Patents Examined by Erin E McGrath
  • Patent number: 11470693
    Abstract: An electrode is embedded in a piece of ceramic material having a population of conduction band electrons. Applying a voltage bias to the electrode causes electrons to flow towards or away from the electrode to form a positively charged sheath either a distance apart from or adjacent the electrode, depending the polarity of the bias. The electron flow also forms a negatively charged sheath lying opposite the positively charged sheath, and an electrically neutral region lying between the two sheaths. Electromagnetic radiation impinging the ceramic material heats the ceramic where the radiation is absorbed by the electron population. As the incident radiation is absorbed in proportion to the electron density, heating is increased in the negatively charged sheath, relative to the other parts of the ceramic material. The location of heating is controlled by controlling the magnitude and polarity of the voltage bias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Government of the United States as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Brad Winston Hoff, David Michael French
  • Patent number: 11466862
    Abstract: A steam generator and a cooking device including the same, according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a water supply pipe into which steam water is introduced, a heating chamber having a chamber body and a chamber cover, and a steam heater configured to provide heat, wherein the steam heater is provided to be embedded in the chamber body and the chamber body includes a plurality of partition walls protruding in one direction along an inner peripheral surface to form a Z-shaped steam flow path through which supply water introduced into the chamber body and steam generated by heating the supply water flow. Therefore, the heat transfer, which had been concentrated only in a predetermined region, may be dispersed by the flow path formed in the chamber body, thereby stably generating the steam even in repetitive steam generation operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Eunkyoung Yoon, Jaekyung Yang, Hakjoo Lim, Yongsoo Lee
  • Patent number: 11466868
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a steam system for a steam cooking appliance. The steam system includes a steam generator and a precipitator. The precipitator is arranged above the steam generator. The steam generator comprises two vertical heating pipe sections. Upper ends of the heating pipe sections are connected to a bottom side of the precipitator. Lower ends of the heating pipe sections are connected by a transverse pipe section. At least the heating pipe sections are at least partially enclosed by one of more heating elements. An inlet pipe is connected to the transverse pipe section at one end and connected or connectable to a water reservoir or water pump at another end. A return pipe is interconnected between the bottom side of the precipitator and the transverse pipe section. Further, the present invention relates to a corresponding steam cooking appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N. V.
    Inventor: Lorenzo Gattei
  • Patent number: 11464081
    Abstract: A power supply section for an e-vapor device includes a power supply section housing including a power supply portion and a heater assembly portion. The power supply portion includes a power supply, and the heater assembly portion includes a heating element and a support. The power supply is configured to selectively supply power to the heating element. The heating element includes a planar portion and first and second lead portions. The planar portion includes at least one filament. The first and second lead portions extend away from the planar portion. The support may support the heating element in the power supply section housing. The support includes a first slot and a second slot, and the first lead portion extends through the first slot, and the second lead portion extends through the second slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Arie Holtz
  • Patent number: 11454836
    Abstract: A laser processing apparatus disclosed in the present application includes: an optical deflection unit capable of changing a deflection direction of and outgoing energy of an incoming laser pulse by changes of a frequency of and an amplitude of a driving signal to be supplied; and a control unit configured to supply driving signals with amplitudes corresponding to respective frequencies. In a laser processing apparatus configured to process a workpiece by leading outgoing laser pulse of the optical deflection unit to the workpiece and irradiating the workpiece with the laser pulse, as the amplitude corresponding to each of the frequencies, the control unit supplies an amplitude having the ratio that is close to the lowest ratio among ratios of the outgoing energy with respect to the incoming energy of the laser pulse at an amplitude having the largest outgoing energy of the optical deflection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: VIA MECHANICS, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuya Matsumoto, Kazuo Watanabe, Atsushi Sakamoto, Masanori Sato, Mitsuru Kato, Masaru Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 11457513
    Abstract: A heating element including a preformed ceramic tubular body having a hollow cavity centrally located within, a heat-generating component disposed within the hollow cavity, and an air-displacement material disposed within the hollow cavity. The preformed ceramic tubular body is one of aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride, and silicon nitride ceramic. The heat-generating component may be in electrical contact with the ceramic tubular body. The air-displacement material is magnesium oxide. Further, the heat-generating component and the air-displacement material are disposed within the hollow cavity of the preformed ceramic tubular body by way of at least one of a vibrating fill and a centrifuge for compaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Bradford White Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Lutz, II, Mark A. Figurski, Daniel James Thomas, Benjamin James Hull
