Radially Expanding Part In Cavity, Aperture, Or Hollow Body Patents (Class 29/522.1)
  • Patent number: 7363690
    Abstract: A mono-diameter wellbore casing. The mono-diameter wellbore casing is formed by plastically deforming and radially expanding a first tubular member within a wellbore. A second tubular member is then plastically deformed and radially expanded in overlapping relation to the first tubular member. The second tubular member and the overlapping portion of the first tubular member are then radially expanded again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Robert Lance Cook, Lev Ring, Edwin A. Zwald, Andrei Gregory Filippov, Kevin K. Waddell
  • Patent number: 7363691
    Abstract: A mono-diameter wellbore casing. The mono-diameter wellbore casing is formed by plastically deforming and radially expanding a first tubular member within a wellbore. A second tubular member is then plastically deformed and radially expanded in overlapping relation to the first tubular member. The second tubular member and the overlapping portion of the first tubular member are then radially expanded again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Robert Lance Cook, Lev Ring, Edwin A. Zwald, Andrei Gregory Filippov, Kevin K. Waddell
  • Publication number: 20070271764
    Abstract: Method and apparatus is provided for monitoring the installation of a blind rivet to attach together top and bottom members. The blind rivet installation tool includes a housing having an anvil seated on the rivet head. A collet is reciprocable within the tool housing and carries jaws for gripping the mandrel of the blind rivet. Retraction of the jaws by the collet displaces the jaws and the mandrel axially and causes the mandrel head to axially collapse and radially expand the hollow shank of the blind rivet into engagement with the bottom member so that the rivet attaches the top member and the bottom member. A cut off tool is actuated by an actuator to cut off the mandrel flush with the rivet head. Transducers and a process controller monitor the installation process and actuate the cut off blade upon determining that the blind rivet is properly installed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Robin Stevenson, Roland J. Menassa, Pei-Chung Wang, Ugur Ersoy
  • Patent number: 7293341
    Abstract: A collapsible core device for molding articles around the core device in a mold cavity includes a first sleeve, a second sleeve and an expansion member. The first sleeve includes a plurality of first ribs extending from a first base in an axial direction and defining a discontinuous first perimeter surrounding a channel. The second sleeve includes a plurality of second ribs extending from a second base in an axial direction and defining a discontinuous second perimeter surrounding the central channel. Each of the second ribs is arranged between adjacent ones of the first ribs. The expansion member is fittable within the central channel to displace the first and second ribs outwardly to form an overall perimeter defined by the first and second ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Progressive Components International Corporation
    Inventor: Garry Zydron
  • Patent number: 7204007
    Abstract: A mono-diameter wellbore casing. The mono-diameter wellbore casing is formed by plastically deforming and radially expanding a first tubular member within a wellbore. A second tubular member is then plastically deformed and radially expanded in overlapping relation to the first tubular member. The second tubular member and the overlapping portion of the first tubular member are then radially expanded again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Robert Lance Cook, Lev Ring, Edwin A. Zwald, Andrei Gregory Filippov, Kevin K. Waddell
  • Patent number: 7165312
    Abstract: A locator stud including a shank and a flange portion integral and coaxially aligned with the shank and a bearing surface between the shank and the flange portion, a method of installation in a panel, including forming an opening in the panel, inserting the flange portion into the panel opening and driving a plunger having an opening receiving the shank, a first annular die surface deforming the bearing surface radially outwardly and a second projecting annular die surface deforming the panel radially inwardly into a concave outer surface of the flange portion and wherein the panel of the locator stud and panel assembly includes a V-shaped depression surrounding the locator stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Whitesell International Corporation
    Inventors: John J. Vrana, John M. Parker, David M. Shuart
  • Patent number: 7165310
    Abstract: A connecting structure includes a first member including a hole which has a narrower width at an opening portion than a width at a bottom portion and a projecting portion projected toward the opening portion at the bottom portion of the hole, and a second member with a longer shape than a depth of the hole of the first member wherein the second member is inserted into the hole of the first member, the second member being plastically deformed by pushing the second member into the bottom portion of the first member with pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumiyoshi Murakami, Akinori Hoshino, Koichi Sakamoto, Noriaki Nonaka, Haruji Suzuki, Tsuneo Shishido
