Patents by Inventor Brian Ralphs

Brian Ralphs has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20160068731
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method to improve miscibility in refrigeration, air conditioning, heat pump or power cycle systems comprising charging a refrigeration, air conditioning or heat pump system with a refrigerant composition; wherein the refrigerant composition comprises at least one refrigerant and a lubricant comprising at least one perfluoropolyether and at least one non-fluorinated lubricant, provided that the refrigerant composition has no more than two liquid phases over the range of the composition and over a range of temperature from about ?40° C. to about +60° C. Also disclosed is a refrigeration, air conditioning, heat pump, or power cycle system containing said refrigerant composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: BARBARA HAVILAND MINOR, BRIAN RALPH ENGLER, THOMAS JOSEPH LECK, GREGORY A. BELL, JON LEE HOWELL, KONSTANTINOS KONTOMARIS
  • Publication number: 20150051037
    Abstract: A motor vehicle 10 includes a hydromechanical powersplit transmission 11, a prime mover 13, an engine drive shaft 14, drive wheels 15, a differential 16, a differential drive shaft 17, and frame rails 18. The transmission 11 includes a connecting plate 25 having a hydraulic side 25a with a pressurized hydraulic chamber 36 filled with hydraulic fluid and a gear set side 25b with an atmospheric pressure gear side chamber 37 partially filled with lubricating oil. The connecting plate 25 provides a hydraulic manifold. A prime mover input shaft 41, 62 extends through the hydraulic chamber 36 and connecting plate 25 and is drivingly connected to one of the planetary gear components 71. Hydraulic pump motor units 42, 43 include hydraulic pump motor unit drive shafts 44, 45 that extend through connecting plate 25 and are drivingly connected to planetary gear components 71.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: PARKER-HANNIFIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph Kovach, Matthew Simon, Stephen Horsfall, Brian Ralph, Thomas Finsel, Christopher Phillips, John Loeffler
  • Patent number: 8636449
    Abstract: A method of drilling one or more holes, substantially in situ, in a turbomachine casing includes locating piping including at least one vacuum head within the turbomachine casing in proximity to a hole to be drilled; drilling at least one hole in the casing such that drill chips or shavings caused by the drilling are collected in the vacuum head; and applying a vacuum through the piping to the at least one vacuum head to thereby remove the drill chips or shavings collected in the vacuum head to a location outside the turbomachine casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew Thomas Hynous, Brian Ralph Thompson
  • Patent number: 8538526
    Abstract: A rate-adaptive pacemaker and a method for its operation in which the response factor for a minute ventilation sensor or other type of exertion level sensor is automatically set during a parameter adjustment mode that utilizes an activity level measurement to determine when the patient is at a target activity level with which is associated an appropriate target pacing rate. In a preferred embodiment, the target activity level corresponds to casual walking (e.g., 2 mph at a 4% grade) with a target pacing rate selected as appropriate for that level of activity in the individual patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Stahmann, Michael A. Querimit, Donald L. Hopper, Brian Ralph Larson, Paul F. Emerson, Daniel O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20130171611
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a training apparatus, wherein embodiments of the training apparatus simulate operation of fan blades in a turbine engine. An advantage that practice of some disclosed embodiments of the training apparatus is to provide a platform to train skills for maintaining and servicing turbine engines without placing the individual and/or customer hardware in jeopardy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew Thomas Hynous, Brian Ralph Thompson
  • Publication number: 20120275873
    Abstract: A method of drilling one or more holes, substantially in situ, in a turbomachine casing includes locating piping including at least one vacuum head within the turbomachine casing in proximity to a hole to be drilled; drilling at least one hole in the casing such that drill chips or shavings caused by the drilling are collected in the vacuum head; and applying a vacuum through the piping to the at least one vacuum head to thereby remove the drill chips or shavings collected in the vacuum head to a location outside the turbomachine casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew Thomas HYNOUS, Brian Ralph THOMPSON
  • Publication number: 20110152963
    Abstract: A rate-adaptive pacemaker and a method for its operation in which the response factor for a minute ventilation sensor or other type of exertion level sensor is automatically set during a parameter adjustment mode that utilizes an activity level measurement to determine when the patient is at a target activity level with which is associated an appropriate target pacing rate. In a preferred embodiment, the target activity level corresponds to casual walking (e.g., 2 mph at a 4% grade) with a target pacing rate selected as appropriate for that level of activity in the individual patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Stahmann, Michael A. Querimit, Donald L. Hopper, Brian Ralph Larson, Paul F. Emerson, Daniel O'Brien
  • Patent number: 7063218
    Abstract: A long handled tool storage device has a base panel with a top surface, a base perimeter that defines a base panel size and shape, and a bottom side arranged so that the base perimeter rests on a ground surface when the storage device is in use. Two sides of the base panel are joined together at first ends thereof to generally define a rear corner and a front side spanning between second ends of the two sides. A plurality of tool handle receptacles are provided in the base panel and at least recessed downward relative to a plane of the top surface. A plurality of risers extend upward from the base panel. An upper panel has a perimeter that defines an upper panel size and shape. The upper panel is supported by the risers above and spaced from the top surface of the base panel. A plurality of tool handle openings are formed through the upper panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Rubbermaid Incorporated
