Associating Parts By Use Of Aligning Means (e.g., Use Of A Drift Pin Or A "fixture") Patents (Class 29/464)
  • Patent number: 11859507
    Abstract: A method and system for aligning a component within a turbine casing, and a related turbine casing. In a top-on position, a location of an optical target and another, vertically spaced optical target on the joint flange are measured. After removing at least the upper casing, the optical targets' locations are measured again, and the locations of a pair of reference points on an upper surface of the horizontal joint flange are measured. A prediction offset value is calculated for the component support position in the top-on position based on the locations. The prediction offset value may include a vertical adjustment based, in part, on a translation of a triangular spatial relationship of a number of the reference points and/or a tilt angle, a horizontal adjustment, and a horizontal joint flange surface distortion adjustment. Support position is adjusted by the prediction offset value to improve alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Krzysztof Andrzej Woszczak, William Patrick Rusch, Samuel Nathan Merrill, Ejiro Anthony Oruaga, David John Nelmes, Justyna Ludwika Wojdylo, John Francis Nolan
  • Patent number: 11802622
    Abstract: A shaft seal, in particular a radial shaft seal, has a seal element that is provided with a seal section that under elastic deformation contacts the outer side of a mounting sleeve. The shaft seal has a grease ring located on the mounting sleeve wherein the grease ring is arranged axially adjacent to the free end of the seal section on the mounting sleeve. For installation, grease ring and seal section are pushed by a mounting tool onto the shaft and the seal section on the shaft is pushed onto the grease ring in such a way that the grease of the grease ring is distributed between the seal section and the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: KACO GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Dieter Meister, Peter Wagner
  • Patent number: 11685030
    Abstract: A cylindrical shaft seal packaging sleeve that is inserted in a shaft seal an inner peripheral surface of which slidably contacts with a rotation shaft includes an insertion end portion that is inserted in the shaft seal and a mounting end portion having a larger outer diameter than that of the insertion end portion, a chamfered portion is formed in each of the insertion end portion and the mounting end portion and a step portion having a larger outer diameter than that of the chamfered portion is provided in an axial deeper side than the chamfered portion, and a minimum diameter of the step portion in the insertion end portion is smaller than a minimum diameter of the shaft seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI CABLE INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Nobukazu Fujii
  • Patent number: 11305391
    Abstract: A zero-positioning mechanism of a metalworking machine contains: a base, a locking jig, and a pneumatic cylinder. The base includes at least one installation area. The locking jig includes a body, a slider assembly, and a fixing plate. The pneumatic cylinder includes the piston and a push unit. The body includes a through orifice, the slider assembly includes two pushers and four sliders. A respective pusher has a lower fringe, two beveled fringes, and multiple receiving orifices. A respective receiving orifice is configured to accommodate a respective one of multiple resilient elements. A respective slider is arranged on the respective beveled fringe of the respective pusher and has a conical positioning portion. The fixing plate includes a first face and a second face. The first face has multiple coupling apertures and four locking apertures, and the second face has a groove with multiple chutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: YUE DAR INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Po-Shen Chen, Ju-Tan Chen
  • Patent number: 11130220
    Abstract: An apparatus for installation of a door checker is provided. The apparatus includes a handle, an actuator coupled to the handle, and a hook member having a first end coupled to the actuator and a second end configured to engage with a bolt-hole of a door checker. The actuator includes a body, a push mechanism coupled to the body, a pin member at least partially disposed within the body and coupled to the push mechanism, and a locking element radially disposed within the pin member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Benjamin B. MacArthur, Benjamin DeBoer, Stuart Snape
  • Patent number: 11117755