  • Patent number: 7155800
    Abstract: A automated sealing assembly for rotary machines including: a seal guide assembly, the seal guide assembly aligns and holds a caulk wire and a sealing strip in a rotor groove for peening; a peening tool, the peening tool peens said caulk wire to deform the caulk wire and secure the caulk wire and the sealing strip in the rotor groove; an actuator, the actuator controls a movement and preload force of the peening tool producing a rotor groove seal having a predictable pull out strength; and a base for securing the seal guide assembly, the peening tool, and the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Edward Adis, Patrick Gill, Michael Mack
  • Patent number: 7146702
    Abstract: A mono-diameter wellbore casing. The mono-diameter wellbore casing is formed by plastically deforming and radially expanding a first tubular member within a wellbore. A second tubular member is then plastically deformed and radially expanded in overlapping relation to the first tubular member. The second tubular member and the overlapping portion of the first tubular member are then radially expanded again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Robert Lance Cook, Lev Ring, Edwin A. Zwald, Andrei Gregory Filippov, Kevin K. Waddell
  • Patent number: 7124492
    Abstract: A fastener element including a barrel portion, a first radial flange portion integral and coaxially aligned with the barrel portion and a second radial flange portion having a diameter greater than the first radial flange portion coaxially aligned with the first radial flange portion including an annular face having circumferentially spaced radial ribs and a method of installing the fastener element which includes forming an opening in a panel which receives the barrel and first radial flange portions, wherein the panel is deformed radially inwardly against the first radial flange portion and the first radial flange portion is preferably deformed radially outwardly forming a secure fastener and panel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Whitesell International Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley E. Wojciechowski, Michael J. McShane, John M. Parker, David H. Shuart
  • Patent number: 7100264
    Abstract: A bushing (52) has two bushing parts (52, 58), each of which includes a tubular section (54, 60) and a radial flange section (56, 62) Tubular section (54) is inserted into an opening (38) in a work member (40), from one side of the work member (40). Tubular section (60) is inserted into tubular section (54) from the opposite side (44) of the work member (40). A mandrel (M) is moved through the interior of the tubular portion of the bushing to radially and circumferentially expand the tubular portion of the bushing and move the flange sections against the opposite sidewalls of the work member (40). The tubular portions (54, 60) of the bushing (52) is radially and circumferentially expanded an amount sufficient to introduce fatigue life enhancing compressive residual stresses in the work member (40) immediately around the opening (38) in the work member (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Fatigue Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Skinner, Jude H. Restis, Mark R. Weiss
  • Patent number: 7076855
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a rack-and-pinion steering housing for transmission of steering force including the steps of pressing steering rod guide elements axially into open end regions of a tubular steering housing, and axially pressing the elements into the tubular housing to radially expand the housing end regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: SchmitterChassis GmbH
    Inventor: Friedhelm Günther
  • Patent number: 7076854
    Abstract: A toothed or splined shaft having an external toothing is pushed with clearance into an internal toothing of a hub, tooth to space, and the external toothing of the shaft is pressed together with the internal toothing of the hub. In the push-in position of the shaft, the latter is deformed plastically out of a cavity of the shaft in a radial circumferential widening operation and, so as to provide freedom from clearance between the spaces of the external toothing of the shaft and the internal toothing of the hub, the internal toothing engaging into the external toothing is pressed against the hub in such a way that the hub is deformed elastically and a press fit between the shaft and the hub is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Torsten Harms, Juergen Knuedel
  • Patent number: 7065855
    Abstract: The invention provides an installation tool for use with a battery operated drill or a corded electric drill for repetitive installation of caulk-in anchors. The installation tool utilizes the mechanical advantage of a threaded shaft to improve consistency of the holding reliability of the caulk-in anchor and controls the anchor setting process to insure proper installation while reducing installation time. The installation tool does not rely on bottom setting or a hammer strike to set the anchor, but can be set at a depth independent of hole depth. In one embodiment, the tool can be used with a through hole in the substrate and uses a combination of a threaded shaft and a controlled sensing spring to insure a more uniform installation of the anchor within the substrate across the entire length of the sleeve portion of the anchor, along with a visual check of proper setting of the anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Janusz
