Surface Interlocking Patents (Class 29/521)
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Patent number: 6343773Abstract: A support structure includes first and second support members which are interlocked with a body. The second support member is placed in a die such that a hole of the second support member is located at a predetermined position and the body is placed on the second support member. The first support member is placed on the body such that apertures of the support members and an opening of the body are aligned. A shaping pin is then advanced toward the first support member in alignment with the predetermined position so that a shoulder of the shaping pin extends into the first support member. The shaping pin continues to advance through the first support member until a portion of the body extends past a surface of the second support member, thereby joining the first and second support members and the body together.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 1999Date of Patent: February 5, 2002Assignee: Shop Vac CorporationInventors: Mark E. Baer, Gary C. Berray
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Patent number: 6308396Abstract: A secure enclosure (10) for an automated banking machine includes a chest portion (12) and a moveable door (14). The door is supported on hinge assemblies (20, 22) which enable mounting and accurately positioning the door despite misalignment of the hinges. The chest portion is manufactured from panels (28, 36, 38, 66, 76) which include interengaging projections and recesses. The projections and recesses ensure that the proper panels are used in the assembly of the particular type secure enclosure, as well as that the panels which make up the enclosure are properly oriented.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 1999Date of Patent: October 30, 2001Assignee: Diebold, IncorporatedInventors: Kim R. Lewis, Richard C. Lute, Jeffrey A. Hill, Howard E. Antram
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Patent number: 6306340Abstract: A brake rotor for automotive vehicles can be manufactured by a process that involves designing the rotor as two separate sections, forming each rotor section as a separate powdered metal compact, assembling the metal compacts together in a final configuration, and sintering the assembly to densify and bond the rotor sections into a unitary brake rotor body.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 1999Date of Patent: October 23, 2001Assignee: DaimlerChrysler CorporationInventors: David R. Seifrit, Jr., Maryanne R. Farkas
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Patent number: 6289571Abstract: In a manufacturing of an anti-vibration device comprising, an elastic member 3 of a generally truncated cone shape when viewed from a side, a first mounting member 1 is connected to an upper portion thereof, a second mounting member 2 is connected to a lower portion thereof, a stopper projection 12 projects from the first mounting member 1 to a side portion to be capable to abut a half round side portion of the elastic member 3, and a stopper metal member 35 extends from the second mounting member 2 through an outside of the stopper projection 12 to cover the about half round side portion of the elastic member 3 to the first mounting member 1 side with a stopper receiving portion 36 by bending an apex portion thereof to superpose on the stopper projection 12 with a specified gap. The stopper receiving portion 36 can be formed by caulking or the like after the molding the elastic member 3.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 1998Date of Patent: September 18, 2001Assignee: Yamashita Rubber Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shougo Ozawa, Yuuji Mutou, Toyoji Shimokawa, Kazutoshi Satori
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Patent number: 6279231Abstract: A method for securing the outer ring of the bearing in a runner shell wherein the radius of an edge defining the seat for the bearing varies in a predetermined manner around its circumference, the steps comprising, positioning an outer ring of the bearing in the seat of the runner shell so that the edge of the runner shell overlies a circumferentially extending seating groove in the outer ring, placing a die having a forming face in engagement with the peripheral edge of the runner shell, and deforming by means of a die, the edge of the runner shell seat in a manner to displace essentially the same material around the circumference of the edge into the bearing groove, thereby producing a generally uniform force on the bearing ring around the circumference of the ring which eliminates distortion thereof.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 1999Date of Patent: August 28, 2001Assignee: SKF GmbHInventors: Berthold Beyfuss, Hans-Juergen Friedrich, Peter Horling
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Patent number: 6276040Abstract: An element, for example an element with a hollow body or a bolt element, in particular a nut element, for attachment to a plate-like component, has a ring-shaped recess or annular groove present at an end face of the element facing the component within a raised ring-shaped contact surface. At least one undercut is preferably provided in a side wall of the recess, and also features radial recesses and noses which extend into the ring recess providing security against rotation. A cylindrical punch section or pilot concentric to the central longitudinal axis of the element projects at the said end face within the ring-shaped recess and the outer boundary wall of the cylindrical punch section preferably has ring-shaped undercut.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 1998Date of Patent: August 21, 2001Assignee: Profil Verbindungstechnik, GmbHInventor: Rudolf Müller
