond to the desired height of the side walls of the mailbox and the length of the base flange is selected to correspond to one-half of the desired width of the mailbox floor. The outside face of the elevation flange has one or more areas shaped as a decorative molding detail to create the appearance of a case mailbox. The base flange has an inside face in a pattern of raised longitudinal ribs that define a grooved surface. The open channel of the mailbox is created by cutting two equal-length billets from the extruded bar, welding them together facing each other, attaching a back pate, a hinged door plate and an ornamental cast metal roof. The appearance of the finished box creates the illusion of a cast metal mailbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Spring City Electrical Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Charles Lanyon, James K. Madara, Jr., Richard J. Shreiner
  • Patent number: 6763588
    Abstract: A method of providing with precision a number of long and narrow through holes (11) in a body (1) made of a high-density material. The body (1) is made in the form of a number of partial bodies (2, 2′, 2″), which are arranged close to each other and from the body (1). Each partial body (2, 2′, 2″) is defined by an outer surface (5), which is part of the outer surface of the entire body (1), an inner surface (6), which is part of the inner surface of the entire body (1), as well as a pair of boundary surfaces (7, 8), which extend from the outer surface (5) to the inner surface (6). Holes (11) are produced by machining at least one of the bounding surfaces (7, 8) adjacent partial bodies (2′, 2″). Each hole (11) extends from the outer surface (5) to the inner surface (6) along said at least one boundary surface (7, 8). The thus machined partial bodies (2, 2′, 2″) are fixedly attached to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Elekta AB
    Inventors: Börje Nilsson, Jürgen Arndt
  • Publication number: 20040123445
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing a polygonal, ring-shaped machine part having a complex cross-section starting from a metal rod with improved productivity and remarkably increased material yield. The method comprises the steps of: forging a rod to prepare a notched blank 1 having large diameter parts 11 and the remaining small diameter parts 12; bending the large diameter parts 11 to form a first intermediate 3 of polygonal, open ring-shape and a complex cross-section with confronting ends; butting and welding the confronting ends of the first intermediate 3 to form a second intermediate 5; die-forging the second intermediate 5 to form a ring-shaped product 7; and subjecting the product 7 to necessary finishing step such as machining to obtain the final product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Jun-Ichi Esaki, Tatsuo Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6735844
    Abstract: In order to produce precision optic elements using injection molded plastic, a metal mold is fabricated from two positive masters comprising exact metallic reproductions of the desired plastic part and on which a metal shell has been electroformed or otherwise plated. Two positive masters are required for each mold, one being formed to define the upper part of the mold and the other the lower part of the mold. Each positive master is scribed with an axial line and with a cutting line slightly offset from the axial line, the cutting line for the upper part of the mold being below the axial line and the cutting line for the lower part of the mold being above the axial cutting line. The positive masters are then cut along their cutting lines, the metal shells removed, and the portion of the remaining metal shells between their axial lines and their cutting lines is then trimmed. The upper and lower parts of the mold are then combined to define the complete injection mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Saccomanno, Clinton P. Kilroy, Julius Puchammer
  • Patent number: 6725519
    Abstract: A method of making a gas tank includes hydroforming two halves and welding the halves together. Two types of welds are used in welding the two halves together, tack welds for holding the two halves together, and stitch welds to complete the welding of the two halves. Additional steps are taken prior to the finishing stitch welds. Reinforcement is added where necessary. Double tanks, for both gasoline and oil, are also fabricated by essentially the same method steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Inventor: Kyle P. Krejci
  • Patent number: 6722009
    Abstract: A sheet hydroforming method is disclosed wherein two stacked metallic sheets are clamped between a pair of upper and lower dies 10, 11 and a fluid is introduced and pressurized between mating surfaces of the metallic sheets, causing the metallic sheets to bulge into a space defined by die cavities 10b and 11b. A thru-hole 11d for introducing the fluid is formed in one of the dies so as to lead to a holding surface of the die, while a pierced hole for introducing the fluid is formed in one of the metallic sheets in a portion of the one metallic sheet which portion is in contact with a holding surface 10a (10b) of one of the dies, the pierced hole being positioned with the thru-hole 11d, then the fluid is introduced in a pressurized state between mating surfaces of the metallic sheets from the thru-hole through the pierced hole, thereby causing the metallic sheets to bulge. According to this method, a pressurized fluid can be introduced between the mating surfaces of blanks easily without leakage of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayasu Kojima, Mitsutoshi Uchida
  • Patent number: 6704990
    Abstract: A chair base includes a rigid base member having a plurality of elongate tubular leg members disposed angularly around and radiating outwardly from a central hub. Each leg member adjacent an outer free end thereof has a hub structure defining a through vertical bore for retaining the pintle of a caster. The hub structure includes coaxially aligned upper and lower sleevelike hub parts which are monolithically and integrally joined to and extruded transversely into the interior of the leg member from the respective top and bottom walls thereof. The pintle-retaining hub structure is formed by a pierce-and-extrude process whereby small pilot openings are initially formed through the respective walls, and the annular wall portion surrounding the respective pilot opening is thereafter transversely extruded to effect forming of the respective hub part. The pierce-and-extrude process for each hub part is, in a preferred process, carried out by a single forming tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Haworth, Inc.