  • Patent number: 7065854
    Abstract: An in-expensive method to join metals or other materials by a slug that is compressed or clinched into a punched or machined substantially rectangular slot in two adjoining pieces. The final assembly is flat and of the same thickness as the clinched material. It could be used to advantage in a mitered frame type assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Inventor: Sten R. Gerfast
  • Patent number: 7043812
    Abstract: A button indexing device used in a button attaching machine for attaching a button to be indexed in a specific orientation on a fabric of garments or the like, including lower mold provided at a button attaching position of the attaching machine, a driving section for turning the lower mold around a vertical axis, a laser beam source for irradiating a laser beam onto a point of a specified circular track of the button to be held in the lower mold around the vertical axis, an optical sensor for detecting light reflected from or scattered by the button, and a stop section for stopping said lower mold in a rotation position capable of obtaining the right orientation when said optical sensor detects the minimum or maximum amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Masatoshi Nakajo, Hiroaki Kanazawa
  • Patent number: 7024909
    Abstract: An improved machine for performing a swaging operation includes a mandrel and an expandable collet that are mounted to an actuator such as a conventional pneumatic gun. The mandrel includes a plurality of ramped planar engagement surfaces that are slidably engageable with a plurality of planar reaction surfaces on deflectable segments of the collet. The planar nature of the engagement surfaces and the reaction surfaces avoids unwanted deflection of the segments that would otherwise turn the segments into cutting tools, such as would occur if the surfaces were of certain other shapes. The mandrel is rotatably mounted to the pneumatic gun whereby the engagement surfaces are self-aligning with the reaction surfaces during an initial stage of a swaging operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Alcoa Global Fasteners, Inc.
    Inventors: Cristinel Ovidiu Cobzaru, Robert Bryant
  • Patent number: 6990722
    Abstract: A tubular fastener element is inserted into an opening in a wall until a flange at the trailing end of the fastener element is in contact with the wall. Then, an externally threaded end of a rod is inserted into a center opening in the fastener element from the flange side of the wall and is mated with internal threads in the fastener element beyond the second side of the wall. A tubular mandrel that surrounds the rod is moved into contact with the entrance portion of the center opening in the tubular fastener. The outside diameter of the mandrel is larger than the inside diameter of the center opening in the fastener element. The rod is retracted to cause a reduced thickness wall portion of the fastener element to collapse and form a second radial flange on the second side of the wall. The mandrel is forced axially into the center opening in the fastener element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Fatigue Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard F. Reid, Timothy H. Johnson, David A. Gorton, Mark R. Weiss, Dean C. Madden, Alec K. Hitchman
  • Patent number: 6971177
    Abstract: A wheel bearing device is provided to prevent loosening of a hub ring and an outer joint ring that are fitted together. An irregular portion treated with hardening is formed on a fit face of the hub ring on an inside periphery of which the outer joint member is fitted. A low hardness portion of the outer joint member formed with hardness lower than that of the irregular portion is expanded in diameter to make it bite into the irregular portion. In this way the hub ring and the outer joint ring are unitized together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Ozawa, Koji Sahashi, Kazuhiko Hozumi, Keisuke Sone, Mitsuru Umekida
  • Patent number: 6961985
    Abstract: A striking tool comprising a head assembled to a handle having a long axis is characterized in that the head comprises a closed cavity extending into the head in the direction of the long axis, an opening through a wall of the head into the cavity, the opening extending at substantially a right angle to the long axis, and a spreading element inserted through the opening and spreading a portion of the handle within the cavity to urge against walls of the cavity to secure the head to the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Inventor: Mark A. Boys
  • Patent number: 6961998