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Patent number: 6276044Abstract: A forge/swage formed three dimensional multilayer metal foil shield having areas therein where the layers are in a spaced apart relationship, areas therein where the layers are tensioned or stretched, and areas therein where the layers are compressed and interlocked together by folding, rolling, wrinkling, curling, coiling, crimping and the like. The multilayer metal foil shield is formed by forge/swage shaping in an appropriate mold apparatus a preform of a stack of metal foil layers having gaps between the layers. The gaps are provided by embossments in the layers or by spacers between the layers. The forge formed multilayer metal foil shields have utility as heat shields and acoustic shields, particularly on vehicles. The forge formed multilayer metal foil shields are mounted on automobile underbody areas, such as the bottom of the floor pan of the passenger compartment, to provide heat and sound insulation. Other automotive uses include fire wall, exhaust tunnel, motor mount and exhaust down pipe.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 1998Date of Patent: August 21, 2001Assignee: ATD CorporationInventors: Raymond E. Ragland, Robert S. Timmerberg, Christopher V. Ragland, Matthew S. Remke, Stephen J. Fairchild, G. William Ragland
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Patent number: 6273226Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for assembly of a hydrokinetic torque converter which comprises a hydraulic pump, a turbine, a stator, a driven hub, and a housing that is driven by the output element of an engine of a motor vehicle, and which functions to transmit torque to the hydraulic pump is disclosed. In such a torque converter the housing is coaxial with the pump and the turbine, and further defines an interior chamber, which encloses the turbine as well as a bypass or lockup clutch cooperating with a torsion damper having an input member and an output member.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2000Date of Patent: August 14, 2001Inventors: Rudolf Hönemann, Thomas Heck, Steven Olsen
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Patent number: 6243936Abstract: An outer container having a container insert therein for holding a predetermined volume of material. The outer container includes a container bottom having a periphery and a container wall extending generally upwardly to define an interior container portion of predetermined volume sized to accommodate the container insert. The container wall includes a neck portion complementarily sized to accommodate the exterior surface of the container insert. The container insert includes a bottom having a periphery and a wall extending generally upwardly to define an interior portion of predetermined volume for holding the material. The insert wall-includes a vent which allows air to pass from the interior container portion to the atmosphere when the container insert is positioned therein. For assembly, the outer container is maintained at a temperature greater than the container insert and the container insert is positioned therein.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 1996Date of Patent: June 12, 2001Assignee: Drug Plastics and Glass Company, Inc.Inventors: Lissa B. Biesecker, Glenn J. Forte, Justin P. Boyle, Norris W. Matthews, Michael Faughey
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Patent number: 6240627Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for mechanically joining metal sheets, which lie flat one upon the other, by metal forming, having a tool set comprising at least one punch and one die which bounds a cavity in which the joining operation takes place, it being the case that at least one of these two tool parts can be driven via a driving force, produced by fluid supply, such that the punch displaces sheet-metal material out of a sheet-metal plane, and upsets it, under the action of deformation work, and the driveable tool part has a stop which is moved along with it and limits its penetration depth.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 1999Date of Patent: June 5, 2001Assignee: Eckold AGInventor: Dominik Schneider
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Patent number: 6231944Abstract: A method for making and a thermal, acoustical and/or vibrational shield (1) which has an upper metal foil (2), a lower metal foil (3), and a thermal, acoustical and/or vibrational abatement insulation (4) disposed between the upper foil (2) and the lower foil (3). An upper periphery (5) of the upper foil (2) and a lower periphery (6) of the lower foil (3) are in vertical juxtaposition and totally enclose the insulation. At least one punched section (7) seals the upper periphery (5) to the lower periphery (6). The punched section (7) has a portion of the upper periphery (5) in an upper S-shaped configuration at each side of punched section (7) with upper laterally-extending walls (31), a portion of the lower periphery (6) in a lower S-shaped configuration at each side of punched section (7) with lower laterally-extending walls (33), and a horizontal upper wall (33) and a horizontal lower wall (34) extending, respectively, from the upper S-shaped configurations and the lower S-shaped configurations.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 1999Date of Patent: May 15, 2001Assignee: Lydall, Inc.Inventor: Brent D. Holt
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Patent number: 6221295Abstract: A rebar forming apparatus includes a malleable material supply station for continuously supplying a malleable planar material and a malleable material forming station for forming the malleable material into first and second corresponding shell portions and related rebar products. The apparatus also includes a core pultrusion station and a cladding forming station for respectively forming core and cladding layers. A shell forming station is positioned downstream of the core and cladding forming stations which unites the first and second shell portions to form an outer shell with the core and cladding layers contained therein. The rebar product includes shell portions which are matably configured to form a disposable outer shell over the core and cladding layers. Related reinforcing composite product forming methods also include the use of a removable outer shell.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 1999Date of Patent: April 24, 2001Assignee: Marshall Industries Composites, Inc.Inventors: Mark A. Kaiser, Issam Faza