    Inventors: Manfred Kleinikel, Helmut Berkenkoetter, Walter Mersmann
  • Patent number: 6675436
    Abstract: A vacuum apparatus for collecting fallen cut hair from a floor during hair grooming is disclosed. The vacuum apparatus has a base, a suction unit mounted on the base and a shroud removably disposed about the base. The base being separable and having a female portion and a male portion for receiving a post of a chair therebetween the base portions and the portions each having a baffle therein. The shroud being separable and having a plurality of inlet openings throughwhich the cut hair initially passes while being directed by the baffle through the suction unit enroute to a receptacle removably disposed on the suction unit for collection and for subsequent disposal of the cut hair. The female and male portions are engaged in a mating relationship and are maintained therein by a sealant. The shroud, being separable, expandably fits over the base and is kept in place about the base with a hook and a loop type fastener disposed on the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventor: Anthony R. Fratoni, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6651332
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a heat transfer member comprises the steps of: subjecting elongated materials to be worked, which are made of metallic thin sheets, to a continuous press forming utilizing a plurality of press-forming devices to form heat transfer faces each having a prescribed shape, while transferring the materials in a prescribed feeding direction, which is in parallel with a longitudinal direction of the materials; and welding two materials, which have been subjected to the press forming, of the elongated materials together utilizing a welding device to form a heat transfer member having substantially a tubular shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Xenesys Inc.
    Inventor: Toyoaki Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 6634076
    Abstract: The invention relates to an article of manufacture comprising a partial or complete tubular primary part defining a tube axis and having an at least partially curved circumferential wall at least partially encircling the axis; said wall comprising a joint edge, defining a) a joint line along said edge on said wall, b) a joint plane drawn to contain said joint line, c) a joining direction having at least a direction component perpendicular to said joint line and said joint plane, d) a locking plane at least partially at the surface or within a section through said wall in which both said joint line and said joining direction lies and e) a normal direction being perpendicular to said joint plane; and at least one locking structure, the improvement comprising that the locking structure includes at least one positive or negative hook structure in said locking plane, extending in the joining direction away from the joint line and having an undercut in the locking plane and that the hook structure is exposed from a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Pharmacia AB
    Inventors: Birger Hjertman, Rudolf Cseke
  • Publication number: 20030192185
    Abstract: A tubular axle beam with variable wall thickness for a vehicle is provided including a first beam portion extending longitudinally between first ends and including spaced apart first longitudinal edges. A second beam portion extends longitudinally between second ends and includes spaced apart second longitudinal edges. Weld beads secure the first longitudinal edges to the second longitudinal edges to define a cavity between the beam portions with the first and second ends arranged adjacent to one another. Preferably, the tubular axle beam is constructed by stamping a first blank to form a first half of the beam, and a second blank is stamped to form a second half of the beam. The first and second portions are welded to one another to define a cavity between the portions. In another embodiment of the invention, a tubular axle beam includes a hollow beam extending longitudinally between opposing ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventor: Tomaz Dopico Varela
  • Patent number: 6622364
    Abstract: A method for assembling a modular siderail for attachment to a bed comprises forming a first end section to include a first connector joint, forming a second end section to include a second connector joint, and coupling the first connector joint and the second connector joint to form a skeletal structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Hamilton, Jeffrey A. Moster, Robert Mark Zerhusen, David M. Hensley, David W. Hornbach
  • Publication number: 20030106216