  • Patent number: 11440138
    Abstract: A process of welding a superalloy is provided. The process includes applying a first amount of energy to a substrate comprised of the superalloy to form a melt pool along a length of the substrate and in a weld direction. The process also comprises advancing the melt pool in the weld direction along the length via the first amount of energy, the melt pool having a width transverse to the weld direction. Further, the process includes applying a second amount of energy to the substrate that extends outside the width of the melt pool at a trailing edge of the melt pool, which second amount of energy causes, relative to a process without application of the second amount of energy: broadening of the width of the melt pool at the trailing edge of the melt pool as the melt pool advances in the weld direction; and reducing segregation of artifacts and stress concentration along a centerline of the width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald J. Bruck, Ahmed Kamel
  • Patent number: 11382449
    Abstract: A steam generator and a cooking apparatus having a steam generator are provided. The steam generator may include a steam generation tube; an inflow tube configured to provide a passage so that water is introduced into the steam generation tube; at least one heater disposed on an outer surface of the steam generation tube to heat the water and generate steam; a discharge tube disposed above the steam generation tube to provide a passage so that the steam is discharged; and an adaptor unit configured to branch discharge water and the steam discharged from the discharge tube. The discharge tube may have an inner diameter that gradually increases in an upward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Soochan Lee, Jaekyung Yang, Haksoon Yang, Yongsoo Lee
  • Patent number: 11369709
    Abstract: An electrical wall socket mounted aroma diffuser with a carrier loaded aromatic bottle is disclosed. The carrier of the carrier loaded aromatic bottle uses capillary pores to absorb the aromatic fluid so that the aromatic fluid will not flow out of the aroma diffuser even if the aroma diffuser dumps. When the aromatic fluid is used up, a new aromatic fluid can be easily and quickly added to the carrier for application. Therefore, the electrical wall socket mounted aroma diffuser of the invention is safe to use. The carrier can be used repeatedly with a new supply of aromatic fluid. It does not need to clean the part of the aroma diffuser that accommodates the aromatic fluid. The user can detach the carrier loaded aromatic bottle from the bottle holder for the replacement of another carrier loaded aromatic bottle that is filled up with a different smell of aromatic fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: DONGGUAN YIH TEH ELECTRIC PRODUCTS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ming Jen Hsiao
  • Patent number: 11371386
    Abstract: A method for producing a diffusion cooling hole extending between a wall having a first wall surface and a second wall surface includes forming a cooling hole inlet at the first wall surface, forming a cooling hole outlet at the second wall surface, forming a metering section downstream from the inlet and forming a multi-lobed diffusing section between the metering section and the outlet. The inlet, outlet, metering section and multi-lobed diffusing section are formed by laser drilling, particle beam machining, fluid jet guided laser machining, mechanical machining, masking and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gordon Miller Reed, Paul R. Faughnan, Jr., John Quitter
  • Patent number: 11357934
    Abstract: At least one example embodiment discloses a pod for an electronic vapor (e-vapor) apparatus. The pod includes a pre-vapor formulation compartment configured to hold a pre-vapor formulation therein, a device compartment in fluidic communication with the pre-vapor formulation compartment, the device compartment including a processor configured to monitor the pre-vapor formulation compartment and identify the pre-vapor formulation and a vapor channel extending from the device compartment and through the pre-vapor formulation compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Eric Hawes, Raymond Lau, Alistair Bramley
  • Patent number: 11350671
    Abstract: A method of detecting a hand-to-mouth (HMG) gesture with an e-vaping device includes detecting movements of the e-vaping device; generating quaternions based on the detected movements; generating movement features based on the generated quaternions; applying the generated movement features to a classifier; and determining whether the detected movements correspond to an HMG based on an output of the classifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Eric Hawes, Raymond Lau, Terry Bache, Niall Gallagher
  • Patent number: 11325200
    Abstract: A wire feeding system includes a first feeder provided with a first feeding motor that feeds a wire in a wire feeding direction, a second feeder spaced apart from the first feeder in the wire feeding direction and provided with a second feeding motor that feeds the wire in the wire feeding direction, and a controller that controls the rotation speed of the first feeding motor based on a first speed command and controls the rotation speed of the second feeding motor based on a second speed command. The controller gradually changes the second speed command over time when an amount of change of the second speed command is not within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: DAIHEN Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Sakaguchi, Hideki Shimogiku, Koichi Miyabe
