Thomas P Mealey

US Patent:

52900827, Mar 1, 1994

Filed:

Jul 6, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/908373

Inventors:

Harold D. Palmer - Colorado Springs CO
Daren D. Palmer - Colorado Springs CO
Thomas P. Mealey - Colorado Springs CO

International Classification:

B25J 1506

US Classification:

294 641

Abstract:

A hand held tool for grasping and moving light weight objects includes a battery powered vacuum. Upon pressing an actuator, an electrical circuit is completed, activating the vacuum pump. The vacuum pump draws air from a valving system, causing air to be drawn through a nozzle. A variety of gripping devices may be attached to the nozzle, so that air is also drawn through the attached gripping device when the vacuum pump is activated. As a result, the gripping device may be placed in proximity to a light weight object, so that activation of the vacuum pump results in that object being held against the gripping device, for ease of movement, until the vacuum pump is deactivated.

US Patent:

48135895, Mar 21, 1989

Filed:

Apr 5, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/178030

Inventors:

Harold D. Palmer - Colorado Springs CO
Daren D. Palmer - Colorado Springs CO
Thomas P. Mealey - Pueblo CO

International Classification:

B23K 3100
B23K 112

US Classification:

228119

Abstract:

Leaded and leadless surface mounted devices are removed from or attached to a printed circuit board at various locations, without interfering with or adversely affecting other chips on the printed circuit board. The method of removal involves placing a tool on the substrate, comprising a rigid plate containing a hole, and a hollow tube extending beneath the hole from the rigid plate to the substrate. In this way a surface mounted device to be removed may be surrounded completely by the hollow tube, without encompassing adjacent chips. When heat is directed through the hole in the rigid plate and through the hollow tube to the surface mounted device, the soldered connections attaching the surface mounted device to the board may be melted. A disconnecting means is utilized to remove the surface mounted device from the substrate at the moment the soldered connections are melted or, in the case of non-eutectic solder, changed to a plastic phase. The same tool may be used to facilitate the attachment of a surface mounted device to a printed circuit board, by applying hot gas to the component to be attached, through the hollow tube surrounding that component, as solder is applied to form a plurality of soldered connections.

US Patent:

51061392, Apr 21, 1992

Filed:

Jul 16, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/553855

Inventors:

Harold D. Palmer - Colorado Springs CO
Daren D. Palmer - Colorado Springs CO
Thomas P. Mealey - Pueblo CO

International Classification:

B66C 102
B23P 1904

US Classification:

294 641

Abstract:

Light-weight items or components may be picked-up and moved from space restricted areas. The method of lifting and placing such items involves the use of a hand-held tool, comprising a hollow tube containing a suction creating device, which suction creating device may be engaged by pressing an actuator member located in a hole in the hollow tube. A tip is attached to an open end of the hollow tube, so that air is expelled from and drawn into the suction creating device in the hollow tube through the tip. A gripping member is removably attached to the tip. The gripping member comprises a suction cup, an extension tube, and a fitting by which the gripping member is attached to the tip. A variety of gripping members, with suction cups of varying sizes and extension tubes of differing angles, may be used with the pick-up device. After expelling air from the suction creating device by use of the actuator member, the pick-up tool is lowered onto the item to be picked up, so that the suction cup comes into contact with that item.