    Abstract: A ball valve is produced, which has a valve housing 10 and a ball 20. A pair of mirror-symmetrical housing halves 12, 14 are jointed together along a single weld line. The housing halves are jointed together by welding in a manner to enclose the ball previously provided with a through bore and a pair of recessed portions. The through bore 22 of the ball is arranged to be in conformity with the weld line. Holes 42, 50 for respectively mounting a pair of stem assemblies are formed by machining respectively in those portions of the valve housing opposed respectively to open opposite ends of the through bore. The centers of the holes are in alignment with the operational centerline of the ball valve. The ball is turned by an angle of 90 degrees, thereby bringing the through bore of the ball into alignment with openings 12A, 14A of the valve housing, and the recessed portions 26, 28 of the ball are brought into alignment with the holes, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: Masahiro Yokomi
  • Patent number: 6485186
    Abstract: A strip of metal is wrapped into a ring configuration such that ends of the strip are positioned in a predetermined relationship to each other. The ends of the strip are attached together by a temporary weld joining the two ends of the strip, thereby forming a temporary continuous ring. After heat treating the temporary continuous ring, the ring is separated at the temporary weld to provide a heat treated split bearing ring with a controlled clearance at the split.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventors: Eric A. Wood, Samuel O. Ricard
  • Patent number: 6415495
    Abstract: A container (10) for housing a waste receptacle (81, 82) includes a base member (11) formed by joining two identical base halves (20, 21). Two interchangeable side walls (12, 13) are attached to the base member (11) and include extensions (16, 17) which form the top (18) of the container (10). Interchangeable front and back walls (14, 15) are provided, the front wall (14) acting as a door and being hingedly attached to one of the side walls (12), and the back wall (15) being attached between the side walls (12, 13). If the waste receptacle is in the form of a plastic bag (82), it may be carried by frame (83) which is moveably mounted on tracks (41) carried by the side walls (12, 13). The container (10) may be manufactured simply by molding the identical parts and connecting them as described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Rubbermaid Commercial Products LLC
    Inventors: Paul E. Delmerico, Carl R. Schulz
  • Patent number: 6401320
    Abstract: In a pipe made from a plurality of pipe sections, at least one of those sections has a curved configuration and each pipe section has opposite side flanges which are sealed with one another to hold the pipe sections together in forming the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Inventors: Manfred A. A. Lupke, Stefan A. Lupke
  • Patent number: 6381823
    Abstract: A method of forming a gas tank includes forming two halves and welding the halves together. Two types of welds are used, tack welds for holding the complete welds after different steps have been taken to the tack weld elements or parts, and stitch welds to complete the welding of the two halves. Reinforcement is added where necessary. Double tanks, for both gasoline and oil, are also fabricated of essentially the same method steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Inventor: Kyle P. Krejci
  • Publication number: 20010042298
    Abstract: An air bag gas generator, which ensures that a lead wire has a sufficient length when installing the generator in a module, is provided even when a connector in the air bag gas generator has a predetermined length. The air bag gas generator includes, in a housing having gas discharge ports and igniting means storage opening: igniting means activated by an impact; gas generating means ignited by the igniting means and burns and generates a combustion gas; and a filter means, which cools the combustion gas and/or collects combustion residues. Also, the igniting means includes an initiator, which is activated by an electrical signal, and an enhancer, which is ignited by the activation of the initiator and burns. The initiator is positioned and then installed in the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Applicant: Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Katsuda, Shogo Tomiyama
  • Publication number: 20010037834
    Abstract: Disclosed is an accumulator comprising: a pressure vessel; an elastic bellows in which a compressed gas is sealed, an end of the bellows being fixed to an interior of the pressure vessel; a flow path having an opening communicating with the interior and an exterior of the pressure vessel; a valve connected to a movable end of the bellows to operatively close the opening according to elastic motion of the bellows; and a hydraulic chamber partitioned from a gas chamber formed in an interior of the bellows containing the compressed gas. The valve comprises an upper surface which can cover the opening, and plural circular protrusions which surround the entire circumference of the opening and can closely contact the circumference of the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Applicant: NHK SPRING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Takeyoshi Shimbori, Chiharu Umetsu, Kouji Nakamura, Hiroshi Mizukami, Naoki Ueno