    Abstract: There is provided an electronic component handler for transporting an electronic component, the handler including a shuttle having a placement surface on which the electronic component is placed and moving from a first position to a second position, and a positioning unit provided in the shuttle and positioning the electronic component by coming into contact with the electronic component placed on the placement surface, in which the positioning unit has a first positioning member and a second positioning member that are driven to move or rotate with respect to the shuttle, when the shuttle is located at the first position, the electronic component is placed on the placement surface, and a distance between the first positioning member and the second positioning member when the shuttle is located at the first position is longer than a distance between the first positioning member and the second positioning member when the shuttle is located at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: NS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Fuyumi Takata, Noriaki Kotani
  • Patent number: 10969733
    Abstract: A rotational force is transmitted to a main assembly side feeding member for feeding the toner into a main assembly side toner accommodating portion from a coupling member provided on a cartridge. The cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a discharge opening configured to discharge the toner removed from the photosensitive drum toward the main assembly side feeding member, and a coupling member configured to transmit the rotational force to the main assembly side feeding member. The coupling member is movable between a first position for transmitting the rotational force to the main assembly side feeding member and a second position retracted from the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akinobu Hirayama, Takahito Ueno, Toshiaki Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 10953459
    Abstract: A riveting apparatus (1) is for the application and riveting a rivet (6) to a component (2, 4) of an article (1a, 1b) being processed in a work region (96) of the apparatus. The riveting apparatus includes a rivet insertion device (30) for the insertion of the rivet into the component and a riveting device (40) for the riveting of the rivet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: COSBERG S.p.A.
    Inventor: Gianluigi Carlo Viscardi
  • Patent number: 10930533
    Abstract: Described herein is a technique capable of capable of managing a substrate processing apparatus efficiently. According to one aspect of the technique described herein, there is provided a substrate processing apparatus including: a process chamber where a substrate is processed; a position information acquisition part configured to acquire position information of the process chamber; a memory device configured to store the position information; and an information controller configured to cause the position information acquired by the position information acquisition part to be stored in the memory device and the position information stored in the memory device to be outputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Mizuguchi, Naofumi Ohashi, Tadashi Takasaki, Shun Matsui
  • Patent number: 10906157
    Abstract: A tooling assembly is provided, for use with a panel defining a tool-side surface and the tool-side surface defining a profile. The tooling assembly includes a base, a plurality of support members fixedly attached to the base, a plurality of frames, and a securing system. The frames each define an upper surface, where each support member is releasably coupled to a corresponding frame by a fastening system. The upper surfaces of the frames are each shaped to correspond with a portion of the profile of the tool-side surface of the panel. The securing system is for providing a suction force configured to releasably secure the panel against the upper surface of the frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Olberg, Daniel J. Perron, Shane E. Arthur
  • Patent number: 10888948
    Abstract: A method for joining at least two structural parts includes a fitting step in which a joining element is driven into the first structural part while a residual material thickness is maintained, and a joining step in which the joining element driven into the first structural part is connected to the second structural part. The joining element has a hollow element shaft, which is driven into the first structural part, and an element head, which is welded or adhesively bonded to the second structural part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Christian Kotschote, Christian Neudel, Carsten Bär
  • Patent number: 10850285
    Abstract: Implementations of a garbage disposal assembly apparatus are provided. In some implementations, the garbage disposal assembly apparatus comprises a top part, an elongated member, a handle, and a support member. In some implementations, a method of using the garbage disposal assembly apparatus comprises installing a garbage disposal assembly to a sink using the garbage disposal assembly apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Inventor: Anthony Pruitt
  • Patent number: 10763475