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Patent number: 6205640Abstract: Two or several overlaying sheet formed members are joined together using an essentially coaxial arrangement of a punch, a die with a die cavity, and an anvil.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 1996Date of Patent: March 27, 2001Assignee: Attexor Equipements S.A.Inventor: Olivier Dubugnon
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Patent number: 6199271Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus and a method for mechanically joining metal sheets, profiles and/or multi-sheet joints lying on top of each other, wherein joining tools are moved by power means towards the parts to be joined and a joint is made between the parts to be joined by the force effect of the joining tools. To make the joining tools easier to handle and widen the range of application for joints, it is proposed to reduce the reaction forces of the joining process by the fact that one joining tool applies the joining force to the joint at an exciting frequency which is above the characteristic frequency of the opposite joining tool, and the mounting of at least one joining tool is isolated from vibrations. The vibration isolation can also be arranged exclusively or in addition in the excited joining tool or the parts to be joined.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 1999Date of Patent: March 13, 2001Inventors: Ortwin Hahn, Volker Schulte
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Patent number: 6192569Abstract: The invention relates to a process for manufacture of a top 1 intended to be attached on a container or a flexible tube 50 and comprising a neck 3 the opening 7 of which is connected by a tearable ring-shaped part 10 to a cover 20 serving as an impervious stopper prior to breaking of the ring-shaped part and then being able to serve for recapping. The cover 20 is extended by a plate 30 the periphery 31 of which has a common axis of symmetry with the tearable ring-shaped part 10 and is provided with at least three lugs 32. The skirt 40 is open at one end; its inner surface 46 is partially cylindrical, its section following the exact shape of the periphery 31, except for the lugs, of the plate 30, and is provided with at least three cavities 41 intended to accommodate said lugs. The skirt is drawn around the plate 30 to the point of immobilization, brought about by the insertion of the lugs 32 on the plate 30 into the cavities 41 of the skirt 40.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 1997Date of Patent: February 27, 2001Assignee: Cebal SAInventors: Bernard Schneider, Jean-Paul Meausoone
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Patent number: 6182344Abstract: A bleacher seat cap installation tool is provided that has a first guide surface that slides along an edge of the seat board of the bleacher seat to be retrofit, and a second guide surface that guides a free end of a bleacher seat cap into position. The tool enables a single installer to install a bleacher seat cap quickly and easily, while avoiding injury or marring of the exterior surface of the bleacher seat cap.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 1999Date of Patent: February 6, 2001Inventor: Robert L. Holland
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Patent number: 6163949Abstract: A method of manufacturing an elongate stack of interlocked laminae in a die assembly. The method includes the steps of stamping a first lamina having generally opposed first and second edges in the strip stock material, stamping at least one first interlock means for engaging another lamina in the first lamina, separating the first lamina from the strip stock material, placing the first lamina into the choke passageway, the first and second edges of the first lamina frictionally engaging the choke passageway, stamping a second lamina having first and second elongate edges in the strip stock material, stamping at least one second interlock means for engaging another lamina in the second lamina, at least partially engaging the first and second interlocking means, separating the second lamina from the strip stock material, placing the second lamina into the choke passageway, and frictionally engaging the choke passageway along the first and second elongate edges of only one of the first and second laminae.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 1999Date of Patent: December 26, 2000Assignee: L.H. Carbide CorporationInventor: Thomas R. Neuenschwander
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Patent number: 6157540Abstract: A bracket support includes a chassis and a bracket movably mounted in the chassis. A locking tab is mounted on the bracket and is movable between an engaged position with the chassis and a released position with the chassis. A door is mounted on a surface of the chassis and is movable between an open position and a closed position. The door includes a tab securing slot. An arm extends from the door. The door urges the locking tab to the engaged position when the door is in the closed position. The arm moves the locking tab to the released position and partially extracts the bracket from the chassis when the door is moved to the open position. The tab securing slot secures the locking tab into the engaged position when the door is in the closed position.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 1998Date of Patent: December 5, 2000Assignee: Dell USA, L.P.Inventors: Richard Eddings, Gilberto Hernandez
