METHODS FOR MAKING 3D PRINTED PARTS USING A DYNAMIC BUILD PLATFORM AND 3D PRINTED PARTS FORMED THEREFROM
Granted: March 12, 2020
Application Number:
20200079018
A method of 3D printing a part with an overhanging portion requiring support during printing is provided. The method includes moving a dynamically adjustable support member to support the overhanging portion during printing of the part. The dynamically adjustable support member may be moved from a retracted position to a support position after a first portion of the part is printed and the overhanging portion may be supported by the dynamically adjustable support member in the support…
MINIMUM QUANTITY LUBRICATION THREAD TAP
Granted: February 27, 2020
Application Number:
20200061728
A thread tap includes a shaft and teeth. The shaft includes helical passages from the threading end to the base end of the shaft. Each passage opens through an aperture in the threading end. A second tap includes a cap and the shaft includes an axially extending passage. The cap is coupled to the threading end and at least partially defines apertures in fluid communication with the passage and the exterior of the tap. A third tap includes teeth spaced apart by a plurality of linear…
DOLLY WITH AUTOMATED HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT
Granted: February 6, 2020
Application Number:
20200039551
A dolly includes an actuated platform and obstruction sensor as well as a camera and a depth sensor. The eye height of a user is determined according to outputs of the camera and depth sensor. The platform is then moved to an elbow height determined based on the eye height and the depth sensor is moved to a position above the platform. In response to detecting obstruction of the obstruction sensor, the platform is lowered. Upon completion of loading, the platform is lowered to a lowest…
METHODS FOR MAKING 3D PARTS USING COMPOSITE BASED ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING WITH PERFORATED SHEETS AND PARTS FORMED THEREFROM
Granted: February 6, 2020
Application Number:
20200039204
A method of forming a 3D part includes applying liquid on a pattern on at least some of a plurality of sheets, applying a bonding agent on the liquid pattern on the at least some of the plurality of sheets, and forming perforations within the plurality of sheets along a perforation outline. The plurality of sheets are bonded together at the patterns between sheets via the bonding agent and a 3D pre-form within a stack of the plurality of sheets is formed. The perforations within each…
EDDY CURRENT SEPARATION OF BLANKS FOR THE AUTOMATED DESTACKING OF ALUMINUM SHEET
Granted: January 30, 2020
Application Number:
20200030869
A method of separating blanks from a stack includes positioning a magnetic field generator in a fixed location proximate a peripheral edge of an upper portion of the stack, activating the magnetic field generator such that eddy currents are generated and result in a force vector in a direction away from a top-most blank of the stack, and pushing a blank, or multiple blanks, immediately below the top-most blank away from the top-most blank by the eddy currents.
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING A VEHICLE HEIGHT-RADAR ALIGNMENT CHECK TO ALIGN A RADAR DEVICE PROVIDED IN A VEHICLE
Granted: January 16, 2020
Application Number:
20200018822
The present disclosure is directed toward a method and system for checking a vehicle height and radar aim of a vehicle. The method includes estimating, by a forward imaging system disposed in a vehicle, a vehicle height, and determining whether the estimated vehicle height is within a predefined height tolerance. The method further includes performing, by a radar system disposed in the vehicle, a radar alignment test to determine whether a radar device of the radar system is aligned…
HIGH PRESSURE DIE CAST (HPDC) ALUMINUM ALLOY HEAT TREATMENT FOR IMPROVED RIVETABILITY VIA MODIFICATION OF AS-CAST STRUCTURE
Granted: January 16, 2020
Application Number:
20200017945
A method of treating a high pressure die cast (HPDC) material to improve rivetability is provided. The method includes exposing the HPDC material to a temperature between 300° C. and 450° C. for a time period between 10 minutes and 5 hours in a heat treatment step. In this method, the heat treatment results in eutectic silicon spheroidization of the HPDC material such that the HPDC material does not crack after rivet installation. The method further includes the step of exposing the…
METHODS OF FORMING WRAPPED COMPONENTS WITH REUSABLE INJECTION MOLDED THIN WALLED DUMMY SKINS AND WRAPPED COMPONENTS FORMED THEREFROM
Granted: January 16, 2020
Application Number:
20200016798
A method of forming wrapped components includes positioning an injection molded skin in a mold, forming a foam-in-place (FIP) foam substrate against the injection molded skin, removing the injection molded skin from the FIP foam substrate, bonding an external wrap to the FIP foam substrate, and reusing the injection molded polyolefin skin to form additional FIP foam substrates. A spacer layer may be bonded between and to the FIP foam substrate and the external wrap. The injection molded…
FLANGE FORMING DEVICE AND METHOD OF FORMING A FLANGE ON A SHEET METAL PART TO REDUCE SURFACE DISTORTION
Granted: January 9, 2020
Application Number:
20200009636
A method of forming a vehicle panel includes deforming a sheet metal workpiece between stamping tools to form a first and second edges that converge at a corner of the workpiece's main surface. The first edge is defined by a junction of the main surface and a first flange. The second edge is defined the main surface and a second flange. Forming the first and second edges includes deforming the workpiece so that the second flange has a first region bent to a first angle relative to the…
STEERING WHEEL ALIGNMENT APPARATUS FOR ALIGNING A VEHICULAR STEERING WHEEL
Granted: January 2, 2020
Application Number:
20200003555
The present disclosure is directed toward a steering wheel alignment apparatus that includes a sensor, a sensor housing, an anchor portion, and a weighted portion. The sensor is configured to measure an angular position of the steering wheel. The sensor housing defines a cavity to hold the sensor. The anchor portion extends from the sensor housing and is configured to engage with a low portion of a steering wheel. The weighted portion extends from the anchor portion to bias the sensor…
PRECISION AIR FLOW ROUTING DEVICES AND METHOD FOR THERMAL SPRAY COATING APPLICATIONS
Granted: December 12, 2019
Application Number:
20190376172
A method of controlling deposition of material from at least one plasma transferred wire arc (PTWA) torch within at least one bore includes: directing a fluid through a duct; and directing the fluid through a number of cannons N disposed adjacent and downstream from the duct. The fluid is directed through the duct and N cannons and past the PTWA torch while the PTWA torch is spraying downstream from N?1 cannons.