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a battery carrier for at least one electric battery module in a vehicle, comprising: a hollow profile base configured to receive the electric battery module, wherein the hollow profile base has a plurality of hollow channels configured to allow fluid to pass through to control the temperature of the electric battery module; and a hollow profile side wall that laterally bounds the hollow profile base, wherein a fluid-distributing structure configured to distribute fluid to the hollow channels is formed in the hollow profile side wall, wherein the fluid-distributing structures configured to be fluidically connected to the plurality of hollow channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Harald Krenzer, Thomas Olfermann
  • Patent number: 10655609
    Abstract: A method and associated system are provided for removing a drive train component, such as a gearbox, from a rotor shaft uptower in a wind turbine, wherein the component is supported by transversely extending mounting arms at mount locations on the wind turbine frame. The drive train component is supported from above or below and the mount locations. At each mount location, a removal fixture is installed that includes an actuator that moves linearly essentially parallel to the rotor shaft. The mounting arms are simultaneously engaged with the respective actuators, which are controlled to linearly push the mounting arms until the drive train component disengages from the rotor shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Paul Signore, Michael R. Johnson, Gaylon Mitchell Pfeiffer, Gregory Clarence Thomas
  • Patent number: 10550728
    Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly for the removal, transportation and maintenance of an aircraft turbine engine (10) on a maintenance trolley (34), comprising a turbine engine (10) comprising an upper means (14) for attaching the housing (16) of the turbine engine (10) to the aircraft and a first lower means (20) dedicated to transportation for attaching the housing (16) of the turbine engine (10), a maintenance trolley (34), and a member (32) comprising a means for attaching said member (34) to the housing (16) and at least one means for support and articulation of said member (32) and of the turbine engine (10) on the trolley (34), allowing the turbine engine (10) to pivot to the vertical; characterised in that the member comprises a first attachment means designed to engage with the upper means (14), a second attachment means designed to engage with the first lower means (20), and a pivot means forming the support and articulation means engaging with a complementary receiving means (44) of the trolley (
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Alexandre Dervaux, Yves Roland Crochemore, Franck Dubreucq, Thibaud Mangin
  • Patent number: 10486943
    Abstract: A method for installing a guide rail of an elevator installation arranged in an elevator shaft, wherein the guide rail includes a multiplicity of guide-rail segments that are aligned and arranged in a row one beside the other, includes the following steps: fixing an aligning element in the elevator shaft at a first point in relation to an aligned and fastened first one of the guide-rail segments, wherein the first point is positioned on a route provided by horizontally directed parallel displacement of the route formed by the first guide-rail segment; fixing the aligning element at a second point, in the form of a reference point, in the elevator shaft, an aligning-element portion for aligning a second one of the guide-rail segments therefore being formed between the first and the second points; and aligning the second guide-rail segment relative to the aligning-element portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventors: Urs Püntener, Stefan Buntschu
  • Patent number: 10424851
    Abstract: A terminal mounting structure includes a plurality of receive-side terminals, each of which extends from a distal end of each of electrical leads, a mounting stand that includes an electrically-insulating base and a plurality of supply-side conductive bars that are disposed at intervals and extend so as to pass through the base, a plurality of screws, each of which passes through the receive-side terminal in a direction crossing an extending direction of the receive-side terminal, each of which is screwed into a screw hole formed at an end part of the supply-side conductive bar so as to cause each of the receive-side terminals to contact each of the supply-side conductive bars and to fix each of the receive-side terminals to each of the supply-side conductive bars, and a contact prevention mechanism that is provided in the mounting stand so as to prevent adjacent receive-side terminals from contacting with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiro Tamura, Takanori Ishikawa, Shinya Taikou
  • Patent number: 10406876