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Patent number: 6153029Abstract: A production of tapered bent tube wherein a U-cup with a full opening is pressed to form from a brass plate by a primary mold. The two ends of the full opening of the U-cup are of different calibers. The U-cup is subjected to tempering treatment to eliminate its processing stress. An assembly forming mold is used to punch the fill opening of the U-cup to form a rough shape of tapered bent tube with two different calibers at two ends, and between the two ends with different calibers is a flattened part. The flattened part on the tapered bent tube is removed to form a tapered bent tube; then, the seam of the tapered bent tube is welded and smoothed by roller pressing process, to complete the two ends of different calibers.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 1998Date of Patent: November 28, 2000Inventor: Wei-Fu Lin
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Patent number: 6139974Abstract: A composite panel is formed by bonding together at least two overlying sheets of metal. The method comprises performing a first corrugating operation on each of said sheets, and positioning said sheets in overlying relationship with the corrugations of each sheet extending in a common first direction and the corrugations of each sheet nested into those of the other sheet. The method also comprises performing a second corrugating operation arranged to produce corrugations which extend in a second direction which is inclined at an angle of at least 10.degree. to said first direction. Each sheet is formed into parallel upstanding ridges separated by troughs. The troughs in each sheet are received within the ridges of the other sheet. The troughs have reentrant side walls and the ridges vary in width along their length.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 1999Date of Patent: October 31, 2000Assignee: Federal-Mogul Technology LimitedInventors: Alan William Atkinson, David Richard Bridge, Andrew Timothy Cole
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Patent number: 6108895Abstract: The invention relates to an axially-swaged male end fitting assembly compatible with a standard 24.degree. cone flareless female fitting. The fitting may be fabricated from a sleeve and a tube that are axially swaged within a tool assembly. The sleeve includes a rounded shoulder, a partially conical nose, and a cylindrical inner surface. The inner surface includes a groove at the tip of the nose, and another groove positioned axially close enough to the shoulder to be radially deformed during axial swaging. The tool assembly includes a swaging tool, a female die and a ring die. The female die includes a tapered surface positioned and sized to preset the nose into the tube. The female die also has a surface confronting the sleeve shoulder, for controlling the amount of preset that occurs. The ring die includes a tapered surface positioned and sized to swage the shoulder into the tube.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 1996Date of Patent: August 29, 2000Assignee: The Deutsch CompanyInventor: Charles Warren Helsley, Jr.
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Patent number: 6105234Abstract: There is described a method of producing a flat friction disk, where first of all a sintered friction lining is applied onto a flat steel disk (1) and is then sintered, before the sintered friction lining (2) is compacted and sized by simultaneously pressing grooves (4) into the same. For simplifying the production method it is proposed that upon sizing the friction disk localized recesses (5) should be pressed into the steel disk (1) over its surface through the sintered friction lining (2).Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 1997Date of Patent: August 22, 2000Assignee: Miba Frictec GmbHInventors: Christian Kremsmair, Gerhard Hartner, Johann Hartner, Bruno Burtlmair, Klaus-Peter Lassl
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Patent number: 6058594Abstract: The present invention refers to an electric motor comprising a stator with an internal permanent magnet and a tubular magnetic return sleeve surrounding said permanent magnet whereby an annular air gap is formed therebetween, said magnetic return sleeve being held at its axial and radial positions relative to said permanent magnet by a frame of plastic material injected around these two components and being connected to said permanent magnet by said plastic frame. The present invention aims at improving the manner in which the two structural components are attached to and positioned on one another.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 1999Date of Patent: May 9, 2000Assignee: Interelectric AGInventors: Frank Neumann, Joachim Steffan, Jurgen Mayer
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Patent number: 6053960Abstract: A cored wire continuously formed by continuously inserting an extruded core inside a continuously roll formed sheath, the peripheral edges of the roll formed sheath joined by a continuous lock seam. Inspection of the partially formed lock seam at a designated process step serves to warn the user of malformed or defective lock seam portions in the finished cored wire.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 1997Date of Patent: April 25, 2000Assignee: Minerals Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Phillip Ronald King, Richard Shaddinger Baum
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Patent number: 6047511Abstract: A grid tee of the double web type in which the elements of the web are integrally stitched together to prevent their separation. The stitches are created in an inexpensive rolling process that does not require control of the position of the stitches relative to the ends or other parts of the tee. According to the invention, after the stitches are formed and locked, they are flattened back into the plane of the web to a limited degree where they do not substantially increase the thickness of the web so that they do not interfere with subsequent manufacturing steps or with field assembly.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 1998Date of Patent: April 11, 2000Assignee: USG Interiors, Inc.Inventors: James J. Lehane, Douglas B. Hooper