    Abstract: Hollow shafts, and particularly camshafts, are produced using an internal high-pressure forming (IHF) process. Cams and/or machine elements are mounted at intervals onto the outer surface of the hollow shaft, depending on the use of the latter, by a non-positive and/or positive fit, in a position appropriate to their function when the hollow shaft is placed in the forming tool. An element with approximately the same external diameter as the internal diameter of the hollow shaft is placed in at least one of the hollow shaft, and the hollow shaft together with the cams and/or machine elements that have been pushed onto the same and the inserted element are placed in an IHF tool. Once the IHF tool is closed, the medium is caused to act under the required high-pressure in the hollow shaft. At the same time as the medium is acting internally, at least one ram is pressed axially against at least one front face of the hollow shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Salzgitter Antriebstechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Bodo Furchheim, Franz-Josef Schleifstein
  • Patent number: 6904681
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for fabricating a driving and locking mechanism. The present invention provides a bearing device having a first end and a second end, where the first end has a curvilinear shape. The present invention also provides a strip of metal material with a predetermined length, conforming the strip of metal material to the curvilinear shape of the first end and attaching the strip of metal material to the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventor: Steven G. Slesinski
  • Patent number: 6883220
    Abstract: A method for forming an article having a wall that is at least partially fabricated from tubing. The methodology employs a pressurized fluid to deform the tubing such that an outer surface of the tubing substantially conforms to a predetermined first wall configuration, an inner surface of the tubing substantially conforms to a predetermined second wall configuration and each of segment or loop of the tubing is substantially contiguous with at least one other segment or loop between the first and second surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Mark David Horn
  • Patent number: 6851167
    Abstract: A spin-pull blind insert tool utilizes a control system that generates a stop signal based on the relationship between the force values and the motion values derived from the action of the tool mandrel. The improved control system utilizes the shape of the force-deformation curve and not just a given pre-set force value or pull distance. Hence, the control system of the present invention does not require any set-up for changes in panel thickness unless the mandrel is also changed to install a different thread size. This control system develops a force-deformation curve as the fastener is being installed. The stop signal is generated when a pre-set deformation point has been exceeded and the shape of the force curve can be characterized by either of two types. For either type, an algorithm is followed which establishes an optimum stopping point for the installation tool regardless of the panel thickness into which the blind rivet is being installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: PEM Management, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Harlow, Ronald S. Dise
  • Patent number: 6842962
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for joining together two or more superimposed generally planar sheets by setting a fastener in engagement with the sheets at a predetermined location. The sheets are superimposed and placed in a fastener setting and sheet deforming assembly. The assembly is then operated to set a fastener into the sheet and to deform the sheets out of their planes around the predetermined locations. The sheets may be deformed before the fastener is set, after the fastener is set, or simultaneously with setting of the fastener. Sheet deformation may be achieved using appropriate clamping arrangements or by providing recesses into which the sheets are deformed during the course of rivet insertion. The invention also relates to a rivet for use in the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Henrob Limited
    Inventor: Stuart Edmund Blacket
  • Publication number: 20040244179
    Abstract: A tool and method for installing an expansion bolt in a remote location where the expansion bolt is not readily accessible. The tool is comprised of a housing having a rod with a puller element on one end slidably mounted in the housing. A barrel is attached to and extends from the front of the housing. The headless screw of an expansion bolt is loosely threaded into the puller element and the barrel of the tool and the bolt are lowered until the expandable anchor on the screw is in or below a hole in a remote support structure. A ratchet in the housing moves the puller within the housing to pull the screw upward while the lower end of the barrel abuts and holds the flange on the anchor portion against the support structure to set the expandable anchor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventor: Donald B. Warfield
  • Patent number: 6817079
    Abstract: The method of the present invention is intended to be used in association with a headed fastener such as a tee nut, but not limited to a tee nut. The present method contemplates embodiments of a riveting pin having protuberances that cause the flared end of the shaft to be flared in one or more discontinuous portions of the circumference of the shaft, whereby “push out” and “spin-out” are deterred. Where the length of the fastener shaft is no longer than the thickness of the material through which it is inserted, a first design of flaring pin is provided. Where the length of the shaft of the fastener employed is greater than the thickness of the material through which it extends, a second embodiment of flaring pin is employed. In the former case, at least one discrete portion of the circumference of the shaft is flared into the wall of the passageway through which the shaft extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Falcon Fasteners Reg'D