    Abstract: A protective sealing plug system for towing hitch receivers is provided having a main body for fittingly engaging within the cavity of a towing hitch receiver. The body is formed of a series of aligned segments each formed of a resilient or flexible material that retain oils or other corrosion inhibiting substances and hold them in place against the inside of the female receiver tube. A mechanism for urging the flexible material to compress slightly and, in the process, each segment expands slightly to allow engagement within the hitch receiver in a manner that both prevents access by outside elements, but also prevents egress of the main body from the hitch receiver until desired by the user. When installed in the female hitch receiver, the expansion of the resilient body will seal the female receiver tube and prevent the ingress of water, dirt or other damaging elements. Retraction of the resilient body will cause the flexible body to retract, allowing removal from the receiver hitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Inventor: Steven Hugh Porath
  • Patent number: 10388307
    Abstract: A recording head has a magnetic write transducer proximate a side of a plasmonic gap waveguide. The magnetic write transducer has a first write pole section that tapers in a crosstrack direction and downtrack direction to form a tapered tip. The first write pole section includes a high-moment, seed layer on one side. A second write pole section is coupled to the first write pole section. The second write pole section extends a second distance away from the media-facing surface less than that of the first write pole section. A tip of the second write pole section is tapered in the crosstrack and downtrack directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Simon Bance, Choon How Gan, Mark Anthony Gubbins
  • Patent number: 10342605
    Abstract: A method of forming a jaw member of an end effector includes providing a metal support base; engaging a plurality of ceramic stops to the metal support base; and coupling an insulative plate and a sealing plate to the metal support base by aligning the plurality of ceramic stops through a plurality of openings defined in the insulative plate and a plurality of openings defined in the sealing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventors: John J. Kappus, David N. Heard, William Scott Darrow
  • Patent number: 10278623
    Abstract: Sleeves and cases for protecting medical devices against contamination, and methods for cleaning and disinfecting medical devices are provided. The various embodiments enable a single medical device to be used by more than one patient successively while reducing the risk of disease transmission from patient to patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: DexCom, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Polytaridis, David J. Carner, Jacob S. Leach, Christina Orsini
  • Patent number: 10222832
    Abstract: A method for adhering a film to a touch pad includes adhering a fixing bracket to a back surface of a touch pad, and aligning a plurality of screw holes of the fixing bracket with a plurality of the screw holes of a front cover of a system body, respectively, and connecting the fixing bracket and the front cover of the system body using screws or bolts that engage the screw holes. A positioning wall of a positioning frame is inserted into a gap between the touch pad and the front cover of the system body from a front surface of the touch pad. A film is aligned with an opening of the positioning frame, and the film is adhered to the front surface of the touch pad. The positioning frame is removed from the front surface of the touch pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Quanta Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Chung-Kai Chen, Chen Tseng
  • Patent number: 10168180
    Abstract: An electronic display instrument configured to secure in a desired position over multiple pre-existing instrument holes in a dashboard of an aircraft in place of multiple conventional display instruments, each conventional instrument having a conventional readout. The instrument comprises a display screen having a plurality of readouts corresponding to the conventional readouts of the multiple conventional instruments that the electronic display instrument replaces. The instrument further includes a body having a front and a back opposite the front and a top and a bottom opposite the top. The body is positioned adjacent and connected to the display screen. The instrument also includes an electronics module protruding from the back of the body to position in one of the pre-existing instrument holes in the dashboard panel of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Aspen Avionics, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Bethel
  • Patent number: 10167941
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a crankshaft damper cover for a crankshaft damper of a crankshaft in an engine. In one example, a crankshaft damper cover shaped to fit within a cavity of a crankshaft damper and including an inset and an annular ring embedded within the inset, where the annular ring includes tabs adapted to mate with an inner surface of the crankshaft damper. As one example, the inset may be comprised of a damping material, such as plastic or foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chuck Raymond Kvasnicka, Shaji Mathews, Nathaniel David Hansen, Tom Xu, Shashin Shah
  • Patent number: 10132126