  • Patent number: 11305370
    Abstract: In an arc welding control method for controlling welding in which a material of a base material is a galvanized steel sheet, a feed speed of a welding wire is alternately switched between a forward feed period and a reverse feed period, and a short circuit period and an arc period are repeated, during the arc period, a first arc period Ta1 during which a first arc current Ia1 is applied, a second arc period Ta2 during which a second arc current Ia2 is applied, and a third arc period Ta3 during which a third arc current Ia3 is applied are switched over time, and it is controlled so as to be Ia1>Ia2>Ia3. Constant voltage control is performed during the second arc period Ta2, and constant current control is performed during the first arc period Ta1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: DAIHEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kohei Ono, Toshiaki Nakamata
  • Patent number: 11273512
    Abstract: An ignition device for welding equipment includes a capacitor, a transformer, a high voltage output circuit connected to a secondary winding of the transformer, a discharging switch enabling discharge of the capacitor to a primary winding of the transformer, a charger and an operation control circuit that controls the charger and the discharging switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: ESAB AB
    Inventor: Andrzej Mnich
  • Patent number: 11272737
    Abstract: A vapor generation unit is for use in a non-combustion-type flavor inhaler that includes a wick, a wick support, a heater, a holder, and a positioning mechanism. The wick holds a liquid and is attached to the wick support. The heater includes a housing space that houses a wick assembly that is formed from the wick and the wick support and a heater element that is contacted by the wick. The holder is assembled on the heater element side of an assembly that is formed from the heater and the wick assembly. The positioning mechanism makes it possible for the wick assembly to be housed in the housing space such that the wick is not in contact with the heater element and moves the wick assembly as housed in the housing space so as to position the wick assembly such that the wick is in contact with the heater element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Tomoichi Watanabe, Toshiki Kudo
  • Patent number: 11267064
    Abstract: A method of controlling arc welding with a consumable electrode includes repeating the following periods in sequence: a short-circuit welding period to perform short-circuit arc welding; a pulse welding period to perform pulse welding; and a cooling period in which the welding current output is zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuya Furuyama, Shigeki Yonemori, Atsuhiro Kawamoto, Junji Fujiwara, Noriyuki Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 11267078
    Abstract: A laser cutting machine including an X1 axis provided with clamps which make it possible to firmly grip a material to be cut in sheets or on reels (the blank) enabling the material to be moved from left to right; a Y-axis: perpendicular to the X1 axis, enabling the movement of a laser cutting head; an X2 axis with at least one pair of clamping rollers enabling the material to be moved to the left or to the right; a straightening/de-cambering/levelling system placed beside this X2 axis comprising an optimised number of rollers; a unit incorporating the X2 axis and the straightening system which can be moved upwards or downwards, and a motorized discharge table enabling the cut elements (scrap and good pieces) to be discharged at a precise point, delimiting a picking zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: INTERVER MANAGEMENT S.A.
    Inventor: Pierre Vandevelde
  • Patent number: 11266270
    Abstract: A food processor assembly is provided with a bowl with a substrate sized to be supported upon a blender base, and a sidewall to collectively define a bowl cavity to receive food products. A planetary gear transmission is supported upon the bowl substrate with a rotary input sized to receive a blender rotary output. A first transmission rotary output extends into the bowl cavity to provide a reduced rotation from the rotary input. A blade is connected to the first transmission rotary output for rotation relative to the bowl substrate to perform a cutting operation to a food product. The blade has a first cutting edge formed adjacent the first transmission rotary output to perform a continuous cutting operation to the food products. The blade has a second cutting edge spaced radially from the first transmission rotary output to perform a sequential cutting operation to the food products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Vita-Mix Management Corporation
    Inventors: Rebecca Hammond, David Kolar
  • Patent number: 11260466
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and/or methods for welding systems that provide independent control of a contact tip of a welding torch are disclosed. The welding system can include, for example, a welding torch that includes, for example, a contact tip and a pivot in which the contact tip is coupled to the pivot and is configured to provide wire that is fed through the welding torch during a welding operation. The contact tip and the pivot are configured to independently move the contact tip of the welding torch around the pivot during the welding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Christopher Hsu