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Patent number: 6045285Abstract: A reusable refillable binder for use with papers having marginal perforations. The binder including a spiral coil having tapered ends, each of the ends of the coil having an area width for receipt of a removable locking element. A removable locking element for securement to binding element about the area of reduced width to prevent the unintentional unbinding of the binder when secured to the coil and to allow the user to unbind the binder when the locking element is removed.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 1998Date of Patent: April 4, 2000Inventor: Michael N. Friedman
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Patent number: 6035737Abstract: A transmission assembly includes an inner housing member and an outer band member. The outer band member is slidingly received over the outer surface of the inner housing member. An inner surface of the outer band member includes a plurality of notches. After the outer band member is placed in a desired radial and axial alignment with the inner housing member, a plurality of deformations are lanced in the inner housing member. The deformations extend radially outward into the notches formed in the band member. The cooperation between the lanced deformations and the notches maintain the two pieces of the transmission assembly in an desired axial and radial alignment.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 1999Date of Patent: March 14, 2000Assignee: Koppy CorporationInventor: Ronald E. Prater
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Patent number: 6029334Abstract: Improved method and apparatus for interlocking hemmed together edges of inner and outer vehicle body panels with an improved interlock joint. The inner panel blank is draw stamped and provided with PLP holes in a stamping press. A plurality of conventional hardware components are then welded to the inner panel. Then interlock holes are formed by a piercing tool moving through the inner panel border from its outboard to its inboard side while the inner panel is held by clamps and PLP pins. The hole piercing punch thus leaves cold worked upset material slightly raised inboard, rather than outboard, around the pierced interlock hole margin. Then the inner panel subassembly is married to the outer panel and transferred to a hemming station and again precisely clamped and positioned by PLP pins, whereupon hemming press gates are operable for hemming the flange lip of the outer panel over the inner panel border.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 1997Date of Patent: February 29, 2000Assignee: UNOVA IP Corp.Inventor: William R. Hartley
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Patent number: 6003220Abstract: In a method for producing helically wound lock-seam tubing, a metal strip is fed to a forming head in which the tubing is formed. In order to prevent lock-seam slip, a clinching roller device form interlocking spaced deformations on the lock-seam. An apparatus for such production comprises a clinching roller provided with a recess for forming the deformations against a counter roller.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 1997Date of Patent: December 21, 1999Assignee: Protol A. G.Inventor: Kenneth Lennartsson
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Patent number: 6000132Abstract: A method of fabricating a heat sink, including the steps of providing a base plate having a plurality of grooves therein, providing a plurality of blanks each having bell-bottom shaped foot portions on opposite sides thereof, separating each blank into a pair of mirror image heat fin portions, each of the heat fin portions having one of the bell-bottom shaped foot portions and a plurality of tongues projecting therefrom, positioning the heat sink fin portions with the bell-bottom shaped foot portions in respective ones of the grooves of the base plate, and swaging the bell-bottom shaped foot portions into the grooves, thereby creating the heat sink with the tongues projecting from the base plate.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 1997Date of Patent: December 14, 1999Assignee: R-Theta Inc.Inventor: James R. S. Butler
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Patent number: 5984563Abstract: The present invention apparatus for joining sheet material provides a stepped punch (38). This stepped punch (38) serves to strengthen a joint (14) between two or more sheets of material (16 and 18) by creating a stepped segment (122) in at least one of these sheets of material. During formation of this stepped segment (122), material is forcibly displaced toward another segment of material that is outwardly expanded to interlock with the adjacent sheet of material.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 1996Date of Patent: November 16, 1999Assignee: BTM CorporationInventor: Xinrong Wu
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Patent number: 5953809Abstract: A method of joining two dissimilar thickness metallic components includes the steps of: reducing the thickness of a component in a localized area, placing the components adjacent each other, drawing the first component into the localized area and locking the first component into the second component to form a joint.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 1997Date of Patent: September 21, 1999Assignee: Trim Trends, Inc.Inventor: Daniel J. Kowalski