  • Patent number: 6279220
    Abstract: Automatic assembling method and apparatus using a plurality of pallets on a conveyer belt for assembling photographic film cassettes, or the like. Each pallet has a secondary work holder and a primary work holder. Parts of a secondary assembly are sequentially fed to the secondary work holder and are assembled into the secondary assembly in the secondary work holder. The secondary assembly and other parts of a primary assembly are sequentially fed to the primary work holder and are assembled into the primary in the primary work holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiro Esaki
  • Patent number: 6233808
    Abstract: A method of making thermal shield (20) having a first plate (22) and a second plate (24) with an interior chamber (26) positioned in between. The method includes a seam (40) extending around the periphery of the thermal shield which prevents the ingress of fluid into the interior chamber. The seam is formed to include portions (60 and 72) that extend at least partially, and preferably completely, around the outer surface (56) of a shoulder (54) of the seam. The method may be used to form a seam (40) that is capable of sealing a pressure differential between the interior chamber and the regions surrounding the thermal shield of up to about 40 psi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Thermal Shield Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Donald Cota
  • Patent number: 6227095
    Abstract: Migration of Di-Octyl Adipate (DOA) from PBXN-9 main charge into an adjacent PBXN-5 booster charge is the leading cause for unreliable and inefficient detonations when these two insensitive munition explosives are in close proximity. A hermetic seal of metal foil is interposed between the booster and main charges to block migration of DOA chemicals between the charges. This prevents plasticizing and/or desensitizing the booster charge and possible catastrophic accidental detonations or highly undesirable explosive desensitization which might create unexploded ordnance. The hermetic seal may also have a first portion of metal foil covering the surface of a bore in the booster charge and second portions of metal foil covering the surface of bores in the main charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert Woodall, Felipe Garcia, Gilberto Irizarry
  • Patent number: 6195866
    Abstract: A method for making an 8-shaped hole in a bimetallic sleeve, including the steps of preparing two bimetallic tubes, each tube having substantially the same dimension; and also preparing a rear sleeve part, and a front sleeve part; fixing each tube with a plurality of clamping blocks having openings on one side; moving each clamped bimetal tube to a thread cut machine, adjusting the spindle of the thread cut machine to move parallel to the openings on one side of the clamping blocks, and then cutting the clamped tube to form a tube of C-shaped cross section; detaching said tube of C-shaped cross section from said plurality of clamping blocks, and clamping two of said tube of C-shaped cross section together with two fixtures having an 8-shaped cross section; applying spot welding at joints of said two tubes of C-shaped cross section for 6-8 spots to form an 8-shaped hole bushing, and then detaching said two fixtures of 8-shaped cross section; heating the rear sleeve part in a heating furnace for 3-5 hours to re
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Nan Ya Plastics Corporation
    Inventor: Shin-Fa Chang
  • Patent number: 6144888
    Abstract: An architecture and electric system for controlling various devices is disclosed. The system uses modular, interchangeable components that can perform one or several tasks, such as interacting with a human user, controlling an external device, communicating and managing communications between several modules, storing and retrieving information, and acting as a master module. The modules are stackable and can interface with any other module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Maya Design Group
    Inventors: Peter Lucas, Jeffrey Senn, Joseph Ballay, Noah Guyot
  • Patent number: 6101714
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a catalytic converter for purifying exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine wherein the converter exhibits a monolithic ceramic substrate surrounded by a supporting mat. The method includes the steps of: wrapping the substrate in a sufficient amount of supporting mat material and inserting the wrapped substrate into the metal shell; forming a cylindrical metal shell having an inner surface exhibiting substantially the same curvature as the wrapped substrate; compressively closing the metal shell around the wrapped substrate to an optimized mat density range thereby resulting in the supporting mat exhibiting a substantially uniform and maximum safe compressive stress on the substrate; and, securing together metal shell to provide a gas tight seal and to hold the compressive stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Paul S. Schmitt