    Abstract: A modular top drive for construction of a wellbore includes a rail for connection to at least one of: a floor and a derrick of a drilling rig; and a motor unit. The motor unit includes: a first body; a drive motor having a stator connected to the first body; a trolley connecting the first body to the rail; and a first latch for selectively connecting either a drilling unit or a casing unit to the motor unit. The top drive further includes a bracket for holding any one of the drilling, casing, and cementing units and movable relative to the rail between a standby position and a connection position. The unit held by the bracket is aligned with the motor unit in the connection position and clear of the motor unit in the standby position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Martin Helms, Benson Thomas, Martin Liess, Christian Kiess
  • Patent number: 10052898
    Abstract: A locating pin that is configured to be connected to a dockable member in a printer includes a shaft, first and second ends, and a conical member. The first end has a surface forming a partial ellipsoid and the conical member has a base aligned with the surface of the first end and a tip extending from the surface of the first end. The shaft is configured to engage the dockable member along a portion of the shaft between the second end and the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen B. Williams, Joseph M. Ferrara, Jr., Annie Liu
  • Patent number: 9962114
    Abstract: Sleeves and cases for protecting medical devices against contamination, and methods for cleaning and disinfecting medical devices are provided. The various embodiments enable a single medical device to be used by more than one patient successively while reducing the risk of disease transmission from patient to patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: DexCom, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Polytaridis, David J. Carner, Jacob S. Leach, Christina Orsini
  • Patent number: 9872696
    Abstract: A battery-powered, modular surgical device includes an electrically powered surgical instrument operable to surgically interface with human tissue and a handle assembly connected to the surgical instrument. The handle assembly has a removable hand grip and a handle body. The hand grip is shaped to permit handling of the surgical device by one hand of an operator, has an upper portion and a cordless internal battery assembly that powers the surgical instrument. The internal battery assembly has at least one energy storage cell. The handle body is operable to removably connect at least the upper portion of the hand grip thereto and create an aseptic seal around at least a portion of the hand grip when connected thereto and electrically couple the internal battery assembly of the hand grip to the surgical instrument and thereby power the surgical instrument for interfacing surgically with the human tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: COVIDIEN AG
    Inventors: Kevin W. Smith, Thomas O. Bales, Matthew A. Palmer, Derek Dee Deville
  • Patent number: 9859769
    Abstract: An end plate for an electric machine includes: a bearing receptacle in which a magnetic bearing which is configured for rotatably mounting a rotor of the electric machine can be accommodated; and a radially outwardly pointing circumferential contour on which a number of at least three supporting elements are provided, which supporting elements each protrude radially beyond the circumferential contour by a determined protruding amount, with the result that the supporting elements define a discontinuous external circumferential contour of the end plate. The respective protruding amounts of the support elements are dimensioned such that the end plate can be fitted in by making a center of the magnetic bearing correspond to at least one of a geometric longitudinal axis of the electric machine and a magnetic longitudinal axis of the electric machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: MAN Diesel & Turbo SE
    Inventors: Gino Kabs, George Kleynhans, Markus Dettwyler, Marcel Vetter
  • Patent number: 9835343
    Abstract: A system for controlling ambient temperatures of exposed structures using phase change materials and/or tempered liquid delivery systems. Phase change materials may be fabricated to hold the surrounding temperature at a desired temperature, such as 70 degrees Fahrenheit/21 degrees Celsius. As the heat load rises above this desired temperature, the heat is absorbed into the phase change material until that material has completely transitioned through its phase change, after which it will no longer absorb heat load. As the temperature then cools off at night, the heat is released from the phase change material, and the material changes back into its original phase. Phase change material may be placed within or on the exterior of stadium chairs. A liquid piping system may also be used to provide ambient heat control, including liquid piping for piping temperature-controlled liquid throughout the stadium while preventing condensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Henderson Engineers, Inc.
