Joseph M Fridy

US Patent:

7718918, May 18, 2010

Filed:

Oct 7, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/246820

Inventors:

Donald J. Spinella - Greensburg PA, US
John R. Brockenbrough - Murrysville PA, US
Joseph M. Fridy - Pittsburgh PA, US

Assignee:

Alcoa Inc - Alcoa Center PA

International Classification:

B23K 11/24

US Classification:

219110, 219 868, 219 8651, 219 861

Abstract:

A production line method of resistance welding comprising the steps of contacting a metal sheet with an electrode having an initial contact surface area at a force to provide a pressure to the metal sheet; applying a current though the electrode to the metal sheet; measuring dimensional changes of the electrode; correlating dimensional changes in the electrode to changes in the initial contact surface area; and adjusting the force to compensate for the changes in the initial contact surface area of the electrode to maintain pressure to the metal sheet. The force may be adjusted by stepping the force to maintain pressure to the faying surface of the metal sheet to be welded. By maintaining the pressure at the faying surface the life cycle of the electrodes may be increased without forming discrepant welds.

US Patent:

7854362, Dec 21, 2010

Filed:

Mar 14, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/048696

Inventors:

Israel Stol - Pittsburgh PA, US
John W. Cobes - Lower Burrell PA, US
Trent A. Chontas - Braddock Hills PA, US
Joseph M. Fridy - Pittsburgh PA, US

Assignee:

Alcoa Inc. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

B23K 20/12

US Classification:

2281121

Abstract:

A multi-shouldered friction stir welding tool comprises an integral shank-pin unit having a plurality of pin portions for driving into a plurality of joints. A shank portion of the shank-pin unit is for attachment to an optional axial tension rod. A plurality of friction stir welding modules comprise a pair of shoulders that is connected to the shank-pin unit. The proximal end of each shoulder faces the pin portion of the shank-pin unit, whereby the shoulder and pin(s) rotate in unison. A pair of split collars or a pair of nuts is connected to the shank-pin unit and faces the distal end of each shoulder. The plurality of friction stir welding modules are connected to each other and rotate in unison to simultaneously make a plurality of parallel welds.

US Patent:

8256657, Sep 4, 2012

Filed:

Mar 16, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/601501

Inventors:

Israel Stol - Pittsburgh PA, US
John W. Cobes - Lower Burrell PA, US
Trent A. Chontas - Braddock Hills PA, US
Joseph M. Fridy - Pittsburgh PA, US

Assignee:

Alcoa Inc. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

B23K 20/12

US Classification:

228 21, 2281121

Abstract:

A multi-shouldered friction stir welding tool () comprises an integral shank-pin unit () having a plurality of pin portions on the shank-pin unit, where the plurality of pin portions for driving into a plurality of joints to perform a friction stir welding operation on the corresponding plurality of joints and, where a shank portion of the shank-pin unit is for attachment to an optional axial tension rod (), each of the friction stir welding modules comprises a pair of shoulders () that is connected to the shank-pin unit where each shoulder has a distal end and a proximal end, where the proximal end of each shoulder faces the pin portion of the shank-pin unit, whereby the shoulder and pin(s) rotate in unison, and a pair of split collars or a pair of nuts that is connected to the shank-pin unit and faces the distal end of each shoulder, where the plurality of friction stir welding modules are connected to each other whereby the modules rotate in unison to simultaneously make a plurality of parallel welds. In addition, a method of friction stir welding a plurality of joints simultaneously comprising using at least one multi-shouldered friction stir welding tool is provided.

US Patent:

20060238980, Oct 26, 2006

Filed:

Apr 21, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/111333

Inventors:

Rabindra Bhattacharyya - Export PA, US
Joseph Fridy - Pittsburgh PA, US
Domenic Ghiardi - Avonmore PA, US
Glenn Jarvis - Allison Park PA, US
John Siemon - Cheswick PA, US
Peter Vranka - Apollo PA, US

International Classification:

H05K 7/20

US Classification:

361700000

Abstract:

The present invention provides an electronics case including a housing having at least one sidewall having an air passage, wherein the air passage includes an intake and an exhaust; a heat producing structure contained by the housing; and at least one heat pipe in conductive communication with the heat producing structure and the sidewalls having the air passage. The air passage within the sidewall produces a chimney effect that vents heated air from the housing. The chimney effect may be produced by a sidewall having a fluted sidewall.