    Inventors: Walter H. Leistner, Sung Hsiang Liu
  • Patent number: 6802111
    Abstract: A tool for producing expanded camshafts. The tool includes at least one modular die made up of segments that are joined together and that are provided with opposing slides for centering and aligning the cams around the axis of the shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignees: Renault, Fabricom Systemes d'Assemblage
    Inventors: Alain Dion, Olivier Darlix, Gerard Montaz, Benoit Daragon
  • Patent number: 6799359
    Abstract: A striking tool having a handle engaged in an eye in a head uses a metal strongback unit engaged in a slot the handle to secure the handle in the eye of the head. The metal strongback unit has openings in a web that fits in the slot in the handle that allow wedges to be driven into the handle in a manner that both the handle end and the web of the strongback unit are spread. Metal of the strongback unit urges against an inside surface of the head in the eye to form a secure fit. In a preferred embodiment the strongback unit has metal sides that may extend below the head and provide metal surfaces for overstrike protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Douglas Tool, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd Douglas Coonrad
  • Patent number: 6789681
    Abstract: In the rotationally symmetrical screen for fiber suspensions with a series of straight profiled bars which extend the direction of the screen axis and form slot-shaped screen openings between them, and with several ring-shaped profiled bar supports lying in planes extending perpendicularly to the screen axis, each of the profiled bar supports having in its edge region adjacent to the inlet side of the screen a series of cutouts opening towards the inlet side of the screen for insertion of the profiled bars, with the shape of these cutouts corresponding to the configuration of the cross-sectional regions of the profiled bars held positively in these cutouts, in order to simplify insertion of the profiled bars into the cutouts of the profiled bar supports each profiled bar has for each profiled bar support a recess which decreases the width of this cross-sectional region of the profiled bar, and the recesses lie outside the profiled bar supports in the finished screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Voith Paper Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Erich Czerwoniak, Wilhelm Hagen Hutzler, Erwin Mayer, Jochen Gustav Pfeffer
  • Patent number: 6757974
    Abstract: A fuel inlet comprises an inlet pipe, a breather tube, a retainer, a spiral groove, and the like. The inlet pipe is formed by processing a metal pipe and has an expanded portion, a taper portion, and a main body in the order from the fuel port. The expanded portion is formed by increasing the diameter by bulging. In order to prevent defects in the pipe such as cracks from being caused during bulging, SUS304, SUS304L, or SUS436 according to JIS is used as the material of the pipe. The diameter of the main body is 25.4 mm and the diameter of the expanded portion is 50 mm. A spiral groove on which a screw-type fuel port cap can be screwed is formed in the vicinity of the open end of the expanded portion, by crimping the inlet pipe and the retainer together. On the outer surface of the expanded portion in the vicinity of the open end is provided an outer-cylinder-like flange formed integrally with the inlet pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Futaba Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuguo Kido, Tetsuji Omori, Keiichi Yamamoto, Masayuki Sugiura, Yuji Nakada, Seiji Yamamoto, Toyohisa Kawabe
  • Patent number: 6748640
    Abstract: A ring installation method and a ring installation jig which are capable of performing an installation operation with high efficiency in which an anti-slip-off ring made of an elastic metal material is uniformly expanded to be fitted on a pin's end and pushed to an engagement position to be mounted thereon. The jig has (i) an expansion guide member which has, at its front, a working face to be brought into contact with an end of a chain-coupling pin for positioning and has a ring expansion guide section on its outer periphery and to which a propulsive force is applied; (ii) an expansion claw fitted on the expansion guide member for expanding and supporting the anti-slip-off ring and moving it to the pin's end; (iii) an elastic body for applying a pressing force to the expansion claw; and (iv) a pusher for pushing the anti-slip-off ring which has been expanded by the expansion claw into an annular space defined by a link of the chain and the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinobu Ino
  • Publication number: 20040078954
