Fuel Cell Components and Integrators, Inc.

Nbg Technologies, Inc.

Techmatics, Inc.

Other

Grumman Aerospace Corporation

Robert L Benoit

Bernard I Rachowitz

Glenn L Spacht

Richard A Bennett

Anthony Mascolo

William F Fahey

Aldo Arena

William E Fahey

Thomas A Barber

Danylo Dudko

Viacheslav Shevchenko

Ludmilla Kistersky

Joseph Lerner

John A Dickson

Lawrence M Scannell

A reliable, rotating, illuminated advertising display unit that utilizes independent display modules housing lights and advertising material. These are easily removed from the base unit for shipping, assembly, and replacement. Optionally, AMLCD, plasma, or similar flat-panel displays may be used in the display modules. The display modules surround a hollow central compartment that may be used for storing, collecting, or displaying products such as food or beverages, or as a trash container. Power is transmitted from the base via a slip ring to the lighting contained in the display modules so as to display advertising or similar matter. The rotational capability is provided via a motor, a gearing arrangement, a central tapered roller bearing, and rollers. The unit's power is provided by AC power when available, or by utilizing a fuel cell, e.g., a proton exchange membrane (PEM), methanol solid oxide, photovoltaic cells, battery, or some combination thereof.

Reliable, rotating, illuminated advertising unit

A pressure vessel or pressurizable canister has a hollow, thin-walled, cylindrical metal shell or tube. Two end caps are hermetically sealed to the respective distal ends of the metal shell by the process of magnetic pulse welding that requires no external heat. The two end caps are made of a metallic alloy such as aluminum. The end caps are each cylindrically shaped and have at least one circumferential recess to accommodate the metal of the shell tube as it deforms about the end caps and forms an intermolecular bond. The canister can hold a pressure of at least 1,800 psi.

Magnetic pulse welder pressure canister

A load bearing structural joint that is fabricated using an electromagnetic process, features a tube that is joined to a fitting of another component. Lightweight materials and thicknesses can be used, because the welding is performed without the adverse effects of annealing or heat. The fabricated structure has an improved strength to weight ratio, and prolonged fatigue life.

Method of fabricating structural joints

A method and apparatus for fabricating uniform splices for stranded cables. A joint for a stranded cable can be formed by inserting the ends of two cables into an electrically conductive splice band which, in turn, is inserted into a coil or inductor. The splice is fabricated by a process known as magnetic pulse forming, or magnetic pulse welding wherein a very large electrical current of short duration is directed through the coil or inductor from a charged capacitor bank. The resulting magnetic field in the coil or inductor induces a magnetic field on the splice band, compressing the splice band uniformly around the circumference of the two cable ends being spliced. In the case of magnetic pulse welding, the splice not only uniformly compresses the stranded cables, but a weld is also created between the inner diameter of the sleeve and the adjacent stranded cables.

Cable splicing method and apparatus

A process for joining high strength metal components by electromagnetic forming techniques. One of the metal components carries high loads or is subjected to combined stresses and strains, thus requiring that it be relatively strong and ductile. EMF or MPW processes are used to join the components, the strength of which is temporarily diminished prior to the joining step. The high strength material is subjected to a retrogressive heating and quenching process along a joined boundary thereof; then electromagnetically joined; and thereafter, the strength of the diminished material is restored to its higher temper and strength.

Method of joining metal components

An apparatus has a single workstation for joining high strength metal components by electromagnetic forming techniques. One of the metal components carries high loads or is subjected to combined stresses and strains, thus requiring that it be relatively strong and ductile. EMF or MPW processes are used to join the components, whose strength is temporarily diminished prior to the joining step. The high strength material is subjected to a retrogressive heating and quenching process along a joined boundary thereof and is then electromagnetically joined. Thereafter, the strength of the diminished material is restored to its higher temper and strength. In a first embodiment, the apparatus uses a single coil for both the heating and electromagnetic bonding of the metal. In a second embodiment, two adjacent coils are used and the material is moved along a work path between the coils.

Apparatus for joining metal components

A method for fabricating an automotive spaceframe using Electromagnetic Pulse Forming (EMF) or Magnetic Pulse Welding (MPW) techniques. The spaceframe can be either an all aluminum structure or a combination of dissimilar materials, such as aluminum and steel. The welding or forming methods can include the use of split coils or split inductors that allow for ease of access to the joints to be bonded in the spaceframe.

Fabricating automotive spaceframes using electromagnetic forming or magnetic pulse welding

A method of forming a tubular frame, e.g., a bicycle frame, from two substantially symmetrical frame-halves utilizes a plurality of interconnected half-tubular elements. Each half-tubular element has an exterior surface, an interior surface, and longitudinal edges that extend between the exterior and interior surfaces in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the half-tubular element. The surfaces of the longitudinal edges of the half-tubular elements are shaped such that corresponding edges of corresponding half-tubular elements in the left and right half-frames may easily be interengaged, and adjusted along the respective longitudinal axes of the half-tubular elements that are being joined. Preferably, the longitudinal free edges are stepped in the radial direction such that each level is substantially planar and smooth along the respective longitudinal axis of the half-tubular element. The longitudinal edge of one of the half-tubular elements may include parallel steps extending in opposite directions to thereby form a groove into which a step of the corresponding longitudinal edge of the corresponding half-tubular element in the other half-frame may be inserted. The latter joint type provides additional reinforcement of the connection of the half-frames. Further reinforcement in the stay area of the bicycle frame may be provided, either in the form of a reinforcement arch positioned within the tubular legs of the stays, or in the form of a one-piece, unitary inner stay element positioned between the outer stay elements that are part of the frame-halves.

