...that in the early 1940s GE engineer James Wright was charged with a task of utmost importance to the war effort: develop a cheap substitute for rubber that could be used to produce tires, gas masks and a whole host of military gear. Wright tackled the task diligently -- and wound up inventing Silly Putty.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8171611 | Method for implementing a component positioning device A method for implementing a component positioning device is provided and includes obtaining a component, a component measuring device and a component positioning device, the component including a component head and a component base, the component measuring device in... | 05/08/2012 |
| 8117726 | Line of sight precision machining A method of assembling an optical device and an optical device manufactured by placing in a housing an optical element comprising one or more interface datums, aligning the optical element to a reference feature to determine an amount of finish machining of the one ... | 02/21/2012 |
| 8112862 | Methods of assembling rotors having non-complementary flange openings Methods for assembling a first rotor and a second rotor having non-complementary flange openings may include providing mating elements at substantially the center on corresponding rotor flanges, coupling dowels into each of a plurality of circumferentially spaced fl... | 02/14/2012 |
| 8079125 | Manufacturing method of multi-channel optical module An object of the present invention is to provide a technique making it possible to easily manufacture a multi-channel optical module in which optical elements are air-sealed. In the optical module, a package 111 with optical elements mounted thereon is... | 12/20/2011 |
| 8056203 | System for transportation of blades on railcars A fixation system for fixing wind turbine elements of a wind turbine to a vehicle is provided. The fixation system includes a first fixation device for fixing a first portion of a wind turbine element pivotably around a first axis of the first fixation device and ar... | 11/15/2011 |
| 8042247 | Method for assembling a two-piece punch into a tool A tool for use in a powder metal process is disclosed. The tool includes an upper tool and a lower tool. The upper and lower tools may include multiple members for each tool. The lower tool having a predetermined cross sectional profile that continuously expands out... | 10/25/2011 |
| 8033001 | CVD showerhead alignment apparatus A method and apparatus for aligning a CVD showerhead, comprising engaging a showerhead stem clamp with a showerhead stem outside of a process chamber of the CVD system. An alignment fixture is provided, and a plurality of spacer discs are positioned between the show... | 10/11/2011 |
| 7996974 | Method of manufacturing a miniature flexible thrombectomy catheter The present invention pertains to a miniature flexible thrombectomy catheter having one or more flexible miniature noncollapsing tubular portions including pushable and torqueable structure for introduction into the smaller vessels in neurovascular regions. A jet bo... | 08/16/2011 |
| 7900331 | Work assembling device and assembling method A work (W) with a part assembling surface on many faces is rotated by a work holding jig (10) so as to sequentially convert each of the part assembling surfaces to the upward horizontal attitude, a bolt is fastened from above vertically while gripping an asse... | 03/08/2011 |
| 7827666 | Assembly, method and system for aligning a driver to a pump The present alignment tool, method, and system improve the alignment of a driver to a motor. The alignment tool includes a securing ring, a track, and a rotatable ring. The rotatable ring of the alignment tool eliminates the onerous and dangerous rotation of the dri... | 11/09/2010 |
| 7647683 | Fitting aligner A system of aligning and connecting a threaded male fastener to a correspondingly threaded female fastener has a nut having a plurality of upturned sides and a central axis aligned with that of one of the male or female fastener. The system includes a guide sleeve h... | 01/19/2010 |
| 7600306 | Robotic apparatus and method for mounting a valve stem on a wheel rim An apparatus and method for mounting a valve stem to the rim of a vehicle wheel includes locating apparatus that determines the location of an aperture on the wheel rim for receiving the valve stem, the locating apparatus preferably including a machine vision system... | 10/13/2009 |
| 7509722 | Positioning and spinning device The present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for connecting a first tubular with a second tubular. The apparatus includes a gripping member for engaging the first tubular and a conveying member for positioning the gripping member. The apparatus ... | 03/31/2009 |
| 7467452 | Method for applying flowable materials Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for applying melt flowable materials to components of articles of manufacture. The methods and apparatuses disclosed herein are concerned with formation of appropriate flowable materials, control over the manner in which the flo... | 12/23/2008 |
| 7437814 | Method for determining a relative position of a part of a magnetic tape cartridge The object of the invention is to provide a magnetic tape cartridge, in which a release pad can be assembled securely by a robot. A magnetic tape cartridge including: a reel around which a magnetic tape is wound; a cartridge case which houses the reel in a locked po... | 10/21/2008 |
| 7409756 | Method of locating and removing a fastener from a workpiece A system for locating and determining the orientation of fasteners in hard disk drive spindle assemblies utilizes a sensor system that facilitates an automated rework process for the spindle assemblies. The screw locating system identifies the locations of the screw... | 08/12/2008 |
| 7401400 | System for mounting a snap ring A system for mounting a snap ring to a workpiece includes: a supporting structure; a snap ring guide unit mounted to the supporting structure by a first actuating device; a snap ring assembling unit including a supporting portion connected to the supporting structur... | 07/22/2008 |
| 7389574 | Method of enabling the stacking of electrowon metal units The invention teaches the nesting and spacing of electrowon metal units via an electrowon metal sheet having thereon a spacing feature. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other... | 06/24/2008 |
| 7371036 | Tool holding device and method for positioning a tool Disclosed is a tool holding device (22, 50, 58) for retaining a tool (24) on a tool chuck (20). Said tool holding device (22, 50, 58) comprises a tool-accommodating area (32, 52, 66) for at least partly receiving the tool (24 | 05/13/2008 |