    Abstract: The invention relates a method for providing reconnection to a ferrule to a service line from within the bore of a lined host pipe adapted to carry a fluid, comprising lining the host pipe with a liner, locating the ferrule from within the lined host pipe, forming a passage for fluid through the liner to the ferrule, and forming a seal of the liner with the system whereby to obviate leakage of fluid between the liner and host pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventors: Robert Lye Crocker, Dominic Paul Edmund Barnard
  • Publication number: 20040075300
    Abstract: In the present method for producing a planar element (2) for car bodies in sandwich construction, which includes an external skin (4) and a hump plate (6) having edge profiles (8, 10) arranged between them, in a first step the edge profiles (8, 10) are joined to the hump plate (6), at least partially using a mechanical joining method, in a second step the hump plate (6) is glued to the external skin (4), and in a third step the edge profiles (8, 10) are joined to the external skin (4), at least partially using a mechanical joining method. Through these measures, high shear and buckling resistance of the planar element is achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: Hartmut Carstensen, Peter Buchwald, Fna Meyer
  • Publication number: 20040071504
    Abstract: The disclosure is concerned with a bonding method for bonding metallic members, which comprises the steps of: fitting a metallic members to another metallic member, followed by effecting preliminarily plastic bonding by means of a preliminarily bonding punch; and generating compression force in an axial direction of the members in the vicinity of the fitting portion of the bonding members after the preliminarily plastic bonding, and allowing part of the material of the bonding member to effect plastic-flow in such a manner as to fill a gap defined between the metallic members, so as to plastically bond the members; whereby the members are tightly integrated with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kouji Harada
  • Publication number: 20040011669
    Abstract: An anode assembly for insertion in a gap between a section of reinforced concrete and another solid structure, which may be another section of concrete, comprises an anode attached to a body of deformable material which is preferably resiliently deformable, whereby, when the assembly is inserted into the gap, the anode is pressed into electrical contact with the concrete surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: Gareth K. Glass, Adrian C. Roberts, John M. Taylor
  • Patent number: 6662447
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for the production of double-walled hollow sections by means of internal high-pressure forming, a first hollow section being inserted into a second hollow section, after which the double-walled hollow section thus formed is subjected to high internal fluid pressure in such a way in an internal high-pressure forming die that the double-walled hollow section is expanded. During this process, an air gap is formed between the first, inner, hollow section and the second, outer, hollow section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Stephan Lothar Kuschel, Stefan Schwarz
  • Patent number: 6651300
    Abstract: A clenching device for generating a clenching connection between a first workpiece and a second workpiece using a plunger which is movable from above into a recess of a die, wherein a peripheral wall of the recess has stationary wall sections which extend essentially parallel to a pressure direction. The peripheral wall of the recess has between the stationary wall sections movable wall sections which are arranged on levers. The levers are movable by pressures from above into a working position and are securable therein and from undercut areas and are movable by movement of the workpieces after the workpieces have been jointed in the upward direction into a release position in which the undercut areas are completely released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Dalex-Werke Niepenberg GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Rudolf Müller
  • Patent number: 6647608
    Abstract: A stud for installation in a host panel and for fastening a component to the host panel includes at least one shaft having a longitudinal axis. An annular flange extends radially from the shaft at a substantially right angle with respect to the longitudinal axis. A shoulder for engagement with the host panel has a top adjacent to the shaft and a base adjacent to the flange. The shoulder extends radially from the shaft wherein the shoulder and the flange define an undercut therebetween at the base of the shoulder such that a diameter of the shoulder is smaller at the base than at the top. At least one anti-rotation tab is located intermediate between the shoulder top and the flange, and is aligned for engagement with the host panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: FabriSteel Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley E. Wojciechowski, Michael J. McShane
  • Patent number: 6640405