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Patent number: 5937517Abstract: A method of manufacturing a high performance, high fin density heat sink (10) uses extruded first and second base elements having an alternating arrangement of closely spaced fins and recesses for receiving opposing fins. The fins in the first and second base elements are bonded to the recesses formed in the common face of the opposing base element to form the bonded extruded heat sink.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1997Date of Patent: August 17, 1999Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Dean L. Smith, Edmund J. Sobresky, Roger S. Kerr
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Patent number: 5906135Abstract: A transmission assembly includes an inner housing member and an outer band member. The outer band member is slidingly received over the outer surface of the inner housing member. An inner surface of the outer band member includes a plurality of notches. After the outer band member is placed in a desired radial and axial alignment with the inner housing member, a plurality of deformations are lanced in the inner housing member. The deformations extend radially outward into the notches formed in the band member. The cooperation between the lanced deformations and the notches maintain the two pieces of the transmission assembly in an desired axial and radial alignment.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 1997Date of Patent: May 25, 1999Assignee: Koppy CorporationInventor: Ronald E. Prater
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Patent number: 5903967Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a double cylinder body and a manufacturing method thereof which can connect the inside cylinder and the outside cylinder strongly. The stopper 45 is protrudely provided on the outer circumference of one end portion of the inside cylinder 43 which will be a base of the yoke 13 made from iron, the inside cylinder 43 is attached on the outer circumference of the punch 33 on which the swelling portion 34 is fitted. The punch 33 to which the inside cylinder 43 is fitted is press inserted in the void 42 of the outside cylinder 41 from the swelling portion 34 side. The outside cylinder 41 in which the punch 33 and the inside cylinder 43 are press inserted is press inserted in the die 31. The punch 33 is only ejected from the inside cylinder 43 during ironing the inside face of the inside cylinder 43.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 1997Date of Patent: May 18, 1999Assignee: Mitsuba CorporationInventor: Hiroshi Taniguchi
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Patent number: 5873713Abstract: A pair of spaced tubular half-shells are stamped in each of two separate sheets of metal which are then joined at their margins to form two mixer tubes each having an inlet end with a venturi for connection to a fuel gas supply and an outlet end adapted for connection to a burner. The space between the mixer tubes is stamped to form a pair of grooves which lock and seal the sheets together to prevent the fuel/air mixture from leaking from one mixer tube to the other.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 1996Date of Patent: February 23, 1999Inventor: Konrad Osterhues
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Patent number: 5819407Abstract: A method of joining together a pair of members each having a high thermal conductivity includes forming a joining surface of a first of these two members with either of a plurality of projecting portions and a plurality of projecting and recessed portions; forming a joining surface of a second of the extruded members with either a plurality of recessed portions each of which corresponds to a selected one of the projecting portions and a plurality of projecting portions each of which corresponds to a selected one of the recessed portions of the projecting and recessed portions of the first member; and inserting under pressure each of the projecting portions of one of the two extruded members into each of the recessed portions that corresponds thereto, of another of the two extruded members, with a tolerance that is sufficient to induce a plastic deformation in each of the members.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 1996Date of Patent: October 13, 1998Assignee: Tousui, Ltd.Inventor: Atsushi Terada
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Patent number: 5737821Abstract: A method of producing a shaped fibrous fabric structure is similar to that described in the parent application, in that a continuous filament sheet is subjected to a needle punching action, segments are cut from the sheet and these segments are assembled to form an annulus, and then subjected to rotary motion under a reciprocating needling head and continuing to add segments to build up a stack of layers while at the same time continuing the needling action, and lowering the base of the stack relatively to the needling head. However, in a final step, one or more layers of segments are added to the top of the stack, and these are needled into the stack without lowering the stack. Furthermore, these additional layers are preferably made entirely of stapled fibers.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 1996Date of Patent: April 14, 1998Assignee: Aerospace Preforms LimitedInventors: Peter Geoffrey Lawton, Norman Smith
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Patent number: 5720095Abstract: In a method for producing helically wound lock-seam tubing, a metal strip is fed to a forming heed in which the tubing is formed. In order to prevent lock-seam slip, a clinching roller device forms interlocking spaced deformations on the lock-seam. An apparatus for such production comprises a clinching roller provided with a recess for forming the deformations against a counter roller.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1996Date of Patent: February 24, 1998Assignee: Protol A.G.Inventor: Kenneth Lennartsson
