Kenneth L Pierce

US Patent:

8484553, Jul 9, 2013

Filed:

May 5, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/839320

Inventors:

John J. Lloyd - Ann Arbor MI, US
David L. White - Pickney MI, US
Paul B. Grosso - Austin TX, US
Peter G. Bartlett - Gregory MI, US
Robert M. Lambert - Virginia Beach VA, US
Kenneth D. Pierce - Hampton VA, US
Samuel S. Brow - Saline MI, US
Joyce M. Svechota - Ann Arbor MI, US

Assignee:

Arbortext, Inc. - Ann Arbor MI

International Classification:

G06F 17/00
G06F 3/00

US Classification:

715236, 715205, 715234, 715249, 715744

Abstract:

A system and method for defining specifications for outputting content to multiple formats. More specifically, a system and method for creating a single multi-purpose stylesheet file from a single user interface, the single multi-purpose stylesheet being capable of designing multiple output media formats. For example, the multi-purpose stylesheet may convert input XML content to HTML, PDF, PostScript, WML, or other output formats. The method may include creating or modifying a multipurpose stylesheet containing formatting rules corresponding to various properties of different output media formats. A user can configure the multi-purpose stylesheet by selecting different formatting properties for different output media formats.

US Patent:

20100186564, Jul 29, 2010

Filed:

Dec 9, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/634271

Inventors:

Kenneth R. Pierce - Arlington Heights IL, US

Assignee:

ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC. - Glenview IL

International Classification:

B26D 5/00
B27B 13/00
B26D 7/02

US Classification:

83 72, 836511, 83788, 83452

Abstract:

A device for cutting a length of pipe includes a clamp portion for clamping around a length of pipe and a bow moveable with respect to the clamp portion that retains a loop of diamond embedded wire. The device further includes a feed for driving the bow with respect to the clamp portion and a detector for detecting bending of the wire and a control responsive to the detector for controlling feed rates. The device is made of modular parts and has synchronizing arms for clamping around a length of pipe. In one embodiment, the wheels are retained in enclosures with slots through which the cutting wire passes.

US Patent:

20140026731, Jan 30, 2014

Filed:

Mar 6, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/787401

Inventors:

Kenneth R. Pierce - Arlington Heights IL, US

Assignee:

ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC. - Glenview IL

International Classification:

B26D 3/16
B26D 7/26

US Classification:

83744, 83745

Abstract:

Pipe machining apparatuses, such as traveling pipe cutters, are provided. One such pipe machining apparatus may cut or bevel a hollow vessel while traveling around the vessel, and include a frame including a top end and a bottom end with the bottom end adjacent an outer surface of the vessel. The apparatus also includes a cable wrapped around the vessel and a pair of rollers coupled to the frame with each roller defining a groove therein for receiving the cable. Each roller rotates about an axis that extends generally parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the vessel. The cable is positioned in each groove of the pair of rollers and each axis is positioned between the cable and the outer surface of the vessel. The cable is tensioned to provide a force on the frame in a direction toward the outer surface of the vessel.

US Patent:

56050844, Feb 25, 1997

Filed:

Nov 29, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/564781

Inventors:

Kenneth R. Pierce - Lake Zurich IL

Assignee:

The E. H. Wachs Company - Wheeling IL

International Classification:

B23B 516

US Classification:

82113

Abstract:

A squaring machine has an elongate housing with a rotatable spindle extending from one end thereof and attached to which is a tool for squaring the end of work piece. At the opposite end of the housing are first and second feed members, the first feed member in the form of a screw which is locked against axial movement within the housing, and the second feed member in the form a nut which is locked against rotation with respect to the housing. The feed nut is rotatably connected to an end of the spindle such that rotation of the feed screw will cause axial movement of the spindle. Also, the machine includes a first and second removable retainers, each of which has a pair of opposing jaws for clamping around a cylindrical work piece, however, the jaws of the first retainer are for grasping a work piece of a different size than the jaws of the second retainer. Within each of the pairs of jaws are a pair of replaceable shoes and each of the pairs of replaceable shoes is adapted to retain a work piece of a different size, such that the machine can be used to square a wide range of sizes of work pieces. In a second embodiment, a collet for retaining a work piece comprises a plurality of wedge segments, and each of the wedge segments has inner and outer surfaces which, when the segments are assembled, form a collet having a cylindrical bore and a frustoconical outer surface, and the segments are retained in aligned relationship within a nut attachable to the machine.