| 7367099 | Method for assembling two parts having accurate dimensions and use for brazing of a linac RFQ accelerator A method of assembling two parts of which the dimensions of one of the parts or the final assembly are to be adhered to with precision. In the part whose dimensions are to be adhered to with the highest level of precision, a groove is machined to have a depth greate... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7356901 | Method of forming bushings between guide pins and guide pin bores A disc brake having an anchor bracket fixed to a vehicle, a rotor fixed to and rotatable with a wheel and a caliper that spans the disc and supports a pair of opposed braking pads with respect to the rotor. Parallel alignment members fixed to the caliper and having ... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7340814 | Method of installing spiral threaded inserts and installation tool In a method of installing spiral threaded inserts (38), in which method a first threaded insert (38) is inserted into an installation tool (20) and is screwed into a tapped hole by the installation tool (20), safe use is achieved even at ... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7331094 | Method and device for positioning components to be joined together A device for positioning components to be joined together, such as car body components, is characterized by at least one movable central module and a plurality of arms, movable in space and connected thereto and which in each case have at least one holding element f... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7304450 | Motor-reduction unit switched on an absolute position signal An electric actuator including at least a first P-phase automatically-switched brushless synchronous motor, P being an integer ranging between 1 and 6, and N pairs of poles at the rotor, N being an integer not less than 1. The actuator also includes a position senso... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7296351 | Method for servicing a tired-wheel A tired-wheel having a wheel-rim and a tire thereon is automatically serviced. The method includes loading the tired-wheel onto a motor-driven support mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation, centering the tired-wheel with respect to the axis of rotation, and... | 11/20/2007 |
| 7293338 | Tap process for hard workpieces A process and apparatus for producing screw threads in hard material workpieces with a series of taps. The present invention employs a threaded bore formed in a bracket assembly to align and position multiple taps on a rotary machine. The taps are used in sequence t... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7281307 | Tap process for hard workpieces A process and apparatus for producing screw threads in hard material workpieces with a series of taps. The present invention employs a threaded bore formed in a bracket assembly to align and position multiple taps on a rotary machine. The taps are used in sequence t... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7278194 | Method and apparatus for fixing tools in clamping chucks A tool, in particular a shaft tool, is inserted into and fixed in a clamping chuck. The actual position of the tool, particularly in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the tool or in the direction of insertion, is determined before and/or during the insertion... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7275295 | True vehicle running center shaft assembly system A system for assembling a vehicle drive shaft is provided with the steps of installing yokes on respective ends of a drive shaft tube, each yoke having first and second bores therethrough for receiving respective distal ends of respective spider arrangements, and ro... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7273333 | Methods and apparatus for counterbalance-assisted manufacturing operations Methods and apparatus for counterbalanced manufacturing operations are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus for supporting a tool relative to a surface of a workpiece includes a base adapted to be attached to the workpiece, a tool support coupled to the base, ... | 09/25/2007 |
| 7267512 | Power assisted drill press A power assisted drill press having a feed cylinder fed by a variable pressure regulator which allows a user to controllably feed a bit and work material together while activating a drill motor to rotate the bit. An embodiment of the power assisted drill press utili... | 09/11/2007 |
| 7257885 | Apparatus for fastening sand core elements Core sand elements are rapidly and reliably retained by driving one or more smooth surface fasteners, such as staples, nails or brads, into the core elements. In production, after the core sand elements are assembled, the core assemblies are placed on a moving belt ... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7246983 | Pipe racking system The pipe racking system is designed to handle drilling tubulars (primarily drill pipe and drill collars) between the racked or setback position and the well center. The racking system can mechanically grasp a stand of pipe, lift the pipe sufficient for free movement... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7240719 | Die-casting systems and methods The invention provides die casting systems and methods. A die casting system has two body portions, each having a die insert. A die-insert rack that holds the die inserts thereon and is used for positioning the die inserts between the two body portions is also provi... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7213890 | Wheel hub assemblies with anti-rotate feature for use with zero-radius-turning vehicle The present invention provides a hub assembly and a hub fastener anti-rotate apparatus for securing a wheel of vehicle (e.g., a zero-radius-turning lawn mower) to a vehicle drive axle. The anti-rotate apparatus may assist in preventing or substantially limiting loos... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7210209 | System and method for ballizing and measuring a workpiece bore hole A system and method are described for ballizing and measuring a workpiece bore hole. In one embodiment, a ballizing unit having a distal end removably coupled to a ballizing member moves the ballizing member from a first position within the bore hole to a second pos... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7200910 | System and method of disposing a substrate in a housing A method of making a gas treatment device, the method includes projecting a laser line onto a side of substrate from a laser line generator angled away from a viewing source; projecting a laser dot onto the substrate from a laser dot generator located above the view... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7197803 | Fixture and method for aligning a transition Aspects of the invention relate to a fixture and a method to assist in the alignment of the inlet end of a transition duct and a combustor component in a turbine engine. Among other things, the fixture can include a flange adapted for mounting to a combustor compone... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7188547 | Tubular connect/disconnect apparatus An apparatus for rotating a tubular, the apparatus, in at least certain aspects including a frame, a rocker assembly connected to the frame, the rocker assembly including a top rocker arm pivotably mounted to the frame, and a bottom rocker arm pivotably mounted to t... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7185410 | Robotic apparatus and method for mounting a valve stem on a wheel rim An apparatus and method for mounting a valve stem to the rim of an vehicle wheel includes engaging a valve stem with a robotic manipulator, moving the valve stem relative to the rim along a programmable path of travel, coaxially aligning the valve stem with the aper... | 03/06/2007 |