    Abstract: A ring installation method and a ring installation jig which are capable of performing an installation operation with high efficiency in which an anti-slip-off ring made of an elastic metal material is uniformly expanded to be fitted on a pin's end and pushed to an engagement position to be mounted thereon. The jig has (i) an expansion guide member which has, at its front, a working face to be brought into contact with an end of a chain-coupling pin for positioning and has a ring expansion guide section on its outer periphery and to which a propulsive force is applied; (ii) an expansion claw fitted on the expansion guide member for expanding and supporting the anti-slip-off ring and moving it to the pin's end; (iii) an elastic body for applying a pressing force to the expansion claw; and (iv) a pusher for pushing the anti-slip-off ring which has been expanded by the expansion claw into an annular space defined by a link of the chain and the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinobu Ino
  • Publication number: 20030167618
    Abstract: A ring installation method and a ring installation jig which are capable of performing an installation operation with high efficiency in which an anti-slip-off ring made of an elastic metal material is uniformly expanded to be fitted on a pin's end and pushed to an engagement position to be mounted thereon. The jig has (i) an expansion guide member which has, at its front, a working face to be brought into contact with an end of a chain-coupling pin for positioning and has a ring expansion guide section on its outer periphery and to which a propulsive force is applied; (ii) an expansion claw fitted on the expansion guide member for expanding and supporting the anti-slip-off ring and moving it to the pin's end; (iii) an elastic body for applying a pressing force to the expansion claw; and (iv) a pusher for pushing the anti-slip-off ring which has been expanded by the expansion claw into an annular space defined by a link of the chain and the pin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Applicant: Kamatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinobu Ino
  • Publication number: 20030124716
    Abstract: The invention features methods of making devices, or “platens”, having a high-density array of through-holes, as well as methods of cleaning and refurbishing the surfaces of the platens. The invention further features methods of making high-density arrays of chemical, biochemical, and biological compounds, having many advantages over conventional, lower-density arrays. The invention includes methods by which many physical, chemical or biological transformations can be implemented in serial or in parallel within each addressable through-hole of the devices. Additionally, the invention includes methods of analyzing the contents of the array, including assaying of physical properties of the samples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Applicant: Biotrove, Inc., a Delaware corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Hess, John Linton, Tanya S. Kanigan, Colin Brenan, Can Ozbal
  • Patent number: 6543137
    Abstract: A method of assembling a valve module of a fuel injector for fuel injection systems of internal combustion engines is described. The fuel injector includes an electromagnetic actuating element having a magnet coil, an internal pole, an external magnetic circuit part and a movable valve closing body which works together with a valve seat assigned to a valve seating body. The valve seating body and the internal pole are arranged in an internal opening in a thin-walled valve sleeve, and the magnet coil and the external magnetic circuit part are arranged on the outer periphery of the valve sleeve. First, the magnetic circuit part is pushed onto the valve sleeve, then the valve seating body is pressed into the internal opening in the valve sleeve, so that a fixed connection between the valve sleeve and the magnetic circuit part is achieved by simply pressing the valve seating body into position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Noller, Hans Weidler
  • Patent number: 6543979
    Abstract: A clinch nut assembly is disclosed. The clinch nut assembly includes: a sheet metal PL having a bolt insertion hole BH; and a clinch nut 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 11 to be fixed to the sheet metal. The clinch nut is provided with a recess portion 1C, 2C, 4C, 6C, 8C and 11C at one end 1B, 2B, 4B, 6B, 8B and 11B facing to the sheet metal so as to receive a tubular projection C formed around the bolt insertion hole. Further, an engaging part 1D, 4D, 6D and 11D is provided around a peripheral wall of the recess portion for interlocking with the tubular projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuuichiro Iwatsuki
  • Patent number: 6532665
    Abstract: An assembly technique and device for enclosing an open end of a movable socket (10) comprised of fully hardened materials with an expanding cover-plate (66) and for controlling the expansion of the cover-plate (66) to provide a central orifice (67) of predetermined dimensions to facilitate the installation of a grease fitting. During assembly, various internal components of the movable socket, including the pressure plate, are installed within a housing (12) through a posterior opening (16) with the cover-plate positioned over the components. A two-stage ram (100) having a contact surface and a concentric pivot punch (142, 158) is brought into engagement with the cover-plate. Pressure exerted by the two-stage ram is transferred to the cover-plate through the contact surface, expanding the cover-plate to conform to the contact surface and enclosing the internal components within the socket housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc.