    Inventors: Dustin W. Schafer, Phillip G. Miller
  • Patent number: 9828083
    Abstract: A method for wing-to-fuselage integration is disclosed. The method includes attaching a fitting to a wing box assembly of an aircraft at an early stage of integration and then attaching the fitting to a stub beam attached to a fuselage panel of the aircraft at a later stage of integration. The fitting eliminates the need to attach the stub beam directly to the wing box assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Charles B. Lockin, Marcus A. Erickson, Oladele A. Adedeji, Kevin R. Puzey
  • Patent number: 9822560
    Abstract: An alignment tool for use with a vehicle having a door moveably secured to a door frame and a door latch assembly defined on the door includes a body having a front surface and a rear surface and a through-hole extending through the body that is sized and configured to receive a striker pin of a vehicle. A first end surface defined on the body is configured to engage the door frame to set a cross-car position of the striker pin. A latch-engaging assembly is engageable with a portion of the door latch assembly to set a vertical position of the striker pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: PACCAR Inc
    Inventors: Jonathan F. Wilkens, Mathew J. Freiheit
  • Patent number: 9590263
    Abstract: A system and method for aligning and reducing the relative movement between adjacent fuel cells within a fuel cell stack. The inter-cell cooperation between fuel cells along a stacking dimension is enhanced by one or more datum placed along the edge of a bipolar plate that makes up a part of a cell-containing assembly. The datum is shaped along a thickness dimension that substantially coincides with the cell stacking dimension to promote a nested fit with a comparable datum on an adjacently-stacked bipolar plate. This nesting facilitates an interference fit that enhances the resistance to sliding movement between respective cells that may otherwise arise out of the occurrence of a significant acceleration along the dimension that defines the major surfaces of the plates, cells and their respective assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David A. Martinchek, Robert C. Thompson, Martin Heinzmann
  • Patent number: 9567915
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a pump control module and a fuel vaporization module. The pump control module controls a first pump to deliver fuel from a fuel tank to a second pump through a fuel line. The pump control module controls the second pump to pressurize fuel from the fuel line and to deliver the pressurized fuel to a fuel rail. The fuel vaporization module determines whether fuel at an inlet of the second pump is vaporizing based on an engine operating condition. The pump control module increases an output of the first pump when fuel at the inlet of the second pump is vaporizing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Rafat F. Hattar, Brian L. O'Hear, Phillip J. Baranek, Richard R. Shippy
  • Patent number: 9523328
    Abstract: An assembly method is provided by orienting a cylinder-head at a first orientation. A first plurality of spring caps and a first plurality of retainer keys are installed into the cylinder-head in the first orientation by a first robot. A first plurality of valves is installed into the cylinder-head in the first orientation by a second robot, into engagement with the first plurality of retainer keys. An end effector is provided with an actuator supported upon an adapter plate. A shaft extends from the actuator with a mating surface to engage a spring cap. Porting is provided through the shaft to convey pressurized air upon a plurality of retainer keys within the spring cap. A plurality of gripper fingers extend from the distal end of the shaft to grip a valve spring while retaining a spring cap between the valve spring and the mating surface of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC, ABB Technologies AG
    Inventors: Alexander Marrocco, Harry Kekedjian, Isaac Zolotarev, Arnold Bell, Michael Manuszak
  • Patent number: 9408669
    Abstract: Various exemplary drive apparatuses and associated methods are disclosed for driving an elongated member, e.g., a catheter, sheath, or guidewire. An exemplary drive apparatus may include a first component and a moveable component, each configured to selectively grip the elongated member. In some examples, the first and moveable components may each include a gripping device. The moveable component may be configured to selectively move axially and rotationally with respect to a support surface to effect axial movement and rotation movement, respectively, of the elongated member with respect to the support surface within a range of motion of the moveable component. The moveable component may be configured to move the elongated member across a predetermined movement having a magnitude greater than the range of motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: HANSEN MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Arkady Kokish, J. Scot Hart, Alan Yu, Enrique Romo
  • Patent number: 9375065
    Abstract: Sleeves and cases for protecting medical devices against contamination, and methods for cleaning and disinfecting medical devices are provided. The various embodiments enable a single medical device to be used by more than one patient successively while reducing the risk of disease transmission from patient to patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: DexCom, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Polytaridis, David J. Carner, Jacob S. Leach, Christina Orsini