US Patent:

61126276, Sep 5, 2000

Filed:

Oct 15, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/950686

Inventors:

Kenneth R. Pierce - Lake Zurich IL

Assignee:

The E. H. Wachs Company - Wheeling IL

International Classification:

B23B 516

US Classification:

82113

Abstract:

A squaring machine has an elongate housing with a rotatable spindle extending from one end thereof and attached to which is a tool for squaring the end of work piece. At the opposite end of the housing are first and second feed members, the first feed member in the form of a screw which is locked against axial movement within the housing, and the second feed member in the form a nut which is locked against rotation with respect to the housing. The feed nut is rotatably connected to an end of the spindle such that rotation of the feed screw will cause axial movement of the spindle. Also, the machine includes a first and second removable retainers, each of which has a pair of opposing jaws for clamping around a cylindrical work piece, however, the jaws of the first retainer are for grasping a work piece of a different size than the jaws of the second retainer. Within each of the pairs of jaws are a pair of replaceable shoes and each of the pairs of replaceable shows is adapted to retain a work piece of a different size, such that the machine can be used to square a wide range of sizes of work pieces.

US Patent:

56924224, Dec 2, 1997

Filed:

Nov 29, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/564782

Inventors:

Kenneth R. Pierce - Lake Zurich IL

Assignee:

The E. H. Wachs Company - Wheeling IL

International Classification:

B23B 322

US Classification:

82113

Abstract:

A squaring machine has an elongate housing with a rotatable spindle extending from one end thereof and attached to which is a tool for squaring the end of work piece. At the opposite end of the housing are first and second feed members, the first feed member in the form of a screw which is locked against axial movement within the housing, and the second feed member in the form a nut which is locked against rotation with respect to the housing. The feed nut is rotatably connected to an end of the spindle such that rotation of the feed screw will cause axial movement of the spindle. Also, the machine includes a first and second removable retainers, each of which has a pair of opposing jaws for clamping around a cylindrical work piece, however, the jaws of the first retainer are for grasping a work piece of a different size than the jaws of the second retainer. Within each of the pairs of jaws are a pair of replaceable shoes and each of the pairs of replaceable shoes is adapted to retain a work piece of a different size, such that the machine can be used to square a wide range of sizes of work pieces. In a second embodiment, a collet for retaining a work piece comprises a plurality of wedge segments, and each of the wedge segments has inner and outer surfaces which, when the segments are assembled, form a collet having a cylindrical bore and a frustoconical outer surface, and the segments are retained in aligned relationship within a nut attachable to the machine.

US Patent:

56198930, Apr 15, 1997

Filed:

Aug 10, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/513217

Inventors:

Kenneth R. Pierce - Lake Zurich IL

Assignee:

The E. H. Wachs Company - Wheeling IL

International Classification:

B23B 516

US Classification:

82113

Abstract:

A squaring machine has an elongate generally cylindrical housing with an axially mounted motor at one end of the housing which rotates a shaft extending through the axis of the housing. The shaft is longitudinally moveable within the housing, and a non-rotatable inner sleeve is fitted around the shaft and is fixed for longitudinal movement with the shaft. The housing has a feed ring which is axially slidable but non-rotatably fixed around the tubular section, and a pin extends through a slot in the housing and the pin is connected to both the feed ring and the inner sleeve such that the feed ring, the inner sleeve, and the shaft move longitudinally in unison with respect to the housing. Rotation of a feed nut, which threadably engages the feed ring, causes axial movement of the feed ring along the tubular portion of the housing, and simultaneous axial movement of the shaft.

US Patent:

20220243838, Aug 4, 2022

Filed:

Sep 21, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/480552

Inventors:

- GLENVIEW IL, US
Michael W. Gearhart - Schaumburg IL, US
Karl G. Kopija - Joliet IL, US
Ramunas Jonaitis - Naperville IL, US
Kenneth R. Pierce - Arlington Heights IL, US

Assignee:

ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC. - GLENVIEW IL

International Classification:

F16K 31/04
B25B 21/00
B25B 23/147

Abstract:

A valve operating device includes a defining a transverse axis extending from a first end to a second end. A motor is positioned within the housing. The motor includes a motor output shaft configured to drive at least one gear disposed within the housing. The at least one gear is configured to rotate a key extending substantially perpendicular to the transverse axis to engage a valve. A motor controller unit drives the motor in either a clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction at a variable motor speed to deliver up to a torque limit. A user interface comprises a first motor activation throttle configured to drive the motor in the clockwise direction at a user-controlled speed when activated. A second motor activation throttle drives the motor at a user-controlled speed in the counter-clockwise direction when activated.