    Inventor: Glen C. Parker
  • Patent number: 6526657
    Abstract: An automatic machine for peening the tenons on bucket cover plates to secure the cover plates and adjacent buckets of a turbine wheel to one another is provided. The machine includes a fixture having stepped surfaces for locating the freely suspended fixture and peening tool relative to the bucket tips and cover plates and clamping the tips and cover plates to the fixture surfaces. After peening a first tenon, the fixture and tool head are displaced relative to the fixed cover plate and bucket tip to register the tool with a second tenon. An actuator displaces the suspended system to compensate for the movement of the fixture and tool relative to the turbine wheel. A counterbalance is provided to accommodate fixtures of different weights when peening the tenons of covers in different turbine wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Todd Joseph Fischer, Jeffrey Philip Fregoe, David Ward Marcellus, Jr., Dennis W. Roberts, John Francis VanNest
  • Patent number: 6511299
    Abstract: A fan in which, on one end of the motor shaft 6 a stepped portion 19 having a small diameter is formed, on which a central portion of the motor yoke 11 is press-fitted and fixed by caulking, thereby the motor yoke is mounted directly on the shaft 6. By such a structure, the conventional boss between the shaft 6 and the motor yoke 11 can be omitted and the structure can be simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Shinokubo, Shoichi Takei
  • Patent number: 6497039
    Abstract: A method of producing an encased honeycombed body, in particular a supporting body of a catalytic converter, includes the steps of producing a honeycombed body by stacking and/or winding sheet metal layers, of which at least some are structured sheet metal layers, so that the honeycomb body has channels through which a fluid can flow. A sleeve is introduced into a tubular jacket. The sleeve is smaller in the axial direction than the axial length of the honeycomb body and the tubular jacket. The sleeve has an outer circumferential surface which substantially bears against a part of the inner wall of the tubular jacket. The honeycomb body is introduced into the tubular jacket and into the sleeve and is connected to the tubular jacket and the sleeve. If required, the tubular jacket may also be connected to the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Emitec Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventors: Ludwig Wieres, Ferdi Kurth, Uwe Siepmann, Heribert Grewe
  • Patent number: 6487767
    Abstract: A tubular fastener element (34) is inserted into an opening(44) in a wall (W) until a flange (40) at the trailing end of the fastener element (34) is in contact with the wall (W). Then, an externally threaded end (32) of a rod (28) is inserted into a center opening (56) in the fastener element (34) from the flange side (42) of the wall (W) and is mated with internal threads (52) in the fastener element (34) beyond the second side (50) of the wall (W). A tubular mandrel (24) that surrounds the rod (28) is moved into contact with the entrance portion of the center opening (56) in the tubular fastener (34). The outside diameter of the mandrel (24) is larger than the inside diameter (58) of the center opening (56) in the fastener element (34). The rod (28) is retracted to cause a reduced thickness wall portion (46) of the fastener element (34) to collapse and form a second radial flange (60) on the second side (50) of the wall (W).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Fatigue Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard F. Reid, Timothy H. Johnson, David A. Gorton, Mark R. Weiss, Dean C. Madden, Alec K. Hitchman
  • Publication number: 20020162211
    Abstract: A force generating apparatus includes a housing, a piston movably mounted in a cavity and a punch and die mounted in the housing. The punch and die are normally spaced apart to receive two overlapping sheets of metal. The piston moves a wedge against the punch toward the die in order to clinch two overlapping sheets together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventor: Edwin G. Sawdon