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Patent number: 5718142Abstract: A hand-held portable power tool for use in an operation for joining and fastening two or more abutting steel plates, the tool comprises: a housing unit; a clamp, a punch, a power mechanism and a punch actuator. The clamp is mounted on the housing unit and is movable from an open position to a clamped position. The clamped position is a position that enables the clamp to hold the abutting steel plates together and prohibit them from moving in relationship to each other. The punch is mounted within the housing unit and has a hollow ground chisel shape. The power mechanism is engageable with the punch and the clamp. The power mechanism is of sufficient capacity to clamp and hold the abutting steel plates together and to drive the punch through the abutting steel plates. The punch actuator is actuatable from an off position to an on position.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 1995Date of Patent: February 17, 1998Inventor: Ronald M. Ferraro
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Patent number: 5715617Abstract: The invention provides a method of securing a cover plate (6) onto a steam chamber (4) of a steam chamber and is characterized by the following steps:forming recesses (12) in the cover plate (6) in such a manner that cups (13) are formed which project from the surface of the cover plate,fitting the cover plate (6) onto bosses (9) of the soleplate (2) in such a manner that the bosses (9) engage the recesses (12) of the cups (13), andperforming the plastic deformation of the cups (13) and the bosses (9) in such a manner that the cups are connected to the bosses.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 1997Date of Patent: February 10, 1998Assignee: U.S. Philips CorporationInventor: Franciscus C. C. Ros
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Patent number: 5656353Abstract: An automotive vehicle heat shield is formed from a laminated sheet material having a thin reflective metallic layer laminated to a structural plastic layer. Mounting brackets are riveted to the laminated sheet material to mount the heat shield between a heat sensitive vehicle component and a heat source. The reflective metallic layer is perforated forming a plurality of prongs which are embedded into the plastic layer through a compression molding process to bond the two layers together forming the laminated sheet material.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 1995Date of Patent: August 12, 1997Assignee: TBA Composites, Inc.Inventor: Richard Martin Butler
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Patent number: 5625949Abstract: A method of securing to an operating lever in the form of an elongated metal plate an operating button made of thermoplastic resin and including a mounting tongue of a generally tubular configuration having a hollow defined therein. An anchor perforation and a stopper pawl are first formed in the operating lever and the operating button is then temporarily mounted on the operating lever with the operating lever slid into the hollow of the mounting tongue until an abutment defined in the mounting tongue and positioned within the hollow is brought into engagement with the stopper pawl.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 1995Date of Patent: May 6, 1997Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Katani Sangyo Co., Ltd., Seidensha Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kiyonori Ishida, Tomotaka Orita, Toshiyuki Hanada, Yasuyuki Sakamoto, Kazunori Shimoyama, Masanori Mizutani, Fumio Orito, Shigeru Ogaya
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Patent number: 5613931Abstract: A tapered pot-like hub is disclosed which includes a bottom section and a rim, the rim comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced resilient fingers extending at a slight incline outwardly from the axis of the pot-like hub away from the bottom section, the fingers having inner surfaces facing the axis and outer surfaces facing away from the axis, and an electrically conductive resilient loop spring comprising a first end, a second end and an arcuate intermediate section between the first end and the second end, the first end extending outwardly away from the axis past beyond the outer surfaces of adjacent fingers, the arcuate intermediate section extending around the inner surfaces of the fingers to form an arc in pressure contact with the inner surface of the fingers and the second end is adjacent the axis.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 1994Date of Patent: March 25, 1997Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: David J. Maty
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Patent number: 5611133Abstract: A hemming machine for forming a unitary closure structure from first and second metal panels includes a lower and upper die mounted and moveable relative to each other for edge hemming a portion of the periphery of panels to form a unitary structure. The machine includes a non-hemming jointing device mounted adjacent to one of the upper and lower dies and operable for jointing a portion of the non-hemmed periphery of the panels as the panels are held between the dies.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 1995Date of Patent: March 18, 1997Assignee: TESCO Engineering, Inc.Inventor: James B. Toeniskoetter
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Patent number: 5609707Abstract: Fibrous substrates for the production of carbon and/or ceramic (including mixtures of these) fiber reinforced carbon and/or ceramic (including mixtures of these) matrix composites, particularly friction discs, and to methods of manufacture of same. Offcut waste fibrous sheet material may be recycled and reformed into a web useful in the manufacture of such composites.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: March 11, 1997Assignee: The B. F. Goodrich CompanyInventors: Afshin Bazshushtari, Edward L. Morris, Jr.