EDDY CURRENT SEPARATION OF BLANKS FOR THE AUTOMATED DESTACKING OF ALUMINUM SHEET
Granted: December 5, 2019
Application Number:
20190366417
A method of separating blanks from a stack includes positioning a magnetic field generator in a fixed location proximate a peripheral edge of an upper portion of the stack, activating the magnetic field generator such that eddy currents are generated and result in a force vector in a direction away from a top-most blank of the stack, and pushing a blank, or multiple blanks, immediately below the top-most blank away from the top-most blank by the eddy currents.
DEVICE USED TO TEMPORARILY RESTRAIN PARTS AND ASSEMBLIES THROUGH MANUFACTURING PROCESSES
Granted: November 28, 2019
Application Number:
20190358782
A temporary restraining device is provided that includes a head portion, a central body positioned below the head portion, an upper gap defined between the head portion and the central body, and a base portion positioned below the central body, a lower gap defined between the base portion and the central body. The temporary restraining device maintains a predetermined offset between workpieces disposed within the upper and lower gaps for subsequent manufacturing operations.
ACTIVE CARBON FILTER FOR A CARBON CANISTER AND A METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME
Granted: November 28, 2019
Application Number:
20190358576
A method for producing an active carbon filter for a carbon canister includes defining a body having a honeycomb structure with a plurality of bleed passages from a polymer based material, and forming an adsorption layer along a surface of the body, where the adsorption layer is made of a carbon based material.
DEVICE AND METHOD FOR COLD TESTING ENGINE COMPONENT OPERATION
Granted: November 21, 2019
Application Number:
20190353558
A method of determining a condition of a component (e.g., valves) of an engine having a manifold air pressure sensor during a cold test includes providing pressurized air to an intake of the engine. The method includes rotating a crankshaft of the engine. The method includes measuring pressures with the manifold air pressure sensor as a function of crankshaft rotational position. The method includes comparing the pressures with a predetermined baseline. The method includes indicating a…
DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETECTING A CYLINDER DEACTIVATION MODE USING INFERRED COMPRESSION
Granted: November 21, 2019
Application Number:
20190353135
A method of verifying a cylinder deactivation mode on an engine is provided. The method can include activating an ignition device in a deactivated cylinder during an exhaust stroke of the deactivated cylinder. The method can include measuring a voltage of the ignition device. The method can include comparing at least one of an amplitude and a timing of a measured spike of the voltage against a baseline voltage spike. The method can include indicating a status of the deactivation mode…
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING MACHINE HEALTH TO IMPROVE MACHINE CYCLE TIME IMPACT
Granted: November 14, 2019
Application Number:
20190346822
The present disclosure is directed toward a method for monitoring health of a machining tool operable in a machining state to form a workpiece and a non-machining state. The method includes determining whether a machine health routine is to be performed based on a machine health record stored by the control system, and retrieving a non-machining cyclic schedule, in response to the machine health routine having to be performed, where the non-machining cyclic schedule defines a timetable…
METHOD AND DEVICE FOR TAPPING AN ENGINE COMPONENT TO ORIENT A SPARK PLUG
Granted: November 7, 2019
Application Number:
20190337067
A device and method of tapping an engine component to orient a spark plug includes measuring a tap pitch, measuring a first distance between a tap end surface and a full tap tooth center at a first rotational location, calculating a phantom first tap tooth based on the pitch and first distance, determining a tap rotational offset from the first location to a location where the end surface intersects the phantom first tooth, calculating a tap rotational starting orientation that is the…
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING GEAR MOUNTING DISTANCE USING OPTICAL SENSORS
Granted: November 7, 2019
Application Number:
20190339064
The present disclosure is directed toward a system that includes a first optical sensor, a second optical sensor, and a gear feature controller. The first optical sensor measures a plurality of first distances measured from a first reference point to a surface provided between a pair of adjacent teeth among a plurality of teeth circumferentially distributed about a first side of a gear. The second optical sensor measures a plurality of second distances measured from a second reference…
DEVICE AND THREAD GAUGING METHOD FOR ENSURING SPARK PLUG ORIENTATION
Granted: November 7, 2019
Application Number:
20190339053
A method of operating a measurement device to check an internal thread of a spark plug bore for proper orientation of a spark plug includes positioning a cylinder head relative to the measurement device and measuring a seat surface z-position. The seat surface is configured to seat the spark plug within the spark plug bore. The method includes measuring at least one set of coordinates. Each set of coordinates is at a major diameter of a corresponding threadform of the internal thread.…