  • Patent number: 9321385
    Abstract: Hungry boards, or spill boards, for mounting about a tip truck load carrying body are formed with a pair of spaced apart vertical bores corresponding to and depending downward from the access cutouts. Vertical bores formed through the hungry board receive the threaded end of an anchor bolt which is welded to lip of the body. The anchor bolt comprises part of a resilient fastening system for attachment of the hungry board the anchor bolt is formed with a flat foot from which a shank extends. The shank terminates upwardly in a threaded upper end. A compression spring is located about the shank and arranged to absorb impact forces directed at the hungry board during use. The hungry boards are made of a light weight resilient material such as a tough synthetic rubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: FSP MINING COMPONENTS PTY LTD
    Inventor: Richard Annetts
  • Patent number: 9250150
    Abstract: A turbocharger wheel balance-test jig including a base, a clamp mechanism, and an arm. The arm extends along an axis of rotation. The clamp mechanism includes an actuator actuatable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the locked position rigidly holding the arm with respect to the base. The clamp mechanism includes a stop configured to restrict rotation of the arm around the axis of rotation. In a method for acceptance testing an imbalance level of a turbocharger wheel, an imbalance level of the balance-test jig is measured, and subtracted from a plurality of measurements of a combined imbalance level of the turbocharger wheel balance-test jig and the turbocharger wheel. An estimated indicator of turbocharger wheel imbalance is then formed, and the turbocharger wheel is accepted or rejected based upon whether the estimated indicator of the turbocharger wheel imbalance is within an acceptable indicator range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Park, Dominique Armand, Francis N. Rivot, Gerard H. Dieudonne
  • Patent number: 9080699
    Abstract: A connecting device for mating and connection on the sea bed of first and second pipelines having first and second pipe ends at the connection point, is shown. The connecting device includes a first connecting part retaining the first end; a second submersible connecting part retaining the second end and a connector arranged between the connecting parts for final connection between the pipe ends. A guiding device engages with a guiding structure during a lowering motion of the second connecting part towards the first connecting part and pivots the second connecting part into coarse alignment of the second pipe end in a direction towards the first pipe end such that the first and second pipelines are brought to align with each other. An adjacent ramp structure with abutment surfaces and a guiding mechanism cooperate with the second connecting part and contribute to fine alignment of the pipe ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: AKER SUBSEA AS
    Inventor: Johan Larsson
  • Patent number: 9068945
    Abstract: To provide a surface plasmon-field enhanced fluorescence spectroscopic measurement method and a surface plasmon-field enhanced fluorescence spectroscopic measurement device which are capable of accurately measuring a fluorescent signal regardless of the type of a light detection means even when the concentration of an analyte is high by adjusting the dynamic range of the SPFS device. A surface plasmon-field enhanced fluorescence stereoscopic measurement method wherein an analyte labeled with a fluorescent substance is excited by surface plasmon light generated by applying excitation light to a metallic thin film, and generated fluorescence is received by a light detection means to thereby detect the analyte. The dynamic range is expanded by adjusting the amount of the fluorescence received by the light detection means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Naoki Hikage, Masataka Matsuo, Takatoshi Kaya
  • Publication number: 20150143688
    Abstract: A catheter is provided for medical ultrasound imaging that can be effectively used in combination with other imaging modalities to detect medical structures of interest as well as the catheter. Markers are added to the catheter with precision, which provides a means to merge the images from different modalities. Using a template, apertures for marker placement are formed in the catheter after creating the catheter housing. The ultrasound array may be used for accurate positioning of the template. Alternatively or additionally, a rigid insert with markers connects with the array. The insert holds the markers in place and may reduce artifacts in ultrasound scanning due to flexing of the array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Lex J. Garbini, Wilko Gerwin Wilkening, Ricardo Espinosa
  • Publication number: 20150144581