US Patent:

20070131655, Jun 14, 2007

Filed:

Dec 9, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/298216

Inventors:

Donald Spinella - Greensburg PA, US
John Brockenbrough - Murrysville PA, US
Joseph Fridy - Pittsburgh PA, US

International Classification:

B23K 31/02
B23K 20/00
B23K 31/12

US Classification:

219061400, 219061500, 228102000, 228103000

Abstract:

The present invention provides an improved method of resistance welding comprising the steps of contacting a metal sheet with an electrode having an initial contact surface area at a force to provide a pressure to the metal sheet; applying a current through the electrode to the metal sheet; measuring dimensional changes of the electrode; correlating dimensional changes in the electrode to changes in the initial contact surface area; and adjusting the force to compensate for the changes in the initial contact surface area of the electrode to maintain pressure to the metal sheet. The force may be adjusted by stepping the force to maintain pressure to the faying surface of the metal sheet to be welded. By maintaining the pressure at the faying surface the life cycle of the electrodes may be increased without forming discrepant welds. The current may also be stepped to further extend electrode life.

US Patent:

20080217377, Sep 11, 2008

Filed:

Oct 5, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/868262

Inventors:

Israel Stol - Pittsburgh PA, US
John W. Cobes - Lower Burrell PA, US
Joseph M. Fridy - Pittsburgh PA, US
Trent A. Chontas - Braddock Hills PA, US

Assignee:

ALCOA INC. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

B23K 20/12

US Classification:

228 23

Abstract:

Friction stir welding tool to facilitate stress reduction within the tool that may include a body, a pin, a tension member, and an end assembly, the tension member and end assembly facilitating axial compression of the pin. The tension member may be decoupled from the pin and/or body of the tool via one or more decoupling members. The end assembly may comprise spring members to provide an axial force to the tension member. The pin may include various features to facilitate stress reduction proximal the pin.

US Patent:

20100071197, Mar 25, 2010

Filed:

Sep 22, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/234925

Inventors:

Joseph M. Fridy - Pittsburgh PA, US
Daniel Sarafin - Baden PA, US
Robert E. Bombalski - Pittsburgh PA, US

International Classification:

H01P 11/00

US Classification:

29600

Abstract:

A method of making an integral antenna from a metal laminate is provided. The metal laminate comprises a top metal layer, a middle thermoplastic layer, and a bottom metal layer. A portion of the top metal layer of the metal laminate is isolated to create an antenna structure so that the antenna remains a part of the metal laminate to create an integral antenna.

US Patent:

20100089873, Apr 15, 2010

Filed:

Oct 14, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/250776

Inventors:

Joseph M. Fridy - Pittsburgh PA, US
Rabindra K. Bhattacharyya - Export PA, US
Phillip A. Hollinshead - Harrison City PA, US

International Classification:

B44C 1/22

US Classification:

216108

Abstract:

A method of producing a metal structure with a grooved wicking surface is provided. An aluminum alloy is provided that is thermomechanically processed to produce grain size and shape suitable for wicking. Then, the alloy is heat treated to produce a continuous etchable phase on the grain boundaries. The alloy is then etched with a solvent that dissolves the continuous etchable phase on the grain boundaries to produce the metal structure with a grooved wicking surface. In addition, the method of producing a laminate metal structure with a grooved wicking surface is provided. The laminate is provided with at least a top layer and a bottom layer where the top layer and bottom layer are made of an aluminum alloy. The laminate is thermomechanically processed to produce grain size and shape spanning the entire depth of the top layer suitable for wicking. Then, the laminate is heat treated to produce a continuous etchable phase on the grain boundaries within the top layer. The laminate is then etched with a solvent that dissolves the continuous etchable phase on the grain boundaries of the top layer to produce the metal structure with a grooved wicking surface where the grooves have a depth equal to the thickness of the top layer where the bottom layer is substantially free of the etchable phase on the grain boundaries.