    Inventors: Brian Ralph Pleiman, David M. Stitchick
  • Publication number: 20030173877
    Abstract: A corner storage unit having a generally elongate triangular plastic housing, including a base, a middle portion, and a cover is disclosed. The middle portion of the housing may include a first panel, a front panel, and a second panel, wherein the first panel and the second panel each include a forward and rearward edge. The first panel and the second panel of the housing may be connectively attached at their respective rearward edges, while the first panel may be disposed between the forward edges of the first panel and the second panel. The base and the cover may be disposed on opposite ends of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Brian Ralph Pleiman, Matthew Joshua Brewer, Christopher L. Robinson
  • Patent number: 6504841
    Abstract: Scalable Computer Interconnect (CSI) compliant multi-stage switching networks compactly electrically communicatively interconnect a large number N of electrically communicating devices, typically computers or memories, in three-dimensional space. The logic networks, including a preferred “layered network” of U.S. Pat. No. 4,833,468, are (i) rotated, (ii) folded and (iii) squared per companion U.S. Pat. No. 6,301,247 so as to assume optimal topology. The topologically-optimized switching network logic is physically realized as (i) planar panels each mounting multi-chip modules, or tiles, each having logic switchpoints each realized by switch dice, plus vias through the tiles, plus pads upon both sides of the tiles, plus connective wiring layers upon the tile, connected by (ii) multi-conductor flexible flat printed circuit cables located between the adjacent panels. System peak performance is 24 teraflops/second.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Ralph Larson, Charles Kryzak
  • Patent number: 6301247
    Abstract: Dense physical and electrical connection of (i) flat flexible multiconductor cables of the printed circuit or ribbon types, to (ii) to spaced-parallel planar modules, particularly to switching modules containing switching chips, is realized by (1) a particular connection geometry in combination with (2) a spring clip connector. Flat flexible multiconductor cables routed through free space either in (i) “X” and, optionally also, “Z” planes, or else in (ii) “Y” planes exclusively, have their conductors' ends stripped and bent 90° so as to lie upon conductive pads, arrayed along lines angled 45° to both the “X” and “Y” planes, located on the substrates of switching modules that are within “Z” planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Ralph Larson, Charles Kryzak
  • Patent number: 6215786
    Abstract: Multi-stage switching networks may be constructed and expanded from small to very large networks that are contained within a compact physical volume. This is accomplished by replication of a pre-selected network module containing switches by a rotating, folding and squaring process that substantially reduces the length of connections between switches. This geometry allows very large networks by inductively combining smaller networks into larger networks. In networks constructed with this geometry, the length of the longest connections between switches is proportional to the square root of the number of ports provided by the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Ralph Larson, Steven Allen Murphy
  • Patent number: 6212179
    Abstract: An expandable network constructed from a plurality of identical network fabric cards which uses a plurality of selected row address bits to route connection paths between adjacent columns of interconnecting switches and a software algorithm for implementing a network of any whole number power of 2 rows or ports by assigning numbers of the network switches and attached nodes are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Allen Murphy, Donald Bruce Bennett, Brian Ralph Larson
  • Patent number: 6070294
    Abstract: A door hinge and a method of its use is provided which is suitable for use with glass shower screen doors. The method involves cutting a pair of circular cut-outs at a side edge of the door near the top and bottom of the door respectively. After toughening of the cut-out portions of glass, a hinge in accordance with this invention is mounted in each cut-out portion. The hinges each have a first arm which has a circular door mounting portion of substantially the same diameter as the cut-outs which are located in the cut-outs. The hinges each have two clamping parts, one part is fitted to abut with one face of the door, and the other part is fitted to abut with the other face of the door. Each part is fitted to immediately surround the respective cut-outs. The hinge then has screw holding means which holds the parts together and clamps the door. The second arm of the hinge can be mounted directly to a frame member, such as a jam member or to a further glass panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: George Fethers & Co. Trading Pty LTD
    Inventors: David Anthony Perkins, Brian Ralph Perkins, Robert Michael Mead, Jon Graham Seddon
  • Patent number: D474339
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Rubbermaid Incorporated
    Inventors: Brian Ralph Pleiman, Matthew Joshua Brewer, Christopher L. Robinson
  • Patent number: D751107
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan Johnson, Howard Schargel, Brian Ralphs, Jill Olstinske
  • Patent number: D754702
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Matt Pinski, Mitchell Johnson, Brian Ralphs
  • Patent number: D757048
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Ralphs, Benjamin Perry, Xiaoji Chen
  • Patent number: D757756
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Ralphs, Benjamin Perry, Xiaoji Chen
  • Patent number: D759053
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Ralphs, Benjamin Perry, Xiaoji Chen