    Abstract: Devices and methods for displaying beauty and other visual products are disclosed. A display system can comprise a frame and a sample portion. Traits such as color and texture of a beauty product can be displayed on the sample portion, and the frame portion can interface with product shelving to align samples with relevant products in the display. The sample portion can be releasably attached to the frame to be removed by a user and be placed above a body part of the user to which a beauty product may be applied, or a body part can be placed in proximity to the sample portion even while it is attached to the frame. The user can advantageously view the beauty product as applied to the body part without applying the beauty product. The system is useful for fingernail polish display, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Richard Allen Ports, Rodney Bennett Miller, Jason Rockford Wheaton
  • Publication number: 20150135535
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine fan stand (40) comprising a base frame (42) and a fan case frame (44) coupled together at one edge by a hinge (46). The fan case frame (44) is arranged to: rotate about the hinge (46) between abutting the base frame (42) and substantially perpendicular thereto; and tilt about a yaw axis (52) perpendicular to the hinge (46) and in the plane of the fan case frame (44). The fan case frame (44) further comprising a coupling arrangement (56) arranged to rotate about a roll axis (60) and to couple a fan case (36) to the fan case frame (44). A gas turbine engine stand assembly (68) comprising a fan stand (40) and a core stand (38). A method of splitting a gas turbine engine (10) and a method of reassembling a gas turbine engine (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Christopher Richard HALLAM, Jonathan Paul TAYLOR
  • Publication number: 20150135659
    Abstract: The present application provides a filtration system for a gas turbine engine. The filtration system may include a holding frame with a positioning element extending therefrom and a filtration unit for mounting within the holding frame. The filtration unit may include a positioning slot therein such that the positioning element extends through the positioning slot when the filtration unit is mounted within the holding frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Etienne Rene Pascal Jarrier, William Keith Eyers, Peter John Duncan Smith, Richard Paul Steele
  • Publication number: 20150128403
    Abstract: The apparatus comprises a stationary first part, a movable second part, and a link arm mechanism connecting the first part and the second part. The first and the second link arm are interconnected with a fifth articulated joint. First ends of the link arms are connected with articulated joints movably on the first part. Second ends of the link arms are connected with articulated joints on the second part. The second part is moved with a first actuator in a first direction, with a second actuator in a third direction and with a third actuator in a fourth angular direction around the fourth articulated joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peetu VALKAMA, Harri MÄKINEN, Osmo BJÖRNI
  • Publication number: 20150129728
    Abstract: A bracket that includes a main body portion having a first portion and a second portion that form a first angle therebetween. The first portion includes opposing front and rear surfaces and the second portion includes opposing upper and lower surfaces. The first portion includes a fastener opening defined therethrough, the second portion includes an insert feature extending from the lower surface, and the second portion includes at least one adhesive opening defined therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Darmo Tandjung, Tyler Smithson
  • Publication number: 20150131957
    Abstract: A cable supporting device includes a first support and a second support. The first and second supports have respective first and second channel members with an inwardly facing opening. The channel members support and retain a cable or fiber optic component, for example a fiber optic cable or drop wire. The supports may be used in an enclosure or suspended from an aerial transmission line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Kyle Bradford Gilbreath, Joseph Forrester, Joshua Charles Wilson
  • Patent number: 9027222
    Abstract: A lens assembly method for assembling a plurality of lenses into a plurality of lens tubes is disclosed. The method includes providing a lens assembly tool comprising a lens receiving frame, a positioning plate, and a pressing plate forming a plurality of pressing punches; positioning a plurality of lens tubes in a plurality of receiving holes of the lens receiving frame; positioning one lens in each of the lens tubes; positioning the positioning plate on the lens receiving frame with the lens tubes extending through a plurality of through holes of the positioning plate; and positioning the pressing plate on the positioning plate with the pressing punches entering into the lens tubes to push the lenses into the lens tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chien-Chun Wang
  • Publication number: 20150122480
    Abstract: A downhole retrieval tool includes a mandrel; an inner sleeve disposed around the mandrel; a plurality of magnets coupled to the inner sleeve; and an outer sleeve disposed around the plurality of magnets, wherein the inner sleeve and the plurality of magnets are rotatable relative to the mandrel. In another aspect, an assembly tool for handling a magnet includes an anchor; a conveyance movable relative to the anchor; and a magnet holder coupled to the conveyance, wherein the magnet holder includes an arm for retaining the magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Michael K. SULLIVAN, Arthur Warren MEEKS