Method of joining and reinforcing molded plastic bicycle frames

A pressure vessel, or pressurizable canister is described herein. The canister has a hollow, thin-walled, cylindrical, metal shell. The preferred metal is aluminum, because light weight is a consideration for the vessel. Two end caps are mechanically sealed to the respective distal ends of the metal shell tube by the process of electromagnetic pulse forming. The two end caps are made of a high strength, ductile thermoplastic. The preferred plastic is DELRIN.RTM., which is fabricated from an acetal resin. The plastic end caps are injection molded, and can include reinforcing threads. The end caps are each cylindrically shaped, and have at least one circumferential recess to accommodate the metal of the shell tube as it deforms about the end caps. The tube shrinks into the recess of the end caps, and forms a mechanical seal therewith. An O-ring seal is disposed within at least one circumferential recess of each end cap, to further the ability of the mechanical seal to hold a pressure of at least approximately 300 psi.

Pressure canister

An improved optical putter. The optical putter has a club head whose cross-section is characterized as having four active surfaces: a substantially flat surface for resting the club head upon the green in a first alignment position; a ball-addressing surface; a second, substantially flat, reflective surface for aligning the golf club in a second alignment position; and a substantially flat bottom surface that is substantially perpendicular to the ball-addressing surface. The reflective surface is a semi-circular wedge shape having a sighting line for guiding the golfer to position her or her head and stance. Depending upon the alignment position, the reflecting surface can face upwardly towards the eye of the golfer or towards the cup of the green.

Golf putting device

A method and apparatus for coupling tubular elements of a frame without welding or adhesive bonding. Connection elements are used with which mechanical connections may be accomplished by deforming the tubular element to conform to the shape of its respective connection element. Preferably, the connection element is shaped to be inserted within a hollow end of a tubular element and includes radially inwardly directed recesses. The tubular element is deformed with respect to the recesses, preferably by electromagnetic pulse forming, to thereby lock the tubular element and connection element against relative movement. Such connection elements and method may be used in frames of mobile units such as bicycles, wheelchairs, and walkers. The forming process used in connecting the tubular frame elements may also be used to create ride compliance features in the frame by deforming at least one of the tubular elements to modify its spring constant. The ride compliance features preferably are radially inwardly or outwardly circumferential deformations.

Electromagnetic joint forming method for mobile unit frames

A new method of fabricating the joint between a golf club head and the golf club shaft, and the article fabricated therefrom, is described herein. The golf club head in which the shaft is inserted has a bore hole having a recessed contoured aperture. The hollow, metal, or electrically conductive golf club shaft is placed into the bore hole of the club head, and an electric coil is placed inside the shaft. The electric coil is electrically pulsed, causing the shaft to expand outwardly to fit the contour of the aperture. The electro-formed, mechanically-bonded shaft is now permanently and integrally anchored to the golf club head. The club head aperture is additionally fitted with a plurality of vertically-disposed grooves along the vertical shaft axis. These vertical grooves capture the shaft as it expands outwardly to the internal surface during electromagnetic forming. The electromagnetically-formed shaft expands into these grooves and is prevented from rotationally or angularly slipping about the club head. In another embodiment, a non-conductive shaft can be used. The non-conductive shaft contains a conductive sleeve that is electrically formed thereon, and is bonded to the club head by a second electro-forming process.

Golf club fabrication process and article

A method and apparatus for golfers, a training aid for detecting and indicating an out of balance condition of stance during practice swings. The device senses weight at the outer edge of the aft shoe of the user, calibrates or sets the weight sensed in a balanced stance condition as a null value or zero value, and signals the user when the weight then exceeds the null value.

Golfer's foot balance training aid

A method of aligning and addressing a golf ball upon a putting green in order to stroke and putt the golf ball into a cup of the green, comprising the steps of: a) resting a golf club upon a surface of a putting green with its shaft disposed at an acute angle with respect to the surface, in order to position a golfer with respect to a club head of the golf club, wherein his or her eye is directed directly over a reflective surface of the club head when addressing a golf ball, and a grip of said shaft being extended at an angle and adjacently to the side of the golfer; b) presenting the golf club in an addressing position, so that the club head is adjacent a golf ball, and is positioned to putt the golf ball, and the grip of the shaft is disposed in front of the golfer; c) optically aligning the club head towards a cup of the green by sighting a reflection of the cup upon a reflective surface on the club head, and adjusting the club head direction; and d) optically controlling the stroke of the club head by sighting a reflection of the golf ball upon the club head and aligning the club head with respect to the golf ball.

Golf putting method

A new method is disclosed of fabricating the joint between a golf club post and a drive shaft, as is the article fabricated therefrom. The golf club post to which the shaft attaches includes a circumferential recessed contour. The hollow, metal, electrically conductive golf club shaft is placed over the post, and an electric coil is placed around the shaft and post juncture. The electric coil is electrically pulsed, causing the shaft to shrink fit to the contour of the post. The electro-formed, mechanically bonded shaft is now permanently and integrally anchored to the golf club post. In a second embodiment, a non-conductive shaft of carbon fiber, for example, is electromagnetically bonded to the post, using a metallic ring, which is electromagnetically formed around the non-metallic shaft and post. In a third embodiment, the club head post is additionally fitted with at least one vertically disposed groove along the vertical axis of the post. These vertical grooves capture the shaft as it shrinks to the post surface during electromagnetic forming. The electromagnetically formed shaft shrinks into these grooves, and is prevented from rotationally or angularly slipping about the post.

Growing community of inventors

Oakdale, NY, United States of America

Robert L Benoit