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Patent number: 5588684Abstract: A three-piece air horn assembly is provided including a die cast base configured for attachment to a vehicle, an intermediate tube, and a die cast bell, which pieces are interconnected by mechanical connections. In particular, the base includes a cylindrically-shaped hole with front and rear shoulders at each end, the rear shoulder being circumferentially non-uniform, and the tube includes a circumferentially extending ridge engaging the front shoulder and a flared end engaging the rear shoulder. The tube is extended into the hole in the base and the end is then flared into engagement with the non-uniform rear shoulder. Engagement of the flared end into the non-uniform rear shoulder prevents rotation of the tube on the base while the engagement of the flared end and the ridge with the front and rear shoulders, respectively, provides an axially secure connection.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 1995Date of Patent: December 31, 1996Assignee: RAN Enterprises, Inc.Inventor: James Kiefer
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Patent number: 5577313Abstract: A method of joining first and second sheets of deformable material by providing a first sheet having oppositely facing first and second surfaces, providing a second sheet having oppositely facing third and fourth surfaces, placing the second surface on the first sheet facially against the third surface on the second sheet, directing a first discrete element against the first sheet in a first direction to cause a part of the first sheet contacted by the first discrete element to deform and project beyond the fourth surface on the second sheet and directing a second discrete element against at least one of the first and second sheets to at least one of a) cause the part of the first sheet to deform transversely to the first direction to define a first shoulder facing oppositely to the first direction that abuts to the fourth surface and b) cause the second sheet to deform transversely to the first direction to define a second shoulder facing in the first direction that abuts to the part of the first sheet.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 1995Date of Patent: November 26, 1996Inventors: Anthony Guido, William Jette
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Patent number: 5560280Abstract: A pneumatic spring brake is improved so as to be not only tamper proof but repairable as well. Such a brake is formed of a spring chamber head and adapter head, both of which define rigid mating rims that are disposed in mutual, longitudinal alignment and in face-to-face relationship. The rims compress the periphery of a spring brake diaphragm therebetween. The rim of one of the heads is fabricated with a plurality of lugs thereon separated from each other by circumferentially spaced gaps therebetween. The rim of the other of the spring brake heads is provided with a corresponding number of radially outwardly projecting flanges having widths smaller than the gaps between the lugs. The flanges project radially outwardly from the head on which they are formed and into channels formed in the lugs on the other head. The flanges are thereby held in registration with the lugs by the compression of the periphery of the spring brake diaphragm between the mating rims of the heads.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 1995Date of Patent: October 1, 1996Assignee: Overland Brakes, Inc.Inventor: Donald Rumsey
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Patent number: 5536100Abstract: A mechanically joined connection includes a tubular extension having a wall defining an interior space, and an insert member having a protruding end, the protruding end being configured to be inserted into the interior space of the tubular extension. The protruding end has an irregular outer surface and the wall is inwardly extruded into close frictional contact with the irregular outer surface around the circumference of the tubular extension, whereby the tubular extension is frictionally and reliably retained on the insert member without the need for separate fasteners. In particular, a wiper pivot assembly for a vehicle is shown including a connecting tube and a pair of pivot forming members mechanically joined at the ends of the tube. Also, a jack extension tube for a vehicle seat is shown including a jack extension screw and nut, and an extension tube mechanically joined to the nut.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 1994Date of Patent: July 16, 1996Assignee: RAN Enterprises, Inc.Inventor: James Kiefer