  • Patent number: 6094796
    Abstract: A manufacturing process includes mitering each end of a central member and mitering a single end of each of two end members formed, along with the central member, from a single piece of extruded stock having an inner surface including upper and lower attachment slots and an outer surface including upper and lower trim receiving slots. An "L"-shaped corner bracket is placed to extend within the upper and lower attachment slots at each end of the central member and between such slots at the mitered ends of the end members. A heat forming process is then applied to form corners of a decorative trim strip which is then placed to extend between the upper and lower trim receiving slots of the end members and the central members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Inventor: Michael Julius Biro
  • Patent number: 6061907
    Abstract: A housing for differential mechanism is formed in two pieces using a cold flow-forming process. Each of the housing portions is formed with an internal hemispherical surface, and semi-circular recesses, which when aligned form circular recesses within which a pinion shaft is seated. A subassembly that includes the pinion shaft, pinion gears, side bevel gears, and a thin plastic liner surrounding the subassembly is located within a lower housing portion so that the pinion shaft is seated in the recesses. The upper housing portion is inserted within the upper portion and welded. A ring gear is joined to a housing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Balacan Victoria, Kenneth H Goff, Jr., Lawrence Jensen Budge, Joseph A. Szuba, Christian Peter Schmitz
  • Patent number: 6050330
    Abstract: The invention discloses the manufacture of a metal tank comprising the following steps: coating a strip of sheet steel with a thermally adhesive polymer based layer, preparing segments provided with assembly zones from the blanks of the said coated sheet, assembling the said segments at the assembly zones, consolidating the assembly by cold mechanical assembling means and heating to activate bonding of the polymer layers in contact at the assembly zones. The invention is useful in particular for manufacturing fuel tanks and heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Sollac
    Inventors: Francis Schmit, Michel Sanadres
  • Patent number: 5996205
    Abstract: In the method for manufacturing a pipe with a partition, a flat plate is molded such that a pair of semidivided cylindrical portions are arranged in parallel to each other through a connecting portion, a U-shaped partition forming portion is so formed in the pair of semidivided cylindrical portions as to project inwardly thereof, and the partition forming portion is compressed from the two sides thereof to thereby form a semidivided partition portion. The connecting portion situated between the partition forming portion is cut to thereby form an escape hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Calsonic Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Mashiko, Michito Saito
  • Patent number: 5966794
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing split crucible pieces of a multiple-piece crucible comprising an integral assembly of two or more split crucible pieces and having a spherical bottom inner surface. The split crucible pieces are manufactured from a work mass graphite material by mechanical processing, comprising a step of forming a blind annular groove coaxial with the work by cutting the work from an end thereof toward the other end, a step of axially splitting the work into two or more pieces, constituting eventual split crucible pieces, and a step of cutting each split crucible piece from the side thereof opposite the sector-like or polygonal profile surface side by using a spherical acutting means, thereby forming a spherical inner bottom surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Nippon Carbon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Susumu Ishizaka, Saburou Tanaka, Tadayoshi Kouno
  • Patent number: RE36544
    Abstract: The closing of tubular casings containing foodstuffs by mounting a binder on a constriction of the casing involves the traditional problem of a high waste percentage due to the binders either damaging the casing material or sliding off the constriction. A method and a binder are proposed which makes it possible to obtain a very strong clamping of the binder without damaging the casing material, and, in connection with tight plastic casings, it is even possible to provide a "super tight" closure, by ranging the constriction with an oblong cross section between opposed straight clamping beams, which are forced together so as to produce a controlled deformation flowing of the casing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Tamaco Pac A/S
    Inventors: Erik Madsen, Flemming Kroman